---
title: "Things to Do: October 1 - 7"
description: Discover engaging family activities in Charlotte, including storytimes, play sessions, and educational events for children of all ages.
image: https://www.thecharlottesprout.com/hubfs/Events%202_26%20-%203_1.png
---

[Go Back Up](https://www.thecharlottesprout.com/the-charlotte-sprout-blog/things-to-do-october-1-7#top)

[Skip to Content](https://www.thecharlottesprout.com/the-charlotte-sprout-blog/things-to-do-october-1-7#body)

<https://www.thecharlottesprout.com/the-charlotte-sprout-blog/things-to-do-october-1-7#body>

- ![ChatGPT Image Oct 20, 2025, 09\_53\_40 PM](https://www.thecharlottesprout.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logos/ChatGPT%20Image%20Oct%2020%2c%202025%2c%2009_53_40%20PM.png?width=1536&height=1024&name=ChatGPT%20Image%20Oct%2020%2c%202025%2c%2009_53_40%20PM.png)

Toggle Menu

- [Home](https://www.thecharlottesprout.com)
- [About](https://www.thecharlottesprout.com/about)
  
  Toggle children for About
  
   Main Menu (Press to Return) 
  
  \> About 
  
    - [Past Issues](https://www.thecharlottesprout.com/past-issues)
    - [Contact](https://www.thecharlottesprout.com/contact-us)
- [This Week](https://www.thecharlottesprout.com/the-charlotte-sprout-blog?tags=Things+to+Do)
- [Pregnancy & Newborns](https://www.thecharlottesprout.com/the-charlotte-sprout-blog?tags=Pregnancy+and+Newborns)
  
  Toggle children for Pregnancy & Newborns
  
   Main Menu (Press to Return) 
  
  \> Pregnancy & Newborns 
  
    - [Baby Playgroups](https://www.thecharlottesprout.com/the-charlotte-sprout-blog/the-charlotte-baby-playgroups-actually-worth-getting-dressed-for)
    - [Baby Registry Guide](https://www.thecharlottesprout.com/the-charlotte-sprout-blog/the-baby-registry-list-i-wish-id-had-the-first-time)
    - [Childcare Guide](https://www.thecharlottesprout.com/the-charlotte-sprout-blog/free-charlotte-childcare-guide-daycare-research-template)
    - [Where to Deliver](https://www.thecharlottesprout.com/the-charlotte-sprout-blog/where-to-deliver-in-charlotte-a-completely-unscientific-crowdsourced-guide)
- [Toddlers & Preschoolers](https://www.thecharlottesprout.com/the-charlotte-sprout-blog?tags=Toddlers+and+Preschoolers)
  
  Toggle children for Toddlers & Preschoolers
  
   Main Menu (Press to Return) 
  
  \> Toddlers & Preschoolers 
  
    - [Daylight Savings Time Guide](https://www.thecharlottesprout.com/the-charlotte-sprout-blog/daylight-saving-time-prep-your-survival-guide)
    - [Indoor Play Spaces Guide](https://www.thecharlottesprout.com/the-charlotte-sprout-blog/a-parents-guide-to-indoor-play-spaces-around-charlotte)
    - [Rainy Day Survival Guide](https://www.thecharlottesprout.com/the-charlotte-sprout-blog/rainy-day-guide)
- Reviews
  
  Toggle children for Reviews
  
   Main Menu (Press to Return) 
  
  \> Reviews 
  
    - [Where We've Been](https://www.thecharlottesprout.com/the-charlotte-sprout-blog?tags=Places+to+Go)
    - [What We Love](https://www.thecharlottesprout.com/the-charlotte-sprout-blog?tags=What+We+Love)
- [Subscribe](https://www.thecharlottesprout.com/grow-with-us)

[back to blog](https://www.thecharlottesprout.com/the-charlotte-sprout-blog)

# Things to Do: October 1 - 7

 Sep 30, 2026, 6:32:58 PM • Written by: Emily

Share article

[mailto:?subject=Things%20to%20Do%3A%20October%201%20-%207&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecharlottesprout.com%2Fthe-charlotte-sprout-blog%2Fthings-to-do-october-1-7](mailto:?subject=Things%20to%20Do%3A%20October%201%20-%207&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecharlottesprout.com%2Fthe-charlotte-sprout-blog%2Fthings-to-do-october-1-7)

 

**All Weekend**

**Tricks and Treats at Carowinds**  
A daytime, family-friendly Halloween event, all fun and no fear before the scares come out after dark, with a trick-or-treat trail, a pumpkin patch, and a costume contest.  
📍 Carowinds, 14523 Carowinds Blvd  
🕒 Sat and Sun, 11:00am  
👶 Best For: All ages  
💡 Parent Tip: This runs before the park's nighttime scare season kicks in, so it's the version to pick if your kid wants candy without actual frights.  
Cost: Park admission  
[Get Tickets](https://www.sixflags.com/carowinds/events/tricks-and-treats)

**A Year with Frog and Toad**  
This Tony-nominated musical follows Frog and Toad through all four seasons in a jazzy, upbeat, 70-minute show built for young kids.  
📍 Children's Theatre of Charlotte at ImaginOn  
🕒 Sat 11:00am and 3:00pm, Sun 11:00am and 2:00pm  
👶 Best For: All ages  
💡 Parent Tip: Bring a jacket, because the theater gets cold by the end. Buy tickets to 3 or more shows together this season and save 20 percent off single ticket prices.  
Cost: $25+  
[Check Showtimes](https://ctcharlotte.org/)

**Bard at the Barn**  
A professional cast performs A Midsummer Night's Dream outdoors at a barn, and it's free, high energy, and funny. It runs Saturdays and Sundays through October 11.  
📍 The Barn at MoRA, 8300 Monroe Road  
🕒 Sat and Sun, 11:00am  
👶 Best For: Preschoolers and up  
💡 Parent Tip: Only two weekends left, this one and October 10 and 11. Bring a blanket or chairs, and pack a picnic, since they encourage it.  
Cost: Free  
[Show Up](https://www.shepherdshakespeare.com/shakespeareinthepark)

