Summer in the Queen City does NOT disappoint - from street festivals to baseball games, fun can be had all over town. Thanks to our friends at Atrium Health Levine Children’s, we’re rounding up all the summer fun from lake to lake and Charlotte to Rock Hill so that you and your family can spend time together having good, healthy fun! Please check ahead before you head out to ensure that activities are running as scheduled. We do our best to keep this guide updated, but there are things outside our control that sometimes interfere with fun!
 |
FESTIVALS:
North Carolina:
June:
Monopoly: Life Sized
Blume Studios, Charlotte
May 16 - July 27, 2025
$32 - $42; depending on game and players
Taste of Charlotte
Tryon Street (Trade to Brooklyn Village Way); Uptown Charlotte
June 6-8, 2025
11 a.m. - 11 p.m.
FREE
Indian Trail Family Fun Day
Crooked Creek Park, Indian Trail
June 7, 2025
2 - 9:30 p.m. (Fireworks at 9 p.m.)
Juneteenth Festival of the Carolinas
House of Africa, 1215 Thomas Avenue, in Plaza Midwood
June 12-15, 2025
Please check website for specific event times
FREE
Indian Trail Juneteenth Festival
Crossing Paths Park, 120 Blythe Drive, Indian Trail
June 13, 2025
6 - 9 p.m.
FREE
Juneteenth in Monroe
Belk Tonawanda Park
June 14, 2025
3-7 p.m.
Town of Waxhaw Juneteenth Celebration
Downtown Waxhaw
June 20, 2025
6-9 p.m.
 |
4th of July Celebrations:
Uptown Charlotte/SkyShow Fireworks Spectacular
July 3, 2025
Fireworks following The Charlotte Knights Game (starts at 6:05 p.m.)
Carowinds
July 4 - 5, 2025
9 p.m.
Symphony Park - Summer Pops Celebrates America
4400 Sharon Road
June 29, 2025
8:15 p.m.
Tickets required; $18 adults in advance, $25 at the gate; children ages 13-17 $5 in advance, $7 at the gate; children 12 and under are free but do require a ticket
Whitewater Center
July 3 - 4, 2025
Activities all day; fireworks at 8:30 p.m.
Free
City of Monroe
Belk Tonawanda Park
July 4, 2025 (fireworks at 9 p.m.)
Check back for details
Town of Matthews Independence Day Celebration
Meck County Sportsplex
July 3, 2025
9:15 p.m.
Town of Waxhaw Independence Day Parade
Downtown Waxhaw
July 4, 2025
10 a.m.
Town of Indian Trail 4th of July Parade
Downtown Indian Trail
July 4, 2025
10 a.m.
Check Facebook for details and parking
August:
Town of Indian Trail National Night Out
Multiple locations
August 5, 2025
6 - 9 p.m.
FREE
Town of Waxhaw National Night Out
August 6, 2025
Details coming soon
Charlotte Pride Festival
Uptown Charlotte (parade route available online)
August 16-17, 2025
All Day
FREE
Matthews Alive Festival
Downtown Matthews, Stumptown Park
August 29 - September 1, 2025
Most activities are pay-to-play (food and games) but attendance is FREE
South Carolina:
June:
Summer Beach Bash
Fort Mill Amphitheater
June 6, 2025
6 - 9 p.m.
Rock Hill Juneteenth Festival
Downtown Rock Hill, Fountain Park
June 20-22, 2025
Check website for times and details
FREE
Rock Hill Pride Festival
Downtown Rock Hill
June 16-22, 2025
Times and events vary by date; check website for information
4th of July Celebrations:
USA of Tega Cay
Windjammer Park
July 4-5, 2025
Check website for details
Baxter Village 4th of July
Check Back for details
Indian Land 4th of July Celebration and Fireworks
Indian Land Middle School, 8063 River Road, Indian Land, SC
Check Back for details
Lake Wylie Fireworks
Camp Thunderbird
July 4, 2025
9 p.m.
Red White and Boom, Rock Hill
Fountain Park in Old Town, Rock Hill
July 4, 2025
4 - 9 p.m.
Fort Mill Independence Day Celebration
Walter Elisha Park - Fort Mill Amphitheatre
July 3, 2025
6 - 9:30 p.m.
