Concord Art Walk on Union set for Saturday
Patrons looks at local art.
The countdown is on for the return of Concord's most anticipated fall arts festival – Art Walk on Union! Art and music will soon fill the streets as Art Walk on Union returns to downtown Concord on Saturday, Sept. 12, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Residents and visitors are invited to spend the day discovering local artists, exploring The Galleries at the Cabarrus Arts Council, enjoying live musical performances, and experiencing all that downtown Concord offers.
Art Walk on Union will feature more than 90 local artists and makers, and live performances throughout the afternoon on Union Street North near the Concord Library. Scott Lowder will perform from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and Patricia Joyce will take the stage from 2-4 p.m. There will also be food trucks on Cabarrus Avenue, and the downtown social district offers visitors an opportunity to enjoy their favorite beverages from participating downtown businesses and local breweries.
Also returning this year is a free shuttle between downtown Concord and the ClearWater Arts Center & Studios. Visitors are encouraged to stop by ClearWater Arts Center to view the "Wild Paint: Adventures in Abstraction" exhibit currently on display in the main gallery and meet with some of the tenant artists and see their works.
Art Walk on Union is the perfect opportunity to experience why Parade magazine recently named Concord one of the "14 Charming Small Towns That Feel Straight Out of Stars Hollow."
Know before you go
• Art Walk on Union is a free, family-friendly event, with furry friends on leashes welcomed too!
• Vendors: Artists and vendor booths will be on Union Street between the Concord Library and Corban Avenue.
• Food trucks will be on Cabarrus Avenue between Union Street and Church Street.
• Public restrooms are available on Cabarrus Avenue and at Rotary Square.
• Music: The stage with live music will be located on Union Street North near the Concord Library.
• Lawn Chairs: Visitors are welcome to bring lawn chairs to comfortably enjoy the music.
• No outside alcohol permitted. Please refer to the Downtown Concord Social District webpage for the district boundaries and a list of participating businesses: concordnc.gov/SocialDistrict.
• Parking: Free parking is available in the Municipal Parking Deck, Cabarrus County Parking Deck, Bicentennial Lot, and the Cabarrus County Lot on Church Street. A full listing of public parking is available online at DowntownConcordNC.com/ Parking.
• Shuttle: The free shuttle between downtown Concord and ClearWater Arts Center & Studios will run every 15 minutes. The shuttle pickup and drop off will be on Barbrick Avenue.
• Road Closures: Cabarrus Avenue between Market Street and Church Street, along with Union Street between Corban Avenue and the Concord Library will be closed from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Art Walk on Union is presented by the Cabarrus Arts Council and the city of Concord and sponsored by Uwharrie Bank and Fifth Third Bank.
For more information visit artwalkonunion.org.
Things to do
See a full list of arts events for the coming week:
Music and Movement (KAN)Tuesday, sept. 8, 11:15 a.m. to 12 p.m. — ages 3-5 with caregiver – Join us for a fun and energetic story time with dance, rhythm and music! For more information, visit events for September 2026 – Cabarrus County public Library.
Collage Jar Lid (MTP)Wednesday, sept. 9, 4:30-5:30 p.m. — ages 12-18 – Let's crank up the creativity! swing by the library and turn recycled jar lids into an eye-popping collage bursting with color and personality. No registration required. For more information, visit events for September 2026 – Cabarrus County public Library.
Kid Krafters (CON)Wednesday, sept. 9, 4:30-5:30 p.m. — ages 6-11 – ever heard of Vincent van Gogh? Join us as we learn about him and explore his art. Then make your own versions of some of his most famous works! No registration. For more information, visit events for September 2026 – Cabarrus County public Library.
Kid Crafters Corner (MTP)Thursday, sept. 10, 4-5 p.m. — Family – Sssslither down to the library because for Sssseptember we're making a Ssssnake! each crafter will get to decorate a portion of our snake's body! Then, we'll connect them all together to make one BIG SssNaKe! Our scaly friend will be displayed in the library all month long! No registration. For more information, visit events for September 2026 – Cabarrus County public Library.
