Craft Fairs & Farmers Markets in Charlotte, North Carolina

Monthly outdoor market on the green at The Bowl at Ballantyne, curated by Shop Local QC. Features 15+ rotating Charlotte-area artisans, makers and small businesses offering handmade goods, specialty items, gifts, art and one-of-a-kind finds. Located near Olde Mecklenburg Brewery Ballantyne and The Amp concert venue.

The 6th annual Carolina BBQ Festival at Victoria Yards and the adjacent parking lot in Uptown Charlotte, benefiting Operation BBQ Relief. In partnership with Charlotte SHOUT! 30+ pitmasters + chefs from the Carolinas & beyond.

Held in Charlotte's NoDa neighborhood at NoDa Brewing Company North End, this free two-day festival centers on a chalk art competition for youth (ages 12–17) and adults (18+), with local and regional artists creating a street art gallery over the weekend. The lineup includes live local music, an all-ages open mic, family activities, and artisan, craft, retail, food, and beverage vendors. Artisan vendors occupy 10×10 tented spaces and must be on-site both days. Free parking and dog-friendly.

The Charlotte Ideas Festival offers six days of engaging conversation and community discussion through thoughtful programming at Carolina Theatre, WonderDome at Wells Fargo Atrium, and The Dubois Center. Part of Charlotte SHOUT!

Charlotte's largest street festival with hundreds of participating vendor booths including art exhibits, local nonprofits, retailers, food court, and the Neighborhood Market for artists and small makers. Parade steps off along Tryon Street Sunday.

Charlotte Regional Farmers Market is one of four state-run farmers markets in North Carolina, operating year-round on a sprawling 100-acre campus in southwest Charlotte. The market features produce, baked goods, meat, seafood, dairy, plants, and handmade crafts across five buildings. NC farmers have first priority. Free on-site parking; accessible location near I-77 and I-85.

17-day Uptown Charlotte celebration of art, music, food, and ideas with 200+ events and attractions. Includes vendor markets at Levine Avenue of the Arts, Flour & Ink weekend vendor market, and CIAF Day & Night Market at Ballantyne's Backyard. Presented by Charlotte Center City Partners.

Multi-day culinary festival featuring three signature experiences: StrEATs Tasting Tour (ticketed), StrEATs Uncorked (ticketed), and the free Charlotte StrEATs Festival with Neighborhood Cook-Off Battles and a marketplace of local culinary artisans.

Charlotte Symphony Orchestra's annual patriotic concert at Symphony Park with fireworks display. Food and beverage vendor stations on-site.

Held in December at Levine Avenue of the Arts in Uptown Charlotte, Charlotte's Classic Christmas is a HandCraftedMarket event bringing together small businesses and makers. More than 100 vendors are anticipated to line the avenue ahead of the holidays.

Producers-only farmers market in the heart of the Cotswold community, managed by the Charlotte Providence Rotary Club. Vendors with vegetable/fruit/meat farms and production facilities are all within 100 miles. Features chef demos, live entertainment, food trucks, and monthly special events (including a Strawberry Festival).

North Carolina's largest free Mexican Independence Day Celebration, hosted by La Raza and La Zeta radio stations, featuring musical entertainment from internationally acclaimed bands, cultural dances, large sponsor activations, an appearance by the Consul of Mexico, elected officials and dignitaries. The festival features live music entertainment, arts and crafts, authentic Mexican street food, bouncy houses for kids along with other fun activities. Mariachi music and folkloric dancers add to the celebration along with performances by renowned bands. The event draws high-volume pedestrian traffic with a family-friendly audience.

62nd annual Festival in the Park at Freedom Park, three-day outdoor arts and crafts festival with 180 juried artist/crafter exhibitors and nearly 1,000 entertainers around Freedom Park Lake. Located near historic Dilworth and Myers Park neighborhoods. Minimum $4,000 in art awards. 150,000 attendees in 2024.

