When most people hear "free festival in First Ward Park," they picture music, food trucks and an afternoon in the sun. Charlotte Soul Fest is that. But underneath the music lineup is something closer to a pop up community resource center, and that part rarely makes the flyer.

What's actually on site
This Saturday, September 5, from 10am to 9pm, Charlotte Soul Fest returns to First Ward Park for its second year, and its health and wellness zone alone is worth the trip:

- Free mobile mammograms and screenings via Novant Health's Community Care Cruiser
- Sickle cell awareness screenings and a blood drive
- Blood pressure checks and A1C screenings
- Onsite vaccinations

Pair that with a community empowerment zone offering Bank of America's Better Money Habits and First Time Home Buyers programs, resources from the Urban League of Central Carolinas, and Mecklenburg County's Office of Economic Development and Department of Community Resources, and you have a day where a family can walk away with a mammogram, a housing resource, and a good time, all for free.

Why it exists
The festival is the work of KMarie Walters, a Fox Sports producer who moved to Charlotte from Los Angeles in 2016. She started Charlotte Soul Fest Inc. as a 501(c)(3) in 2022 after noticing that Charlotte, a city where Black residents make up the largest minority group, had no large scale, free cultural festival centered on Black culture. The inaugural 2025 event drew 4,200 attendees. This year, Walters expects 8,000 to 10,000, according to QCity Metro and WFAE.

Also on the grounds
- Live music, cultural dance workshops, and the Soul Expressions Art Walk featuring 10 Black artists
- A marketplace with 30 Black-owned businesses
- A food court of food trucks and dessert vendors
- A family fun zone with a Kids Zone, crafts, and a Young Entrepreneurs Market

The takeaway
You don't have to be there for the resources to make it worth going, but if you go for the music, don't skip the wellness zone. It might be the most useful hour you spend all weekend.

Details
📅 Saturday, September 5, 2026
🕙 10am to 9pm
📍 First Ward Park, 301 E 7th Street, Uptown Charlotte
💵 Free admission

More info at charlottesoulfest.com