Preschool Ballet Classes
Twirl, leap, and dance! This class introduces little dancers to movement through imaginative games, music, and simple ballet steps to build coordination, confidence, and creativity.
📍Mallard Creek Recreation Center, 2530 Johnston Oehler Rd
🕒 9:30 AM – 10:15 AM
👶 Best For: Preschoolers (ages ~3–5)
💡 Parent Tip: Comfortable clothes and bare or ballet shoes work great for first classes.
Cost: Free
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Itty Einstein Science Time
A hands-on, educational preschool science program at Catawba Science Center where little scientists explore simple science concepts through play, crafts, and fun demonstrations that spark curiosity and wonder. Designed for children and their caregivers to learn together in a relaxed, playful environment.
📍 Catawba Science Center, West Education Building, Classroom 1, Hickory, NC
🕒 10:00 am to 11:00 am
👶 Best For: Ages 3 to 5 with caregiver
💡 Parent Tip: Registration is required and space is limited, so sign up early to secure your child’s spot. Accompanying adults are free.
Cost: $15 per child, $10 for members (adults free), museum admission not included
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Toddler Time at Big Air
Little ones get a turn to bounce and jump in a toddler-focused open jump session with softer pacing and a safer, calmer environment.
📍Big Air Charlotte, 2408 Sardis Road North
🕒 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
👶 Best For: Toddlers (ages ~1–3)
💡 Parent Tip: Grip socks are required!
Cost: $23+
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Community Literacy Fair
A free, family-friendly literacy fair with interactive activities, book shopping, and community vendors, all centered around stories that reflect Black, Brown, and diverse children. It is a meaningful way to spend an afternoon celebrating reading together.
📍 Iglesia Vital, 6701 Pleasant Grove Rd
🕒 1 to 6 pm
👶 Best For: All ages, children under 18 must attend with a parent or guardian
💡 Parent Tip: Plan to arrive earlier in the afternoon for the best book selection and lighter crowds at activity tables.
Cost: FREE
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Newborn Class
A gentle, supportive class designed for babies ages 0 to 4 months and their caregivers, with sensory play, music, tummy time, and baby massage built in. It is also a great chance to connect with other parents and talk through sleep, feeding, and early development.
📍The Bunny Hive Charlotte, 1207 East Blvd
🕒 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
👶 Best For: Newborns 0–4 months
💡 Parent Tip: This short class length makes it very nap-friendly and ideal for first outings with a newborn.
Cost: $30 drop-in
Register Here
Betty Bookworms: Storytime + Coffee
This cozy weekly storytime invites little ones to enjoy a free book reading while caregivers sip coffee and connect. A relaxed, welcoming way to start your Friday morning together.
📍Betty by Moxie Mercantile, 1219 Thomas Ave
🕒 9:30am – 10:30am
👶 Best For: Babies, toddlers, and preschoolers
💡 Parent Tip: Arrive a few minutes early to grab coffee before storytime begins and snag a comfy spot for your kiddo.
Cost: Free
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SCNP: Friday Fire and S’mores (Drop-In)
Stop by the fire pit at Stevens Creek Nature Center for a cozy winter evening of s’mores and campfire vibes. No registration needed, just come ready for gooey fun.
📍 Stevens Creek Nature Center, 15700 Thompson Road, Mint Hill
🕒 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
👶 Best For: all ages
💡 Parent Tip: Dress warmly and bring wipes for sticky marshmallow hands.
Cost: Free
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Schiele Museum Fossil Fair
If your child is deep in a dinosaur or rock-loving phase, this is worth the drive. One ticket includes gemstone mining, a mini fossil dig, life-sized dinosaurs, live animals, a planetarium show, and real paleontologists ready to answer every curious question.
📍 Schiele Museum, Gastonia
🕒 9 am to 5 pm
👶 Best For: Preschool through elementary, though all ages will find something to explore
💡 Parent Tip: Bring a small backpack for all the treasures your kids will want to carry home, especially from gemstone mining.
Cost: Under $10, ages 3 and under free
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Charlotte Mini-Con
Charlotte’s longest-running comic book convention is back at a new venue. Expect vintage comic dealers, an artist alley, and plenty of cosplay-friendly fun in a low-key, family-accessible setting.
