Great experience!! I was a bit unprepared by not having my own snacks and blanket since I had no clue what this event was lol. There were local vendors on site selling everything you could need and more. Seeing the lanterns light up was so beautiful. Didn't get a chance to sit mine on the lake since the line was way too long. Tips: come early, bring lawn chairs/blankets, bring snacks because the vendors were expensive, hand sanitizer since there's only porta potties. read more

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I LOVE my symphony! However, tonight when I wanted to hear patriotic music, I was sadly disappointed for the minimal amount of that was a our history. I appreciate much of their talent and beautiful pieces, however, night like this there were so many better choices that could've been made to celebrate 250 years of our countries history! read more

I love Symphony Park and have been there for various 5k races, but I had no idea they had a @WaterLanternFestival. The event was so fun and the crowd was super friendly. There were several food trucks and vendors. I was there with my husband and we purchased an air chair and spent a lot of time and laughter trying to figure out how to inflate it. Lol. The staff there were super friendly. For the ticket price, we got a bag with the lantern kit, two decks of cards, and a scavenger hunt sheet. It's a well thought out event and we want to go back. @YelpCharlotte read more

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This is my 2nd year attending the water lantern festival at symphony park. Great event and so meaningful for the community. read more

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I didn't even know this park existed until I came here for the Water Lantern Festival 2024 in July. They had about 10+ vendors and food trucks in the parking lot adjacent to South Park Mall. The park is more appropriate for hosting outdoor events such as the lantern festival or concert than it is a park to bring kids/play. No visible playground or sufficient flat land to play sports. But it's good for dog walking, having a picnic or just soaking up the outdoors. One suggestion for the park maintenance people. It would have been great to have treated the grass for bugs for big events such as the lantern festival. Many people laid blankets down to sit on the grass, and me personally, I was attacked by all the bugs lol. read more

Pretty place! Lost of room and nice views. Love the stage and how has a cement walkway. Perfect place for events. read more

Symphony Park at SouthPark - Parks Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

In all of the years I've been to the mall and passed by here, I've never been to this park! This is a venue where you can sit on blankets amd lawn chairs to watch performers on a large stage. There is a large fountain and a concrete circle path around the perimeter. With construction going on at the mall, there is a loss of parking spaces near this park, but it should not affect finding a spot. Come check this park out! read more

Symphony Park at SouthPark - Parks Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I love this park! It is quiet and peaceful during the day but look out for the hawk that lives in the tall tree! I take my little dog to walk around the circular trail and she loves it. The pond has ducks, fish, and the fountain is a nice feature. Southpark After 5 is a lot of fun but only happens certain times of the year. I have also seen a wine/food festival here and food trucks. The amphitheater carries noise well for live music. There is plenty of grass for blankets and lawn chairs. Totally walkable to shops and restaurants at Southpark Mall. Great spot in the heart of Charlotte! read more

Wonderful time at the wine festival this weekend! Park itself was nice. I enjoyed the stage & water scenery. The parking is a bit strange. The park was clean & well-groomed. Would enjoy coming back for future events! read more

I love this location they should really have more events at this venue. It's great for summer evenings but the little pond

I was just here at Symphony Park last weekend for the Great Grapes festival. I will not dive deep into that festival because it definitely could have been better but I truly like the symphony park area. But my biggest complaint about this area is the parking. I'm not sure if it was due to the festival but the parking SUCKED! I rode around over 20 minutes looking for a park basically waiting/looking for customers from Dicks sporting goods and Reid's grocery to leave and hoping another person doesn't beat me to the spot, which seemed to continue to happen the first 15 minutes. The symphony park land was well maintained but they definitely should have their own parking lot. read more

Symphony Park at SouthPark - GryL time at symphony park! - Parks Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Beautiful park. My then fiancé took me to the Water Lantern Festival being held at the park because I'd never been to one. The park is large, with a lovely stage overlooking the water. Our lantern was made of wood with a rice paper outside. Inside you put a little LED candle to light it up. We drew and put our wishes on the paper, slipped it on the frame, put the candle inside and when the sun went down we pushed our lanterns into the water. The effect was beautiful. It was nice putting our intentions out into the universe. read more

