If you’re looking for a travel idea you can drive to and get ideas or create some curiosity, then the Charlotte International Arts Festival is up your alley! The CIAF is worth a visit and it’s running for a few months so you can plan this out.
Stay overnight (and stay within your budget!) to enjoy the NC mountain and festivals in between. And if you’re doing budget travel, you can drive to the western NC mountains and Asheville just a couple hours away.
There are plenty of free event opportunities at this festival. And one of the event halls is connected to the tallest and most recognizable building in Charlotte, the Bank of America Building on N. Tryon Street. And S. Tryon Street just down the street, you’ll find the Bechtler Museum of Art that stands out year round with bright red ornament balls that’s easy to find and remember. And is a good photo opp. 🤳
And more city event photo opps include the Sky of Bubbles that has an ephemeral light and sound show. During the day, the bubbles have a blue, purple, white, pink, green, and yellow glow.
Think of those soap bubbles you blow that create fun and wonder. 🫧 And at night, anything can happen! So if you missed the natural Super Moon 🌑, this could be your chance to look up and be in wonder.
The emphasis on international carries across the cultural bazaar fair with Indian and Latin American performances. 💃🏻 You can find the new events between Uptown and Ballantyne. Diversity themes are trending.
The luxury Ballantyne Center boutique hotel and spa is swanky and spacious in the ‘burbs. Have you seen the luxury pools? It’s also a hotel home to a gingerbread competition if that spices up your life or if you want to walk into a grand staircase lobby feel with a can’t-miss child-high colorful floral centerpiece.
…That thought reminds me of 💭 when I worked in one specific luxury hotel early in my hotel catering days, that had a fab waterfall glass feature that ran from the hotel lobby to the mezzanine level. You don’t hear about those much these days! 😅
And in Charlotte, if you would like to be closer to Uptown (city center downtown), check out this roof top view hotel. The Charlotte International Arts Festival events are just steps or minutes away, so very convenient.
And what should you expect to find? For ticketed events, think jazz, Bier Garten, creative media artists, cultural dancers, mixed- media painters, and so much more! I guess you’ll have to go to find out 🎉
