Attendees bemoan lines and prices at Charlotte's first Panda Fest

Catch up quick: On Friday, fire marshals shut down the festival two hours earlier than their scheduled end time after outdoor cooking operations didn't meet code requirements, WSOC reported.

• Ticketholders affected by the closure were allowed to reuse their passes on Saturday or Sunday.
• By Sunday, the event was sold out.

Zoom out: Charlotte has seen big-ticket festivals stumble before. In 2019, the Untappd Beer Festival drew widespread complaints over long lines, fragile souvenir cups and poor communication about weather delays.

I attended Panda Fest on Sunday. Here are a few takeaways:

Vendor options

The festival offered more than 70 Asian food vendors representing cuisines from China, Japan, Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. It seemed like only a handful were local, and several offered duplicate menus, limiting variety.

Between the lines: By contrast, another Asian cultural event hosted by CLTure in partnership with the Charlotte International Arts Festival featured a lineup of locally owned Asian businesses over the weekend.

State of play: A Panda Fest spokesperson tells Axios that the festival intentionally included a mix of local, regional and national vendors to give attendees the chance to try restaurants from across the country — including many not typically available in Charlotte.

• To help manage demand, some of the most popular vendors operated duplicate stations, a practice borrowed from other Panda Fest stops to cut down on wait times.

Price point

Panda Fest tickets cost $10–$35 for entry, but food was an additional cost. Prices varied — one vendor sold meat skewers for $11 each, while another charged $25 for lemonade in a panda-shaped souvenir cup.

What they're saying: A former Atlanta Panda Fest attendee recently warned followers in an Instagram reel about steep prices, citing $16 tanghulu (candied fruit on a stick).

• "We paid $20 a ticket and were expecting most things to be between $5–$15 ... We ended up spending $172 between two people," she said.

Yes, but: Vendors set their own pricing, which reflected portion sizes, ingredients, and preparation for each dish, per the Panda Fest statement.

Long lines

The entrance for regular attendees had no line on Sunday morning. But as I left, long lines stretched down the street.

What they're saying: A Reddit thread urging people to avoid Panda Fest described wait times of up to an hour.

• "An hour-long line just to get in, at a ticketed event. The line was blocks long… 0/10 execution for an event that spent so much money on advertising and promotion. I want my money back."
• "North Carolina! We heard you like waiting at the DMV. But what if you could experience that for $20 a ticket?"
• "The line wrapped around several blocks — no one around to ask questions."

The other side: A Panda Fest spokesperson said the longest entry delays came at the start of new sessions, when large groups arrived at once. Staff also slowed lines by enforcing safety rules and confiscating prohibited items. While it frustrated some attendees, organizers say the extra screening was needed to maintain a safe environment.

What's next: Panda Fest is finalizing its 2026 schedule and hasn't confirmed if it will return to Charlotte. Organizers say updates will be posted on the festival's website and social media.

• In the meantime, locals can check out the monthly Asian Market at Urban District Market every first Friday, featuring local vendors, karaoke and authentic cuisine.

Editor's note: I attended Panda Fest with a media pass, which included some food.