Agenda Weekender: 43 cool things to do in Charlotte this weekend including SCarowinds and Checkers hockey

Pro tip: Lyft to any participating Charlotte brewery this weekend and show the bartender your receipt for a 50% off code for your ride home.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11

70. Mostly sunny. 

Food & Drink

Food Truck Friday Plaza Midwood at Resident Culture Brewing: As always, they’ve got live music, unique brews and food trucks, including The Dumpling Lady, Streamline Kitchen, What The Fries CLT, Food Truck: My Sausage Buddy, Libretto’s Pizzeria Charlotte, Waffle Tastries and Hip Hop Smoothies. 4-9 p.m. Free. Details.

Food Truck Friday South End at Sycamore Brewing: This week’s banging lineup includes TIN Kitchen, OooWee BBQ, Gyro Twins Truck, GOGI, Chef Ray’s Cuban Cuisine, Chilaka Tacolab and Rollicious Ribs & More. They’ll have refreshing boozy drinks like Prosecco pops and frosé — plus the usual beer and cider. 4-10 p.m. Free. Details.

Arts & Entertainment

Brantley Gilbert: Not Like Us Tour at PNC Music Pavilion: From “My Kind of Crazy” to “What Happens in a Small Town,” Brantley Gilbert has created tons of radio hits over the years, so don’t miss him live. 7 p.m. $38-$78. Details.

Whitewater Center Film Series at U.S. National Whitewater Center: Every Friday in October you can head to the USNWC for move night. This week they’re showing “Mountainfilm on Tour” which is compilation of documentaries shown at the Mountainfilm festival held every Memorial Day weekend in Telluride, Colorado. 6:53 p.m. Free, $6 parking. Details.

A Night of Jazz with Saxophonist Dee Lucas and Persona Bell at Stage Door Theater: Treat yourself to a jazzy night out with national recording artist and saxophonist Dee Lucas and vocalist and pianist Persona Bell. 8-10:30 p.m. $25-$35. Details.

Experience

Creek Fest at Tyber Creek Pub: The three-day music fest is packed with 10 performances, including local bands and DJs. Friday kicks off with Rally for Rossow to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and features FUNN.E.BIZZ N Friends, The Broadcast and DJ Fish. 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Free. Details.

Friday Nights at Camp North End at 1824 Statesville Ave.: Every Friday, they’ll have food, music and a few surprises for a laid-back hangout. Note: Kids and leashed pets are welcome. 5-10 p.m. Free. Details.

Pumpkin picking at Hall Family Farm:Hall Family Farm has a little bit of something for everyone, including a pumpkin patch, hayrides, a 5-acre corn maze and of course, the Instagrammable delicious apple cider doughnut sundaes. 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Pumpkins are $0.64 per pound. Details.

Pumpkin picking at Wise Acres: What could be better than eating pizza and and picking a pumpkin on a sunny fall day? Not much. Wise Acres also had a corn pit, wagon rides, a corn maze, zip lines, playgrounds and a barrel train. Pumpkins: are$0.69 per pound. 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Details.

Pumpkin picking at Carrigan Farms: During the day, a hayride will take you to the patch so you can hunt for your perfect pumpkin. But there’s also plenty to do at night, whether you prefer spooky or sweet Halloween activities. You can opt for the night hayride which will take you to a bonfire (you can bring your own s’mores materials for roasting) or head to “Scarrigan Farms” for a haunted trail (not for kids). 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. $11 (pumpkin + hayride). Details.

[Agenda related guide: Quick guide to 10 must-visit pumpkin patches near Charlotte]

SCarowinds at Carowinds: Carowinds transforms from “theme park” to “scream park” for its annual SCarowinds Halloween attraction. The event features 500+ monsters, ghosts and goblins roaming the grounds plus haunted attractions and shows. 7 p.m. to midnight. $32+. Details.

Sports

Opening Night for the Charlotte Checkers at Bojangles’ Coliseum: Our Calder Cup champs are hitting the ice for another season, and they’re celebrating with a championship banner raising ceremony before taking on the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. 7 p.m. $18.50+. Details.

Hornets v 76ers at Lawrence Joel Coliseum, Winston Salem: Take a quick road trip to see the Hornets defeat the 76ers for their second “home” game of the pre-season. 7:30 p.m. $12-$360+. Details.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12

73. Partly cloudy.

Food & Drink

Oyster & Seafood Fest! at Sycamore: It’s time to sharpen your shucking knife because oyster roast season is here. Expect oysters, food trucks, Sycamore brews and rosés and education on why preserving the coast is important. Noon to 11 p.m. Free. Details.

