✨Top Things to do in Charlotte: May 2 - May 9, 2026

Sistah Scene

Hi Sis! Welcome to the SISTAH Scene

May has arrived with a gentle exhale, and the Queen City is responding in kind. This week, we are leaning into the "politics of rest" and the beauty of clandestine connection. While the festivals are blooming in the parks, the true heart of the city is found in the intimate workshops, members-only speakeasies, and the grapevine gatherings where we don’t just show up—we are seen. Whether you are walking the labyrinth for peace or crafting sugar scrubs with the sisterhood, remember that your presence is the greatest investment you can make this season.

Hosting an event you’d like featured in an upcoming SISTAH Scene? DM @laviancawithsistah on Instagram for listing or feature opportunities.

Photo by Ketut Subiyanto

Featured Launch: The Motherland Issue

🌍 Available Now: May 2026 Collector’s Edition — "The Essence of the Motherland

Order Your Printed Copy Here

The wait is over. Our May issue is a physical inheritance—a curated journey back to Alkebulan. This edition addresses the deep reclamation of our rituals, traditional spiritual systems, and the restoration of lineage. Hold this piece of history in your hands and let it anchor your sanctuary.

🌿 Holistic Care & Wellness

🌀 Saturday, May 2 at 12:30 PM: Persistence, Patience & Prayer: A Walk for Peace

📍 Almetto Howey Alexander Labyrinth | Free | Details

Utilize ancient geometry to find your center. This meditative experience is a well-kept secret among the city’s wellness "insiders" looking to recharge their spirit before the week begins.

🧘🏽‍♀️ Sunday, May 3 at 10:00 AM: Self Care Sundays: Mindful Movement

📍 Ivory/Baker Recreation Center | Free | Details

A high-vibe, community-centered session blending gentle yoga and creative dance fitness to clear your energy for the week ahead.

🧘🏽‍♀️ Saturday, May 9 at 9:30 AM: SAFE Yoga Charlotte

📍 Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library | Free | Details

A foundational community staple where racial safety and collective breath are the priorities. No performance, just restoration.

🤝 Networking & Connection

🥂 Saturday, May 2 at 10:00 AM: Before You Retire Empowerment Brunch

📍 The Dunhill Hotel | $55+ | Details

A sophisticated gathering for visionaries looking to build wealth and a lasting legacy. Perfect for the woman planning her softest chapter yet.

🤍 Saturday, May 2 at 2:00 PM: GATHER: Women's Community & Connection

📍 Rhino Market (Southpark) | RSVP Only | (Join List)

Extremely Intimate: Limited to 15 participants. Part coaching circle, part supportive sanctuary for professional women navigating life’s transitions.

🏌🏾‍♀️ Wednesday, May 6 at 6:00 PM: Opening Drive "Golf Social"

📍 Tap In | Details

Break the ice in a low-pressure environment. A new way to network and expand your circle of influence without the formal office energy.

👨‍👩‍👧 Family & “Big Kid” Fun

✊🏾 Saturday, May 2 at 11:30 AM: Charlotte NColor Festival

📍 3301 Statesville Ave | Pay-What-You-Can | Details

An immersive, multimedia "time machine" experience. Learn about Black history through art, games, and cultural activations that celebrate excellence across the state.

🎭 Saturday, May 2 at 8:00 PM: "Born Under an Azalea Bush" (Southern Gothicism)

📍 Shoppes at University Place | Details

A powerful stage performance exploring Southern Gothicism and heritage. Part of the BOOM Charlotte fringe festival.

🍓 May 1 – 2: SC Strawberry Festival

📍 Walter Elisha Park (Fort Mill) | Varies | Details

A short drive for a classic pastoral experience. Enjoy live music, rides, and local vendors in a family-friendly, celebratory spirit.

🩰 May 7 – 10: Charlotte Ballet: One Thousand Pieces

📍 Knight Theater | Ticketed | Details

A stunning performance that blends high-level artistry with modern movement—perfect for a sophisticated family night or a girls' outing.

🎭 Saturday, May 9 at 3:00 PM: "When a Woman's Fed Up"

📍 Ovens Auditorium | Ticketed | Details

A classic stage play experience perfect for a "big kid" date or a vibrant afternoon out with the family.

🖤 Community, Culture & Creative Energy

🎭 Saturday, May 2 at 7:00 PM: THE BLACK ART GALA

📍 1431 Elizabeth Ave | Details

The prestigious "heard it through the grapevine" event for the city’s creative class. A sophisticated evening celebrating artisans and excellence across the Carolinas.

🎤 Wednesday, May 6 at 7:00 PM: FOR POETRY: Open Mic & Showcase

📍 Conspiracy CLT (412 W 5th St) |Details

An intimate creative space hosted by Sade Sade. A sanctuary for storytelling and the written word.

