Axios Charlotte

March 24, 2026
🌼 Hello, Tuesday! It's McKenzie, wishing you a happy start to "I'm not sick, it's just allergies!" season.
🌤️ Today's weather: Mostly sunny, with a high of 59 and a low of 42.
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🎂 Happy birthday to our members Lisa Emory, Tom Bastian, Suzanne Coddington, Carmalita Monroe, John Isenhower, John Clemons, and Maia Reynolds!
This newsletter is 945 words, a 3.5-minute read.
1 big thing: 🌷 Tip toe through the tulip (fields)
Flower fields across the Carolinas are starting to bloom.
Why it matters: We've rounded up nine pick-your-own flower farms within two hours of Charlotte — from spring's tulip fields to fall's sunflower patches.
Here are several open now for tulip season:
🌷Patterson Farm in Mount Ulla
The farm's spring tulip festival runs through March — expect pick-your-own blooms, a large play area and weekend wagon rides.
- 45-50 minutes from Uptown.
💐 Dewberry Farms in Kernersville
Find tulips in the spring and sunflowers in the summer and fall at this 20-acre farm.
- 90 minutes from Uptown.
🌷 Thompson Family Farm in Campobello, South Carolina
This South Carolina family farm will run its spring tulip season through late March.
- Two hours west of Uptown.
💐 Stepps Hillcrest Orchard in Hendersonville
Tulip season kicked off March 21 and typically lasts three to four weekends at this family-owned orchard.
- About two hours from Uptown.
2. 🎤 DaBaby announces Charlotte music festival
DaBaby announced Monday he's bringing a hip-hop festival to Concord this summer.
Why it matters: The Be More Grateful Fest lineup includes 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes, Waka Flocka and about a dozen more artists, DaBaby posted on his Instagram Monday.
Driving the news: Be More Grateful Fest will be at Route 29 Pavilion in Concord on Saturday, June 13.
- Presale tickets go on sale Thursday, March 25, with general sales starting Friday, March 26.
- Other artists featured on the festival's website include Boosie, Webbie, BigXThaPlug, YKNiece, Bubba B, Big Bookie, Trap Dickey, Fetty P Franklin and Mellow Rackz.
New jobs to check out
💼 See who's hiring around the city.
- Executive Assistant & Hospitality Coordinator at Donald Haack Diamonds.
- Lower School Lead Teacher at Charlotte Preparatory School.
- Therapist at In Session Psychotherapy, PLLC.
Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.
Hiring? Post a job.
3. $25M for an aging arena complex
The BOplex entertainment complex, home of the Charlotte Checkers, secured City Council approval for $25 million for maintenance on Monday.
Why it matters: The investment reflects the city's desire to keep Ovens Auditorium and Bojangles Coliseum viable, as the aging venues' annual revenue has grown from $2.9 million to $19.2 million over the last decade.
- The complex hosts over 300 events a year, up from 140 events in 2015, according to the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, which manages the city-owned facility.
The latest: Charlotte City Council OKed the spending from the tourism fund. The reserve is funded by taxes on hotels and rental cars and is routinely used to fund arena maintenance.
- The money isn't for anything too sexy. Rather, it will cover $23 million in HVAC upgrades. The city is also spending $2 million on studies of the MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) systems to inform future funding requests.
- CRVA's Steve Bagwell says the BOplex's core systems are past their lifespan. The Ovens' chiller is from the 1990s, and boiler systems date back to the 1950s and 1970s.
The intrigue: At 70 years old, Bojangles Coliseum has been showing its age lately. Several events in February were forced to reschedule due to a roof leak, including the USA Curling national championships.
- The roof repairs are not part of the $25 million funding package but are being addressed as part of an ongoing roof resealing.
4. Charlotte Marathon's new look and other speed reads
🏃 The Novant Health Charlotte Marathon has dropped a new look. This will be Charlotte's signature road marathon's first year under new ownership. (Novant Health Charlotte Marathon)
🎤 TLC and Salt-N-Pepa will perform at Truliant Amphitheater on Sept. 20. (Live Nation)
🏀 The Charlotte 49ers have hired former UNC basketball player Wes Miller as their new head men's basketball coach. (Charlotte 49ers)
🎶 Kesha will perform at Truliant Amphitheater on Aug. 12. (Kesha)
👗 Phoebes, a women's clothing boutique in Pineville, will open its new storefront in Fort Mill, S.C., on Saturday, March 28, at 10am. (Instagram)
5. 🛍️ KIKI comes to South End
Charlotte jewelry brand KIKI is growing fast, with a new South End store opening next month and more locations on the way.
Why it matters: What started as a pandemic side hustle is quickly becoming a multi-city retail brand rooted in Charlotte.
Driving the news: KIKI will open its second Charlotte storefront on April 11 at 1425 Winnifred St., in South End.
Context: Founder Kris Cox launched the brand during the pandemic and grew it through pop-ups and markets across the city.
- He opened the brand's permanent location at Camp North End last year.
6. ✈️ TSA lines at CLT
Some travelers are feeling the effects of the partial federal government shutdown with lengthy TSA screening wait times.
- If you have traveled through Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) in the last week, let us know about your TSA experience by emailing [email protected].
Between the lines: CLT was among several airports where more than 20% of TSA employees called out on Saturday, ABC reported.
What we're watching: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have been sent to assist with TSA operations at some airports. A CLT spokesperson tells Axios airport officials are not aware of "ICE agents being deployed" locally.
- The Department of Homeland Security declined to confirm the locations of its officers.
🌸 I'm stocking up on Flonase and Claritin now so I can romanticize a flower farm visit later.
🏃♀️ Ashley is contemplating running the Charlotte Marathon this fall.
😭 Alexis is hoping her severe pollen allergy can hold off on fully kicking in until after her wedding this week
🥂 Alex is impressed with how the new Bev Proseccheria has activated an unused Plaza Midwood space.
🍽️ Laura's looking forward to Charlotte Wine + Food Week next month.
🤧 Katie, who edited this newsletter, is hoping for rain to wash away this pollen.
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