South End

Make a $25 donation and extend the Celebration!

Ride the Lynx Blue Line to the Bland Street station, walk a block and enjoy the celebration!

Join us for the Kick-off to Connect with Culture Days Celebration. Enjoy a festive multicultural food experience, open bar and live performances from Nicci Canada and Nouveau Sud and an interactive art experience from local artist Jonathan Grauel.

Cost: $25

Time: 7:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Location: The Collectors’ Room at Beau Monde (1520 S Tryon St., Charlotte, NC 28203)

Purchase your tickets here

Yancey

Ride the Lynx Blue Line to Scaleybark station, walk a few blocks and enjoy the following experience.

Experience: Interactive Art Project with Janelle Dunlap

Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Location: Brewers at 4001 Yancey (4001-A, Yancey Rd, Charlotte, NC 28217)

Capture the royal essence of our very own Queen Charlotte in this immersive portrait painting activity with artist Janelle Dunlap. Participants will create collaborative abstract portraits of Queen Charlotte by painting by filling this pre-drawn portrait with colors that represent modern day Charlotte.

University City

Ride the Lynx Blue Line to the JW Clay Blvd./ UNC Charlotte station and enjoy the following experiences

*The Girls Rock experience scheduled for 6:30 p.m. has been cancelled. 

Experience: El Alma de la Luna

Time: 7 p.m. – 7:20 p.m.

Location: Shoppes at University Place (8929 J M Keynes, Charlotte, NC 28262)

El Alma de la Luna will represent Puerto Rico through a Plena dance performance and Colombia through a Cumbia dance performance.

Experience: Brand New Sheriff Productions

Time: 7:20 p.m. – 7:50 p.m.

Location: Shoppes at University Place (8929 J M Keynes, Charlotte, NC 28262)

Musical performances from Brand New Sheriff Productions ‘Be A Lion’.

Experience: Purple Charlotte Steppers

Time: 7:50 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Location: Shoppes at University Place (8929 J M Keynes, Charlotte, NC 28262)

Purple Charlotte Steppers is the Premiere Social Dance Organization in the Nation. During the Kick-Off Culture Day Event participants will experience an awesome group demonstration, performed to Beyonce’s 2019 HIT – ‘Before I let Go’. After the demonstration, Master Instructor, Demond Carter will lead the audience in Charlotte’s Largest Ice-Breaker class concluding with the region’s largest group Soul-Line Dance Performance!

Pineville

Activities scheduled for the Pineville Arts & Cultural Hub at Pineville Elementary School have been cancelled due to CMS cancelling all community use of schools.

Experience: Free Admission and Tours of James K. Polk State Historic Site

Ages: All ages

Time: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Location: James K. Polk State Historic Site (12037 Lancaster Hwy, Pineville, NC 28134)

Located on land once owned by the parents of James K. Polk, this historic site commemorates the boyhood of our 11th president and significant events from his administration. Visitors can browse the museum exhibit, watch a film on Polk’s political career, tour authentic 19th-century log cabins from the area and explore the grounds.

Mint Hill
Arts & Cultural Hub

Activities scheduled for the Mint Hill Arts & Cultural Hub at Lebanon Road Elementary School have been cancelled due to CMS cancelling all community use of schools.

Steele Creek
Arts & Cultural Hub

All experiences will take place on Feb. 8 at the location below unless otherwise noted:

Central Steele Creek Presbyterian Church
9401 S Tryon St., Charlotte, NC 28273

Experience: Storytime with Ballet Dancers
Presented by: Charlotte Ballet

Ages: 5 – 8 years

Time: 10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Engage your young readers with books that encourage language and reading skill development, and helps them grow into successful, life-long readers. Ballet dancers from Charlotte Ballet will read several of their favorite children’s stories. Children of all ages are encouraged to dress-up for this fun and engaging story time.

Experience: Latin Dance Class
Presented by: Charlotte Ballet

Ages: All ages

Time: 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Charlotte Ballet teaching artist Lorraine Crittendon, will lead a fun Latin dance class for all ages. The class will explore the Caribbean dance styles of Salsa, Bachata, and Merengue. These styles will use the rhythms of Cuba and the Dominican Republic to create a fun and energetic class that will be sure to inspire.

