Five Spring Festivals to Enjoy in and Around Charlotte

Spring is the time to go outside and enjoy the warm weather, blossoming trees, and growing greenery. If you live in or near Charlotte, North Carolina, it’s also the best time to enjoy the following annual festivals.

Repticon

Repticon is a traveling show that visits cities throughout the year, particularly throughout Florida and the American South. Visitors see rare and unique snakes, lizards, and other creatures. They also learn from the experts about feeding habits and how to care for reptiles. You can also buy pets and terrarium equipment from national and local vendors. On the second weekend of March, Repticon visits Charlotte at the Cabarrus Arena and Events Center for its spring show. On both days, the event starts at 10 am.

St. Patrick’s Day on Main

Every year on St. Patrick’s Day from 4 to 9 pm, the Old Town in Rock Hill hosts a street festival and celebration of Charlotte’s Irish history. Joining the festival is free, and if you stop by you can enjoy Irish music, Irish dancers, the products of local crafters, a place for the kids to play around and have fun, and of course all the food and drink you could ever want.

Sensoria

From the end of March through the first week of April, Sensoria takes place in venues throughout Charlotte. The main location is Central Piedmont Community College, the official host of the event. Sensoria consists of lectures and performances, including poetry and fiction readings, operas, plays, and dances. If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary compared to the usual movies and concerts, Sensoria is a great way to broaden your horizons.

The Loch Norman Highland Games

Charlotte’s heritage includes Scottish immigrants as well as Irish ones. That’s why Rural Hill holds a Scottish Festival with highland games on the second weekend of April. A two-day pass for an adult costs $27, but the ticket fee lets you enjoy the uniquely Scottish highland games, Scottish dancing, pipe bands and contests, Scotch whiskey tasting, and food and drink vendors.

Earth Day

Stallings, a suburb southeast of Charlotte, makes a point of celebrating Earth Day every year in a big way. Starting at 10 am at the municipal park, the event offers visitors food vendors that serve sustainable and locally grown products. You’ll also find crafters and artisans who make use of recycled or reused materials to create useful items and works of art. It’s educational, fun, and a nice way to spend an April day outside.

Spring can feel like a waste if you don’t spend time outside, and a spring festival is a great excuse to enjoy the sun and the brisk weather that comes with the season. Whether you want to celebrate the heritage of Charlotte, look to the future by learning more about recycling and sustainability, or whether you want to enjoy the sort of shows that don’t come to Charlotte every weekend, you can find a spring festival that has something for you.

Image via Pixabay

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