Nature preserves, raptors and lake access
Huntersville is in northern Mecklenburg County, about 14 miles north of Uptown on I-77, roughly a 20-minute drive outside rush hour. It has county parks on both Mountain Island Lake and Lake Norman.
Pictured: Mountain Island Lake from Latta Nature Preserve
Tomorrow · 9:30 AM · Family
Huntersville's Renaissance festival runs weekends through Nov 22, 9:30 AM–5:30 PM, with jousting, shows, artisans and turkey legs.
Tomorrow · 1 PM · Food
21+ beer-sampling fundraiser on the Raptor Trail at Carolina Raptor Center in Huntersville, Sat Nov 7, 1–4 PM (VIP from noon).
Tomorrow · 9:30 PM · Nightlife
Saturday karaoke 9:30 PM–12:30 AM at The Kilted Buffalo in Birkdale, hosted by DJ Byron of Cappitoff Entertainment.
Sunday · 9:30 AM · Family
Huntersville's Renaissance festival runs weekends through Nov 22, 9:30 AM–5:30 PM, with jousting, shows, artisans and turkey legs.
Monday · 6:30 PM · Nightlife
Monday music bingo at 6:30 PM at Primal Brewery in Huntersville.
Wednesday · 1 PM · Family
A live bird-of-prey program at 1 PM, Wednesday through Saturday, included with admission.
Thursday · 1 PM · Family
A live bird-of-prey program at 1 PM, Wednesday through Saturday, included with admission.
Nature preserve · Outdoors
Mecklenburg County's largest nature preserve, 1,460 acres on Mountain Island Lake with 16 miles of trails for hiking and horseback riding and two canoe and kayak launches. The Quest nature center has live native animals and a 6,000-gallon aquarium.
6345 Sample Rd · Huntersville
Raptor center · Family
Bird-of-prey center whose Raptor Trail is a zoo with more than 30 resident birds and daily educational programs. Adult admission is $16; parking is free.
6000 Sample Rd · Huntersville
Historic farm and event grounds · Arts
A 265-acre working farm owned by Mecklenburg County and run by a nonprofit, with the Davidson family homestead site, one-room schoolhouses and nature trails. It hosts seasonal events including a fall corn maze, sheepdog trials and the Loch Norman Highland Games.
4431 Neck Rd · Huntersville
Lake park and boat launch · Outdoors
Mecklenburg County park on Lake Norman with six boat ramps and 218 parking spaces for boat trailers. Lake Norman Community Sailing also operates here.
15901 NC Highway 73 · Huntersville
College art gallery · Arts
Central Piedmont Community College art gallery on the ground level of the Merancas 4 building.
12010 Verhoeff Dr · Huntersville
Children's museum · Family
Nonprofit children's museum with hands-on exhibits for young children and daily live shows such as puppet shows, science shows and storytime, included with admission.
105 Gilead Road · Huntersville
Brewery taproom · Food
Suffolk Punch Brewing taproom at Birkdale Village with an indoor space and an open-air rooftop, a chef-driven menu and craft cocktails.
16912 Birkdale Commons Pkwy · Birkdale Village
Brewery · Food
Brewery and taproom that brews on site, with an outdoor beer garden, lawn games and green space. On Fridays and Saturdays at 8:30pm the taproom turns 21+ for Night Swim with cocktails, late-night bites and vinyl sessions.
100 Gilead Road · Downtown Huntersville
Brewery · Food
Primal Brewery's flagship location, opened in December 2014 with the 1BBL brewhouse where the brewery started.
16432 Old Statesville Rd · Huntersville
Fitness and aquatics center · Fitness
Public fitness and aquatics center with an Olympic-size 50-meter competition pool, a 10-meter dive tower, a lap pool, a fitness center and group classes. Memberships and a 3-day pass are offered.
11725 Verhoeff Dr · Huntersville
Shopping and dining village · Markets
Open-air shopping and dining village in Huntersville that hosts seasonal community events. Its 2026 holiday schedule lists The Lighting of Birkdale Village on November 21 and the Birkdale on Ice skating rink from November 21 to January 10.
