The Charlotte region hops with festivals, sports events and activities of all kinds to suit any interest. Here’s a brief look at some perennial favorites. Our newest addition is the U.S. National Whitewater Center who just hosted the US Olympic team trials.

Arts festivals are among Charlotte’s most popular events. Festival in the Park (www.festivalinthepark.org), an arts and crafts festival around Freedom Park’s lake, appears every September. Several festivals celebrate Charlotte’s international and ethnic ties, including the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Irish Festival (www.charlottestpatsday.com) in March, the Loch Norman Highland Games (www.ruralfarm.org) near Davidson in April, the Yiasou Greek Festival (www.greekorthodoxclt.org) in September and UNC Charlotte’s International Festival (www.uncc.edu/ifest) in September. Novello (www.novellofestival.net), a festival sponsored by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library, draws thousands in October to hear authors such as novelist Tom Clancy and reporter Bob Woodward of Watergate fame.

Rock Hill, S.C., invites visitors to its 11-day Come-See-Me festival (www.comeseeme.rockhill.net) in April and to Yap Ye Iswa/Day of the Catawbas (www.ccppcrafts.com), which is celebrated on the Catawba Indian reservation near Rock Hill in November.

Sports events always draw big crowds in and around Charlotte. Here are some of the biggest: the Charlotte Thunder Road Marathon in December (www.runcharlotte.com), the Queens Cup Steeplechase (www.queenscup.org) at Mineral Springs in Union County in April, The Wachovia Championship PGA tournament (www.wachoviachampionship.com) in May at Quail Hollow Country Club and the Charlotte Ultraswim (www.justswimmac.org/ultraswim) in June.

NASCAR races roar twice a year at Lowe’s Motor Speedway (www.lowesmotorspeedway.com), including race week with the Nextel All-Star Challenge and Coca-Cola 600 in May and the UAW-GM Quality 500 in October. Racing excitement spills from the speedway into Uptown Charlotte during Speed Week each May. You can enjoy a parade, fireworks, entertainment, food and special events leading up to the Coca-Cola 600.

Paramount’s Carowinds
Visitors of all ages will enjoy this amusement park. 14523 Carowinds Blvd., Charlotte. 704-588-2600  www.carowinds.com.  It becomes Scaro-Winds for Halloween!                                          
Holidays are prime times for fun. Fireworks and a concert spark the city’s Fourth of July festivities. On Thanksgiving, the Carolinas Carousel Parade (www.carrouselparade.org) salutes princesses chosen from area high schools and opens the Christmas season with Santa’s arrival.

Folks who love collecting ideas for their homes will enjoy the many home tours. The Mint Museum (www.mintmuseum.org) sponsors two of the best – the Home and Garden Tour in April and the Antiques Show in October. The Charlotte Symphony Guild (www.symphonyguildcharlotte.org) sponsors the ASID Designer House each September. The Home Builders Association of Charlotte (www.hbacharlotte.com) presents HomeArama each spring. Many neighborhood groups and private companies also sponsor home tours throughout the year, where you can look at renovated older homes or spectacular new ones.

Many organizations sponsor exhibits and trade shows at the Charlotte Merchandise Mart, the Charlotte Convention Center and other sites around town. Southern Shows Inc. (www.southernshows.com) sponsors several Charlotte favorites, including the Southern Spring Show in February-March, the Southern Ideal Home Show in September-October and the Southern Christmas Show in November.

Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte
In 2004, the Actor’s Theatre moved to its Stonewall location with its 199-seat intimate Main Street Theatre and 50-seat Black Box Theatre. The Actor’s Theatre also sponsors educational programs for the community. 650 E. Stonewall St., Charlotte. 704-342-2251 www.actorstheatrecharlotte.org.

Afro-American Children’s Theatre
This organization provides exposure to various arts media to children and youth ages 6-21. 926 Elizabeth Ave., Charlotte. 704-372-7410.

Afro-American Cultural Center
The center is a regional showcase for art, music, theater, film and cultural education. 401 N. Myers St., Charlotte. 704-374-1565  www.aacc-charlotte.org.

North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
This center, which includes the Belk Theatre and the Booth Playhouse, is home to the Charlotte Symphony, North Carolina Dance Theatre, Opera Carolina, Charlotte Repertory Theatre, Charlotte Choral Society and the Carolinas Concert Association. 130 N. Tryon St., Charlotte. 704-372-1000   www.blumenthalcenter.org.

