Smarty Scoop on Weekend Activities: 10/1-10/3

What a weekend Smarties! You have a lot to look forward too. From “Touch a Truck” to consignment sales and much more in between. If you are looking for fun day trips, you can visit Thomas at the NC Transportation Museum or take a trip to the Land of Oz. I was last there in 1978!! Grab the fam, get out and ENJOY!

Touch A Truck
Kenton Place, Cornelius
Oct. 3, 11:00am-2:00pm
There is SO much fun stuff for the kids including pony rides, face painting, bounce house, games, a visit from Sir Purr & the Bobcats’ Rufus, etc. And of course, it wouldn’t be “Touch A Truck” without TONS of vehicles on site for your little ones to get up close & personal with…hummers, fire trucks, ambulance, NASCAR, police cars, bloodmobile bus, Red Cross response vehicles, bulldozer, tractor, garbage truck, mini boats and so much more!! There’s plenty of food to be had and a great silent auction as well.All proceeds from Touch A Truck benefit Addi’s Cure (a non-profit for lung cancer research and education) started in September 2006 by Bo and Christi Johnson. $3 minimum contribution per person, children under 1 are free.

Autumn at Oz
Land of OZ, Beech Mountain
October 2-3, Sat.,10:00am-5:00pm; Sun., 10:30am
Walk the Yellow Brick Road and meet your favorite Oz characters, Dorothy, Tin Man, Lion, Scarecrow, Witches and the Wizard. They’re all there. Visit Auntie Em’s farm and hide from the tornado in the basement. Lot’s of fun, food, music, hay rides, memorabilia and more. Tickets are $16.50 in advance and $20.00 at the party. Children 2 years and under are free. Credit cards are not accepted on the days of the event and you are strongly encouraged to purchase your tickets online.

Day Out With Thomas: The Celebration Tour 2010
N.C. Transportation Museum
October 1-3, 8:30am-5:15pm
If your kids enjoy Thomas the Train, this is something you don’t want to miss! To celebrate Thomas’s 65th birthday, there will be food, games, train rides, arts and crafts, storytelling, a magic show and more! Cost is $18 for weekends and on Friday $16. On Oct. 3 you can receive a train ride discount (select rides) with the discount code MOMNCTM (order online)

Charlotte Style Exchange Sale
Rosedale Shopping Center, Huntersville
September 30-October 2, Thurs., 10:00am-9:00pm; Fri., 10:00am-6:00pm; Sat., 9:00am-noon(1/2 price sale)
The Charlotte Style Exchange is the Charlotte area’s premier consignment event for women’s, junior’s, and teen boys’ clothing and accessories as well as luggage and home furnishings.

Green Jeans Eco Consignment Sale
The Shops at The Fresh Market, Exit 28 Cornelius, NC (Occupying Two Storefronts – The Former Oreck and Brownlee Jewelers- next to Jersey Mike’s)
October 1-3, Fri.-Sat., 9:00am-8:00pm; Sun., 10:00am-2:00pm (1/2 price)
Event Enables Stylish Ladies to Recycle Their Wardrobes, Support Their Own Shopping Habits and Support Local Charities. Be an Eco Diva, saving your wardrobe and the planet! Green Jeans has come to Cornelius, offering ladies the opportunity to pony up their own last year’s labels to their neighboring fashionistas and update their own wardrobe with designer finds. The three day event is open to the public for consigning and shopping. In addition, new designer duds from local boutiques and locally crafted handbags and jewelry will also be for sale. Other non-profits such as Cookies for Kids Cancer will also benefit as local volunteers are donating their fashion and earnings to pediatric cancer research.

Kids Konsignment Sale
Harris YMCA
October 2, 8:00am-noon; half-price sale, 2:00pm-5:00pm
Fall and Winter children’s clothes thru size 12, toys, games, books, bikes, baby equipment, strollers, furniture, gently worn children’s shoes and current, in-season maternity wear. No children under 12 admitted. Free Child watch is available to shoppers and no strollers in the sales area.

Lollipops Concert: The Emperor’s New Clothes
Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
October 2, 11:00am
What’s big and pink and loves to wear fancy clothes? Give up? It’s the Emperor himself in Grey Seal Puppets’ clever adaptation of The Emperor’s New Clothes. Not only is this Emperor big and pink, he just happens to be a pig! The Hans Christian Andersen story takes on a whole new dimension, transformed into an animal fable. Even the audience takes part! Pre-concert festivals begin at 10 am and put the musical experience right into kids’ hands, with crafts, activities, and instrument exploration with the Symphony Guild’s Musical Petting Zoo. Cost is $12.