Art on the Go: Pop Jewelry (AFT)Thursday, sept. 10, 4-5 p.m. — ages 16+ – discover the fun of making your own jewelry! This beginner-friendly class will teach participants how to use basic tools to create unique pieces of beaded jewelry. No experience is necessary to enjoy this colorful experience. No registration, limited seating. For more information, visit www.CabarrusartsCouncil.org.
Old Courthouse Theatre Next Gen Presents: "Night at the Wax Museum" sept. 10-13 — Old Courthouse Theatre's Next Gen Fall youth production is "Night at the Wax museum" by Craig Sodaro. The school's out for summer, but not for six unlucky students who don't know much about history — they have to re-take the class in summer school. First year teacher Heather Fairchild has arranged for them to help her two aunts set up a new wax museum as a class project. Though the students' eyes glaze over with boredom, there's a twinkle in the wax figures' eyes when a mysterious incantation from the back of Cleopatra's bracelet brings them to life! King Henry VIII finds himself smitten with Cleopatra, making his queen, Anne Boleyn, furious. If she can just not lose her head, John Adams is there to serve as her divorce attorney! When butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid, Blackbeard and a bevy of lady pirates show up, everybody's out for one thing — treasure! supposedly, there's a mighty valuable one hidden in the museum! It's a wild goose chase to find it, with a greedy museum landlord and her bumbling son joining in the mad search. and why is Lizzie borden lurking in the shadows, since the aunts say they never had a wax figure of her? Join the hilarious fun as treasure-hungry outlaws, pirates and royalty mount the greatest siege since Vicksburg! For tickets and more information, visit www.octconcord.com.
Music & Movement (CON)Friday, sept. 11, 10:15-11 a.m. — ages 3-5 with caregiver – Join us for a fun and energetic story time with dance, rhythm and music. No registration. For more information, visit events for September 2026 – Cabarrus County public Library.
Preschool Picassos (HAR)Friday, sept. 11, 10:30-11:30 a.m. — ages 3-5 with a caregiver — drop-in for DIYart projects to complete together! Wear clothes you don't mind getting messy. No registration. For more information, visit events for September 2026 – Cabarrus County public Library.
Embroidered Journals (KAN)Friday, sept. 11, 4-5 p.m. — ages 18+ – Create a journal unique to you and learn how to embroider on paper! No registration. For more information, visit events for September 2026 – Cabarrus County public Library.
Art Walk on Union Fall 2026saturday, sept. 12, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Gather the family and head to downtown Concord for a day of fun at art Walk, an all-day arts festival celebrating handmade artwork from local artists and makers. enjoy live music, food trucks, local brews and wines, and special participation from downtown shops and restaurants. be sure to stop by The Galleries to explore our current exhibition and browse our gift shop featuring artwork from local and regional artists! For more information, visit www.Cabarrusartscouncil.org.
Yarn & Yap (MTP)Saturday, sept. 12, 2-4 p.m. — ages 18+ – bring your current fiber arts project and enjoy a friendly yapping session with fellow yarn enthusiasts! all skill levels welcome, but note this is not a class. No registration. For more information, visit events for September 2026 – Cabarrus County public Library.
Free Demo: "Beyond Pastels"Sunday, sept. 13, 2-4 p.m. — Malia Bryngelson will be demonstrating the use of other art media that complement pastel painting. you won't want to miss this demo! you will have a chance to try out different types of pastels, getting hands on experience. Malia is a fabulous artist, and, I'm thrilled to have her come and share her vast experience with us. Malia is an artist known for her pastel paintings, including works titled "Minnie pearl" and "burning sky." she is associated with the piedmont pastel society and has contributed to various exhibitions showcasing her art. No need to register, this event is free and open to the public. arrive before 2 p.m. so as not to interrupt the instructor. For more information, visit the Cabarrus art Guild website.
