Things to Do in Concord

If leisure is more of your speed, take your foot off the gas by taking in the laid-back charm of Concord’s historic downtown, a pedestrian-friendly area sprinkled with gardens, cafes, boutique shops, museums and theaters. Get started planning your next trip.

NASCAR Nation

Watch skilled drivers maneuver around hairpin turns at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, one of the preeminent NASCAR racetracks in the nation. In addition to the speedway, the 2,000-acre complex includes a drag strip and mud track for special events. For the ultimate speed rush, sign up for the Richard Petty Driving Experience, which offers a range of experiences, from a knuckle-whitening drive to an inexpensive ride-along. You can learn more about the sport through an artist's eye at the Sam Bass Gallery. Bass' paintings capture some of NASCAR’s most iconic moments, and his artwork can be found on the cars themselves. His guitar art, which showcases some of the sport’s biggest names, is also on display at the gallery.

Leisurely Activities

Score big deals or spend the day window browsing at the Concord Mills, an expansive mall with more than 200 stores. You can take a break from shopping and enjoy a flick at the 24-screen movie theater or dine at one of 20 restaurants scattered throughout the complex. Children will have a blast at the bowling alley, Sea-Life Aquarium and the Speedpark, a family entertainment complex that has go-karts and a mini-golf course. Then take it outdoors and unwind in the sun with a picnic at the 238-acre Frank Liske Park. Spend your day fishing in the 10-acre lake or relaxing on the water in a paddleboat. You can also engage in some friendly competition at the park’s horseshoe pits or volleyball, tennis and basketball courts.

Celebrate the Arts

The Great White Way connects with Concord at the Old Courthouse Theatre. A seasoned ensemble of community actors stage productions throughout the year, ranging from popular Broadway musicals to classical American plays. Enjoy the productions inside the historic former 1923 First Baptist Church. Continue your celebration of the arts at the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in Kannapolis, just 15 minutes northwest of Concord. The hall exhibits memorabilia from some of the state's finest musicians, such as Randy Travis, James Taylor, John Coltrane and Roberta Flack.

Concord Cuisine

Enjoy a taste of New Orleans at Razzoo’s Cajun Cafe, where beads dangle from chandeliers and bayou-inspired decor dresses the interior. The menu features Cajun favorites such as fried catfish, jambalaya and fried gator. The lines are usually ridiculous at the Smoke Pit, but the food at this down-home barbecue joint is worth the wait. Tuck in your bib and dig in to piles of pulled pork, brisket and ribs. Sides include traditional Southern fare—macaroni and cheese, baked beans and fried okra.

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