Agenda Weekender: 54 things to do including the South End Hops Festival, Unknown’s No Pants Ride, and Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival

Weekend Forecast

Friday: 81. Scattered thunderstorms. 60% chance of rain.
Saturday: 74. AM thunderstorms. 80% chance of rain.
Sunday: 82. Sunny. 0% chance of rain.

Friday, May 12

Food & Drink

4th Annual Bacon Fest at Whiskey River: Expect three bacon-themed buffets, including samples of appetizers, entrees, desserts and bacon-inspired cocktails. 8-10 p.m. $14. Details.

Experience

Define American Film Festival at The Harvey B. Gantt Center: #DAFF2017 films will explore intersectional issues like immigration, race, LGBTQ and women’s rights; expect highly influential post-film panelists. Fri-Sat. $5-$25. Details.

North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival at Rural Hill: This beer and music festival will feature local breweries and live music, food trucks, and the option to camp out. Fri-Sat. $16-$76. Details.

Poptopia Mother’s Day at Independence Center Atrium: This three-day shopping experience will feature local retailers and makers just in time to get mom the perfectly unique gift. Free. Details.

6th Annual Armenian Festival at St. Sarkis Armenian Church: Expect lamb and chicken shish kebab, homemade Armenian pastries, music, cultural displays, sanctuary tours, and children’s activities. Fri: 5-9 p.m. & Sat: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Free. Details.

Great Gatsby Party at Oak Room: Expect food, cocktails, a comedy/improv performance, raffles and a silent auction; 100% of the proceeds benefit the families served by the Hands for Holly Fund. 6-10 p.m. $75+. Details.

1065 The END Birthday Bash at Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre: Weezer, Catfish and the Bottlemen and DREAMERS will all take the stage. 6-11 p.m. $29+. Details.

We Love Bicycles, Party at The Spoke Easy: Expect bikes, beer and good times. 7-10 p.m. Free. Details.

Learn Things

Mom Matters: Life-Hacks for Moms at South Charlotte Banquet Center: Your ticket includes lunch, networking, a presentation from two local experts, goody bags, a chance to win prizes, massages and more. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. $25. Details.

Art & Entertainment

Charlotte Symphony’s Mahler Symphony No. 2 at Belk Theater: 250+ musicians will perform Mahler’s Second Symphony, a work that explores the full range of human emotion. Fri-Sat. $25+. Details.

Mood: B L A C K at Goodyear Arts: An evening of shared resistance, risk-taking and a critical interrogation of the current political condition. 6-9 p.m. Free. Details.

New Frequencies / Music: Ken Vandermark & Nate Wooley Duo at McColl Center: Chicago saxophonist/composer Ken Vandermark and New York trumpet player Nate Wooley work together to create an organic combination of the jazz tradition, free improvisation and modern composition. 8-10 p.m. $10+. Details.

Saturday, May 13

Food & Drink

Savory Saturday’s at 1545 W Trade St: Charlotte’s only breakfast food truck event; bonus: expect jazz. 8-11 a.m. Details.

International Food Festival at Muslim Education Center: A day of fun and food from around the world; expect bounce house, pony rides, henna and face painting. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Details.

BBQ & Bluegrass at Sycamore Brewing: Expect BBQ from OooWee BBQ, The Improper Pig and Queen City Q, and bluegrass by The Clydes and Dear Brother starting at 1 p.m. 12-10 p.m. Free. Details.

Mother’s Day Tea at The Ballantyne: Enjoy a special menu of tea sandwiches and sweets with the option to add a Champagne Rosebud or Pink Lady Cocktail. 1-4 p.m. $45. Details.

Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival at Symphony Park: Your admission buys you a sampling glass for all-you-can-sample beer and bourbon; expect tons of BBQ and live music, too. 2-6 p.m. $39+. Details.

South End Hops Festival at 308 W. Carson Boulevard: Four hours of unlimited craft beer tastings from 41 breweries paired with live music, 5 food trucks, pups (RescuedMe event), a central beer garden, and cooking demos with local beer. 2 p.m. $10 (DD), $35+ to drink. Details.

Grand Opening at Bold Missy Brewery: 5-10 p.m. Free. Details.

Pure Intentions Coffee Launch Party at Amelie’s Uptown: Get free coffee samples and coffee-infused pastries. 6-9 p.m. Free. Details.

Experience

Watch & Style Expo at Windsor Jewelers: Chat with reps from four designers that will be bringing some newly introduced designs and additional product to Windsor’s store. Free. Details.

Mother’s Day at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden: Each day will have special activities and the first 250 mothers admitted each day beginning at 9 a.m. will receive a free potted plant. Fri-Sat: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free for mothers. Details.

Charlotte DragonBoat Festival at Ramsey Creek Park: An annual family-oriented event for the Asian and non-Asian community, celebrating Asian cultures, diversity, ethnicity, roots and history. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Details.

Carolina Classic & Performance Car Show at RK Motors: Browse hundreds of cars with food, games and activities. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Details.

Scavenger Hunt Run + Cornhole Tournament at NoDa Brewing Company: An afternoon of running, corn hole and beer to celebrate the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon. 1-3 p.m. Free. Details.

Headshots with your Dog at Lucky Dog Bark & Brew: Charlotte Business Group is hosting a “BYOD” (Bring Your Own Dog) networking event; make sure to bring an item to donate to the Humane Society. 2-6 p.m. Free. Details.

