Today’s Smarty Scoop is proudly sponsored by our friends at Charlotte Ballet – featuring Nutcracker!
Feel the magic in the air as the Charlotte Ballet celebrates its return to the Belk Theater for Nutcracker this December after a year hiatus due to COVID-19! Reserve your seats now to see costumes that sparkle, fairies that twirl in the Land of Sweets, and the party that you can’t miss!
Matthews Playhouse Haunted Trail is Back!
Experience a heart-pumping walk through the woods of the Four Mile Creek Trail with your designated tour guide. Live actors, spooky sounds and unexpected surprises could await you behind every turn! The Not-So-Spooky Trail is a light-hearted, fun walk through the woods before the sun goes down and is suitable for young audiences and families. Costumes and interaction with the characters you meet along the trail are encouraged! We recommend this version of the trail for ages 10 and up.
Matthews Greenway trailhead at the Matthews Community Center
100 E. McDowell Street
Matthews, NC 28105
Thursday Oct. 28: Not So Spooky Hour 5:30-6:30 p.m. Full Fright 7-9 p.m.
Friday Oct. 29, Not So Spooky Hour 5:30-6:30 p.m. Full Fright 7-10 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 30, Not So Spooky Hour 5:30-6:30 p.m. Full Fright 7-10 p.m.
Tickets: Available at the start of the trail. Credit cards and cash accepted. $7 for Not-So-Spooky Trail, $10 for Full Fright.
Kids Go Free Halloween Weekend at NASCAR Hall of Fame
NASCAR Hall of Fame
400 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Charlotte, NC
October 29-31, kids 12 and under free with paying adult, Online offer only, see website for details
Summary: Experience racing excitement from start to finish with over 50 interactives. View 18 historic cars on Glory Road, celebrate NASCAR inductees in the Hall of Honor and experience what it takes to be a NASCAR driver at the Pit Crew Challenge or with our iRacing simulators. Also, don’t miss your photo op with Disney·Pixar’s Lightning McQueen, on display now. Use promo code SPOOKY and purchase your tickets online.
Trick or Treating at Birkdale Village
October 31, 10am-12pm, Free
Summary: If you dare, join Birkdale Village for a SPOOK-tacular Halloween celebration for the little goblins! Come dressed in your costumes and trick or treat at Birkdale Village’s participating retailers and restaurants.
Check in with us in the Grove starting at 10 AM to grab special goodies (while supplies last) and a map of participating restaurants & retailers. Enter into our scary, good raffle to win prizes from our restaurants and retailers too!
Blakeney Fall Celebration
Blakeney Shopping Center
9870 Rae Road, Charlotte, NC
October 30, 1pm-8pm, Free
Summary: Enjoy a full day of activities at Blakeney Shopping Center during our Fall Celebration on Saturday, October 30th! Stroll through the center throughout the day to discover sidewalk sales, new fall merchandise, and special promotions at the following shops and restaurants.
Scarrigan Farms Haunted Trail
Carrigan Farms
1213 Oak Ridge Farm Hwy, Mooresville, NC 28115
October 1-November 6, Reservations required
Summary: On select October nights, our 275 acre farm is transformed into the scariest haunted trail in the region. If you are looking for a new and out of the ordinary way to get your heart pumping and adrenaline rushing this October, Scarrigan Farms is the place for you.
This is not a trail for kids. If you’re under 12 come back when you’re old enough. We’ll be waiting. If someone hasn’t peed in their pants by the end of the night we know we haven’t done our job.
SCarowinds
Carowinds
14523 Carowinds Blvd, Charlotte, NC
Select nights September 17-October 31, See website for schedule
Summary: SCarowinds, the Carolinas’ largest Halloween event, returns in 2021. Keep looking over your shoulder, because EVERY. SINGLE. THING you fear is here.
Whether you’ve visited each year of fear, or if this is your first time, you’ll sleep with the lights on after experiencing this new generation of SCarowinds. Every corner is cursed afresh with haunted mazes, scare zones and live (or maybe not live) entertainment.
Hordes of hungry zombies and blood-thirsty vampires eagerly await you – i.e. their next meal. And those wicked screams! There’s just no escaping them. Add our world-class thrill rides that instill a brand of fear all their own and you’ve got extreme, supreme Halloween – dare we say it? – FUN.
Yep, we’ll scare the living daylights out of you, but it’s an AMAZING night and one of the best things to do for Halloween!
Whitewater Film Series
U.S. National Whitewater Center
5000 Whitewater Center Parkway, Charlotte, NC
Summary: On three Fridays in October, the Whitewater Center will be showing films with outdoor themes. It’s free to attend. The only cost is $6 for parking. The films screen at dusk, so the time varies a little bit from week to week.
