Known as the “City of Pleasant Living,” Shelby, North Carolina has a rich musical heritage, world-class entertainment venues, lively wineries and festivals, a growing brewery scene and some of the best barbeque in the South. Home of legendary bluegrass and country songwriters Earl Scruggs and Don Gibson, Shelby’s classic sounds are invigorating a new generation of musicians, like local band Acoustic Syndicate and the artists behind the city’s annual Art of Sound music festival. Visit the Earl Scruggs Center, a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to the man who mastered the five-string banjo and the 400-seat Don Gibson Theatre, or catch some live jazz over a glass of wine or craft beer at the Dragonfly Wine Market. Other local eateries and breweries include the award winning Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge, voted the Best BBQ in America by more than 250,000 Thrillist readers, Shelby Café, featured on Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” for its famous livermush and Newgrass Brewing Company. Other favorite local spots include the Foothills Farmers’ Market, offering fresh produce and live music every Saturday from April through November, and boutiques and shops like Uptown Olive Oil & More, RollOver Pets and Peace Avenue.
On top of all that, Shelby’s convenient location puts you just 35 minutes from the Charlotte Douglas International Airport and 45 minutes from Downtown Charlotte, making any kind of travel — from daytrips to international flights — as easy as pie.
Fun fact: fans of The Hunger Games trilogy will recognize Shelby as the site of District 12 in the blockbuster movies.