Grand Opening at Lineberger Orthodontics + Lineberger Dentistry: Hang out with the Lineberger fam as they celebrate the grand opening of their new tooth shop with food trucks, drinks, YETI cooler giveaway, Two Scoops Creamery, a bouncy house, face painting, pop up shops, and a corn hole tournament against the one and only Kawann Short. 2-6 p.m. Free. Details.

Starving Artist Market at Lenny Boy Brewing: 2-8 p.m. Free. Details.

Booty Brews & Beats at Three Spirits Brewery: Live music, raffles and a 50/50 cash prize benefiting 24 Foundation. 3-6 p.m. Free. Details.

Paws for the Cause at C3 Lab: Includes two drink tickets, food samplings, live music, and live demos on aerial silk and hoop by AerialCLT. 7-10 p.m. $35. Details.

Learn Things

Mother’s Day Sweet Treats at Bar Cocoa: Learn to cook strawberry shortcake, quiche and vanilla crème puffs. 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. $150. Details.

Community Discussion: Transgender Healthcare in Charlotte at McColl Center: Genderlines and the Charlotte Transgender Healthcare Group will present healthcare, mental healthcare and surgical options available for the Charlotte trans community. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Details.

Art & Entertainment

Reggae Day Party at TCB 54 Hundred Bar & Grill: 1-7 p.m. $10+. Details.

Moving Spirits: A Community Intensive Dance Workshop at Harvey B. Gantt Center: You’ll focus on the Guaguancó rumba style, which is often referred to as the “rooster-hen dance.” 2-3 p.m. $5. Details.

Off the Wall Paint Off at Charlotte Art League: Artists will have a bucket next to their easel for you to put your suggestions in on what they should paint; they’ll pick one blindly and have an hour to complete it. 7-9 p.m. $7. Details.

Kids

Family Day at Bechtler Museum: Kids and families can explore the art and artists in the Bechtler collection through hands-on art activities and family-focused museum tours. 12-4:30 p.m. $8. Details.

Backcountry Explorers: Colonial Occupations Planter at The Charlotte Museum of History: Explore the job of a farmer and do crafts based on what you learned. 1 p.m. $10. Details.

Fitness

Shake, Swagger & Stroll at Freedom Park: A family-friendly 5K walk; the Stiletto Swagger beforehand features about a dozen men walking in stiletto heels about 50 feet to music. 8 a.m. $25. Details.

No Pants Ride at Unknown Brewing Company: The ride will start out at the Scaleybark Light Rail Station and end at the Unknown Brewing Co., where you’ll party and enjoy live music, food trucks and beer. 1-6 p.m. Free. Details.

Sip & Pole Mother’s Day Edition at Pole Dance Charlotte Fun and Fitness Dance Studio: Your ticket includes the class and drinks courtesy of Sweet Sips Galore. 5:45-7 p.m. $25. Details.

Sports

Lacrosse at Memorial Stadium: Charlotte Hounds vs. Chesapeake Bayhawks 7:30 p.m. $9+. Details.

Sunday, May 14

Food & Drink

Prix-fixe Mother’s Day Brunches: Read our roundup here.

Mother’s Day with The Secrete Chocolatier at Pure Pizza – Central Avenue: The price includes one large topping pizza, a carafe of mimosas and The Secrete Chocolatier truffles. 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. $35. Details.

Experience

Mother’s Day Out at Mud. Facial Bar + AIR Aerial Fitness – SouthPark: Enjoy a $5 aerial yoga class at 11 a.m. then buy one get one half off facials at Mud. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Details.

Mother’s Day Brunch and Paint at Vida Vida: Enjoy $5 mimosas and brunch while being guided on how to paint a hand selected painting. 1-3 p.m. $28. Details.

Finders Keepers Market at NoDa Brewing Company: 1-6 p.m. Free. Details.

Art & Entertainment

Music and Museum: Living Room Concert at Bechtler Museum: Andrea Mumm returns to the Bechtler for a chamber-music program with violinist Rosemary Furniss and three other of her Charlotte Symphony colleagues. 4 p.m. $80. Details.

Future: Nobody Safe Tour at PNC Music Pavillion: 7 p.m. $69+. Details.

Live Nation Presents SYLVAN ESSO With Special Guest Lucy Dacus at The Fillmore: 8 p.m. $25. Details.

Fitness

Mother’s Day 5K at Symphony Park: There will be activities for kids (face painting, bouncy house, make a card, etc.) and free mimosas and wine for the moms. 8-11 a.m. $40. Details.

Pop Up Ride at Sycamore Brewing: Hang out after the class and enjoy 25% off drinks. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Details.

Goat Yoga at Wish We Had Acres: 5-6 p.m. $10. Details.

We’re excited for…

Cheerwine’s Centennial Celebration on North Main Street, Salisbury: Cheerwine’s outdoor Centennial Celebration will celebrate “all things Carolina” with a NC BBQ competition, local food, live bands and free Cheerwine. 12-8 p.m. Free. May 20.

Montford Park Block Party on Park Road and Mockingbird Lane: Hang out in Montford for the day to eat and drink, learn about neighborhood businesses, jam out to live music, play cornhole, and race through the YWCA obstacle course. 4-9 p.m. Free. May 20.

Lost Hollow Music Fest at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden: Lost Hollow Music Fest will feature a range of musicians who have put their own spin on the blues; expect food, drinks and activities while you’re jamming out. 9 a.m. $13+. May 20-21.

See all the upcoming events here.

Cover photo via Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival.