Charlotte FC is hitting its stride at the right time, riding an eight-game unbeaten streak since Allan Saint-Maximin joined the club, returning home in fourth place to take on Chicago on Saturday in a matchup with playoff implications. clture.org/charlotte-fc-chic…

Cam Newton and co-host Omari “Peggy” Collins are returning to Charlotte next week for a live recording of '4th & 1' at the Roaring Riot Tailgate before the Panthers take on the Lions on NBC’s Sunday Night Football. The live recording will begin at 5 p.m. on Sunday, October 4, at 520 Elliott St. and will also air live on YouTube. The '4th & 1' podcast officially launched in 2024, and Collins is also an East Charlotte native and North Carolina Central University graduate. The Panthers-Lions game will be the first NBC 'Sunday Night Football' appearance in nearly 10 years, with their last coming in Week 13 at Seattle in 2016 and their last home 'Sunday Night Football' game in 2014 against Pittsburgh. Guest passes for the event are $30, but you can also become a member of the Roaring Riot for $40 and receive a membership T-shirt and other perks.

Gorillaz showcased the collaborative spirit that has defined Damon Albarn’s career across multiple decades, bringing together esteemed musicians, vocalists, generations and cultures within the ever-evolving world of the animated band. clture.org/gorillaz-charlott…

With special guests including Posdnuos of De La Soul for “Feel Good Inc.,” Del the Funky Homosapien for “Rock the House” and “Clint Eastwood,” Bootie Brown for “New Gold,” “Stylo” and “Dirty Harry,” and Little Simz for “Garage Palace,” Gorillaz brought their genre-blurring, boundary-pushing sound and visual world to life in Charlotte. Damon Albarn and his talented group of instrumentalists and backing vocalists wove together the hip-hop, rock, electronic, and ambient sounds that define Gorillaz, while Albarn channeled Randy Newman-like whimsy and charm through a distinctly modern alternative and hip-hop lens, moving between melodica, guitar, and keys throughout the night. The virtual band, created by multi-instrumentalist and Blur frontman Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett in 1998, was represented throughout the evening by its iconic characters 2-D, Murdoc Niccals, Russel Hobbs and Noodle, projected across gigantic screens. But while the visuals remained central to the Gorillaz experience, it was the musicians onstage, stellar backing vocalists and the parade of sounds and special guests that made the band’s Charlotte debut particularly memorable — and human.

Fresh off leading the Charlotte Crown to the inaugural UPSHOT League championship and a standout season, former UNC star Deja Kelly has signed a Developmental Player contract with the WNBA’s Dallas Wings. Kelly led the UPSHOT League in both scoring and assists during the 2026 season, averaging 18.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game while also finishing among the league leaders in steals. She was named to the All-UPSHOT Team and capped her season with a dominant performance in the championship game, earning the Ann Meyers Drysdale Trophy as championship MVP after recording 29 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals in Charlotte’s 81-76 comeback win over the Jacksonville Waves. The Dallas Wings announced Kelly’s signing on Tuesday, bringing the 5-foot-8 guard back to Texas, where she was born and raised in Duncanville. The contract gives Kelly another opportunity in the WNBA after she previously spent training camp with the Las Vegas Aces in 2025. Kelly spent her first four collegiate seasons at UNC, where she became one of the most accomplished players in program history. A three-time First-Team All-ACC selection and three-time WBCA All-America honorable mention, Kelly finished her Tar Heel career with 1,858 points, eighth-most in program history, and helped North Carolina reach the NCAA Tournament in all four of her seasons. She becomes the second Charlotte Crown player to earn a WNBA contract following Michelle Onyiah’s signing with the Indiana Fever in July. Onyiah played 21 games for the Crown, averaging 9.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game before becoming the first player from the inaugural UPSHOT season to earn a WNBA contract. Kelly’s move to Dallas marks another milestone for the UPSHOT League, which launched in 2026 as a professional opportunity for players looking to continue competing and developing during the WNBA season. The league will expand from four teams to six in 2027 with the addition of franchises in Baltimore and Nashville, with more markets in development.

