Events
Events with a sustainability focus occur year-round. If you have an event idea or wish to collaborate, please email sustainability@charlotte.edu. The most concentrated and coordinated periods are celebrations of Campus Sustainability Month (October) and Earth Month (April).
All upcoming events hosted by the Office of Sustainability are also listed on our Niner Engage page. View additional off-campus community events and opportunities on the Community Opportunities page.
Need a reminder? Subscribe to the Sustainability Events Google Calendar here to see all upcoming events hosted by the Office of Sustainability all in one place, updated in real time.
upcoming
Hech Lake Days
Dates: Wednesday, September 9, Tuesday, September 15, Wednesday, Sept 23; all 2pm – 6pm
Location: Hech Lake
Enjoy boating, music, sno cones, and fun out by Hech Lake!
Zero Waste Crew Sorting Days
Dates: Sunday, September 6; Sunday, September 27; Sunday, October 4; Saturday, October 31; Sunday, November 15; Sunday, November, 29; all 9am – 1pm
Location: Jerry Richardson Stadium between Gates 3 and 4, Mac Everett Way N, Charlotte, NC
Jerry Richardson Football Stadium operates as a zero-waste facility, which means as much waste as possible from the stadium is diverted from the landfill. As a Zero Waste volunteer, you will work with university staff to sort trash items the day after the game into compost, recycling, and trash. This opportunity is open to all UNC Charlotte students, staff, and faculty. Registration is required, and spots fill up quickly! Please click on the corresponding sign up form for the date you would like to volunteer below.
International Festival
Date: Saturday, September 19, 10am – 6pm
Location: SAC
The International Festival is centered around booths arranged in marketplace style representing the cultures of over 35 nations. The booths are staffed by UNC Charlotte students and members of the Charlotte area community. The International Festival also includes dance performances, a Parade of Nations and much more! The International Festival is open to the public with FREE entry and parking.
Click here to learn more about volunteering during the event.
October is campus sustainability month!
Gratitude in the Gardens
Dates: Friday, October 2, 12pm – 2pm
Location: Van Landingham Glen
Join Jennifer Bueno-Hutchens for silent, meditative walks through the Van Landingham Glen. These forest strolls will include meditative prompts around the practice of gratitude. Sessions may include meditative art materials as well. Free for UNC Charlotte Students, faculty and staff (with valid UNC Charlotte ID number).
Climate Quilt Workshop
Dates: Thursday, Sept 10, 11am – 1pm and Wednesday, Oct 7 at 12pm – 2pm
Location: Atkins Library Area 49 Makerspace
Make a quilt square representing your relationship to climate change. Whether you’ve been directly impacted by climate change or are worried about future implications, share your story during this drop-in event. Your square will be added to the campus Climate Change Quilt and could be displayed in the library and at future events. No sewing or quilting experience is necessary. We’ll lead you through how to design and create your square using fabric, paint, and other supplies, show you how to sew your project, and you can come back to the Area 49 Makerspace this semester to finish your quilt square if you need more time.
Nature Therapy Walk
Dates: Saturday, October 3, 9am – 12pm
Location: Van Landingham Glen
Join Jennifer Bueno-Hutchens for a relaxing 2.5 to 3-hour stroll through the forest at Van Landingham Glen. Through a series of invitations, you will have an opportunity to focus on being present in the moment, deepening your connection with nature and community, and enjoying the many gifts nature has to offer. Free for UNC Charlotte students, faculty and staff (with a valid UNC Charlotte ID number).
Transportation Fair
Date: Wednesday, October 14, 10am – 2pm (rain date October 21)
Location: Cauble Quad
Join Parking and Transportation Services (PaTS) and the Office of Sustainability for the annual Transportation Fair! This event will feature community organizations and campus groups showcasing their work in providing transportation services, alternative transportation options, and research at UNC Charlotte and in the Charlotte region.
Student Sustainability Summit
Date: Saturday, October 17, 1pm – 4:30pm
Location: Cone 210
Join the Student Government Association, CGI, and the Office of Sustainability for the biannual Student Sustainability Summit! This semester, we’re diving deep into sustainable careers. Connect with campus and community sustainability leaders, and get insider advice from the UNC Charlotte Career Center. Whether you’re looking for networking opportunities or long-term career development, this summit is your launchpad.
Reuse Rodeo: Clothing Swap
Dates: Tuesday, October 20 and Wednesday, October 21, 10am – 2pm
Location: Belk Plaza
Saddle up for the Reuse Rodeo, a campus event series dedicated to sustainable sharing and refreshing your stash without spending a dime! Bring items you no longer need and trade them for new-to-you treasures. Clean out your closet, clear your bookshelf, and drop by to give great items a second life!
