Uptown and Ballantyne will be filled with the arts these next two weeks. The Charlotte International Arts Festival (CIAF) returns Friday, Sept. 13 and runs through Sunday, Sept. 29.

"We had this vision of transforming the city," said Alana Graber, Blumenthal Arts’ Festival and Special Events Producer. "We brought in all of these amazing international artists. The second year, we made a bigger push to include local performing artists."

Want to check out the festival? Here's a snippet of what you'll find.

Set up at The Green, Evanescent is an immersive installation that allows guests to be surrounded by giant bubbles. | Photo via Blumenthal Arts

Uptown

Experiences include a beer garden, a music stage on Levine Avenue, plus a "Culture Park" sculpture corridor extending through the Convention Center Plaza.

There will be five locally-commissioned, large-scale art installations by Blumenthal Fellows, two LED art pieces by LED Lab, and a returning giant red squid sculpture.

A highlight this year — "Evanescent." This traveling installation features giant bubbles on display, paired with a locally-created soundscape by Sweat Transfer.

Space Explorers: THE INFINITE provides a virtual journey to the International Space Station. | Photos via Blumenthal Arts

Blume Studios

Blumenthal Arts' newest venture, Blume Studios, will welcome guests to the premiere of "Space Explorers: The INFINITE" — an immersive virtual reality experience teleporting visitors to the International Space Station.

Make sure to also check out GAIA, the iconic floating globe.

The 34th annual Latin American Festival celebrates culture, dance, music, and food. | Photo via Blumenthal Arts

Ballantyne

Visiting Ballantyne's Backyard, festival goers can enjoy live music, dance performances, and food trucks during a "Backyard Bash" on these days:

Friday, Sept. 13 | 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 14 | 11 a.m.
Friday, Sept. 20 | 4 p.m.

The south Charlotte destination will also host "Circus Evo: Lost to Me" + cultural festivals including the 28th Annual Festival of India, the UNC Charlotte International Festival, and the 34th Annual Latin American Festival.

Editor's note: Many of the installations and events are free to attend. Here's the full schedule. Our advice? Pick one or two things you really want to see and the art will come to you.