Mixology with Bob Peters – Halloween Cocktails at Earl’s Grocery: Bob is teaching you all the tricks to creating a scary good cocktail, just in time for Halloween parties. 2:30-3:30 p.m. Free. Details.

South End Craft Crawl 2019 at 7+ South End stops: Enjoy the best of South End’s craft beer scene via the signature historic trolleys and hit spots like Craft Tasting Room and Growler Shop, Pop the Top Craft Beer Shop, Lenny Boy Brewing Co., The Unknown Brewing Company, Wooden Robot Brewery, Hoppin’, Suffolk Punch and Triple C Brewing Company. 1-7 p.m. Free. Details.

Chopt Jr. Kid Takeover Celebration at Chopt Blakeney, 9844 Rea Road: Chopt launched a kids menu and to celebrate kiddos 12 and under eat free, no purchase necessary. Noon to 5 p.m. Free. Details.

Family Cooking Class at Flower Child Charlotte: Matthew Willey will lead a conversation on the importance of bees to our food while Flower Child’s Chef Eddie teaches healthy cooking recipes. 4-5:30 p.m. RSVP required. Details.

Arts & Entertainment

Hola Charlotte Festival at Uptown: This Hispanic heritage festival features nationally recognized entertainers and a Latin American cultural village highlighting 15 Latin American countries through fashion, dance, art, etc. Noon to 7 p.m. Free. Details.

Anjelah Johnson: Technically Not Stalking at Ovens Auditorium: Don’t miss this MADtv alum (remember Bon Qui Qui?) on stage with her newest live tour. 7 p.m. $39-$59. Details.

Bridge Fest at Arts+, 4100 Raleigh St.: Expect art demons, performances and hands-on crafts. You can help artist Julio Gonzalez create paper flowers, which will be used in a collaborative installation project called Dia de Los Casi Muertos (Day of the Almost Dead). And local jewelry maker Kimberly Turner will teach you how to make your own jewelry. 1-4 p.m. Free. Details.

Experience

Creek Fest at Tyber Creek Pub: The three-day music fest is packed with 10 performances, including local bands and DJs. Saturday’s acts include Mike Leverone, Revelwood Mission, Cravin Melon and DJ Soden. 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Free. Details.

Mimosas Nail Bar grand opening at 2320 N. Davidson St., Suite 2: The new nail salon is teaming up with Dress for Success for their big opening weekend. The first 150 customers of the day to bring in a piece of clothing get a free manicure card (redeemable after Oct. 14). Mimosas, coffee, tea, beer, Champagne and other drinks are complimentary, btw. All day. Services start at $20. Details.

Carolina Renaissance Festival at 16445 Poplar Tent Road: This 20-something-year-old annual festival takes you way back in time to the days of jousting, armored knights, feasting and more. Expect more than 500 characters in costume, 14 entertainment stages, hundreds of village vendors, turkey legs and other festival foods, knights on horseback, tomato tossing and more. The festival is every weekend through Nov. 24. 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. $15 kids, $25 adults. Details.

Festival of India at Uptown Charlotte: Celebrating 25 years, this family-friendly event features Indian dance, food, art music and Bollywood entertainment. Noon to 8 p.m. Free. Details.

Pumpkin picking at Hall Family Farm:Hall Family Farm has a little bit of something for everyone, including a pumpkin patch, hayrides, a 5-acre corn maze and of course, the Instagrammable delicious apple cider doughnut sundaes. 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Pumpkins are $0.64/lb. Details.

Pumpkin picking at Wise Acres: What could be better than eating pizza and and picking a pumpkin on a sunny fall day? Not much. Wise Acres also had a corn pit, wagon rides, a corn maze, zip lines, playgrounds and a barrel train. Pumpkins: are$0.69 per pound. 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Details.

Pumpkin picking at Carrigan Farms: During the day, a hayride will take you to the patch so you can hunt for your perfect pumpkin. But there’s also plenty to do at night, whether you prefer spooky or sweet Halloween activities. You can opt for the night hayride which will take you to a bonfire (you can bring your own s’mores materials for roasting) or head to “Scarrigan Farms” for a haunted trail (not for kids). 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. $11 (pumpkin + hayride). Details.

Fall Frolic on the Greenway at Anne 2573 Lake Haigler Drive, Fort Mill: Celebrate fall with horse rides, pumpkin picking and a family carnival featuring wagon ride, mazes, slides, pedal carts, games, kayaking, petting zoo and more. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. $12 non-members, $15 members. Details.

