February 21, 2020
Whether it’s a long weekend or week-long getaway, these signature Cabarrus County events are perfect to plan an entire experience around. You’ll find everything from major races and a rock music festival to baseball and one of the Southeast’s top barbecue competitions. Pair these events with thrilling attractions like a legendary speedway and an indoor water park resort for year-round fun everyone in your crew will enjoy.
Mark your calendar with these key dates, then start planning and put your vacation days to good use!
Spring
Charlotte AutoFair
Calling all car lovers! The world’s largest automotive extravaganza features more than 10,000 displays that showcase hot rods, muscle cars, exotic sports cars and classic automobiles. For another can’t-miss pit stop for auto enthusiasts, visit the Mustang Owner’s Museum.
Kannapolis Baseball Games
Cheer on the Cannon Ballers during the home opener or anytime throughout the season, and enjoy the inviting streetscape along West Avenue in revitalized Downtown Kannapolis.
NHRA Four-Wide Nationals
See the stars of the series race four-wide during this 44,000-horsepower festival of nitro! The “Bellagio of drag strips” is the world’s first four-lane, all concrete drag strip and every ticket is a pit pass giving fans unprecedented access to drivers, cars and teams.
Jiggy with the Piggy
Named a “Top 20 Event” by Southeast Tourism Society, this four-day festival includes a Kansas City Barbeque Society competition plus fireworks, rides, and a free concert.
Coca-Cola 600 Race Weekend
Staying in town after the All-Star? Visit NASCAR Race Shops before cars take the track again the very next weekend. Spectrum Pole Night sets the field for Sunday’s big show and brings ARCA racing during the General Tire 150 on May 22. May 23 features a horsepower double-header with the NASCAR Xfinity Series Alsco 300 and United Rentals Patriot Nationals at The Dirt Track. Less than 24 hours later, the green flag will fly on NASCAR’s most challenging race—the Coca-Cola 600. As the nation’s most patriotic sports event, Memorial Day Weekend at America’s Home for Racing is an incredible experience. Before the race, honor our veterans during a spectacular Salute to the Troops including performances from the 82nd Airborne Chorus and Lee Greenwood singing God Bless the USA.
Summer
Summer Shootout Series
The family-friendly Summer Shootout at Charlotte Motor Speedway is the ultimate grassroots racing experience! Rising stars compete in Legend Cars (replicas from the 1930s and 40s) and Bandoleros, and each week includes fun races such as mascots in go karts to principals driving school buses!
Back-to-School Monster Truck Bash
Say goodbye to summer and start the school year with a night of high-flying action! Get a picture with the five-ton trucks and meet the drivers during pre-race festivities, then settle in and watch as the 2,000-horsepower beasts take on The Dirt Track’s challenging course.
Cabarrus County Fair
Indulge in classic fair food like roasted corn, fresh-squeezed lemonade and fried Oreos, whiz around on more than 40 thrilling rides and enjoy entertainment including a petting zoo, live music, chainsaw art demonstrations by Mountain Mike and of course, Robinson’s Racing Pigs!
Fall
NHRA Carolina Nationals
The third of seven races in NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship, the Carolina Nats feature exciting side-by-side action, and every ticket is a pit pass giving you unmatched access to the drivers and crews who operate these 11,000-horsepower machines.
NC Beer Month
Cabarrus County’s craft beverage scene is award-winning and steeped in rich history. Have a cold one at any of the area’s many breweries during North Carolina Beer Month in October, then make plans to explore even more craft beverage stops such as wineries and the first distillery located inside a former prison with the free Explore & Pour mobile pass.
Bank of America ROVAL 400 Race Weekend
Take in NASCAR Cup Series qualifying and be sure to wear pink to the NASCAR Xfinity Series Drive for the Cure 250 as the race raises awareness for the fight against breast cancer. Sunday brings one of the season’s most anticipated events—the Bank of America ROVAL 400. As the first road course race in the history of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, this 17-turn challenge combines a portion of Charlotte Motor Speedway’s traditional oval with a winding infield road course.
World of Outlaws World Finals
The most prestigious dirt racing event in the country culminates in the crowning of champions from three series—the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series and the Big-Block Modifieds of the Super DIRTcar Series.
Winter
Snowland at Great Wolf Lodge
Stay in a magical winter wonderland complete with indoor snow showers, visits from Santa and more holiday fun along with 11 waterslides and a water fort treehouse! Winter is the perfect time to visit since the 80,000-square-foot indoor water park is always a toasty 84 degrees.
Speedway Christmas
Southern Living calls this dazzling drive through holiday light course one of the best displays in the South. See four million LED lights paired with holiday music as you drive the nearly four-mile course, then watch a drive-in movie on one of the nation’s biggest screens!
Celebration of Lights & Winterland Express
The hometown of legendary NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, Sr. celebrates the holidays with over 250,000 twinkling lights, train rides, a double-decker carousel, and performances by the animated Kannapolis Singing Bears—all located at Village Park near Downtown Kannapolis.
A Golden Christmas
Celebrate the season with a daytime candlelit tour through the underground mine tunnels where gold was first discovered in America. Condé Nast Traveler includes Reed Gold Mine State Historic Site on their list of “8 Best Museums in Charlotte.”
Browse the Event Calendar for a full list of happenings this year and find your ideal accommodations with these Places to Stay in Cabarrus County.
