Uptown Tours
Bechtler Museum
Stroller Tours: We welcome our youngest visitors and their parents and caregivers to enjoy Stroller Tours, a series of docent-led museum tours for free at all three Levine Center for the Arts institutions - the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Mint Museum Uptown and the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture. The hour-length tours are given every second Wednesday of the month at 10:30 a.m., from September through May, and will rotate between the three institutions. Tour registration is required and space is limited based on the number of strollers (single strollers only) a museum can safely allow. Visitors will also receive free day passes (one per registration) to revisit one of the LCA institutions.
School Tours: The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art is a welcoming institution where teachers and students learn about modern art and the personal stories behind the artwork. Our engaging and interactive school tours are designed to foster students inquires, develop critical and creative thinking skills, make connections to other areas of curriculum, and help create a visual language that promotes better reading and writing skills. The Bechtler offers guided and self-guided school tours. Guided tours are led by specially trained docents and last 45-60 minutes. A minimum of 10 students is required for a guided tour. All group tours, guided or self-guided, must be scheduled with the museum's education department at least 30 days in advance. The museum requires an adult chaperone accompany each group of 10 students. Programs for students with disabilities are available by request. Admission is $2 per student, chaperone or parent. After-school tours also are charged $2 per student. To book a tour, contact the Education Department at 704.353.9218 or email education@bechtler.org at least 30 days in advance for all guided tours.
Group Tours: The Bechtler offers guided and self-guided group tours. Guided tours are led by specially trained docents and last 45-60 minutes. A minimum of 10 individuals is required for a guided tour. All group tours, guided or self-guided, must be scheduled with the museum's education department at least 30 days in advance. Please email education@bechtler.org or call 704.353.9218 to book all tours. Admission for groups is $6 for adults and $4 for seniors and college students. Educators receive a discounted admission price of $4. Programs for individuals with disabilities are available by request.
Experiential Group Tour: Bechtler Collection Up Close: Participants will get a sense of how a small art museum works while learning about the specific artists of the Bechtler collection and how their creative processes informed the artworks that are on view at the time of the participant’s visit. Participants will experience a hands-on art workshop and a gallery tour.
Mint Museum
Art Break Tours: The Mint Museum, in collaboration with the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art and the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, provides Charlotte with FREE lunchtime tours. Visitors can choose to visit one of the three museums for each date, and experience a tour structured around a common theme. Whether it’s an introductory experience for a first-time visitor or a deeper cultural experience for those already familiar with Levine Center for the Arts Institutions, the tours provide a brief but focused encounter with art for people who have a limited amount of time.
Art of Dining: Ever wonder why tea leaves were once kept in locked caddies? Or why a citrus on the table indicated wealth? Learn these answers and more in a monthly 60-minute Art of Dining tour at Mint Museum Randolph. This tour takes visitors through the Portals to the Past galleries, the museum’s noted collection of late 17th through early 19th century ceramics. Tour guides will ‘set the table’ for conversations about the design, production and use of selected pieces.
Mint on the Dot: Stop by during your visit at Mint Museum Uptown or Mint Museum Randolph for a 10-minute art chat in the Mint Museum Galleries. Mint on the Dot! art chats are offered every Wednesday evening and Saturday afternoon. Look for the “Mint on the Dot!” signs on the gallery floor!
4th Ward Historic District tours
Get a feel of Charlotte’s past by taking the historic Fourth Ward walking tour. The historic Fourth Ward neighborhood artfully blends restored 100-plus-year-old Victorian homes, with luxury condominiums, urban apartments, parks and businesses. This collection of quaint and charming meets urban contemporary offers a residential experience that has made Fourth Ward a premier uptown community.
Charlotte NC Tours: Segway, Bike, Walking and More
Charlotte NC Tours is Charlotte’s only locally owned and operated full-service tour company. We provide our customers with a variety of fun ways to see Uptown Charlotte and the surrounding neighborhoods in Center City. Our guides treat you like you’re family and leave you feeling like a local! We are passionate about sharing the rich history with a party spirit! Our staff is dedicated to making sure you or your in-town guests enjoy your time while seeing and learning about what makes Charlotte great. Please take the time to explore our site and discover all that Charlotte NC Tours has to offer to enhance your experience in the Queen City! Charlotte NC Tours services include step-on guides for bus/van tours, walking tours, ghost tours, Segway tours, bike tours, customized team building events, and bicycle rentals.
Art Walks
ArtWalksCLT is a community engagement tool that connects you to local public artworks and artists. Each free self-guided artwalk provides specific location, artist info, story, key art terms and an opportunity to make a connection to an artwork while considering a question or remark. From art gazing in Charlotte's historic neighborhoods to wandering down alleys and peeking around corners, each artwalk is a walking adventure full of discovery.
City Stories from ImaginOn: There are 18 artworks on this Art Walk. All are within a 5-minute walk from the starting point at ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center at 300 East 7th Street in uptown.
Mad About Murals I: There are 16 murals on this Murals Only ArtWalk. All are within a 5-minute walk from the starting point at the corner of 5th Street and Tryon Street in uptown.
Mad About Murals II: There are 10 murals on this Murals Only ArtWalk. All are within a 5-minute walk from the starting point at the McColl Center on North Tryon Street.
Uptown Trade & Tryon: There are 13 artworks on this Art Walk. All are within a 5-minute walk from the starting point at the corner of Trade and Tryon Street in uptown.
Talking Walls
A citywide public art & mural festival bringing together artists with diverse styles & backgrounds. Our mission is to elevate the creative spirit of Charlotte by showcasing a diverse range of artistic talent from across the southeast region along with national & international artists. With the support of our partners and sponsors, we aim to enhance the visual appeal of Charlotte’s cityscape by injecting vibrant and thought-provoking murals while bridging communities and conversation through creative engagement and educational efforts.
Blumenthal Arts Theater Tours
Join us on an exclusive tour of all of our Uptown theaters. Take an up-close look at how our spaces operate and accommodate shows, including how shows load in, where stars prepare for performances, the history of the ghost light and more. Hear all kinds of behind-the-scenes stories from secrets of how Mary Poppins flew over the audience to the experience of having The Hunger Games filmed in Knight Theater, the location of The Lion King animal puppet hospital when the show is in town and much more! You'll get the star treatment as you explore almost every inch of our beloved venues. Tours meet at Spirit Square and last between 60 and 90 minutes and include climbing stairs, standing for extended periods. Wear comfortable shoes as you will walk approximately a mile total.
Queen City Culture Vultures Uptown Funk Tour
The UPTOWN FUNK: The Story of Charlotte is a one-hour and one-mile guided walking tour of the City Center highlighting Charlotte History, Sports, Arts & Culture. Perfect as an introduction to the Queen City or a chance to be refreshed. The easy/moderate loop of Uptown features the sculpture honoring Romare Bearden, Old Settlers Cemetery, the Bank of America frescos and the murals of Luminous Lane - with a big finish at The Firebird. Something for everyone and great for all ages!