On Friday, February 7 and Saturday, February 8, Charlotteans will have FREE access to arts, science, history, and cultural experiences throughout the city. It’s called CONNECT WITH CULTURE DAYS, and brings 62 free events to residents from Ballantyne to Huntersville.
Sponsored by the ASC, Connect with Culture Days is in its sixth year, and is designed to bring the city together to enjoy and experience our local arts and culture, and give everyone the opportunity to engage with our cultural community in fun and creative ways.
On Saturday, community facilities will become “arts and cultural hubs” to present cultural programming at the neighborhood level across Charlotte-Mecklenburg, including:
- East Charlotte at Charlotte Museum of History (3500 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte 28215)
- Northwest Charlotte at First Baptist Church – West (1801 Oaklawn Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28216)
- Mint Hill at Lebanon Road Elementary School (7300 Lebanon Road, Charlotte, NC 28227)
- Pineville at Pineville Elementary School (204 Lowry Street, Pineville 28134)
- North Mecklenburg at Huntersville Elementary School (200 Gilead Road Huntersville, NC 28078)
- Steele Creek at Central Steele Creek Presbyterian Church (9401 S. Tryon Street, Charlotte 28273)
- Ballantyne at Morrison YMCA (9504 Bryant Farms Road, Charlotte 28277)
- Facilities in Uptown, Elizabeth and Myers Park as well
Saturday’s programming will feature a variety of arts, science and history experiences, such as:
- Free admission to Center City museums, including Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture,Bechtler Museum of Modern Art and Mint Museum Uptown at Levine Center for the Arts, as well as Levine Museum of the New South and McColl Center for Art + Innovation
- A performance of “The Ugly Duckling” presented by Opera Carolina’s Opera Xpress in Charlotte’s Elizabeth neighborhood
- Free admission and art experiences at Wing Haven
- Story time readings with ballet dancers by Charlotte Ballet
- African drumming with Drums4Life in West Charlotte
This isn’t just free entry in to one or two spots, we’re talking 60+ experiences, performances, classes, free admissions, activities and more. For adults and for kids and for families, all over our area north, south, east and west. Dance workshops for kids, adults and seniors, cooking demo’s, print-making, LEGO robotics, petting zoos, clay works, and so much more.
View the events by neighborhood here.
New this year is a kick off party in South End on Friday, February 7th.
This year, there’s a Friday Kick-off to Connect with Culture Days at the COLLECTOR’S ROOM in South End where ticketed guests will enjoy a festive multicultural food experience, open bar, live performances from Nicci Canada and Nouveau Sud, and an interactive art experience from local artist Jonathan Grauel.
- Cost: $25 donation
- Time: 7:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.
- Location: The Collectors’ Room at Beau Monde (1520 S Tryon St., Charlotte, NC 28203)
Or you can Kick Off things with free events at Brewers at Yancey or University City. Deets here.
Scroll through the list of happenings by neighborhood at the link to plot out how you’ll experience Connect with Culture Days this year.
Will it be learning Jazz Dance? Latin Dance? West African?
Taking your kids to a musical petting zoo? Hand building with clay? Making their own African-American Folk Art? Seeing a Vietnamese Lion Dancer?
Whatever you choose, make a full, fun day of it and chase off the February doldrums. Register now so they know you’re coming! And be sure to arrive early for ALL events and activities, as space may be limited and seating is not guaranteed.
