20 Arts & Outdoor Experiences in Charlotte: May 2023
In Bloom:
A stretch of the Catawba River in Landsford Canal State Park in South Carolina—about a 45-minute drive from Charlotte—is home to the world’s largest colony of rocky shoals spider lilies, a rare species of aquatic white lily. The flowers, which bloom from May through mid-June, grow only in areas of South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. View the Landsford colony from an overlook at the end of the park’s Canal Trail (1.5-miles round trip) or from the park’s paddling trail for canoes and kayaks (1.5 miles, moderate skill level). The park also hosts Lilyfest each year to celebrate the blooms. This year, the festival—on Sunday, May 21, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.—features live music, food trucks, vendors, guided nature hikes, and more. Park admission is $6 per adult.
10 Farmers Markets Open for the Season:
Opens: April 5
Wednesdays, 4-8 p.m.
Camp North End, 1701 N. Graham St.
Opens: April 8
Saturdays, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
120 S. Main St., Davidson
Opens: April 15
Saturdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Common Market, 2007 Commonwealth Ave.
Farmers Market at Local Loaf NoDa
Opens: April 20
Thursdays, 5-7 p.m.
800 E. 35th St.
University City Farmers Market
Opens: April 29
Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
The Shoppes at University Place, 8929 JM Keynes Drive
Opens: May 6
Saturdays, 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
309 S. Sharon Amity Road
Opens: May 13
Saturdays, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Veterans Park, 106 N. White St., Fort Mill, S.C.
Opens: May 4
Thursdays, 4-7 p.m.
Oak Avenue Mall, 358 Oak Avenue Mall Drive, Kannapolis
Opens: May 6
Saturdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
7601 Matthews Mint Hill Road, Mint Hill
Opens: May 6
Saturdays, 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
Wells Fargo Lot, 101 E. Main St., Rock Hill, S.C.
Outdoor Movie Nights
A slew of outdoor movie nights crop up in and around Charlotte as the weather warms up. Three to hit before things get muggy and buggy:
Saturday, May 13, 7:30 p.m., FREE
Birkdale Village, Huntersville
Friday, May 5, Movie starts at sunset (around 8:10 p.m.), FREE
Ebenezer Park, Rock Hill, S.C.
Saturday, May 6, 8:30 p.m., FREE
Torrence Chapel Park, Cornelius
Give Dance a Whirl:
Star Gazer: A Trek Into Outer Space
May 4-6. Booth Playhouse. Tickets start at $25
Caroline Calouche & Co. tells the story of Stella, a young girl who imagines dancing through space, with contemporary dance and aerial circus arts.
Red Bull Dance Your Style
Saturday, May 6, 7 p.m. World Nightclub, Tickets start at $10
Local dancers of all styles—house, hip-hop, krumping, popping, break dance—battle it out to randomly selected music. The crowd is the judge, and Charlotte’s winner will advance to the national finals in Chicago.
World Ballet Series: Cinderella
Wednesday, May 10, 7 p.m. Ovens Auditorium. Tickets start at $50
See a multinational cast of 40 professional ballet dancers perform the enchanting fairy tale.
Cirque du Biere: Geeks & Gaymers
Friday, May 12, 7 p.m. Hi-Wire Brewing. Tickets: $20
Grab a Hi-Wire brew or two and watch the performance by Cirque du Biere’s aerialists. One dollar from each ticket purchase—and some beer purchases—will go to the Charlotte Gaymers Network.
El Alma de la Luna Dance Recital
Wednesday, May 24, 7 p.m. Booth Playhouse. Tickets: $16
Catch the dance academy’s summer performance, which includes Latin American, modern, contemporary, and folkloric dance.
The Wizard of Oz
May 26-27. Booth Playhouse. Tickets start at $17
You know the story. See it performed by Charlotte Cirque & Dance Center’s faculty and students.