Smarty Scoop on Weekend Activities: 3/18-3/20

Hello Smarties! It is another great weekend in the Queen City. Spring is around the corner, consignment sales are in full force, rabbits are arriving at the Nature Museum and St. Patrick’s is being celebrated. Parks and Rec. has a lot of offerings and the Mint is hosting Fun Days , get out, explore and enjoy!

Kat’s Kid Sale-Consignment Sale
Rosedale Shopping Center, Huntersville
March 17-19, Thurs., 9:00am-9:00pm; Fri., 9:00am-6:00pm; Sat., 8:00am-noon
Name brands at bargain price. This sale won Consignment Mommies 2010 Spring Sale of the year. This is a cash only sale.

Kids’ Consignment Sale
Weddington Methodist Church, Family Life Center
March 17-19, Doors open Thurs.-Fri., 9:00am; and Sat., 8:00am
Bargains on all things kids – clothes, furniture, toys and strollers. Cash and checks accepted. No strollers! The proceeds from this sale help support a multitude of local, Union County missions. We regularly support With Love From Jesus, Turning Point, Bread of Life, H.E.L.P. Crisis Pregnancy, Matthews Help Center, Operation Reach Out, Wrapped in Love, Agape and House of Pearls.

Children and Teen Consignment Sale
Matthews United Methodist Church
March 19, 8:00am-noon. Half-price sale, 1:00pm-3:00pm
Spring/Summer clothes and shoes – newborn to junior sizes. Maternity items, baby equipment, toys, furniture, books, games and much more. Free admission. Cash only. No strollers or carts allowed in sales area.

Animal Pre School Yoga
McDowell Nature Center
March 18, 10:30am-11:15am
Fly like a Swallowtail Butterfly, hop like a Gray Tree Frog, howl like a Coyote. Kids will learn about the wildlife that lives in the preserve through a variety of yoga poses, songs, and games. Ages 3-6. Cost is $3.

Britax Fitting Station
Britax North American headquarters
March 18, 8:00am-noon
A car seat checking station is where certified child passenger safety technicians assist you with car seat installation. There they will teach you the correct way to install your child seat, provide safety recommendations, and answer any questions that you may have. For best results, please bring: your child, your vehicle and vehicle owner’s manual, your child safety seat and all parts, accessories, and instructions, a second adult to assist with watching your child while you learn how to install your car seat . No appointment is needed, and seats from all manufacturers are welcome. Instruction lasts approximately 30 minutes per car seat. Cost is free.

The Glass Menagerie
Theatre Charlotte
March 18-20, Fri. & Sat., 8:00pm; Sun., 2:30pm
Amanda Wingfield is a faded, tragic remnant of Southern gentility who lives in poverty with her son, Tom, and her daughter, Laura. Tom is driven to distraction by his mother’s nagging and seeks escape in alcohol and the make-believe world of movies. Laura is crippled, and this defect, intensified by her mother’s anxiety to see her married, has driven her more and more into herself. Tom invites an acquaintance for dinner with the family. Amanda pounces on the gentleman caller as a possible husband for Laura. One of the American theatre’s best plays, The Glass Menagerie is a drama of great tenderness, charm and beauty. Recommended for ages 13 and up. Cost is $8-$24.

Family Campfire & Moonlight Hike
Reedy Creek Nature Center
March 18, 6:30pm-8:00pm
Come out for a fun evening of hiking and marshmallow roasting. You’ll join a naturalist for an easy 1 -2 mile hike perfect for families and children of all ages. We’ll cap off the hike with a campfire in our Natural Play Area, where you will have the opportunity to roast marshmallows! Cost is free.

Hip Hopping Hares
Charlotte Nature Museum
March 19, 10:00am-1:00pm
Hop over to Charlotte Nature Museum on Saturday, March 19 and visit with lots of rabbits. Harriet, our resident hare, will be meeting and greeting visitors as you learn the difference between various rabbits and hares. A puppet show and special story time will also be featured.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Charlotte Goes Green Festival
Tryon St. from 3rd St. to 1st St.
March 19, 10:00am-6:30pm
The 15th Annual Charlotte Goes Green Festival will be held on Tryon St. in Uptown Charlotte on 3/19/11 from 10:00am – 6:30pm. The festival will feature live Irish music, Irish dancers, pipe band, Irish/Celtic and other vendors, the large Celtic Kids Zone and plenty of Irish & other food & beverages. The festival has no admission fee. Join us before and after the parade where everyone is Irish for a day

Spring Fling Festival
Latta Plantation Nature Center
March 20, 1:00pm-5:00pm
Celebrate the first day of spring with a fun, free day at the nature center. There will be stories, crafts, and family activities all day, such as seed planting and insect investigations. No registration required. All ages.

Sunday Fun Days: Crafting Critters
Mint Museum Uptown
March 20, 1:00pm-4:00pm
Third Sundays are family-time at the Mint Museum Uptown. Every Sunday Fun Day try out a new scavenger hunt in the museum galleries, see a performer or artist demonstration, and enjoy kid-friendly activities. Each month we’ll celebrate a new theme. Watch artist David Edgar morph recycled plastic into incredible sea creatures, take a guided “safari” in the galleries, and craft a critter to take home. Cost is $10.

Register Now for Our Latest Giveaway from our friends at the Mosquito Authority:
Don’t get bit, get back! Those dreaded lil bugs with the big bite will descend upon us soon. But fear not, there’s no need to suffer this summer with our friends at The Mosquito Authority here to fix your itch! Two lucky Smarties will win a FREE Barrier Spray – click here to enter. Winners will be picked on Sunday, March 20th at 5p. Good luck, Smarties!