Running since 1964, Festival in the Park is a spring celebration of local and regional artists held in Charlotte's Myers Park. The event draws good crowds and has become a established fixture for shoppers seeking quality art and crafts.

In Ballantyne, the 29th annual Festival of India draws over 20,000 visitors for a two-day cultural immersion presented by the India Association of Charlotte. Part of CIAF, it features live performances spanning classical and folk Indian dance, Bollywood, and Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, plus art galleries, interactive cultural experiences (mehndi, sari draping, turban tying), a souvenir bazaar with jewelry and Indian fashion, and food vendors. Visual artists of all skill levels and mediums welcome.

HandCraftedMarket Sundays at Atherton is a recurring Sunday market series in Charlotte's South End featuring local artisan vendors selling handmade goods, jewelry, home decor, and more. The market prioritizes makers and creators over mass production—a space built for small businesses to stand out rather than blend in. Season runs through December.

HCM Christmas Party is an end-of-year gathering in Charlotte's South End for HandcraftedMarketCLT small business vendors—a community celebration designed to honor the makers and creators who've participated in the market throughout the year.

Held each June in downtown Charlotte at the Gantt Center, Juneteenth at the Gantt draws an audience seeking meaningful art, culture, and community programming. Expect a vendor marketplace, food truck (Soul Bistro serving Southern cuisine), live artist performances, film screenings, panel discussions, and family activities—all free admission. Vendors named in past years include artisan food makers and local craft producers. The Gantt's gallery exhibitions remain open during the event, drawing a focused, engaged crowd interested in African-American arts and cultural celebration.

Family-owned open-air market operating since 1941 (locally known as Simpson's), a Charlotte tradition offering fresh local fruits/veggies, meats, seafood, flowers, plants, baked goods, and canned items. A co-op of farmers serving Midtown Charlotte.

36th Annual Latin American Festival, part of the Charlotte International Arts Festival (CIAF). Charlotte's biggest celebration of Latin culture with cultural performances, La Plaza Latinoamericana country pavilions, live international music acts, food vendors, and children's area. Draws 14,000+ attendees.

HandcraftedMarket is a recurring pop-up series on Levine Avenue of the Arts in Uptown Charlotte, now in its sixth season. The market brings together makers and small businesses selling handmade goods, jewelry, home decor, and more—a vendor mix built for artisans who want to stand out, not blend in. The space is designed to connect creators with a community that values the craft behind each product.

An independently produced event and official partner of the Charlotte International Arts Festival, held at The Shoppes at University Place in Charlotte. An immersive experience showcasing the flavors, highlighting the artistry, and exploring the rich history of the Gullah Geechee people which have shaped the Lowcountry region for generations. Vendor market features 20+ local & Lowcountry artists. Soulful music, art vendors, Lowcountry food, cocktails, basket weaving and opportunities to learn about the Lowcountry.

Maker's Market CLT produces rotating curated markets in Charlotte and Waxhaw featuring local artisans selling fashion, home goods, skincare, and décor. Events happen multiple times throughout the year at Fonta Flora Brewery (Optimist Hall) in Charlotte and Middle James Brewing Company in Waxhaw — each market rotates vendors to keep the selection fresh. Family-friendly venues with craft beer and occasional special programming like tattoo pop-ups.

Maker's Market CLT produces recurring indoor and outdoor markets across Charlotte and Waxhaw, rotating local artisans and vendors selling handmade fashion, home goods, skincare, and décor. Markets are held at brewery venues—Fonta Flora Brewery in Charlotte's Optimist Hall and Middle James Brewing in downtown Waxhaw—creating a community-driven shopping experience paired with craft beer and live energy.

Maker's Market CLT produces rotating indoor and outdoor markets in Charlotte and Waxhaw featuring local artisans and makers — fashion, home goods, skincare, décor, and more. Each market is thoughtfully curated to ensure a distinctive shopping experience with something new to discover. Markets run regularly throughout the year at brewery venues including Fonta Flora Brewing and Middle James Brewing Company.