Disney’s Aladdin
Children’s Theatre of Charlotte
October 1-3, Fri., 7:30pm(sold out); Sat., 11:00am, 2:00pm; Sun., 2:00pm
Join us for a theatrical magic carpet ride, as we kick off our 63rd season with this exuberant family musical. In the heart of an enchanted city, poor but charming Aladdin meets free-spirited Princess Jasmine, whose royal status places her beyond his reach. His whole life changes with one rub of a lamp, as a fun-loving, fast-talking Genie appears and grants him three wishes. Beloved characters and Academy Award-winning songs like “A Whole New World” and “Friend Like Me” make Disney’s Aladdin an incredible journey of discovery and adventure. Cost is $18-$24.

Mint Museum Uptown Grand Opening
Mint Museum of Art- Uptown
October 1-2, Fri., 5pm-Sat., 5:30pm
The Mint Museum Uptown opens its doors on Friday, 1 October at 5:30 p.m. marked by  a 24-Hour Grand Opening celebration. Festivities kick off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 5:00 p.m. followed by a variety of activities for all ages during the next 24 hours. Activities include First Look Friday, tours of the new facility, a Takeover dance party from 10:00pm – 2:00am, and artist demonstrations. Cost is $10 per person on Friday (members free) and free to the public on Saturday.

All American Dog Show
Bailey Road Park
October 2, 5:00pm-8:00pm
The Cornelius PARC Department is going to the dogs as we present our most popular annual event!  Bring your furry friend and compete in fun categories, or just come and watch!  Industry vendors will be on-hand displaying their products and services.

Koman Race for the Cure 5K
Levine Center for the Arts, Tryon St.
October 2, Pre- race activities begin at 6am; 5K at 7:50am
The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure®, the largest series of 5K runs/fitness walks in the world, raises significant funds and awareness for the fight against breast cancer, celebrates breast cancer survivorship and honors those who have lost their battle with the disease. The Komen Race for the Cure is a unique event, designed and implemented to promote positive awareness, education and early detection of breast cancer.  It has proved to be an enormously effective way to reach many women and men with the message that breast cancer is not necessarily fatal if mammography and breast self-exam become routine. As well as being a road race for runners, the Komen Race for the Cure is an emotionally charged event that attracts many first timers and recreational runners. The Komen Race for the Cure is an opportunity for thousands of women, men and their families, running or walking, to spread the breast cancer message within their communities.

Neighborhood Block Party
Sharon United Methodist Church
October 2, noon-4:00pm
Join us for the 3rd annual Neighborhood Block Party.  All activities are free, including moon bounce, pony rides, carnival games, book walk, clowns, chili cook-off, music, and more.  Fun for all ages!  Hot dogs, chili dogs, Frito pies, drinks and desserts will be available at no charge.

Fantastic Fish
Latta Plantation Nature Preserve Fishing Pier
October 3, 2:00pm-4:00pm
This is a chance for you to learn more about fish and go fishing all in the same day. First we will talk about why fish are unique and then we will go fishing on Mountain Island Lake. For more information, contact Shelby.Harrison@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or 704.948.5380.

All About Baby
Belly Elan Blakeney Shopping Center
October 3rd, 2:00pm-5:00pm
Join us for an afternoon of fun, food, freebies and plenty of information about prenatal, postnatal and baby needs! Vendors from the Charlotte area will be on hand to discuss everything from maternity needs to cloth diapers to post-partum care for you and baby. The first 50 moms-to-be to register for the event will receive a free, Free, FREE Baby Booty Bag full of samples, coupons and gifts! RSVP to reserve your goodie bag by calling 704.544.3226 or email customerservice@bellyelan.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . All are welcome to attend with or without reservations but only confirmed RSVPs are guaranteed a Baby Booty Bag.

FAAN Walk for Food Allergy Moving toward a Cure
Freedom Park
October 2, Check-in begins at 9:00am; Walk begins at 10:00am
More than 12 million Americans, or one in every 25, have food allergies. Included in that number are more than 3 million children. The incidence of peanut allergy doubled in children over a five-year period (1997-2002). Over the years, FAAN has been at the forefront of progress in food allergy research. Findings from research studies have been used to change federal and state laws, improve school policies, raise public awareness, improve the daily lives of individuals with food allergy, and provide education for patients, caregivers, and health professionals. Activities include Spray tattoos and hair coloring, bounce houses and obstacle coures, arts and crafts, ring toss, bean bag toss, hula hoops, penny in the pumpkin, and more. Children are also invited to wear costumes.

Country Days Corn Maze
Country Time Farms, Hwy. 218 and Clontz Road, Indian Trail
October 1-3, Fri., 5:00pm-10:00pm; Sat. 10:00am-10:00pm; Sun., 1:00pm-8:00pm
From the parking lot take a one mile hayride to the maze. There are farm animals, corn box, playground and pig races and much more. Cost is $7-$10, under 3 is free.