The best arts & culture spots in Gaston County

If you want practical self-defense without the ego, Fit to Fight Gastonia blends Modern Krav Maga, kickboxing, Muay Thai, and Jiu-Jitsu with functional fitness so you get safer and stronger. Certified coaches keep it beginner friendly and real with scenario work and sparring that feels like life, not choreography.

From the Gastonia newsletter, October 22, 2026

Just up the road in Dallas, Gaston County Museum blends art and local history into rotating exhibits, hands-on galleries, and programs made for curious minds. Right now, check out The Many Unheard Voices and other community-rooted shows that make our county’s past feel strikingly present.

From the Gastonia newsletter, September 12, 2026

Skip the backyard light pollution and get fully immersed at James H. Lynn Planetarium and Science Theater, where a 360-degree digital dome makes everything from constellations to biology feel huge. Shows rotate monthly, so peek at what’s playing this week and treat your brain to some wonder.

From the Gastonia newsletter, October 15, 2026

Whether you want animals or people, crisp graphics, logos and mascots, landscapes, rainforest scenes or underwater worlds, Boyce McKinney Murals paints it clean and bold, plus handles repairs and touch-ups. Give that Gastonia wall some personality this week, it’s tired of being beige.

From the Gastonia newsletter, August 19, 2026

Whether you want to watch or jump onstage, Little Theater of Gastonia keeps it local and lively with intimate, volunteer-powered productions, plus classes and camps. Snag tickets or a flex pass, audition for a role, and support a homegrown 501(c)3, keeping Gastonia’s arts thriving.

From the Gastonia newsletter, October 9, 2026

Grab a quick hit of local pride at the R. Gregg Cherry Historical Marker, saluting the Gastonia-raised governor of North Carolina from 1945 to 1949 and longtime state legislator who pushed for good roads and rural electrification.

From the Gastonia newsletter, October 6, 2026