**Mecktoberfest at Olde Mecklenburg Ballantyne**  
Olde Mecklenburg turns its Ballantyne brewery into a German beer festival, with polka bands all weekend and a stein holding competition on Saturday from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. It's very kid friendly.  
📍 Olde Mecklenburg Brewery Ballantyne, 15025 Bowl Street  
🕒 Fri and Sat, 11:00am to 11:00pm. Sun, 11:00am to 10:00pm  
👶 Best For: All ages  
💡 Parent Tip: The gravel is not stroller friendly, so wear the baby in a carrier. Saturday's polka band plays 1:00pm to 4:00pm, an easier hour with kids than the evening sets.  
Cost: Free  
[Plan Your Visit](https://www.ombbeer.com/event/mecktoberfest-weekend-three-ballantyne-1/)

 

**Thursday, October 1**

**Preschool Ballet Classes**  
Free ballet for preschoolers at Mallard Creek Rec Center, all imaginative games and simple steps with no recital in sight. If your kid hates it, you're out nothing but 45 minutes.  
📍 Mallard Creek Recreation Center, 2530 Johnston Oehler Rd  
🕒 9:30am to 10:15am  
👶 Best For: Preschoolers (ages 3 to 6)  
💡 Parent Tip: "Twirl, leap, and dance" is the marketing version. The reality is more like controlled chaos with occasional graceful moments.  
Cost: Free  
[Worth A Try](https://www.ignitedanceproductions.com/freecommunityclasses)

**Mint Hill Family Storytime**  
Storytime outdoors at Veterans Memorial Park in Mint Hill, with stories, songs, and movement, and parents are expected to join in.  
📍 Veterans Memorial Park, Mint Hill  
🕒 10:00am to 11:00am  
👶 Best For: Babies through preschoolers  
💡 Parent Tip: This one runs rain or shine, so pack the rain jacket instead of waiting for a cancellation notice.  
Cost: Free  
[Check It Out](https://cmlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/6a0236fb43b41b3d0065c4c4)

**The Wiggle Squad**  
Exactly what it sounds like. Structured chaos designed to burn off every ounce of toddler energy in one hour flat.  
📍 Tuckaseegee Recreation Center  
🕒 10:00am to 11:00am  
👶 Best For: Ages 2 to 4  
💡 Parent Tip: Register online, this one fills up faster than you'd expect for a Thursday morning.  
Cost: Free  
[Learn More](https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/mecklenburgparks/activity/search/detail/179366?onlineSiteId=0&locale=en-US&from_original_cui=true)

**Toddler Time at Big Air**  
Open jump for the little ones with a calmer, slower-paced vibe than the regular sessions. If your toddler has energy to burn and you've already done every playground in a 10-mile radius, this works.  
📍 Big Air Charlotte, 2408 Sardis Road North  
🕒 10:00am to 1:00pm  
👶 Best For: Toddlers (ages 1 to 3)  
💡 Parent Tip: Grip socks are required.  
Cost: $23+  
[Get Tickets](https://www.bigairusa.com/programs/charlotte)

**Storytime in the Park at Squirrel Lake Park**  
Matthews Library staff take storytime outside to Squirrel Lake Park for stories, songs, and movement.  
📍 Squirrel Lake Park, 1631 Pleasant Plains Rd, Matthews  
🕒 11:00am to 11:30am  
👶 Best For: Babies through preschoolers  
💡 Parent Tip: Bring something to sit on. It gets canceled for bad weather, so call the Matthews branch at 704-416-5000 if the sky looks iffy.  
Cost: Free  
[See Details](https://cmlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/6a7cc193452bb101b574b759)

**STEAM 101 Garden Sprouts**  
Preschoolers get their hands in the dirt watering and weeding the library's deck garden, plus a taste test of what's growing.  
📍 North County Regional Library  
🕒 11:30am to 12:00pm  
👶 Best For: 3 to 5 years  
💡 Parent Tip: This happens right after preschool storytime, so it's an easy add-on if you're already there. The deck only unlocks at 11:30am and locks again at noon.  
Cost: Free, no registration  
[Show Up](https://cmlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/6a0a0dd58360de907d878885)

**Puppet Show at ImaginOn**  
Puppets, songs, and movement at ImaginOn for kids old enough to sit for a show.  
📍 ImaginOn  
🕒 11:30am to 12:00pm  
👶 Best For: Ages 3 to 11  
💡 Parent Tip: Thirty minutes is a short enough commitment to test whether your kid can sit for a show before you buy theater tickets.  
Cost: Free  
[More Info](https://cmlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/6a838a4bbf1aec09082b4597)

**KiddieCade Happy Hour**  
Two hours of supervised play for $35 while you sit in actual lounge seating with a real cup of coffee and catch up on emails. High-speed Wi-Fi, charging stations, open-concept layout so you can see your kid the whole time.  
📍 The Kiddie Cade  
🕒 1:00pm to 3:00pm  
👶 Best For: Ages 2 and up  
💡 Parent Tip: Book ahead. This is not a walk-in situation and Thursday slots fill fast.  
Cost: $35 for a 2-hour visit  
[Reserve Your Spot](https://thekiddiecade.com/)

**Preschool Prep at The Bunny Hive**  
A 30-minute preschool class with cutting, pasting, tracing, sorting, and dancing, with your grownup beside you the whole time. They'd like younger siblings to stay home if possible.  
📍 The Bunny Hive Charlotte, 1207 East Blvd  
🕒 5:00pm to 5:30pm  
👶 Best For: Ages 3 to 6  
💡 Parent Tip: Socks are required and nut snacks stay home. Plan on a one-on-one outing, since they ask that younger siblings skip it if you can.  
Cost: $8 drop-in  
[Drop In](https://www.thebunnyhive.com/schedule-walla)

**Pascuales Farm Night Market**  
A real working farm with a real market: fresh zucchinis, cucumbers, sweet peas, kale, eggs, goat and pork meat, handcraft vendors, food, and live music. Rain or shine.  
📍 Pascuales Farm  
🕒 5:00pm to 8:00pm  
👶 Best For: All ages  
💡 Parent Tip: Bring a bag for produce and cash if you have it. This is not a pop-up situation.  
Cost: Free  
[Check It Out](https://www.facebook.com/pascualesfarm/)

