FabFest Charlotte

08/22/2026

🎶☀️Come together over TWO days of Beatles fun for all ages! Celebrate Charlotte’s diverse community with timeless music that bridges generations and cultures, and continues to inspire our creativity — swipe to see how YOU can share yours!

🗓️Fri-Sat, Oct 2-3, 2026 — an inclusive, immersive and family-friendly experience!

🎟️Friday ticketed concert with singalongs at Knight Theater: on sale now & early bird discount ends 9/2!

🎪Saturday FREE! 10-5pm Parr Center CPCC: register in advance at Eventbrite to be eligible for door prizes pulled throughout the day!

🌎fabfestcharlotte.org

🙏 by Tosco Music is presented by CG Financial Services with support from Arts & Science Council, City of Charlotte, Corning, Jambox, Chicago Title Insurance Co., Frame Warehouse, Harris Holt Framing, Artful Narrative Studioi and The Odom Firm.

👏Community Partners include Daniel Coston, The Independent Picture House, Shannon Lee, Alight Yoga, Charlotte Seen, Piedmont Music Therapy, Arts+, and more.

08/22/2026

🎶On through Oct 2, we highlight people who’ve shared their gifts with — like Kate Lee & Forrest O’Connor and others whose innovative covers of Beatles songs stay with us long after the festival ends.

🎥🎻🎸Kate & Forrest’s beautiful, original arrangement of “I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party” mesmerized the Knight Theater audience at in 2019 — they traveled from Nashville and shared their incredible talent for the inaugural festival weekend! Forrest O’Connor Kate Lee O'Connor

🎉For 2 decades, Tosco Music Beatles Tribute has welcomed creative covers in a variety of genres as much as faithful versions of original recordings — both honor the Beatles songs that continue to inspire millions. They’re also part of what makes FabFest unforgettable — unique music moments shared in a moment of community that happen only once.

🎤Now it’s your turn! and Cover Song Contest offer an opportunity for youth and adult musicians to perform at — the contest includes cash prizes, registration is open now!

FabFestCharlotte is:
☀️TWO days of Beatles-fun for all ages!
🗓️Fri-Sat, Oct 2-3, 2026
🎟️Friday ticketed concert at Knight Theater — on sale now!
🎪Saturday FREE! Parr Center CPCC
🌎fabfestcharlotte.org

Blumenthal Arts Uptown Charlotte

08/18/2026

🎉🎶 Independent Picture House is hosting a special film screening and talkback the week of ! The Independent Picture House

🎥About the film: EVOLVER: 62
Before the legend. Before the world hysteria. There was 1962. Globally-renowned Beatles historian Mark Lewisohn brings his celebrated stage show to film, taking viewers to the streets of Liverpool and London where history unfolded.

Drawing from archives, Lewisohn tells the story the year that changed everything — through the real places and artifacts that shaped the Beatles’ story.

A compelling watch for Beatles fans, music lovers, and anyone curious about the moments that reshaped modern culture. Come to view the film in community, and stay for the community conversation led by local author and music historian Daniel Coston along with local music writer and past WSGE radio host of “Notes from the Underground”, Lindsay Planer. Daniel Coston Lindsay Coobs-Planer

🍿➕🎤 Movie starts at 7pm Wed, Sep 30, talkback follows inside the theater.

🎟️One night only & space is limited - see link in bio and get your ticket early! #

The Beatles FabFest Charlotte Tosco Music NoDa Neighborhood Business Association

Presented in partnership with Tosco Music

08/14/2026

🎶On through Oct 2, we lift up people who’ve made FabFest memorable, and today’s appreciation goes to the hundreds of musicians and Beatles aficionados who have rocked the Knight Theater stage at since it began in 2004.

🎸 Here Steve Stoeckel & Keith Shamel perform at the inaugural FabFest in 2019 with the amazing TMP House Band & Singalong Choir: Eric Wilhelm (drums), Alan Kaufman (keys), Greg James (piano), Reeve Coobs, Phyllis Fulton, Miranda Reger, Jason Hackner, Shana Blake, Ellie Morgan, John Richards & John Tosco.

🎤Each year is completely unique at this annual tradition that’s also unique to Charlotte. While there are many activities to enjoy on Saturday at , it’s the music that’s been bringing us together for more than two decades.

🎉Plan now to join us when we for an unforgettable night of performances and singalongs for all ages!

is:
☀️TWO days of Beatles-fun!
🗓️Fri-Sat, Oct 2-3, 2026
🎟️Friday ticketed concert — on sale now!
🎪Saturday FREE! Parr Center CPCC
🌎fabfestcharlotte.org

📸 Cover image of Keith Shamel by # LauraLynnMusicPhotography
Eric Willhelm
Alan Kaufman
Reeve Coobs
Phyllis Fulton
Miranda Reger
Jason Plus the MLC
Shana Blake
Ellie Morgan
Tosco Music

08/11/2026

🎶🎉Lucid Caravan Band was one of the winners of the 2025 FabFest Cover Song Contest with their rockin’ performance of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” at — even after just forming as a band months before!

🎸🎤And they’ve continued to make music and perform since, bringing their southern and alt rock and crowd favorites to NoDa NoDa Charlotte venues like Bo’s on Noda and NoDa Company Store, and more!

⏳Now it’s your turn! Pick your cover and gather your bandmates, or plan to debut solo — all ages, instruments, genres, and solo, duo or band acts welcome at ! Bring your best Beatles song forward and you too could win!

FabFest-Charlotte's Beatles Festival is:
☀️TWO days of Beatles-inspired play for all ages!
🗓️Fri-Sat, Oct 2-3, 2026
🎟️Friday ticketed concert at Knight Theater
🎪Saturday FREE! Parr Center CPCC
⏳ tickets at Knight Theater are on sale now.
🌎fabfestcharlotte.org

🙏 to Strawberry Field Stage hosts Shannon Lee and Ron Sheehan for making performers’ stage experience go smoothly!