October 22: Into the Canyon
Pumpkin Patch
Hodges Family Farm
3900 Rocky River Road, Charlotte, NC
September 25-October 31, see website for schedule, Free admission with $5 parking
Summary: The longest running farm in Charlotte has severed the Charlotte community for over 100 years and the Pumpkin Patch is back! After taking 2020 off (like many local businesses had to) we are thrilled to announce that our annual Pumpkin Patch will open on Saturday, September 25! We cannot think of a better way to spend a crisp autumn afternoon than to bring your family to our pumpkin patch and enjoy our historic farm’s property! Pumpkins, hay mountain to climb, barnyard animals, picnic areas, lots of photo opps.
Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch
Aw Shucks Farm Fall Attractions
3718 Plyler Mill Road, Monroe, NC
See website for schedule
Summary: So much to do, so much to see! Fall is the favorite time of year for farm visitors. Corn maze, animal barn, gem mining, bonfire, pumpkin market and more. We hope to see you soon!
Birkdale Buds
Birkdale Village
Birkdale Commons Pwky & Sam Furr Rd, Huntersville, NC
Every Wednesday morning from April to October
Summary: Adventure awaits your little one at our weekly Birkdale Buds featuring a variety of interactive events! Bring your pre-school aged little bud for playtime in the Grove, every Wednesday morning from April to October. Weekly activities may include face painters, storytellers, magicians, arts and crafts and more! Note: Crafts and activities will be available while supplies last.
Markets at 11 in Ballantyne
Ballantyne’s Backyard
11611 N. Community House Rd, Charlotte, NC
Summary: Join us on the second Saturday of each month for Markets at 11!
Local businesses are bringing their craft to the South Charlotte community to shop and enjoy! Browse specialty beauty, health and home products on Ballantyne’s former golf course. Grab bites and brews from local food and drink vendors. Post up on your picnic blanket and get your groove on with musical artists all day long!
Children’s Theater at ImaginOn
300 E. 7th St. Charlotte, NC
Summary: We are excited to welcome audiences back to ImaginOn for in-person shows. Tickets and Choose-Your-Own Subscriptions now on sale. Click here for upcoming events. Children’s Theatre of Charlotte also offers a variety of programs for your child to enter the world of theatre. Our award-winning classes will help your child discover their creative spirit in the classroom and in life!
Fall Fun!
Cotton Hills Farm – The Market in Lowrys
2575 Lowrys Hwy, Chester, SC
Monday-Saturday weather permitting, 9AM-7PM, $2.25/lb, bring your own container or purchase for $1 each
Summary: Come make some sweet family memories on the farm! Our u-pick strawberry patch is open Monday – Saturday, 9AM to 7PM. No reservations required, No pets allowed. After picking, cool off with a scoop or two of hand-dipped ice cream. Kids can enjoy our tractor play-set and sand pile.
River Jam
U.S. National Whitewater Center
5000 Whitewater Center Parkway, Charlotte, NC
Summary: Every Thursday-Saturday night, 7PM-10PM, Free admission with $6 parking fee
Live music takes place throughout the year at a one-of-a-kind outdoor venue in the middle of the world’s largest man-made whitewater river. Genres including roots rock, Americana, bluegrass, folk, and funk are featured on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from May through September.
Live Under The Oaks At Birkdale Village
Birkdale Commons Pkwy & Sam Furr Rd, Huntersville, NC
Every Friday evening from April to October
Summary: Start your weekends unwinding with live musical performances in the Grove. Grab your friends and family and get ready to dance the night away!
A bar will be onsite in the designated area provided by Red Rocks Cafe.
Due to local government restrictions being lifted, we are excited to be opening our Signature Events to the public starting in May! Attendees are no longer required to purchase tickets in advance for Live Under The Oaks beginning May 7th. While the events are not ticketed, guests are strongly encouraged to continue social distancing in groups and wear masks while on property.
Carolina Panthers
Bank of America Stadium
800 S Mint St, Charlotte, NC
Click here for 2021 schedule
Charlotte Knights
Trust Field
324 S. Mint Street, Charlotte, NC
Click here for 2021 schedule
Discovery Place Science
301 N. Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC
See website for schedule, reservations required
Discovery Place Nature
1658 Sterling Road, Charlotte, NC
See website for schedule, reservations required
Discovery Place Kids
105 Gilead Road, Huntersville, NC
See website for schedule, reservations required
The Schiele Museum of Natural History
1500 East Garrison Blvd, Gastonia, NC
Summary: The Schiele Museum of Natural History is now open! The museum is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional educational programs, exhibits, and research. To see a list of events and plan your visit, click here.
Mecklenburg County Library Virtual Events
Free Virtual Events
Summary: Join Charlotte Mecklenburg Library every week for a wide range of virtual programming for children, teens and adults. Daily appointments for Reading Buddies and Tutoring and Enrichment for school-age children can be accessed by clicking here.