**Evening Storytime at West Boulevard Library**  
West Boulevard just moved its evening storytime to Thursdays.  
📍 West Boulevard Library  
🕒 6:00pm to 6:30pm  
👶 Best For: Babies through school age  
💡 Parent Tip: It's a brand new day for this one, so if you went on a different night before, update your calendar.  
Cost: Free  
[Learn More](https://cmlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/6ab56d8794b74515467b6558)

**Pajama Storytime at University City Regional**  
Stories, songs, and movement in pajamas at University City Regional, with parents encouraged to join in.  
📍 University City Regional Library  
🕒 6:15pm to 7:00pm  
👶 Best For: Babies through preschoolers  
💡 Parent Tip: Put them in pajamas before you leave and the drive home can double as the start of bedtime.  
Cost: Free  
[More Info](https://cmlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/6a8db15336204e08fbb70abb)

 

**Friday, October 2**

**Learning for Littles**  
A free outdoor nature-themed learning session at Daniel Stowe with a read-aloud story, puppets, and an activity.  
📍 Daniel Stowe Conservancy, Trailhead Store Picnic Area  
🕒 9:00am to 9:45am  
👶 Best For: Ages 0 to 4  
💡 Parent Tip: It alternates Wednesdays and Fridays, so don't assume next Friday is on. If it rains, it moves onto the Trailhead Store porch.  
Cost: Free, no registration  
[Show Up](https://danielstoweconservancy.org/event/learning-for-littles-15/2026-10-02/)

**Betty Bookworms: Storytime + Coffee**  
Weekly storytime at Betty on Thomas Ave. Kids get books and songs, you get coffee. Honestly the coffee is the main draw.  
📍 Betty by Moxie Mercantile, 1219 Thomas Ave  
🕒 9:30am to 10:30am  
👶 Best For: Babies, toddlers, and preschoolers  
💡 Parent Tip: Get your coffee first, then settle in. It's a much better experience caffeinated.  
Cost: Free  
[Check It Out](https://moxiemercantile.com/pages/events)

**Toddler Time at Two Little Acres**  
Baby animals, sensory play, and small class sizes, so your kid's not one of thirty fighting for a turn.  
📍 Two Little Acres Homestead  
🕒 10:00am  
👶 Best For: Ages 1 to 4  
💡 Parent Tip: Spots are limited so register as soon as you see it.  
Cost: $25  
[RSVP Here](https://www.hisawyer.com/two-little-acres/schedules?schedule_id=all&slug=two-little-acres)

**Splash About and Explore**  
A free water playgroup with floating toys, gentle slides, and sensory bins built right into the pool, this is toddler bath time with way more square footage.  
📍 Charlotte Aquatics, 7835 Little Avenue  
🕒 10:00am to 10:30am  
👶 Best For: 6 months to 5 years  
💡 Parent Tip: It's free but space is limited and registration is required, sign up earlier in the week rather than the morning of.  
Cost: Free  
[Learn More](https://app.jackrabbitclass.com/eventcalendar.asp?orgID=507458)

**Puppet Show: Stories Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month**  
Puppets retell two classic folktales for Hispanic Heritage Month, including why Opossum has no fur on his tail.  
📍 Independence Regional Library  
🕒 10:30am to 11:00am  
👶 Best For: Ages 3 to 11  
💡 Parent Tip: Ask your kid afterward why Opossum has no fur on his tail. If they can answer, the puppets did their job.  
Cost: Free  
[See Details](https://cmlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/6aa6fad8ca248a0029158be6)

**Family Storytime: Yoga**  
Stories paired with easy yoga moves, led by a certified yoga instructor.  
📍 South County Regional Library  
🕒 11:00am to 11:30am  
👶 Best For: Ages 2 to 5  
💡 Parent Tip: No pre-registration, but tickets go out at the children's desk 15 minutes before it starts, so get there early.  
Cost: Free  
[More Info](https://cmlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/6a79fb9bb44674e2601cfa25)

**Kannapolis Fire Truck Parade**  
Fire trucks old and new from departments across the region roll through Kannapolis, and it doubles as a food drive and a blood drive.  
📍 Laureate Way, Kannapolis  
🕒 Parade at 6:00pm. Food drive and meet the firefighters 3:00pm to 6:00pm  
👶 Best For: All ages  
💡 Parent Tip: Bring a chair and park in either City Hall lot, since the roundabout out front is closed for the parade. The food drive wants things like peanut butter and jelly, spaghetti sauce and noodles, and canned fruit.  
Cost: Free  
[Plan Your Visit](https://www.kannapolisnc.gov/news/ID/231/Join-Us-for-the-Kannapolis-Fire-Truck-Parade,-Food-Drive-and-Bloodmobile-on-October-3)

**Movie Night at Rea Farms**  
Free outdoor movie night on Fridays in October, and this week's movie is Coco.  
📍 Rea Farms, 9855 Sandy Rock Place  
🕒 6:30pm to 9:00pm  
👶 Best For: All ages  
💡 Parent Tip: Bring lawn chairs and blankets, and grab takeout from the Rea Farms restaurants to eat while you watch.  
Cost: Free  
[Show Up](https://www.reafarmsclt.com/events)

 

**Saturday, October 3**

**Children's Costume Giveaway**  
Steele Creek Library hands out free costumes and accessories that the community donated through August and September.  
📍 Steele Creek Library  
🕒 9:00am to 12:00pm  
👶 Best For: Babies through age 11  
💡 Parent Tip: Go right at 9:00am, because a costume giveaway has a way of looking picked over by 11:00am.  
Cost: Free  
[Check It Out](https://cmlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/6abd0bdf9d27a000454d9a48)

**Caffeine and Classics**  
Free coffee and donuts (while supplies last) and a showroom full of classic and collector cars. All makes and models are welcome.  
📍 Streetside Classics, 800 Derita Road, Concord  
🕒 9:00am to 12:00pm  
👶 Best For: All ages  
💡 Parent Tip: The donuts are while supplies last, so get there early if your kid's interest in cars is mostly about the donuts.  
Cost: Free  
[Learn More](https://www.streetsideclassics.com/events/488)

