By Shawn D. Allison, II
Greetings everyone and happy Juneteenth to you all! There’s a lot in store for this celebration and I’ve taken the liberty of finding some cool events stretching all the way out to neighboring towns of Charlotte! If you’ve never attended Juneteenth, please make it a priority to not only visit, but to get engaged with the community and to learn something new about us as a people. As always, I’ll be pretty active this weekend, but if you want to trail my tracks, check out all the flyness on my “Hot List” just below!
- THURSDAY—SUNDAY – 22nd Annual Juneteenth Festival of the Carolinas
- THURSDAY – Juneteenth Forum feat. Melissa Harris-Perry
- FRIDAY – DWC: Dating While Christian — A Man’s Perspective For Women Panel Discussion
- FRIDAY – Black Music Month: #BeONE Music Experience
- FRIDAY – PLAYER MADE 4-Year Anniversary at Snug Harbor
- SATURDAY – 6th Annual Daddy’s Day in the Park
- SATURDAY – 2nd Annual Summer Family Food Truck Festival!
- SATURDAY – Freaquency360 Live : Kato x Gene Brown at Tip Top Daily Market
- SATURDAY – Durag Fest 2019 at BlkMrktCLT
- SATURDAY – 2019 Freedom Jazz Series
- SATURDAY – AfroPop Charlotte, Vol.32: Juneteenth Edition 2019
- SUNDAY – Juneteenth Family Fun Day Celebration
- SUNDAY – Yoga 101 for Beginners: Wellness Workshop
If you would like your event to be listed in “The Rundown” please send a detailed e-mail to me at: sdallison85@yahoo.com
——-THURSDAY, JUNE 13——-
Brothers and sisters all across the landscape, bring your immediate tribe, extended family and friends to The House of Africa for the 22nd Annual Juneteenth Festival of the Carolinas 2019! Enjoy four full days of live music, drum circles, dance performances, free health screenings, exotic cuisines, fashion shows, local vendors, arts & crafts, kids’ activities, Gospel performances, lectures and lots, lots more! Admission is FREE to attend and the festivities kick off at 12 noon. The festival will be held on Thomas St. and Commonwealth Ave. in the Plaza-Midwood District.
Juneteenth Statesville is ready to kick off this celebratory weekend with two dope events! First up on this evening, head to Mitchell Community College for a special Juneteenth Forum. Come and get engaged in a community conversation with professor, author and advocate, Melissa Harris-Perry as she gives her insight on the significance of this holiday and the state of Black America today and thoughts for the future. Admission is FREE but please be sure to RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/juneteenth-forum-tickets-62713…. The event will begin at 7 p.m. inside Shearer Hall. 500 West Broad St. in Statesville.
The hilarious local theatre troupe Charlotte Squawks is back for 2019 with their latest project, Charlotte Squawks 15: Quackceañera! Who is Charlotte Squawks you ask? Simply put, it’s the satire of Saturday Night Live mixed with Broadway, welded with the socioeconomic climate of the Queen City. The creative duo of Mike Collins and Brian Kahn collaborates with the area’s most talented performers to parody current events, pop culture, sports, life and politics on a local and national medium. Tickets can be purchased at: https://www.carolinatix.org/…/charlotte-squawks-15-quackcea…. There will be three performances this weekend: Thursday (6/13) at 7:30 p.m., Friday (6/14) at 8 p.m. and Saturday (6/15) at 2 and 8 p.m. All performances will be held at The Booth Playhouse at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. The address is 130 N. Tryon St. in Uptown.
Come one come all down to Crown Station for The Jump Off! B-Boys, B-Girls, Hip Hop Heads, Backpackers, Music Nerds gather all your crew, comrades & cousins and get down on the good foot as A-Huf rocks out on the 1s and 2s giving you the best of Classic Hip Hop, Soul, The Funk, House and R&B jams all night long! The jump off is at 10 p.m. $5 admission. 3629 N. Davidson St. in the NoDa District.
