Coaster Campout
Carowinds Amusement Park
300 Detective Mike Doty Memorial Hwy
April 27-28, Check-in is 4:00 – 6:00pm, All ages, $250 per campsite, Registration required
Summary: This is no ordinary camping trip. You will be braving the third shift and sleeping inside Carowinds with your favorite rides! Your donation benefits the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and includes admission to the park April 27-28, an evening meal and exclusive ride time on April 27, a hearty breakfast buffet, early ride time on the morning of April 28 and more.
Touch A Truck
April 28, 2018
10 am – 2 pm
Discovery Place Kids-Huntersville & CPCC
CPCC’s Merancas campus in Huntersville
11920 Verhoeff Drive Huntersville, NC
Free parking is available in any of the campus lots.
Summary: This event is FREE !Kids of all ages will have the opportunity to touch, explore and peek inside trucks of all shapes and sizes. Climb aboard first responder vehicles like a fire truck and ambulance. Lift a load with construction equipment like mini-excavators and concrete mixers, or settle in for the long haul in the cab of an 18-wheeler. A wide variety of vehicles will be available to discover. Plus, using CPCC’s advanced simulators, truckers-in-training can try their hands at driving, welding, circuitry and even painting.
Da Vinci’s Machines
Discovery Place Science
Ends May 6th
301 N Tryon St., Charlotte, NC 28202
Museum hours and pricing
Summary: Da Vinci’s Machines brings the innovations of Leonardo da Vinci to life. This exhibition features over 75 inventions reconstructed from his illustrations and writings. Encounter and test these amazing inventions, from flying machines and war weapons to diving gear and a self-propelled car. See iconic artwork and reflect on the work of a true visionary.
Open Street 704
April 29, 1:00pm – 5:00pm, See website for details
Summary: Open Streets 704 powered by BlueCross Blue Shield of North Carolina is a series of four Charlotte events that will literally open a length of city streets for an afternoon just for people! Taking cues from similar events around the country and the world, Open Streets 704 aims to build a better, healthier, connected community by encouraging Charlotte and Mecklenburg area residents to walk, bicycle, and experience the city together in a way that’s just not possible in a car.
Queen’s Cup Steeplechase
6103 Waxhaw Highway, Mineral Springs, NC
April 28, 10:00am – 7:00pm, see website for schedule, $50+
Summary: The Queen’s Cup is the premiere, most anticipated social and sporting event on the Southeast’s calendar. No event in the Charlotte region gives you the experience you get at The Queen’s Cup. With everything from amazing tailgates, fancy hats and bow ties to powerful thoroughbreds galloping over 4’6″ obstacles. The Queen’s Cup is about sport, it’s about fashion, it’s about a tailgate extravaganza! It’s about friends and family in an annual gathering and it’s about fundraising. The Queen’s Cup has everything for everybody.
NHRA 4 Wide Nationals
Charlotte Motor Speedway
5555 Concord Pkwy, S. Concord, NC
April 27-29, See website for schedule, $20 – $55, kids under 13 free with adult purchase
Summary: Be sure to join the fastest accelerating machines on the planet as they tackle the Bellagio of dragstrips during the ninth annual NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals. Every ticket is a pit pass, so come early to see your favorite drivers and their cars up-close before a quartet of 10,000-horsepower, nitro-burning machines power down the dragstrip simultaneously in one of the greatest spectacles in all of racing.
Madagascar: A Musical Adventure
ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Center
300 E. 7th Street, Charlotte, NC
April 13 – May 6, See website for schedule, Ages 4+, $12 – $28
Summary: Based on the smash DreamWorks animated motion picture, Madagascar – A Musical Adventure follows all of your favorite crack-a-lackin’ friends as they escape from their home in New York City’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien’s Madagascar.
Disney’s Peter Pan Jr.
Armour Street Theater
307 Armour Street, Davidson, NC
April 20 – April 29, See website for schedule, Ages 4+, $12
Summary: Peter Pan Jr. is a modern version of the timeless tale about a boy who wouldn’t grow up. Wendy Darling loves to tell stories to her brothers, Michael and John. But when her father announces she must move out of the nursery, Peter Pan comes to visit the children and whisks them away to Neverland. Their journey introduces them to the Lost Boys, Mermaids, Indians and even the infamous pirate, Captain Hook!
Food Truck Fridays And Concert Series
Stumptown Park
120 S. Trade Street, Matthews, NC
April 13 – September 28, See website for schedule, All ages, Free
Summary: Favorite area food and dessert trucks will provide varied menus including seafood, Tex-Mex, burgers, sandwiches, specialty dishes and more. There will also be a great line-up of local and regional bands, inflatables and a craft beer pavilion
Stonecrest Summer Concert Series
Stonecrest Shopping Center
7900 Rae Road, Charlotte, NC
April. 6 – September 29, See website for schedule, All ages, Free
Summary: Live music every Friday and Saturday night throughout the summer.
Doll Hair Salon Spectacular
American Girl Store
4400 Sharon Road, Charlotte, NC
March 9 – April 27, See website for schedule, Ages 8+, $25+ gratuity
Summary: Your girl can learn new tricks to style her doll’s tresses at our Doll Hair Salon Spectacular! Girls will learn how to create several cute new ’dos, plus take home bright highlights for their dolls and learn how to put them in. Afterward, each girl and her spruced-up companion can enjoy muffins, fruit and lemonade in our Bistro.
