25th Anniversary of the Greater Charlotte Buddy Walk
Jerry Richardson Stadium, UNC Charlotte Campus
8701 Phillips Road, Charlotte, NC
October 15, 9 a.m., Free admission, T-shirts for $15 donation, free for people with Down syndrome
Summary: The Buddy Walk is a one-mile walk in which anyone can participate. Hundreds of thousands of people walk from coast to coast and around the world every year. The goal of the Buddy Walk is three-fold: to promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome; to raise the funds necessary to develop innovate and effective programs; and enhance the position of the Down syndrome community. There will be mascots, bouncy castles, aerialists, bubblers, a resource fair, a live band, and much more.
Scarrigan Farms
Carrigan Farms
1261 Oakridge Farm Hwy, Mooresville, NC
Select nights in October, reservations required, see website for schedule
Summary: 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.
Scarowinds
14523 Carowinds Blvd., Charlotte, NC
Select nights September 16-October 30, See website for schedule
Summary: Guests will sleep with the lights on after experiencing this new generation of SCarowinds, located along the North Carolina-South Carolina state line. Every corner is freshly cursed with horrifying haunted mazes, spine-tingling scare zones, and live entertainment.
Hordes of hungry zombies and blood-thirsty vampires eagerly wait to make guests their next meal. There is no escaping their wicked screams that fill the park. Add Carowinds’ world-class thrill rides in the darkness under the moon, which creates supreme Halloween – dare we say it? – FUN.
2nd Friday Street Festival in Old Town Cornelius
Oak Street Mill
19725 Oak Street, Cornelius, NC
Second Friday in October, 6pm-10pm, Free
Summary: Live music, food trucks, kids activities, craft breweries and more.
Charlotte Knights 3rd Annual Pumpkin Patch
Truist Field
324 S. Mint Street, Charlotte, NC
October 15, 10am-4pm, Freeadmission, pumpkins are $10-$20
Summary: We’re turning Truist Field into a pumpkin patch! There will be thousands of pumpkins from which to choose in the outfield. Your family will love fall-themed treats, shopping, live music, photo opportunities, the pumpkin decorating station, and more.
U.S. National Whitewater Center Fall Film Series
5000 Whitewater Center Parkway, Charlotte, NC
The month of October, See website for schedule
Summary: Lights. Camera. Adventure. The Whitewater Center is proud to host the Whitewater Film Series on Fridays in October, featuring a variety of outdoor lifestyle films from across the globe.
Carolina Renaissance Festival
16445 Poplar Tent Road, Huntersville, NC
Saturdays & Sundays from October 1-November 20, see website for details
Summary: Each day is filled with an abundance of attractions and immersive entertainments for all ages. Fourteen stages are packed with continuous live comedy, music, dance, vaudeville and circus entertainments! The Village pathways are bursting to life with over 500 costumed villagers that interact with you for your amusement. You can choose to play or sit back and enjoy the shows!
Pumpkin Patch
Hodges Family Farm
3900 Rocky River Road, Charlotte, NC
September 24-October 31, See website for schedule
Summary: Pumpkins, Hay mountain to climb, barnyard animals, photo opportunities, hayrides and treats for purchase (Saturdays & Sundays only).
Pumpkin Decorating with Goats
Cedarbrook Alpaca Farm
7408 Cedarbrook Drive, Charlotte, NC
Select days in October, See website for schedule, Reservations required, $12-$19
Summary: Come visit the farm and enjoy an afternoon with alpacas, goats, chickens, pigs, emus and ducks. Admission is $12 and you can buy a pumpkin to decorate for $7. The goats will “help” decorate by eating the innards that are scraped out of the pumpkin. Long pants are suggested as the goats may put their hoofs on you. Carving tools will be provided.
47th Carolina BalloonFest
Statesville Regional Airport
260 Hangar Drive, Statesville, NC
October 14-16, See website for schedule
Summary: Balloon competitions, mass ascensions, evening glow balloons, live entertainment, kids’ zone, skydiving exhibitions, and more.