**Kitty Time**  
A quieter, kid-specific reservation slot at Mac Tabby before the cafe opens, so your family gets the cat lounge without competing with regular customers.  
📍 Mac Tabby Cat Cafe  
🕒 10:00am to 10:30am  
👶 Best For: Ages 0 to 6  
💡 Parent Tip: This slot runs before the cafe officially opens, so you get the whole lounge to yourselves instead of sharing it.  
Cost: $10 per person  
[Reserve Your Spot](https://www.mactabby.com/noda-reservations/)

**Daddy and Me: Art**  
A rotating class built for dads and their little ones, any caregiver is welcome.  
📍 The Bunny Hive Charlotte, 1207 East Blvd  
🕒 10:00am to 10:30am  
👶 Best For: Babies and toddlers  
💡 Parent Tip: Leave nut snacks at home and bring socks, that's the one thing they specifically ask you to pack.  
Cost: $30 drop-in  
[Book a Class](https://www.thebunnyhive.com/schedule-walla)

**Big Machine Creations**  
A caregiver-and-child art session where little ones build their own big-machine masterpiece, think clay construction sites, toy diggers, and texture-packed dioramas.  
📍 KidCreate South Charlotte  
🕒 10:00am to 11:00am  
👶 Best For: Ages 2 to 4  
💡 Parent Tip: A caregiver has to stay for the whole session, and only 5 spots were left at last check. There's a $1.08 admin fee on top of the $25.  
Cost: $25 plus a $1.08 admin fee  
[Register Here](https://cp.mystudio.io/e/?=5G3YIJ/17133/851795//1790799157)

**Cafe & Beats**  
West Boulevard Library celebrates International Music and Coffee Day with a parent hangout, coffee, and new sounds. Kids ages 0 to 6 come along.  
📍 West Boulevard Library  
🕒 10:00am to 11:00am  
👶 Best For: Parents with kids ages 0 to 6  
💡 Parent Tip: There's a prize drawing, but you have to be there to win.  
Cost: Free  
[More Info](https://cmlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/6ab157668cf597003f955fb4)

**World Wellness and Unity Festival**  
A free festival at Gandhi Park celebrating the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's birth, with wellness and mindfulness experiences, dances from various cultures, and family-friendly activities.  
📍 Gandhi Park, 101 S. Alexander Street  
🕒 10:00am to 12:00pm  
👶 Best For: All ages  
💡 Parent Tip: They ask you to register, so do that from the event page before you go. Park free at the Mecklenburg County Government Deck, 232 S Davidson Street, a 4 minute walk away.  
Cost: Free  
[See Details](https://www.facebook.com/events/s/world-wellness-unity-festival-/1431881678272682/)

**Kids in Nature Day**  
Squirrel Lake Park goes full outdoors with nature hikes, STEM activities, fishing, a scavenger hunt, and animal explorations.  
📍 Squirrel Lake Park, 1631 Pleasant Plains Road, Matthews  
🕒 10:00am to 1:00pm  
👶 Best For: Kids and adults  
💡 Parent Tip: Dress for mud, since the day is built around hikes, fishing, and a scavenger hunt.  
Cost: Free  
[Check It Out](https://www.facebook.com/events/1755805285564266)

**FabFest**  
Charlotte's Beatles celebration has a free daytime festival with live music on two stages, a Family Fun Tent, Beatles Yoga, and a Rock Band video game room.  
📍 Parr Center at Central Piedmont Community College  
🕒 10:00am to 5:00pm  
👶 Best For: All ages  
💡 Parent Tip: Start at the Family Fun Tent with little ones, and save the Rock Band video game room for when they need a break from the music.  
Cost: Free  
[See the Lineup](https://fabfestcharlotte.org/)

**Bowl Street Pop-Up Market**  
An outdoor market on The Bowl's green space with Charlotte-area artisans, makers, and small businesses, held the first Saturday of every month from April through November.  
📍 The Bowl  
🕒 10:00am to 3:00pm  
👶 Best For: All ages  
💡 Parent Tip: Olde Mecklenburg Brewery is part of The Bowl too, and it's hosting Mecktoberfest this weekend, so you can make it one trip.  
Cost: Free  
[See Details](https://thebowlnc.com/events/the-bowl-bowl-street-pop-up-market-9701f678-2c75-472e-88e7-bb0eb13cbc98/)

**Donkey Meet & Greet**  
Meet the donkeys who live in the greenway's donkey pasture and learn about them from staff.  
📍 Anne Springs Close Greenway, donkey pasture off Blue Star Trail  
🕒 10:30am to 12:00pm  
👶 Best For: Toddlers and up  
💡 Parent Tip: Grab lunch at the Greenway Canteen on your way back out, it's right on the return path from either entrance.  
Cost: Free with Greenway admission  
[Plan Your Visit](https://www.ascgreenway.org/event/donkey-meet-greet-11/2026-10-03/)

**Charlotte Kids Fest**  
One of Charlotte's most popular kid events takes over the Boardwalk at University City with crafts, live performances, science activities, and a Go Zone full of BIG construction and emergency vehicles.  
📍 Boardwalk at University City, 9325 JW Clay Blvd  
🕒 11:00am to 4:00pm  
👶 Best For: Kids ages 10 and under  
💡 Parent Tip: Start at the Go Zone with the BIG construction and emergency vehicles, then send them to the Play Zone to burn off the excitement.  
Cost: Free  
[Check It Out](https://charlottekidsfest.org/)

**Phillips Place Fall Stroll**  
A Cox Brothers Acres Farm pumpkin patch sits at Phillips Place all weekend, and Saturday adds a s'mores cart, a cotton candy bike, face painting, balloon twisting, and a decorate-your-own mini pumpkin station.  
📍 Phillips Place, 6800 Phillips Pl Ct  
🕒 Sat, 11:00am to 2:00pm. Pumpkin patch all weekend  
👶 Best For: All ages  
💡 Parent Tip: Retailers are handing out complimentary refreshments and treats, so you can snack your way through it.  
Cost: Free  
[See Details](https://southparkclt.org/do/phillips-place-fall-stroll)

