Happy Wednesday Smarties! If you have time this weekend, I want you to roadtrip to Banner Elk – vist the Land of Oz. One of my earliest memories is going to Land of Oz with my family. I still have my flying monkey stuffed animal. If you went as a child, it will be a trip down memory lane, if you have never been it will be a great opportunity to introduce your family to NC tourist history. Touch A Truck returns this Sunday and is a must do for families. This cause is very dear to our hearts and is one of the best family friendly events around! October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month – Charlotte kicks it off with the Komen Race for the Cure and Smarty Pants will feature a Smarty Warrier of the Month. Check in on Saturday for more. Enjoy your weekend, get out and have fun.
Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
Uptown Charlotte
October 1, 6:00am
The Komen Charlotte Race for the Cure is a fundraiser that features a 5K competitive race and much more! Kids activities too! It is a celebration of life where runners and walkers of all ages gather to honor survivors who are winning the battle against breast cancer and to remember those who have lost their lives to this devastating disease.
Touch A Truck
Kenton Place, 17220 W. Catawba Ave., Cornelius
October 2, 11:00am-2:00pm
this is the place for your kids to get up close and personal with masses of machine muscle, from emergency vehicles to NASCAR. In addition there are inflatables, mascots roaming the crowds, pony rides ($5 extra/person) and a great silent auction stocked full of family-friendly activities/items. $3 minimum donation per person gets you in with proceeds benefiting a cancer research organization close to our Smarty hearts, Addi’s Cure. In 2006, Bo and Christy Johnson created this non-profit organization dedicated to lung cancer research and education.
Seussical
Children’s Theatre of Charlotte
September 30-Oct. 2, Fri. 7:30pm; Sat.11:00am, 2:00pm; Sun, 2:00pm
Oh, the thinks you can think, when you think about Seuss! Dr. Seuss’ beloved stories collide in a family musical adventure that has delighted audiences across the country since its 2000 Broadway debut. Steadfast Horton the Elephant, insecure but mighty Gertrude McFuzz, and the mischievous Cat in the Hat take center stage in this colorful extravaganza that celebrates the bonds of friendship, the richness of individual differences, the importance of tolerance and the incredible power of the imagination. Cost is $18-$24.
Day Out With Thomas
North Carolina Transportation Museum
September 30-Oct. 2, 8:00am-6:00pm
Enjoy a train ride with Thomas the Tank Engine, as well as a variety of Thomas & Friends themed entertainment, including Storytelling and Video Viewing, Temporary Tattoos of Island of Sodor friends, and an Imagination Station with Arts & Crafts and more. Guests will also have the opportunity to meet Sir Topham Hatt, the Controller of the Railway on the Island of Sodor. Cost is $17-$19; free ages 2 and under.
26th Annual ArtFest of Matthews
Village Green Matthews
October 1, 10:00am-5:00pm
at, Matthews, NC
The Matthews Chamber of Commerce and Presbyterian Hospital Matthews are proud to present the 26th Annual ArtFest of Matthews. Over 50 artists and craftsmen will display and sell their artwork for the two-day juried show. This family event will also feature a Children’s Hands-on-Art Area with pottery lessons, a High School Art Scholarship competition in the Train Station, Live Music and local restaurant specials.
Li’l Dan the Drummer Boy: An Interactive Exhibit
ImaginOn
Ongoing, Mon.-Thurs., 9:00am-9:00pm; Fri. and Sat., 9:00am-6:00pm; and Sun., 1:00-6:00pm
Li’l Dan, the Drummer Boy: A Civil War Story is the only children’s book ever written and illustrated by legendary American artist Romare Bearden. The colorful panels and text were discovered in Bearden’s archives twenty years after he created them, and the book was published posthumously in 2003 by Simon and Schuster. In honor of Bearden’s 100th birthday, ImaginOn is proud to host an exhibition of twenty-seven original Bearden illustrations for Li’l Dan, the Drummer Boy, along with the accompanying text. The vivid watercolor and collage artwork tells the story of Li’l Dan, a young slave whose drumming saves his friends and leads to freedom. Recommneded for ages 5-10 and their families.