📍 Blume Studios, 904 Post St
🕒 10 am to 4 pm
👶 Best For: Elementary and up, especially comic and superhero fans
💡 Parent Tip: Parking is free, but bring cash for vendors since many artists and dealers prefer it.
Cost: $5, kids 16 and under FREE with a paying adult
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Ashley Mangione Reads and Discusses her Picture Books
Join author and educator Ashley Mangione for an in-store event where she will read from and discuss her picture books, including Lizzy in a Tizzy, The Voice in My Head, The Boat, and Eddie’s New Skills. This is a cozy, interactive experience for families who love story time and want to connect with an author and her creative work.
📍 Park Road Books, 4139 Park Road, Charlotte, NC 28209
🕒 10:30 am to 11:30 am
👶 Best For: All ages
💡 Parent Tip: Arrive a little early to pick out one of Ashley’s books at the store before the reading begins
Cost: FREE
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Yoga with Your Baby!
A gentle, nurturing yoga class designed for caregivers and pre-walking babies. Each session begins with soft baby yoga movements paired with mindful stretching and breathwork for adults, followed by relaxed open playtime for connection and community.
📍 SouthPark Regional
🕒 11:00 am to 11:30 am
👶 Best For: Babies 6 weeks to 17 months who are not yet walking, with caregiver
💡 Parent Tip: Bring a yoga mat or towel plus a cozy blanket for your baby, and dress in comfortable clothes you can move and stretch in. Only the attending adult needs to register and space is limited.
Cost: Free
Register Here
African American Heritage Festival
This year’s theme, “Red, White, Blue, and Black,” honors Black military service in recognition of America’s 250th anniversary. Expect panels, a keynote speaker, workshops, food trucks, live painting, a craft zone for kids, and community vendors for a full and meaningful day.
📍 Charlotte Museum of History, 3500 Shamrock Dr
🕒 11 am to 5 pm
👶 Best For: All ages
💡 Parent Tip: Some workshops require pre-registration, so check details ahead of time and secure spots before you go.
Cost: FREE
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Community Purim Celebration
A joyful, costume-filled community Purim celebration at the Levine JCC. Expect noisemakers, festive activities, and plenty of sweet hamantaschen as families gather to celebrate one of the most playful Jewish holidays.
📍 Levine JCC
🕒 12 to 3 pm
👶 Best For: All ages
💡 Parent Tip: Let kids wear costumes they can comfortably move and play in, since many activities are hands-on and high energy.
Cost: Free
RSVP Here
Sensory-Friendly Hours at Discovery Place Children’s Museum Huntersville
Special low-sensory hours crafted so children with sensory sensitivities and special needs can enjoy the museum’s hands-on exhibits in a calmer, quieter environment. Sensory backpacks with noise-canceling headphones and sensory-friendly toys are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
📍 Discovery Place Children’s Museum Huntersville
🕒 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm
👶 Best For: Children with ASD, sensory processing needs, vision or hearing impairments and caregivers
💡 Parent Tip: Arrive early to grab a sensory backpack and take advantage of quieter museum spaces before regular crowds arrive.
Cost: Included in Museum Admission
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Learning English Together Storytime
An engaging and interactive storytime designed for families learning English as a second language. Through stories, songs, rhymes, and hands-on activities, children build early language skills in a fun and supportive environment.
📍 Pineville Library
🕒 11:00 am to 11:30 am
👶 Best For: Families learning English as a second language
💡 Parent Tip: Space is limited, so arrive at least 15 minutes early to pick up a Storytime ticket at the Pineville front desk.
Cost: FREE
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Art at The Bunny Hive
If you love an activity that doubles as a keepsake, this is such a sweet one. Each month brings a new theme and a simple guided project, so your little one can paint, collage, or create something special, even if “creating” mostly means enthusiastic finger smudges. Honestly, I will always say yes to art that results in something fridge worthy.
📍The Bunny Hive Charlotte, The Classroom, 1207 East Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203
🕒 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
👶 Best For: Prewalkers, toddlers, and preschoolers
💡 Parent Tip: Leave nut snacks at home and plan for a quick outfit change afterward, especially if your toddler believes paint belongs everywhere.
Cost: $30 drop-in, intro offers available
Register Here
Purim Down Under
Chabad of Charlotte is hosting an Australian-themed Purim celebration complete with Megillah readings, festive activities, and outback-inspired food. It is a creative twist on a holiday that is already full of fun.