**Spooky Saturdays: Night Hunters**  
The Museum of York County covers owls, bats, and big cats, with hands-on specimens and activities about animals that rule the dark.  
📍 Museum of York County, 4621 Mt. Gallant Rd, Rock Hill  
🕒 11:00am to 2:00pm  
👶 Best For: Kids who love animals  
💡 Parent Tip: It's in Rock Hill, so pair it with Old Town Oktoberfest at Fountain Park, which starts at 4:00pm the same day.  
Cost: Museum admission  
[Plan Your Visit](https://chmuseums.org/event/spooky/)

**Concord International Festival**  
Downtown Concord turns into a world tour with live music, cultural displays, food and drinks from around the world, and international craft vendors.  
📍 Downtown Concord  
🕒 12:00pm to 6:00pm  
👶 Best For: All ages  
💡 Parent Tip: There's a kids' corner with hands-on experiences, so head there first if your kid is losing patience with the booths.  
Cost: Free  
[Learn More](https://www.facebook.com/events/1613260289965450)

**Hola Charlotte Festival**  
A Hispanic heritage celebration on Tryon Street with a musical stage, a cultural stage, and a Latin American Village with booths for countries from Colombia to Puerto Rico.  
📍 Tryon Street, between Brooklyn Village Avenue and 4th Street  
🕒 12:00pm to 6:00pm  
👶 Best For: All ages  
💡 Parent Tip: Walk the Latin American Village booths and let your kid pick one country to learn about. You might even get to try on traditional attire.  
Cost: Free  
[Check It Out](https://holacharlottefestival.com/)

**K-Fest**  
Seoul Food Meat Co.'s third K-Fest celebrates Korean culture with live music, a Tae Kwon Do demonstration, a K-Pop dance contest, karaoke, and a Kids Stamp Challenge.  
📍 Seoul Food Meat Co. Mill District, 421 E 26th Street  
🕒 12:00pm to 10:00pm  
👶 Best For: All ages  
💡 Parent Tip: No outside food or drinks, and the closest light rail station is 25th Street.  
Cost: Free  
[More Info](https://www.seoulfoodmeatcoclt.com/k-fest)

**Pickin' on the Porch**  
Free live music every Saturday afternoon on the Trailhead Store porch, this week featuring Peregrine North.  
📍 Daniel Stowe Conservancy, Trailhead Store porch  
🕒 2:00pm to 4:00pm  
👶 Best For: All ages  
💡 Parent Tip: Weather permitting, so check before you drive out if it's iffy.  
Cost: Free  
[Check It Out](https://danielstoweconservancy.org/event/pickin-on-the-porch/2026-10-03/)

**Kid's Halloween Costume Swap**  
SouthPark Regional Library's costume swap, where families who dropped off gently used Halloween costumes in September come back and pick out new ones.  
📍 SouthPark Regional Library  
🕒 2:00pm to 4:30pm  
👶 Best For: Babies through preteens  
💡 Parent Tip: Drop-offs were in September and you got a ticket as your reminder, so bring it. If you didn't donate, call the branch before you go to ask whether you can still swap.  
Cost: Free  
[Learn More](https://cmlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/6a93028a60ccaf01c021ebe5)

**Montford Block Party**  
Montford Park's annual block party has live music from two bands, food trucks, local vendors, giveaways, and drinks for purchase.  
📍 Park Road Top Lot, 4619 Park Road  
🕒 3:00pm to 8:00pm  
👶 Best For: All ages  
💡 Parent Tip: Food trucks are the dinner plan here, so don't bother cooking.  
Cost: Free  
[Show Up](https://www.montfordpark.org/events)

**Old Town Oktoberfest in Rock Hill**  
Rock Hill's Bavarian street festival at Fountain Park has a kids' zone, a petting zoo, inflatables, a lederhosen contest, and wiener dog races at 6:00pm.  
📍 Fountain Park, 300 E Main Street, Rock Hill, SC  
🕒 4:00pm to 9:00pm  
👶 Best For: All ages  
💡 Parent Tip: Wiener dog race check-in starts at 5:45pm by the stage, so get there early if your dog wants to enter.  
Cost: Free  
[Check It Out](https://www.facebook.com/events/fountain-park-rock-hill-south-carolina/old-town-oktoberfest/1027503259919285/)

**Movies Under the Stars**  
Charlotte Premium Outlets shows Minions & Monsters on the lawn at dusk, with food trucks, themed games, crafts, music, and prizes starting at 5:30pm.  
📍 Charlotte Premium Outlets, Lot E  
🕒 5:30pm  
👶 Best For: All ages  
💡 Parent Tip: Lot E is next to Shake Shack and Galleria Furniture. Bring a lawn chair or blanket.  
Cost: Free  
[Plan Your Visit](https://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlet/charlotte/stream/movie-under-the-stars--minions-monsters-6287701)

 

**Sunday, October 4**

**Sensory-Friendly Hours at Discovery Place Science**  
The first Sunday of every month, Discovery Place Science turns things calmer and quieter for guests with sensory sensitivities, including sensory-friendly IMAX shows and sensory backpacks with noise-canceling headphones.  
📍 Discovery Place Science, 168 W 6th Street  
🕒 10:30am to 1:30pm  
👶 Best For: All ages  
💡 Parent Tip: Buy advance tickets, because they cost less than the desk price. The sensory backpacks are first come, first served.  
Cost: Adults $23, kids (2 to 13) $18, seniors (60+) $20, under 2 free  
[Get Tickets](https://discoveryplace.org/things-to-do/events/sensory-friendly-hours/)

**Sensory-Friendly Hours at Discovery Place Kids**  
Discovery Place Kids in Huntersville has calmer, quieter exhibit spaces for children with sensory sensitivities and special needs.  
📍 Discovery Place Kids, 105 Gilead Road, Huntersville  
🕒 2:00pm to 4:30pm  
👶 Best For: Kids with sensory sensitivities and special needs  
💡 Parent Tip: Sensory backpacks with noise-canceling headphones, toys, and manipulatives are first come, first served.  
Cost: $15 per person, kids under 1 free  
[Plan Your Visit](https://discoveryplacekids.org/event/sensory-friendly-hours/)

