Your CLTure Guide to the Best Events happening in Charlotte this Week

Dogpark with openers Edgehill and The Ocho at Amos’ Southend (8:00 p.m.)

Tickets: $25 plus

Mojo Brookzz (Comedian) at The Comedy Zone (October 17-19) 

Tickets: Sold Out

Comedian Mojo Brookzz takes the stage at The Comedy Zone this weekend for multiple stand-up sets. An accomplished actor, writer, and producer, Brooks has shared the stage with comedy legends like Mike Epps, Martin Lawrence, and Deon Cole. A viral sketch comedy personality with a massive social media following — over 1.2 million Instagram followers, 1.9 million on Facebook, and 1.4 million on TikTok — many may recognize him from Season 21 of Nick Cannon’s Wild ’N Out. Offstage, Brooks continues to make waves in entertainment, starring in Tyler Perry’s upcoming Netflix series She the People.

Here Come The Mummies at Neighborhood Theatre (7:30 p.m.) 

Tickets: $45 plus

Jase of Soul 4 Real (RnBeeFridays) at Pinhouse Charlotte (9:00 p.m.) 

Tickets: $13.42

Big Gigantic at Blackbox Theater (7:30 p.m.) 

Tickets: $41.02 plus

Music festival favorites Big Gigantic bring their electrifying live show to Blackbox Theater this week. The Colorado-based duo — saxophonist, DJ, and producer Dominic Lalli and drummer Jeremy Salken — are known for their sound that blends electronic dance music with jazz, funk, and hip-hop, enhanced by visuals, live instrumentation, and improvisation. They’ve built a loyal following through performances at major festivals like Bonnaroo, Coachella, and Lollapalooza, and are currently touring in support of their latest album, Fluorescence, released in June.

Eric Johnson at Carolina Theatre (8:00 p.m.) 

Tickets: $45.65 plus

Ace Monroe with opener The Retrograde at The Evening Muse (10:30 p.m) 

Tickets: $20.38

The Cult with opener Patriarchy at Ovens Auditorium (8:00 p.m.) 

Tickets: $58.93 plus

English rock band The Cult, best known for their iconic 1980s hit “She Sells Sanctuary,” will perform in Charlotte for the first time since 2016 at Ovens Auditorium. Despite lineup changes and periods of hiatus, the band continues to release new music and tour worldwide, maintaining a loyal global fanbase. Originally formed as Death Cult, the group built a dedicated following in the UK during the mid-1980s as a post-punk and gothic rock outfit. Fans can expect a dynamic set featuring classic tracks from both Death Cult and The Cult, spanning their decades-long career.

To the Beat Y’all: A Hip Hop Symposium at UNC Charlotte (October 17-19) 

Tickets: $35 plus

Ryan Bingham at The Amp Ballantyne (8:00 p.m.) 

Tickets: $43 plus

Saturday, October 18

Charlotte Symphony: Peter and the Wolf at Knight Theater (11:00 a.m.)

Tickets: $22.95 plus

Big Ink + Queen City Zine Fest at McColl Center (10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) 

Tickets: Free

McColl Center celebrates Printmaking Month with a special collaboration featuring Big Ink and Queen City Zine Fest. Big Ink, the traveling printmaking initiative founded by artists Lyell Castonguay and Carand Burnet, is known for “The Big Tuna” — a custom-designed, giant mobile printing press — that brings artists together across the country to create woodblock prints while promoting appreciation for the craft. The event kicks off at 10 a.m. and offers a full day of art, community, and creativity, with Queen City Zine Fest showcasing regional zine publishers and illustrators till 5 p.m. Visitors can also meet McColl Center’s current Artists-in-Residence during open studios at this family-friendly event, which features hands-on art activities, workshops, and food from King of Fire Pizza.

VTGCLT Fall Market at Camp North End (10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

Tickets: $3 plus

Charlotte 49ers vs. Temple at Jerry Richardson Stadium (3:30 p.m.) 

Tickets: $19 plus

Halloween Train at NC Transportation Museum (October 18-19) 

Tickets: $12 plus

The Halloween Train returns to the North Carolina Transportation Museum, offering a family-friendly celebration full of festive fun. Climb aboard the Halloween-decorated train, complete with spooky music, and enjoy hayrides, games, temporary tattoos, scavenger hunts, candy stops, and more. Costumes are encouraged for kids and adults, with contests held on both Saturday and Sunday. The museum’s Scarecrow Stroll, running October 11-26, adds even more excitement with creative scarecrows displayed across the grounds. Tickets vary by age and include options with or without the train ride. Kids under 3 and museum members enter free (reservations recommended). Train ride times are Saturdays at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m., and Sundays at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m.

Charlotte Chalk Art Festival at NoDa Brewing Company (October 18-19) 

Tickets: Free

ASÉ Wrestling at Slingshot Social Game Club (4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.)

Tickets: $13.35 plus

Charlotte FC vs. Philadelphia Union at Bank of America Stadium (6:00 p.m.) 