Carolina Actors Studio Theatre
Located in Plaza-Midwood, this intimate theater presents highly acclaimed comedy and drama productions as well as acting classes. 1118 Clement Ave., Charlotte 704-455-8542 www.nccast.com

Carolina Voices
Founded as the Charlotte Choral Society in 1954, the Carolina Voices performs Charlotte’s longest-running holiday tradition – the annual “Singing Christmas Tree.”  The group also features performances throughout the year. 1900 Queens Road, Charlotte. 704-374-1564. www.carolinavoices.org

Carolinas Concert Association
For more than 75 years, the Carolinas Concert Association presents orchestras, musicians, vocalists and dancers and sponsors educational programs for local schools. 704-527-6680 www.carolinasconcert.com.

Central Piedmont Community College Theatre
In its 33rd season in 2006, CPCC’s summer theatre program sponsors this series that features plays and musicals at the Pease Auditorium on the campus of CPCC. Elizabeth Ave. at Pease Lane, Charlotte 704-330-6534  www.cpcc.edu/summer_theatre.

Charlotte Philharmonic Orchestra
The Charlotte Philharmonic welcomes world-renowned singers and musicians in addition to its holiday concert and new Popcorn Pops series for children. 704-846-2788. www.charlottephilharmonic.org

Shucking and Shagging: (pictured above right) FENCE organization in Tryon, NC. Evening located in the Equestrian mountain countryside with oysters, other food, music and dancing. Takes place in late October. Proceeds go to the FENCE organization.

Charlotte Civic Orchestra
This vocational orchestra performs all-classical music with affordable ticket prices and a family-friendly atmosphere. 704-344-0098 www.charlottecivicorchestra.org

  Charlotte Symphony Orchestra
Each year this professional orchestra provides a season filled with innovative works, the classics and guest conductors and performers. The symphony also performs a free Summer Pops series at Symphony Park in SouthPark. 704-972-2000 www.charlottesymphony.org.

Charlotte Youth Ballet
This company produces storybook ballets for families and schoolchildren presented by student dancers. 704-366-5133  www.charlotteyouthballet.com.

Children’s Theatre of Charlotte and Imaginon
Located in the new Imaginon Center, the Children’s Theatre delights the young (and young-at-heart) with plays and musicals just for them. 300 E. 7th St., Charlotte. 704-376-5745  www.ctcharlotte.org.

Community School of the Arts provides instruction in music, visual arts and drama to interested youth. 345 N. College St., Charlotte. 704-377-4187 www.csarts.org.

Davidson Community Players
This community troupe stages summer shows, dinner theater and children’s programs in Davidson. 704-892-7953 www.davidsoncommunityplayers.org.

Discovery Place http://www.discoveryplace.org

From the frontiers of space to the depths of the sea, Discovery Place is an ever-changing ever-growing, cutting edge science center. Our Discovery Halls and The Charlotte Observer IMAX® Dome Theatre offer something fun and educational for everyone in the family

The Light Factory
The Light Factory displays changing exhibits by local, national and international photographers in Spirit Square. 345 N. College St., Charlotte. 704-333-9755 www.lightfactory.org

McColl Center for Visual Art
This former burned-out church is now an artists’ colony. 721 N. Tryon St., Charlotte. 704-332-5535  www.mccollcenter.org.

Mint Museum of Art
The Mint holds a permanent collection of American paintings and sculpture; pre-Columbian, African and Spanish Colonial art; costumes; and porcelain and pottery. 704-337-2000. 2730 Randolph Road, Charlotte www.mintmuseum.org

Mint Museum of Craft + Design
This museum, which focuses on works in fiber, glass, wood, ceramics and metal, opened in 1999. 220 N. Tryon St., Charlotte. 704-337-2000   www.mintmuseum.org

North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
This center, which includes the Belk Theatre and the Booth Playhouse, is home to the Charlotte Symphony, North Carolina Dance Theatre, Opera Carolina, Charlotte Repertory Theatre, Charlotte Choral Society and the Carolinas Concert Association. 130 N. Tryon St., Charlotte. 704-372-1000 www.blumenthalcenter.org

North Carolina Dance Theatre
In its 35th season, this professional company presents classic and contemporary works. 800 N. College St., Charlotte. 704-372-1000 www.ncdance.org

NC Zoo in Asheville http://www.nczoo.org/

Opera Carolina
This organization stages classic tales of love and hate, intrigue and drama at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. 704-332-7177 www.operacarolina.org

Ovens Auditorium
This venue was once Charlotte’s main auditorium and continues to feature musical and theatrical productions throughout the year. 2700 Independence Blvd., Charlotte. 704-372-3600. www.ovensauditorium.com

Paramount’s Carowinds Paladium
Carowinds’ amphitheater hosts some of the hottest acts in the country. 14523 Carowinds Blvd., Charlotte. 704-588-2600   www.carowinds.com

Ray's Splash Planet http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/Park+and+Rec/Aquatics/Rays+Splash+Planet/Home.htm Ray's Splash Planet is unlike anything in the Carolinas!!  Ray's includes a one-of-a-kind water park with fun-filled features AND the Planet is home to a fitness center with aerobic & dance room, cardiovascular theater, free weights and resistance equipment.