**Blessing of the Animals at Myers Park United Methodist**  
A short, sweet worship service in the Hopedale parking lot where dogs, cats, fish, and any other pet get a blessing.  
📍 Myers Park United Methodist Church, Hopedale Parking Lot  
🕒 3:00pm to 3:30pm  
👶 Best For: All ages  
💡 Parent Tip: Pets must be trained and restrained with a leash, crate, or something similar. You can only catch one blessing per time slot this afternoon, so choose between this one and St. Johns at 3:00pm.  
Cost: Free  
[Learn More](https://myersparkumc.org/event/blessing-of-the-animals/)

**Blessing of the Pets & Stuffies at St. Johns Baptist**  
Bring a pet or a stuffed animal to the front steps of the church for a blessing.  
📍 St. Johns Baptist Church, 300 Hawthorne Lane  
🕒 3:00pm to 4:00pm  
👶 Best For: All ages  
💡 Parent Tip: Stuffies count, so this works even if your kid's best friend is a stuffed bunny.  
Cost: Free  
[See Details](https://stjohnsbaptistchurch.org/event/blessing-of-the-pets-stuffies/)

**Feast of St. Francis Pet Blessing at Christ Church**  
Christ Church clergy bless pets and beloved stuffed animals in the Church Circle to celebrate the feast of St. Francis.  
📍 Christ Episcopal Church, 1412 Providence Road  
🕒 4:00pm to 4:45pm  
👶 Best For: All ages  
💡 Parent Tip: Pets need to be on a leash or in a carrier.  
Cost: Free  
[More Info](https://www.facebook.com/events/2480535765785351)

**Animal Blessing Service at St. Mark's Episcopal**  
Furry, feathered, and scaly friends get blessed on the lawn in front of the rectory.  
📍 St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 8600 Mount Holly Huntersville Rd, Huntersville  
🕒 4:00pm  
👶 Best For: All ages  
💡 Parent Tip: This is the Huntersville option if you'd rather not drive into Charlotte, and scaly friends are welcome.  
Cost: Free  
[Check It Out](https://www.facebook.com/events/s/animal-blessing-service/1089767583535735/)

 

**Monday, October 5**

**Babies on the Boardwalk**  
A library-hosted walking group for new parents on the UC boardwalk. The point is fresh air, light movement, and adult conversation with other people who get it. Stroller-friendly by definition.  
📍 University City Regional Library  
🕒 9:30am to 10:00am  
👶 Best For: Babies and their grownups  
💡 Parent Tip: If you're running late, just meet the group on the boardwalk. Weather permitting, so check the forecast before you load up.  
Cost: Free  
[More Info](https://cmlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/6aa2e3e7101eb7003f2f06e7)

**Storytime in the Park at Mason Wallace Park**  
Independence Regional takes storytime outdoors to Mason Wallace Park for stories, songs, and movement.  
📍 Mason Wallace Park, 7301 Monroe Road  
🕒 9:30am to 10:30am  
👶 Best For: Toddlers and preschoolers  
💡 Parent Tip: If the weather's bad, storytime moves into the Independence Regional branch.  
Cost: Free  
[Show Up](https://cmlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/6a7cc88d4027d701ebc3e88d)

**ERRC: Little Chickadees**  
A story, a nature walk, and nature-themed activities for toddlers and their grown-up, siblings welcome too.  
📍 Nature Space, Eastway Regional Recreation Center  
🕒 10:00am to 10:45am  
👶 Best For: Birth to 4 years  
💡 Parent Tip: This runs rain or shine every Monday through May 17, and each week needs its own separate registration, so don't assume signing up once covers the whole series.  
Cost: Free  
[RSVP Here](https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/mecklenburgparks/activity/search/detail/180169?onlineSiteId=0&locale=en-US&from_original_cui=true)

**Nature Book and Look**  
A new nature book every week paired with a craft, activity, or short hike.  
📍 Four Seasons Trail Picnic Area, McDowell Nature Preserve  
🕒 10:00am to 11:00am  
👶 Best For: Preschoolers and families  
💡 Parent Tip: Pre-registration is required and adults stay too, this isn't a drop-off situation.  
Cost: Free  
[See Details](https://apm.activecommunities.com/mecklenburgparks/Activity_Search/mdnp-nature-book-and-look/180568?locale=en-US)

**Buds & Bubbles**  
Half the group tends the library's deck garden, half joins a bubble dance party, then everyone switches.  
📍 North County Regional Library  
🕒 11:30am to 12:00pm  
👶 Best For: Babies through school age  
💡 Parent Tip: This is a rotation format, so kids get both the garden and the bubbles either way, don't worry about which line you start in.  
Cost: Free  
[Worth A Try](https://cmlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/6a7ce625452bb101b574c33c)

**Baby Celebration Week: Baby "Baking"**  
Babies do sensory "baking" with pureed fruits and veggies and a pumpkin craft, hosted by Mrs. Cat before she goes on maternity leave.  
📍 University City Regional Library  
🕒 2:00pm to 3:00pm  
👶 Best For: Babies (ages 0 to 2) and caregivers  
💡 Parent Tip: Call ahead if your baby has any allergies, and wait until you're comfortable with them trying smushy solids. Space and materials may be limited.  
Cost: Free  
[Learn More](https://cmlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/6aa31b7bf9ed2e00384facee)

**Crafty Stories: Frida Kahlo's Flower Crown**  
A Hispanic Heritage Month storytime that ends with a flower crown craft.  
📍 West Boulevard Library  
🕒 3:30pm to 4:15pm  
👶 Best For: Ages 3 to 8  
💡 Parent Tip: The range runs up to age 8, so an older sibling can come along and still get something out of it.  
Cost: Free  
[Check It Out](https://cmlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/6a9b2b7660ccaf01c0236fd9)

