Don’t-Miss Sports Action in Charlotte

On Carolina Panthers game days, kids can run football skills and drills and rev up to cheer on the team with the TopCats cheerleaders, mascot Sir Purr, and the PurrCussion drumline at Panthers in the Park at Romare Bearden Park.

The recently opened BB&T Ballpark brings Charlotte Knights baseball uptown. Fans 17 and younger can sign up for the Junior Knights Club and participate in Kids Run the Bases on Sunbelt Family Sundays.

Chubby, mascot for the minor league hockey team the Charlotte Checkers, brings his game to the ice for family fun at Time Warner Cable Arena. Kids Club members get a free ticket to Chubby’s birthday party and free post-game skate rentals.

Walk the course with the kids at the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Country Club. The annual PGA golf tournament hosts youth exhibitions at the beginning of the week, and children under 12 get in free with a paying adult.

Major League Lacrosse expansion team the Charlotte Hounds invites kids to join the Junior Hounds program, and play at the Kids Zone at every Charlotte Hounds lacrosse home game at Memorial Stadium.

NASCAR is an institution in the Charlotte area. Give the family a taste of racing during the Jack in the Box Summer Shootout Series with a full series of Legends Car and Bandolero racing at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.