Charlotte, North Carolina

==Arts and culture==

===Museums===
[[File:Mint Museum in uptown Charlotte, North Carolina.jpg|thumb|[[Mint Museum]] in Uptown Charlotte]]
[[File:Harvey B. Gantt Center on Opening Day.jpg|thumb|[[Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture]]]]
[[File:BechtlerMuseumCharlotte.jpg|thumb|[[Bechtler Museum of Modern Art]]]] 
[[File:Discovery Place-27527-1.jpg|thumb|[[Discovery Place]]]]
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* [[Bechtler Museum of Modern Art]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://m.bechtler.org/about|title=About The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art|work=m.bechtler.org|access-date=November 24, 2019|archive-date=June 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613121851/http://m.bechtler.org/about|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Billy Graham Library]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://billygrahamlibrary.org/what-is-the-library/|title=What is the Library – The Billy Graham Library|date=November 23, 2019|work=billygrahamlibrary.org|access-date=November 23, 2019}}</ref>
* [[Carolinas Aviation Museum]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.carolinasaviation.org/about-us/|title=About the Carolinas Aviation Museum|date=November 22, 2019|work=carolinasaviation.org|access-date=November 23, 2019}}</ref>
* Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fire Education Center and Museum<ref>{{cite web|url=https://charlottenc.gov/Fire/KeepingYouSafe/FireandLifeSafetyEducation/Pages/default.aspx|title=Fire and life safety Education|website=Charlottenc.gov|access-date=August 19, 2021|archive-date=August 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819232948/https://charlottenc.gov/Fire/KeepingYouSafe/FireandLifeSafetyEducation/Pages/default.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> 
* [[Discovery Place|Charlotte Nature Museum]] in [[Freedom Park (Charlotte, North Carolina)|Freedom Park]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nature.discoveryplace.org/|title=Discovery Place Nature|website=nature.discoveryplace.org|access-date=August 19, 2021}}</ref>
* Charlotte Trolley Museum in [[South End (Charlotte neighborhood)|Historic South End]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.charlottesgotalot.com/things-to-do/attractions/charlotte-trolley-powerhouse-studio|title=Charlotte Trolley Powerhouse studio|website=Charlottesgotalot.com|access-date=August 17, 2017|archive-date=August 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210821215828/https://www.charlottesgotalot.com/things-to-do/attractions/charlotte-trolley-powerhouse-studio|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Discovery Place]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discoveryplace.org/|title=Official website of Discovery Place Charlotte|website=Discoveryplace.org|access-date=September 14, 2021}}</ref>
* [[Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://ganttcenter.org/about-the-center/|title=About the Gantt|date=November 23, 2019|work=ganttcenter.org|access-date=November 24, 2019}}</ref> 
* [[Rosedale (Charlotte, North Carolina)|Historic Rosedale Plantation]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://historicrosedale.org/about/history/|title=History of Rosedale|website=historicRosedale.org|access-date=September 14, 2021}}</ref>
* [[Levine Museum of the New South]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.museumofthenewsouth.org/our-history|title=The Levine Museum of the New South – Our History|date=November 23, 2019|work=museumofthenewsouth.org|access-date=November 24, 2019|archive-date=May 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200528155523/https://www.museumofthenewsouth.org/our-history|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* The Light Factory<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://lightfactory.org/history/|title=Our 40–Year History|date=November 23, 2019|work=lightfactory.org|access-date=November 24, 2019}}</ref>
* [[McColl Center for Art + Innovation]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://mccollcenter.org/about/|title=About McColl|date=November 23, 2019|work=mccollcenter.org|access-date=November 24, 2019}}</ref>
*[[Mint Museum]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://mintmuseum.org/about-the-mint-museum/|title=About the Mint Museum|date=November 23, 2019|work=mintmuseum.org|access-date=November 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230074411/https://mintmuseum.org/about-the-mint-museum/|archive-date=December 30, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[NASCAR Hall of Fame]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nascarhall.com/about-the-hall|title=About the Hall – NASCAR Hall of Fame|date=November 23, 2019|work=nascarhall.com|access-date=November 23, 2019}}</ref> 
* Museum of Illusions Charlotte<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://moicharlotte.com/|title=Museum of Illusions Charlotte Homepage|website=moicharlotte.com|access-date=December 8, 2022}}</ref>
* Second Ward Alumni House Museum<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.secondwardfoundation.org/|title=Second Ward High School National Alumni Foundation|date=November 23, 2019|work=secondwardfoundation.org|access-date=November 24, 2019}}</ref>
* [[Charlotte Museum of History]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://charlottemuseum.org/about/|title=About – Charlotte museum|date=November 23, 2019|work=charlottemuseum.org|access-date=November 24, 2019}}</ref>
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===Performing arts===
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* Amos' Southend Music Hall<ref>{{cite web|url=https://amossouthend.com/about/|title=History of Southend|website=AmosSouthend.com|access-date=November 25, 2019}}</ref> 
