Photo courtesy of Carolina Renaissance Festival.
CHANNEL MARKERS - live like a native
Festivals! Photo by Jay Weinmiller.
complied by Renee Roberson
Festival of Food Trucks (Sept. 4) Visit Downtown Mooresville for food trucks, live music, and shopping. 5-8:30 p.m. Free. North Main Street, Mooresville, www.downtownmooresville.com. The 2021 Rural Hill Amazing Maize Race (Sept. 11-Nov. 7) Navigate the giant 7-acre corn maize featuring more than two miles of interconnecting paths. Take a hayride around the farm, enjoy local beer, wine and cider, play a round of cornhole, and more. Times and ticket prices vary. Rural Hill, 4431 Neck Road, Huntersville, www.ruralhill.net. Praise in the Park (Sept. 18) This free, town-sponsored event includes Christian entertainment, local and national professional artists, inspirational vendors, food, and more. Free. 5-8 p.m. Smithville Park, 19710 S. Ferry Street, Cornelius, www.cornelius.org. 2021 Tawba Walk Arts & Music Festival (Sept. 25) This festival will include two stages of entertainment, more than 100 local artists and vendors, craft breweries, food trucks, street art, games, giveaways, a kid zone, and more. Free. 2-8 p.m. Old Town Cornelius, 19725 Oak Street, Cornelius, www.oldtowncornelius.com. Alpaca Fiesta USA (Sept. 25) Experience yoga with alpacas, artistic demos of knitting and other fiber arts, exhibits of Peruvian culture, music, local vendors, and food. Free. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. 10325 Hambright Road, Huntersville, www.lanart.net. Downtown Mooresville Uncorked & Artsy (Oct. 1) This event features wine or beer tastings at multiple downtown businesses. Local and regional artists also display their works along Broad and Main Streets. Expect live music, light appetizers, and in-tandem specials in businesses and out on the sidewalks. The tasting portion of the event is $25 per person and include all tastings and a souvenir glass. The art and live music portions are free to attend. 6-9 p.m. Downtown Mooresville, www.downtownmooresville.com. 24
LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | SEPTEMBER 2021
Above: Nearly 1,000 artists that specialize in all types of creative mediums work each day of the Carolina Renaissance Festival. Left: Heats for the Charlotte Dragon Boat Festival begin at 9 a.m. on Oct. 16.
Downtown Mooresville Wiener Race (Oct. 2) This beloved event is back and ready to raise money for local pet rescue groups. Races are held for puppy, junior, adult, and senior divisions. There is also a “Cutest” and “Best Dressed” category. All entrants are required to be classified as a Dachshund breed to be eligible to participate. Spectators free. 2-6 p.m. Behind D.E. Turner & Co. on Main Street, www.downtownmooresvillewienerrace.com Carolina Renaissance Festival & Artisan Marketplace (Oct. 2-Nov. 21) History comes alive with non-stop, day-long, immersive, and interactive entertainments. The open air Artisan Market is filled with arts and crafts, games and rides, jousting knights on horseback, falconry, mermaids, fairies, dragons, feasting and more. Free parking. No pets, please. $17-$27. Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. 16445 Poplar Tent Road, Huntersville, www.carolina.renfestinfo.com. All American Dog Show (Oct. 2) Sign up your pooch for the chance to win in a number of categories, including “Best Kisser” and “Best Dressed,” while the whole family enjoys vendor booths, concessions and childrens’ activities. Free to attend. 3-6 p.m. Robbins Park, 17728 W. Catawba Ave., Cornelius, www.cornelius.org. Davidson Fall Arts Festival (Oct. 9) Enjoy an evening art crawl featuring area artists and craft vendors, live music, an interactive art area, and more. 4-7 p.m. Free. Downtown Davidson, www.downtowndavidson.org. Charlotte Dragon Boat Festival and Asian Festival (Oct. 16) The team competition that is part of a Chinese tradition that’s more than 2,000 years old returns this year. Free to attend. Heats for the dragon boat race begin at 9 a.m. and the festival runs 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Note: There is no parking at Ramsey Creek Park for festival attendees; parking is available at 8900 North Pointe Executive Park, Huntersville. Ramsey Creek Park, 18441 Nantz Road, Cornelius, www.charlottedragonboat.com.
