Sunshine and gingerbread: Plan your week ahead with WNC Parent – July 7
Yes, summer is going full blast this week, but that’s not stopping a little Christmas in July from happening. Check out this week’s update, along with the full July calendar of events at wncparent.com. And don’t miss WNC Parent’s annual birthday guide and much more coming throughout the month.
Does your organization or business offer family-friendly events? Let us know! Stay in touch on social media @wncparent and get your events on our calendar by emailing chris@worthyplace.com.
Gingerbread in July continues through July 12 at the Omni Grove Park Onn. Guests can enjoy daily activities including fireworks, a putt-putt tournament, pool games, glitter tattoos, face painting, a cookie decorating party, balloon twister, mascot appearances, family movies and crafts. The event ends July 12 with a birthday celebration in honor of the Inn’s 110th anniversary. The full activity schedule is at omnihotels.com/-/media/images/hotels/gpirst/activities/pdfs/gpirst-omni-asheville-grove-park-inn-gingerbread-in-july-activity-guide.pdf?la=en.
Summer Animal Encounters are at 2 p.m. weekdays in July at Chimney Rock State Park. Included with park admission. Join a Park naturalist and meet live animal ambassadors. Learn about the types of wildlife in the area and their jobs. chimneyrockpark.com/event/summer-animal-encounters-3.
An Independence Day Celebration 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. July 7 at Hands On! Children’s Museum. Explore the colors of our American flag through science demonstrations every day at 2 p.m. and make “exploding” fireworks crafts inside the MakerStudio. Visit handsonwnc.org.
Community Skate Night is 5 – 6:30 p.m. July 7 at Carrier Park. This event is free. For details, visit avlrec.com.
The Montford Moppets present “The Odyssey” July 7 – 9 at the Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre. For tickets and details, visit themontfordmoppets.org.
Second Saturday arts events are July 8 in the River Arts District. Events include artist demos, exhibits and more. For details and locations, visit riverartsdistrict.com.
Shindig On the Green is at 7 p.m. July 8 in Pack Square Park. The event includes music, dancing, storytelling and more. Visit folkheritage.org/asheville-events/shindig-on-the-green-2023.
Summer Twilight in the Treetops night climbs are Saturday nights through Sept. 2 at Adventure Center of Asheville. Five of the park’s aerial trails are illuminated. (The Black Trail is not available for night climbs.) Ages 4 and older. Reservations are suggested. Call 877-247-5539 or visit ashevilletreetopsadventurepark.com/asheville-treetops-adventure-park.
We “ARRRR" Hands On! Explorers – A Pirate's Life For Me is 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. July 10 – 14 at Hands On! Children’s Museum. Create pirate-themed crafts, play pirate-themed games, navigate to a hidden treasure and learn the ways of pirate life. Visit handsonwnc.org.
Bountiful Cities’ Urban Garden Tour and Tasting event is 1 – 5 p.m. July 9 at gardens in Asheville. Tour the gardens to enjoy dishes and beverages created using seasonal produce. Registration is free to visit the gardens. To sample food and beverages at all 10 gardens, tickets are available for $40 each. Register or purchase tickets at bountifulcities.org. To view map of the gardens, visit flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/MTc2MDAw.
Summer movies – “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” and “The Paw Patrol” are shown July 11 and 12 at select Regal theaters. See details at regmovies.com/static/en/us/smx.
Read to a service dog 2 – 3 p.m. July 11 at We Rock the Spectrum Asheville. This is a free event. Visit werockthespectrumasheville.com.
A Bird's Eye View is 8 – 9:30 a.m. July 12 at Highlands Biological Station. This summer, the Highlands Biological Station will be banding birds in partnership with Blue Ridge Bird Observatory for the 4th consecutive year. Stop by the Station during banding days to see bird research in action and to learn about what data – and birds – have been found so far. Dates are highly weather dependent and subject to change. Visit highlandsbiological.org for updates.
It’s Electric! with Zaniac is at 11 a.m. July 12 at the Green River Library. Call 828-697-4969 to register for this free program for rising grades K-5. Visit hendersoncountync.gov/library.
See Professor Whizzpop – July 12 at the Henderson County Main Library at 11a.m. and at the Mills River Library at 2 p.m. Professor Whizzpop’s madcap magic show encourages magic lovers to read. Free, sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Visit hendersoncountync.gov/library.
Looking ahead:
Whimsical Woods Family Adventure is 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. July 15 at Chimney Rock State Park. Registration is required. Experience the park after the gates have closed as Street Creature Puppets leads a workshop on building lanterns from recycled materials. Enjoy a catered cookout from the Old Rock Cafe, then use the lantern you created to join in a puppet parade. The cost (includes park admission and dinner) is $35 each for adults, $25 each for adult annual passholders, $20 each for youth, $14 each for youth annual passholder. For details, visit chimneyrockpark.com/event/whimsical-woods-family-adventure.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Sunshine and gingerbread: Plan your week with WNC Parent – July 7
