Smarty Scoop on Weekend Activities: 10/09-10/11

Hello Smarties!! Are you ready for a very full weekend? There is A LOT going on. There are festivals galore, consignment sales, neat events at our parks and just some really cool events to try. If you can’t find something cool and Smarty to do with your family this weekend, then something is just not right. Get out and enjoy! Please share your events by posting in comments or emailing me at Courtenay@charlottesmartypants.com.

CMG Children’s Consignment Sale
St. Gabriel Catholic Church
October 10, 8:00am to 2:00pm
Leave the kids home, grab your cash and bring a big bag to carry away a ton of bargains! Our annual Children’s Consignment Sale offers gently used children’s clothing, toys, furniture, accessories and maternity items. Doors open promptly at 8:00 am. This is a cash only sale. No children allowed inside the sale but, the playground will be available for supervised children.

Open Gym Night to Support Autism Awareness
Rolly Pollies – Mooresville
October 9th, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Families with young children (under age 8) can come and play in the gym for ½ hour increments for a family donation of $5 per ½ hour. In order to keep the event enjoyable and safe for all, we ask that you call Rolly Pollies at 704-660-8011 to reserve a time slot. Please tell all your friends about this fun family night event! ALL monies collected on this evening will be donated to the Autism Speaks™ Walk Now for Autism event being held on October 10th at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Rolly Pollies employees who are working this evening are doing so voluntarily. We are supporting “They Jay-Walker” team. “Jay” is Miss Marcia’s nephew with autism. If you would like to join the “Jay- Walkers” and walk at the Speedway, talk to Miss Marcia.

Silly Spiders
McDowell Nature Preserve
October 9, 10:00am-10:45am
Join us with your preschooler as we read a fabulous animal tale and then enjoy crafts and activities related to the theme. McDowell Nature Center- for ages 3-5. For more information, contact Suzanne.Belanger@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov

“A Christmas Carol” Train Tour
N.C. Transportation Museum
October 9-10, 9:00am-5:00pm
Get a sneak peek of “Disney’s A Christmas Carol” in 3-D, along with costumes and props from the movie, artifacts from the Charles Dickens Museum and the chance to morph your face into one of the characters. There will also be vintage rail cars, demonstrations and activities.

Car Seat Safety Check
Burlington Coat Factory, Concord
October 9, 11:00am-2:00pm
Stop by to make sure your child’s car seat is properly installed. Hosted by Crumley Roberts, who has trained and certified child passenger safety technicians on staff.

One Life Tour
Myers Park United Methodist Church, Jubilee Hall
October 9, 7:00pm
The whole family can listen to a contemporary Christian music concert featuring acts 33 Miles, John Walker and Pocket Full of Rocks. Cost is $10.

Wing Haven’s Fall Plant Sale
Wing Haven Gardens and Bird Sanctuary
October 7-10, 10:00am-4:00pm
Find an incredible selection of unusual shrubs, antique roses, herbs, perennials, native plants, groundcovers, bulbs and more. Volunteers can give you plenty of advice on how to make them flourish. A free program each morning at 10:30.

WordPlay
ImaginOn
October 10, 10:00am-1:00pm
This popular youth event moves indoors for some interactive family-friendly activities and features five outstanding children’s authors who will speak and sign their books: Chris Raschka, Bryan Collier, Grace Lin, Jimmy Gownley, and young adult author Coe Booth. Space is limited; no tickets required.

Community Days at Great Wolf Lodge
The Great Wolf Lodge, Concord, NC
October 9, 9:00am to 8:00pm
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Charlotte’s Community Days event allows public all-access to Concord’s Great Wolf Lodge Resort and Water Park without spending the night. Call for details. All proceeds benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Carolina Renaissance Festival
Highway 73 at Poplar Tent Road between Concord and Huntersville
Weekends, October 10 – November 22, 10:00am-5:30pm
Try this medieval amusement park with 10 stages, arts and crafts, a jousting tournament and a feast. Cost is $18, $7 kids 5-12.

Wachovia-Wells Fargo Family Saturdays
Mint Museum of Art
October 10, drop in anytime between 10:30am – 2:30pm
Each month, families are invited to drop by the museum to visit the exhibitions and make art together. Prepare to get messy! This Saturday features Masks of Mexico.View extraordinary pottery, textiles and masks on view in the Grice collection exhibition, and construct an animal mask inspired by traditional masks of Mexico. Kids FREE when accompanied by a paying adult! FREE for Mint members!

