The highly anticipated Charlotte StrEATs Festival returns this spring to celebrate its fifth year, marking a milestone for the city’s favorite locally focused culinary festival, part of Charlotte SHOUT!. After four successful years at Gateway Village, the event is moving to a more central home at First Ward Park.
This milestone year also marks the launch of the Charlotte StrEATs Foundation, expanding the festival’s mission beyond celebration and into direct community impact. Created to celebrate and strengthen Charlotte’s culinary community, the foundation supports organizations advancing food equity, culinary education, and industry access across the region. Through this nonprofit arm, Charlotte StrEATs will deepen its commitment to uplifting the people and programs shaping the city’s food ecosystem.
“Those who attended the Charlotte StrEATs in the past can expect the same culinary excellence and community, but year five of the festival is also bringing some exciting changes,” says Kristen Wile. “Not only are we moving to a new location that will bring the festival into the heart of the city, but we’re bringing more heart to the festival itself by supporting three local food and hospitality nonprofits this year (to be announced) in addition to supporting more than 30 local bars and restaurants.”
The multi-day festival has become a haven for food and beverage enthusiasts and shows off Charlotte as a culinary destination. Events this year include:
THE EVENTS
Charlotte StrEATs Tasting Tour
Saturday, April 11th | 12 – 3 p.m. (11 a.m. for VIPS) | First Ward Park
Taste your way through Charlotte’s iconic neighborhoods at the StrEATs Tasting Tour! This ticketed, 21+ event includes tastes from locally-owned restaurants from all around the city, cooking demonstrations, craft cocktails created by your favorite Charlotte mixologists, and more. See this year’s participating restaurants – more to be announced soon.
DILWORTH: 300 East, DŌZO Japanese-American Kitchen, Emmy Lou’s, Leluia Hall
EAST CHARLOTTE: Enat Ethiopian Restaurant, Manolo’s Bakery
MYERS PARK: Napa on Providence, Rada
NORTH CHARLOTTE: Marlee Jean’s Raw Bar & Kitchen, Seaboy
UPTOWN: Aria Tuscan Grill, Mad Dash, Spaghett
PLAZA MIDWOOD: Calle Sol Latin Café & Cevicheria
NODA: Mariah’s Taco Spot
SOUTH PARK: Foxcroft Food & Wine
SOUTH END: Catalú, Lincoln Street Kitchen & Cocktails
Tickets: Tickets are all-inclusive. Upgrade to VIP to get one-hour early access at 11 a.m., a StrEATs goody bag, and an official StrEATs Cookbook that features recipes from participating restaurants. cltstreatsfestival.com/
Charlotte StrEATs Festival
Sunday, April 12th | 12-5 p.m. | First Ward Park
The FREE festival will feature the area’s top local food and beverage vendors, food trucks, cooking demos, cocktails, picnic baskets curated by your favorite caterers and more.
StrEATs is also bringing back the Neighborhood Cook-off! These battles will pit chefs head-to-head in a cook-off to win the title of StrEATs Neighborhood Champion.
Tickets: Reserve your free tickets cltstreatsfestival.com/
