Did you decide to enjoy a Spring Staycation this week instead of heading out of town? Good call! The weather is mostly going to cooperate with your plans, maybe just some mid week rain conducive to inside activities, and there is a lot to do for family fun in the greater Charlotte area this week:
Take the Kids Uptown for a Day with Leonardo Da Vinci
Learning doesn’t have to take a break during spring break when you include a day at DISCOVERY PLACE SCIENCE to enjoy a day of inventions, design and ingenuity during Da Vinci Design Week with special DIY projects, design challenges and engineering demonstrations that start Thursday, March 29th and run through Sunday, April 8th. (They are closed on Sunday, April 1st). Scoop has your day of Discovery planned for you with a discount code to save you a few bucks too.
Family Storytime: Splash Zone!
ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Center
Enjoy stories, songs, and movement activities that support early literacy skill development and help foster a love of books and reading (and science) in your child. This program will focus on water, from its creatures to its physical properties. Stay after storytime to explore the splash tables in the courtyard and learn about buoyancy at the sink or float station.
Rookie Science: Survival Skills
ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Center
Monday, April 2, 1:30 p.m.
School-aged kids and tweens will play games and do activities themed around survival skills. Discuss a variety of animal survival tactics, from what you should do when a lion charges to how to survive a cobra bite. Participants will then practice their fort building skills, learn how to build a fire, and explore the contents of a survival kit.
Easter Eggstravaganza and Spring Break
Carowinds Amusement Park
Tuesday, April 3, (through April 8)
Come to Carowinds to take part in the eggstra-special activities, crafts and entertainment. It’s a week of spring break activities and family fun. Plus, you can get your photo with Eggward the Easter Bunny and Snoopy the Easter Beagle.
Red Calaca Mobile Art Studio
Washworld
Rosalia’s Mobile Art Studio brings arts education and community engagement programming in the form of artist led activity workshops. Learn about street art in this two-hour workshop where participants work with Rosalia creating mixed-media artwork.
Spring Break Camp: Animal Fairy Tails
Rescue Ranch
Tuesday, April 3 (through April 6), 9:00 a.m.
Animals have to solve problems just like people do. This week campers will explore popular fairy tales through STEM activities, hands on interactions, crafts, and games. Register for one or all days.
Toddler Time Tuesday
Discovery Place KIDS – Huntersville
Participate in Toddler Time Tuesday on the first and third Tuesday of April and May. This nature-themed set of hands-on workshops is designed for parents and children ages 18-36 months. Workshops may be booked individually or as a series. Each workshop lasts approximately one hour. See website for themes.
Toddler Tuesday at Sea Life Charlotte-Concord Aquarium
Sea Life Charlotte-Concord Aquarium
Get one free child ticket with the purchase of an adult ticket on Tuesdays. Each additional child (ages 3-12) receives a discount as well, costing only $5 each.
The Charlotte Spring Fair
Route 29 Pavilion
Enjoy this fair featuring amusement rides, an assortment of food and drink, a petting zoo, carnival rides and games. Mon.-Fri., 4pm-close.; Sat.-Sun., 1pm-close. Earliest close is 10pm.
Poetry Book Cover Contest
Mooresville Public Library
Pick up and drop off your application and completed works at the Reference desk to enter MPL’s poetry anthology book cover contest.
The Grass is Greener
Latta Plantation Nature Center
Wednesday, April 4, 2:00 p.m.
Planting native species in your yard is great for the environment. Get your hands dirty and make some native plant seed bombs to disperse native wildflowers throughout your home habitat.
Free Wednesday Evenings at the Mint Museum
Explore the Mint Museum’s exhibitions.
Movies In the Park: Coco
Veterans Park
Thursday, April 5, 6:00 p.m.
Come watch “Coco” with other families in the park.
WellieWishers Friendship Tea Party
American Girl
Thursday, April 5, 4:00 p.m.
Put on your wellies and hop into American Girl for a special WellieWishers Friendship Tea Party. Parties include a special menu, crafts, fun WellieWishers-inspired conversation cards, and a cupcake-decorating activity. Reservations required.
Pennzoil AutoFair Presented by Advance Auto Parts
Charlotte Motor Speedway
The Pennzoil AutoFair presented by Advance Auto Parts features more than 10,000 automotive vendor displays. In addition, kids can enjoy a play zone and eat fair food.
Morning Nature Hike
Latta Plantation Nature Center
Get your spring-break kids outside and hike! This family-friendly hike will take you through the forest and around the nature preserve. Amble up the trails and check for signs of wildlife. Bring a water bottle and be prepared to hike a maximum of 3 miles.
Spring Food Truck Rally
Rural Hill
Enjoy food from over twenty food trucks, craft beer and wine, live music, bounce houses, games, hayrides and more. Some vendors will only take cash.
Our Carolina Sky
The Schiele Museum
Take a live tour of the current month’s constellations and explore various topics ranging from the earliest history of astronomy to the latest advancements in the field.
Stonecrest Summer Concert Series
Stonecrest Shopping Center
Listen to music every Friday and Saturday throughout the summer at Stonecrest Shopping Center.
Colonial Spring Frolic
Old Stone House
Saturday, April 7, 10:00 a.m.
Bring in spring the 18th century way at the Old Stone House! Dye Easter Eggs with colonial dyes, play games, dance, and enjoy tasting some colonial recipes!
Paws in the Park
Pineville Lake Park
Bring your friendly dog to spend the day at this festival. There will be over 150 vendors, 25 dog rescue groups with dogs available for adoption, music, dog contests, demonstrations, food trucks, a kids playground, and a dog walk. First 300 dogs will receive a free bandana.
Gantt Center’s Family First Program
The Harvey B. Gantt Center
Saturday, April 7, 11:00 a.m.
Celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month at the Gantt Center with The Standard featuring saxophonist Harvey Cummings II. RSVP online.
Engineer in Residence Workshop: Filtration Systems
Discovery Place Science
Saturday, April 7, 2018
Kids and families will learn the path water takes from lakes, homes and wastewater treatment facilities, while making and testing their own filters. Registration required. Program held at 10am and 1pm.
Charlotte Dance Festival
Charlotte Ballet
The Charlotte Dance Festival (CDF) Gala features four local and four national choreographers/companies who were selected by adjudicators from outside North Carolina. The program features are range of contemporary dance, ballet and Odissi (form of classical Indian dance).
