Fall 2007 Activities in Charlotte, North Carolina

If you're in Charlotte, North Carolina, and looking for some fun (and sometimes educational) activities to do this fall, look no further. Charlotte has its fair share of spooky and thrilling events, but October doesn't mean just Halloween. For those looking for something educational to do, or perhaps to take a trip back in time, there are several things to keep your mind entertained. From one end of town to the other, there is something for everyone.

Opening on the weekends beginning on October 6 The Carolina Renaissance Festival rolls into town for it's 14th season. Spend the day in a medieval amusement park where you can eat and shop in the 16th century and enjoy entertaining, sometimes comical, shows that go on all day long. Watch the daily jousting tournaments and cheer for your horsemen as they take each other on. Enjoy feasts fit for a king. Listen as the strolling minstrels walk the streets entertaining you with their song. Kids and adults alike will enjoy the games of skill and rides for the whole family. The Festival is located just north of Charlotte on between Concord and Huntersville. Check their website for specific directions from your location at www.royalfaires.com/carolina/Default.asp?page=67.

If you haven't experienced it yet, Gunther Van Hagens' Body Worlds at Discovery Place in uptown Charlotte is not to be missed. With a limited engagement culminating on October 28th, this exhibition will never see the Charlotte area again, so now is the time. Body Worlds is a once in a lifetime experience, where visitors can see real body organs and tissues preserved by a process called Plastination. There is no age limit on the exhibits, however the suggested minimum age is 13.

For some good old fashioned fall fun you can travel a bit east of Charlotte to Wingate and visit the Aw Shucks corn maze. Kids and adults will enjoy finding their way through 2 different corn mazes that connect by a trail through the woods, pumpkin picking and hayrides. For those a lot more daring Aw Shucks hosts 7 nights of Field of Screams. Truly something not for the faint of heart, your trip begins as you are taken by hayride to the beginning of the maze at 7p.m. You will be guided through the two haunted mazes by a trained guide who will not leave you during your entire trip through the mazes. There are several actors trained to spook you throughout your trip. And the best part - no flashlights! If you've got a strong heart and a desire to be terrified - you can't do worse then the Aw Shucks Field of Screams!

For more chills and thrills a bit closer to home check out the Charlotte Museum of History for their spooky evening of fun on October 27. Geared more for family thrills, the museum hosts a ghost tour of the home site and includes cookie decorating and crafty fall activities for the kids. Space for this annual spooky fun is limited and reservations are required by simply calling the museum. Check out their website for specific directions from your location at: http://charlottemuseum.org/default.htm

A final location for good fall fun in Carowinds. Open only on the weekends, the daylight hours at Carowinds are meant for family fun and good natured frivolity with Kids' Howl-O-Fest. But when the sun goes down, Scarowinds comes out. From 7 to 11p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights in October Carowinds transforms into a haunted festival of horrors. Most regular park attractions run - but in the dark! There are also 6 haunted mazes and a Freak Show. Season pass holders can get a discounted rate into this special ticket event. This is definitely not for small children or for the faint of heart.

There are so many things to do to keep you entertained this fall season in Charlotte, even if thrills and spills are not up your alley. Everything from the educational Body Worlds to the haunted chills of the Aw Shucks corn maze will keep you fully entertained. Kids will delight at the Renaissance Festival and the daytime adventures of Carowinds (before it gets scary!). Don't stay cooped up in your house! Get out and have some fun!