Campus Beautification Day
Date: Thursday, October 22, 9am – 2pm (rain date October 29)
Location: CRI Deck Silver Line Bus Stop, 9100 Robert D. Snyder Rd, Charlotte, NC
Join the Office of Sustainability and Grounds staff for a day beautifying a piece of campus! Volunteers will clean up litter and plant trees in a designated area on campus. Equipment provided; registration required!
Reuse Rodeo: Book Swap
Dates: Tuesday, October 27 and Wednesday, October 28, 10am – 2pm
Location: Belk Plaza
Saddle up for the Reuse Rodeo, a campus event series dedicated to sustainable sharing and refreshing your stash without spending a dime! Bring items you no longer need and trade them for new-to-you treasures. Clean out your closet, clear your bookshelf, and drop by to give great items a second life!
TEDxUNC Charlotte 2027: The Difference Is…
Date: Saturday, February 20
Location: McKnight Hall, Cone Center
This year’s theme is uniquely grounded in our home institution: “The Difference Is…”
This theme is both an acknowledgment and a celebration. It is an acknowledgment that the ideas the speakers bring to the TEDx stage are actively making a difference, reshaping our understanding, challenging our assumptions, and providing innovative solutions in the Charlotte community and far beyond. It is a celebration of the unique “Charlotte perspective” that drives exploration and community impact.
Applications are open now until September 13th. Due to the large interest, we will only be reviewing applications within our region (NC, SC, GA, TN, VA, FL)
Holiday Remix Demo Kitchen
Date: Tuesday, November 17, 12pm – 1pm
Location: UREC Demo Kitchen
Prepare now for new ways to eat holiday leftovers! Learn the basics of turkey soup and a fresh idea with turkey tacos. Think corn tortillas, shredded turkey, crisped-up stuffing, and mole sauce.
Limited to 15 people. Registration opens 72 hours before event.
Off Campus Events
Many groups in the Charlotte region host events and programs throughout the year that are open to anyone interested in getting more involved with sustainability in the community. Community events scheduled for Summer 2026 are listed below. If you are interested in more events and opportunities hosted by community groups, visit the Community Opportunities page.
Reedy Creek Nature Preserve Monarch Celebration
Date: Saturday, September 19, 10am – 1pm
Location: Reedy Creek Nature Center, 2986 Rocky River Rd Charlotte, NC 28215
Celebrate Monarch Butterflies with Reedy Creek and multiple community partner organizations with a day of discovery, crafts, games, and fun. There will be multiple activities going on throughout the event for all ages. Adult participation required if under 18.
Sustain Charlotte Discover Charlotte: NoDa ArtWalk
Date: Saturday, September 26, 10am – 12pm
Location: Amelie’s French Bakery & Cafe
Join Sustain Charlotte and ArtWalks CLT for a colorful adventure through NoDa, where art, community, and great urban design come together! Guided by a local mural artist and ArtWalks CLT founder, Anne Lowe, you will enjoy a leisurely walk through one of Charlotte’s most creative neighborhoods, stopping along the way to uncover the stories behind some of its most striking murals. Along the route, you will take a closer look at what makes NoDa such a walkable, bike-friendly, and transit-connected community. Whether you arrive by light rail, bus, bike, or on foot, you’ll discover how thoughtful transportation and placemaking work together to create healthier, more connected neighborhoods—and leave inspired with ideas for making it easier to drive less and help shape a more vibrant Charlotte.
Opening Season TreesCharlotte TreeAdoption
Date: Saturday, September 26, 8:30am – 11am
Location: 701 Tuckaseegee Road, Charlotte, NC
TreesCharlotte is excited to provide their Opening Season TreeAdoption. \All Mecklenburg County residents are invited to come out and get some trees. They will have a mix of species, from small flowering to canopy-building to evergreen screening. There’s something for everybody.
A link to register for trees will be added here on Monday, September 21st, at 10:00 am.
Biketoberfest 2026
Date: Sunday, October 11, 11am – 6pm
Location: Triple C Brewing Co., 2900 Griffith St, Charlotte, NC 28203
Biketoberfest is Sustain Charlotte’s signature event—and your chance to explore the city on an epic, family-friendly scavenger hunt!
Now in its 12th year, this fun, family-friendly event invites hundreds of people to experience the joy of navigating Charlotte by bike or on foot. Through a lively, scavenger-hunt-style adventure, participants explore the city’s vibrant neighborhoods, greenways, and small businesses — discovering just how fun and empowering it can be to get around without a car.
CleanAIRE Academy
The CleanAIRE Academy offers specialized online courses for community leaders, professionals, students, and everyday individuals. Gain actionable insights and the tools to make a real impact, regardless of your background. Current courses include Air Quality 101 and Advocacy in Action, and upcoming classes in 2026 include Air Pollution & Your Health, Environmental Justice, AirKeeper Dashboard, and Community Science & Air Monitoring.