Charlotte
Around Charlotte
Metro area · North Carolina · 2.9M people
Charlotte
“Queen City”, “QC”, “Hornets' Nest”
Charlotte · Concord · Gastonia · Mooresville · Rock Hill
Where the New South races, shoots, and sips sweet tea.
Hornets TealPanthers BlueQueen City Purple
Welcome to the Queen City, where the tea is sweet and the racing is fast. Whether you're here for the Panthers, the breweries, or the barbecue, you'll find your people. Get ready for a little traffic on 77 and a lot of Southern charm.
Clubs for Charlotte
No clubs for Charlotte yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Charlotte. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
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Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Charlotte. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Bank of America Stadium Home of the Carolina Panthers
- Spectrum Center Home of the Charlotte Hornets
- Charlotte Motor Speedway NASCAR's home track, hosts the Coca-Cola 600
- U.S. National Whitewater Center Whitewater rafting, kayaking, and zip lines
- Carowinds Theme park straddling the NC/SC border
- NASCAR Hall of Fame Honors stock car racing legends
- Outdoors Whitewater rafting at the U.S. National Whitewater Center
- Outdoors Hiking Crowders Mountain State Park
- With kids Carowinds theme park
- With kids Discovery Place Science
- Evenings Brewery hopping in South End
- Evenings Live music in NoDa
- Locals love Motorsports venues
- Locals love Craft breweries
Through the year
- Coca-Cola 600 May NASCAR's longest race at Charlotte Motor Speedway
- Charlotte SHOUT! Spring Multi-week arts and music festival in Uptown
- Festival in the Park September Arts and crafts festival in Freedom Park
- Charlotte Film Festival October Independent films from around the world
- Carolina Renaissance Festival October-November 16th-century themed village with jousting
Humid subtropical with hot, humid summers and mild winters. Best times are spring and fall. Best: Spring and fall are ideal for outdoor activities.
Talk like a local
- “Uptown”
- Charlotte's downtown district
- “The QC”
- Queen City, Charlotte's nickname
- “Bo-time”
- A trip to Bojangles' for chicken and biscuits
- “Cackalacky”
- Affectionate slang for the Carolinas
Getaways
Local flavour
Teams
- Carolina Panthers NFL
- Charlotte Hornets NBA
- Charlotte FC MLS
- Charlotte Checkers AHL
- Charlotte Knights MiLB
- UNC Charlotte 49ers NCAA Division I
- Davidson Wildcats NCAA Division I
- Winthrop Eagles NCAA Division I
Eat and drink
- Carolina Pulled Pork BBQ Smoked pork shoulder with vinegar-pepper sauce, a Piedmont staple.
- Bojangles' Fried Chicken & Biscuits Homegrown chain famous for seasoned fried chicken and buttermilk biscuits.
- Cheerwine Cherry-flavored soda born in the Carolinas, a local cult favorite.
- Sweet Tea The unofficial drink of the South, served everywhere.
- Pimento Cheese Southern spread often served on crackers or burgers, a regional comfort food.
Where people go
- Motorsports venues Charlotte Motor Speedway and NASCAR Hall of Fame anchor the region's racing identity.
- Craft breweries A booming scene with over 30 breweries in the metro, many in Uptown and NoDa.
- Barbecue joints Smoky, wood-fired pits serving pulled pork, ribs, and chicken.
- Lake recreation areas Lake Norman, Lake Wylie, and others offer boating, fishing, and lakeside living.
- Uptown district The central business and entertainment hub with Bank of America Stadium and Spectrum Center.
Heritage and traditions
Charlotte is proud of its transformation from a textile mill town to a major banking and motorsports hub, while keeping its Southern charm and hospitality.
Say it like a local: “fixin' to” — about to
Festivals
- Yiasou Greek Festival September Greek food, dancing, and Orthodox heritage
- Come See Me Festival April Arts, music, and family fun in Rock Hill, SC
- Charlotte Pride August LGBTQ+ parade and festival
- Festival of India May Indian music, dance, and food
- Latin American Festival September Latin music, dance, and cuisine
- Taste of Charlotte June Samples from local restaurants in Uptown
Landmarks with a story
- Reed Gold Mine Site of the first documented gold find in the US, sparking the gold rush.
- President James K. Polk State Historic Site Birthplace of the 11th president.
- Historic Rosedale Plantation Antebellum home and farm in Charlotte.
- St. Peter's Catholic Church Oldest Catholic church in Charlotte, founded in 1852.
- Catawba Cultural Center Preserving the heritage of the Catawba Indian Nation.
- Andrew Jackson State Park Commemorates the birthplace of the 7th president.
Food traditions
- Livermush A breakfast meat made from pork liver and cornmeal, a Gaston County specialty.
- Carolina hot dog Topped with chili, mustard, and coleslaw.
- Barbecue hash A thick, spicy stew served over rice, often at BBQ joints.
- Boiled peanuts Roadside stands sell them warm and salty in the summer.
- Krispy Kreme doughnuts A Southern favorite, especially when the 'hot light' is on.
Music and arts
- Catawba pottery Traditional pottery made by the Catawba Indian Nation.
- Bluegrass and old-time music Piedmont tradition with strong local festivals.
- NoDa arts district Murals, galleries, and a vibrant arts scene.
- Charlotte Symphony Professional orchestra performing classical and pops.
A little history
- 1799 Gold discovered at Reed Mine, sparking the first gold rush in the US.
- 1775 Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, an early claim of independence from Britain.
- Late 1800s Textile mills boom, making Charlotte a major mill town.
- 1980s–90s Banking boom, transforming Charlotte into the second largest banking center in the US.
- 1940s–50s NASCAR roots, with Charlotte becoming the hub of stock car racing.
Rivalries
- Panthers vs Falcons NFC South battle
- Charlotte FC vs Atlanta United Southern soccer rivalry
- Hornets vs Heat NBA Southeast rivalry
- Game day NASCAR race weekends
- Game day Friday night high school football
- Outdoors Kayaking on the Catawba River
- Outdoors Visiting Reed Gold Mine
- With kids Children's Theatre of Charlotte
- With kids ImaginOn
Southern accent with a Piedmont drawl. Locals say 'y'all', 'fixin' to', and 'carry' instead of 'take'. Charlotte is pronounced 'SHAR-lut'.
Only here
- The first gold rush in the US began at Reed Gold Mine.
- NASCAR's home base – many race teams are headquartered here.
- Nicknamed the 'Queen City' after Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
- Second largest banking center in the US after New York.
New here? A few tips
- Say 'SHAR-lut' not 'Char-lot' – locals will appreciate it.
- Traffic on I-77 and I-485 is heavy; consider the Lynx Blue Line light rail for Uptown commutes.
- Try livermush at a local diner – it's a regional delicacy.
- Summers are hot and humid; winters are mild but can bring ice storms.
- NASCAR is a big deal – even if you're not a fan, attend a race at Charlotte Motor Speedway at least once.
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Part of Charlotte area
Nearby
Every areaAlbemarleNorth CarolinaSmall-town lakeside living with a forest heartShelbyNorth CarolinaWhere the foothills meet history and hospitality.HickoryNorth CarolinaWhere the mountains meet the furniture craft.GaffneySouth CarolinaWhere the peach meets the interstate, and the welcome is always warm.Montgomery CountyNorth CarolinaRooted in clay, ripe with peachesForest CityNorth CarolinaFoothills warmth, mountain views.RockinghamNorth CarolinaWhere the sandhills meet the speedway.SpartanburgSouth CarolinaA hub of Southern charm and industry.
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.