Happy Wednesday Smarties! It is a very important weekend – Mother’s Day. Smarty Pants loves to honor all things related to being a mom and we are again doing our swagalicious Mother’s Day Giveaway! Go to the Steal and Deals tab, click on Giveaways, read about all the smarty swag and enter to win! This is a great weekend to celebrate being a Mom. Get the fam to take you out to Historic Rosedale, Daniel Stowe for Mother’s Day Fun or one of the many other local festivals. Get out and Enjoy. (A quick shout out to my firstborn, Trey, celebrating his 11th birthday on Friday!)
3rd Annual National Mom’s Nite Out
SouthPark Mall
May 5, 5:00pm-7:00pm
SouthPark invites moms to let their hair down at the 3rd Annual National Mom’s Nite Out on Thursday, May 5 at from 5 to 7 p.m. in Center Court. This free event is a guilt-free excuse for moms to take the night off to relax and enjoy a celebration of motherhood. Moms will join together for a well-deserved break to socialize and relax at this event featuring networking, pampering stations, food and beverage sampling, shopping incentives, sampling of products and giveaways from a variety of SouthPark stores including Aveda, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Elements Theurapeutics Massage, Coldwater Creek, Aerosoles and many more. The first 200 guests will also receive swag bags filled with products, samples, and coupons from vendors such as Vera Bradley, L’Occitiane, Francescas Collections, Michael Kors, Origins, The Body Shop, Bare Escentuals and more! This free event is sponsored by StriVectin.
First Fridays
Mint Museum Uptown
May 6, Begins at 6:00pm
Fun for all ages, evening gallery tours, hands-on art activities, live entertainment, café specials, cash bar and much more! Members free, non-members $10.
Nature at Night Hayride
McDowell Nature Center
May 6, 8:15pm-9:45pm
Bring your family and experience McDowell Nature Preserve at night. Weather permitting we will venture into our Prairie in search of coyote, bobcat, deer, and owls while taking in the sights and sounds of the night. Limited seating available, pre-register (17 spots) or come to the Family Campfire early to take advantage of first-come first-serve seating (min. 10 spots), contact McDowell Nature Center at 704-588-5224 for more information.
Pied Piper – The Musical
Actor’s Theatre Of Charlotte
May 6-8, Fri., 7:30pm; Sat., 2:00pm, 4:00pm; Sun., 2:00pm
A musical production of the beloved children’s classic-the Pied Piper, presented by Playing for Others, a a leadership training program for teens who are passionate about the arts. Suitable for ages 3 and up. Cost is $10.
Tomas and the Library Lady
ImaginOn
May 6-8, Fri., 7:30pm; Sat., 1:00pm; Sun., 2:00pm
Tomás and his family travel north from their home in Texas for a summer of farm work. Tomás loves being with his parents and his Papá Grande, but moving so much makes it hard to learn English and do well in school. He finds refuge at the local library, where a friendly librarian introduces him to the world of books, and fosters a lifelong love of reading and learning. Adapted from Pat Mora’s book about Tomás Rivera, the child of migrant workers who became a novelist and educator, this touching play reminds us of the difference one person can make in the lives of others. Performed by the Tarradiddle Players. Ages 7 and up. Cost is $14-$18.
Mint Hill Highland Games
Mint Hill Park on Fairview, I-485 Exit 44, Mint Hill
May 6-7, Fri, 6:00PM-10:30pm; Sat, 9:00am-5:00pm
Musical entertainment by the Glengarry Bhoys, Stirling Bridge, and Marcille Wallis. Highland Athletics, Border Collie Demonstrations, Falcolns & Goshawks, Children’s Events, Scottish Clan Gathering, Celtic Merchandise, Food. Admission: $5 PER CAR. NO PETS ALLOWED!!! Sponsored by the Mint Hill Scottish Society, the Town of Mint Hill, the Arts & Science Council, the North Carolina Arts Council, Bojangles’ and the Mint Hill Times.