——-FRIDAY, JUNE 14——-
Attention all you comic book junkies and superhero fanatics! Put on your capes, masks, gadget belts and fly down to the Charlotte Convention Center for “HeroesCon 2019!” Heroes Convention was founded in 1982 by Shelton Drum, owner of Charlotte’s Heroes Aren’t Hard To Find comics shop. Since then the convention has become famous for its comics-first and a family-friendly atmosphere, where fans can mingle directly with professionals and exhibitors. Boasting an incredible guest list built mainly on reputation and goodwill, HeroesCon is known nationwide as a “must” on the summer schedule, drawing fans, exhibitors, and creators from all over the world to the Charlotte Convention Center. There will be over 40 illustrators, artists, writers and more for you to meet & greet or quite possibly have a classic good vs. evil duel! Tickets are sold at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/heroes-convention-2019-3-day-registration-tickets-52843483281. The Charlotte Convention Center is located at 501 S. College St. in Uptown. #HeroesCon
Bring your entire tribe down to the The Gantt Center this afternoon for Fine Art Fridays – Printmaking Family-Friendly Workshops! You’ll get to explore the use of printmaking in Black Contemporary Art from America and beyond in these family-friendly settings. Please be sure to RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fine-art-fridays-printmaking-f… The session will begin at 2 p.m. The Gantt Center is located at 551 S. Tryon St. in Uptown.
Test your knowledge of Black Music Month and come out for Black Music Bingo at Queen’s Coffee Bar this evening! Gather your friends and get ready to enjoy this fun and funk-filled fast-paced take on traditional bingo. You will be given a free bingo card where traditional bingo board numbers are replaced with song names, artist names, music titles or a mixture. There will be a number of categories and four rounds with a winner from each round. FREE admission. The event will begin at 7 p.m. Queen’s Coffee Bar is located at 1720 Pegram St. in the Belmont Neighborhood.
Join Queen City Events and explore a variety of Chocolate sounds as we celebrate Black Music Month: #BeONE Music Experience! The #BeONE Music Experience celebrates Black music and culture all month of June with live music, comedians and many elements of Black culture all fused into one extraordinary event! There will be a limited amount of free food along with a special “sip & paint” session while you enjoy the background grooves. Also, there will be massages provided by a licensed and insured professional and raffle tickets with giveaways. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-music-month-beone-music-…. The event will begin at 7 p.m. at The Majestique Center. 5309 E. Independence Blvd.
Head back up to Statesville and come witness our story on stage at the Juneteeth Re-enactment! This annual re-enactment and program will highlight the commemoration of the national celebration of African-American Freedom and the ending of Slavery through a creative showcase of acting, dancing and music. Admission is FREE to attend but please RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/juneteeth-re-enactment-tickets…. The event will begin at 7 p.m. at The Unity Center. 1145 Salisbury Rd.
Ladies, in this day in age, dating can be a bit of a struggle. This sits true for men as well. This evening, gather your girls and head down to nearby Fort Mill for DWC: Dating While Christian — A Man’s Perspective For Women Panel Discussion. A lot of women think they know what Christian dating is all about, but what do the men have to say about it? Hear from esteemed panelists and men of faith: Christopher B. Spence, Herbert Pouge, Angelo T. Geter and Jonathan McFadden will discuss and dissect topics such as celibacy, spousal submission and much more! Hosted by Jasmine Love and Austin G. Smith. Live grooves will be provided by E. Jeter Music. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dating-while-christian-tickets…. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. at LOOM Coworking & Event Space. 120 Academy St. in Fort Mill.
If you want to experience some extra coolness on this funky Friday night, head over to Tip Top Daily Market and plug yourselves into The Art of Easing! Join my good brothers ½ of Diggers Delight, Cairo Black and DJ Foundacetion as they purvey a bevy of funky frequencies ranging from Jazz to Neo-Soul, Classic Hip Hop, Rare Grooves and more surprises from their own personal vinyl collections! And while the tables are turning, give your stomach a good churning from some delicious eats from Killer B’s food truck on site serving up and selling the goodness! Admission is $FREE.99 and the tables start turning at 8 p.m. Tip Top Daily Market is located at 2902 The Plaza Rd. in the Plaza-Midwood District.
Charlotte, it’s time to stand up and be known as one your favorite homegrown crews, Permanent Vacation gets down to the nitty gritty in the Queen City presenting PLAYER MADE — 4th Anniversary Ode To Southern Rap of All Eras! Join hometown heroes MC/DJ Elevator Jay, A-Huf, Jaboi B-Rab and special guest DJ Ngenius for an evening of nonstop trunk-rattlin’, subwoofer boomin’, Dirty South Hip Hop super funk! Get your cup of Crunk Juice ready because it’s about to go down! Admission is FREE for people 21+ and $5 for folks 18-20. The jump off is at 10 p.m. at Snug Harbor. 1228 Gordon St. in the Plaza-Midwood District.
