The 10 best things to do in Concord, NC

Concord is Charlotte’s northern neighbor, North Carolina’s 10th largest city and the fastest growing corner of the region, and it has quietly become a full day trip rather than a stop on the way to the speedway. Downtown Union Street finished a multi year rebuild with wide sidewalks and outdoor dining, Gibson Mill turned a textile plant into a second downtown, and the racing and shopping complex off I-85 draws visitors from across the country. This is our ten. Hours are current as of this writing.

1. Charlotte Motor Speedway

The 1.5 mile superspeedway on Concord Parkway that has anchored NASCAR since 1960 and gives Concord its identity. The Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the fall playoff race are the marquee dates, but the complex runs year round: the World of Outlaws finals at the Dirt Track in November, the Breakaway music festival at zMAX Dragway, FoodieLand, and Speedway Christmas, the four mile drive through light show from the Friday before Thanksgiving into January. Tours run on non event days.

Hours: Varies by event; tours and the gift shop on non race days, see the speedway’s calendar

Address: 5555 Concord Parkway S, Concord, NC 28027

Why it made the list

• The home of NASCAR.
• Events almost every weekend of the year, not only races.
• Speedway Christmas, the region’s biggest light show.
• Track tours for anyone who cannot make a race.

Directory listing: Charlotte Motor Speedway

2. The Depot at Gibson Mill

The largest antique mall in the South, 88,000 square feet and five rooms inside the old Cannon Mills plant, with more than 750 booths and 430 vendors. Antiques, mid century furniture, chandeliers, vintage decor and collectibles, well enough organized that a serious visit takes two trips. The Depot Deli in the back keeps you going, and the Hunger Games production crews shopped here for props.

Hours: Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday 1 to 6 p.m.

Address: 325 McGill Ave NW, Concord, NC 28027

Why it made the list

• The biggest antique hunt in the region.
• Clean, organized and easy to spend a day in.
• A deli inside for the halfway point.
• Everything else at Gibson Mill is next door.

Directory listing: The Depot at Gibson Mill

3. Southern Strain Brewing & Eatery

The brewery and taproom in a renovated mill building on Brumley Avenue that anchors Concord’s creative corner, sharing a roof with Nothing New vintage and a coffee bar. The beer rotates constantly and the kitchen, The Eatery, has become a reason on its own: a brunch smash burger, fresh baked pretzels, draft cocktails and a bourbon list. Music bingo on Wednesdays.

Hours: Tuesday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; closed Monday

Address: 165 Brumley Ave NE, Suite 3001, Concord, NC 28025

Why it made the list

• The best beer in Cabarrus County, with a real kitchen.
• Vintage shopping and coffee in the same building.
• Draft cocktails and bourbon for the non beer drinkers.
• Brunch on weekends.

Directory listing: Southern Strain Brewing & Eatery

4. Cabarrus Brewing Company

The big taproom inside Gibson Mill on McGill Avenue, with couches, a beer garden, a mezzanine event space and a kitchen doing burgers, wings and bang bang shrimp. The Sour Drop and the vanilla coffee blonde are the house favorites, High Branch Brewing is a few doors down for a two stop crawl, and the room is large enough to talk in.

Hours: Monday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Address: 329 McGill Ave NW, Concord, NC 28027

Why it made the list

• A comfortable, roomy taproom in a historic mill.
• Food good enough to make it dinner.
• Two breweries within a short walk.
• Event space for groups and holiday parties.

Directory listing: Cabarrus Brewing Company

5. Havana Carolina Restaurant and Bar

The Cuban restaurant inside the old Belk building on Union Street downtown, run by the family that went on to open El Puro in Charlotte and Muraya in South End. The story of two UNC Charlotte students carrying on their father’s restaurant is part of the place. Order the tesoros cubanos sampler, ropa vieja, and a Cuban coffee to go.

Hours: See the restaurant’s site for current hours

Address: 11 Union St S, Suite 108, Concord, NC 28025

Why it made the list

• Concord’s best sit down dinner and the origin of two of Charlotte’s best restaurants.
• The tesoros cubanos sampler platter.
• Inside a historic downtown department store.
• A Cuban coffee for the walk down Union Street.

