Smarty Scoop on Weekend Activities: November 18-20

Happy Wednesday Smarties! This is a great weekend to explore the Nature Museum, ImaginOn, Discovery Place and The Mint Museum Uptown. There are incredible performances and exhibits at all of them. If you are ready to catch the holiday spirit, visit the Southern Christmas Show and then head to SouthPark for the tree lighting. Don’t forget the Charlotte Turkey Trot, sign the family up now for the Thanksgiving Day run. The perfect weekend for family fun, Get out and Enjoy!

Turkey Talk
Charlotte Nature Museum
November 19, 10:00am-1:00pm
Creature Features are presented every month featuring crafts, puppet shows, storytelling and refreshments. Have a Gobbletastic time on Saturday 11/19 and get up close to a wild turkey! Learn all about this incredible bird and why Ben Franklin thought the turkey would make a great national symbol. Small snack will be provided while supplies last. Activities are free with Museum Admission

Twilight Breaking Dawn Premiere Party
City Tavern, Ballantyne
November 19th, 7:30pm
Breaking Dawn is here! Attend the hottest wedding of the year hosted by our friends at Sparkle Events by Elena. They have put together a fab night of lusting over the sexiest honeymoon scenes from the highly anticipated fourth flick of the Twilight Saga – Breaking Dawn! The Twilight-themed party includes light hors d’ oeuvres, a complimentary signature drink like the “Edward-tini” or “Hungry Like a Wolf” cocktail, music and giveaways at City Tavern in Ballantyne. Be sure to wear something blue and we’re going to borrow Edward and Jacob and snap a few photo opps! Stylists will also be on hand with blue hair feather extensions! Cost is $35
, Use Discount Code: CSPTWIFAN. For more information:
elena@sparkleeventsbyelena.com.

Kaleidoscope On Ice
Bojangles’ Coliseum
November 18, 7:00pm
Kaleidoscope on Ice is the 3rd annual star studded live holiday spectacular on ice and musical extravaganza hosted by Olympic champions and cancer survivors Dorothy Hamill and Scott Hamilton. The live event will feature an unforgettable and unprecedented line up of Olympic and World champion figure skaters and Grammy Award winning musical talent including Olympic silver medalist Nancy Kerrigan, 3-time U.S. national champion Johnny Weir, Olympic silver medalist Sasha Cohen, 4-time world champion Kurt Browning, Olympic silver medalist Paul Wylie, Olympic bronze medalist Joannie Rochette, 3-time world champion Elvis Stojko, and 7-time British national champions Sinead and John Kerr. There will also be special musical performances by American Idol winner Jordin Sparks, Grammy Award winner Patti LaBelle, rising country musician Hunter Hayes, and Billboard’s 2011 Artists to Watch Andy Grammer. Cost is $12-$25.

“Dream Big” with Roger Day
ImaginOn, Wells Fargo Playhouse
November 19-20, Sat., 11:00am and 1:00pm; Sun., 2:00pm
Encouraging kids to sing loud, jump high, and dream big, two-time Parents Choice Award-winner Roger Day entertains over 100,000 children and adults each year. His energetic live performances incorporate his trademark wit, whimsy, and wordplay, all grounded in the joy of a powerful love and respect for children. Roger urges kids to reach their potential by using body and brain, mind and muscle, in a show that the Dallas Morning News called “joyful and empowering.” Cost is $12-$14.

Mummies of the World
Discovery Place
Ongoing
Mummies of the World, the largest exhibition of mummies and related artifacts ever assembled, presents a never-before-seen collection of naturally and intentionally preserved mummies. This compelling collection, presented with reverence and dignity, includes ancient mummies and important artifacts from Asia, Oceania, South America, Europe, as well as ancient Egypt, dating as far back as 6,500 years.

Britax Fitting Station
Britax North American headquarters, 13501 South Ridge Drive
November 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.

SouthPark Holiday Tree Lighting
Symphony Park
November 18, Festivities begin at 5:00pm; tree lighting at 7:30pm
Beginning at 5:00 p.m., guests can enjoy musical fun with The Mr. Nigel & Friends band and children’s activities. Mr. Nigel & Friends, along with Santa, will help light the tree. To get everyone in the holiday spirit, the evening will culminate with a screening of three classic holiday cartoons: A Charlie Brown Christmas, Shrek The Halls and Frosty the Snowman. Event is free to attend and guests are welcome to bring lawn chairs and blankets.

Zootastic Park Christmas Wonderland of Lights
Zootastic Park of Lake Norman
November 18-20, 6:00pm-10:00pm
Join us for our largest annual event. Drive through 2 miles of forest and enjoy over 1.2 million lights. Santa joins us each night, we also have concessions with hot cocoa, pony rides, petting zoos and much more. Cost is $5 per person.

Southern Christmas Show
The Park Expo & Conference Center
November 10-20
You’ll get a holiday kick out of this year’s Southern Christmas Show. Check out the holiday trees, mantels and doors. Stroll the Christmas Village. Munch on tasty treats and sway with yuletide entertainment.
You’ll be made in the shade with hip gifts for mom and dad, brother and sis, and all the guys and gals on your list. So get decked out in your holiday best, and come ready to have a blast at the South’s favorite holiday tradition. Cost is $3-$8.

Sunday Fun Day
Mint Museum Uptown at Levine Center for the Arts
November 20, 10:00am-6:00pm
Families can participate in craft projects, family tours, movement activities, artst demonstrations and more! November’s theme is Twine, Knot, Wrap and Twist. Help celebrate 50 years of fiber art, from the miniature to the monumental, by international artist Sheila Hicks. Collaborate with your family to create a fiber art construction, with artist Janet Lasher, try out stitching and weaving, tour the exhibition, and get “twisted” at a family yoga session. Cost is FREE for children & Mint Members, half-price for adults.