——-SATURDAY, JUNE 15——-
Parents, school may be out, but The Gantt Center invites you to bring your children along with their brilliant young minds and spirits out for the Arts + Technology One-Day Camp! This camp will introduce and encourage students to cultivate creative strategies, technical competencies and critical thinking skills while exploring and developing new applications of technology and media within contemporary art practice. Students will create art via LED lights and code. This program is offered in partnership with the Dottie Rose Foundation, which encourages girls to improve their technology skills in order to boost their career prospects for the future. The Foundation hosts camps that provide hands-on experiential learning that helps students to develop the skill sets they need and explore the areas of technology that excite them the most. This camp is designed for children ages 9-18. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/arts-technology-one-day-camp-t…. Drop off begins at 8:30 a.m. and lunch is provided. 551 S. Tryon St. in Uptown.
This morning, join Sustain Charlotte and INSS as they host the 2019 Charlotte Sustainability Summit. This full-day event will include workshops and discussions led by experts on a variety of local sustainability issues including water, food, transportation, land conservation, greenways and parks, air quality, and affordable and equitable housing. Attendees will learn how individuals and communities can make more sustainable choices that improve health, advance equity and mitigate the impacts of climate change. The goal of the Summit is to highlight the impact of collaborative efforts in advancing sustainability in Charlotte. Additional info and ticket purchases can be found here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/charlotte-sustainability-summit-tickets-62401650015. The event will begin at 9 a.m. at UNCC Center City. 320 E. 9th St. in Uptown.
It’s Father’s Day weekend and this afternoon bring the entire squad out to the Stratford Richardson YMCA for the 6th Annual Daddy’s Day in the Park! Enjoy an afternoon full of food, music, music, fellowship, creative workshops — and for those who got something to prove on the court, lace up those sneakers and be part of the Mentors vs. Mentees Basketball Game! Presented by: Fathers United Inc. and the Boys to Men Foundation. Admission is FREE and the event will begin at 12 noon. 1946 West Blvd.
Come and enjoy some more unity in the community as Boss Playa Ent. hosts the 2nd Annual Summer Family Food Truck Festival! Bring the entire family out and experience a wide variety of local vendors, cool contests and raffles, live music, spoken word food trucks, kids’ activities, giveaways, games and much more! Admission is $FREE.99 and the event starts at 12 noon at the Cultural Giving Tree for Early Learning. 4037 Sofley Rd. near the N. Tryon St. & Sugar Creek Rd. intersection.
It’s all things pink and green as the lovely ladies of the Rho Psi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. proudly present their sequential smash soiree, Pink Groove XIV: The Summer Edition Day Party! Join these darling and dainty divas for this “Sweet SophistAKAtion” with Charlotte’s own, DJ 06’ spinning all of the biggest jams and rarities of multiple musical eras! A portion of the proceeds will go to support the Rho Psi Omega Scholarship Fund and various community initiatives. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pink-groove-xiv-the-summer-edition-day-party-tickets-60272841692. The pink and green parade begins at 1 p.m. at Sage Restaurant & Lounge. 505 E. 6th St. in Uptown.
Want to slide outside of Charlotte for a minute? Bring the entire tribe out to Belmont for the 2019 Belmont Juneteenth Celebration! This cultural festival of arts & crafts, music, food and family is sure to bring joy to everyone who attends! Admission is FREE and the celebration kicks off at 2 p.m. Hosted by Elements of Empowerment, Inc. The festival will be held at Stowe Park. 24 S. Main St. in Historic Downtown Belmont.