* [[Comedy Arts Theater of Charlotte]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://catch.theater/|title=Comedy Arts Theater of Charlotte Official homepage|website=catch.theater|access-date=June 17, 2022}}</ref>
* [[North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center|Blumenthal Performing Arts Center]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blumenthalarts.org/about-us|title=History of Blumenthal Performing Arts|website=Blumenthalarts.org|access-date=November 7, 2017|archive-date=October 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171031113603/http://www.blumenthalarts.org/about-us|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Charlotte Ballet]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://charlotteballet.org/approach-faculty/history/|title=Charlotte Ballet: History|date=November 23, 2019|work=charlotteballet.org|access-date=November 24, 2019}}</ref>
* [[Charlotte Symphony Orchestra]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.charlottesymphony.org/|title=Charlotte Symphony Orchestra|website=charlottesymphony.org|access-date=November 7, 2017}}</ref> 
* [[Carolina Theatre (Charlotte)|Carolina Theatre]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://carolinatheatreclt.org/|title=Carolina Theatre – A Theatre for You|website=CarolinaTheatreCLT.com|access-date=November 25, 2022}}</ref>
* [[ConCarolinas]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://concarolinas.org/|title=ConCarolinas 2022 homepage – Carolina's Longest Running Multi-Fandom Con|website=concarolinas.org|access-date=June 17, 2022}}</ref>
* [[ImaginOn]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.imaginon.org/about-imaginon|title=About imaginon|date=November 23, 2019|work=imaginon.org|access-date=November 25, 2019}}</ref>
* [[AvidxChange Music Factory]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://avidxchangemusicfactory.com/|title=AdvidxChange Music Factory: Charlotte's Premier hub for Music, Entertainment, & Nightlife|website=Avidxchangemusicfactory.com|access-date=March 12, 2015}}</ref> 
* [[PNC Music Pavilion]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://charlottemusicpavilion.com/|title=PNC Music Pavilion Official homepage|website=charlottemusicpavilon.com|access-date=June 26, 2022}}</ref>
* [[Opera Carolina]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://operacarolina.org/about-us-2/#history|title=The History of Opera Carolina|date=November 23, 2019|work=operacarolina.org|access-date=November 24, 2019|archive-date=June 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608100418/https://operacarolina.org/about-us-2/#history|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[The Robot Johnson Show]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.charlottemagazine.com/listings/bob-awards-winners-guide/robot-johnson/|title=Robot Johnson|date=June 3, 2013|work=Charlotte Magazine|access-date=September 15, 2021}}</ref>
* [[Citizens of the Universe]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.citizensoftheuniverse.org/|title=Citizens of the Universe|website=citizensoftheuniverse.org|access-date=November 25, 2019}}</ref> 
* Children's Theatre of Charlotte<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ctcharlotte.org/Online/default.asp|title=Children's Theatre of Charlotte Homepage|website=Children's Theatre of Charlotte|access-date=November 25, 2022}}</ref> 
* Theatre Charlotte<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theatrecharlotte.org/|title=Official website of Theatre Charlotte|website=theatrecharlotte.org|access-date=November 7, 2017}}</ref> 
* JazzArts Charlotte<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thejazzarts.org/|title=JazzArts Charlotte – Jazz Education and Live Jazz Performances|website=thejazzarts.org|access-date=November 25, 2022}}</ref>
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===Festivals and events===
The Charlotte region is home to many annual festivals and special events. [[Carolina Renaissance Festival|The Carolina Renaissance Festival]] operates on Saturdays and Sundays each October and November. Located near the intersection of [[North Carolina Highway 73|NC&nbsp;73]] and Poplar Tent Road, the Carolina Renaissance Festival is one of the largest renaissance themed events in the country. It features 11 stages of outdoor variety entertainment, a 22-acre village marketplace, an interactive circus, an arts and crafts fair, a jousting tournament, and a feast, all rolled into one non-stop, day-long family adventure.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.carolina.renfestinfo.com/quickfacts|title=Quick Facts – Carolina Renaissance festival|date=November 25, 2019|work=carolina.renfestinfo.com|access-date=November 25, 2019|archive-date=June 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613080830/https://www.carolina.renfestinfo.com/quickfacts|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Yiasou Greek Festival is a Greek Festival. It began in 1978 and since then has become one of Charlotte's largest cultural events.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsoctv.com/living/features/greece-word/812954584|title=Opa! it's time for the Yiasou Greek Festival|date=August 29, 2014|work=wsoctv.com|access-date=November 25, 2019}}</ref> The Yiasou (the Greek word for Hello, Goodbye and Cheers) Greek Festival features Hellenic cultural exhibits, authentic Greek cuisine and homemade pastries, entertainment, live music and dancing, wine tastings, art, shopping and more.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2018/09/06/41st-yiasou-greek-festival-kicks-off-in-charlotte|title=41st Yiasou Greek Festival kicks off in Charlotte|date=September 6, 2018|work=spectrumlocalnews.com|access-date=November 25, 2019}}</ref>