Forts and Hideouts
McDowell Nature Preserve
October 10, 10:00am to 12:00pm
Give our child the opportunity to practice the art and science of fort building in a safe and supervised manner. For ages 8+. For more information, contact Jason.Hurley@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov

Building Study Skills and Avoiding Homework Headaches
Muslim American Society, 4301 Shamrock Drive
October 10, 6:30pm-8:00pm
Presented by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ Parent University and Jennifer Parker, Consultant. Learn how to help your children organize their time and materials to study, and better understand your children and the best study habits and strategies for them.

Ciao, Italia Festival
Wachovia Plaza atrium
October 10, 11:00am-7:00pm
Enjoy entertainment, a pizza toss, ancestry searches, the making of mozzarella, book signings, wine tasting, children’s activities, luxury car displays – and of course Italian food. Cost is $3 adults, free 12 and under.

Craft Attack
Independence Park
October 10, 10:00am-5:00pm
The Hornets’ Nest Etsy Team offers a family-friendly event for finding unique gifts from local artisans. There will also be booths from local community groups.

Fall Festival at the Morrison Family YMCA
Morrison Family YMCA Ballantyne
October 10, 2:00pm to 4:00pm
Join us at the Morrison YMCA for our annual Fall Festival. Enjoy great food, music, inflatables, games, hayrides and more. The cost is $10/child and all activities are included.

Folklife Festival and Craft Show
Historic Latta Plantation
October 10, 10:00am-4:00pm
Children can listen to stories, explore the hay maze, make crafts and visit the farm animals. Vendors cover traditional and modern crafts. Enjoy Americana music by Marie Reid and bluegrass by the Stevens Mill Band. Cost is $6 adults, $5 kids, free 5 & under.

Latin American Festival
Symphony Park at SouthPark mall
October 11, noon-7:00pm
Hear traditional music as well as contemporary Latin rock. Sample the best foods from Latin America, and learn about traditional stories, dances and crafts. Cost is $5 adults, $3 9-12, free under 9.

Little Hands Big Hearts!
Small Hands Big Art Studio, Fountains Shopping Center, 8025 Ardrey Kell Road
October 10, 1:30pm-5:30pm
The new studio Small Hands Big Art is hosting an afternoon of family fun in the Fountains Shopping Center. Children will enjoy face-painting, pumpkin painting, crafts, raffles and goodies. The event will help raise awareness and money for NCMEC to continue its efforts to locate and recover missing children; and to raise public awareness about ways to prevent child abduction, endangerment, and sexual exploitation.

Casting Call
The Gap at Southpark Mall
October 10, 10:00 am-1:00 pm
Girls ages 4-12 and their moms are needed for a fashion show benefitting
the Make-A-Wish® Foundation of Central & Western North Carolina. To be considered, model applicants must attend the casting call in person. Please bring a close-up and a full length photo (pictures will not be returned). There is no audition fee, but donations to the Make-A-Wish®
Foundation are welcome. Models must be available for at least one rehearsal, a fitting with the applicable retailer, and a runway workshop. Child models must be able to be away from parents for several hours and feel comfortable in front of 250 people. Models may be required to provide footwear and accessories as directed by the show.
The 2nd Annual Tea-For-Three (for Mommy, my doll, and me!) will feature vignettes from the Nutcracker by the Charlotte City Ballet Company, a formal British tea, and a mother-daughter-doll fashion show. For additional fees, girls and their dolls can get glamorous in a salon hosted by Sweet & Sassy and then Love Portraits can photograph the glitzy girls in individual fashion shoots. Fabulous prizes can be won in a raffle or purchased in an auction. All the girls can satisfy their sweet tooth at a candy bar sponsored by BJ’s Wholesale Club. To cap it off, Miss North Carolina and maybe even Santa will stop by! All proceeds benefit the Make-A-Wish® Foundation of Central & Western North Carolina. The event is sponsored by Great Harvest Bread Co.® For more information, please visit the blog at: http://makeawishteaforthree.wordpress.com
To purchase tickets, visit http://teaforthree.kintera.org.

Carolinas Medical Center Women’s Institute
October 14, noon
Dr. Paul Marshburn presents “Endometriosis and Infertility” at the Morehead Medical Plaza 5th floor, Classroom 5. Space is limited so please call 704-355-1920 to reserve a seat.Refreshment are provided.