After such an unusually hot summer here in the Lake Norman area when my free time has been spent nuturing my Wildlife Habitat Garden just to keep it alive, I am looking forward to being inspired once again by the Southern Ideal Home show being held at The Park (the old Charlotte Merchandise Mart) this weekend, August 27-29.  

Better known for their magnificent Southern Spring Garden Show, this fall show will also offer”hundreds of experts and thousands of ideas for building, remodeling, landscaping or decorating projects for inside and outside the home all in one place.” according to an article on LakeNorman.com.

They will have a Cooking Stage for demonstrations from top chefs, wine sampling from North Carolina wineries and so much more!

For more information: 704.376.6594. Or email Mardee Woodward: mwoodward@southernshows.com

Hours: 

Friday: Noon – 8pm

 Saturday: 10.am – 7pm

Sunday: 10am – 5pm

Admission Prices

At the door:  Adults $9, Children under 15 free with adult

Seniors Day is Friday: $7  ($55+)

Check out their Facebook Page for more updates! : 

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What better way to spend a summer weekend than on our beautiful Lake Norman?!  Want to share the day with a few thousand friends, a live, on-water band  and all sorts of fun?  Then check out AqualPalooza Lake Norman 2010 which is next Saturday, July 31st  from 11:00am – 5pm at the Midway Marina at the HWY 150 bridge.

What is AquaPalooza?  Basically it is a huge celebration; the largest boating event on Lake Norman this summer. According to their Facebook page, they already have over 350 boats and 2,500 guests registered to attend. AquaPalooza  “is the name given to a series of on-water celebrations held during the last two weeks of July at more than 100 locations around the world.  Each gathering features fun activities for family, friends of all ages!”. 

The sponsor this year is Sea Ray of Lake Norman.  It is a free event which is open to all boaters featuring live music and “many giveaways”.  Check out the link above to their Facebook page for more information and updates!

“From nostalgic patriotic parades to community festivals with firework displays to myriad planned and spontaneous raft- up (boat) parties on Lake Norman, there truly is something for everyone here in the greater Lake Norman area this 4th of July. Get out of your home, save gas and have a great time!”  I wrote this two years ago and it is still just as true this year.  So, here is the run down on Lake Norman’s 4th of July festivities 2010:  

Saturday, July 3rd at 11:00am the 6th Annual Iredell County Independence Day Parade  will be held on a 3-mile route from the Iredell County Fair Grounds ending at the Troutman Elementary School.  (Highway 21).If you want to experience a slice of true small-town Americana, this is a must attend parade.  The streets are lined with flags, yellow ribbons and folks of all ages, many with signs honoring our military past and present.  The parade itself  has over one hundred entries including floats with United States Veterans from all of our wars, local clubs and civic organizations, beauty queens and just about any thing you can imagine including at least one John Deere Tractor!  This year the Gold Star Mothers will be leading the way as the Grand Marshalls. Gold Star Mothers are those that have lost a son or daughter during their service to the United States.

 For the younger crowd, Saturday, June 26th, Vinnie’s Raw Oyster Bar  is holding their popular annual bikini contest (it’s not too late to enter!) and the Miss SKYBAR Bikini contest is Wednesday, June 30th.

Saturday, July 3rd from 4:00pm – 10:00m is the fourth Annual Summer Celebration at Lowe’s YMCA  in Mooresville.  This free event will feature children’s games, inflatables, rock climbing and velcrowalls, a jousting arena, balloon artists, face painting, a veteran’s ceremony and a performance by the Lake Norman Orchestra and Community Choir. This year there will be a new Teen area with added festivities and with the youth band Jeremiah’s Passion playing at 4pm.  The evening will end with a spectacular fireworks show.  There will also be 100 food vendors,  local arts and crafts and more.  Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs. 

The Town of Huntersville will be hosting their 8th Annual Fourth of July Celebration on Sunday, July 4th from 10:00am – 1:00pm at Birkdale Village…a family-friendly celebration!  Radio Disney will be on location starting at 11am and the Independence Day parade kicks off at 11:30.  At noon, the bike contest will be judged and prizes awarded by Mayor Jill Swain.  To cool off, a water fight will begin at 12:15 courtesy of the Huntersville and Gilead Fire Departments.  Children’s activities include the bike decorating contest, kid art, face painting, balloons and a bounce house.  For more details: 704.895.8744

The Town of Davidson will hold their annual Fourth of July Celebration on Sunday, July 4th from 5:15 – 8p.m.  Festivities include their annual small-town parade.  All are invited to “patriotically  dress their bicycles, wagons, pets and strollers and participate by meeting at Davidson Town Hall and lining up by 5:15pm.  Da Throwback Band will perform a Concert on the Green beginning at 6pm.  Music and games for all ages will be set up on the Village Green and a children amusement area will be available for a $5 admission.  There will be no fireworks this year.  More information: 704.892.7591.

The Town of Cornelius will also be celebrating on July 4th in a family-friendly way.  Starting at 6:30pm, families can play games, dance and picnic at this casual patriotic presentation.  At 6:30, local favorite Robin Burke and guest Kary Wall will treat guests to hits of the 70′s and 80′s.  Kids can ride the trackless train, make their own spin art or play various games on the lawn.  At 8:30pm the movie Avatar will be shown on the blimp screen.  Located at the Cornelius Town Hall, 21445 Catawba Ave.  704.892.6031 ext 160.

Fireworks displays are officially planned for Queens Landing on Lake Norman on Saturday, July 3rd starting at 7pm, but trust me, if you are out on the lake, you will see many private fireworks displays! 

