ince 1964, Festival in the Park has been bringing good music, good art and good times to Charlotteans and visitors from around the world. The sounds of "big band music" drift across Freedom Park's lake whose still surface reflects the lights strung from Camelot exhibit tents.

The scents of a variety of food fill the air, as small children with painted faces happily produce their first art work. Others find the many talented artists who can create an original work of art to grace their home or to give as the perfect gift.

First time visitors are taken by the simple, relaxed atmosphere. Old timers marvel at the freshness of each year's offerings, as memories from long ago festivals are revisited. Unlike most festivals our lighting system allows us to continue into the night.

This fun filled event is designed to promote and stimulate interest in the arts. It provides the opportunity for all to see, hear, and learn from over 180 artists and crafts people who actively demonstrate and display their art.

Nearly a thousand entertainers provide free ongoing performances at the main band shell and many stages surrounding it.

Festival in the Park was selected as one of Southeast Tourism Society's Top20 Events for the month of September 2012! In past years, Festival in the Park has also been chosen as one of Sunshine Artists Magazine's 200 BEST festivals.

In years past, visitors to Festival in the Park typically exceeded 85,000 each year. However in 2012, it was estimated that 160,000 attended the Festival.

The Festival is made possible by many groups and individuals. A sampling of the organizations who actively participate in bringing art and entertainment to the Festival are Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, Children's Theatre of Charlotte, Carolina Raptor Center, the Carolina Clowns, the Magicians' Stage, the Charlotte Folk Society, the Actors Crib and the Jazz Arts Initiative. We welcome them and the many others who help make the Festival possible.

With the mission of bringing the community together by celebrating the arts, the Festival Board is excited to broaden its reach and to announce a spring fine arts event, the Kings Drive Art Walk. 

We invite you to participate in our spring event which will be held along the Little Sugar Creek Greenway, a newly reclaimed natural waterway between East Morehead Street and Pearle Street Bridge along Kings Drive. With a focus on fine and emerging artists, our new spring festival on this beautiful and easily accessible venue will become an annual fine arts outing!

Most importantly, the King’s Drive section of the Little Sugar Creek Greenway is adjacent to some of Charlotte’s most prestigious and affluent neighborhoods – with homeowners who appreciate and can afford fine are. We intend to target these neighborhoods with appropriate promotional materials. 

We encourage all groups and individuals to participate and get involved with Festival in the Park and the Kings Drive Art Walk!!

Gimme Shelter from the rains.....

Click here to take our attendee survey
(Attendee survey will be available from September 20 to October 4, 2013 for the 2013 Festival in the Park.)

Festival in the Park was selected as one of Southeast Tourism Society's Top
20 Events for the month of September 2012!