Search results for

Junior Naturalist Program activities throughout the day will be provided specifically for children ages 5-12, but all ages are welcome! Guests will also be able to meet some critters up close and personal around the Wilson Center! Included with admission.

Embrace your nocturnal side at Grandfather Mountain through Creatures of the Night and Bonfire Delight, the park’s after-hours program where guests enjoy rare after-dark tours, fireside tales and a chance to meet the park’s nighttime residents. Tickets for this event go on sale online on Grandfather Mountain’s website Aug. 3 at 10 a.m. Advance registration required.

Girl Scouts are invited to join the park’s naturalists for a fun-filled learning adventure on Grandfather Mountain. Plus, all Girl Scouts and troop leaders are admitted free with proof of membership (all or part of a uniform or a troop roster with the leader’s name on it), and family members will receive discounted admission ($1 off child admission and $2 off adult admission). The day has a robust schedule of simultaneous offerings (which may be subject to change due to weather or other factors). Included with admission.

Guests enjoy short, guided nature walks that highlight Grandfather Mountain’s fall colors. The Fall Color Rambles take place daily. The short excursions begin at 1 p.m. and typically last for 30 minutes. Rambles will start outside the entrance of the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery. Should it happen to be raining, the event may be moved to the indoor exhibit hall in the Wilson Center. Participants can become familiar with tree identification, as the mountain’s talented and knowledgeable educators and interpretive park guides venture out with guests to some of the most colorful destinations on the mountain. Included with admission.

Back by popular demand, Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, is offering a sunset experience in 2026. This special event will provide guests with the rare opportunity to be in the park outside of regular operating hours and to hopefully experience a lovely sunset from the bridge’s lofty vantage point. Tickets for this event go on sale online on Grandfather Mountain’s website Aug. 5 at 10 a.m. Advance registration required.

A comedy of manners…without the manners. Winner of the 2009 Tony Award®, God of Carnage is a brash and hilarious exploration of human nature. After one 11-year-old is hit by another, their parents meet to find a mature resolution. As the evening wears on, their attempt at a civilized discussion quickly devolves into finger-pointing, name-calling, stomping around and throwing things. And that’s before they break out the rum! What begins as protective parenting ends as an excuse to let loose the primordial beast buried in each of us. This dark comedy reminds us of how close we are to crossing a line, and how ridiculous it looks when we do.

Don’t miss the third annual StrEATs Uncorked presented by NC Wine! This lively, walk-around tasting experience celebrates North Carolina’s thriving wine industry, complete with live music and bites inspired by the state’s favorite cuisines: farm-to-table, meat-and-three, and barbecue. Expect: Tastes from wines from award-winning North Carolina vineyards Dishes from Charlotte chefs showcasing North Carolina’s signature flavors Live music from The Agave Brothers Conversations with winery representatives To wrap up the night, purchase your favorite wines to take home!

Charlotte’s premier tasting experience is back, marking 5 delicious years. Tickets are on sale now!

This April, savor signature bites from Charlotte’s best locally-owned restaurants, sip on craft cocktails created by our top mixologists, and enjoy chef cooking demos, all while taking in the gorgeous skyline views of First Ward Park, the festival’s new home!

Tickets are all-inclusive.

Upgrade to VIP: VIP ticket holders receive one-hour early entry at 11 a.m., the 2026 StrEATs Cookbook presented by Piedmont Natural Gas featuring recipes from participating restaurants, and a StrEATs goody bag.

Mark your calendar for the fifth annual Charlotte StrEATs Festival, held in partnership with Charlotte SHOUT! This FREE event celebrates Charlotte’s incredible culinary scene. To help us create the best experience possible, we ask attendees to register in advance.

What to Expect:
Neighborhood Cook-off Battles
Watch as chefs go head-to-head in an exciting culinary showdown to claim the title of StrEATs Neighborhood Champion.

Artisan Market
Shop a carefully curated selection of the city’s top culinary vendors.

Cocktail Demonstrations + Tastings
Taste craft cocktails created by Charlotte’s top mixologists. 21+ only. Pre-sale wristbands will go on sale closer to the event and will also be available for purchase at the event.

Food Trucks
Enjoy Charlotte's top food trucks!

Picnic Baskets
Pre-order a picnic basket curated by Charlotte's best caterers. More details to be announced soon. Pre-order will open in March.

For the most up-to-date information and full schedule, visit: cltstreatsfestival.com

Join us for the fifth annual Dog Jog at McAlpine Creek Park! Whether you have a furry friend or not, Charlotte’s Dog Jog offers something for everyone. Our 5K run takes place on one of the most famous cross-country courses in the Southeastern United States and is suitable for all ages and fitness levels!

Join Brooklyn-based, award-winning composer and bass-baritone Jonathan Woody for an evening of music, wine, and creative conversation exploring The Trout Who Found the River: A Musical Field Journal—a new musical play where music, ecology, and storytelling meet.

Presented by 7th Street Concerts in collaboration with Charlotte SHOUT! and the Charlotte Ideas Festival, the evening begins with a wine and cheese reception, followed by an intimate performance and a curated conversation with Woody and the creative team.

Woody’s music blends the expressive traditions of 17th- and 18th-century vocal music with contemporary and socially conscious themes. His compositions have been commissioned by ensembles including Chanticleer, Apollo’s Fire, and the Handel and Haydn Society, and critics have praised his performances as “richly and compellingly embodied.”

During the conversation, Woody and the artistic team will share insights into the creative process behind The Trout Who Found the River. Inspired by folk traditions and the practice of observing nature, the work unfolds like a musical field guide—tracing a journey through rivers, wildlife habitats, and the interconnected worlds of water, animals, and people.

