Happy Wednesday Smarties. Ready for a little luck of the Irish? Outfit the family in green and head out to celebrate at Charlotte’s St. Patrick’s Day Festival and Parade. Fun for everyone! There are also consignment sales galore, activities in our parks and bunnies at The Nature Museum. Get out, enjoy and I hope you find the gold at the end of the rainbow!
The JWV Artists Spring Show is TODAY through Friday!
Original Art and Limited Edition Fine Art Photographs
10a-2p, 3330 Cambria Road, Charlotte 28210 (Mountainbrook SouthPark Neighborhood)
17th Annual Charlotte St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Tryon St. from 9th St. to 3rd St.
March 16, 11:00am-1:00pm
The 17th Annual Charlotte St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be held on 3/16/13 & steps off at 11:00am at 9th & Tryon St. We have extended the parade route this year in order to accommodate the large crowds we have been having. The parade will turn from Tryon St. onto 3rd St. Please check the parade website for map of route. The parade will feature pipe & drum bands, Irish dancers, floats, animals, acrobats & much more. There’s no admission, so come join us for Charlotte’s most fun parade!
Charlotte Goes Green / St. Patrick’s Day Festival
Tryon St. from 3rd St. to 1st St.
March 16, 10:00am-6:30pm
The 17th Annual Charlotte Goes Green Festival will be held on Saturday, 3/16/13 and runs from Tryon & 3rd St. to Tryon St & 1st St. The festival will feature live Irish music, Irish dancers & a pipe & drum band performance on the US Airways stage, Irish/Celtic & other vendors from around the U.S., a large Celtic Kid’s Corner plus plenty of food & beverages, so come hungry. There is no admission fee. Come join us before & after the parade where everyone is Irish for the day!
Prairie Hayride
McDowell Nature Preserve
March 15, 7:15pm
McDowell Nature Preserve Campground. Weather permitting, we will venture deep into the McDowell Nature Preserve to spot and identify the wide range of flora and fauna that live and thrive in our Piedmont Prairie. Registration Required. Cost is $1.
Preschool Pioneers: Is Mother Nature Irish?
McDowell Nature Preserve
March 15, 9:30am
Adventurous and curious, preschoolers explore the outdoors with wide-eyed wonder. Each week features a different theme that incorporates age-appropriate games, stories, animal encounters and more. Try one to start or sign up for them all! This is a drop-off class. Registration Required. Cost is $3.
Bravo’s Andy Cohen Live! Shine For Women Concert
Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
March 16, 7:00pm-9:00pm
Shine for Women presents BRAVO’s Andy Cohen for the first time in Charlotte! Cohen will host an evening of celebrating cancer survivorship, as well as share his humorous stories of “Bravolebrities” and other celebrities he has worked with throughout the years. There will also be live performances by Shades of Pink Breast Cancer Choir, made up of 25 breast cancer survivors from Atlanta, and singer/songwriter Jeanne Jolly, whose mother died of ovarian cancer and is now dedicating her music to her mother’s life. Preceding the concert, a variety of local cancer organizations will share information and resources for women cancer survivors. For more information, please visit www.shineforwomen.org/concert.html.
Strange Matter
Discovery Place
Ongoing
What’s materials science? You might call it the study of stuff! Just about everything you use every day – the shoes you wear, the dishes you eat from, the bike or skateboard you ride – it’s all made of different kinds of stuff. Get ready for over a dozen hands-on experiences and exhibits that give you a close encounter with the amazing world of modern materials and materials science.
Green River Revival
U.S. National Whitewater Center
March 16, 9:00am
Join the USNWC for the third annual Green River Revival, a St. Patrick’s Day party taking place on Saturday, March 16. The celebration will kick off at 9 a.m. with the Color Me Green 5K, a trail race similar to the Color Run. At 1 p.m., watch as the whitewater rapids turn bright green in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, followed by live music by the Tim Reynolds Trio and the Mike Strauss band. The river will remain open to those eager to raft or kayak the green waters.
“Be Brave N’ Fly” for Pediatric Cancer
Flywheel Sports
March 16, 2:00pm
On Saturday, indoor cyclers are invited to join The Max Cure Foundation & Flywheel Sports for the 1st annual “Be Brave N’ Fly” national cycling event to support MCF in its mission to advance pediatric cancer causes. This first time event will take place at more than 10 Flywheel studios from New York to Seattle on more than 500 bikes. All participants will start and finish the class together, regardless of location but as a national team riding for a cure.
Bouncing Bunnies and Hares at Charlotte Nature Museum
Charlotte Nature Museum
March 16, 10:00am-1:00pm
Hop on over to Charlotte Nature Museum to meet Harriet, our hare, and her visiting bunny friends. Pet a few and learn how different rabbits and hares are.
Kids Painting Class – Eiffel Tower
Cajun Canvas, a painting bayou
March 16, 10:00am-11:30am
Children will follow along with the artist learning basic brush strokes to complete their own version of “Eiffel Tower”. Completed canvas makes a great gift for loved ones or decor for the home! Cost is $25 for first child – $20 per additional sibling.
