Smarty Scoop on Weekend Activities: October 28-30

Happy Wednesday Smarties! The last weekend of October means tons of Halloween fun. Stop by the Nature Museum for the Spiders and other creepy crawlers. There are Fall Festivals, plays, art projects, cookie decorating and runs. The Queen City is saying to Get out and Enjoy! Happy Halloween.

Spinning Spiders and Creepy Crawlers
Charlotte Nature Museum
October 29, 10:00am
Enjoy Halloween treats in the Museum and on the outdoor Paw Paw Nature Trail. Learn about animals friends that go bump in the night and ‘boooo’ during the day. Kids are encouraged to wear costumes.

The Commedia Cinderella
Children’s Theatre of Charlotte
October 28 and 30, Fri., 7:30pm; Sun. 2:00pm
In this funny, fast-paced show, the Tarradiddle Players put a slapstick spin on one of the world’s most famous fairytales. Beautiful Cinderella is forced to work as a kitchen maid by her mean Stepmother and two ugly Stepsisters, but thanks to a little help from her Fairy Godmother, she still has a chance to win the hand of the handsome Prince. With roots in the humorous, physical acting style of Italian Commedia dell’arte, this production is a lighthearted treat. Cost is $14-$18.

Yo Gabba Gabba Live!: It’s Time to Dance
Ovens Auditorium
October 28-29, Fri., 3:00pm, 6:00pm; Sat., 2:00pm, 5:00pm
Yo Gabba Gabba Live!: It’s Time to Dance! Presented by Kia Motors promises to be a memorable experience, featuring a mix of classic Yo Gabba Gabba! favorites, as well as new songs and new performances. The state-of-the-art, high-energy production features DJ Lance Rock, Brobee, Foofa, Muno, Plex and Toodee, and a mix of music, animation, games, singing and dancing. Cost is $29-$39.

Creepy Crawly Critter Ween
Reedy Creek Nature Center
October 28, 6:00pm-9:00pm
Celebrate all that’s creepy and crawly on Halloween Eve! Most creatures in our world are not warm and fuzzy, but that doesn’t make them any less lovable. Come see for yourself how these creatures play an important role in our environment. Live animals, costume contest, marshmallow roast, and trick or treating included. FREE hot chocolate!

SMALL HANDS BIG ART HOSTS OPEN HOUSE
Small Hands Big Art studio, 8025 Ardrey Kell Rd, The Fountains shopping center
October 28, 1:30pm-6:00pm
Pumpkin Decorating and Fall Crafts, Families will enjoy hot apple cider, pumpkin painting (while they last!) and Fall inspired craft stations for children ages 4+. The studio offers art enrichment programs for children and young adults ages 18m to 14, and the curriculum includes mixed media projects such as painting, drawing, sculpture, collage, printmaking and more!

Downtown Halloween Trick or Treat March
Town Hall, Davidson
October 28, 5:00pm-7:00pm
Lineup begins at Town Hall at 4:45 pm for the annual Halloween March downtown! Local businesses are on hand for trick or treating.

Schiele-O-Ween
Schiele Museum
October 28, 6:00pm-8:00pm
If your family is looking for some spooky fun, look no further than the Schiele Museum! Our Schiele-O-Ween event will be filled with fun and interactive family activities, including a spooky cave tour, treats, planetarium shows, hands-on activities, and a special showing of our stage program Halloween Tales. Great for the entire family-kids are encouraged to attend in costume! Cost is $7 and $5 tickets are available in advance.

Charlotte Symphony Lollipops: The Phantom of the Lollipop
Belk Theater, Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
October 29, 10:00am
Join crazy professor Dr. Frankenstein on a musical adventure as he attempts to create his masterpiece, the Great Phantom! Drew Allison and his Grey Seal Puppets return to the Belk Theater to help celebrate Halloween with the Charlotte Symphony. Don’t forget to come in your favorite Halloween costume! Cost is $12.50-$29.50.

Fall Festival
Christ Episcopal Church
October 29, 10:00am-noon
Fall is in the air, which means time for the Nursery Committee’s Fall Festival. Our special entertainment this year will be THE PLAZA FAMILY BAND. Other activities will include bounce houses, face painting, cookie and pumpkin decorating and more! We will be selling pizza and soft drinks and will have popcorn and water available. The tickets are $5 in advance ($7 at the door) with free admission for those 12 months and younger. You can purchase your tickets online. All proceeds will benefit our Nursery.

Fall Party at The Pizza Peel
The Pizza Peel
October 29, 11:00am-11:00pm
To celebrate the season, The Pizza Peel & Tap Room will host an all-day event from 11am to 11pm. Highlights to include Magic Barry the Magician, a pumpkin carving contest and a pizza-eating contest. The Testosterones will perform live from 5pm-7pm. There will also be a bounce house, face painting, a visit from Monkey Joe and more.

Wells Fargo Community Celebration
Uptown
October 29, check website for schedule of events.
Explore and enjoy the city’s diverse arts, science and history offerings through a one-of-a-kind community experience. Free admission to many uptown cultural facilities, including Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Discovery Place, Levine Museum of the New South, The Mint Museum, McColl Center for Visual Art, The Light Factory and more, along with live art demonstrations and a street festival featuring LEGO sculptures, a chalk art competition and a free outdoor concert on the main stage with Jazz great Branford Marsalis.

Hoot N Howl
Carolina Raptor Center
October 29, 11:00am-3:00pm
Join us for a Hoot of a day filled with Howl O’ Ween fun! There will be a costume contest at 1pm, a Kraken Slime Creation Station, face painting, spider bingo, cookie decorating owl masks and tye-dyeing T-shirts for an extra $5 (bring your own shirt). Cost is $6-$10; free for children under 4.

Brookhaven Family Run
Brookhaven subdivision, Matthews
October 29, 8:00am
The family-friendly event will include a 5K run, 1-mile kids run, as well as 40 and 100-yard kids’ dashes. The Brookhaven Family Run is being held in honor of six-year-old Brookhaven resident, Jake Pritchard, who is battling Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the most common fatal genetic disorder among children. All proceeds will benefit Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy and go toward researching a cure. Cost is $15.

Traci Zeller Designs Race for Fetal Hope 5k
Village Park, Kannapolis
October 29, 9:00am
The Kannapolis race runs through historic downtown Kannapolis and along area greenways. Registration is now open online (www.raceforfetalhope.com). In celebration of Halloween, join our sponsors along with special guests, mascots, and many more for fun, refreshments and prizes, activities and games, and even trick-or-treating at one of the area’s best expos and kids’ festivals. Also, be sure to participate in the fundraising Costume Contest. All proceeds benefit the Fetal Hope Foundation.

Halloween cookie decorating
FABO, Selwyn Ave.
October 30, 1:00pm-4:00pm
For only $5 you child will be able to decorate (and eat) a cookie designed by them! While they are decorating they will enjoy a glass of lemonade. KidzArt has wonderful programs from kids and they will be doing demonstrations on site.

Array of Arachnids
Latta Plantation Nature Center
October 30, 2:00pm-3:00pm
Spiders seem to be all over the place. Come learn about these eight-legged creatures and go on a hike in search of the array of spiders that can be found and the different types of webs they weave. Cost is $3.

Hallaboo Parade & Party
Harris YMCA Teen Activity Center
October 30, 4:00pm-6:00pm
Nothing but treats at this event! Show off your costume in a parade with prizes for best dressed. (10 years and under) Free for all members.

Kids Exchange
Metrolina TradeShow Expo
October 28-30, 9:00am-8:00pm
Gently used clothing and gear at great prices.