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Over 17 days, Charlotte SHOUT!, presented by Atrium Health and Bank of America, transforms Uptown, Charlotte into a creative playground for art, food, music, and ideas. SHOUT! celebrates our community’s innovative spirit with exceptionally curated programming from around the corner and around the world.
Unleash your imagination from March 31 through April 16 with brand new experiences at Charlotte SHOUT! 2023.
Debuting in the early 2000s, Charlotte SHOUT! has become a highly anticipated community tradition, shining a light on the creative, innovative, diverse and resilient aspects of the Queen City. The festival, produced by Charlotte Center City Partners and presented by Atrium Health and Bank of America, is a 17-day celebration offering all-ages fun with activities spanning a number of recreational and retail spaces Uptown. Festival goers will find more than 200 installations, performances, events and activations along the north-to-south Tryon corridor.
If that alone doesn’t get you excited, learning about what’s new on the ever-growing schedule of events will certainly do the trick.
Here are six new experiences you don’t want to miss at SHOUT! this year:
1. Pianodrome
America’s first performance space made exclusively from upcycled pianos will be located at the historic Grace A.M.E Zion Church — also known as Grace on Brevard. The Pianodrome’s 75-seat feature is set to captivate the heart and minds of audiences. The sculpture doubles as a dynamic in-the-round venue that will evoke toe-tapping performances by local artists. Look for spoken word and all manner of musical performances, from jazz to folk to classical, plus a few surprises.
2. “POP!” Art
Interactive art is having its moment. The installation features five enigmatic monoliths. Each is complete with a whimsical creature ready to entertain you. What will you release?
3. The Serenity Garden
Finding peace, relaxation, or flow is within reach at the Serenity Garden. At this secret Uptown green space, you’re encouraged to take a moment for yourself. Practice mindfulness, take a breather or enjoy a yoga class…if you can find it!
4.“Affinity” Adventure
Get ready to see lights with this stimulating immersive installment! Inspired by the human brain, “Affinity” will have your synapses firing off reminders to return for more. This light and sound experience features 62 different color combinations and over 100 points of interaction. We wouldn’t call it frenzy – we’d only refer to it as fun!
5. ‘!conic’ Markers
Find your way around SHOUT! With 15 unique, way-making “!cons,” or icons. While each marker is designed by a local artist, the installment is collectively purposed to amplify the festival experience.
6. Roaming Gnomes
They’re big and bold, and will help you get in your steps. Find these 12 gnomes scattered throughout Uptown and find your favorite. Each gnome has its own theme and personality, so be sure to catch – and snap – a picture with them all!
Just so you know…
The Charlotte StrEATS Festival at Gateway Village, curated by the Unpretentious Palate and Carben Events + Marketing, returns as a way to honor and highlight chefs from across the city, and you can catch over 80 local musical acts at four different locations in Uptown – including the showcase stage as the parking-lot-turned-party-spot, Victoria Yards. And everyone’s favorite illuminated seesaws? Yes, they’ll be back too. You can find the interactive public art installment dubbed “Impulse” on the Levine Avenue of the Arts.
Let’s not forget about The Charlotte Ideas Festival which features thinkers and innovators sharing wisdom on topics as diverse as finding joy in our lives and the implications of artificial intelligence. Kick off Charlotte SHOUT! by attending activist & comedian Baratunde Thurston’s discussion on ‘How to Citizen’ at the Mint Museum on March 30.
If you’re wondering how much all the excitement will cost you, the answer is easy – next to nothin’. The majority of Charlotte SHOUT! events are free and open for the public to enjoy without purchasing tickets.
To best plan your visit or keep up with the latest news about Charlotte SHOUT!, check out charlotteshout.com.