Taste of Charlotte is a three-day festival offering samples from area restaurants, live entertainment and children's activities. Located on Tryon Street, Taste of Charlotte spans six city blocks from Stonewall to 5th Street.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wbtv.com/2019/06/08/night-one-taste-charlotte-draws-big-crowds-despite-earlier-wet-weather/|title=Night one of Taste of Charlotte draws big crowds despite earlier rainy weather|last=Giles|first=Alex|date=June 7, 2019|work=wbtv.com|access-date=November 25, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsoctv.com/your704/citys-biggest-food-festival-taste-charlotte-sets-fall-date-new-location/G2RX34K3OZCFFCLD7TZD345LNM/|title=City's biggest food festival, Taste of Charlotte, sets fall date at new location|date=May 19, 2021|website=WSOCTV.com|access-date=May 19, 2021}}</ref>

Moo and Brew Fest is an annual craft beer and burger festival that is the largest in North Carolina, held each April and includes various national musical acts.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://mooandbrewfest.com/#about|title=Moo and Brew Festival|date=November 24, 2019|work=mooandbrewfest.com|access-date=November 25, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.charlottemagazine.com/moo-brew-two-dudes-and-a-burger-joint/|title=Moo & Brew: Two dudes and a Burger Joint|last=Ruane|first=Alyssa|date=August 2, 2016|work=Charlotte Magazine|access-date=August 2, 2016}}</ref>

Breakaway Music Festival is a music festival which takes place at the NC Music Factory and consists of hip hop and electronic music artists and DJs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://charlotteconcertguide.com/2019/06/03/breakaway-music-festival-returns-to-charlotte/|title=Breakaway Music Festival Returns to Charlotte|date=June 3, 2019|work=Charlotte Concert Guide}}</ref>

[[Heroes Convention]] is an annual comic book convention held in June at the Charlotte Convention Center. Founded in 1982, it is one of the oldest and largest independent comic book conventions in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heroesonline.com/heroescon/history/|title=Heroescon: History|work=heroesonline.com}}</ref>