**Movin' & Groovin'**  
A half hour of songs and movement that build language and pre-reading skills.  
📍 Independence Regional Library  
🕒 4:00pm to 4:30pm  
👶 Best For: Babies through preschoolers  
💡 Parent Tip: Thirty minutes is short enough that you can leave early without feeling like you wasted the trip.  
Cost: Free  
[Show Up](https://cmlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/6a7ccfb3be1482002986e7f4)

**Pajama Storytime at Allegra Westbrooks**  
Evening storytime in pajamas at Allegra Westbrooks Regional, with stories, songs, and movement.  
📍 Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library  
🕒 6:00pm to 6:30pm  
👶 Best For: Babies through preschoolers  
💡 Parent Tip: It wraps up by 6:30pm, which still leaves room for a normal bedtime.  
Cost: Free  
[More Info](https://cmlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/6aa2d1773dd190003e70f51e)

**Sensory Storytime at ImaginOn**  
Stories, songs, and activities designed for children on the autism spectrum or with other sensory sensitivities.  
📍 ImaginOn  
🕒 6:30pm to 7:00pm  
👶 Best For: Toddlers through age 11  
💡 Parent Tip: Registration isn't required, but the room is capped at 40 people, so arrive early.  
Cost: Free  
[Learn More](https://cmlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/6a8c97c63b6c71003e5b080b)

 

**Tuesday, October 6**

**Two Little Acres Toddler Time**  
Unlimited baby animal time for toddlers, with baby chicks, ducklings, and bunnies, sensory play, and a themed craft each week.  
📍 Two Little Acres Homestead, 15024 Thomas Rd  
🕒 10:00am to 11:00am  
👶 Best For: Ages 1 to 4  
💡 Parent Tip: Park to the left of the driveway, entry opens 5 minutes before class starts, and this is a 14-week series running through December if your toddler loves it.  
Cost: $25, sibling discounts available  
[RSVP Here](https://www.hisawyer.com/two-little-acres/schedules?schedule_id=all&slug=two-little-acres)

**Waxhaw Toddler Time**  
Range of motion exercises, music, and dance built specifically to burn toddler energy before lunch. It's a real program with registration, so commit before you show up.  
📍 Waxhaw Recreation Barn  
🕒 10:00am to 11:00am  
👶 Best For: Ages 2 to 5  
💡 Parent Tip: Registration closes Sunday and it caps at 20 kids, so this fills. Sign up now instead of Tuesday morning.  
Cost: Included with registration  
[Register Here](https://app.amilia.com/store/en/townofwaxhaw/shop/activities/6492898?date=2026-10-06&view=month&scrollToCalendar=false)

**Toddler Tuesdays**  
An immersive juicing session that somehow turns healthy food into sensory play, with plenty of parent interaction built in.  
📍 Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Center  
🕒 10:30am to 11:30am  
👶 Best For: Ages 2 to 4  
💡 Parent Tip: Grab BBQ at Noble Smoke after, one of our favorite restaurants. Kid friendly, locally owned, and delicious.  
Cost: $10 resident / $15 non-resident  
[Reserve Your Spot](https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/mecklenburgparks/activity/search/detail/180885?onlineSiteId=0&locale=en-US&from_original_cui=true)

**GenerationWE Storytime: Story, Craft, Free Book**  
An interactive story, a craft after, and a free book to keep at Sugar Creek Library.  
📍 Sugar Creek Library  
🕒 11:00am to 12:00pm  
👶 Best For: Preschool and school age  
💡 Parent Tip: Every kid takes home a free book, so it's an easy way to add to the home library.  
Cost: Free  
[See Details](https://cmlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/6aa5692f6059b704112a4ed2)

**Ed's Dinosaurs Live!**  
Ed Bounds brings his prehistoric crew to ImaginOn, including the Triceratops Triplets, and kids can pet a baby dinosaur and maybe even see one hatch.  
📍 ImaginOn  
🕒 11:00am to 1:00pm  
👶 Best For: Ages 3 to 11  
💡 Parent Tip: It happens the first Tuesday of every month and runs two hours, so you don't have to be there at 11:00am sharp.  
Cost: Free  
[Show Up](https://cmlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/6a8f3e81660e510bf4401b0a)

**VisArt Puppet Tuesdays**  
A free family-friendly puppet show every Tuesday in October, and this month's show is Actor's Shadow Puppet Company's "A Midnight Dreary: From the Mind of Edgar Allan Poe."  
📍 VisArt Video, 3104 Eastway Drive  
🕒 4:00pm  
👶 Best For: All ages  
💡 Parent Tip: It's Edgar Allan Poe, so it may run spooky for the littlest ones. Cafe VisArt is open for snacks and drinks during the show, easy to grab a treat on your way in.  
Cost: Free  
[Check It Out](https://visartvideo.org/visart-calendar-of-events/)

**Mount Holly National Night Out**  
Mount Holly Police Department hosts free hot dogs, hamburgers, and snow cones, plus games, a slide, a bounce house, music, and prizes.  
📍 Tuckaseege Park, 165 Broome Street, Mount Holly  
🕒 6:00pm to 8:00pm  
👶 Best For: All ages  
💡 Parent Tip: The hot dogs and hamburgers are free, so this is dinner and you can skip cooking.  
Cost: Free  
[More Info](https://www.mtholly.us/departments/parks___recreation/special_events/national_night_out.php)

**Night Owls Storytime**  
Matthews Library's bedtime storytime, built to get the wiggles out before bed, with pajamas and stuffies welcome.  
📍 Matthews Library  
🕒 6:30pm to 7:00pm  
👶 Best For: Ages 0 to 5  
💡 Parent Tip: Put them in pajamas before you go and bring the stuffie, since both are welcome.  
Cost: Free  
[Learn More](https://cmlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/6962c51bc967cb4120812c8b)

 

**Wednesday, October 7**

**Family Storytime at Lake Park**  
Stories, songs, and movement, moved outdoors to Pineville instead of the usual library room.  
📍 Lake Park, Pineville (hosted by South County Regional)  
🕒 9:30am to 10:00am  
👶 Best For: Ages 0 to 5  
💡 Parent Tip: Bring a blanket or chair, and check the library site before you head out, this one cancels for rain.  
Cost: Free  
[See Details](https://cmlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/6ab2b593a5dbde002aa66eb1)

