Happy Wednesday, Smarties! Before we get into the weekend scoop chock full of Charlotte family activities, don’t forget to register for our Mother’s Day Giveaway WEEK! Click here for details – today is the LAST DAY to enter!
Here’s a special shout-out to all of the Jami Masters School of Dance dancers! Good luck with your recitals this weekend! One thing our fam loves to do every spring is go watch the “big girl dancers” in the Company on Friday night. It starts at 7:00p, Queens University Dana Auditorium. Grab dinner and make it a GNO for years to come, my girls LOVE it! Get outside and enjoy our awesome city! ~Jen
FRIDAY, MAY 17
Spring Bling Jewelry Show @ Flywheel Charlotte & hosted by Scoop Charlotte, Erin McDermott Jewelry, Addison Weeks, Laura James, Melvin & Meredith Jackson.
Kids Bowl Free
10 Park Lanes
1700 Montford Drive, Charlotte, NC (704) 523-7633
May 17, 9am-5pm, Age: K-8th grade, Free, Registration required
Summary: Register for kids bowl free and enjoy 2 free games of bowling every day all summer long!
Lights. Camera. NASCAR Exhibit
NASCAR Hall of Fame
400 East Martin Luther King Blvd. Charlotte, NC (704) 654-4400
May 17, 10am-6pm, All ages, Members free, non-members $12.95-$19.95
Summary: “Lights. Camera. NASCAR.” is the newest and largest exhibit the NASCAR Hall of Fame has housed to date, which spotlights the industry like never before. This special exhibit illustrates the tremendous reach and appeal NASCAR holds as a means for movie promotion and as the starring focus of a film. While the sport originated on dirt tracks across the South, NASCAR has certainly found an A-list home in Hollywood in recent decades. Glitz and glamour await as you explore NASCAR’s legacy on the big screen from the promotion of the blockbusters like “Jurassic Park” on the track to starring roles in smash hits like “Days of Thunder.” “Lights. Camera. NASCAR.” opens in mid-May and runs through October.
Kids Bowl Free
The EpiCentre
210 East Trade Street, Charlotte, NC (704) 716-9300
May 17, 11am-5pm, all ages, Free (with nominal minimum food and/or beverage purchase
Summary: Are you a mom, dad or nanny looking for something to do this summer? Look no further because we are free bowling for kids all summer long. Come in, cool off and enjoy some family bowling. Kids 13 and under are welcome to come into StrikeCity anytime between 11am until 5pm, Monday through Friday. There is a nominal food and/or beverage purchase required. Escape the summer heat and cool off on the lanes!
Buskapalooza Street Performance Festival – III
Uptown Charlotte (The Square of Trade & Tryon)
100 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC (704) 460-7553
May 17, 5:00-9:00pm, All ages, Free
Summary: March Blake Media is very excited to announce Buskapalooza Street Performance Festival – III in the heart of uptown. Starting at Trade & Tryon, local musicians, visual artists, dancers, magicians, and performance artists will line the streets of uptown to share their art with the public!
Bye Bye Birdie
Children’s Theatre of Charlotte
300 East 7th Street, Charlotte, NC (704) 973-2828
May 17, 6:00pm $8, Ages 9+
Summary: Inspired by the mania of Elvis Presley and his hysterical teenage fans, Bye, Bye Birdie is the story of how one lucky town gets a visit from the biggest rock ‘n roll star in America. Conrad Birdie is being drafted into the Army and high-schooler Kim MacAfee from Sweet Apple, Ohio was chosen to get one last kiss before he goes. This high-energy musical will take you back in time for some good old-fashioned musical.
Sunset Series Movie Nights
Crossing Paths Park
130 Blythe Drive, Indian Trail, NC
May 17, 6:30pm, all ages, Free
Summary: Join us every First and Third Friday in May and June for movies under the stars. Movies will begin at dusk (approx. 7:30pm) and the bounce house opens at 6:30pm. This week’s movie is Brave.
Charlotte Knights Baseball Game
Knights Stadium
2280 Deerfield Drive, Fort Mill, SC 29715 (704) 357-8071
May 17, 7:15 first pitch, All ages, $8-14
Summary: Flashback Friday – Retro Baseball Card Set for the first 1,000 fans.
Me and Jezebel
Duke Energy Theater at Spirit Square
345 North College Street, Charlotte, NC 28202 (704) 372-1000
May 17, 8:00pm, Ages: 15+, $22-24
Summary: The poignant and hilarious Off-Broadway comedy by Elizabeth Fuller in its Charlotte premiere! Based on the true life account of the events of the summer of 1985 when Hollywood legend Bette Davis came to Fuller’s home for dinner and stayed… and stayed… and stayed… for a month! The result is a month-long roller coaster of laughter, warm feelings and passion while we get to know up close and personal a true legend and always remembered Hollywood diva.
