SIP HOT COCOA WITH SANTA Stop by Optimist Hall on Saturday, December 7, and see the event space transformed into a Winter Wonderland. From 10 am to noon, Santa Claus will be stationed for photo ops against a backdrop of…
Settle in to read these holiday classics with your family and reminisce about the holiday spirit of your childhood. Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree Mr. Willowby’s Christmas tree is beautiful but too big for his parlor, so he has the butler…
Is there anything better than cozying up in a mountain retreat at the height of the holiday season? At just under three hours from Charlotte, Cataloochee Ranch sits on a picturesque mountaintop along the southeastern border of the Great Smoky…
Concerts, lights, gingerbread displays, and more
Know before you go to the annual holiday race
DIY ways to make your home magical this holiday season
For those who prefer to dine out on turkey day.
CELEBRATE DIWALI AT OPTIMIST HALL Come to Botiwalla on Friday, November 1 and celebrate Diwali, a festival of lights that marks India’s biggest and most important holiday of the year. The family-friendly evening includes food specials like a pani puri…
TREAT YOURSELF TO A FALL PIG PICKIN’ Take the family to Sweet Lew's BBQ on Sunday, October 6, and experience the Carolina BBQ Festival’s inaugural Fall Pig Pickin'. Tickets are $35 and include a whole hog barbecue buffet prepared by…
Now that families are in back-to-school mode, it’s a great time to try out this month’s recipe for Everything Cookies. They’re packed with protein, fiber, and flavor and they’re great for breakfast on-the-go, lunch boxes, and afternoon snacks. If you…
CELEBRATE LABOR DAY AT THE U.S. WHITEWATER CENTER Celebrate Labor Day at U.S. National Whitewater Center Saturday, August 31 and Sunday, September 1. The weekend lineup includes trail races, yoga, live music, and the Whitewater Center’s newest feature, Wildwoods, an…
Want to savor the last few weeks of summer? Here are six reasons to plan a weekend getaway in Hendersonville, just two hours from Charlotte. You can book a room with a view. Brightwaters Vacation Rentals hosts families in cabins,…
CELEBRATE BUZZ CITY KIDS CLUB DAY Head to Camp Greene Park on Saturday, August 3 for a fun-filled day of activities, games, and skills and drills. Activities cater to ages 7 to 14, and Buzz City Kids Club members can…
Q: I’ve had this gut feeling that my 18-month-old son has autism since his first birthday. He wasn’t a super smile-y baby, rarely makes eye contact, and often fixates on ceiling fans or windshield wipers. My pediatrician says it’s impossible…
All parents need some adults-only time to laugh, enjoy a meal, or catch a show or exhibit. A meal and an activity can seem like a big commitment when you factor in time and the cost of a sitter. These…
Holidays are a great time to start a family tradition—and some of the most delicious traditions start in the kitchen. This 4th of July flag-themed flatbread recipe came to be two summers ago on a family weekend in the mountains…
Looking to take a breather from your family’s packed summer schedule? When you’re ready to log off, power down, and unplug, take a two and a half hour drive to southern Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains and treat yourself to a…
CELEBRATE AMERICA AT THE BALLPARK See the Charlotte Knights take on the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp on July 4 at 6:35 p.m., and stay for a fireworks show at Truist field immediately following the game. Gates open at 5 p.m. Tickets…
Try one of these family hikes that make a great day trip from Charlotte.
Summertime is when peaches, berries, and melon are in their prime. Depending on where you live and shop, you may also find local plums, grapes, and figs. Take your kids to any local farmers market to meet the farmers who…
The Autumn at Oz Festival has returned to Beech Mountain’s Land of Oz for three weekends in September for more than 30 years. This season marks 85 years since the MGM classic, “The Wizard of Oz,” was released. “It’s a…
Can’t swing the airfare for a cross country trip this summer? Not to worry. Charlotte is accessible to plenty of family-friendly destinations that are four hours or less by car. Whether you want to see some wild animals, go glamping,…
VISIT THE NEW SULLENBERGER AVIATION MUSEUM The Sullenberger Aviation Museum officially opens its doors on Saturday, June 1, at 10 a.m. Captain C.B. “Sully” Sullenberger, who maneuvered the famed “Miracle on the Hudson” landing, will be in Charlotte to celebrate…
Start the summer strong with a family road trip to South Carolina’s Old 96 District for its annual Festival of Flowers, which happens June 6-9. See more than 30 colorful topiaries designed in the form of cows, elephants, horses, and…
