5 Things To Do In Charlotte This Weekend

CHARLOTTE, NC — February is in full bloom, and this weekend in the Queen City will be draped with Mardi Gras beads, and dazzling with black cinema, ballroom dancing and orchids galore.

While we have to wait until Wednesday for Valentine’s Day, there's still a variety of events perfect for sharing with sweethearts around Charlotte this weekend.

Here are five events to check out in the area:

1. Charlotte Mardi Gras Parade

Saturday, Feb. 10, 7 p.m., Epicenter, 210 E. Trade Street, Charlotte

Grab your beads and head uptown for this annual colorful and musical parade at the Epicenter. Tickets are $15-$25, and include a drink, cup, T-shirt, beads and admission into participating bars.

2. Frigid 5K Run and Plunge

Saturday, Feb. 10, 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m., U.S. National Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Parkway, Charlotte

Get your feet and heart racing as you take the plunge in the Frigid 5k. Warm up with a 5k run through the Whitewater Center trail system, then be among the first to cool down very quickly as you leap into the chilly waters of the Catawba River at the U.S. National Whitewater Center.

3. The Valentine’s Invitational

Saturday, Feb. 10, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., The Ballroom at Quail Hollow, 8514 Park Road, Charlotte

Share your love of dance in a fun and friendly environment. Perform in front of world renowned judges and receive personalized feedback on each and every entry. Music by the one and only Maria St John. Audience Admission is FREE! Come one come all to support and cheer on your friends.

4. The Classic Black Cinema Series - Black Orpheus Starring Marpessa Dawn

Sunday, Feb. 11, 2 p.m., The Harvey B. Gantt Center, 551 South Tryon Street, Charlotte

Through it’s Classic Black Cinema Series, the Gantt Center showcases for the community the vast artistic value black film has had throughout the years. This film spotlights the “heady atmosphere of Rio de Janiero’s carnival,” and the complications of a love triangle.

5. UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens Valentine’s Orchid Sale

Saturday-Wednesday, Feb. 10 - 14, McMillan Greenhouse, 9090 Craver Road, Charlotte

Says the event organizers: “Candy has calories, cut flowers fade, give a Valentine’s Day gift that keeps on giving!”

Want to post your next neighborhood event on the Patch? We do too! No matter how big or small it may be, if it's local, it has a place on the Patch calendar.

Posting an event is as simple as 1, 2, 3. Here's how to do it:

1. Create a Patch account and sign up to post your own local content on Patch, totally free. It's probably the easiest thing you'll do all day.
2. Make a Calendar Event and fill it with all the awesome info that people need to add it to their list of things to do in their neighborhood. Choose a fun image to upload and most importantly - have fun with it! It's your event, and the possibilities are endless.
3. Post it on Patch! That's it. Get ready for RSVPs.

You can share your event for free to three Patches, or if you really want to get the community's attention, you can pay $20 to feature your event. When an event is featured, it receives priority placement on the local calendar as well as on the homepage, article pages and in the daily newsletter (if available) the week before the event.

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Photo via Pixabay