News Summary
The Charlotte SHOUT! Festival is set to light up the city from April 4 to 20, 2025, featuring over 200 events, food, and live music. The kickoff event at the Carolina Theatre promises inspiration with a keynote on artificial intelligence. Attendees can enjoy popular attractions and new installations while supporting local artists and businesses. With affordable ticket options and countless free activities, the festival will celebrate creativity and community spirit in Charlotte.
Charlotte Gets Ready to Celebrate at the SHOUT! Festival!
Heads up, Charlotte! The highly anticipated Charlotte SHOUT! Festival is all set to return from April 4 to 20, 2025, bringing an explosion of creativity, music, and delicious food right to the heart of Uptown. With over 200 events lined up over 17 days, there’s something for everyone to enjoy!
Kickoff Extravaganza on April 4
Mark your calendars for the big kickoff event happening on April 4 at 7 p.m. It will take place at the beautifully restored Carolina Theatre, and trust us, you won’t want to miss it! This opening night is ticketed and promises an unforgettable celebration of art, music, food, ideas, and fashion.
One of the highlights will be a talk by keynote speaker Noelle Russell, who will dive into the fascinating topic of artificial intelligence and discuss its implications for the future. Prepare to be inspired and maybe a bit amazed!
A Successful 2024 Festival
The 2024 Charlotte SHOUT! Festival was a roaring success, attracting over 642,000 attendees and generating a fantastic $17.1 million boost to uptown businesses. Local creatives were also winners, pocketing $650,000 from various events, and more than 28 food trucks tantalized taste buds the last time around.
Returning Favorites and New Attractions
Returning for 2025 are some crowd-pleasers you won’t want to miss:
- Eggs on Parade: Marvel at larger-than-life Easter eggs, each designed by talented local artists.
- Pianodrome: An amphitheater made from 40 recycled pianos, hosting all sorts of exciting events.
- E/motion: Interactive see-saws that light up and imitate the feeling of water.
But wait, there’s even more! New attractions will debut this year:
- CanStruction: Watch as teams compete to create spectacular sculptures from canned food for a great cause.
- Queen’s Greens: Dive into a mini-golf course featuring unique obstacles designed by local artists.
- Oracle: Encounter inflatable characters that interact with you through using artificial intelligence.
- EdgeFest: Experience live mural creations and performances from local talents.
- Mi Casa, Your Casa 2.0: Engage with an interactive installation featuring glowing houses and swings.
Festivals Within a Festival
The Charlotte SHOUT! Festival is packed with excitement – it includes three smaller festivals:
- Charlotte Ideas Festival (April 3-8)
- Carolina BBQ Festival (April 4-5)
- Charlotte StrEATs (April 12-13)
Live Music, Food, and Fun!
Get ready to groove to some fantastic live music featuring regional acts performing at various hotspots throughout the city, including the vibrant Victoria Yards and the Pianodrome. Don’t miss the CMS Performing Arts Day on April 4, showcasing talented school performers!
The Carolina BBQ Festival promises to be a culinary feast, featuring an impressive lineup of 17 pitmasters demonstrating their skills, plus a jaw-dropping Whole Hog BBQ display. And let’s not forget the delectable food trucks lined up on Levine Avenue of the Arts throughout the festival. You’ll definitely want to come hungry!
Affordable Fun for Everyone
Worried about costs? Don’t fret! Ticket prices vary across events, and there will be plenty of free activities for families and friends to enjoy together.
The Ideas Festival will kick off with engaging discussions from award-winning speakers and authors tackling pressing topics, making it a perfect blend of education and entertainment.
With pop-up markets, art exhibits, and community celebrations, there are countless ways to connect and celebrate the creative spirit of Charlotte. For more information and the complete event schedule, visit charlotteshout.com and get ready for a fantastic festival!
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
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Additional Resources
- QC News: Charlotte SHOUT! Festival 2025
- Axios: Things to Do in Charlotte
- WBTV: Things to Do in Charlotte This Weekend
- Wikipedia: Festival
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Festival
