Charlotte’s Spring Sensations
By Kirsten Martin
April is here, and the spring
that it brings leaves many people restless with
a serious case of spring fever. Don't panic just
yet, though—TRIP has got just the remedy! Cure
your ailment with one of these fabulous events
taking place this spring.
Explore exciting Historic Rural
Hill Farm (4431 Neck Rd., Huntersville,
704-875-3113) for a celebration of Scottish
heritage at the 14th Annual Loch Norman Highland
Games. Held April 20-22, the games are attended
by over 90 Scottish and Scots-Irish clans from
all over the world. The weekend of events
includes world-class athletes in physical
competitions, bagpiping, fiddle, and harp
competitions, and Scottish dance. Enjoy Celtic
and Scottish bands while sampling an array of
delectable Scottish cuisine. Individual tickets
are available for the many events. Visit
www.ruralhill.net, or call 704-875-3113 for
more information.
Put
on your running shoes for the Charlotte RaceFest
(Doubletree Guest Suites Charlotte-SouthPark,
6300 Morrison Blvd., 704-377-8786) held in
SouthPark for its 10K and half-marathon races.
The races begin on April 14th at 8am, where runners will enjoy the scenic course prepared throughout
South Charlotte. All participants
will receive a commemorative medallion, and the
top three male and female runners will receive
cash prizes. After the conclusion of both races,
Michelob Ultra will present an amazing after
party with live music, food, and beverages for
all ages. For more information and for
registration, visit the web site at
www.charlotteracefest.com.
Awarded the distinction of being
one of the Southeast's top 20 spring festivals,
the Come-See-Me Festival (downtown Rock Hill,
SC, 803-329-7625) opens this year on April 12
and runs through April 21 with 10 days of music,
contests, food, activities, and fun! The 2007
festival will kick off with the Come-See-Me
Parade on Thursday evening. On Friday night,
shag the night away at the Beach Bash. The
annual Mayor's Frog Jump race will take place on
Saturday morning followed by the return of
Gourmet
Gardens, an outdoor venue for food, conversation, and entertainment in
Cherry
Park. Throughout the week there will be a number of musical
performances to enjoy. The festival ends with a
bang during its second weekend with a tailgate
party, the Great Gourmet Grill-Off, and a
fireworks extravaganza. There are also a number
of events just for kids, such as a fun-filled
carnival and the frog-hopping fun event, as well
as sporting events like the annual golf
tournament and a 5K run. For a complete schedule
of events, visit the web site at
www.comeseeme.rockhill.net.
Guests
to the Festival of Flowers (Biltmore Estate, 1
Approach Rd., Asheville, 800-570-4780)—taking
place April 7-May 20—can visit one of the most
stunning flower displays in the country on the
grounds of the Biltmore Estate. Colorful flowers
bloom in the natural gardens and trails, and
elegant floral displays complement the estate's
grand interior. More than 1,000 azaleas fill the
grounds with color, while 2,300 roses fill the
air with sweet fragrance.
The highlight of the festival is
the grand finale, the Home and Garden Weekend
featuring Steve Bender, Southern Living's
gardening editor. On the weekends, the Biltmore
offers family festivities, including dance,
music, and skits, and the Biltmore Winery joins
the festivities with wine, music, children's
activities, and more. For more information,
visit
www.biltmore.com.
At
the Food Lion AutoFair (Lowe's Motor Speedway,
Hwy. 29 South, Concord, NC, 704-455-3205), over
100,000 car enthusiasts gather each year for the
nation's largest show of its kind for four days
of attractions.
Running April 12-15, the show
includes more than 2,500 cars on display and
more than 7,000 vendor spaces that offer a
plethora of automotive parts and memorabilia.
Browse through the myriad classic car models,
and if you're just not happy with your current
car, the car corral—which completely circles the
1.5-mile speedway—offers 2,000 vehicles of all
makes and models available for sale or trade.
For more information and for tickets, call
704-455-3205, or visit
www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.