Free
City of York 4th of July
York Middle School; 1010 Devinney Road, York SC
July 4, 2025
6:30 - 10 p.m.
Non-4th July Events:
Pageland Watermelon Festival
Downtown Pageland
July 17-19, 2025
FREE
August:
Summerfest
Downtown York
August 23, 2025
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Tribute Fest
Fort Mill Amphitheater, Walter Elisha Park
August 1, 2025
6 - 9 p.m.
 |
Local Fun:
- Baseball games
Take the family out to a ball game! Summer is the perfect time to enjoy the boys of summer. Catch the Charlotte Knights, Gastonia Ghost Peppers, Kannapolis Cannon Ballers or the Hickory Crawdads for an afternoon or evening game.
- Soccer games
Don’t miss a chance to see Charlotte FC in action! MLS games are a real treat to see. The players interact with the fans before and after the games. Pro tip: Grab a seat behind the goal. Families, please note that although this typically is the liveliest section, adult beverages are typically sprayed after each goal. It is part of the fun to be with fans, there are lots of families in the section, the cheers and the singing make these the best seats.
You can also go watch Charlotte Independence, their games are super family-friendly, there are regular theme games with giveaways and halftime fun. Another great one to watch is Hickory FC for good family fun.
- Kids Bowl Free
- Check our events calendar for venue information
- Summer Movies
- Check our events calendar for venue information
- Local theater shows
- Children's Theatre of Charlotte has a full lineup through June and shows resume again in August.
- Danny Go! - June 3 & 4, 2025, Ovens Auditorium
- The Wiggles - June 26, 2025, Ovens Auditorium
- Wizard of Oz Dance - June 14, 2025, Knight Theatre
- Ninja Kidz - June 22, 2025, Bojangles Coliseum
- Cirque du Solei Ovo - August 28, 2025, Bojangles Coliseum
- Belk Theater: Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets in Concert, Les Miserables, Shucked, Tina, Life of Pi and Book of Mormon are all here this summer!
- Summer Concerts
- KidzBop - June 21, 2025, PNC Music Pavilion
- AJR - A ugust 2, 2025, PNC Music Pavilion
- Jason Aldean - August 22, 2025 - PNC Music Pavilion
 |
OUTDOOR CONCERTS AND MOVIES
There is no shortage of places to see live music or a free movie in the summer. You can catch outdoor music at the following locations:
South Charlotte
Blakeney Summer Concert Series
Ardrey Kell and Rea Road
Saturdays in June
7 - 9 p.m.
Stonecrest Summer Concert Series
7800 Rea Road
Fridays and Saturdays in May
Music at Promenade on Providence
10844 Providence Road
Fridays and Saturdays, June - August
7 - 10 p.m.
Party at the Park at Mint Museum Randolph
2730 Randolph Road
Last Sunday of month 1-5 p.m.
Music at the Met
Thursdays from May - October
1111 Metropolitan Avenue, Charlotte
Matthews Beats ‘n Bites
The last Friday of the month, from April through September 5-9 p.m.
Stumptown Park
Mint Hill Family Fun Nights
May 17 and September 20, 2025; 6:30 p.m.
Mint Hill Veterans Park
Concert Series at The AMP at Ballantyne Bowl
Second Friday, May - September
5 - 8:30 p.m.
$15 entry
11611 North Community House Road, Charlotte, North Carolina
South Carolina
Tega Cay Concert Series
One Saturday a month from April to September
Runde Park and Catawba Park in Tega Cay
Anne Springs Close Greenway Summer Concert Series
Friday and Saturdays through November
6-9 p.m
Anne Springs Close Greenway, Fort Mill
Union County
Downtown Waxhaw’s Jammin’ By the Tracks
June 13, July 12 and August 2, 2025
7 – 9 p.m.
Community Corner, 116 McDonald Street, Waxhaw
Waxhaw Music in the Park
July26 and August 16, 20205
7 - 9 p.m.
