Your 5-minute guide to the best things to do in Charlotte | Oct. 7-13

Friday

Party with your pup at Dogtoberfest at Rescue Ranch. The family-friendly event will include fun for you, your kids and your pet with live music, a beer garden, food trucks, a doggy treat truck, dog costume contest, an agility course, adoptable animals, pumpkin painting and more. The dog-friendly event requests that all dogs are kept on leashes, are well-mannered and fully vaccinated. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tickets: $5 per person. Children under 1: free. Rescue Ranch, 1424 Turnersburg Hwy., Statesville. https://bit.ly/3CcRZB9

Toast to Sycamore Brewing’s original taproom before it moves to its new space at the brewery’s moving party, happening all weekend long. The two-day event will not only be the last at Sycamore’s original location but is also anticipated to be the brewery’s biggest party ever with nonstop live music on two stages, food trucks, special beer releases and more. This event was rescheduled due to Hurricane Ian. Free. RSVP on Facebook. 3-11 p.m., Oct. 7-8. 2161 Hawkins St. https://bit.ly/3LIjbel

Get ready to party like it’s 1999 at Goodyear Arts’ Y2K immersive fundraiser. Dress up in your favorite late ‘90s trends, dance to your favorite tunes, enjoy complimentary drinks and snacks, and finish off the night with a countdown to the year 2000. 8 p.m.-midnight. Purchase tickets online: $50. 301 Camp Road, Suite 200. https://bit.ly/3SiPlzw

Head to opening night of the second annual Cinema Week, a seven-day nationwide event featuring unlimited popcorn, themed activations, giveaways, exclusive in-theater content, giveaways and more. Opening night films include the family-friendly musical comedy “Lyle, Lyle Crocodile” and historical drama “Amsterdam.” Cinergy Dine-In Cinemas, 5336 Docia Crossing Road. First showings start at 3 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Tickets start at $8.25 for adults; $7.50 for seniors and military; $6.25 for kids (3-11). Purchase tickets online or at the door. https://bit.ly/3E9Hf80

Saturday

Join Prism Supply Co., Dice Magazine and Harley-Davidson at the fifth annual Congregation Show at Camp North End to view 100 vintage motorcycles and 30 cars while you enjoy live music, food trucks and vendors. Every hour on the hour, motorcyclists will show off tricks at the “Wall of Death. Tickets are $20, with children 13 and under free, and a portion of all alcohol sales will be donated to Disability Rights & Resources. Noon-8 p.m. Ford Building, 1774 Statesville Ave. https://www.thecongregationshow.com/

Catch “Evil Dead the Musical,” the last show of Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte’s 26-year-history before it permanently closes. Be sure to leave the younger kids at home and bring your own chairs as the spooky musical based on Sam Raimi’s ‘80s cult classic films takes place outdoors and is recommended for ages 16 and up. Every Thursday through Sunday through Oct. 30. 8 p.m. Purchase tickets online; general admission starts at $36.66. The Barn at MoRA, 8300 Monroe Road. https://bit.ly/3r8fFAd

Explore the opening day activities at Men of Change: Power. Triumph. Truth., which profiles Black male icons in America, at the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts+Culture and Levine Museum of the New South. The exhibit highlights revolutionary men including Muhammad Ali, James Baldwin, Ta-Nehisi Coates, W.E.B. DuBois and Kendrick Lamar, whose journeys have altered the history and culture of the country. The traveling work from the Smithsonian will remain on display through March 12. Free. Noon-5 p.m. at the Gantt at 551 S. Tryon St., and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Levine Museum at 401 South Tryon St. https://bit.ly/3fNnyZm and https://bit.ly/3fMUUId

Sunday

Spend the day museum-hopping around Uptown Charlotte. You can explore modern art at the Bechtler, learn about African-American history at the Harvey B. Gantt Center or feed your need for speed while brushing up on your NASCAR knowledge at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, where you can see historical artifacts up close or compete against friends in the pit crew challenges. Bonus: All three museums are within walking distance from each other, so you can make a day of it and visit them all. Tickets: Bechtler and Gantt Center range from free to $9; NASCAR Hall of Fame admission ranges from $20 to $27, with add-on packages available. Multiple locations. https://bit.ly/3M2IQyc

Monday

Pack your blankets and chairs, then gather family and friends and head to an outdoor concert from the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, featuring raffle prizes and fall activities provided by presenting partner Lowe’s. 6:30 p.m. Free. The Barn at MoRA’s McAlpines Center, 8300 Monroe Road. https://bit.ly/3LXrJy1

Tuesday

Check out The Garrison for dinner, a new two-story restaurant and Pineville’s first cocktail bar in a historic, charming space that just celebrated its grand opening last week. If you’re looking for classic comfort foods, try one of The Garrison’s gourmet burgers or a fried chicken sandwich. If you’re craving something more elevated, order one of the restaurant’s signature items, such as its Cheerwine short ribs or pan-seared scallops with a butternut squash risotto. Tuesday hours: 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. 314 Main St., Pineville. https://bit.ly/3UVo0Fd

Wednesday

Bundle up and head to downtown Fort Mill for the 8th Annual Scarecrow Crawl. Each scarecrow is handmade by local groups and individuals vying to win your vote for several awards, including “People’s Choice,” so be sure to remember your favorites and vote for them on the Town of Fort Mill’s Facebook page. Winners will be announced via social media on Saturday, Oct. 29. Free. Walter Elisha Park, 345 N. White St., Fort Mill, SC. https://bit.ly/3CtdxcI

Thursday

Snag dinner to go from one of Optimist Hall’s many food stalls and head to Hall-OH-ween Movie Night in the courtyard for an outdoor screening of Halloween classic, “The Addams Family.” Free film. 7-9 p.m. 115 N. Brevard St. https://bit.ly/3zexBgk

Catch Opera Carolina’s opening night of Giacomo Puccini’s “Tosca,” a tale of passion and jealousy, at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center’s Belk Theater. Tickets range from $22.81 plus tax and fees to $166.04 plus tax and fees. 7:30 p.m. 130 N. Tryon St. https://bit.ly/3MkzG0x

Mark your calendar

Meet Scott Huler, the curator of a traveling exhibit called “A Delicious Country” at The Charlotte Museum of History. On Saturday, Oct. 15 at 2 p.m., Scott will share stories about the journey he took through the Carolinas on foot and by boat, the people he met and the objects he collected along the way to create this exhibit exploring how our region has changed over the last 300 years. Join Scott the following day at 10 a.m. for an adults-only history hike in Reedy Creek Park to examine Charlotte’s early settlement and land use through the present day. Free. Pre-registration is required. Museum admission: $10 for adults; $7 for seniors, children (6-17) and students; free for children under 5. Purchase tickets online. https://bit.ly/3CkbQOM

Experience the 1987 hit film, “Dirty Dancing” like you never have before with a screening accompanied by a live performance Nov. 26 of the film’s soundtrack at “Dirty Dancing in Concert.” 8 p.m. Tickets start at $40. Purchase online. Ovens Auditorium, 2700 E. Independence Blvd. https://bit.ly/3SPI0Hv