Also on Saturday afternoon, slide out to Tip Top Daily Market for another installment of the not-your-average networking jam session entitled, Freaquency360 Live : Kato x Gene Brown! This gathering of creatives will feature some dope music of course, but at the core its main focus is to create a platform for artists and art enthusiasts to meet, greet and collectively share positive vibrations. Today’s focus will feature vinyl collector extraordinaire Bro. Gene Brown who’ll give some insight on his adventures in the record industry…literally — and get a warm #WelcomeToTheTribe from the second featured guest The Dynamic DJ Kato who is AfroPopping Charlotte with his own distinctive, creative and rebellious Nigerian flair! Come hear their stories, hear what’s in store next and store some of these dope vibes in your mind/body/soul with my good brother DJ Steel Wheel on the 1s & 2s! Hosted by Jah Freedom. Admission is FREE. The event will begin at 2:30 p.m. Tip Top Daily Market is located at 2902 The Plaza Rd.
It’s time to get that hair in order and have your head garments flying in the wind with pride at Durag Fest 2019! This year the energy is bigger and better with our featured art exhibit curated by BlkMrktCLT, the iconic Durag Fest fashion show, marketplace with vendors near and far across the Carolinas, award-winning food trucks and specialty bar, featured DJs, special guests, performances and activations throughout the festival. Come celebrate Juneteenth the Durag Fest way. Find your best fit, your best friend and party celebrating the power of art, community and culture. Tickets can be purchased here: https://tickets.duragfestival.com/tickets/durag-fest-2019/. The jump off is at 4 p.m. at BlkMrktCLT located at Camp North End. 1824 Statesville Ave. #MeetMeAtDuragFest
Grab your friends, grab your lawn chairs and grab a comfortable spot to sit because it’s time to enjoy the beauty of nature and the spirit of the Freedom Jazz Series! Back for Summer 2019, come and experience the vibrant smooth jazz sounds guaranteed to transcend your heart and soul with a rousing cultural warmth and peace. Today’s featured beacons of sound and light are acclaimed saxophonist Marqueal Jordan and the Brother with the bass in yo’ face, John Dillard. There will be local eats and fresh craft brews available to enhance your experience. Presented by Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation and hosted by the lovely Jazz Diva, Tammy Greene. FREE admission. 6 p.m. at Freedom Park. 1900 East Blvd. in the Dilworth Neighborhood.
Charlotte, get ready for more great live entertainment as Power98 FM and V-101.9 hosts the 5th Annual Queen City Jazz Fest! Relax in the afternoon sun as you groove to the melodic sounds of Michael McDonald, Jonathan Butler, Al B. Sure!, Gerald Albright and the sultry sounds of the beautiful Such. Doors open at 5 and the show begins at 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased here: https://concerts1.livenation.com/event/2D005690C60251A6. The show will be held at the Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre located at 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd.
The Bantu Fete Team broke all sorts of grounds at the AfroPop Block Party last weekend, and now they are back to add some more Afro-dopeness to the city as they proudly present AfroPop Charlotte, Vol.32: Juneteenth Edition 2019! Come and be part of Charlotte’s fastest growing tribe as DJ Steel Wheel and The Dynamic DJ Kato rocks out with all sorts of sonic Motherland and Caribbean flavor – Afrobeats, AfroHouse, Soca, Afro-Latin House, DanceHall, Afro-Trap, and so much more!!! Presented by The Culture Cooperative and DRC ApeParel. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/afropop-charlotte-vol32-junete…. The party starts at 9:30 p.m. at Crown Station. 3629 N. Davidson St. in the NoDa District.
And for that late night chill with all of the Hip Hop feels, head up to nearby Huntersville for The Pangea Cool-Out! Join my good brothers 1/2 of the JETA Team, Chief Rocka Aking Allah and supersonic sound man DJ Chance as they rock the spot with a healthy dose of Classic Hip Hop, R&B, Soul, Pop, Reggae, Quiet Storm grooves and more! There will be plenty of drink & meal specials to enhance your experience. Tables start turning at 9 p.m. Pangea Tapas Bar and Grill is located at 13016 Eastfield Rd., Suite B-100 in Huntersville.
New Era Entertainment and OutenLove Events are back with some more Saturday night flavor as they proudly present Taste: A Mature Ladies Experience, Pt. 2! Ladies, gather your girls and enjoy a evening of nonstop fun with cocktail specials, kitchen deals, the hottest music from a special guest DJ and of course you know there will be plenty of gentlemen in the building scoping out the scenic view – which is you! Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/taste-a-mature-ladies-experience-tickets-61871577554. Dress code is mature. The party starts at 9:30 p.m. at Press Box bar & Grill. 9609 N. Tryon St. in the University Area.
