Labor Day weekend concert tonight, parade on Monday

The Labor Day


Concert and Afterparty - Carolina Nights Labor Day weekend celebration presents Keyshia Coles, Lyfe Jennings and Charlotte’s Rudy Currence in concert.  After the concert it’s the Last Night In White Afterparty. 8 p.m. Coyote Joe's, 4621 Wilkinson Boulevard. $35. Details.

Not Another Cookout - Skip the BBQ. Try a Labor Day Luau to celebrate the end of summer.  7 p.m. Howl At The Moon, 210 E Trade St Ste A-30.8.

Post Brunch - No school on Monday! Enjoy craft beer, food trucks and more than two dozen vendors at Front Porch Sunday. There will also be free beer samples from Sycamore Brewing from 3-6 p.m. 3 p.m. – 7 p.m., Shook Kelley, 2151 Hawkins St.

Family Fun - The four-day family event Matthews Alive Festival returns to downtown Matthews. Peruse more than  30 interactive sponsor displays, a carnival, kids crafts and inflatables, three stages, more than 170 arts and crafts vendors, 25 street food vendors, pony rides, train rides and more. Proceeds benefit more than 30 area non-profits. Free Admission. 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. tonight. Sat., Sept. 5, 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun., Sept. 6, 12-9 p.m. and Mon., Sept. 7, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Don't forget Monday!
Labor Day Parade 16th annual Charlotte Labor Day Parade begins at the Hal Marshall Center and ends on College Street. The parade features floats, step groups, bands and more. 11 a.m. Monday, uptown. Parade route.

T. Ortega Gaines, Charlotte Observer

Holla: sipandplayclt@gmail.com

Sharks in Hilton Head, celebs in Charlotte - It's Labor Day Weekend!

Photo by Graybaby

My Labor Day weekend started with the excitement of a shark-catching (not sighting) in Hilton Head Island. Here I am, chilling on Folly Beach, when a man nearby yells shark. I thought he was playing around. I look up and a couple of guys are hauling in a baby shark caught on a fishing hook. With the help some nearby fisherman, they free the shark and set it free. Be free baby Jaws!

Now, let's get this party started.

Throwback Jams - If you like old school hip-hop and R&B then the I Love The 90's Part 2 is for you. It’s an ‘80s Hip Hop and R&B Themed Brunch. Music by DJ Hot Rod. 11 a.m.  Sports One Bar & Lounge, 521 N College St. www.sportsoneclt.com

Free Jazz - Grab a blanket and bring the family out for Jazz in the Park featuring
 saxophonist Tom Braxton, guitarist Steve Oliver, and bassist John Dillard. Presented by Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation. 6 p.m. Romare Bearden Park.   Starting at 3:30 PM until 9 p.m. Free. Details.


Dress Code Party - Buck Long & DJ Stacey Blackman
present the Pre-Labor Day Denim & White Party. Special performance by Shableek 9 p.m. Press Box , 9609 N. Tryon St.

Celebrity Appearance - Join the cast of VH1’s “Wildn’ Out” for a Celebrity Block Party. Appearances by Chico Bean B Daht, Darren Brand. Performance by Mo Beatz singing “Breadwinner.” Hosted by Money Man Jones and Neezy The Great. Re:Public and 300, 300 block of N. College St.

Don't Forget
Family Fun - The four-day family event Matthews Alive Festival returns to downtown Matthews. Peruse more than  30 interactive sponsor displays, a carnival, kids crafts and inflatables, three stages, more than 170 arts and crafts vendors, 25 street food vendors, pony rides, train rides and more. Proceeds benefit more than 30 area non-profits. Free Admission. 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. tonight. Sat., Sept. 5, 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun., Sept. 6, 12-9 p.m. and Mon., Sept. 7, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Buy Local - Local vendors will takeover NoDa at the Queen City Conscious Market. Enjoy goods, music and food. Vendors include: Collett Couture, CreativeLove - an Etsy Shop, Clean Line Soap Company, Amahoro Handcrafts Burundi, Ginger & Juniper, Ellie Court Designs, Lighthouse Paper Co., Suzeebee, Add Some Zing, Beautiful Idiot, Carolina Reclaimed, CocoPits, Let Love Shine Candles, Shannon Newlin LLC, Avant Garland, ObabyGanic, Thirty Seven Stars Crochet, Peace&Pallets. 11:30 a.m., Heist Brewery, 2909 N Davidson St. Ste 200.

Fight Night - Watch Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson vs John "The Magician" Dodson in this addition of Strike Fight Night: UFC 191. 10 p.m. StrikeCity, 210 E Trade St. Ste D164.  Say "knock out" at the door and get in for free. Details.

Celebrity appearance, album release party and Matthews Alive!!!

Not only is it Friday, but it's also a three-day weekend. We say goodbye to summer with parties, celebrities and more. See you in the streets. Let's get this party started.

Celebrity Appearance -  Love & Hip Hop Atlanta’s Ashley Nichole headlines the Labor Day Bash featuring: Freekey Zekey and 730 Dipset (live performance). 10 p.m. Mynt Restaurant and Lounge, 1508 S. Mint St.  Hosted by: 2K Yates and Greg “Money Man” Jones. Beats by DJ Fame. Details.

Family Fun - The four-day family event Matthews Alive Festival returns to downtown Matthews. Peruse more than  30 interactive sponsor displays, a carnival, kids crafts and inflatables, three stages, more than 170 arts and crafts vendors, 25 street food vendors, pony rides, train rides and more. Proceeds benefit more than 30 area non-profits. Free Admission. 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. tonight. Sat., Sept. 5, 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun., Sept. 6, 12-9 p.m. and Mon., Sept. 7, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Album Release Party - Rapper B.o.B can go hard featuring everyone from Lil Wayne to Taylor Swift. He’s in town for is back for an album release party for his new album "Psycadelik Thought." 10 p.m. The Oak Room, 200 E. Bland St. $20.




Pre-show Party - I love a good concert, but I love a good pre-concert party even more. Enjoy the RockBus Concert Series before the Jason Aldean show at PNC Music Pavilion. 5 p.m. Check-in at Prohibition, 200 N. Tryon St. Details.

Art Showcase - The second Skyline Artists Showcase features mixed media artists Robert Childers, sculpture Matthew Steele and a performance by XOXO_Ensemble. The Skline Artists Showcase transforms the Goodyear building, the future home of Tryon Place, into a pop up art space. Co-presented by The Wall Poems of Charlotte and Amy Herman and the blessings of Charlotte Center City Partners. Former Goodyear, 100 E Stonewall St.

Holla: sipandplayclt@gmail.com