The Hornets have announced the remaining local television broadcast channels in the Carolinas for the 2026-27 season, with games airing for free across the region, outside of nationally televised games. Hornets fans across North Carolina and South Carolina — including Raleigh, Wilmington, Greensboro, Greenville, Asheville, Spartanburg, Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Columbia, and Roanoke (Virginia) — will all be able to watch Hornets games through local broadcasts with pregame and postgame shows. Local Broadcast Markets and Channels: Raleigh: WRDC (Channel 28, MyNetworkTV) Greensboro: WMYV (Channel 48, MyNetworkTV) Wilmington: WECT 6.1 (NBC); WSFX 26.1 (Fox); WECT 6.3 (MyNetworkTV) Columbia: WIS 10.1 (NBC); WIS 10.2 (CW); WIS 10.4 (Palmetto Sports & Entertainment Network) Charleston: WCSC 5.1 (CBS); WCSC 5.3 (Palmetto Sports & Entertainment Network) Greenville–Spartanburg / Asheville–Anderson: WHNS 21.1 (Fox); WHNS 21.2 (Palmetto Sports & Entertainment Network) Greenville–New Bern: WITN 7.1 (NBC); WITN 7.2 (MyNetworkTV) Myrtle Beach: WMBF 32.1 (NBC); WMBF 32.3 (Palmetto Sports & Entertainment Network) Roanoke, Virginia: WDBJ 7.1 (CBS); WZBJ 24.1 (MyNetworkTV) As announced in August, WSOC Channel 9 and TV64 will serve as the local broadcast home in the Charlotte region.

Charlotte Film Festival returns to @IPH_CLT this week with more than 170 films, including the premiere of 'Once Upon a Time in Harlem,' a documentary that brings viewers inside a rare 1972 gathering of Harlem Renaissance figures, including Romare Bearden. clture.org/2026-charlotte-fi…

moussa pulled up to the sandlot festival for superfan kwarn’s performance of “moose on the loose” and to meet some of you guys 🫎🔥

The decorated German composer and music producer, Hans Zimmer, renowned for creating some of the most recognizable and influential movie scores of the modern era, will bring his live tour, featuring a 19-piece band, to Charlotte’s Spectrum Center on March 9. Combining orchestral arrangements with electronic sounds, the five-time Grammy Award, two-time Academy Award, three-time Golden Globe, and Tony Award winner will perform some of his most iconic scores from films such as 'The Lion King,' 'Gladiator,' 'The Dark Knight trilogy,' 'Inception,' 'Interstellar,' 'Dune,' and the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' film series. Zimmer’s tours also feature large-scale lighting productions, stage visuals, video content, and advanced sound and synthesizer technology. He began his music career with the new wave band The Buggles, whose hit song “Video Killed the Radio Star” became the first music video broadcast on MTV. Zimmer established himself as a major motion picture composer with his work on 'Rain Man,' which earned him his first Academy Award nomination. He later won his first Oscar for 'The Lion King,' followed by a second for 'Dune.' His collaborations with directors such as Christopher Nolan, Denis Villeneuve, and Ridley Scott have helped define the sound of contemporary blockbuster cinema. Presale tickets will be available Wednesday, September 23 at 10 a.m., with tickets going on sale to the general public Friday, September 25 at 10 a.m.

FOMO, Charlotte's sprawling cultural museum block party, is looking to make a civic impact as the 2026 midterm elections approach with an event in Uptown on Thursday. 🗳️ clture.org/fomo-get-in-the-b…

Moussa Diabaté and Hugo will arrive at 3 p.m. on Saturday at Charlotte Sandlot Festival with Hornets superfan and rapper Kwarn performing “Moose On The Loose” for their intro! 🎥✨ Bring your antlers! 🫎

Mascot Party at The Stick THIS SATURDAY!

Emma from UNCC has been tearing it up on TikTok with her dance routines, and this Saturday, she’ll be joining us at Charlotte Sandlot Festival to teach and film videos with attendees for their social media! We’ll have a dedicated space in the outfield near the picnic area where you can learn a routine with Emma, film a video and create some content for your own channels! A family- and dog-friendly community field day, Charlotte Sandlot Festival will take over all three baseball fields at The Stick Williams Dream Fields on September 19 for a full day of sports, games, entertainment, food, and fun for all ages. Special Guests: ⭐ Moussa Diabaté ⭐ Armanti Edwards ⭐ Sir Purr ⭐ Hugo ⭐ Homer ⭐ Chubby Sports, Games, Activities, and Giveaways: ⚾ Home Run Derby by Truliant Federal Credit Union 🏌️ Three WeGo Golf simulators ⛳ Win a Club Car golf cart from Carolina Golf Cars 🏅 Adult sports activities by SportsLink 🥎 Speed-pitch activation by the Charlotte Knights ⚽ Soccer activation by TopBin90 🧢 Sports card/collectibles show by SportsWax 🎮 Video game zone by The Gaming Lounge 👕 Sports vintage pop-up by Standout Vintage 👟 Sneaker customization station by Kicks & Fros 🧢 Custom hat bar by The Lunch Line 👚 T-shirt screen printing by MacFly Fresh Printing Co. 📸 Baseball card photo booth by My Brother’s Keeper 🎭 Caricatures by Shin Wakabayashi 🏟️ Inflatable sports games 🖌️ Face painting 🎨 Arts and crafts 🎈 Balloon artist 🍴Food & Drink: Don’s Jamaican Kitchen, B&K Tea Cafe, Kabuto Food Truck, Kuya Bear, Yeller Ice Cream, Dumpling Girls, Station 2, Waffle Snacks World, Canal Coffee, Neelia’s Bakery, and Jeremiah’s Ice. 🎟️ Tickets: $7 through Eventbrite and include access to meet-and-greets, games, activities, the sports card show, food trucks, arts and crafts, face painting, balloon art, photo booths, vendors, and more! 📍 The Stick Williams Dream Fields 📅 Saturday, September 19 ⏰ 11 a.m.–7 p.m. 🎟️ $7 Admission (Eventbrite.com/e/19979862326…)