Outdoor Movies
- Cabarrus Brewing Company:
- May 30, 2025: Inside Out
- June 7, 2025: Tangled
- July 11, 2025: Night at the Museum
- August 8, 2025: Men in Black
- Stowe Park, Belmont:
- May 31, 2025: Lilo & Stitch
- June 21, 2025: Ratatouille
- June 28, 2025: Finding Nemo
- July 5, 2025: Goofy
- July 19, 2025: Spy Kids
- August 2, 2025: Wreck it Ralph
- August 16, 2025: Lion King
- August 30, 2025: Matilda
- Carolina Beer Temple, Matthews:
- Jun 14, 2025: The Sandlot
- Jul 12, 2025: Independence Day
- Aug 9, 2025: Twister
- Crossroads Cinema at Camp North End, Charlotte:
- Schedule coming soon
- Movies in the Park, Rock Hill
- June 13th, 2025: Despicable Me 4
- July 11th, 2025: The Parent Trap
- August 8th, 2025: Mufasa
- September 12th, 2025: Wicked
- October 10th, 2025: The Haunted Mansion
 |
TAKE A HIKE (OR BIKE)
- For a full list of hiking and bike trails, check out our guide.
- Local trails
- Drive-worthy waterfalls and tubing
 |
LET’S SPLASH!
- Summer safety tips
- Where to cool off in the water
- Local beaches and lakefronts
- Boat rentals
- Public/semi-public pools
- Mecklenburg Aquatic Center
- Ray’s Splash Pad
- Starclaire Recreation Club
- Monroe Aquatic Center
- Boyd Hill Swimming Pool
- Emmett Scott Rec Center and Swimming Pool
- Splash pads
- North and South Carolina Water Parks
- Ideas for places to drive for water play
HIT THE ROAD
- Day trips
- Pisgah Forest
- Asheville
- Greenville
- Greensboro
- NC Zoo
- Riverbanks Zoo
- Waterfall Adventures
- Tubing Adventures
 |
GRAB A BITE/REFUEL ON A PATIO
Charlotte has a ton of great patio options for you and your family to take advantage of great weather. You can find some of our favorites in this article or check out any of those listed below. They all have kid-friendly food and those with an asterisk have an option for a kid-safe play area.
Charlotte
- Optimist Hall*
- Mac’s Speed Shop
- Olde Mecklenburg Brewery*
- Middle James Brewery*
- OpenTap*
- Seoul Food Meat Co.*
- Piedmont Social
- Leroy Fox
- Improper Pig*
- OMB at the Bowl in Ballantyne
- Flower Child at the Bowl in Ballantyne
- Italia North at the Bowl Ballantyne
- Suffolk Punch at Southpark Mall*
Fort Mill / Rock Hill / Tega Cay
- The Office (Indian Land)
- Hobo’s (Fort Mill and Rock Hill)*
- The Pump House (Rock Hill)
- Farm Haus Butcher (Indian Land)
- Fish Market (Fort Mill)*
- The Journeyman (Rock Hill)*
- Paco’s Tacos & Tequila
Union County
- Franklin Court Grill (Waxhaw)*
- Hacienda El Rey (Indian Trail)
- Mario’s Pizza (Indian Trail)*
- Emmett’s Social Table (Waxhaw)
*please note: those with an asterisk have a safe/safer area for children to play
 |
HIT UP LOCAL MARKETS AND FARMS
We have great farmers markets and U-pick farms that are open all summer long; make sure to check the schedules to see what reservations (if any) are needed and what’s in season.
Fort Mill / Rock Hill Farmers Markets
Fort Mill / Rock Hill U-Pick Farms
 |
One thing Charlotte has a ton of is parks and playgrounds - after all, we are called the city of trees! From Uptown to Rock Hill, we’ve got you covered. Linked below are playgrounds and parks across the Charlotte metro area:
- Charlotte Parks and Playgrounds
- Fort Mill / Rock Hill Parks and Playgrounds
- Union County Parks and Playgrounds
- Daniel Stowe Conservancy
- Anne Springs Close Greenway Schroering Forest Playground
Our thanks to Atrium Health Levine Children's for sponsoring this guide to ensure you and your family have a fun, healthy summer. For more information on how to keep your kids healthy and active this summer, always contact your pediatrician with questions. Looking for a pediatrician? Find one here.
 |
