Charlotte Pride, sports and entertainment events making for busy weekend Uptown

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – This weekend will be a busy one in uptown Charlotte, with several sporting events and a major festival taking over.

The Charlotte Knights will kick things off Friday night as they continue their series against the Toledo Mud Hens at Truist Field. Tickets are still available for Friday, Saturday and Sunday games, with a fireworks show happening after Friday’s game.

Saturday will be the busiest day of the weekend. The annual Charlotte Pride Festival will officially get underway, the Panthers will host the New York Jets in a preseason matchup, plus the Knights will still be in town. The live Broadway version of “The Lion King” will also be playing at the Belk Theater in Uptown, with two shows both Saturday and Sunday.

Charlotte Pride events will run from noon til 11 p.m. Saturday, and from noon til 6 p.m. Sunday. The parade is scheduled to begin Sunday at 1 p.m. Last year, more than 250,000 people attended, with an even bigger turnout expected this year.

A complete guide to this year’s Charlotte Pride – including information about transportation, event schedules, where to eat and much more – can be found here.

Meanwhile on Saturday, the Panthers game has a 7 p.m. kickoff, although tailgating will take place around the stadium throughout the afternoon and evening.

First pitch for Friday’s Knights game will be at 7:04 p.m. It will be a bit earlier Saturday at 12:05 p.m., and then Sunday’s series finale is scheduled to start at 5:05 p.m.

With all the events going on in Uptown, getting to and from the different events could be hectic. That being said, utilizing public transportation could be a viable option for many people.

Light rail stations are located on Brooklyn Village Avenue, as well as Third, Trade and Seventh streets. All stations are within two blocks of the Charlotte Pride, and not much further from Truist Field and Bank of America Stadium. CATS will also operate buses around the city with many stops around Uptown.

More information about the city’s public modes of transportation can be found here.

For people looking to drive to the festival, parking options are available, but lots will likely fill up fast and surge pricing is expected. A few parking decks in the festival’s vicinity can be found here, along with an option to book a spot. The Mint Street deck could also be another potential location for attendees.

Ride hailing services such as Uber or Lyft are other options for attendees.

Weather could also potentially impact some Uptown events, with a chance for afternoon and evening storms all three days. A First Alert is in place for Saturday when the best chance arrives. It is worth noting, though, that Charlotte Pride is a rain or shine event.

Related: Charlotte Pride 2024 guide: Parking, performers, forecast, road closures, more

Copyright 2024 WBTV. All rights reserved.