——–SUNDAY, JUNE 16——-
This afternoon, slide out to Tip Top Daily Market for a special sonic brunch entitled Scrambled Eggs! Come and relax as DJs Luke Stemmerman and Flock of Slagles sets the mood with a selection of avant-garde Dub, Reggae, Fusion, Soul and Jazz tunes from their own personal vinyl collections. Also, be sure to grab a tasty mimosa from the bar and be sure to grab some tasty brunch eats from Killer B’s food truck! Admission is FREE and the event will begin at 2 p.m. 2902 The Plaza Rd. in the Plaza-Midwood District.
This afternoon, join Soul Liberation Holistic Wellness for the Yoga 101 for Beginners: Wellness Workshop. Created specifically for those with little-to-no Yoga experience, Yoga 101 for Beginners explores Yoga one step at a time. Students will learn the history of Yoga, different systems of Yoga, the 8 limbs of Yoga, and common Yoga poses. We will practice executing proper and safe body movement that honors your physical abilities, and will explore different meditation techniques to help deal with anxiety and stress. Tickets can be purchased here:
The celebration continues as you head down US-74 to Monroe for the Juneteenth Family Fun Day Celebration! What better way to celebrate Father’s Day than to honor the fathers in your life today while also remembering those from your family’s history? Come join us for a fun day of celebration, and support an up and coming nonprofit that is giving back to the community! There will be games, performances, music by DJ Krazy T, delicious soul food by The Spot, vendors, artwork from Christopher Clarke and much more! Admission is FREE and the event will begin at 3 p.m. at Belk Tonawanda Park. 1990 Dickerson Blvd. in Monroe.
The Sol Kitchen is ready to turn up the heat this afternoon as they proudly present I Love Sundayz: The Day Party Series! Come experience the coolness of Uptown with two of Charlotte’s HOTTEST – DJ Special K and Deron Juan rockin’ out the dopeness ranging from Classic Hip Hop, Top 40, R&B, House, Go-Go, Afrobeats, Reggae, Soul and much more! Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/i-love-sundayz-day-party-series-part-2-w-deron-juan-dj-special-k-tickets-62373817768. The party starts at 3 p.m. at Vine Nightclub. 222 S. Church St. in Uptown.
The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra is back to kick off the Summer with a special edition of Charlotte Symphony Pops! Experience an electrifying journey to a galaxy far, far away as your Charlotte Symphony celebrates Father’s Day with the sounds of your favorite Star Wars scores! Tickets can be purchased here: https://secure.charlottesymphony.org/events/375b1505-5e9e-4b67-b190-06aa027f6063. The event will begin at 8:15 at Symphony Park. 4400 Sharon Rd. in the South Park Area.
Ladies, bring a towel, bring your friends and bring your heels out to the Heel Couture Dance Class this evening! Get in your sexy stance and learn some sensual and scintillating dance techniques from Rhythmic Groovement’s dance instructor Devante Terrell. These moves are featured in the dance videos by Aliya Janell, Yanis Marshall and other notable dancers and choreographers that can be purposeful for yourself or that special someone! Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/heel-couture-class-by-rhythmatic-groovement-tickets-61012762816. This event is presented by Lioness Business Group Productions. The class will begin at 7 p.m. at 514 E. 15th St. in the Belmont Neighborhood.
COMING SOON…
6/22 — Charlotte Caribbean Children Carnival
6/22 – Su Casa: Summer Solstice Edition
6/23 – An Evening with Gregory Porter
6/23 – An Evening with Gregory Porter
6/27 — Mosaic Live presents Bars & Beats
6/27 — Swag N Turf-Coed Kickball
6/27 — Just Community: A Decolonizing Wealth Conversation
6/28 – Congo Festival 2019
6/29 – East Side Block Music Festival
6/29 – Radio Rehab Carolinas presents “Justice 4 All”
7/1 – Revolt Comedy Show #09
7/5 — Sweet Leaf Map Festival 2019
7/6 — Off the Wall “8 Year Anniversary” Edition
7/18—7/20 – 3rd Annual CineOdyssey Film Festival
Enjoy your weekend folks! Live. Laugh. Love. Learn. Listen. Give.
#WeekendWarrior #TheBlackFerrisBueller #EarsToDaSkreets #CommunityFirst