More Spring Events 

Festivals/Events

15th Annual Charlotte Goes Green Festival Celebrates St. Patrick's day with live Irish music, Irish dancers, Irish/Celtic vendors, a large Celtic kid's zone, food and beverages. Sat., March 19, 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Free admission. Held uptown on S. Tryon Street (between 3rd Street & 1st Street). www.charlottestpatsday.com.

15th Annual Charlotte St. Patrick's Day Parade Featuring pipe and drum bands, Irish dancers, floats, animals, marching units and more. The parade will kick off at 11 a.m. at Tryon and 9th Street. It will march south to Tryon Street and 3rd Street. Sat., March 19, 11 a.m. Uptown Charlotte. www.charlottestpatsday.com.

16TH ANNUAL TASTE OF THE NATION Featuring more than 30 restaurants, culinary schools, organizations, wineries and more. There is also live and silent auctions, as well as live entertainment. For more information, visit http://strength.org/charlotte/. Benefits Share Our Strength. Wed., April 13. $85-$100. The Atrium, 401 S. Tryon St., Charlotte.

All Arts Market Offers affordable, original art from local artists. This includes paintings, prints, photography, pottery, stained glass, jewelry, hand-crafted notebooks, knits and more. For more information, visit www.nodarioty.org, March 11, 6-10 p.m.; March 12, 2-7 p.m. Free admission. Neighborhood Theatre, 511 E. 36th St., Charlotte. 704-358-9298. www.neighborhoodtheatre.com.

Antique Radio Charlotte A three-day conference for radio collectors and historians. Features programs/forums, equipment contests, auctions and two giant flea markets. For more information, visit www.antiqueradiocharlotte.homestead.com. March 24-26. $15 in advance, $20 at the door on Thursday and Friday; Saturday admission is free. Sheraton Airport Plaza Hotel, 3315 S. I-85 Service Road, Charlotte.

Beertopia The third annual St. Patrick's Day event features beer, food, live music and more. Proceeds raised will benefit Pints for Prostates. For more information, visit www.partylikealeprechaun.info. Sat., March 12, 2-6 p.m. Grapevine Wine Shop & Bar, 1012 Market St., Suite 105, Fort Mill. 803-802-9989.

Charlotte 300 NASCAR nationwide series race. Sat., May 28. Charlotte Motor Speedway, 5555 Concord Parkway. South, Concord. www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.

Charlotte Dragonboat Festival Festival celebrates Asian cultures with music and dance, a beauty pageant, cultural displays, a boat race, food and more. For more information, visit www.charlottedragonboat.com. Sat., May 7, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Ramsey Creek Park, 18441 Nantz Road, Cornelius.

Charlotte Gluten Free/ Allergen Free Expo 2011 Event features up to 100 vendors. Taste and buy samples of the newest gluten free/allergen foods. Includes eductaional seminars and classes. For more information, visit http://charlottegfexpo.blogspot.com. Sat., April 30, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. $5 advance tickets; $10 at the door; Free for children 12 years old and under. Blake Hotel, 555 McDowell St., Charlotte.

CHARLOTTE ROLLER GIRLS DOUBLE HEADER Roller derby bouts. Charlotte Roller Girls All-Stars vs. Low Country High Rollers All-Stars and Charlotte Roller Girls B Dazzlers vs. Low Country High Rollers Bruisin Betties. For more information, visit www.charlotterollergirls.com. Sat., May 7, 6 p.m. $10-$14. Grady Cole Center, 310 N. Kings Drive, Charlotte. 704-353-0200.

CHARLOTTE ROLLER GIRLS DOUBLE HEADER Roller derby bout. Charlotte Roller Girls All-Stars and the B Dazzlers will take on teams from the Greenville Derby Dames. For more information, visit www.charlotterollergirls.com. Sat., June 11, 6 p.m. $10-$14. Grady Cole Center, 310 N. Kings Drive, Charlotte. 704-353-0200.

Charlotte Speed Demons vs. Greenville Derby Dames Roller derby bout. For more information, visit www.charlottespeeddemons.com. Sat., March 26, 6 p.m. $8-$14. First Ward Recreation Center, 610 E. 7th St., Charlotte.

Charlotte Speed Demons vs. Richmond's Mother State Roller Derby Roller derby bout. For more information, visit www.charlottespeeddemons.com. Sat., April 16, 6 p.m. $8-$14. First Ward Recreation Center, 610 E. 7th St., Charlotte.

Charlotte's Third Annual CBG Expo Charlotte Business Guild spotlights the business and professional contributions of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) community. For more information, visit www.charlottebusinessguild.org. Fri., March 11, 6-9 p.m. The Westin Hotel, 601 S. College St., Charlotte.

Circle K Outlaws Showdown Steve Kinser, Donny Schatz, Jason Meyers and Joey Saldana are among the warriors in this open-wheeled spectacular. Fri., May 27. The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway, 5555 Concord Parkway, South, Concord. www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.

Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR's only 600-mile event on Memorial Day weekend. Sun., May 29. $39.75 and up. Charlotte Motor Speedway, 5555 Concord Pkwy. South, Concord. www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.

Creative Showcase Displays a series of innovative designs by students at The Art Institute of Charlotte. Tue., March 22, 7 p.m. $10. Knight Theater, 430 S. Tryon St., Charlotte. 704-372-1000. www.blumenthalcenter.org.

Dogtopia Anniversary Party Featuring vendors, a microchip clinic and a painting "pawty". Sat., March 19, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Dogtopia, 616 Springbrook Drive, Charlotte. 704- 333-3063.

Food Lion AutoFair Featuring an array of cars (from classics to customs) and vendors, as well as a collector car auctions and other impressive automotive attractions. April 7; April 8; April 9; April 10. Single day adult tickets are $10; Four-day adult tickets are $25; Free for children under 12 years. Charlotte Motor Speedway, 5555 Concord Pkwy. South, Concord. www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.