Aw Shucks Farm
3718 Player Mill Road, Monroe, NC
September 23-October , see website for schedule.
Summary: Corn maze, wagon ride, animal barn, 1800’s train car, grain bin slide, bushel ball, bouncing broncos, fishing, pumpkins and food for purchase.
Halloween Boo-tacular
Chuck E. Cheese (various locations)
Summary: During the month of October, See website for details
Kids in costume get 10 free Play Points with any games purchased, get 30 minutes of free game play with each purchase of 60 minutes or more, free Chupa Chips and Hi-Chew candy on the dance floor following the Haunted House Party.
Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
To present the best in the performing arts and in partnership with others, share and employ the arts as a major catalyst to strengthen education, build community cohesiveness and advance economic growth.
Click here for complete schedule for all theaters.
Charlotte Panthers
Bank of America Stadium
800 S. Mint Street, Charlotte, NC
Click here for 2022 Schedule.
Charlotte Independence
American Legion Stadium
1218-1238 Armory Drive, Charlotte, NC
Click here for schedule
Click here for USL W (women’s league)
Discovery Place Science
301 N. Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC
See website for schedule, tickets must be purchased in advance online
Summary: Discovery Place Science is an innovative, hands-on Museum that encourages scientific exploration and creativity. Don’t forget to check out the new IMAX experience, IMAX® with Laser technology—a next-generation laser projection system and 12-channel sound system exclusive to IMAX theaters—is immersive by design. Developed from the ground up to deliver crystal clear, lifelike images and precision sound for a moviegoing experience unlike anything else.
Discovery Place Nature
1658 Sterling Road, Charlotte, NC
See website for schedule, tickets must be purchased in advance online
Summary: Discovery Place Nature offers visitors the chance to get close to wildlife and experience nature through hands-on programming, exhibits and classes.
Discovery Place Kids
105 Gilead Road, Huntersville, NC
See website for schedule, tickets must be purchased in advance online
Summary: Discovery Place Kids is a regional children’s museum featuring developmentally-appropriate experiences that encourage interactive learning through imagination and fun, with locations in Huntersville and Rockingham.
Uptown Farmers’ Market
300 S. Davidson Street, Charlotte, NC
Every Saturday April 16-December 10
Summary: 300 S. Davidson street is in the 4.5 acre front parking lot of First Baptist Charlotte, one of the Uptown Farmers Market sponsors. It provides an ideal location for the more than 110,000 residents that live within a 3 mile radius of the market’s site, as well as ample parking for those that visit from around the expanding Charlotte area.
South End Gallery Crawl
Historic South End
Summary: South End is home to a vast array of art in all forms: fine art galleries offering everything from the realist to the experimental, colorful public murals, larger-than-life installations on the Rail Trail and dozens of studio spaces where artists and artisans dream and create.
Take in the local art scene on South End First Friday–an evening when galleries and shops offer extended hours, special receptions, live painting and music. Build in a visit to any of the neighborhood’s restaurants and breweries, and it’s a whole night out!
South End Market at Atherton Mill
2140 South Blvd, Charlotte, NC
Every Saturday, 8am-1pm, Free
Summary: You can find everything from local produce to fresh fish to handmade pasta, and so much more! With live music on one end and a string of local farmers and creatives along the trail, this hub boasts the vibrant energy that we all long for to kick off our weekend. Plus, you can make a day of it by exploring all that Atherton Mill has to offer! There is free parking for shoppers at the Atherton Mill garage, or take the light rail to East/West Blvd Station!
Kids Skate Free
Kate’s Skate – Indian Trial
14500 E. Independence Blvd, Indian Trail, NC
See website for schedule
Summary: Sign up your kids to skate during Kate’s Skating Rink Kids Skate Free, offered on select days/times during the week.
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.