Experience: LEGO Robotics
Presented by: Digi-Bridge

Ages: 8 – 17

Time: 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Experience: Solar System Spectacular
Presented by: Discovery Place Science

Ages: 5+ years

Time: 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Explore the solar system to learn about the sun, planets, asteroids and moons that make up Earth’s neighborhood.

Experience: Dance Performance
Presented by: Dances of India

Ages: All ages

Time: 3 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Dr. Maha Gingrich, the founder of the most anticipated “Dances of India” production, is an exponent of Bharatha Natyam, Kuchipudi, and Kathak classical dance forms, along with traditional folk dances of India. She is an internationally acclaimed dancer, choreographer, TV anchor, educator, and community leader, as well as the recipient of many awards, including the Global Leader award, Women of Distinction award, Distinguished Rotarian award, and a 50 Most Influential Women award. “Dances of India” celebrates 17 years of full house performances.

Northwest
Arts & Cultural Hub

All experiences will take place on Feb. 8 at the location below unless otherwise noted:

First Baptist Church – West
1801 Oaklawn Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28216

Experience: West African Dance Class
Presented by: Charlotte Ballet

Ages: All ages

Time: 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Embracing the beauty of West African Dance, the rhythms and the music. Charlotte Ballet brings to you a workshop celebrating other forms of dance using live accompaniment. Teaching Artist Ashley Suttlar Martin will take dancers through a series of movements based in traditional dance. Students of all ages are welcomed to take part in the sharing. No previous experience is required.
(Photo by Peter Zay)

Experience: Storytime with Ballet Dancers
Presented by Charlotte Ballet

Ages: 5 – 8 years

Time: 11:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

Engage your young readers with books that encourage language and reading skill development, and helps them grow into successful, life-long readers. Ballet dancers from Charlotte Ballet will read several of their favorite children’s stories. Children of all ages are encouraged to dress-up for this fun and engaging story time.

Experience: Musical Petting Zoo
Presented by: Charlotte Symphony and The Symphony Guild of Charlotte

Ages: All ages

Time: 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.

See an instrument petting zoo and try instruments representing each of the orchestral families that children (and adults) can touch and explore sound on.

Experience: LEGO Robotics
Presented by: Digi-Bridge

Ages: 8 – 17 years

Time: 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Experience: Momento Boxes
Presented by: Arts+

Ages: All ages

Time: 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Experience: Hand building
Presented by: Clayworks

Ages: All ages

Time: 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Experience: Treehouse Visual Art Experience
Presented by: Nicole Sheronas

Ages: All ages

Time: 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Experience: Artist Talk with Stacy Utley
Presented by: ASC Public Art Staff

Ages: All ages

Time: 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.

Artist Stacy Utley, along with Evoke Studio, has been commissioned to create artworks for the City of Charlotte’s upcoming Five Points Plaza and West Trade/I77 Underpass enhancement projects. The goal is to create iconic sculptures that pay tribute to the rich history of Historic West End Charlotte and celebrate the communities’ bright future. Join ASC Public Art staff and Stacy for an overview of the artwork designs and a discussion of Stacy’s artistic practice.

East Charlotte
Arts & Cultural Hub

All experiences will take place on Feb. 8 at the location below unless otherwise noted:

Charlotte Museum of History
3500 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, NC 28215

Experience: Senior Dance Class
Presented by: Charlotte Ballet

Ages: 55+ years

Time: 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

A movement class that begins in a chair with a full warm up and then eventually on the feet.

Experience: Martial Arts Demonstration & Tai Chi Class
Presented by: Thundering Wave Martial Arts Studio & UNCC Religious Studies Department

Ages: All ages

Time: 12 p.m. – 12:20 p.m.

Experience: Meditation Class
Presented by: The Kadampa Meditation Center & UNCC Religious Studies Department

Ages: All ages

Time: 12 p.m. – 12:20 p.m. & 1 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.

Experience: Vietnamese Lion Dancer
Presented by: Thundering Wave Martial Arts Studio & UNCC Religious Studies Department

Ages: All ages

Time: 1 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.

