Festival in the Park (www.FESTIVALinthePARK.org ) returns for its 55th year in Freedom Park September 20 – 23 with a diverse offering of live performances, food and drink — and more than 175 artisans displaying their works.
As has been the tradition for more than a half-century, the Festival is offered at no cost to the public — admission is free.
“Festival patrons will see some familiar faces among our participating artists,” said Mark Boone, Festival board president. “We also have many artists who are new to the festival, some of whom have traveled from as far as California and Ontario to bring the art to Charlotte.”
Saturday musical performances at the Freedom Park band shell include Beatlesque, a Beatles tribute band. Sunday’s headliner is singer-songwriter Teresa Abernathy and her band, The Blackouts. The Festival also welcomes the return of the Youth Orchestras of Charlotte, which is performing on Sunday afternoon.
Additional weekend entertainment includes the Charlotte Folk Society, youth performers, clowns and nearly every genre of live music. Amusement rides and attractions for all ages will again return to the Festival’s Family Fun Zone. More than two dozen food vendors will add to the sensory experience at the park.
More than 125,000 people are expected to attend the annual festival near Charlotte’s Dilworth neighborhood. Attendees are encouraged to take the Lynx light rail to the East/West Boulevard stop. Shuttle vans will provide roundtrip transportation between the East/West Boulevard light rail stop and Freedom Park for $5 per person or $10 per family.
Limited parking is available for $10 at Atrium Health Myers Park at 1350 Kings Drive and at Myers Park Traditional School, located at 2132 Radcliffe Avenue, from where free shuttle vans will provide patrons with round trip rides to the park.
Private donors, known as “Friends of the Festival”, help cover the Festival’s cost of renting Freedom Park from Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation and the hiring of off-duty Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers, Medics and Charlotte firefighters to keep patrons safe.
Named one of the nation’s top festivals by Sunshine Artist Magazine, the Festival boasts an outdoor open-air amphitheater unrivaled in the area. The Festival has also been honored as Best Charlotte Festival by Charlotte Magazine.
This project was made possible, in part, with funding from the Arts & Science Council; the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources; and the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.
Festival in the Park is hosted by Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation.
Piedmont Natural Gas is the 2019 Green Sponsor.
For more information on acts and activities, visit the website at www.FESTIVALinthePARK.org
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Julie Whitney Austin, Executive Director
704-338-1060
[email protected]
Mark Boone, Board President
704-589-1545
[email protected]