While the weekend matinee performances are designed especially for families and young audiences, this Tuesday evening gathering offers a calmer setting to hear the music, meet the artists, and engage in a creative conversation about composition, storytelling, and the role of art in connecting us to the natural world.

The event takes place inside the Wells Fargo Atrium at 329 S Tryon Street, just off the outdoor courtyard in the heart of Charlotte SHOUT!.

7thstreetconcerts.org

Experience The Trout Who Found the River: A Musical Field Journal, a whimsical new musical play featuring original music by Brooklyn-based, award-winning composer and bass-baritone Jonathan Woody.

Presented by 7th Street Concerts as part of Charlotte SHOUT!, these three FREE family-friendly outdoor performances blend live music, storytelling, and playful audience participation as a curious trout searches for its way home through a living river landscape.

Woody’s music draws on the expressive traditions of 17th- and 18th-century vocal music while engaging contemporary and socially conscious themes. Critics have praised his performances as “richly and compellingly embodied,” and his compositions have been commissioned by leading ensembles including Chanticleer, Apollo’s Fire, and the Handel and Haydn Society.

Inspired by folk traditions and the practice of observing nature, The Trout Who Found the River unfolds like a musical field guide—tracing a journey through rivers, wildlife habitats, and the interconnected worlds of water, animals, and people.

Designed especially for young audiences while engaging for adults and music lovers alike, the performance invites children to participate through listening prompts and creative moments throughout the show. Each young audience member receives an illustrated musical field journal filled with drawing and observation activities, encouraging them to explore the sounds and stories of the natural world long after the music ends.

Performances take place at 1pm, 3pm, & 5pm, outdoors in the Wells Fargo Courtyard at 329 S Tryon Street, just outside the Wells Fargo Atrium in the heart of Charlotte SHOUT!.

Register for free at 7thstreetconcerts.org!

Joining over 60 institutions worldwide, the Mint Museum’s Slow Art Day programming focuses on slow looking and its transformative power. Join us for close-looking gallery activities, mindfulness, and discovery.

Slow Art Day is a global event with a simple mission: help more people discover for themselves the joy of looking at and loving art. Officially launched in 2010, Slow Art Day has become an official part of the international museum and gallery calendar with more than 1,500 events produced globally.

Free rolling programming with purchase of museum admisson.

Belgian-Congolese interior architect Kim Munpangalï is a sculptural furniture designer and educator based in New York, where she teaches at Parsons School of Design. Her practice examines cross-cultural identity, heritage, and the sociopolitical conditions embedded in art history and design through material-driven research and form.

Her work has been exhibited internationally and acquired by institutions including the Vitra Design Museum, Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Denver Art Museum. Presented as part of the the Contemporary Architecture and Design Series.

Mupangilaï will discuss how cross-cultural identity and heritage are represented in her furniture and material designs.

About the Contemporary Architecture and Design Series
Presented by Wells Fargo, the Contemporary Architecture and Design Series features talks by a select group of innovative architects and contemporary designers.

“The Obituary” unfolds the story of Theodore Thadius Gohagen IV, affectionately known as Thad, whose life has been meticulously crafted by his father, Theodore III. Thad has inherited the family business, Gohagen Funeral Home, and has lived according to his father's design. However, following his father's death, Thad decides to embrace his own aspirations, including pursuing new career opportunities, relocating, and seeking true love after thirty-four years of living a life predetermined by his father.

Join us for a fun-filled, nature-themed afternoon of music, where families and kids can groove to the sounds in nature! This interactive concert held in the Williams Outdoor Learning Space celebrates the beauty of the natural world, featuring lively performances, eco-themed songs and hands-on activities that teach kids about conservation. Included with park admission.

Take a daily, short, guided stroll that highlights Grandfather Mountain’s rhododendron species and blooms. See the blooms and learn about their history, attributes and roles they play in the mountain’s ecological communities. The easygoing walks take approximately 20 minutes and are fit for guests of all ages – wheelchair and stroller accessible. Meet outside the entrance of the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery. Staff naturalists will also have a display inside Wilson Center. Included with admission.

This popular shutterbug weekend includes presentations from top nature photographers, hands-on field courses, a friendly contest and the rare opportunity to photograph the mountain’s spectacular scenery before and after regular business hours.

This popular weekend welcomes all levels of photographers, making it fun and engaging no matter what your skill level is – while better connecting participants with the wonders and unique ecology of Grandfather Mountain. This year, more than ever, we hope to not only help participants learn about photography, but to also inspire them to preserve the natural world. Activities begin Friday evening and conclude Sunday midday. Registration opens April 9 at 10 a.m. and closes June 4 at 12 p.m. or when the event sells out. Advance registration required.

Join us for an evening of art, culture, and community at the opening celebration of Presence of Color: Jeremy Okai Davis.

Presence of Color explores racial biases ingrained in photographic technology and broadens the conversation by questioning the politics of seeing. Through a critical reimagining of Kodak's mid-20th-century "Shirley" cards, reinterpretations of Black portraiture, and the inclusion of archival images from Jet and Hue magazines, Davis challenges the historical dominance of whiteness in visual culture.

The program features a screening of the short film Hair Daze by director Tyla Barnes, followed by the panel discussion "Black Women Navigating the Film Industry." Together, the panelists explore how cinema functions as a global language of affirmation and cultural influence. Drawing from personal experience and professional insight, the conversation examines voice and identity in shaping narratives, expanding representation, and building culture for Black women on screen and behind the camera. Grounded in the history of women in cinema and focused on the future, this discussion highlights film as a tool for storytelling, access, and collective imagination.

In partnership with the Independent Picture House.