February 3, 2025
Explore Cabarrus is marking 35 years of serving Cabarrus County! To celebrate this milestone, we’ve compiled — with help from you — a list of 35 things to love about Cabarrus County. From delicious food and drink to year-round adventures and a warm, welcoming community, here are just some of the reasons we love our corner of North Carolina.
A Place to Eat and Drink Well
1. Strolling in downtown Concord and eating ice cream from Cabarrus Creamery.
2. Having two food halls to visit, Gibson Mill Market and The Bank Food Hall, where the whole family can eat in one place but everyone can have what they want.
3. The Cherry Lemon Sundrop and WitchDoctor at all of our What-a-Burger locations (#2, #10, #13 and #15) — and the best ranch dressing!
4. The North Carolina barbeque — Jake’s R&R BBQ in Concord always hits the spot!
5. The month-long celebration of Cabarrus Burger Madness serves up creative and delicious burger inventions across the county.
6. Local hangouts like Tuscarora Tap House in Mount Pleasant offer not just great drinks, but also games and activities for the whole family near downtown.
7. Restaurants in Downtown Kannapolis — like Old Armor Beer Company and The Corner Crust — which make exploring the area a joy.
8. Sweet shops in Cabarrus can satisfy any sweet tooth including treats from My Sister’s Place Ice Cream & Fudge in Kannapolis.
9. No matter where you are in Cabarrus County, there’s always a great cup of coffee around the corner.
10. Our region’s wonderful craft brews, wines, ciders and whiskeys are all part of Explore and Pour.
North Carolina Music Hall of Fame 
Charlotte Motor Speedway 
Hendrick Motorsports Museum & Team Store 
Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society Museum 
The Depot at Gibson Mill 
Village Park Amphitheatre 
Speedway Christmas 
Concord Mills 
The Dirt Track at Charlotte 
Outdoor Adventure in Every Season (Brown Mill Mountain Bike Trail) 
Rob Wallace Park 
Deer Run Farm 
SEA LIFE Aquarium 
Buffalo Creek Preserve Trail – Carolina Thread Trail 
Davis Theatre 
Gem Theatre
A Place for Exploration and Adventure
11. Terrific free activities abound here including the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame and Reed Gold Mine.
12. Racing is one of our favorite pastimes — and Cabarrus County is THE destination for racing fans.
13. We’re also home to some of the most acclaimed race shops in NASCAR.
14. Cabarrus County boasts rich history and culture, and thanks to museums like the Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society, we’re always learning more.
15. The Depot at Gibson Mill is the largest antique mall in the South, perfect for treasure hunting.
16. In the summer, we love the free concerts at Village Park.
17. Speedway Christmas at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, North Carolina’s must-see holiday celebration.
18. Concord Mills is North Carolina’s largest outlet and value retail shopping center.
19. We love the mud-caked monster trucks at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.
20. Thanks to our temperate Southern climate, we’re the place for all-season, year-round fun.
21. The scenic parks we can hike, bike or paddle through for all kinds of outdoor adventures.
22. From pumpkin patches to strawberry season, we make outdoor memories that will last a lifetime.
23. For indoor fun with an otherworldly marine setting, you can’t beat SEA LIFE Charlotte-Concord Aquarium.
24. Touching every community in Cabarrus, the Carolina Thread Trail is perfect for running, hiking and walking through nature.
25. Our live music venues provide unlimited entertainment and musical discoveries.
26. The low prices and fantastic movies at the Gem Theatre in Kannapolis.
A Place for Community
27. You can throw axes and form community at Concord’s Iron Axe Society.
28. You can learn from local artisans and meet fellow makers at creative workshops.
29. You told us you love how much work has gone into revitalizing the downtown districts in Concord and Kannapolis making them a special part of our community.
30. Our awesome breweries are great places to meet up with friends or make some new ones.
31. We love Harrisburg and all of the free events they put on.
32. The sense of community is strong in our growing number of locally-owned ventures, such as our local bookstores!
33. Our Kannapolis Cannon Ballers minor league baseball team is always focused on the community.
34. Our five unique municipalities offer outstanding hospitality and make Cabarrus County a five-star destination.
35. And aw, thanks — you said you love us here at the Cabarrus County Convention & Visitors Bureau!
And the list goes on! What else do you love about Cabarrus County, North Carolina?
Tag @ExploreCabarrus on social media to tell us all of the reasons you enjoy Concord, Harrisburg, Kannapolis, Midland, and Mount Pleasant.
Come Visit Us
Ready to enjoy Cabarrus County for yourself? Check out the Official Cabarrus County, North Carolina Destination Guide and plan the ultimate adventure.