Latta Celtic Festival
Historic Latta Plantation
March 16-17, 10:00am-4:00pm
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and learn about Celtic people throughout history. Enjoy live music from Irish Temperance, performances by the Charlotte Scottish Country Dancing Society, and Celtic reenactors spanning from the Medieval Celts to WWII! Shop with Celtic Vendors, enjoy food from Appalachian Smoke, and grab a cold beer from The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery!
Spring Family Festival
Carolina Place Mall
March 16, 11:00am-2:00pm
Moms and dads, boys and girls … there’s a circus coming to Carolina Place. The annual Spring Family Festival will include a carnival atmosphere with games, clowns, crafts, a magician, a hula hoop demonstration and free cotton candy. The event will take place in the mall’s Center Court and will include:
•A hula hoop demonstration from Cara Zara
•A magic act
•Clown comedy and tricks from Circus Daze
•Carnival games and crafts for Spring
•A special appearance from the Easter Bunny
St. Patrick’s Day Weekend Spring Fest Fort Mill
Baxter Village
March 16, 2:00pm
Baxter Village 6th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Weekend Spring Festival & Parade, featuring Charity Case in concert, more than 100 exhibitors, giant slide, inflatables, games, dancing, food and beverages!
At Baxter Village, Fort Mill SC, at Highway 160 Exit on I-77, just five minutes south of Carowinds.
Sunday Fun Day- Maze of Memories
Mint Museum Uptown
March 17, 1:00pm-4:00pm
Enjoy family-friendly craft projects, gallery visits, healthy living activities, artist demonstrations, and more! This month, be a-mazed by intricate prints and an installation made of salt by Japanese artist Motoi Yamamoto. You can design your own marble maze, make meditative zen-tangle drawings, and kick it at a karate lesson!
‘Tawba Walk Art Crawl
Oak Street Mill, Cornelius
March 15, 6:00pm-10:00pm, NC
This multidimensional, eclectic art crawl snakes through the heart of Cornelius, featuring dozens of local vendors, live street performances, shopping, food and more, showcasing the best Cornelius has to offer!
The Red Badge of Courage
ImaginOn
March 15, 7:30pm
Stephen Crane’s novel is reinvented in this fresh spin on the tale of war and regret. This musical version uses hip-hop to tell the story of Henry, a soldier who flees from the field of battle. Overcome with shame, he reflects on courage, cowardice, mayhem and his first encounter with death. A powerful and moving story, The Red Badge of Courage is a classic with a relevant message for modern audiences. Families will love this new take on the familiar story. Cost is $18. Best for ages 11+.
TTB KidZ Children’s Consignment Sale
Metrolina Tradeshow Expo
March 15-17, Fri., 9:00am-7:00pm; Sat., 9:00am-5:00pm; Sun., 9:00am-4:00pm
Charlotte’s largest most organized Children’s Consignment Sale. Over 100,000 new and gently-used everything kids. Clothing, toys, baby equipment, strollers, cribs, furniture, books, video games, and so much more. There’s music, food, vendors, a balloon clown, glitter tattoo artist, and a bounce house for the kids to play in. We accept cash, master card, and Visa.
Assurance UMC Children’s Consignment Sale
Assurance United Methodist Church
March 15-16, Fri., 9:00am-7:00pm; Sat., 8:00am-noon
Items for sale include boys and girls clothing from newborn to size 16, nursery decor, strollers, toys, books, videos, baby accessories and maternity clothes.
Sail Again Children’s Consignment Sale
The Palace at Kenton Place
March 15-16, 9:00am-7:00pm; Sat., 10:00am-4:00pm
Shop Lake Norman’s newest children’s consignment sale. Held at the Palace, this beautiful venue will provide the perfect backdrop to showcase our consignors fabulous children’s clothing, shoes, toys, books and equipment.
Covenant Presbyterian Preschool Consignment Sale
Covenant Presbyterian Church
March 16, 8:00am-2:00pm
Baby and children’s furniture, clothing, toys, gear and strollers.
Matthews UMC Children & Teen Consignment Sale
Matthews United Methodist Church
March 16, 8:00am-noon, 1:00pm-3:00pm
Baby, children and teen clothes. Maternity, baby equipment, toys, furniture, books, games, home school materials and much more.
Sardis Weekday School Consignment Sale
Sardis Presbyterian Church
March 16, 8:00am-noon
Items for sale include children’s clothing from infant to teens, maternity clothing, toys, games, videos, books, bikes, equipment, furniture, strollers and more.
Charlotte Youth Cycling Race
Fisher Farm Park, 21215 Shearer Road, Davidson, NC
March 17
The overarching goal of CYCL is to give kids the opportunity to have a great mountain bike race experience that is scaled to fit the age and ability level of a child in a fun, safe, low cost setting.
Ages 6-14. Cost is 6 -18 years. $15-$20; Kids 6 and under free.
Charlotte National College Fair
The Park Expo and Conference Center
March 17, Noon-4:00pm
Admissions representatives from many colleges and universities across the country will be available to provide information and answer questions. Great place to begin your college search. Cost is free.