Experience: Explore the 1774 Rock House
Presented by: The Charlotte Museum of History

Ages: All ages

Time: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Experience: African-American Folk Art Make & Take
Presented by: Wanda Clarke

Ages: All ages

Time: 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Experience: World Cuisines in the Carolina Backcountry Cooking Demonstrations
Presented by: The Charlotte Museum of History

Ages: All ages

Time: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Experience: Diggin’ Fossils and Dynamic Duos
Presented by: Discovery Place Science

Ages: All ages

Time: 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.

Take a trip into the past and uncover ancient inhabitants of the planet. Explore fossils, including teeth, claws, bones and eggs. Dig for your own fossil to keep!

Experience: Mandolin Performance
Presented by: Christopher Henry

Ages: All ages

Time: 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Experience: Music and the Holocaust Program
Presented by: Charlotte Symphony

Ages: All ages

Time: 3 p.m. – 4 p.m.

North Mecklenburg
Arts & Cultural Hub

All experiences will take place on Feb. 8 at the location below unless otherwise noted:

Huntersville Elementary School
200 Gilead Road Huntersville, NC 28078

Experience: Dance-a-Story
Presented by: Charlotte Ballet

Ages: 5-8 years

Time: 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Engage your young readers with books that encourage language and reading skill development, and helps them grow into successful, life-long readers. Ballerinas from Charlotte Ballet will read several of their favorite children’s stories. Children of all ages are encouraged to dress-up for this fun and engaging story time.

Experience: Mecklenburg History 101: Queen, King, Duke, Crown
Presented by: History South (Tom Hanchett)

Ages: All ages

Time: 11:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

Dr. Tom Hanchett, historian-in-residence with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, offers a fun and informative look at our area’s history, from Colonial-era Queen Charlotte up to today’s newest immigrants. Bring your questions about this place we call home.

Experience: Music from Latin America
Presented by: Cafe Amaretto

Ages: All ages

Time: 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.

Explore Latin America through a combination of jazz, blues and folk music via a performance of Cafe Amaretto (Singer: Ana Lucia Divins; Guitar: Carlos Crespo; Drums: Trevor Cook).

Explora América Latina por medio del jazz y canciones tradicionales como los boleros o el son cubano, con el grupo Café Amaretto, conformado por la cantante colombiana Ana Lucía Divins, el guitarrista Carlos Crespo y el baterista Trevor Cook.

Experience: Diggin’ History through Music
Presented by: A Sign of the Times

Ages: All ages

Time: 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Tyrone Jefferson and A Sign of the Times will share the stories of Black people and the music that has moved and sustained them throughout their journey within the African Diaspora.

Experience: Sphero
Presented by: Digi-Bridge

Ages: All ages

Time: 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Experience: Scratch Art
Presented by: Irisol Gonzalez

Ages: All ages

Time: 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Participants will color a surface, paint over it, then scratch off a drawing that will reveal the colors underneath. Participants will be able to take home their unique work of art.

surrounding the arts & cultural hub

Experience: Free admission
Presented by: Carolina Raptor Center

Ages: All ages

Time: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Location: Carolina Raptor Center (6000 Sample Rd., Huntersville, NC 28036)

Experience: Clay experience at Carolina Raptor Center
Presented by: Clayworks

Ages: All ages

Time: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Location: Carolina Raptor Center (6000 Sample Rd., Huntersville, NC 28036)

Uptown

Experience: Free Admission
Presented by: Bechtler Museum of Modern Art at Levine Center for the Arts

Ages: All ages

Time: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Location: Bechtler Museum of Modern Art (420 S. Tryon Street, Charlotte 28202)

Experience: Free Admission
Presented by: McColl Center for Art + Innovation

Ages: All ages

Time: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Location: McColl Center for Art + Innovation (721 N. Tryon St., Charlotte 28202)

Experience: Free Admission
Presented by: Wells Fargo History Museum

Ages: All ages

Time: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Guided tours at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. 

Location: Charlotte Wells Fargo Museum (401 S. Tryon St., Charlotte, NC 28202)

The Charlotte Wells Fargo Museum showcases the story of gold mining and banking, with special North Carolina highlights. Through tours and hands-on exhibits, visitors of all ages can explore the innovative ways of connecting communities.

