YOU READY TO SHOUT?
YOU READY TO SHOUT?Here’s how I’m planning to show up at SHOUT! Hello, Biscuit buddies. Makayla Binter here. I’m beyond excited for this year’s edition of Charlotte SHOUT! (starting today, Friday, April 4 to April 20). To get you wonderful Biscuit readers prepared for 17 days of art, music, ideas and food, we’re going to share our SHOUT! thoughts for the next few weeks. Starting with … HOW DO I PREPARE TO SHOUT!?!?!So much is planned for SHOUT! that it can be challenging to know where to start and how to enjoy everything packed into the next few weeks. To help, these are tricks and tips on how I get ready to SHOUT! 
ONE: SPEND TIME WITH THE CALENDAR BEFORE YOU GOBefore you jump into a car, bike, light rail or Uber/Lyft into Uptown, check out the calendar of events and creative activations happening across all 17 days. From talks and presentations to improv comedy, fashion installations, interactive art, workshops, tastings, and pairing classes—there’s truly something for everyone. The website is new this year, with a jam-packed map to help you prep. 
TWO: HOW I NAVIGATE SHOUT!SHOUT! events are organized into five creative pillars: Art, Ideas, Food, Fashion and Music. These pillars connect all events, installations and locations across Uptown. I spend time looking through the categories to identify my “must do’s” … then I look at the date of those events to see what else I can add in. In addition to events, I search for featured artists and performers to see when and where they’re involved in SHOUT! and add them into my itinerary. You can make one for yourself under the MY LIST tab on the website. PRO TIP: It’s A LOT to try to do SHOUT! all in one day. I plan on going for a few hours at a time across several days during the festival. I get to experience what I want, leave space for surprises AND maintain my sanity. 
THREE: FIND MY STARTING POINTSHOUT! takes over all of Uptown. If there’s not an event I’m focusing my visit on, I spend time with the SHOUT! map to find an area with lots of cool opportunities and activities within a reasonable walking distance and start there. The vibe of Uptown will be buzzing—street closures, park activations and crowds (and not just bankers, but the bankers seem to love SHOUT!, too). Here are a few of my go-to spots: Near Levine Ave of the Arts / The Green:Near Victoria Yards / The Market at 7th St / First Ward Park:Near the SHOUT! Lounge:PRO TIP TWO: Use the map to figure out how to navigate parking and transportation during SHOUT!. Personally, it’s light rail and Uber/Lyft all the way for me. 
FOUR: CHECK THOSE TAGS AND HASHTAGS One of the best ways to discover the SHOUT! gems – from buskers (street performers, look it up) to music venues, art installations and hand-on activities – are through someone else’s eyes or lenses.
Once the fun has started, head to the SHOUT! Instagram page, @cltshout, and click their tags to see what others have seen. Or search the hashtags #CharlotteSHOUT, #CLTShout, #SHOUT2025 or #ExploringSHOUT to see what others recommend. PRO TIP: Make sure your phone is charged and bring that backup charger because there is so much you’ll want to take photos and videos of. And, then … SHARE THEM! (We’ll be looking for them!) 
TIM’S SHOUT! PICKS FOR THIS WEEKENDHi, all. Tim Miner here. I’ve been involved in nearly every iteration of SHOUT! since its inaugural year in 2002. Every spring, I get excited all over again for this 17-day lovefest for creativity, and this year is no exception. Here are five events I’m ready to SHOUT! about this weekend: FRIDAY, APRIL 4 CMS Art Gallery at UNC Charlotte Co-Lab
10 a.m.-6 p.m.
301 E. 9th St.
MORE INFO. Last year, the addition of art from CMS students became one of my favorite elements of SHOUT! Now, more than 200 works will be on display in UNC Charlotte’s new Co-Lab space. That’s two treats in one—great art and a first look at this new home for innovators and entrepreneurs. SATURDAY, APRIL 5 There’s so much going on off North Tryon Street. These are my must-sees: Charlotte Ideas Festival: Saturday Sessions
10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
The Dubois Center at UNC Charlotte Center City, 320 E. 9th St.
MORE INFO & TICKETS. A full day of networking, conversations and explorations of culture, tech, the past, the future and the Marvel Universe? Yes, please. This fills my nerdy heart with joy. VAPAversary + Open Studios
Noon-6 p.m.
VAPA Center, 700 N. Tryon St.
MORE INFO. Happy third anniversary to the VAPA Center! Just a few blocks from the Dubois Center, this creative hive is home to hundreds of local artists working across every discipline you can imagine. With a fresh $1.7 million upgrade, Saturday’s the perfect time to explore and find your new favorite Charlotte creative. Music + Technology Hackathon
2-10 p.m.
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 1510 E. 7th St.
MORE INFO. 7th Street Concerts may be new to Charlotte’s arts scene, but they’re already making a big splash. This weekend, they’re pairing young musicians and tech creatives to co-create new works on site—which they’ll perform live at 6:30 p.m. We’re so excited about this at Charlotte Is Creative, we helped fund it! TUESDAY, APRIL 6 SHOUT! doesn’t stop on the weekends. It runs daily through April across Uptown. GospelSHOUT!
6-9:30 p.m.
United House of Prayer for All People, 2321 Beatties Ford Rd.
MORE INFO. Okay, it’s not this weekend, but I’m sneaking it in. This FREE tradition returns with high-energy trombone “shout bands” and a cappella choirs. This year’s headliner is the Cunningham Clouds of Heaven, performing for more than 50 years and recorded by the Smithsonian. That tells you everything you need to know. Bonus: Arrive early and grab an incredible soul food dinner in the church cafeteria. Dinner starts at 6 p.m. This batch of The Biscuit was sponsored by Charlotte Center City Partners. A portion of the sponsorship will fund a $250 HUG Micro-Grant for a local creative. | The Biscuit is proudly sponsored by: |
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