CHARLOTTE’S FUN FALL FAMILY FESTIVALS October 25, 2012

Charlotte’s kaleidoscope of fall foliage and crisp air is beckoning families to come out and play! People are out and about in Charlotte’s neighborhoods and parks chasing toddlers through piles of colorful leaves, jogging along tree-lined streets or simply walking arm-in-arm enjoying the splendors of autumn in Charlotte. Along with beautiful scenery and perfect fall weather, Charlotte also offers outdoor fall festivities and activities for all!

Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill, SC is offering wonderful outdoor activities Friday, Oct 19 7:00p to 10:00p. You can pick your own pumpkin, get lost in the corm maze, participate in archery and horseback Rides, or enjoy the many more family fun activities.www.greenwayfallfest.com

The Carolina Renaissance Festival  is an annual bawdy good time for all ages. It is a 16th century European-style art and entertainment event that features outdoor theater, circus entertainment, an arts and crafts marketplace, jousting tournaments, and of course, a feast fit for royalty (the turkey legs are a must-have)! The Carolina Renaissance Festival season opens this fall for seven festive weekends, Saturdays and Sundays, October 6th – November 18th.

FALL FUN FESTIVAL – PRESENTED BY CHARLOTTE SPEECH AND HEARING CENTER. 4th Annual Fun Fest is Saturday, Nov 3 12:00p to 4:00p at Park Road. Free hearing and fine/gross motor skills screenings available along with games, food and fun!  www.funfestcharlotte.com for details.

The Great Pumpkin Patch Party is for the kids! It will be at the Ivory Baker Recreation Center; 1920 Stroud Park Ct. in Charlotte, Tuesday, Oct. 30 from 10 to11:30am parkandrec.com
Aw Shucks Farm at 3718 Plyler Mill Road in Monroe has fall fun that includes a Corn Maze, hayrides, and a new Animal Barn Grain Bin Slide. www.awshucksfarm.com

The Amazing Maize Maze at Rural Hill Farm in Huntersville returns for another fall season just in time to get you completely lost in a giant field of corn. Flashlight mazes every Friday evening at dusk through early November.      www.ruralhill.net/amazingmaizemaze.asp

18th Annual St. Stephen Fall Craft Festival at 6800 Sardis Rd. in Charlotte returns Saturday, Nov 3 from 9:00a to 2:00p. It will include 50+ vendors from Charlotte & surrounding areas and yummy Southern BBQ–eat in or take out. www.ststephenumc.net/UMW/umw_fallfestival.html

Autumn is calling you to come out and play in Charlotte!

 www.southcharlotteliving.com

CHARLOTTE OFFERS A FUN HALLOWEEN FOR ALL AGES October 18, 2012

 

Scary goblins, haunted houses and ghoulish activities abound in Charlotte during the month of October. Charlotte has entertainment and activities for all fright levels, and there is surely some wickedly wonderful fun to accommodate all during the month of Halloween!

Because the even the smallest witches and wizards want to join in the spirit of Halloween, Carowinds Amusement Park offers a Howl-O-Fest’s Boo Blast for the youngest set.  During the daytime, the park’s Paladium Amphitheatre Plaza is transformed in to a street party of frightful fun for kids and their families. Complete with activities that are fun-scary, not scary-scary, Howl-O-Fest’s Boo Blast is an exciting compilation of shows, attractions, and interactive activities throughout the day.  Then, the older kids (13 and older) can come back at night for SCarowinds Halloween Haunt XI. SCarowinds has long been a rite of passage for all teens! (www.carowinds.com ). The younger set can also enjoy a natural Halloween at Creepy Crawly Celebration! Friday, Oct 26, 6:00p to 9:00p at Reedy Creek Nature Center, Charlotte, NC.  The museum celebrates all that’s creepy and crawly Halloween weekend! Live animals, touch tanks, costume contest, marshmallow roast, and trick or treating included. Also, for the wriggly and giggly, head out to Lake Norman to join the Sate Park Rangers to investigate creatures living in the region. Costumes are optional, but call ahead due to group limits, 704 528-6350.

If you are looking to be terrified, The Campground Massacre in Fort Mill, www.themassacre.com ,  is a scream-your-head off choice. The 130-acre Carrigan Farms inMooresville, NC is a short 30-minute drive and turned into Scarrigan Farms, www.scarriganfarms.com, every October and is a very scary haunted trail for the older, thrill-seeking set.

For a more sophisticated, musical Halloween route. Wicked Divas of Broadway is being presented October 28-29 by the Charlotte Symphony at The Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, www.blumenthalcenter.com. The North Carolina Music Factory, 1000 NC Music Factory Boulevard will have Music, Monsters and Mayhem for those interested in some wicked entertainment.  The 12th Annual Grave Diggers Ball at 301 E. Seventh St.is an annual party has become one of the biggest Halloween events in the region and often sells out.