Charlotte [[Pride]] is an annual LGBT event held in August. In 2019, the event attracted 200,000 people to Uptown Charlotte.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wcnc.com/article/entertainment/events/thousands-come-out-for-charlotte-pride-festival-in-uptown/275-8ab6abd6-a6c1-48cb-b680-162d1fb8c68b|title=Thousands come out for Charlotte Pride Festival in uptown|date=August 18, 2019|work=wcnc.com|access-date=November 5, 2021}}</ref> The event's parade became Charlotte's largest annual parade in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article169358237.html|title=Charlotte's largest annual parade is now the gay-themed Charlotte Pride|last=Price|first=Mark|date=August 25, 2017|publisher=Charlotte Observer|access-date=November 5, 2021}}</ref>

Charlotte Turkey Trot is an annual 5k & 8k running marathon hosted every [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving]], it is also the largest running event in the state of North Carolina.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wcnc.com/article/life/holidays/cpi-security-charlotte-turkey-trot-34th-annual/275-1e9873e3-2a7b-44b1-a470-373d612b3118|title=34th annual CPI Security Charlotte Turkey Trot held Thursday morning|last=Bragg|first=Meghan|date=November 24, 2022|website=WCNC.com|access-date=November 24, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cltturkeytrot.com/|title=Charlotte Turkey Trot Homepage|website=cltturkeytrot.com|access-date=November 24, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://charlotte.axios.com/314079/a-quick-roundup-of-2022-turkey-trot-races-in-the-charlotte-area/|title=6 turkey trot runs in the Charlotte area on Thanksgiving day|last=Soloff|first=Katie|date=November 22, 2022|website=Charlotte Axios|access-date=November 24, 2022}}</ref>

Charlotte also has the [[Charlotte Regional Farmers Market]] where local farmers sell their [[produce]].<ref name="Daniel 2011 p. 101">{{cite book |last=Daniel |first=D. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=plTqCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA101 |title=Farm Fresh North Carolina: The Go-To Guide to Great Farmers' Markets, Farm Stands, Farms, Apple Orchards, U-Picks, Kids' Activities, Lodging, Dining, Choose-and-Cut Christmas Trees, Vineyards and Wineries, and More |publisher=University of North Carolina Press |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-8078-7782-1 |series=Southern Gateways Guides |page=101 |access-date=2023-09-25}}</ref>

===Zoos and aquariums===
Charlotte is "... the largest metropolitan area in the United States without a zoo".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.charlottezoologicalpark.org/about-us.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110131170546/http://www.charlottezoologicalpark.org/about-us.php|archive-date=January 31, 2011 |title=About the Charlotte Zoological Park Initiative &#124; Bringing Animal Conservation & Research to the Carolinas |website=Charlottezoologicalpark.org |access-date=October 2, 2013}}</ref> The Charlotte Zoo initiative is a proposal to allocate {{convert|250|acres|0|abbr=on}} of natural North Carolina land to be dedicated to the zoological foundation, which was incorporated in 2008. On August 18, 2012, Channel 14 News says that the initiative is "... still a few years away" and the plot of land is "... just seven miles from the center of uptown". According to the news channel, "... the zoo will cost roughly $300 million, and will be completely {{Sic|hide=y|privately|-}}funded."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://charlotte.news14.com/content/local_news/662522/charlotte-zoological-park-initiative-ready-to-move-forward |title=Charlotte Zoological Park Initiative ready to move forward&nbsp;— News 14 |website=Charlotte.news14.com |access-date=October 2, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629233442/http://charlotte.news14.com/content/local_news/662522/charlotte-zoological-park-initiative-ready-to-move-forward |archive-date=June 29, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The Charlotte Observer references two other zoos, the [[Riverbanks Zoo and Garden]] and the [[North Carolina Zoological Park]] as two "great zoos" that are accessible from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area, both roughly more than 70 miles away.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/04/09/3970651/great-zoos.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416181608/http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/04/09/3970651/great-zoos.html|archive-date=April 16, 2014 |title=Great zoos |website=CharlotteObserver.com |date=May 16, 2013 |access-date=October 2, 2013}}</ref>

