There’s plenty to see and do over the next several days. You can catch one of Mozart’s operas in Brevard, explore the first-ever North Carolina Piano Festival in Winston-Salem, or even take the kids to see SpongeBob SquarePants on stage in Charlotte. Keep reading to learn more.

Seussical Jr.

Theatre Charlotte (501 Queens Road, Charlotte) presents its second annual Penguin Project production, June 18^th through 21^st. Based on the beloved works of Dr. Seuss, Seussical Jr. is a joyful musical adventure that celebrates friendship, imagination, belonging, and the importance of every voice with beloved characters including The Cat in the Hat and Horton the Elephant. The cast features young artists with disabilities paired with peer mentors. June 18-21.

Juneteenth Celebration

Black Crown Cinema is honoringJuneteenth with Lullabies & Life, a night of poetry, music, and storytelling at the Carolina Theatre (230 N. Tryon Street, Charlotte) on Friday, June 19^th at 7:30 p.m. Six award-winning Charlotte poets, including Jay Ward, will be accompanied by Charlotte String Collective to share stories of love, life, and resilience through Jazz, Soul, Blues, and Hip-Hop. June 19.

Take Me Back to Bikini Bottom

The Children’s Theatre of Charlotte presents The SpongeBob Musical: Youth Edition at the McColl Family Theatre (300 E. 7^th Street, Charlotte) on Friday, June 19^th (7 p.m.) and Saturday, June 20^th (2 & 7 p.m.). Based on the beloved animated series, SpongeBob SquarePants, the citizens of Bikini Bottom discover a volcano is about to erupt, threatening the existence of their underwater world. June 19-20.

We’re Not in Kansas Anymore

The Charlotte Cirque & Dance Center presents a new dance and circus production of The Wizard of Oz at Knight Theater (550 S. Tryon Street, Charlotte) on Saturday, June 20^th at 7 p.m. The stage will be transformed into the “Yellow Brick Road” as students ages 6 to adults will add an element of high-flying athletic dancing in this creative twist on the classic tale. June 20.

Spirits on the Rail

The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (45 Mitchell Street, Bryson City) is serving up a new tasting experience called Bourbon Train Spirits on the Rail on Saturday, June 20^th. As you wind through the beautiful scenery of Western North Carolina, you’ll enjoy three bourbon cocktails paired with a chef-prepared four-course dinner, including a sweet orange scallop salad, braised beef short ribs, a bourbon-glazed peach bread pudding, and more. June 20.

Orchestral Fireworks

The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra* has two free outdoor performances coming up over the next week and they both include post-concert fireworks (weather permitting). You can catch the CSO at Bailey Road Park (11536 Bailey Road, Cornelius) on Saturday, June 20^th at 6 p.m.; and at Pineville Lake Park (1000 Johnston Drive, Pineville), Thursday, June 25^th at 8:30 p.m. June 20 & 25.

CSO Goes Hollywood

The next installment of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra’s* Summer Pops series pays tribute to the sounds of the big screen with Hollywood Hits at Symphony Park (4400 Sharon Road, Charlotte) on Sunday, June 21^st at 8:15 p.m. It’s the perfect Father’s Day concert with blockbuster movie scores by composers such as John Williams and others. Gates open at 5 p.m., and the prelude performance by Wilmington, NC Americana duo Courtney Lynn & Quinn starts at 7 p.m. June 21.