Symphony Park at SouthPark - The lanterns were so beautiful... This picture doesn't do it justice - Parks Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Lovely spot for a stroll around the Symphony Park on a sunny day. Beware! There are some weird bugs flying about, only to find out they were fireflies, lots of them during the summer. Place - great outdoor place to listen to the symphonies and bands playing under the white opera like awning. Pro: Came here during one of the summer festival under the stars event. I went on a day where they played classical music by the Charlotte Orchestra. It was super lovely! A thing to do once or twice in Charlotte. Con: Come at a bad time, or late, you will get the nose bleed section. I can tell that there were habitual locals who are familar with the setup and event that had blankets, chairs, and snacks laid out on the lawn and had the best seats! Parking sucks, if you come late. I thought coming early before the event starts (45 minutes), was actually late, compare to others who were there ahead of time. All in all, this is definitely the place to relax and enjoy the music with the other fellow Charlotte people. read more

Second summer in CLT.....first time attending the Summer POPS series. Loved every moment of it! Great open grass area, friendly summer smiles and beautiful symphony music. We brought wine, champs, and snacks for an evening out on the lawn and it was wonderful. Not much more I can say about Symphony Park that hasn't already been said. :-) This will defiantly be an ongoing summer tradition. read more

Symphony Park at SouthPark - Parks Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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So much fun!! Went to see the Symphony Orchestra & WOW was I amazed!! The park is clean and plenty of great seats for viewing, but sitting down front is the best (not too many bugs by the water either). You can walk to any of the restaurants nearby and grab take out or bring your own picnic. Best tip about this place: get there EARLY!! it fills up quick!! read more

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While it's not a traditional park per se (no jungle gyms, few resting areas and walking trails), Symphony Park is a pretty greenspace and great event space. You'll drop by here for a variety of local events including Summer Pops In the Park, Beer, Bourbon & BBQ, Walk for Lupus, Great Grapes etc. Because the space is so close to SouthPark mall you reap the convenience of fairly easy parking and exit. Additionally, it's quite expansive and hosts an amphitheater so music can be played to the masses! While I haven't actually walked around this park at a time other than a festival, I imagine it would be quite lovely. Next time you read about an upcoming concert or festival in Symphony Park, I'd definitely check it out - the venue supports loads of people and has maintained its beauty. read more

Nice little park in the midst of SouthPark mall area. If you are looking for parking, a super close option is the mall lot right by Reid's Fine Foods and Dick's Sporting Goods. The park has a paved trail that winds around the amphitheater as well as some fountains and a small pond to enjoy. Would be nice for dog walking, but no playground equipment for children. The park appears to be mostly used for events. I recently went to the season's last Movies in the Park event, which was very family friendly. It's free to attend, which you can't beat. Plan to arrive about an hour or so early to grab a good spot. You can bring blankets, lawn chairs, outside food, and drinks, including adult beverages with no issues. The event was also dog friendly. In addition to the gigantic inflatable movie screen with surround sound that is set up in the grassy area, there were food trucks and snack vendors, face painting, balloon animals, a trampoline, and a bounce house. Also, a live band kicked off the evening. We were treated to the sounds of the legendary Mr. Nigel and His Friends. Well, it was actually sans Mr. Nigel for some reason... Anyways, my only minor complaint was that the park is super buggy, which I would guess is exacerbated by the small pond. So, bring bug spray. read more

Symphony Park at SouthPark - Parks Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I recently attended the Great Grapes Wine & Food festival at this location and I must say it's the perfect spot for such events. It's a beautiful park that has plenty of shaded areas (if you get there early to claim a good spot)...perfect for picnics or just relaxing with friends having excellent convos while listening to live music. Also South Park Mall being in walking distance is a huge bonus, food court is just a few steps away if you wanted some hot fresh food to eat on. read more

Went to wine fest here! It was a great time, lots of vendors and people. Lines moved pretty quick. read more

This is such a beautiful park I love the man made hill and he skyline around it. This is a very nice area and so much to do around it. There are many hotels to stay in, too. I love seeing wonderful places like this in the middle of cities. It brings back nature with all the tall buildings. read more

Waste of time. Do not go. I went for the jazz symphony thing, and I truly regret it. Not fun at all, all it is is music. If you love jazz, I guess you'll like it but it is a totally boring event if you don't love jazz, or symphony. I recommend not going and I will never go again. read more

Symphony Park at SouthPark - Parks Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Symphony Park is an odd place to be found attached to one of the larger parking spaces alongside the Southpark Mall. A symphony dome suspended over water, long grassy areas, a few benches along walkways, and open air. It's actually quite the respite from the hustle, bustle, dudes in suits, perfume kiosks, and chain restaurants in the area. There are tons of things happening here in the summertime. Beer, Bourbon & BBQ, Great Grapes, Pops in the Park, and a few others. Easy to find parking to make the festivals accessible and well-kept. Great to grab food to go from the foodcourt in the mall and have an impromptu picnic. I'm a fan. read more