Whether you are looking to get your goul on by being terrified, investigating creepy crawlies outdoors, dancing the night away, or watching a show Charlotte is sure to leave you spellbound!

www.southcharlotteliving.com

CHARLOTTE FALLS INTO BRILLIANT COLOR October 11, 2012

Autumn is a visual feast for North Carolinians! In North Carolina, you’ll find vibrant autumn color from the first weeks of October through early November. Our brilliant annual show of bright reds, vivid oranges and deep golds meanders its way down to Charlotte, starting at higher elevations such as Mount Mitchell and Grandfather Mountain and slowly ripples down through mountains, foothills and Piedmont in the weeks that follow.

 North Carolina’s earliest and most vibrant fall foliage occurs in the beautiful mountains, located in the western part of the state, with leaf admirers enjoying spectacular fall color a little later in the season in many areas of the North Carolina Piedmont, including Charlotte.

Newcomers to Charlotte are often heard saying “It is so green”! Our beautiful green trees that give us such a spectacular show in the fall are no mistake. The City of Charlotte Tree Ordinance Originally adopted in 1978, protects trees in the public right of way, and those on private property as they relate to development. The Ordinance also requires tree planting with new construction. Charlotte takes great pride in maintaining its beauty by adhering to environmental regulations and preserving aesthetic standards!

The neighborhoods in Charlotte, whether the newer Ballantyne area or in the older, more historic sections of the city, are all breathtaking in the fall! Take the time this fall to drive or take a stroll down some of Charlotte’s most beautiful tree lined streets. Just taking a quick trip to the neighborhood grocery store down Ballantyne Commons Parkway in South Charlotte can be a delightful diversion when you are surrounded by the amazing kaleidoscope of trees along the way. Myers Park neighborhood is popular for its canopy of majestic oak trees and elegant homes. Dilworth is also one of Charlotte’s most picturesque neighborhoods. Throughout Dilworth you will find families enjoying the convenience of long sidewalks and front porches to admire the wonderful view of their colorful yards.

Enjoy the feel of crisp fall weather in Charlotte! You just need to roll the car windows, take a stroll or eat outside to admire the wondrous sight of brilliant color slowly unfolding as Charlotte welcomes the fall season!

www.southcharlotteliving.com

BRIGHT ORANGE PUMPKINS AND CORN MAZES ANNOUNCE AUTUMN IN CHARLOTTE October 7, 2012

       

Bright orange pumpkins are beckoning to be taken home for decoration, jack o lanterns and tasty treats. Corn mazes are waiting to challenge families and friends, and wagons are hitched to the horses for hay rides.  It is another beautiful fall in Charlotte, N.C.!

Family fun abounds in Charlotte during the fall months! Hunting for that perfect pumpkin is an annual tradition for a lot of families in the weeks before Halloween. Hall Family Farm features pumpkin picking with a musical hay ride, http://www.hallfamilyfarm.com. The farm is in the Ballantyne Area, at the intersection of Johnston Rd and Providence Rd West.  Hodges Farm on Rocky River Road has over 10 Acres of Pumpkins!  Hodges also offers hayrides, Hay Mountain, farm animals, and pony rides only on Saturday and Sunday, http://www.hodgesfarmnc.com.  Carrigan Farms is offering weekend Pumpkin Hayride Tours to the public. Hours of operation are Saturday & Sunday, from 9 AM to 4 PM (SHARP), with hayrides leaving out about every 15 minutes, http://www.carriganfarms.com. Guests enjoy a hayride to visit farm animals and to the patch to pick a pumpkin. Don’t forget all the local roadside pumpkin patches! One of the most popular roadside pumpkins is outside Carmel Commons shopping center on Pineville-Matthews Road and Carmel Road.

Did You Know?
That Jack O Lantern is a nutritious way to celebrate the fall season! Originating in Central America, pumpkins are fruits – a type of squash in the family of cucumbers, squashes and melons.  They are 90% water and are great for much more than carving! For delicious and nutritious recipes go to http://tarheeltastebud.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-pumpkin-bucket-list.html.

Corn Mazes are an exciting adventure for all family members! The Amazing Maize Maze at Rural Hill located in Huntersville, N.C. is a favorite family challenge. Get lost in the giant seven acre corn maze featuring over two miles of interconnecting paths, http://www.ruralhill.net. One of the largest in the Southeast, the maze is sure to please! Looking for an even bigger challenge? Do the maze in the dark during one of the Family Friendly Friday or Saturday Night Mazes! Bring your own flashlight.  With a new design each year, the maze at Aw Shucks^® at 3718 Plyler Mill Rd., in Monroe, NC is a popular attraction. The maze claims to never be overwhelming and even young kids do well,awshycksfarms.com/maze. Most visitors take 25 minutes to emerge from the corn! Be sure to bring a flashlight for the maze at NIGHT!  Hall Family Farm boasts a new 5 acre corn maze and Hodges Farm also offers corn maize fun to go along with your pumpkin picking and hay rides.

Whether choosing the perfect pumpkin, getting lost in a corn maze, or taking an evening stroll, fall is the perfect time to enjoy beautiful Charlotte, N.C.!

www.southcharlotteliving.com