Spirit Square Center for Arts & Education
Spirit Square offers touring performances, art classes and gallery exhibits and has made children’s arts education one of its main missions. 345 N. College St., Charlotte. 704-372-1000 www.blumenthalcenter.org

Theatre Charlotte
Theatre Charlotte has been entertaining audiences since 1927. 501 Queens Road, Charlotte. 704-376-3777 www.theatrecharlotte.org.

Verizon Wireless Amphitheater- Charlotte
This open-air venue in University City welcomes rock, pop and rap artists and includes reserved and lawn seating. 5000 reserved seats and 15,000 lawn seats. 704-549-5555   www.verizonwirelessamphitheater.com/charlotte

The region provides easy access for weekend excursions to the shores of North and South Carolina beaches and day trips to mountain retreats and resorts. Charlotte and the metro region also have great destinations for a day of education about our history or just plain fun!

As a newcomer, you can research Charlotte’s past by visiting the Charlotte Museum of History, Historic Rosedale and Latta Plantation. Reed Gold Mine in Cabarrus County will take you back to the golden days of this region’s beginning. York County preserves the Catawba Indian traditions at the Catawba Cultural Center. And you can revisit our presidential history at James K. Polk Memorial and the memorial to Andrew Jackson.

Charlotte natives and newcomers always marvel at the seasonal delights of local color at numerous gardens and nature trails. There are a variety of botanical gardens to visit during all seasons of the year. Whether it’s football at Bank of America Stadium, race cars at Lowe’s Motor Speedway or amusement rides at Paramount’s Carowinds, the Charlotte Metro Region provides plenty of places to go and things to do.

Anne Springs Close Greenway
This protected natural area of 2,300 acres includes 32 miles of trails, a nature center and a 35-acre reservoir for fishing. 1600 U.S. 21 Bypass, Fort Mill. 803-547-1003 www.leroysprings.com/Greenway.html

Backing Up Classics
History hits the road at this car museum near Lowe’s Motor Speedway. 4545 U.S. 29, Concord. 704-788-9500 www.backingupclassics.com

Bank of America Stadium
Particularly after their 2004 Super Bowl debut, the Carolina Panthers’ $165 million black-and-blue stadium dominates its end of Uptown and is worth a trip even when no game’s scheduled. Tours are conducted each Wednesday and group tours can be scheduled during the week. 800 S. Mint St., Charlotte. 704-358-7000  www.panthers.com/stadium

Carolina Raptor Center
See bald and golden eagles, owls, hawks and other birds of prey at this center, located at Latta Plantation Park. 6000 Sample Road, Huntersville 704-875-6521 www.carolinaraptorcenter.org

Catawba Cultural Center
This center on the Catawba Indian Reservation preserves the culture of the Catawba Nation with an emphasis on literature and crafts. 1536 Tom Steven Road, Rock Hill. 803-328-2427. www.ccppcrafts.com

Charlotte Museum of History/Hezekiah Alexander Homesite
Discover how earlier Charlotteans lived at this complex, which includes the city’s oldest dwelling, dating back to 1774. 3500 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte. 704-568-1774 www.charlottemuseum.org

Charlotte Trolley and Trolley Museum
Board the trolley at the Atherton Mill complex in South End for a ride. 2104 South Blvd., Charlotte. 704-375-0850 www.charlottetrolley.org

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
Spread out over 110 acres, these gardens feature colorful flowers, distinctive plants, fountains and trails. 6500 S. New Hope Road, Belmont. 704-825-4490  www.dsbg.org

Discovery Place
Science and technology take center stage at this hands-on museum, which includes discovery halls, an aquarium, the Charlotte Observer IMAX® Dome Theatre, the Challenger Learning Center, an aquarium and KidsPlace toddler room. 301 N. Tryon St., Charlotte. 704-372-6261 www.discoveryplace.org

Carolina Mountains: Just an hour and a half away, and you can enjoy all your snow sports for the winter, and your trout fishing in the summer. On the flip side, we Charlotte is located just a little over 3 hours away from all those Carolina Beaches and the Low Country where seafood is plenty!

      Make sure
           to
       use plenty
           of
      Sunscreen!
         Well,
      maybe not
        THAT
         much!

EnergyExplorium  Learn about different forms of energy with hands-on exhibits at McGuire Nuclear Station. 13339 Hagers Ferry Road, Huntersville. 704-875-5600
www.dukepower.com/community/learningcenter/visitorcenters/explorium.asp