Uptown Charlotte will come alive this week with art, music, food, and ideas as Charlotte SHOUT! returns April 4–20.
Produced by Charlotte Center City Partners and presented by Atrium Health and Bank of America, the annual festival will feature more than 200 events celebrating the city’s creativity, diversity, and community.
The festival officially kicks off with a ticketed opening night on April 3 at the newly restored Carolina Theatre. This special evening will highlight all four festival pillars and close with a keynote by artificial intelligence expert Noelle Russell, who will speak on the future of AI.
The 2024 festival drew over 642,000 attendees and generated a direct economic impact of $17.1 million for Uptown businesses. Organizers paid $650,000 to local creatives and hosted 1,200 students in arts and education programming, according to a press release from Center City Partners.
New Additions in 2025:
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CanStruction: Industry teams build sculptures from canned goods, which are later donated to Second Harvest Food Bank.
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Queen’s Greens: A playable art exhibit with nine artist-designed mini-golf holes.
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Oracle: Giant inflatable characters that engage guests with interactive AI-powered dialogue.
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EdgeFest: A live spray-paint celebration featuring local muralists.
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Mi Casa, Your Casa 2.0: Red-frame houses with swings invite visitors to play and reflect in shared spaces.
Fan Favorites Returning This Year:
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Eggs on Parade: Thirteen giant Easter eggs designed by local artists.
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Pianodrome: A 40-piano amphitheater inside the Wells Fargo Atrium, hosting performances and lessons.
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E/motion: Interactive light-up seesaws simulating the feeling of water surges.
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Live Music: Charlotte-based musicians will perform daily at Victoria Yards and other locations.
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Surprise Installations: Hidden art will appear in alleys and unexpected corners of Uptown.
Festivals-Within-the-Festival
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Charlotte StrEATs (April 12–13): A culinary showcase of Charlotte’s chefs and restaurants, plus StrEATs Uncorked on April 4 featuring North Carolina wines.
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Carolina BBQ Festival (April 4–5): Hosted by Sweet Lew’s BBQ and Let’s Meet CLT, with pitmaster tastings, live music, and whole hog cooking.
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Charlotte Ideas Festival (April 3–8): Talks by national thought leaders including author Ann Patchett, astrophysicist-musician Matt Russo, and technologist Noelle Russell.
Organizers say every day will offer something new, with performances and installations popping up across Uptown Charlotte.
For more information and a full schedule, visit charlotteshout.com.