Attended Movies under the Stars with the family. We found a nice spot with a great view of the band shell. There were great activities to occupy the kids until the sun went down . My granddaughter loved the bounce house. I really enjoyed the band and the laid back feeling of the crowd. Once the sun went down, the giant screen was inflated and the kids went wild. How cool is a 30 feet inflatable screen? Enjoyed the movie and had a great time. Did I mention this was free?! What a great way to have family time, especially if you are on a budget. I will go back next Friday for the last movie of the summer. read more

This is a beautiful, man-made park wedged into the South Park mall property that is a wonderful venue for activities on the stage, like the Summer Pops series. The gradual slope of the hill makes it a wonderful amphitheater that can handle a large crowd. The slope is gradual enough that you don't have to worry about food and drinks spilling after you get your picnic spread setup during a show. Having the stage in the middle of a pond with a beautiful shell above it creates an atmosphere you won't find anywhere else in Charlotte. I encourage everybody in Charlotte to get to a Summer Pops show. It's a fun time and the venue is great. read more

This place is genuinely 5 stars. I love walking my dog here. I also see couples having picnic or sitting by the benches. It never gets crowded at all and remains quaint until the sundays of Summer pops season. I do wish the water in the pond is a bit cleaner, once in a while you see bottles in it but that is just people who do not have the decency to have gratitude for public facilities. This place is truly a gem, there are always geese in the pond and the fountain is always on. There is sometimes mall police patrolling. It is such a blessing that we have this in south park! read more

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The Summer Pops in the Park at Symphony Park is one my very favorite Charlotte traditions. Every Sunday in June, the Charlotte Symphony performs an entertaining concert that includes songs you'll recognize and sometimes even want to sing! The main concert begins around 8 p.m. each Sunday in June - but prior to that, there is usually a youth symphony concert you can enjoy while waiting. We like to arrive around 7 p.m. to get set up and enjoy the atmosphere. Be sure to pack a tarp or blanket, low chairs (or sit in the back with your higher chairs) and food and beverages (beer and wine is a-ok). I also like to bring a small folding table, bug spray and a citronella candle. There is a charge for the concert - $12/ticket is quite a deal for a great concert in an outdoor, casual setting. read more

Nice downward-sloping patch of land with plush green grass leading to a modern band shell with an adjacent pond which surrounds the performance space. With plenty of adjacent free parking, this is an near-ideal space for outdoor festivals and concerts. As others have mentioned, this is not a park in the traditional sense. There are no picnic tables with barbecue grills adjacent to them. With the exception of a few small manicured trees, there are no forest groves of old mature trees harboring their own ecosystem. The only paths you'll find are paved with asphalt and the snake around the perimeter of the grass. No, this is a manmade venue specifically crafted for the cantilevered bandshell at the bottom of the hill. Not too steep, well manicured grass free of rocks, exposed roots and weeds, and easy to control points of entry and exit. Perfect for the rotation of outdoor festivals that tend to dominate the community calendar during Carolina summers. An ideal setup for the Charlotte Symphony and the hordes of gourmet picnics that spring up around traditional summer pops performances. The jaundiced eye could see this as a manufactured facade, which compliments the massive indoor retail environment that lies just behind the "park," but others are happy to get past such details and just enjoy an open space that fits its designated purpose just fine. I say, "Enjoy!" read more

We come here almost every Friday for movies under the stars and have a picnic with a blanket and some chairs. The activities for the kids are great. Face paintings, Wii Resort, sand art, popcorn and cakes, also characters the kids can take pics with fun and games! Great family time with live music. read more

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Love the summer pops series!!!! It used to be free years go but now it's 12 or 16 dollars. Come early if you want a good flat area of grass. You can bring snacks and alcohol. Summer pops is a really fun active for the summer. The music is always good and if you bring great friends you guaranteed a good time!!! read more

Went here for a Friday night 'Movies in the Park" event. It was a great spot and the evening was perfect in terms of climate so that made it even better. This event was hosted by State Farm and CHS and well produced with tons of things to do for kids and an entertaining band there to keep them interested until dusk when the movie was scheduled to start. My only gripe would be that the lawn staff should have cut the grass before the weekend event. It wasn't terribly weedy but it was a bit overgrown. No biggie still, my girlfriend and I stretched out our large blanket and had a great low key evening :) read more

This is a beautiful space for a quiet picnic or game of frisbee, football what have you...get those kites out when Irene starts to blow through! No benches except on the sidewalk on the road behind, though. I wish they had more benches/seating. For the Southpark area, an overlooked neighborhood oasis. read more

