Family events in Shelby, NC

Celebrate the inaugural Catawba Pickers Classic Car Show at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds in Shelby, NC, presented alongside the Catawba Pickers Antique and Artisan Show, a regional gathering known for hundreds of vendors and tens of thousands of visitors. Vehicles compete in four categories: Antique and Classic, 1960 and earlier; Muscle Car Era, 1961 through 2000; Modern Era, 2001 to present; and Modified or Street Rod, all years. Awards are given for first, second, and third place in each class, with additional honors for Best of Show, door prizes, and an award named Ralph’s Favorite. Ralph is the mascot for both events taking place at the fairgrounds. Registration for the car show is free, while fairgrounds admission is 10 dollars per person, and children 12 and under are admitted free. There is no preregistration, as signups take place on the day of the show. The first 100 registered car show participants receive a complimentary oversized Catawba Pickers tote bag, handy for browsing the grounds and carrying your finds. Guests may bring tents and lawn chairs to relax and enjoy the day with family and friends.

Mini photo sessions are available at The Farm at The Schiele, featuring professional portraits set against a rustic scene with pumpkins and colorful autumn leaves. The whole family can take part. Purchases support The Schiele’s mission. Appointments are required. The cost is $85 for museum members and $100 for the general public.

Market on Camden returns to the heart of South End with a small business street takeover along Camden Road. Explore a bustling showcase of more than 100 local shops and makers, enjoy the lively neighborhood atmosphere, and discover new favorites while supporting the community. Admission is free and the experience is welcoming for families. Vendors should apply only through the organizer’s official channels and watch for scams. Spaces are not managed through comments or direct messages, and vendor payments are accepted only via a Square invoice sent directly by HandCrafted Market CLT.

Explore Charlotte's second-oldest home with a guided tour of the 1815 Historic Rosedale. Knowledgeable interpreters lead a walk through the 15 room Federal period house, highlighting daily life in the antebellum era alongside the building’s architecture and decorative arts preserved in the restored museum. The experience also includes the African American Legacy Project and an overview of current rotating exhibits. Check in at the Welcome Center before the tour, then leave time afterward to wander the gardens and grounds and visit the rebuilt blacksmith shop at your own pace. Purchasing tickets in advance is recommended. Tour tickets include access to the grounds, so there is no separate grounds fee. Tours proceed rain or shine and tickets are nonrefundable.

Dream Builders' 3rd Annual Fall Festival blends seasonal fun, great food, games, prizes, and community spirit while supporting a meaningful cause. BBQ plates are $15 and include slaw, beans, chips, and a drink, and homemade baked goods are $1. Pre-sale Boston butts are available for $45. A pet costume contest invites four-legged friends to dress up, with a $10 entry fee per pet and prizes for the winners. Bingo adds to the festivities with cards at $1 per game and winner prizes to be announced. The beneficiary for this event is the Crisis Pregnancy Center of Lincoln County. The day features good eats, friendly competition, and plenty of fall cheer.

Enjoy a no pressure afternoon of biking for mothers and daughters at the Bradford Prep School trails, sponsored by Bradford Prep School and the Cog Crushers mountain bike teams with NICA Team Ambassador AvaGrace Tobias. This free gathering welcomes all ages and skill levels, including those brand new to mountain biking. The session starts with a hands on ABC check of air, brakes, and chain, then moves into simple practice of starting, stopping, and balance in a flat, safe area. After that, the group heads onto the campus paths for a gentle one mile ride. Expect a friendly atmosphere, supportive guidance, and possibly a sweet treat at the finish.

Celebrate Halloween at a pop-up market featuring local makers and small businesses with handmade creations, unique gifts, and plenty of tasty treats. Browse the vendors while kids enjoy festive fun like treat collecting, games, and other seasonal activities. Costumes are encouraged, and a contest will highlight standout looks, with candy available throughout. Every purchase supports independent sellers in the community. For prospective vendors, be cautious of scam comments. Do not send money to anyone claiming to handle applications, and note that only LTC is accepting applications.

Wind down with a sunset-themed 5K and fun run that benefits the Move For Jenn Foundation. Beyond the races, a lively festival features a DJ, a sponsor and vendor expo with giveaways, food vendors, plenty of kids activities, adoptable animals, raffles, and more. The festival is open to everyone and does not require race registration. Amputees can take part in the run at no cost with a special promo code available by emailing kelsey@moveforjenn.org. Leashed, well behaved dogs are welcome at both the race and the festival.

Bank of America Stadium provides a family friendly setting for NFL action. Children older than 12 months must have their own ticket to enter. Infants 12 months and under who are admitted without a ticket must share a seat with an accompanying adult. Some games are subject to flexible scheduling, so the date and start time may change from what appears on schedules or tickets. Ticket access includes several windows, with presales for PSL Owners and Partners and for TSE and Stadium, a resale period, and a public onsale.

Agape Mobile Vet presents the inaugural Vet at the Park, part of the new Agape Pet Wellness Days, at Clarks Creek Community Park. This on site clinic focuses on convenient, compassionate preventive care for dogs without the added cost of a home visit. Available services include wellness exams, vaccinations, heartworm testing, microchipping, and parasite prevention. Full service information and pricing are available through the organizer’s registration link. Please bring your dog’s current vaccination records if you have them. Beyond the clinical care, this is a relaxed community gathering where dog owners can meet the veterinary team and connect with other local pet families. Save $20 when you pre register by calling 980-257-6586. For questions, contact Agape Mobile Vet and Dr. Deana Marta at 980-257-6586 or drmarta@agapemobilevet.com.