Mother’s Day at the Garden
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
May 7, 9:00am-3:00pm
All moms will receive free admission from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. & the first 250 moms each day will receive a free potted plant courtesy of Rountree Plantation.Delicious picnic baskets will be available for pre-order. Please call 704-829-1252 to reserve yours. Other food and beverage items will be available for purchase on-site provided by Best Impressions Caterers. Mother’s Day at the Garden is sponsored by WSOC Channel 9 Family Focus, Rountree Plantation & Gaston County Department of Tourism. Mothers in free from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. on May 7 & 8. Admission for members is free, $12 adults, $11 seniors 60+, and $6 children 4-12.
Arts Festival at Historic Rosedale
Historic Rosedale Plantation
May 7, 10:00am-4:00pm
Some of North Carolina’s best-known potters will have their wares for sale. Other craftsmen will include jewelry makers, a copper craftsman, a wood turner, and a sweet grass basket maker. Historical re-enactors in costume will be giving demonstrations throughout the day. There will be free tours of the house and the newly renovated historic garden. Lunch will be available for purchase on the grounds. Children can experience hands-on historical activities such as a pottery wheel, yarn doll making, and tin punch. Also there will be free pony rides, a story teller, and a Carolina Raptor Center demonstration. General admission tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children and students ages 5-18. Children 4 and under are free. Immediate family passes are available for $25.
Family Day at the Bechtler
Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
May 7, Noon-4:30pm
Feed your child’s inner artist while learning about Bechtler Museum of Modern Art exhibitions and architecture at Family Day. Family-friendly art projects take place from noon to 4:30 p.m. in the galleries and classroom as well as on the museum plaza and across the street in The Green. School-age children (and parents, too) are invited to compose, create and construct at three stations set up on The Green. In addition to making art, kids can also view art by participating in a scavenger hunt involving the five large-scale sculptures installed in the park as part of the Bechtler’s current exhibition Niki de Saint Phalle: Creation of a New Mythology on view through October 3, 2011. On the museum plaza, kids can sketch the Firebird sculpture and build the Bechtler using Styrofoam blocks. Inside activities include digital art instruction, story time and special kid-friendly gallery tours. Admission to the Bechtler’s Family Day is free for those under 18 years old; all others receive a discounted ticket price of $4. Museum members are free. Hours for Family Day are noon to 4:30 p.m.
Charlotte Dragon Boat and Asian Festival
Ramsey Creek Park, 18441 Nantz Road, Huntersville
May 7, 11:00am-4:00pm; boat races begin at 9:00am
The festival highlights and celebrates Asian cultures, diversity, ethnicity, roots and history. Authentic food and craft vendors, music, dance, entertainment, and the annual Miss Asia Carolinas Pageant are all key parts of this fun and festive cultural event. The Charlotte Dragon Boat race is a day of fun. Teams paddle in a set distance course in Lake Norman in a 40’ Dragon Boats competing for medals and all in name of community building and fellowship. Race starts at 9AM. Cost is free.
Davidson Town Day Celebration
Davidson Village Green
May 7, 10:00am-2:00pm
The event will be filled with a host of familiar activities. It begins as in previous years with the Davidson Cornelius Child Development Center’s 5K race and Fun Run at 8:30 a.m. Games, entertainment and food will be provided on the Village Green from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., including Davidson Elementary School PTO’s annual Cake Walk, the Library Book Sale and many other activities sponsored by local organizations. Davidson-area restaurants will also have food available for purchase, and the Davidson Farmer’s Market will be open during its regular hours from 8:00 a.m. to noon.
Matthews Summer Concert and Movie Series
Stumptown Park
May 7, 7:00pm. Movies begin at approximately 8:00pm
This weeks movie is “Toy Story 3” with pre-movie acivities provided by KidzArt. No pets and food and beverage vendors are on-site.
Preserve Park and HAYride
McDowell Nature Center
May 7, 1:00pm-4:00pm
Plan a picnic, go fishing, hike a new trail, or learn more about our park. Staff will be providing a narrated tour of the park and hayride shuttle service between the Nature Center, Medium shelter, and Waterfront. Guests are encouraged to jump on and off at any stop to further enjoy the preserve. Free adventure backpacks, loaner cameras, and fishing equipment are available at the nature center to make the most of your trip around the park (Bait and Fishing licenses are available for a small fee). No registration required, for more information call McDowell Nature Center at 704-588-5224.