Symphony Park at SouthPark - The stage is to the right of this shady view. - Parks Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

For my European friends on yelp. This is a beautiful place, its not big and some events are happening here it can be great for those who love crowds. Its not a Park as we consider parks over here, i consider it more of a venue near South Park Mall. i wold not go there to read a book but i would go to attend an event and much food with a easy walking distance if it is easy for you to walk read more

I am a big fan of both the Summer Pops and Movie in the Park events here. I'm not so much of a fan of the other events (ex. Great Grapes, Bourbon, Beer & BBQ etc). In short, the park is great for picnic style festivities. It's nice to sprawl out on the blanket, enjoy the music or movie. BUT it's a nightmare for any food/drink stand up events. The space is very crowded. And it simply doesn't worth the $20-30 admission those events typically charge, only to be frustrated by the lines and the crowd. Summer Pops Tips: 1. Summer Pops now are $10pp, $15 for the July 4th (7/3/2014 this year) event. You can buy online up until Friday afternoon, or you have 3 stations to buy from on day of. "Gate" opens at 5pm, and there are going to be some crazy people who think they need to rush and cut in front of you and run to stake their spots. Try not to be the crazy person. 2. Bring something heavy to put on the corners in case it's a windy day, but otherwise the blanket won't fly away. I managed to find some leftover bricks lying aside and a large fallen tree branch. 3. Low chairs please. Don't be THAT person with the full size tailgate chair, because you're blocking everyone else behind you. 4. Consider being there at 5pm to get the spot, then LEAVE. It's HOT, HOT, HOT out there. Enjoy a nice dinner nearby (you can even walk so you don't leave the prime parking spot you got). That way you can support the nearby eateries (I used to wait tables in Southpark years ago, and Sundays in June were horrible for business), stay out of the heat, and still be back in time for prelude. read more

Excellent spot for almost everything! Huge amphitheater and lawn. Sloping hills allow you to settle in on a blanket and not block those behind you. I have been here for outdoor movies, wine and Q fests - all easy parking and beautiful surroundings. Love coming here! read more

Noise Complaint - First off- I love this park and the normal venues that happen (would be 4-5 star), but yesterday's "AWOL Music Festival" was way too loud for the area. I live about a mile away and all I heard yesterday all day long was thump thump thump inside my home. The bass noise is way to high for such a small venue. I also find it disrespectful to be playing that lowd until 11pm at night. I'm all for having fun, but not so loud and all day long. I went to the venue parking lot and felt like I was in the heart of a rave party and couldn't even have a normal conversation 300 yards away inside my car. I hope this will not continue to happen. Having a permit should not allow anyone to exceed a certain noise level- especially the bass noise level- regardless of who they are. I have heard the symphony play there before and they are fine and I don't hear them inside my home- so that should be the benchmark you set. I am absolutely sure that I am not the only complaint in the area, and things like this should not be allowed to happen. read more

Our family had such a FUN time at Summer Pops last Sunday night. We brought a big cooler and lots of blankets and had a picnic. The kids danced, the adults socialized and ate Italian Ice, and CSO was excellent. We had a fabulous time. My kids did not want to leave! The gates open at 5:00, so GET THERE AT 5 for a good spot! It gets packed very quickly! read more

Excellent pavilion and home of the pops in the park series as well as various concerts and festivals throughout the year. The venue is well located and picturesque, with the pond and island stage and some nice fountains. I like the plentiful parking afforded by the mall. It would be nice if the yard was tiered in the steeper areas because sitting on a hill isn't too enjoyable. If you go for any event, get there early for prime, gradually sloped seating! read more

I have lived in Charlotte for a year now and I first heard about Summer Pops last year. I was so excited this summer to give it a try and we enjoyed it so much I think next year we may buy summer passes. I think they hold other events here as well but that is the only thing I have come for. The symphony is amazing first off, so great to enjoy. You also get to bring your own seating and food, wine etc so the whole event is so wonderful. They also have food trucks out front for you to enjoy as well. read more

I love the summer pops in June and July here! So lovely to sit out in the nice weather and enjoy nice wines and cheeses and the company of good friends. The landscaping and lake is beautiful and we always have a great time. read more

It's been years since I've been to concerts here but I do remember loving them. Most recently I brought my young cousins to the free movie series. It was perfect. Lots of games in the parking lot- I wish I'd come earlier so the kids could play more. The concert before the movie was very interactive and perfect for kids while also offering songs for adults. You could bring chairs and blankets, even coolers and snacks, but they did also offer concessions in the lot at very reasonable prices. read more