If you want to party, The Sandbar is always a lot of adult fun. Their party runs from 1:00pm – 9:00pm on July 4th.  For more information: LKN Social.    Where is the Sandbar? Here are the  directions  to the Sandbar.  Be sure to check out LKNfun.com where you will find a great list of celebrations at our many restaurants and bars.

Going to Uptown Charlotte?  On July 4th at 9:30pm there will be a spectacular fireworks display at the Memorial Stadium.  “Red White and Boom!” will offer “wholesome family fun”  Admission is free and the fireworks show can also be viewed from a variety of locations around the city.

Finally, if you want to have your own, legal, fireworks display, in past years they have set up a stand where they sell fireworks at the corner of Williamson Rd. and Brawley School Rd. about a week before the 4th. They arrived!

Have fun and be safe!

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As I have written many times before, life in the greater Lake Norman area and throughout North Carolina wouldn’t be complete without our many and diverse community festivals.

But, this weekend you won’t find funnel cakes or giant turkey legs, because this weekend we will be celebrating our local wineries and restaurants! 

According to Lake Norman Wine and Food Festival, ” The event will include a number of distinct areas including: The Main Tent, wine lectures and cooking demonstrations; the Wine Reservoir, wine tastings from local wineries; the Restaurant Galley, small dishes from local restaurants; as well as Merchants area, regional vendors and boutique offerings.”

Wine lovers will have an opportunity to taste over 60 different wines from a dozen wineries including:

• Allison Oaks Vineyards
  Brushy Mountain Winery
  Daveste Vineyards
  Dobbins Creek Vineyards
  Old Stone Vineyard and Winery
  Raintree Cellars Winery
  Round Peak Vineyards
  Shadow Springs Vineyard
  Shelton Vineyards
  Southern Charm Winery
  Stony Mountain Vineyards
  Uwharrie Vineyards

Some of the restaurants that will be participating are:  Dresslers, Creole House, Mayo’s Ristorante, Brooklyn South, Sangam Indian, Kernel Ts Korn Krib. 

If you are still on the fence about attending, The Lake Norman Wine and Food Festival is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit and the proceeds this year will be donated to Angels and Sparrows, Hope House and the Mooresville Soup Kitchen.  So, go out and have some great food and wine knowing that you are helping others while you do so!

The Facts:

Dates/Times:

• Saturday, June 5: 10:30am – 6:00pm
• Sunday, June 6: Noon – 6:00pm

Location: 

• Kenton Place in Cornelius (Near the intersection of Hwy 73 and Catawba Blvd.)

Admission charges:

• General Admission: $9
• Wine Tent:  $19 (includes general admission)
• $2 discount if you bring a canned good.  One per person

After such an unusually cold and snowy winter here in the Lake Norman area the mere mention of the words “spring” and “garden” brightens my day.  Combine them with the announcement of the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Southern Home & Garden Show  being held at The Park (the old Charlotte Merchandise Mart) on March 3rd – 7th and I can already imagine strolling through their 24 ” magnificently landscaped gardens”! 

Just about a 30 minute drive from Lake Norman, the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Southeast’s largest and most established home and garden show is a must-attend event for Lake Norman home owners who love their homes and gardens. In the past the  incredible gardens designed by some of the best landscapers provided examples of everything from beautiful, lushly planted waterfalls and ponds to drought tolerant and low maintenance gardens for yards of every shape and size.  There is nothing more inspiring than seeing this preview of spring flowers and gardens.

Or, if you need a little incentive to  face your spring cleaning, a tour of their designer rooms from the Interior Design Society offer myriad ideas for minor face-lifts to major renovations.  This year professionals from over 400 companies will be “showcasing the latest and greatest in kitchen and bath, building and home improvement, outdoor living, green living, green market, decorative arts and crafts and wineries.”

Some of the special attractions and events this year include:

Garden Showcase:  24 spectacularly landscaped gardens with the designers on hand to answer questions

Extension’s Successful Gardener Learning Center: “Get answers for your gardening questions.  The professionals will be on had to help beginning gardeners, seasoned green thumbs, and everyone in between

Garden Club competitions including displays of Ikabana, Bonsai and Orchids.

Crestline Cottage Chic: A custom cottage built by Crestline Custom homes offers space-saving and storage solutions, interior design accessories and ideas for everything from a mountain retreat to a coastal escape

Festival of Tables:  This is a sneak-peak of The Salvation Women’s Auxillary’s April 14th and 15th fundraiser at the Blake Hotel which offers beautiful and creative tablescapes

Bold Beauty:  “Be inspired with the lastest decor and style trends in interior design with the interior design rooms created by members of the Charlotte Chapter of the Interior Design Society”

Spring for Kids First Night Gala:  This event, held on Wednesday evening, March 3rd from 7pm – 10pm is a gala fundraiser benefiting The Council for Children’s Rights.  Tickets are $50.  You can purchase tickets through a link on the Southern Spring Home & Garden’s website.

“Celebrate!

Where Spring Happens First”

Hours: 

Wednesday & Thursday: 10am – 6pm

Friday & Saturday: 10.am – 9pm

Sunday: 10am – 6pm

Admission Prices

At the door:  Adults $10, Children under 15 free with adult

Advanced tickets at Harris Teeter: $7.50

Senior Day: Wednesday $7.  ($55+)

For More Information contact Mardee Woodward:  MWoodward@southernshows.com.  704.376.4085

Website:  Southern Spring Home & Garden Show

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