Autumn at Oz
Old Land of Oz Theme Park, Beech Mountain
October 1-2, Three sessions daily: 10am-noon, noon-2pm, and 2-4pm
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. A limited number of 7000 tickets will be sold and are available on line.
St. Ann’s Parish Fall Carnival
St. Ann Catholic Church
October 1, 10:00am-6:00pm
Exciting rides, games, festival food & baked goods, crafts, face painting, mega slide, silent auction, $1,000 cash prize raffle, music and so much more.The Carnival is nonstop fun and weather never cancels it. Plenty of parking on Haven Drive and Hillside Avenue and at the Park Road Elementary School. Handicapped spaces is available in the church lot closest to Park Road and from Willow Oak.
Presbyterian Children’s Emergency Department Celebration
Presbyterian Children’s Emergency Department
October 2, 1:00pm-4:00pm
Our children’s emergency department is growing! We’ve tripled in size, added new beds and redesigned our space to make it even more child friendly. Now we even have a separate entrance and waiting room just for kids (and their parents, too)! Join us for a tour and FREE family fun day! We will have a Teddy bear clinic, Pumpkin painting, Photo booth, Giveaways, and Refreshments. Tours of the new emergency department, state-of-the-art operating rooms and pharmacy, Meet and greet with doctors and staff and much more! Feel free to wear your Halloween costume and bring your favorite stuffed animal to the teddy bear clinic!
AutumnFaire
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
October 1, 9:00am-3:00pm
Handcrafted jewelry, pottery, mosaics and other decorative art will all be available during this spectacular botanical marketplace. Participating artists use plants, gardens, nature and the environment to inspire their creations that just may be the perfect holiday gift. Guests will find display-quality pottery, exquisite baskets, gourd art, herbal soaps and lotions and much moreCost is adults $12; children ages 4-12, $6.
Rural Hill Amazing Maize
Rural Hill, Huntersville
September 30-Oct. 2, 10:00-6:30pm
Come visit our giant seven acre maze of corn, relying only on your group of friends and/or family to navigate your way out. Water stations and maze assistance are available throughout. Concessions for sale. You may purchase tickets in advance via our website or also at the gate.
Weekend Maze runs September 3 – November 13. Family Friendly Friday Flashlight Mazes will run every Friday night from Sept 30 – Nov 4! Cost is $7-$10; free for ages 4 and under.
Aw Shucks!
3718 Plyler Mill Road, Monroe
September 30-Oct. 2, Fri., 6:00pm-10:00pm; Sat., 11:00am-10:00pm; Sun., 1:00pm-6:00pm
Aw Shucks® Farms continues to be a treasured destination each fall with something to offer for all ages. Step back in time in the Old Fashioned General Store, enjoy a Hayride, and visit the Pumpkin Patch. Folks love our Animal Barn and visiting the Old Rail Car from the 1800s. The 6 acre Corn Maze is always fun and will entertain even the youngest of outdoor adventurers. Our Kids’ Play Area gets bigger every year! Top the evening off with a cozy Bonfire by the pond. Cost is $8; free under age 3 on weekends with paying adult.
Country Time Farms
Hwy. 218 and Clontz Road, Indian Trail
September 30-October 2, Fri., 5:00pm-10:00pm; Sat., 10:00am-10:00pm; Sun., 1:00pm-8:00pm
Come join us at the “Country Days Corn Maze”, conveniently nestled between Hwy 218 and Hwy 601 in the community of Fairview, NC. The maze opens on Friday, September 30, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. and concludes on Sunday, October 30, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. Concessions are available, offering a variety of foods that will satisfy any hungry appetite. While you’re at the maze, stop by and visit us at the General Store. We sale all types of novelty souvenirs, nostalgic candies, and T-shirts. And then don’t forget to take home a pumpkin or some homemade jams before you leave. So whether you’re from out of town or live in the local area, we invite you to stop in for a fun-filled day that the entire family can enjoy at an affordable price! Cost is $7-$10; free under age 3.