👑 Ongoing: Curvaceous Behavior FREE Prom Closet

📍 1330 Spring St | Mon–Fri (5 PM – 7 PM) | Details

A beautiful community initiative helping every queen show up and show out. Offering free dresses, shoes, and jewelry for students.

🎉 Social Vibes & Nightlife

🧡 Sunday, May 3 at 2:00 PM: Dolla Day Party (Cinco de Mayo Edition)

📍 Location via RSVP | (Join List) | Details

**Insider Move:** The largest color-coded dance party in the city. Wear your shades of yellow and orange and prepare for pure vibes. [Image 10 from previous turn]

🍓 Friday, May 8 at 6:30 PM: Charlotte Vegan Social

📍 Soul Miner’s Garden (Camp North End) | Details

A gentle community walk followed by vegan-friendly ice cream at Seemingly Overzealous. The perfect "soft life" Friday night. [Image 3 from previous turn]

🎸 Friday, May 8 at 8:00 PM: Organic Sole feat. Sade Sade (Mother's Day Tribute)

📍 Blush CLT | Details

An intimate live band experience and poetry tribute to the women who pour into us.

🥂 Saturday, May 9 at 1:00 PM: Queen City R&B Mimosa Fest

📍 Blush CLT | Ticketed | Details

Day party energy with high-vibe music and sisterhood connection.

🍳 Workshops & Hands-On Experiences

🪡 Saturday, May 2 at 10:00 AM: Sew Social

📍 Derita Design | Details

An intimate gathering for the creative soul. Pair your morning with intentional crafting and community threads.

🧼 Saturday, May 9 from 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Sugar Scrubs & 4ever Hugs

📍 Market at 7th St. | Details

A Mother’s Day special event featuring hands-on sugar scrub making. A meditative and tactile way to celebrate self-care and the women who pour into us. [Image 3]

🖌️ Wednesday, May 6 at 7:00 PM: Sip and Script: Modern Calligraphy

📍 Triple C Brewing Co. | Details

Pair your intentional sipping with a new skill. Perfect for the sisters who value the art of a handwritten note.

🛍 Markets & Pop-Ups

🏺 Saturday, May 2 from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM: Thrift and Vintage Pop-up

📍 Historic Rosedale | Details

Explore unique, handmade goods from local makers on the beautiful, historic grounds of Rosedale.

🧺 Sunday, May 3 from 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM: For the Girls Market

📍 Lenny Boy Brewing Co. | Free Entry | Details

Expect 20+ women-owned small businesses under one roof. The "native" spot for fresh spring finds and intentional shopping.

🏺 Saturday, May 9: Carolina Clay Matters Spring Pottery Festival

📍 Camp North End | Free Entry | Details

Explore unique, handmade pottery from local artisans. A great opportunity to find an "only an insider would know" gift for yourself or your sanctuary.

📅 More Things to Do (Plan Ahead)

🧺 Sunday, May 10: Sankofa Crafts: Aprons of Inheritance

📍 Lockstar Locale | 3 PM – 6 PM | Details

Create your own apron using reclaimed fabric, centering Black domestic traditions and memory.

📖 Friday, May 15 at 7:00 PM: Shante Vines Book Release

📍 Concord, NC | Details

A celebration of literature and the healing voice of silence. Features live poetry and drinks.

🌸 Saturday, May 16: Mental Health Awareness Walk

📍 Crowders Mountain | 9 AM – 12 PM | Details

Take a step toward healing and elevation with this guided group walk and mindfulness session.

☕ Saturday, May 23: Sista I Got You: She Glows in Color

📍 Jetton Park Waterfront | 1 PM – 3:30 PM | Details

A Rainbow Tea Luncheon focused on empowerment and celebration across generations.

🌸 Saturday, June 13: Melanated Wholistic Wellness Fair

📍 Johnson C. Smith University | Details

A sacred gathering and life-changing community experience. Secure your spot now—it will reach capacity!

📖 Saturday, June 27: Charlotte African American Book Festival

📍 Second Ward High School Gym | Details

Celebrating the power of the written word. A high-demand summer staple for the literary soul.

💫 SISTAH Tip of the Week

Audit Your Energy Before You Audit Your Calendar. 🕊️

As the city enters its peak social season, remember that your presence is a finite resource. This week, give yourself permission to choose the "quiet room" over the "loud stage." You do not have to be accessible to everyone to be valuable to yourself.

Selective solitude is not about being lonely; it is about being intentional. If an invitation doesn’t feel like a deep exhale, give yourself permission to pass. True abundance is found when you have enough energy left for the version of you that exists when the cameras are off.

Protect your sanctuary. You are worth the pause, Sis. 🌿

We hope you found something that excites you and aligns with what you need in this season. Wherever you go, may it nourish your mind, uplift your spirit, and remind you that Charlotte is full of spaces created for you to take up space.

Go explore, connect, and pour back into yourself. The Queen City is waiting, Sis