Charlotte is also served by the [[Sea Life Charlotte-Concord]] Aquarium in the nearby city of [[Concord, North Carolina|Concord]]. The aquarium is 30,000 square feet in size, and is part of the [[Concord Mills|Concord Mills mall]]. The aquarium opened on February 20, 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/02/20/4711406/sea-life-aquarium-opens-at-concord.html |title=Sea Life Aquarium opens at Concord Mills |website=CharlotteObserver.com |date=February 20, 2014 |access-date=February 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222001725/http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/02/20/4711406/sea-life-aquarium-opens-at-concord.html |archive-date=February 22, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.visitsealife.com/charlotte-concord/information/about-us/|title=History of Sea life Aquarium|access-date=December 5, 2018}}</ref>

===Libraries===
[[File:Imaginon.jpg|thumb|[[ImaginOn]] Children's Theater and Library]]
The [[Charlotte Mecklenburg Library]] serves the Charlotte area with a large collection (more than 1.5&nbsp;million) of books, CDs and DVDs at 15&nbsp;locations in the city of Charlotte, with branches in the surrounding towns of [[Matthews, North Carolina|Matthews]], [[Mint Hill, North Carolina|Mint Hill]], [[Huntersville, North Carolina|Huntersville]], [[Cornelius, North Carolina|Cornelius]] and [[Davidson, North Carolina|Davidson]]. All locations provide free access to Internet-enabled computers and WiFi, and a library card from one location is accepted at all 20 locations.<ref name="Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Info">{{Cite news|url=https://www.cmlibrary.org/about|title=Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Info|date=November 23, 2019|work=cmlibrary.org|access-date=November 24, 2019}}</ref>

Although the library's roots go back to the ''Charlotte Literary and Library Association,'' founded on January 16, 1891,<ref name="cmstory.org Web Site">{{cite web|title=Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County: A century of service | work=cmstory.org Web Site | url=http://www.cmstory.org/content/chapter-1-1891-1902 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925154945/http://www.cmstory.org/content/chapter-1-1891-1902 | archive-date=September 25, 2015 | publisher=Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County | access-date=September 25, 2015}}</ref> the state-chartered [[Carnegie Library]], which opened on the current North Tryon site of the Main Library, was the first non-subscription library opened to members of the public in the city of Charlotte. The philanthropist [[Andrew Carnegie]] donated $25,000 for a library building, on the condition that the city of Charlotte donate a site and $2,500 per year for books and salaries,<ref name="Public Library of Charlotte and Mec">{{cite web| title=Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County: A century of service | work=cmstory.org Web Site | url=http://www.cmstory.org/content/chapter-2-1903-carnegie-library | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925155413/http://www.cmstory.org/content/chapter-2-1903-Carnegie-Library | archive-date=September 25, 2015 | publisher=Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County | access-date=September 25, 2015}}</ref> and that the state grant a charter for the library. All conditions were met, and the Charlotte Carnegie Library opened in an imposing classical building on July 2, 1903.

The 1903 state charter also required that a library be opened for the disenfranchised African-American population of Charlotte. This was completed in 1905 with the opening of the ''Brevard Street Library for Negroes'', an independent library in Brooklyn, a historically black area of Charlotte, on the corner of Brevard and East Second Streets (now Martin Luther King Boulevard).<ref name="cmstory.org">{{cite web | title=Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County: A century of service | work=cmstory.org Web Site | url=http://www.cmstory.org/content/chapter-3-1905-brevard-street-library | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925193944/http://www.cmstory.org/content/chapter-3-1905-brevard-street-library | archive-date=September 25, 2015 | publisher=Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County | access-date=September 25, 2015}}</ref> The Brevard Street Library was the first library for African Americans in the state of North Carolina,<ref name="cmstory.org"/> and some sources say in the southeast.<ref name="charmeck.org Web Site">{{cite web |url=http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/Planning/Whats+New/History+of+Second+Ward.htm |title=charmeck.org Web Site |access-date=September 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071006074601/http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/Planning/Whats%2BNew/History%2Bof%2BSecond%2BWard.htm |archive-date=October 6, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The library was closed in 1961 when the Brooklyn neighborhood in Second Ward was redeveloped, but its role as a cultural center for African-Americans in Charlotte is continued by the Beatties Ford and West Boulevard branches of the library system, as well as by Charlotte's African-American Cultural Center.