Music in Brevard

The Brevard Music Center’s* 90^th season is underway with some exciting performances over the next week. The Parker Concert Hall Summer Series includes the Balourdet Quartet on Tuesday, June 23^rd at 7:30 p.m. with a program featuring Amy Beach’s String Quartet in One Movement, Eleanor Alberga’s String Quartet No. 2, Nicky Sohn’s Galaxy Back to You, and Johannes Brahms’ String Quartet No. 3. Then, members of the BMC Artist Faculty perform World of Schumann at Parker Concert Hall (141 Milner Circle, Brevard) on Wednesday, June 24^th at 7:30 p.m. with Robert Schumann’s Fantasiestücke, Clara Schumann’s Piano Trio in G minor, and the Piano Quartet No. 3 in C minor by Johannes Brahms. There’s opera, too. The Janiec Opera Company and Brevard Festival Orchestra are presenting Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro on Thursday, June 25^th at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, June 27^th at 2 p.m. at Brevard College’s Porter Center (1 Brevard College Drive, Brevard). June 23-27.

North Carolina Piano Festival

University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA)* is launching the inaugural North Carolina Piano Festival at Watson Hall (1533 S. Main Street, Winston-Salem), June 25th through July 10^th. The three-week event will feature internationally acclaimed guest artists William Wolfram and Arthur Greene, distinguished faculty performers Dmitri Shteinberg and Dmitri Vorobiev, as well as rising young pianists from across the country performing works by Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt, Mozart, and Schumann. The festival will conclude with a concert of outstanding student performers from this summer’s intensive program. All performances are free and open to the public. June 25-July 10.

Virginia Road Trip

The Heifetz International Music Institute at Mary Baldwin University in Staunton, Virginia, is presenting its 2026 Festival of Concerts, June 25^th through August 1^st. The 30th anniversary event features more than 50 daily presentations of solo and chamber music performances by students, guest artists, and faculty. June 25-August 1.

Award-Winning Eats

A few restaurants in our region have been getting some high praise recently. The Italian organization 50 Top Pizza recently held its annual awards ceremony for America’s best pizzerias in Manhattan, and a couple from our neck of the woods made the ranking. Charlotte’s own Pizza Baby, which has two locations in the city, clocked in at #42. It’s not their first time on the list. MPN Mission Pizza Napoletana in Winston-Salem is 19th on the 2026 ranking. And Pizzeria Toro in Durham got an honorable mention. For the record, Una Pizza Napoletana in New York City was named the best pizzeria in the U.S. for the fifth year in a row.

Timeout.com released their 2026 list of the 11 Best Sushi Restaurants in America, and there’s one around here. Uchi was founded in Austin, TX, but there’s also a location on Commonwealth Avenue in Charlotte’s Plaza Midwood neighborhood. They do things like combine bluefin tuna with watermelon, and salmon with candied quinoa and blueberry. Sounds like my kind of place.

More Weekend Doings

• Charlotte Summer Market & Festival: Wide variety of handmade goods, fashion, art, home décor, delicious food, and live entertainment at Romare Bearden Park in Uptown Charlotte. June 19.
  
  
• North Carolina Blueberry Festival: Events include the 5K run/walk, Tour de Blueberry bike race, antique show & sale, shag contest, car show, barbeque, craft & food vendors, kids’ activities, live music, and lots of blueberries in Burgaw. June 19-20.
  
  
• Juneteenth Rock Hill: Three-day celebration including Food Truck Friday, Freedom Fest on Saturday, and Sunday Service in Rock Hill, SC. June 19-21.
  
  
• NoDa Artisan Festival: Curated mix of vendors offering handmade crafts, fashion, art, home décor, specialty goods, and tasty food options in Charlotte’s First Ward Park. June 19-21.
  
  
• Cars & Coffee: Full weekend of classic, exotic, and custom vehicles; automotive parts and apparel; plus, coffee and food trucks at Freedom Park in Charlotte. June 19-21.
  
  
• Boonerang Music & Arts Festival: Live music, silent disco, art vendors, local brewed beer, great food, and kids’ activities in downtown Boone. June 19-21.

It’s always a good idea to check the WDAV Events Calendar, just in case I missed anything. Have a great week!

FanFare is made possible in part by:

*Disclosure: Theatre Charlotte, Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Brevard Music Center, UNCSA, and Heifetz International Music Institute are WDAV underwriters.