Directory listing: Havana Carolina Restaurant and Bar

6. The Smoke Pit

One of the most famous barbecue joints in the region, on Concord Parkway, in a state that argues about barbecue as a matter of principle. Platters let you pick pulled pork, Texas style brisket, burnt ends and more with sides like fried okra, white slaw and cornbread. Expect a line at lunch and a full lot most days.

Hours: See the restaurant’s site for current hours

Address: 796 Concord Pkwy N, Concord, NC 28027

Why it made the list

• Brisket and burnt ends that draw Charlotte up I-85.
• A platter format that lets you try everything.
• Casual, fast and family friendly.
• The barbecue stop on the way to the speedway.

Directory listing: The Smoke Pit

7. Cabarrus Arts Council Galleries

Four free galleries on the first floor of the restored historic county courthouse on Union Street, with rotating exhibits of local and regional artists and a building worth seeing on its own. It anchors the rebuilt downtown, a block from the Avett Brothers mural, and runs the ArtWalk on Union festival, tours and a performance series.

Hours: Tuesday to Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday

Address: 65 Union St S, Concord, NC 28025

Why it made the list

• Always free.
• A restored courthouse turned gallery.
• The starting point for a downtown walk.
• Family programming and festivals.

Directory listing: Cabarrus Arts Council Galleries

8. iFLY Indoor Skydiving Charlotte

Indoor skydiving in a vertical wind tunnel on Lyles Lane near Concord Mills, with instruction and a trained flyer beside you for the first time. Kids as young as five fly. The basic package is two short flights inside a 90 minute check in, briefing and suit up, so go for the thrill of the flying itself rather than the minutes, and book ahead.

Hours: Monday 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; Tuesday 2 to 8:30 p.m.; Wednesday 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Address: 7840 Lyles Ln NW, Concord, NC 28027

Why it made the list

• Freefall without a plane, for ages five and up.
• Instructors who calm nervous first timers.
• A rainy day option next to the mall.
• Bring your patience for the upsell.

Directory listing: iFLY Indoor Skydiving Charlotte

9. Great Wolf Lodge Concord

The indoor water park resort on Weddington Road near the speedway and the mall, with slides, a wave pool, a lazy river and splash zones at a comfortable temperature year round, plus an arcade, bowling, mini golf and nightly kids’ programming. Day passes work without a hotel stay, and multi bedroom suites hold several families. Resort pricing, and the best cold weather kids’ day in the region.

Hours: Water park daily 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; hotel and attractions vary

Address: 10175 Weddington Rd, Concord, NC 28027

Why it made the list

• The only indoor water park near Charlotte.
• Day passes without a room.
• Kids’ programming all evening.
• Expect to pay for the convenience.

Directory listing: Great Wolf Lodge Concord

10. Concord Mills

The indoor outlet mall off I-85, one of the most visited attractions in the state, with more than 200 stores including Primark, The North Face, Cotton On and an AMC theater, plus Dave & Buster’s, The Escape Game and Sea Life Aquarium under the same roof. It is a rainy day, a back to school day and a tourist day all at once, and traffic on Concord Mills Boulevard reflects it.

Hours: See the mall’s site for current hours

Address: 8111 Concord Mills Blvd, Concord, NC 28027

Why it made the list

• More than 200 stores in one loop.
• An aquarium, an escape game and an arcade for non shoppers.
• Primark and outlet pricing.
• Go on a weekday if you can.

Directory listing: Concord Mills

Also worth knowing

Downtown Concord’s rebuilt Union Street is worth a slow walk on its own: 1122 Coffee Co. on Barbrick Avenue is the new coffee shop from a WNBA guard and her sister, and Nothing New on Brumley Avenue is one of the better vintage shops in the region. Gibson Mill Market, the food hall next to The Depot, rounds out a day there. If we missed a Concord favorite, tell us.