Tosco Music
on Instagram - photos by Starkim Noble

08/07/2026

🎶☀️On through Oct 2, we feature people who’ve made fabulous— like Lupita Mendoza and others whose dress-up fun has inspired a new fashion/costume/cosplay contest in the works for this year! Lupita Mendoza

👒Lupita’s delighted us with her 60s fashion for five FabFests now, and a ringer for Ringo has joined us for several years too! Last year, characters from the Magical Mystery Tour and Yellow Submarine showed up to our surprise!

👗The Beatles both influenced and were influenced by the style revolution of the 60s and the many trends that marked the decade. As Lilah Ramzi wrote in her 1960s Fashion Lesson for Vogue about mini-skirts, mods and the birth of bohemian: “They said the 1960s swung and indeed it did—especially when it comes to fashion.”

👖Get started now: collect vintage clothes for your own 60s look, or compile your cosplay costume — come as a lookalike of someone from the Beatleverse, or create your own persona from Beatles’ lyrics — like Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds 💎💫 or Octopus’s Garden 🐙🪏🪴🎶

💰Calling all theater-kids and costume-connoisseurs — cash prizes for youth and adult winners!

is:
☀️TWO days of Beatles-inspired play for all ages!
🗓️Fri-Sat, Oct 2-3, 2026
🎟️Friday ticketed concert at Knight Theater
🎪Saturday FREE! Parr Center CPCC
⏳ tickets at Knight Theater are on sale now.
🌎fabfestcharlotte.org

Presenting sponsor: CG Financial Services

🙏📸 by Daniel Coston, Starkim Noble Starkim’s Art | Charlotte Videographer & Photographer , Carter McDermott and Jackson Harden

The Beatles Tosco Music

08/05/2026

🎨🎸Share with your artist friends!

2026 Beatles Art Contest is now open! Artists of all ages and levels are invited to submit work inspired by the Beatles — the music, the era, the revolution they sparked. Fashion, freedom, peace, love, psychedelic style — the whole 60s vibe, we want it all!

🏆 12 cash prizes totaling $3,000+
💰Best in Show is $1,000!
🗓️Submission deadlines:
Adult art - Wed, Sept 16
Youth art - Fri, Sept 25

👉Submit your artwork at link in bio or fabfestcharlotte.org/beatles-art-contest

🙏Thank you to Angela Lubinecky for donating her beautiful nod to “All You Need is Love” (featured here) to FabFest Charlotte ! Lolangi Art

Thanks also to sponsors: Frame Warehouse & Harris Holt Framing & Art Services
Check them out! 🖼️

07/31/2026

🎶☀️On through Oct 2, we shout out people who help make fabulous, and since today just happens to be his birthday, we want to introduce those of you new here to John Tosco! 🎊

🎸John started teaching guitar 50 years ago, founded the nonprofit Tosco Music and has been presenting in Charlotte, NC for more than 2 decades, often selling out the 1,200-seat Knight Theater. In 2019, the nonprofit decided to expand the event into a weekend festival, and last year made on Saturday FREE! The goal: bridging generations and cultures through the music of the Beatles!

📸🥳Pictured here leading a Beatles singalong at The Swannanoa Gathering as he began his birthday doing what he loves best with some of the musicians who share his passion for music and the Beatles — happy birthday and thanks for all the years of joy through music, John Tosco!

🎟️🎟️ Plan ahead to come experience yourself the Friday night concert that inspired the festival — tickets are on sale now!

FabFest-Charlotte's Beatles Festival is:
☀️TWO days of Beatles-inspired Fun!
🎟️Friday ticketed concert, Saturday FREE!
🗓️Fri-Sat, Oct 2-3, 2026
🌎www.fabfestcharlotte.org

07/25/2026

🎶☀️Our feature this week is a thank you to the music and art teachers who connect students and families with the free family fun at — like Dave and Melissa!

🎸🎶David Finch, a past TMP performer, has been teaching Aarav guitar for 3+ years and introduced his family to Tosco Music Parties and FabFest-Charlotte's Beatles Festival . Aarav’s parents signed him up for Beatles Open Mic and Dave showed up to support. “The kid is phenomenal. He did great! It’s very brave for a kid as young as Aarav to play up there”. Aarav decided to enter 2 pieces into the art contest and won a $25 prize in the Youth Art 12 & Younger division!

🎨🖌️Melissa (McManus) Parks introduced FabFest to her Honors Art class at Charlotte Catholic last fall, and more than a dozen of her students entered as a result! Several won awards, including McKinley Eugene who won $50 for First Place Youth Art (ages 13-17), and Abbie Lannine whose Paper Beatles Concert inspired a new Youth Best in Show award for the first time in 2025.

🎩🎁Hats off to all the teachers who give the gift of music and arts and who inspire students to get involved outside of the classroom!

is:
☀️TWO days of Beatles-inspired Fun!
🎟️Friday ticketed, Saturday FREE!
🗓️Fri-Sat, Oct 2-3, 2026
⏳ tickets at Knight Theater on sale now.
🌎fabfestcharlotte.org

📸 🙏Starkim Noble & Daniel Coston

07/23/2026

Love to see memories shared.... and we get to make more October 2-3 at FabFest-Charlotte's Beatles Festival ! Thanks for sharing NEMS Enterprises Ltd!

One of our favorite images three years ago today... from FaBfest in Charlotte: Charles Rosenay, Jay Bergen, Jude Southerland Kessler, and myself. The amazing Daniel Coston took the photo. 😎