Cloister Honey Fall Open House at 3314 Rainbow Circle: Learn about bees, see the hives, and sample some honey. 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Details.

SCarowinds at Carowinds: Carowinds transforms from “theme park” to “scream park” for its annual SCarowinds Halloween attraction. The event features 500+ monsters, ghosts and goblins roaming the grounds plus haunted attractions and shows. 7 p.m. to midnight. $32+. Details.

Sports

Charlotte Checkers at Bojangles’ Coliseum: Our Calder Cup champs are hitting the ice for another season, and they’re taking on the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. You can get an Oktoberfest package which includes a discounted Gold Section ticket located near center ice, 12-ounce Oktoberfest beer at the game, a Calder Cup Championship hat, and collectible boot beer cup. 6 p.m. $18.50+. Details.

Do Good

Ties & Tails Gala hosted by Humane Society of Charlotte at The Westin Charlotte: Join the Humane Society of Charlotte for their 11th annual black-tie, dog-friendly Ties and Tails Gala. Larry Sprinkle and Michelle Boudin will be the guest emcees, and you can expect silent and live auctions, dinner, drinks and dancing. 6-10 p.m. $225 per person or $1,600 for a table of 8 & $50 per canine. Details.

24th Annual Hopebuilders 5K at Levine Children’s Hospital: Run, walk, volunteer or be a “virtual runner” and help fundraise to benefit the areas of greatest need at Atrium Health Levine Children’s, allowing children and families in our region to receive the best care where they need it most. 6:30 a.m. $15-$35. Details.

6th Annual Takes on Cancer at VBGB: Your ticket includes Includes an auction, raffle, dedicated “No Hair Don’t Care” IPA from Resident Culture and tons of games. Proceeds will go toward the Taylor Soloff Memorial Endowment. 1-5 p.m. $25. Details.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13

67. Mostly sunny.

Experience

Creek Fest at Tyber Creek Pub: The three-day music fest is packed with 10 performances, including local bands and DJs. Sunday’s acts include Eleanor Underhill & Friends, David Childers & the Serpents and Sly Sparrow. 2-11 p.m. Free. Details.

Mimosas Nail Bar grand opening at 2320 N. Davidson St., Suite 2: The new nail salon is teaming up with Dress for Success for their big opening weekend. The first 150 customers of the day to bring in a piece of clothing get a free manicure card (redeemable after Oct. 14). Mimosas, coffee, tea, beer, Champagne and other drinks are complimentary, btw. All day. Services start at $20. Details.

Carolina Renaissance Festival at 16445 Poplar Tent Road: This 20-something-year-old annual festival takes you way back in time to the days of jousting, armored knights, feasting and more. Expect more than 500 characters in costume, 14 entertainment stages, hundreds of village vendors, turkey legs and other festival foods, knights on horseback, tomato tossing and more. The festival is every weekend through Nov. 24. 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. $15 kids, $25 adults. Details.

Festival of India at Uptown Charlotte: Celebrating 25 years, this family-friendly event features Indian dance, food, art music and Bollywood entertainment. Noon to 7 p.m. Free. Details.

Pumpkin picking at Hall Family Farm:Hall Family Farm has a little bit of something for everyone, including a pumpkin patch, hayrides, a 5-acre corn maze and of course, the Instagrammable delicious apple cider doughnut sundaes. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pumpkins are $0.64/lb. Details.

Pumpkin picking at Wise Acres: What could be better than eating pizza and and picking a pumpkin on a sunny fall day? Not much. Wise Acres also had a corn pit, wagon rides, a corn maze, zip lines, playgrounds and a barrel train. Pumpkins: are$0.69 per pound. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Details.

Pumpkin picking at Carrigan Farms: During the day, a hayride will take you to the patch so you can hunt for your perfect pumpkin. But there’s also plenty to do at night, whether you prefer spooky or sweet Halloween activities. You can opt for the night hayride which will take you to a bonfire (you can bring your own s’mores materials for roasting) or head to “Scarrigan Farms” for a haunted trail (not for kids). 2-4 p.m. $11 (pumpkin + hayride). Details.

Fall Frolic on the Greenway at Anne Springs Greenway, 2573 Lake Haigler Drive, Fort Mill: Celebrate fall with horse rides, pumpkin picking and a family carnival featuring wagon ride, mazes, slides, pedal carts, games, kayaking, petting zoo and more. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. $12 non-members, $15 members. Details.

ON THE AGENDA

See all the upcoming events here.