Experience: Free Admission
Presented by: Levine Museum of the New South

Ages: All ages

Time: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Location: Levine Museum of the New South (200 E. 7th Street, Charlotte 28202)

Experience: Free Admission
Presented by: Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts + Culture at Levine Center for the Arts & Charlotte Art League

Ages: All ages

Time: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Location: Harvey B. Gantt Center at Levine Center for the Arts (551 S. Tryon Street, Charlotte 28202)

Experience: Free Admission
Presented by: Mint Museum Uptown at Levine Center for the Arts

Ages: All ages

Time: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Location: Mint Museum at Levine Center for the Arts (500 S. Tryon Street, Charlotte 28202)

Experience: Akeelah and the Bee
Presented by: Children’s Theater of Charlotte

Ages: All ages

Time: 11 a.m.

Location: McColl Family Theatre at ImaginOn (300 E 7th St., Charlotte, NC 28202)

Max is 4 tickets per customer. Secure your tickets via https://bit.ly/3blBX8w using the code ‘CWC2020’ or call the Box Office at 704-973-2828 from 12 p.m.-5 p.m. First come, first served.

Elizabeth

Experience: Opera Xpress presents The Ugly Duckling
Presented by: Opera Carolina

Ages: All ages

Time: 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Location: St. John’s Baptist Church, Broach Hall (300 Hawthorne Ln., Charlotte, NC 28204)

Myers Park

All experiences will take place on Feb. 8 at the location below unless otherwise noted:

Wing Haven
248 Ridgewood Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28209

Experience: Free admission
Presented by: Wing Haven

Ages: All ages

Time: 10 a.m. –  5 p.m

Experience: Mixed Media Art
Presented by: Art Kiddo and Wing Haven

Ages: All ages

Time: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Experience: Cyanotypes in the Garden
Presented by: The Light Factory and Wing Haven

Ages: All ages

Time: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Experience: Nature Makerspace
Presented by: Wing Haven

Ages: All ages

Time: 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.

West Charlotte

Experience: African Drum Circle
Presented by: Drums4Life

Ages: All ages

Time: 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.

Location: West Boulevard Library (2157 West Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28208)

Experience the spontaneous creation of music on a variety of drums and percussion instruments. The circle is a symbol of wholeness and integration, with the center of a circle understood to symbolize Spirit – the Source.

Ballantyne
Arts & Cultural Hub

All experiences will take place on Feb. 8 at the location below unless otherwise noted:

Morrison Family YMCA
9405 Bryant Farms Rd., Charlotte, NC 28277

Experience: Wheel Throwing
Presented by: Morrison YMCA

Ages: All ages

Time: 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Experience: Recuérdame
Presented by: Nouveau Sud Project

Ages: All ages

Time: 1:30 p.m. – 2 p.m.

An original devised Acrobatic/Circus piece honoring their Latin American traditions and the rite of passage that is the loss of a beloved one through the lens of el Día de Muertos. In their story, Miguel and Laura live happily in a city apartment when one day, when headed to work, Laura gets involved in a car wreck. While this might indeed be a moment of intense grief and solitude for those of us who remain in this world, the Day of the Dead tradition teaches us that such an event is part of our journey on this earth and that the presence of those we loved that are no longer physically with us will continue to exist for as long as we fondly remember them. ‘Recordar es volver a vivir’.

Experience: Artist Talk and Community Engagement with Suikang Zhao
Presented by: ASC Public Art Staff

Ages: All ages

Time: 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Artist Suikang Zhao has been commissioned to create artwork for the City of Charlotte’s CMPD South Division Police Station.  He will create low-relief imagery that will be sited on the building’s façade. Join the ASC Public Art Staff and Suikang for an artist talk, inclusive of an overview of the artwork design, and artmaking to further inspire his design.

Experience: Electrifying Encounters
Presented by: Discovery Place Science

Ages: All ages

Time: 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Experience: Storytime with a Ballet Dancer
Presented by: Charlotte Ballet

Ages: All ages

Time: 2:30 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Experience: Y Dancers
Presented by: Morrison YMCA

Ages: All ages

Time: 3 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.