Concerts in the Round
Piedmont Town Center
4725 Piedmont Row Drive, Charlotte, NC
May 17, 7:00pm-11:00pm
Summary: This Spring and Summer series brings Piedmont Town Center to life with live music and great drink specials.
N.C. Education Lottery 200
Charlotte Motor Speedway
5555 Concord Pkwy S, Concord, NC (704) 455-3200
May 17, 8:00pm, All ages, $25-$30; children under 13 free with adult
Summary: The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series returns to Charlotte Motor Speedway for a 200-mile, fender-banging, bumper-to-bumper battle for the glory. Held in conjunction with NASCAR Sprint All Star Race Qualifying, this race provides fans with the opportunity to watch NASCAR Sprint Cup Series crews and drivers battle for the top starting spot in the sport’s annual All-Star event as well as the great racing action provided by the Camping World Truck Series.
SATURDAY, MAY 18
Mammal Safari: Journey of Discovery
Schiele Museum
1500 East Garrison Blvd, Gastonia, NC (704) 866-6900
May 18, 9:00am-5:00pm, All ages, Free with museum admission
Summary: Journey across the continents and discover the incredible story of the most complex and diverse animals on earth. Adaptable, sociable and intelligent – mammals are the most familiar group of animals. Amazingly, all 5,000 species of mammals share some fundamental characteristics.
StoryWalk
Ballantyne Reading Academy
17228 Lancaster Highway, Suite 211, Charlotte, NC
May 18, 10:00am-11:00am, All ages, $5/child or $7/family (parents and grandparents FREE)
Summary: StoryWalk® is an innovative and delightful way for children – and adults! – to enjoy reading and the outdoors at the same time. Laminated pages from a children’s book are attached to stakes, which are installed along an outdoor path. As you stroll down the trail, you’re directed to the next page in the story.
Fairy Festival
Charlotte Nature Museum
1658 Sterling Road, Charlotte, NC (704) 372.6261
May 18, 10:00am-1:00pm, All ages, Free with museum admission
Summary: Spring has sprung and something is aflutter! Put on your wings for this whimsical playdate that celebrates nature, nymphs and more. We’ll discover ways to build fairy and hobbit houses with bark, sticks, leaves and other natural materials also found in your own backyard. Want to showcase your glittering imagination? Enter our fairy and hobbit house building contest! Judging will take place at noon and a winner announced at 1:00 p.m. Stick around for live butterfly releases in Butterfly Pavilion at 12:30 p.m. and visit Fort Wild to play around with bubbles, a parachute and other outdoor games.
Spring Fest & Waxhaw At Kaleidoscope Juried Art Show
Downtown Waxhaw
May 18, 10:00am-6:00pm, All ages, Free
Summary: Waxhaw’s Spring Fest is back and will be introducing the brand new Waxhaw Art Kaleidoscope Juried Art Show and Waxhaw Youth Art Kaleidoscope! May 18th and 19th will feature Spring Fest’s signature craft market, live concerts, food court and free children’s play area complete with bouncies, a petting zoo, entertainment stage, Birds Eye View and the new Above and Beyond Inflatable Dome Theater!
Paws to Read
Matthews Library
230 Matthew Station St., Matthews, NC (704) 416-5000
May 18, 10:30am-12:00pm, Ages 3-11, Free
Summary: Boost reading skills and confidence by reading aloud to a volunteer therapy dog.
Live Bird Presentation
Carolina Raptor Center
6000 Sample Road, Huntersville, NC 704-875-6521
May 18, 11:00am-11:30am, All ages, Free with admission
Summary: Docent volunteers present 3-4 species of birds on glove and discuss the natural history of featured birds.
NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race
Charlotte Motor Speedway
May 18, 7:30pm, All ages, $10-89
Summary: The stars of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series do battle on stock car racing’s all-star night on May 18 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The sparks will fly in this checkers or wreckers non-points event. Country music star, Josh Turner, will perform before the green flag. This year, Bruton’s Big Bonus will provide an extra $1 million incentive for a driver to win all five segments.
