Visited this event for the first time in years and was pleasantly surprised but not overwhelmed…read more It's a perfectly fine way to spend your weekend but it does coincide with the same weekend as Festival in the Park in Charlotte so it's probably not as populated as much as it could be. That being said, I had a good time with my kids and girlfriend. Not a whole lot for adults here, pretty much geared towards children with bounce houses, etc and fair like rides that they will enjoy for sure. In short, this is a good event to browse some local crafts and food as well as some kid friendly rides but if you're like me, you'll be ready to leave within an hour. Not a terribly large event.

Went to the one held at Veteran's Park. Plenty of parking. Lots of space for vendor tents and to…read moreset up a picnic. Only went on Friday where the wristband of unlimited rides was &20 that day only. Kids had fun getting on every ride as many times as they wanted. I sat in the shade listening to the band on stage. We cooled down with fresh squeezed lemonade and satisfied our sweet tooth with funnel cake. Great family oriented festival that was very well organized.

My friend and I went here for the first time over the weekend (Nov 23) thanks to a living social…read moredeal we bought a month earlier. We had no expectations for the place since we've never been any place similar. Tipsy Paintbrush is a BYOB art studio that offers weekly classes focusing on various pictures and is available for private parties. There's also a rotating list of artists that teach the classes and offer painting techniques. On the day we attended, our class was full and picture of the night was sunflowers. It's a bright but small studio space. Parking is to be found on the street (namely Charles street which is located behind the studio) since the place only has four to five spaces to its name. There are rows of tables and stools with canvasses that have a sketch of the picture already drawn out. Classes are two hours. As for BYOB, you can bring bottles of wine/beer/spiked cider, etc that can be either be kept at your station or at the back to be shared with the rest of the class. Also, you can bring in snacks (various dips/salsas/crackers/popcorn/cheeses/etc). There are plastic cups and wine glasses available should you not bring any of your own (we brought in our own glasses). The only gripe I have is that the personal station space is pretty tight. In between having space for the canvas, paint, water glass, wine glass/beer bottle, and possible snack, there's not much room to put everything. Once class begins, the instructor will walk you through the science of color mixing and different techniques to bring the painting to life. The most important thing to remember is to have fun. It's just paint! Don't go in with such a critical view of how your work comes out. Our instructor of the night was Gina and she was great. She was really patient and offered some good painting tips! I HIGHLY recommend the Tipsy Paintbrush for a fun night out!

On November 15, I arrived on time for a class at The Tipsy Paintbrush. The class was scheduled for…read more7:00-9:00. The two instructors chose to delay starting the class untill all participants arrived. The class was scheduled to last two hours. After thirty minutes (at 7:30), the class had STILL not started. That is one fourth of the scheduled class time wasted because of late participants. I had other plans after nine o' clock, so I had to leave without painting, A few people should not be allowed to waste the time of people who show up on time. Very bad policy! I was an art teacher for 25 years, and if people were late for class, I would help them catch up....NOT hold up instruction for the majority. I lost my money....not going back! I agree with another reviewer that too many participants were scheduled so the space was simply too tight.

It was a rainy day and most of the tables were for gadgets rather than groceries. But it is very…read morequaint and charming as well as entertaining- right in the heart of mint hill and perhaps if it wasn't raining they would have more options! It was so fun to see they had a pie eating contest! The sourdough bread O bought was Devine and addictive. If you are in the area and looking to find something special stop by.

On my recent visit to my parents, I was looking for things to do, and I was giddy with excitement…read morewhen I saw this, and that it was in front of the little village that I did not know was there. Oh! Happy Day! Granted, this was Labor Day weekend, and I knew the Matthews Alive Festival was going on. I did not want to drag my parents there as I knew it would be too much for them. Well, a few of the vendors had gone there to make more money, and less than 12 were here, it was still worth the trip. Fresh meat, local honey, baked goods, handmade goods, a delight to me. I am so glad I came and have suggested my siblings come when they come to visit our parents. A wonderful thing!

