In a matter of days, Charlotte will be "lovin'" life. The inaugural Lovin' Life Music Fest is expected to bring 25,000-30,000 people to Uptown for three days of live music, art, and culture.

The three-day festival will be at First Ward Park (301 E. 7th St., Charlotte), across three stages. “We want Uptown to be a place where people can gather and celebrate,” said Mayor Vi Lyles while providing updates on safety and logistics. Organizers for Lovin' Life say this is a first for Charlotte. "Charlotte is a special place, we love it, we're excited to do it here," said Bob Durkin, co-founder of Southern Entertainment.

Whether you're planning to attend or not, here's everything you need to know:

Headliners

Post Malone, Stevie Nicks, and Noah Kahan will headline the festival, performing on the Coors Light Stage. 40+ artists are scheduled through the weekend across two other stages: Northwood Ravin + Music Everywhere CLT. You'll see familiar names like Charlotte-native DaBaby, Dashboard Confessional, The Chainsmokers, The Fray, Natalie Carr, and more.

Performances begin as early as 1 p.m. on Friday, May 3, on the Northwood Ravin stage.

Organizers recommend downloading the festival's official app to receive schedule reminders and be alerted of changes throughout the event.

Construction is going on now near First Ward Park to get the stages ready for the three-day event. | Photo by CLTtoday

Tickets

The three-day general admission ticket option sold out early, but there are still single day, general admission, and VIP tickets still available. Ticket prices range from $129-$1,299. Children under 10 are free to attend but must be accompanied by an adult.

Festival goers should have already received a wristband in the mail if tickets were purchased in advance. "The wristbands are meant to be efficient. Guests will be able to scan their wristbands in and out," said Durkin.

Wristbands are recommended to be activated prior to arriving to alleviate slowdowns upon entry. If you need a wristband + purchased tickets, they can be found at the Will Call/Box office on site.

Safety

Lovin’ Life Music Fest has a clear bag policy. This will help decrease entry time and allow for a safer experience.

Bags must be clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC, and may not exceed 12” x 6” x 12”
One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or smaller)
Small, non-clear bags that do not exceed 4.5” x 6.5” in size, with or without a handle or strap can be taken into the fest with one of the clear plastic bags.

Special exceptions can be made for medically necessary items at the gate. Small clutches are allowed + official festival bags will be on sale at the festival.

If you don't want to carry your items throughout the festival, lockers and charging stations can be reserved with the option for unlimited access.

Free water stations will be available throughout the festival + bottled water will be available for purchase.

You can expect to see four medical tents stations placed across the venue.

Pets are not permitted.

Parking along First Ward Park is limited due to site construction for the three-day festival. | Photo by CLTtoday

Transportation

If you plan to drive to the festival, the location is 300 N. Brevard St., Charlotte, and there are five parking lots nearby:

401 S. Graham St.
501 E. Trade St.
401 E. 7th St.
709 E. Trade St.
418 E. 7th St.

For Uber/Lyft/ride shares, the recommended drop-off location is 418 N. College St., Charlotte.

Editor's note: if you're driving near the area, roads connecting to First Ward Park will be closed at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 1.

CATS, or Charlotte Area Transit System, is currently offering a 3-Day Unlimited Pass for $12. After May 2, the price will increase to $15. The pass must be purchased on the CATS-Pass app.

Interim CEO Brent Cagle said CATS is also planning for additional vehicles and capacity along the Blue Line + providing more buses on the roads.

“It brings me immense joy that Charlotte will be the backdrop for the celebration of music, culture, and community,” said Mayor Lyles.

Surprise appearances

Are the rumors true? Will Taylor Swift make an appearance? Charlotte Mecklenburg Police say they were not aware of rumors of a potential T. Swift performance. They said they're prepared to accommodate an appearance if it were to happen.