Tickets: $46.80 plus

Charlotte FC will host the Philadelphia Union at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday in a pivotal MLS regular-season finale. Charlotte is aiming to secure a top-four finish in the Eastern Conference and clinch home-field advantage for the first round of the playoffs. With Pep Biel sidelined by knee tendinitis for the last two matches, Charlotte will once again rely heavily on Wilfried Zaha and Idan Toklomati as they take on a Philadelphia squad that has already locked up the No. 1 seed and Supporters’ Shield. Jakob Glesnes anchors a defense that has conceded just 33 goals all season, while forward Tai Baribo leads the Union with 16 goals. Fans arriving early will receive a limited-edition t-shirt giveaway in celebration of Fan Appreciation Night.

Gigi Perez with opener Hannah Jadagu at The Fillmore (8:00 p.m.)

Tickets: $63.20 plus

Tedeschi Trucks Band with opener Little Feat at PNC Music Pavilion (7:00 p.m.)

Tickets: $28.75 plus

Renaissance Festival (October 3 – November 23) 

Tickets: $37.99 (adults) $23.99 (children ages 5-12)

Enjoy the Renaissance Festival in the Village of Fairhaven in Huntersville, an annual autumn retreat where history comes to life for visitors of all ages. The wooded village features over 140 artisans in an open-air marketplace, and attendees can explore games, rides, archery, the Pirate’s Assault Catapult, the world’s largest rocking horse, camels, a petting farm, and various other activities. Savor a wide array of festival foods, including confections, meats, stews, sandwiches, beer, wine, and more. Entertainment takes place across 16 stages, featuring music, dance, comedy, vaudeville, and circus performances. Jousting tournaments are held three times daily in the Queen’s arena, alongside falconry displays and appearances by mermaids, fairies, and dragons.

Noah Reid with opener Sarah Grace White at Carolina Theatre (8:00 p.m.) 

Tickets: $50.55 plus

Iglesias at The Music Yard (6:00 p.m.) 

Tickets: $15.46 plus

Above and Beyond at Discovery Place (October 18 – April 19) 

Tickets: $23.95 (adults) $18.95 (children 2-13) 

KAYKO with openers Lost Stars and Josh King at The Evening Muse (7:30 p.m.) 

Tickets: $26.44

Thurston Howell Band at Amos’ Southend (8:30 p.m.) 

Tickets: $24.35 plus

Kai Wachi at Blackbox Theater (10:00 p.m.) 

Tickets: $49.84 plus

Sunday, October 19

Billie Eilish with opener Young Miko at Spectrum Center (October 19-20) 

Tickets: Sold Out (Gametime: $103 plus)

Billie Eilish brings her world tour to Charlotte’s Spectrum Center this week, kicking off two nights as part of her expanded late summer and fall arena tour in support of her latest album, Hit Me Hard and Soft, released in May 2024. This marks her first return to Charlotte since her February 2022 performances supporting Happier Than Ever. Hit Me Hard and Soft debuted atop the Billboard 200 and explores a more somber yet expansive sound, led by the hit “BIRDS OF A FEATHER,” currently the most-streamed song by a female artist on Spotify in the past decade. The track was also featured in her performance during the 2024 Summer Olympics closing ceremony in Los Angeles. Eilish first rose to prominence with her debut album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, which won Album of the Year at the 2020 Grammys. She followed with Happier Than Ever in 2021, which received seven Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album, Song of the Year, and Record of the Year. Eilish will be joined on both nights by rising Puerto Rican singer and rapper Young Miko, who released her debut album Att. in 2024 and was featured on Bad Bunny’s Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana.

The Mummy (1932) at Carolina Theatre (2:00 p.m.) 

Tickets: $16.05

Nacho Redondo (Comdian) at The Comedy Zone (3:00 p.m.) 

Tickets: $42.89 plus

The War and Treaty with opener Thunderstorm Artis at Neighborhood Theatre (7:00 p.m.)

Tickets: $42.41 plus

Husband-and-wife Americana/soul duo Michael and Tanya Trotter return to Charlotte’s Neighborhood Theatre this week. The Grammy-nominated pair are riding the wave of their latest album, Plus One, released in February, which features 18 tracks, including a collaboration with bluegrass virtuoso Billy Strings on “Drink From Me.” In 2023, the duo teamed up with Zach Bryan on “Hey Driver,” marking their first entry on the Billboard Hot 100. Michael served in the Army from 2003 to 2007, with deployments to Iraq and Germany, where he honed his piano skills. The Trotters also performed at a Kamala Harris campaign event last November at PNC Music Pavilion. In 2023, The War and Treaty made history as the first Black duo to be nominated for Duo of the Year at both the Country Music Association Awards and the Academy of Country Music Awards. They have won two Americana Music Awards and have received recognition from the Grand Ole Opry. Opening the show is Thunderstorm Artis, a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who was a finalist on Season 18 of The Voice.

Bit Brigade at Amos’ Southend (7:00 p.m.) 

Hobo Johnson and The Lovemakers with opener Budman. at Visulite Theatre (8:00 p.m.) 

Tickets: $30 plus

Jonas Conner with opener Kyle Crownover at The Evening Muse (7:30 p.m.) 

Tickets: $20.28 plus

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