20 Family-Friendly Events and Activities in Charlotte: August 2021

Events and activities to finish off your summer bucket list

August 1

Grand Carnivale. Carowinds, Visit Carowinds for the final day of Grand Carnivale, which began July 17. This event celebrates cultures from around the world through games, food, crafts, and traditions. See the daily schedule online, and don’t miss the Spectacle of Color Parade. carowinds.com.

August 3

National Night Out. Stumptown Park, 120 S. Trade St., Matthews. 6-9 p.m. Free. Join the police officers of Matthews for this annual community event and meet the men and women who serve the town. matthewsnc.gov.

August 5

Scooter Competition. Grayson Skatepark at Naomi Drenan Recreation Center, 750 Beal St. 5:30-7:30 p.m. $2-$3. Register to take part in an all-ages and all-skill-levels scooter competition that zooms around the banks, corners, rails, ledges, and multi-bowl. parkandrec.com.

August 5-8

Madagascar: A Musical Adventure Jr. Armour Street Theater, 307 Armour St., Davidson. Thurs. and Fri., 7 p.m.; Sat. and Sun., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. $12. Join your wild friends from Madagascar and “Move It, Move It” to this musical production. davidsoncommunityplayers.org.

August 11

Kids Kayak Clinic. Anne Springs Close Greenway, 2573 Lake Haigler Dr., Fort Mill. 6-7:30 p.m. $32. Children ages 8 to 15 may register for this kayaking clinic to learn basic paddling techniques through a series of kayaking exercises and games. ascgreenway.org.

August 13

2nd Friday Street Festival. Oak Street Mill, 19725 Oak St., Cornelius. 6-10 p.m. Free. This month’s street festival features the theme, Celebrate the Lake. Enjoy live entertainment, food trucks, shopping, and family games. facebook.com/oakstreetmillcornelius/.

August 14

Circle K Monster Truck Bash. The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway, 5555 Concord Pkwy. S., Concord. 6:45 p.m. $10-$25. Watch 2,000-horsepower monster machines battle it out at the Circle K Monster Truck Bash. Although gates open at 4 p.m., fans may bring a donation for the school supply drive to enter at 3:30 p.m. or purchase entry to the Pit Party. charlottemotorspeedway.com.

Family Fun Night. Mint Hill Veterans Memorial Park, 8850 Fairview Rd., Mint Hill. 6:15 p.m. Free. Rock out to the band, Smokin’ Gunn while the kids enjoy inflatables, face painting, and games. A back-to-school pep rally will take place from 6:15-6:45 p.m. before the concert. Food trucks will be on site. facebook.com/minthillevents.

Markets at 11 in Ballantyne. Ballantyne’s Backyard, 11611 N. Community House Rd. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. Soak in the sunshine and fresh air on Ballantyne’s former golf course. Shop the on-site vendors for crafts, food, and drinks and enjoy live entertainment. goballantyne.com.

Wild Wings! Hummingbird Banding. Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens, 6500 S. New Hope Rd., Belmont. 9 a.m.-3:15 p.m. $8-$15. Don’t miss the Butterfly Bungalow to see beautiful butterflies up close—it’s free with garden admission. dsbg.org.

August 21

Charlotte Independence vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks. American Legion Memorial Stadium, 1218-1238 Armory Dr. 7 p.m. $12+. Come cheer on Charlotte Independence in this home game against the Colorado Springs Switchbacks. It’s also Pride Night at American Legion Memorial Stadium. charlotteindependence.com.

CMPD Animal Care and Control Pet Adoptions. South Park Mall, 4400 Sharon Rd. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Meet your new best friend in South Park Mall’s Center Court. Make a financial donation to help shelter programs and have your adoption fee waived as part of the Summer Lovin’ Adoption Special. simon.com.

Sensory Friendly Screening: Paw Patrol. Sun Valley 14, 6449 Old Monroe Rd., Indian Trail and RedStone 14, 9650 Red Stone Dr., Indian Land. $5. Watch Paw Patrol in a safe and accepting environment with brighter lights, lower sound, and specials for drinks and popcorn. Reservations are not required. stonetheatres.com.

Summer Concerts in Fort Mill. Walter Y. Elisha Park, 345 N. White St., Fort Mill. 6-9 p.m. Free. Kids in America will wrap up Fort Mill’s final summer concert. Bring blankets and chairs to unwind and enjoy music, food trucks, and the park’s playground. fortmillsc.gov.

August 22

Space Science Saturday. McDowell Nature Preserve, 15222 York Rd. 2-3 p.m. Ages 6 and older may register for this spectacular science program to participate in hands-on STEM activities. Design and build space probes, watch demonstrations, and more. parkandrec.com.

August 27

Mount Holly Summer Concert. Blackwater Rhythm and Blues will perform live in Mount Holly as part of the town’s summer concert series. Other performance dates this month include Aug. 6 and Aug. 13. mtholly.us.

August 28

Charlotte Knights vs. Durham Bulls. Truist Field, 324 S. Mint St. 1:04 p.m. and 7:04 p.m. $11+. See the Knights take on the Bulls in this double header. With two games in one day, families may choose the time that best fits their schedule. Those opting for the later game can catch fireworks at the end. milb.com/charlotte-knights/.

August 29

Party in the Park at Mint Museum Randolph. 2730 Randolph Rd. 1-5 p.m. Free. Spend Sunday Funday enjoying food trucks and live music. Free tickets to the party will also include free admission to the museum. mintmuseum.org.

Ongoing

Through August 20

9 Weeks of Summer. Mr. Putty’s Fun Park, Prices vary by activity. Catch the summer deals at Mr. Putty’s Fun Park before they are gone. Weekly specials include buy-one-get-one mini golf on Mondays, Wednesday Family Nights, Five-Dollar Fridays, and more. mrputtys.com.

Through August 31

PJ Masks Event. SeaLife Charlotte-Concord, 8111 Concord Mills Blvd., Concord. $15+, children ages 2 and younger free. Visit the aquarium to meet your pajama-clad pals, Cat Boy, Gecko, and Owlet! Guests can enjoy daily PJ Masks meet-and-greets at noon and 3 p.m. along with themed games, experiences, and décor. visitsealife.com.