Wu-Tang Clan, The Strokes, Phantogram, TLC, Salt-N-Pepa, Charlotte Sandlot Fest, Festival of India, Vietnamese Association’s Mid-Autumn Festival, FOMO, a Stevie Wonder tribute, and so much more happening this week! clture.org/charlotte-septemb…

We’re excited to announce that all of the original Charlotte sports mascots will be at Charlotte Sandlot Festival on Saturday! Yes, Hugo, Sir Purr, Chubby and Homer will all be at Charlotte Sandlot Festival this Saturday at The Stick Williams Dream Fields in West Charlotte to take photos and meet and greet fans! Moussa Diabaté and Armanti Edwards will also make appearances to sign autographs and take photos, along with a special performance of “Moose on the Loose” by Kwarn! The family- and dog-friendly community field day festival will take over all three baseball fields at The Stick Williams Dream Fields on September 19 for a full day of sports, games, entertainment, food and fun for all ages. Tickets ($7) include access to meet-and-greets, games, activities, the sports card show, food trucks, arts and crafts, face painting, balloon art, photo booths, vendors and more! 📍 The Stick Williams Dream Fields 📅 Saturday, September 19 ⏰ 11 a.m.–7 p.m. 🎟️ $7 Admission: Eventbrite.com/e/19979862326…

We’re giving away a fully refurbished four-passenger Club Car golf cart from our sponsors at Carolina Golf Cars to one lucky winner at Charlotte Sandlot Festival on Saturday, September 19! ⛳️ Take your shot at the green in one of the WeGo Golf simulators for your chance to win! A family- and dog-friendly community field day, Charlotte Sandlot Festival will take over all three baseball fields at The Stick Williams Dream Fields for a full day of sports, games, entertainment, food, and fun for all ages. Special Guests: ⭐ Moussa Diabaté ⭐ Armanti Edwards ⭐ Sir Purr ⭐ Homer ⭐ More to be announced! Sports, Games, Activities, and Giveaways: ⚾ Home Run Derby by Truliant Federal Credit Union 🏌️ Golf activation featuring three WeGo Golf simulators ⛳ Win a 4-Passenger Club Car from Carolina Golf Cars 🏅 Adult sports activities by SportsLink 🥎 Speed-pitch activation by the Charlotte Knights ⚽ Soccer activation by TopBin90 🧢 Sports card/collectibles show by SportsWax 🎮 Video game zone by The Gaming Lounge 👕 Sports vintage pop-up by Standout Vintage 👟 Sneaker customization station by Kicks & Fros 🧢 Custom hat bar by The Lunch Line 👚 T-shirt screen printing by MacFly Fresh Printing Co. 📸 Baseball card photo booth by My Brother’s Keeper 🎭 Caricatures by Shin Wakabayashi 🏟️ Inflatable sports games 🖌️ Face painting and glitter tattoos 🎨 Arts and crafts 🎈 Balloon artist 🍴Food & Drink: The festival will feature a diverse lineup of local food and beverage vendors, including Don’s Jamaican Kitchen, B&K Tea Cafe, Kabuto Food Truck, Kuya Bear, Yeller Ice Cream, Dumpling Girls, Station 2, Waffle Snacks World, Canal Coffee, Neelia’s Bakery, Jeremiah’s Ice, and more. 🎟️ Tickets are $7 through Eventbrite and include access to meet-and-greets, games, activities, the sports card show, food trucks, arts and crafts, face painting, balloon art, photo booths, vendors, and more! Proceeds from Charlotte Sandlot Festival will benefit the Knothole Foundation, a local nonprofit that provides access and opportunities for underserved youth through baseball, softball, academic support, and life-skills development. Bring the family. Bring your friends. Bring your dog. Come play at Charlotte Sandlot Festival! 📍 The Stick Williams Dream Fields 📅 Saturday, September 19 ⏰ 11 a.m.–7 p.m. 🎟️ $7 Admission: Eventbrite.com/e/19979862326…