**Neurodiverse Sensory Storytime**  
A smaller storytime at North County Regional designed for neurodiverse children, including kids on the autism spectrum or with sensory processing challenges or ADHD.  
📍 North County Regional Library  
🕒 9:30am to 10:00am  
👶 Best For: Preschool and school age  
💡 Parent Tip: Registration is required and limited, and they ask for your child's name and age plus a parent email. A parent or supporting adult stays with the child.  
Cost: Free  
[Reserve Your Spot](https://cmlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/6a206e9d52c88111723cc7c8)

**Little Learners**  
A short nature activity for little ones at the Wildwoods area of Whitewater Center. The class itself is solid, but the real win is using it as an excuse to explore Wildwoods after.  
📍 Wildwoods at Whitewater Center  
🕒 10:00am  
👶 Best For: Ages 1 to 5  
💡 Parent Tip: Bring shoes they can get dirty. You'll end up in mud, guaranteed.  
Cost: $5/child, adults free (included with some passes)  
[Register Here](https://whitewater.org/little-learners/)

**Toddler Storytime at Barnes & Noble**  
The weekly Wednesday storytime at Barnes & Noble SouthPark, stories, songs, and activities right by the stage in the Kids' Department.  
📍 Barnes & Noble, Morrison Place, 4020 Sharon Road  
🕒 11:00am  
👶 Best For: Ages 0 to 5  
💡 Parent Tip: No RSVP needed, but get there a few minutes early if you want a spot up front, it's a small stage area and fills in fast once storytime starts.  
Cost: Free  
[Worth A Try](https://southparkclt.org/do/toddler-storytime-at-barnes-and-noble-1)

**Wee Wednesday**  
Songs, instruments, a felt-play, a story, and a craft at Main Street Children's Museum, with October's theme being Happy Haunting. This week's book is Chica Chica Tricka Treat with a Letter Tree craft.  
📍 Main Street Children's Museum, 133 E. Main St, Rock Hill, SC  
🕒 11:00am to 1:00pm  
👶 Best For: Toddlers and preschoolers  
💡 Parent Tip: Each week has a different story and craft under the monthly theme, so your kid won't repeat the same craft if you come back.  
Cost: Museum admission  
[Plan Your Visit](https://chmuseums.org/event/wee/)

**Baby Celebration Week: Baby Swap**  
Bring gently used baby clothes, or an extra set of unopened diapers, formula, or postpartum care, and leave with new-to-you items.  
📍 University City Regional Library  
🕒 2:00pm to 3:00pm  
👶 Best For: Babies (ages 0 to 2) and caregivers  
💡 Parent Tip: It's first come, first served while supplies last, and anything left at the end gets donated.  
Cost: Free  
[Check It Out](https://cmlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/6aa31c03f9ed2e00384fad34)

**Wednesday Night Live**  
Free admission and live programming across the Mint Museum, Bechtler, Gantt Center, and Knight Theater every Wednesday through the season. Programming rotates each week.  
📍 Levine Center for the Arts  
🕒 5:00pm to 9:00pm  
👶 Best For: All ages  
💡 Parent Tip: Takes five seconds to look up this week's specific programming. Some weeks lean kid-friendly, others do not. Worth knowing before you load everyone in the car.  
Cost: Free  
[Learn More](https://www.mintmuseum.org/program/wednesday-night-live/)

### Subscribe to the Sprout

[Grow with us!](https://www.thecharlottesprout.com/grow-with-us)

![](https://www.thecharlottesprout.com/hubfs/774A38F8-2712-4323-A639-5A73D897D8CD-modified.png)

[mailto:emily@thecharlottesprout.com](mailto:emily@thecharlottesprout.com)

###### Emily

You May Like These

## Related Articles

### [Things to Do: January 8 - 14](https://www.thecharlottesprout.com/the-charlotte-sprout-blog/things-to-do-january-8-14)

### [Things to Do: January 15 - 21](https://www.thecharlottesprout.com/the-charlotte-sprout-blog/things-to-do-january-15-21)

### [Things to Do: January 22 - 28](https://www.thecharlottesprout.com/the-charlotte-sprout-blog/things-to-do-january-22-28)

[![The Charlotte Sprout logo – a soft, modern design featuring a green sprouting leaf next to the name](https://www.thecharlottesprout.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ChatGPT%20Image%20Oct%2020%2c%202025%2c%2009_53_40%20PM.png?width=1536&height=1024&name=ChatGPT%20Image%20Oct%2020%2c%202025%2c%2009_53_40%20PM.png "The Charlotte Sprout logo – a soft, modern design featuring a green sprouting leaf next to the name")](https://www.thecharlottesprout.com/)

- [Home](https://www.thecharlottesprout.com)
- [Subscribe](https://www.thecharlottesprout.com/grow-with-us)
- [About](https://www.thecharlottesprout.com/about)
- [Doing](https://www.thecharlottesprout.com/what-were-doing)
- [Eating](https://www.thecharlottesprout.com/eating)

<https://www.instagram.com/thecharlottesprout>

---

♥ Made with Care by HubSpot Experts - ©Lynton. All rights reserved. [Legal Notice](https://www.example.com) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.example.com) | [Site Map](https://www.example.com)

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Emily",
    "url" : "https://www.thecharlottesprout.com/the-charlotte-sprout-blog/author/emily"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2026-09-30T22:33:02.823Z",
  "datePublished" : "2026-09-30T22:32:58.000Z",
  "headline" : "Things to Do: October 1 - 7",
  "image" : [ "https://www.thecharlottesprout.com/hubfs/Events%202_26%20-%203_1.png" ],
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://www.thecharlottesprout.com/the-charlotte-sprout-blog/things-to-do-october-1-7",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://www.thecharlottesprout.com/hubfs/ChatGPT%20Image%20Oct%2020%2c%202025%2c%2009_53_40%20PM.png"
    },
    "name" : "The Charlotte Sprout"
  }
}
```