Birkdale Commons Pkwy & Sam Furr Rd · Huntersville
Community sailing center · Outdoors
Nonprofit sailing center operating out of Blythe Landing Park that teaches sailing and paddleboard classes to the public. Members can use Flying Scot, Sunfish and Capri 22 sailboats as well as paddleboards and kayaks.
Blythe Landing Park, 15901 NC Hwy 73 · Huntersville
Breakfast & lunch cafe · Brunch
Breakfast and lunch cafe near Birkdale Village with dine-in, carry-out and delivery; many ingredients are sourced locally.
9525 Birkdale Crossing Dr #101 · Huntersville
Distillery bar · Nightlife
Distillery bar serving cocktails made with its own spirits: a Carolina Vodka from a bourbon mash bill, a citrus-forward gin and a Bananas Foster rum.
11941 Ramah Church Rd · Huntersville
Cuban restaurant · Food
Cuban restaurant with locations in Huntersville and Ballantyne. The site posts a monthly events page.
15906 Old Statesville Road · Huntersville
Cafe · Brunch
Family-run cafe making smoothies, salads, toasts and coffee by hand with fresh ingredients. Also offers catering.
14212 Statesville Road, Suite B5 · Huntersville
Breakfast, brunch & lunch cafe · Brunch
Family owned and operated cafe serving scratch-made breakfast, brunch and lunch, with a pet-friendly patio and heated event tent. Dinner is served Thursday through Saturday, and the cafe lists weekend trivia with rotating topics.
100 Huntersville-Concord Rd. · Downtown Huntersville
Gastropub · Food
Gastropub serving steaks, chops, seafood and cocktails in a rustic setting, with private dining rooms. A brunch menu is offered.
9723 Sam Furr Rd · NorthCross
Seafood restaurant · Food
Seafood house in Birkdale Village serving frequently changing small plates, fresh fish, scratch-made pasta and raw bar items. Has a cocktail program and staff-selected wine list.
8630 Lindholm Drive · Birkdale Village
Italian restaurant · Food
Italian restaurant in Huntersville that also caters birthdays, holiday parties, corporate events and weddings.
9719 Sam Furr Road · Huntersville
Pizzeria · Food
Locally owned pizzeria that makes its own dough, sauce and house dressing and serves Italian food. It sources from local farmers and vendors.
101 S Old Statesville Rd · Downtown Huntersville
Burger & grill restaurant · Food
Huntersville location of the grill featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, known for Greg's Pickles, the Triple G burger and corn dog shrimp.
9818 Gilead Road, Suite 101B · Huntersville
American restaurant · Food
Locally owned American restaurant founded in 1992, serving steaks, pasta and seafood. It has two locations, one in SouthPark and one in Birkdale Village.
8712 Lindholm Drive · Birkdale Village
Latin American restaurant · Food
Latin American restaurant with an open kitchen, full bar and fountain-side patio, run by the team behind The Prickly Pear. Brunch is served Saturdays and Sundays.
9818 Gilead Rd, Suite B-107 · Huntersville
County recreation center · Fitness
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation center with a gymnasium, stage, multipurpose rooms, computer lab and catering kitchen. It hosts county programs.
14008 Holbrooks Rd · Huntersville
Huntersville is in northern Mecklenburg County, about 14 miles north of Uptown on I-77, roughly a 20-minute drive outside rush hour. It has county parks on both Mountain Island Lake and Lake Norman.
People go for Latta Nature Preserve, the county's largest at 1,460 acres, and the Carolina Raptor Center next to it on Sample Road. Historic Rural Hill hosts farm events such as a fall corn maze, sheepdog trials and the Loch Norman Highland Games, and Blythe Landing has six boat ramps on Lake Norman.
5 plans in Huntersville this week, including Carolina Renaissance Festival, Birds & Brews, Saturday Karaoke at The Kilted Buffalo Birkdale.
Huntersville is in northern Mecklenburg County, about 14 miles north of Uptown on I-77, roughly a 20-minute drive outside rush hour. It has county parks on both Mountain Island Lake and Lake Norman. People go for Latta Nature Preserve, the county's largest at 1,460 acres, and the Carolina Raptor Center next to it on Sample Road. Historic Rural Hill hosts farm events such as a fall corn maze, sheepdog trials and the Loch Norman Highland Games, and Blythe Landing has six boat ramps on Lake Norman.