For the premier spring arts
festival in Charlotte, join the thousands of
people who can't get enough of the Art & Soul of
South End's Block Party (between the 1500 and
1700 blocks of Camden Rd.).
On
April 28-29, the annual event will feature the
work of more than 100 artists in a variety of
media, including pottery, photography,
paintings, hand-woven clothing and accessories,
African-American artwork, handmade jewelry, and
stained glass, along with open studio tours and
on-street demonstrations.
The event incorporates a juried
art show among the vendors, with the winners in
each category receiving cash prizes. For more
information, visit the web site at
www.artandsoulofsouthend.com.
Celebrate the life and
accomplishments of the legendary Dale Earnhardt
while watching the NASCAR Talledega race during
the 6th annual Dale Earnhardt Day event on April
29 at Dale Earnhardt Inc. (1675 Dale Earnhardt
Hwy. # 3, Mooresville, NC, 1-877-334-9663). This
year’s event starts at 11am and features unique
displays, exhibits, and memorabilia from the new
movie Dale, in addition to activities and
promotions for the entire family. Complimentary
shuttle service is available from designated
locations. For more information, visit
www.daleearnhardtinc.com.
This spring, take the opportunity
to get out and see the beautiful blooming
flowers at Daniel
Stowe
Botanical Garden (6500 S. New Hope Rd., Belmont,
704-829-1271) at the annual Celebrate Spring!
Plant & Craft Festival on April 21-22. The
popular garden show will spread across two days
this year, with the promise of top-quality,
hard-to-find plants and a chance to discuss
gardening with the various vendors and the
experts from the garden. And the excellent show
won't break your wallet—the garden only charges
general admission for the entire event.
Celebrate keeping the earth
beautiful at the annual Earth Day Celebration on
April 21 at the Carolina
Raptor
Center (Latta Plantation Nature Preserve,
Huntersville, 704-875-6521). This
family-centered event offers a variety of
activities to engage and instruct children and
adults on how to take care of our planet.
Crafts, storytelling, live raptor presentations,
and exciting demonstrations make this a day not
to be missed!
The Town of Boiling Springs and
Gardner-Webb
University will host the Springs Alive Festival on Saturday, April 21, on the
campus of Gardner-Webb. The festival officially
begins with fun and exciting activities planned
for the entire family. Activities include
inflatables, carriage rides, field games,
swimming, a climbing wall, arts, crafts, and
food. Dance and choral groups will also perform
with local musicians. For details, call
704-406-3824.
For an entire three days of
family festival fun, visit Cleveland County for
the 2007 Foothills Merry-Go-Round Festival
(Shelby City Park, 850 W. Sumter Street, Shelby,
704-484-6476). Kick off the event at the
softball homerun derby, an outdoor play, or a
free outdoor movie on the court square. On
Saturday, parents and kids alike will adore the
various carnival games and rides, along with the
array of delicious food vendors, live
entertainment, and classic cars. The festival
also includes trolley rides to the 100th
birthday celebration of the Cleveland County
Courthouse and a juried art show featuring over
50 artists. For more information, visit
CityofShelby.com/parks.
The Mint Museum's 54th Annual
Home & Garden Tour will take place April 26-29
this year. Sponsored by the Mint Museum
Auxiliary and the Charlotte Garden Club,
Celebrating the Arts will feature a splendid
array of elegant homes and spectacular gardens
located in some of Charlotte's most beautiful
neighborhoods. Guests will have the exciting
opportunity to marvel at the private interiors
and surroundings of diverse local residences,
while appreciating the arts of interior design,
architecture, and landscape design. Throughout
the tour, Providence Cafe on Perrin Place will
host “Lunch for the Mint” at 11am and 1:30pm for $15 a person. The week concludes with the Mint Gala on Saturday,
April 28, at the amphitheatre at Symphony Park
in SouthPark, featuring music from the 16-piece
band Party On The Moon and a silent auction.
Tickets to the tour are $20 prior to April 26
and $25 from April 26-28 and are available at
locations around Charlotte. For more
information, contact April Young at
704-337-2010.