I love Merle Norman cosmetics and skin care line-The make up is my favorite and I love the skincare…read moreline. I have tried other cosmetics (Mac, Urban Decay, Benefit, etc) BUT Merle Norman is constantly above and I will not change. I love my Merle Norman!

The most delicious strawberries! I was visiting Clover and had to get a bucket. They have so much…read moreto offer at Bush N Vine. The cutest farmers market is on site with fresh produce, milk, cheese, and so much more! They also have a food stand. Don't miss out on the most delicious ice cream! The strawberry swirl with vanilla is delicious! There is a ton of outdoor seating as well to enjoy some goodies. You pick fields are available as well. This is a great place to take your kids, family, and friends! It has an old farm ambiance with a rustic vibe. All the staff was friendly and welcoming.

LOVED! No charge to pick pumpkins. They provide a cart for your pumpkins, but it's first come-…read morefirst serve. They had a ton of different types of pumpkins to pick from out in the fields. They were out of their pumpkin bread this time but all the sourdough came through! Staff is always so helpful.

A Mixed Experience…read more Food 2/5: The festival featured a limited number of vendors offering a range of Italian dishes, including pasta, fried calamari, pizza, sandwiches, cannolis, sfogliatelle, gelato, and coffee. Unfortunately, the quality of the food didn't quite live up to expectations. The pasta was overcooked and lacked flavor, and the raviolis were disappointingly sparse in filling. The cannolis, while from Nonna Maria's, were overly sugary and missed the traditional candied orange peel. Sfogliatelle was decent with citrusy and cinnamon notes. I wouldn't recommend the affogato from Good Cup as it tasted more like cocoa due to the chocolate ice cream. The pizza from Summerwood was cheesy, with a nice thin crust and a good amount of filling. It was a highlight, but the wait time exceeded an hour, and the serving size was rather small for the price. Authenticity 1/5: One of the festival's letdowns was the lack of authenticity in the Italian cuisine. Having been to Italy myself, I couldn't help but notice that the offerings at the festival had little in common with real Italian food. It was a missed opportunity to showcase genuine Italian flavors. It was also surprising that an Italian festival lacked a wine vendor. Authentic Italian cuisine often pairs wonderfully with wines, and this was a noticeable absence. Setting 2/5: Lines at the festival were pretty much what you'd expect at such an event. The average waiting time was around 15 minutes for each vendor, which, given the crowd, was reasonable. While there were enough tables to accommodate festival-goers, they were all exposed to the sun. Given the warm weather, having umbrellas above the tables would have greatly improved the dining experience and made the wait times more bearable. Entertainment 2/5: The festival offered various artists performing Italian songs, which added a touch of authenticity. However, diversifying the entertainment lineup could have made the experience more engaging. The festival had mentioned an Italian cars exhibition on its Instagram page, but it was disappointing to find only a handful of cars on display. In summary, if you're looking for an authentic Italian food experience, "Ciao Italia!" might not be the best choice. While it had its moments, such as the Summerwood pizza and live performances, the overall quality of the food and the lack of traditional Italian flavors were underwhelming. You might be better off visiting a good Italian restaurant to satisfy your cravings for genuine Italian cuisine.

Hello, my name is Mark Tofano, the producer of Ciao Italia Matthews…read more Yes, last year was our first year and we did have areas that needed improvement, such as the wait times for food. Each food vendor is now having their own point of sale units which should speed up food service. This year we have 1,600 square feet of sunshade sails. It got a little toasty last year and we are expecting glorious weather again this year. The entertainment throughout the day is top notch and, of course, the ending of the day with a performance of Opera Carolina and the orchestra is spectacular. There will be an Italian car show again this year featuring Lamborghini, Ferrari and Maserati....and a Vespa! Please, come and join us and experience another extraordinary Italian experience.