Kid’s Night Out
Sports Connection – Ballantyne or Northlake Locations
Ballantyne: 11611 Ardrey Kell Road
Northlake: 8626 Hankins Road
Every Friday 6:00pm – 9:30pm, Ages 6-13, $25 online, $30 at the door
Summary: The Sports Connection is “the place for KIDS to play” on certain nights during the year. Kids between the ages of 6 to 13 years old have discovered a reason to save their allowance! Kids get a supervised night of fun activities AND pizza, chips and a drink. Additional concessions are also available for purchase.
Charlotte Independence
Sportsplex at Matthews
1505 Tank Town Road, Matthews, NC
2018 Schedule
Charlotte Hornets
Spectrum Center
333 E Trade St, Charlotte, NC
2017-2018 Schedule
YMCA of Greater Charlotte Event Calendar
19 Locations throughout the Greater Charlotte Area
Summary: Most people know their neighborhood “Y” because of its incredible sports, camps and fitness programs but the “Y” has so much more to offer. Spend some time (it will take a while) on the website and learn about all the opportunities the “Y” provides. I promise, you will be amazed.
Free Wednesday Evenings At The Mint Museum
The Mint Museum – Randolph
2730 Randolph Road, Charlotte, NC
The Mint Museum – Uptown
500 S. Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC
Every Wednesday from 5:00pm – 9:00pm, All ages
Summary:Enjoy free access to both Mint Museum locations every Wednesday night.
Sensory Sensitive Sundays At Chuck E. Cheese
Charlotte and Concord locations (click here for a map of locations).
The first Sunday of every month July – December, 9:00am – 11:00am, All ages, Free
Summary: Chuck E. Cheese’s is proud to support families who have children with autism and special needs. We now offer a sensory-friendly experience on the first Sunday of every month. Our trained and caring staff is there to make sure each guest has a fun filled visit.
Bank of America’s Museums On Us Day
Various locations around Charlotte
The first Sunday and Saturday of every month, All ages, Free
Summary: Now in its 20th year, this distinctive program offers Bank of America and Merrill Lynch credit and debit card holders the opportunity to visit more than 150 of the most popular cultural institutions in the United States free of charge on the first full weekend of every month.
Discovery Place
301 N. Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC (704) 372-6261
Summary: Step into a world where science is brought to life through interactive exhibits and explosive experiments during daily programs. Connect with the past and visit the future with groundbreaking exhibitions, larger-than-life IMAX Dome films and hands on activities that let you explore more. Plan your visit today. Click on the links below for detailed information on special events, featured exhibitions, featured shows and IMAX.
Featured Exhibitions: For information on all exhibitions click here.
Featured Shows: For information on all featured shows click here.
IMAX: For information on all featured movies and showtimes click here.
Discovery Place Kids – Huntersville
105 Gilead Road, Huntersville, NC (704) 372-6261
Summary: Explore the theme of I CAN at Discovery Place KIDS-Huntersville. The children’s museum features developmentally-appropriate experiences that encourage imagination and offer the opportunity to build confidence while testing skills by trying new things. The exhibits, themed around a small town, allow children to learn through play.
Theme Areas: For a complete description of all nine theme areas click here.
Featured Shows: For a complete listing of all featured shows click here.
Current and Upcoming Events: For all current and upcoming events click here.
Charlotte Nature Museum
1658 Sterling Road, Charlotte, NC (704) 372-6261
Summary: Bring little ones for just an hour or the whole day and experience wildlife through live animal exhibits and interactive education programs. The Museum is easy to navigate with fun surprises around every corner. Kids can roam The Great Hall and visit Beginnings, an area filled with young animals and information on their lifecycles.
Featured Exhibitions: For complete details on exhibitions and exhibits click here.
Featured Shows: For a complete schedule of show times click here.
ImaginON: The Joe & Joan Martin Center
300 E. 7th Street, Charlotte, NC (704) 416-4630
See website for hours of operation
Summary: This collaborative effort between the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and Children’s Theatre of Charlotte is a 102,000-square-foot facility recently ranked by Livability.com as the No. 1 children’s library in the United States. ImaginOn features two state-of-the-art theaters, a dedicated library space for kids 11 and under, four multi-use classrooms, a teen-only library, a multimedia production studio, and interactive exhibit space.
Carolina Raptor Center
6000 Sample Road, Huntersville, NC (704) 875-6521
Summary: Carolina Raptor Center is dedicated to environmental stewardship and the conservation of birds of prey through education, research, and the rehabilitation of injured and orphaned raptors. As a charitable 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, CRC relies on public financial support to fulfill our mission. Supporters can release a raptor, adopt a bird, make a charitable donation, purchase a membership or sponsor a capital improvement project. CRC’s environmental education programs reach approximately 40,000 students each year. Our Raptor Trail hosts more than 35,000 visitors a year. Visit our calendar page for event times or just come and enjoy our nicely maintained trails and see all the amazing birds of prey.
The Schiele Museum of Natural History
1500 East Garrison Blvd, Gastonia, NC (704) 866-6900
Summary: The natural wonders of North America and North Carolina coupled with the rich history of our region are all reflected in The Schiele’s exceptional exhibitions and diverse programming. Whether you’re indoors or out, with the kids or your colleagues, by bringing you a lot closer to nature, The Schiele will bring you a little closer to yourself.
Featured Exhibits: For a complete listing click here
Planetarium: For a complete schedule click here
Events Calendar: For all events click here
