Earth and Soul Adventures

The Carolina Renaissance Festival allows you to travel to a time when court jesters made everyone laugh instead of sitcoms, the crowd watched knights jousting against one another instead of football games, and it was actually acceptable to eat with your hands instead of using silverware. All of those activities are still possible, thanks to this festival that offers plenty to discover, like Old World arts and crafts, delicious turkey legs and plenty of fun and games. Also, several festival goers dress the part, so feel free to join in!

Numerous natural adventures await at the Charlotte Nature Museum . Instead of "don't touch," the phrase of choice at this highly popular family venue is "hands-on"! These inviting surroundings make learning about nature fun, and the museum does an excellent job with various exhibits like the Great Hall that outlines the life cycles of various species. Other popular attractions are the Creature Cavern that spotlight animals indigenous to the Carolinas; the kids will also be fascinated by Insect Alley and Butterfly Pavilion as well as the various fun that awaits outside on the Paw Paw Nature Trail.

The Belk Theater is the busiest venue located within the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, as the Belk welcomes various types of artists and entertainment from all over the world to its stage. Their appearances put smiles on the faces of the numerous audience members who have come to expect the best from the Belk. The Charlotte Repertory Theatre and the North Carolina Dance Theatre occupy a space on the performance schedule every year. Other groups that also take the stage here include the Carolina Voices and various productions from the Carolinas Concert Association, all of which perform under the theater's wondrous 2,400 lights that are custom built right into its ceiling.