Charlotte StrEATs Festival Returns for 2026
One of my favorite food events in the Queen City, Charlotte StrEATs Festival is back for its fifth year, April 11-12. While this year’s festival is in a new location, what hasn’t changed is the array of culinary experiences available to attendees including tastings, cooking and cocktail demonstrations, a vendor market and more.
StrEATs serves up three signature experiences: StrEATs Uncorked on Friday, April 3; StrEATs Tasting Tour on Saturday, April 11; and the StrEATs Festival on Sunday, April 12. I’m sharing everything you need to know about my two favorite events, the StrEATs Tasting Tour and StrEATs Festival.
StrEATs Tasting Tour 2026
The StrEATs Tasting Tour, on Saturday, April 11 at First Ward Park, is a foodie’s heaven. This event is your opportunity to eat your way around Charlotte’s neighborhoods through tastings from local restaurants.
This year’s tasting experience features 19 restaurants representing Dilworth, East Charlotte, Myers Park, NoDa, North Charlotte, Plaza Midwood, South End, SouthPark and Uptown. The 2026 restaurant lineup includes DŌZO, Enat Ethiopian Restaurant, Emmy Lou’s, Leluia Hall, Mad Dash, Manolo’s Bakery, Mariah’s Taco Spot, Rada and more.
In addition to food tastings, watch cocktail demonstrations from mixologists like Justin Hazelton of Lorem Ipsum, as well as cooking demonstrations with chefs like Sam Diminich of Restaurant Constance and Ashley Boyd with 300 East.
General admission tickets for the StrEATs Tasting Tour are $110 and are all inclusive. VIP tickets are $162 and also include early admission at 11 a.m., the StrEATs Cookbook and a goody bag.
Charlotte StrEATs Festival 2026
Charlotte StrEATs Festival is a free event, Sunday, April 12 at First Ward Park. Find a seat near the stage to watch the Neighborhood Cook-Off Battles, featuring special guest emcee chef Jamie Lynch of La Belle Helene, Church & Union and Bravo’s “Top Chef.” In this competition, local chefs go head to head in a culinary showdown to win the title of StrEATs Neighborhood Champion.
This year’s chefs competing in the semifinals are:
Ammalu Saleh, Serengeti Kitchen
James Brokaw, The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery
Maria Gonzalez, Mizu
Oscar Johnson, Biscuit Jam
In between competitions, shop local and regional culinary vendors at the Artisan Market and watch cocktail demonstrations. While food tastings aren’t available at this event, there will be on-site food trucks and you can pre-order picnic baskets curated by area caterers. Festival attendees 21 and over can also purchase a Cocktail Tasting Wristband to sip five cocktails crafted by some of Charlotte’s top mixologists.
While the Charlotte StrEATs Festival is free to attend, registering online in advance helps festival organizers prepare. Cocktail Tasting Wristbands are available for purchase online for $26.
Getting to First Ward Park
This year’s Charlotte StrEATs Tasting Tour and Festival are held at First Ward Park in Uptown. You can also park in one of the nearby garages or surface lots. Avoid high parking fees by taking the LYNX Blue Line light rail. The Blue Line’s 7th Street Station is a short walk from First Ward Park.