Smarty Scoop is proudly sponsored by Discovery Place, Discovery Place KIDS – Huntersville and The Charlotte Nature Museum.
Taste of the Carolinas
Carowinds
14523 Carowinds Blvd., Charlotte, NC
Saturdays and Sundays, See website for schedule, All ages
Summary: Carowinds is where the Carolinas come together, and on Saturdays and Sundays from April 22 through May 14, we’re bringing together the best from seven distinct cultures from North and South Carolina. Come to enjoy gourmet food and handcrafted beverages, homemade arts and crafts, first-rate entertainment, and memorable experiences.
BeachFest Matthews
Stumptown Park
120 S. Trade Street, Matthews, NC
See website for schedule, All Ages, Free
Summary: Join us for the 9th annual BeachFest as we bring the Carolina coast to Downtown Matthews!
Mother’s Day Breakfast and Tour
The Billy Graham Library
4330 Westmont Drive, Charlotte, NC
May 13, 7:30am – 10:00am, All ages, $20, Children 3 and under free
Summary: Guests will enjoy a tasty buffet breakfast, an encouraging message and a guided Journey of Faith tour.
Charlotte Dragon Boat Festival
Ramsey Creek Park
18441 Nantz Road, Cornelius, NC
May 13, 9:00am – 4:00am, All ages, Free
Summary: The Carolinas Asian-American Chamber of Commerce modeled the Charlotte Dragon Boat Festival after similar events in a number of cities in North America. It is truly a community-based recreational/competitive and an environmentally friendly event that promotes team-building, wellness and cultural awareness. In each of the last three years, this cross-cultural event has attracted over 1,000 crew and well over 7,000 visitors
Spring Into Arts Festival
Historic Downtown Concord
65 Union Street S., Concord, NC
May 13, 10:00am – 4:00pm, All ages, Free
Summary: The Spring Into Arts Festival is an annual family-friendly event in Downtown Concord that showcases and promotes the visual and performing arts. Enjoy the juried art show, musical entertainment, locally crafted beer & wine, fantastic food, and a children’s area that inspires the artistic side of all of us!
River Jam Concert Series
U.S. National Whitewater Center
5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy., Charlotte, NC
May – September, See website for schedule, $5 parking fee
Summary: Join us on Thursday and Saturday nights from May through September for River Jam, the USNWC’s weekly concert series. A talented line-up of national musical acts provide the perfect back drop for a fun summer evening outdoors. Bring your friends, enjoy our large food and craft beer selection, and take in the sights and sounds of River Jam.
First Thursday Downtown Matthews Crawl
Downtown Matthews
230 Matthews Station Street, Matthews, NC
Occurs monthly on the first Thursday of March – December, All ages, Free
Summary: Local business will be offering amazing food specials, drink specials, entertainment and art on the streets and in the businesses throughout the downtown district! The fun and festivities will start at 5 p.m. and continue through the evening until closing.
Cotswold Trucks Food Truck Rally
Trinity Presbyterian Church
3115 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC
Every Friday from March 3 – November 3, 5:00pm – 9:00pm, All ages, Free
Summary: 10- 15 area food trucks, live music and a gated kids’ playground.
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.
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.
Child Safety Seat Inspection Station
Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department
4150 Wilkinson Blvd, Charlotte, NC
Occurs the first and third Wednesday of April-December, 9:30am – 11:30am, Free
Summary: Certified technicians will check and help families properly install carseats. No appointment necessary.
Child Safety Seat Inspection Station
Matthews Police Department
1201 Crews Road, Matthews, NC
Occurs the first and third Wednesday of April-December, 9:30am – 11:30am, Free
Summary: Certified technicians will check and help families properly install carseats. No appointment necessary.
Charlotte Knights
BB&T Ballpark
324 S Mint St, Charlotte, NC 28202
See website for schedule and ticket prices.
Charlotte Hornets
Spectrum Arena
333 East Trade Street, Charlotte, NC
See website for schedule and ticket prices.
Charlotte Checkers
Bojangles Coliseum
2700 East Independence Blvd., Charlotte, NC
See website for schedule and ticket prices.
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