Zumbathon Party for a Cause
Carole Hoefner Center
610 E 7th Street, Charlotte, NC (704) 817-8793
May 18, 9:00am-11:00am, All ages, $10 minimum donation
Summary: join us to help raise funds for our domestic violence survivors Arts for Hearts program! Event Emcee: Brigida Mack, TV Anchor/Reporter WBTV
Bye Bye Birdie
Children’s Theatre of Charlotte
300 East 7th Street, Charlotte, NC (704) 973-2828
May 18, 6:00pm $8, Ages 9+
Summary: inspired by the mania of Elvis Presley and his hysterical teenage fans, Bye, Bye Birdie is the story of how one lucky town gets a visit from the biggest rock ‘n roll star in America. Conrad Birdie is being drafted into the Army and high-schooler Kim MacAfee from Sweet Apple, Ohio was chosen to get one last kiss before he goes. This high-energy musical will take you back in time for some good old-fashioned musical.
Charlotte Roller Girls – Double Header
Grady Cole Center
310 N Kings Dr., Charlotte, NC (704) 336-2884
May 18, 5:30pm, All ages, tickets $6 for children (ages 6-12) and $10 for adults; Day of tickets $14/$8; Parking is $5
Summary: Don’t miss our first double header event of the season! It will be non-stop action at the Grady Cole Center where the Charlotte Roller Girls will take on teams from Charlottesville, VA. The B-Dazzlers will take on the Bruisers at 6 PM and the CLTRG All-Stars will take on the Charlottesville Derby Dames All-Stars to wrap up the evening. You’re guaranteed to see some hard-hitting, fast-paced roller derby! Our bouts often sell out with standing room only, so we highly recommend buying advance tickets and getting there when the doors open at 5:30 p.m. to claim your seats!
Me and Jezebel
Duke Energy Theater at Spirit Square
345 North College Street, Charlotte, NC (704) 372-1000
May 18, 8:00pm, Ages: 15+, $22-24
Summary: The poignant and hilarious Off-Broadway comedy by Elizabeth Fuller in its Charlotte premiere! Based on the true life account of the events of the summer of 1985 when Hollywood legend Bette Davis came to Fuller’s home for dinner and stayed… and stayed… and stayed… for a month! The result is a month-long roller coaster of laughter, warm feelings and passion while we get to know up close and personal a true legend and always remembered Hollywood diva.
Family Carnival
McGuire Nuclear Station- The Energy Explorium
13339 Hagers Ferry Road, Huntersville, NC (980) 875-5600
May 18, 11:00am-4:00pm, All ages, Free
Summary: LakeNormanMommies and the EnergyExplorium at McGuire Nuclear Station present a Family Carnival.
National Kidney Foundation Walk
Knights Stadium
2280 Deerfield Drive, Fort Mill, SC (704) 519-0020
May 18, 9:00am-12:00pm, All ages
Summary: The National Kidney Foundation’s Kidney Walk is helping fund NKF’s initiatives in awareness, prevention and treatment as we lead the fight against kidney disease. With the increase in diabetes and high blood pressure – two major risk factors – chronic kidney disease is rising as well. The NKF is working to reach the 1 in 3 American adults at risk with important prevention messages before it’s too late. Your participation in our events has never been more critical.
SUNDAY, MAY 19
Spring Fest & Waxhaw At Kaleidoscope Juried Art Show
Downtown Waxhaw
May 19, 12:00pm-6:00pm, All ages, Free
Summary: Waxhaw’s Spring Fest is back and will be introducing the brand new Waxhaw Art Kaleidoscope Juried Art Show and Waxhaw Youth Art Kaleidoscope! May 18th and 19th will feature Spring Fest’s signature craft market, live concerts, food court and free children’s play area complete with bouncies, a petting zoo, entertainment stage, Birds Eye View and the new Above and Beyond Inflatable Dome Theater!
Mammal Safari: Journey of Discovery
Schiele Museum
1500 East Garrison Blvd, Gastonia, NC (704) 866-6900
Date: May 19, 1:00pm-5:00pm, All ages, Free with museum admission
Summary: Journey across the continents and discover the incredible story of the most complex and diverse animals on earth. Adaptable, sociable and intelligent – mammals are the most familiar group of animals. Amazingly, all 5,000 species of mammals share some fundamental characteristics.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
Ovens Auditorium
2700 East Independence Blvd., Charlotte, NC (704) 372-3600
May 19, 7:30pm-9:30pm (Doors open at 6:30pm)
Summary: The same players that accompanied Crosby, Stills & Nash in 2012 will be on the road with them in 2013: Todd Caldwell (organ), Shane Fontayne (guitar), Steve DiStanislao (drums), Kevin McCormick (bass), and James Raymond (keyboards).
Reviewing the Red Rocks show, MSN Music’s Mark Brown wrote, “CSN absolutely killed it. Every song. No lulls. No filler…It’s hard to believe that any band in 2012 would be putting on better shows than it did in 1969, but CSN did just that.”