Celebrate the season at Floyd’s Creek Baptist Church with a fall festival filled with activities for everyone. Highlights include inflatables, a hayride, a cake walk, pumpkin decorating, games and face painting. Enjoy classic treats such as popcorn, cotton candy, s’mores and hot dogs while spending time with the community.

This family-friendly trunk or treat at New Vision Baptist Church features activities and games, lots of candy, and time to connect with friends, relatives, and the church community. Open to all for a festive Halloween gathering filled with fellowship and fun.

Music Bingo takes over Harris Teeter in Riverbend Village in Charlotte with a game night that pairs popular songs with classic bingo. Participants listen to music, mark matches on their cards, and call out a win for prizes awarded each round. It is free to take part and welcoming to all ages, creating a friendly setting for testing music knowledge and enjoying upbeat tunes.

Tuesdays at The Club House feature Music Bingo with prizes alongside specials that include $10 burgers, $5 drafts, and $7 Tito’s. Kids Eat Free is offered at one child per adult, and it cannot be combined with other food specials.

Settle in at Hoskins Mill for a movie with Halloween snacks. Bring a chair or a blanket to stay comfortable, and enjoy watching alongside neighbors.

Each Wednesday features a new theme as Little Learners blends playful learning with an interactive project. Children can delve into nature and science while expressing their creativity. This session takes place in Charlotte, NC.

Kids and adults of all ages are welcome to celebrate Halloween at Blacksburg Public Library with dancing, treats, and a hands-on activity to make glow-in-the-dark potion sensory bottles. Please note that blinking lights and blacklights will be used during this program.

Trick-or-Trade brings a Halloween themed trade night to Tabbris with free entry for all ages. Costumes are encouraged, and doors open earlier than a standard trade night so families can stop by after school or work. Kids can look forward to a costume contest with prizes from the case, candy for kids in costume while supplies last, and activities with giveaways throughout the night. Everyone can take part in a costume contest for adults and a graded Mimikyu giveaway that is free to enter with no purchase required, with additional details shared on Instagram at @friendsnfoils. Trading, buying, and selling are welcome. Attendees can bring binders, singles are purchased on site, trading runs all evening, and sealed product is priced at or below market. The Take a Pikachu, Leave a Pikachu binder will be available. Payment options include cash or Venmo at @friendsnfoils. Guests are encouraged to mark their interest so candy quantities can be planned.

Admission is free for this program at The Mint Museum, with access available at both Mint Museum Uptown and Mint Museum Randolph in Charlotte. It is made possible by Publix Super Market Charities. For the most current hours, please check the museum's events calendar.

Thursday family storytime features lively stories paired with activities that build early literacy. It is intended for children ages 1 to 6 and their caregivers.

The City of Kings Mountain hosts its annual Great Pumpkin Halloween Parade, a foot procession for children from newborn through age 7 and their parents. Families line up at the Cherokee Street parking area, then make their way to Patriots Park where the celebration continues with activities and entertainment. Kings Mountain’s Communication, Tourism and Events Department and Mauney Memorial Library’s Harris Children’s Department, working with King City Church, Cleveland County Childcare Connections, Partnership for Children and the Kings Mountain Historical Museum, bring games, Halloween tales, music and group singalongs to the park. Local merchants are encouraged to wear costumes and pass out candy along the route, and tables will be available at Patriots Park for businesses to share treats. After the parade, families can stay to play, enjoy a picnic, take photos with the Peanuts characters at Linus’s pumpkin patch or visit nearby downtown restaurants. The route begins at Cherokee Street parking, continues on Mountain Street, crosses Battleground, turns left onto South Railroad Avenue and finishes at Patriots Park.

Urban District Market transforms into a spirited Halloween playground created by POP Culture, offering an immersive, all-ages celebration that blends a candy-filled adventure with a vibrant showcase of local makers. Navigate trick-or-treat zones hidden throughout the venue where treats are available while supplies last, and bring a roomy bag or bucket for the haul. The Monster Market features more than 20 local vendors, making it easy to get a head start on holiday gift shopping while kids continue their sweet search. Live drums set the beat for an energized evening that also includes rides, games, and hands-on activities in a dedicated play area. Costumes are highly encouraged, with Morris Costumes + Halloween Express serving as the event’s costume partner. RSVP is requested to help plan the flow of the night, and children must be accompanied by an adult. Please note that photos and video may be captured for use by Elite CLT Social Events, LLC, that purchases are nonrefundable, and that RSVPing or buying a ticket may lead to receiving event communications.

Celebrate the season at a family-friendly fall festival centered on serving the church and community. Activities include a bouncy house, a food truck, music, cake walks, photos, shaved ice, trunk or treat, popcorn, cotton candy, and an encouraging message. Six vendors will also take part, with details to be announced. Bring lawn chairs and enjoy time together.

Hosted by UGLY Start Outreach in partnership with Lowell Parks & Recreation, this fall gathering features candy, games, music, and a limited-time trunk or treat for a festive evening of community fun. The event also supports the Thanksgiving Giveback Drive, collecting donations to help prepare meals and assemble care kits for people experiencing homelessness. Accepted contributions include Thanksgiving meal items, care kit essentials, serving and packaging supplies, and financial donations or sponsorships. A full wish list and additional ways to support are available from the organizers.

Movies on the Lawn returns to the Johnston YMCA with an outdoor screening of Zombies 4. Families and friends can settle in on the grass with blankets or lawn chairs for a free movie night in Charlotte’s NoDa neighborhood. Admission, parking, and refreshments are complimentary, with popcorn, candy, nachos, hot dogs, and drinks available. It offers a relaxed way to watch a film together and enjoy an evening with the community.