Shining Bright on the East Side!

Celebrate the vibrant culture, creativity, and community of East Charlotte at the East Side Sol Festival! This free, family-friendly event will shine a spotlight on the people, organizations, and businesses that make the East Side one of the most dynamic parts of the Queen City.

Join us on the museum grounds for a day of live performances, local vendors, art, food, and more - featuring all things East Charlotte. Whether you’re a longtime resident or a newcomer, this festival is a celebration of what makes our side of town so special.

Tables: Jumping Dreams, Manolos Bakery, Atkins Library, Charlotte Community Health Clinic, Historic Rosedale, Majestic Hue, Prospera, Wellcare, Baran Dance, CharlotteEast, East Charlotte Coalition of Neighborhoods, Visart, Carolinas LGBT Chamber of Commerce, Charlotte Pride, Time Out Youth, Achieving Success on Purpose, Charlotte Democracy Center: Center for Common Ground, Children of the World Learning Center, Feel the Vibe, Independent Picture House, Lead Forward, Rebuilding Together of Greater Charlotte, Refugee Support Services, Windsor Kittens Inc, Center for Digital Equity, Upcycle Arts

Food: Tacos el Güero AND Manolo's Bakery

Parking: Free parking is available at the Charlotte Museum of History, as well as at an off-site lot just an 5-8 minute walk away on Shamrock Drive. Look for signs directing you to the off-site parking area.

Schedule of Events:

11:00: Doors Open

11:30: Ring Shout and Remember Performance - Students from UNC Charlotte’s Department of Dance will perform works inspired by 19th-century Ring Shout traditions, rooted in the storytelling, rhythm, and movement of enslaved communities. Audience participation in song and rhythm is encouraged to honor the communal spirit of this practice.

11:45: Drag Queen Children’s Reading with Victoria VonDahlia, Charlotte Pride’s first bearded Drag Queen

12:00: Homesite Guided Tour

12:30: 'East Charlotte Through the Years' Panel Discussion featuring Greg Asciutto, Kathy Buckley, Erica Fingar, & JD Mazuera Arias share personal reflections on the neighborhood’s past and its evolution through the years.

1:30: Dance Philippines of the Carolinas Performance - Dance Philippines of the Carolinas showcases the rich traditions of Filipino culture through dynamic performances, featuring dances such as Cuyo, Subli, Pamansak, Ragragsakan, and Arnis. Their vibrant movements celebrate heritage, community, and storytelling.

1:45: Voter Education Workshop - Get ready to make your voice heard! Join this hands-on voter education workshop to learn how to register, vote, and navigate elections with confidence.

2:00: Homesite Guided Tour

2:30: Las Piloneras-Nicaragua Mía Performance - Las Pinoleras-Nicaragua Mía celebrates Nicaraguan culture through vibrant music, dance, and art. Founded three years ago, the group fills the Charlotte area with the joyful rhythms and colorful traditions of Nicaragua, in partnership with Nicaraguan Leaders in Charlotte (LNC).

3:30: East Side 250 - Join Nolan Dahm, CMH Historian and Exhibits Manager, to discuss the museum’s 250-year legacy on Charlotte’s East Side. Learn about the homesite and the Old South, the creation of Charlotte Museum of History, and our continued efforts to work with the Eastland community.

4:15: Baran Dance Performance - Four works choreographed by company artists featuring professional and pre-professional dancers. These pieces will be performed in Winter Worx (December 6th at UNC Charlotte's Robinson Hall) and Tiny Dances: REMIXED (December 13th and 14th at Petra's). Tickets and information can be found at www.baran.dance.

5:00: Doors Close

All-Day: Jumping Dreams Double Dutch, Community Tables, & Siloam School Open