📍 Chabad of Charlotte, 6619 Sardis Rd
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👶 Best For: All ages
💡 Parent Tip: Check the schedule in advance and choose a Megillah reading time that works best for your child’s attention span.
Cost: $30/adult, children under 5 are free
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Pajama Storytime
A cozy evening storytime filled with stories, songs, and movement activities that support early literacy and foster a love of reading. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to participate, and pajamas and stuffed animals are welcome.
📍 Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library
🕒 6:00 pm to 6:30 pm
👶 Best For: Babies 0 to 2, toddlers 2 to 3, preschoolers 3 to 5, and caregivers
💡 Parent Tip: Make this part of your bedtime routine, change into pajamas beforehand and head straight home after for an easy transition to sleep.
Cost: Free
Register Here
Mini and Me Yoga
An interactive, gentle yoga class where young children and their caregivers stretch, breathe, and connect through playful poses and mindful movement. This session blends fun partner exercises, balance challenges, and calming stretches to build strength, flexibility, and focus with lots of smiles and quality time together.
📍Ballantyne Studio (Ignite Dance Productions), 5107 Piper Station Dr Unit C2
🕒10:00 AM – 10:45 AM
👶 Best For: Ages 4 months and up (child + caregiver)
💡 Parent Tip: Drop-in pricing makes this a great way to try yoga together without a long-term commitment. Bring a mat and water to stay comfortable and hydrated.
Cost: $15 per class
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Free Indian Folk Art Workshop — Mithila Motifs
Explore the vibrant tradition of Mithila (Madhubani) art with artist Rupam Varma in a free workshop where you will learn foundational techniques, the history and symbolism behind traditional Mithila motifs, and create your own artwork to take home. No experience is needed and supplies are provided.
📍 Matthews Community Center, 100 W McDowell St, Matthews, NC
🕒 10am - 12pm
👶 Best For: All ages
💡 Parent Tip: This is a great cultural enrichment activity that also makes a unique keepsake art project. Space is limited so register soon.
Cost: FREE
Register Here
Ed’s Dinosaurs Live!
Meet a lively crew of prehistoric friends as Ed Bounds brings dinosaurs to life with interactive fun. Kids can pet a baby dinosaur, interact with a Stegosaurus, and maybe even witness a dinosaur hatching during this STEAM-focused experience.
📍 ImaginOn
🕒 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
👶 Best For: Preschool 3 to 5 and school age 5 to 11
💡 Parent Tip: Arrive early for the best viewing spot, especially if your child wants a chance to pet one of the dinosaurs up close.
Cost: Free
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Tot Time at Perfect Balance
Open, non-instructional playtime in a safe gymnastics gym where parents and toddlers explore basic mats and apparatus together under parent supervision.
📍Perfect Balance Training Center, 8850 Monroe Rd
🕒 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
👶 Best For: Toddlers and preschoolers
💡 Parent Tip: No instructor on the floor; adults play and explore with their kids in the gym space.
Cost: ~$5–$6 per visit (drop-in)
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Free Art Kits: Bead Sculpture
Pick up a free, all-ages take-home art kit at Mint Museum Randolph and create bead sculptures inspired by the current exhibition. A simple, creative activity you can bring home for a slow afternoon.
📍 Mint Museum Randolph
🕒 During museum hours, while supplies last
👶 Best For: All ages
💡 Parent Tip: Go earlier in the week and earlier in the day for the best chance at snagging a kit before they run out.
Cost: Free
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Baby Massage at The Bunny Hive
If you are in that hazy newborn stretch where the days blur together, this is such a gentle way to get out of the house. Baby massage focuses on connection and calm, and it’s designed for little ones as young as two weeks old, with benefits that support sleep, digestion, and all the tiny discomforts that come with those early weeks. It’s truly one of the most peaceful classes they offer.
📍The Bunny Hive Charlotte, The Classroom, 1207 East Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203
🕒 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
👶 Best For: Newborns
💡 Parent Tip: Bring a soft swaddle blanket for your baby to lie on and plan to feed either right before or right after class so everyone stays relaxed. Leave nut snacks at home.
Cost: $30 drop-in, intro offers available
Register Here