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- Sports and Recreation
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- Arts and entertainment
- Day tripping to other tourism destinations a short drive from Gaston County.
- Filmmaking in Gaston County
Festivals & Special Events
There are a variety of festivals held year round in Gaston County. Just about every town has its own unique event to celebrate the important history of their area. Festivals which include Garibaldi Fest in Belmont, Spring Fest in Mt. Holly, Down Home Day in Bessemer City, and Country Fest in Stanley are only a few of the offerings. There are also events like Cotton Ginning Days, antique car shows, and year round events at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. All these and many more help make Gaston County an interesting place to visit any time of the year.
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| EVENT | LOCATION | PHONE |
| JANUARY | ||
New Year's Shooters (1) |
Cherryville | 704-435-6605 |
Wedding Showcase (14th) |
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden | 704-825-4490 |
Art at the Garden (18th-Mar 18th) |
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden | 704-825-4490 |
| FEBRUARY | ||
| Success with Orchids Session 1 (2nd) | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden | 704-825-4490 |
| The Winter Sky Show (2nd-23rd) | Schiele Museum Planetarium | 704-866-6900 |
| We Did Roots: A Genealogy Workshop (3rd) | Gaston County Museum | 704-852-6025 |
| First Tuesday-Best in Show: Winning Orchids (5th) | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden | 704-825-4490 |
| Cultivating Beauty (5th) | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden | 704-825-4490 |
| Success with Orchids Session 2 (5th) | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden | 704-825-4490 |
| Victorian Valentine Magic Lantern Show (8th) | Gaston College, Myers Auditorium | |
| Astronomy Merit Badge Workshop (9th) | Schiele Museum | 704-854-6676 |
| Children's Art Weekend (9th&10th) | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden | 704-829-1252 |
| A Taste of Tea (12th) | Stanley Community Bldg. | |
| Vining for Love (12th) | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden | 704-829-1252 |
| Valentine Quilters' Coffee (14th) | Mount Holly Branch Library | 704-827-3581 |
| Carolina Pro Musica (14th) | Belmont Abbey College | 704-461-6813 |
| Heroes of the Underground Railroad (16th) | Gaston County Public Library | 704-868-2164 |
| Success with Orchids Session 3 (16th) | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden | 704-829-1252 |
| Art Card Trading Session (19th) | Gaston County Museum | 704-922-7681 |
| From Murphy to Manteo (21st) | Gaston County Public Library | 704-868-2164 |
| Love's Labour's Lost (21st) | Belmont Abbey College | 704-461-6787 |
| Scout Camp-In (22nd-23rd) | Schiele Museum, Gastonia | 704-869-1033 |
Success with Orchids Session 4 (23rd) |
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden | 704-829-1252 |
| Wedding Showcase (24th) | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden | 704-825-4490 |
| Terrific Toddler Tuesday (26th) | Gaston County Museum | 704-922-7681 |
| Botanical Illustration with Peter Loewer (29th) | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden | 704-829-1252 |
| Art at the Garden (now until March 18th) | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden | 704-829-1252 |
| Winter in the Piedmont (exhibit ends February 10th) | Schiele Museum | 704-866-6908 |
| MARCH | ||
| American Legion Oratorical Contest (1st) | Schiele Museum, Gastonia | 704-866-6908 |
| "Snakes Alive" (1st) | Crowders Mountain State Park | 704-853-5375 |
| Peter Rabbit's Garden Adventure (8th) | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, Belmont | 704-829-1252 |
| "Southern Voices: Black, White and Blues" (13th) | First Presybterian Church, Gastonia | 704-868-2164/dial 4 |
Go Fly a Kite! (15th) |
Belmont Central School Field | 704-825-8191 |
| Easter Egg Hunt (16th) | Gaston County Museum, Dallas | 704-922-7681 |
| Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt (18th) | Davis Park, Belmont | 704-825-8191 |
| Spring Wildflower Hike (22nd) | Crowders Mountain State Park | 704-853-5375 |
| NC Catch Fishing Clinic | Crowders Mountain State Park | 704-838-5375 |
| APRIL | ||
| First Tuesday featuring "Extreme Plant Life" | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden | 704-825-4490 |
| Spring Plant Sale (19-20) | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden | 704-825-4490 |
| Earth Day (20th) | Schiele Museum, Gastonia | 704-866-6908 |
Annual Book Sale (23-26) |
Gaston County Public Library | 704-868-2164 |
Cherry Blossom Festival (25-26th) |
Cherryville, Downtown Mainstreet | 704-435-3451 |
| Antique Car Show (26th) | C. Grier Beam Truck Museum, Cherryville | 704-435-3072 |
| Tusks: Ice Age Mammoths & Mastodons (Jan26-May 4) | Schiele Museum | 704-866-6908 |
| MAY | ||
| Mt. Holly Spring Festival (3rd) | Mt. Holly, Downtown | 704-822-2939 |
| Just Plain Dog Show (3rd) | Dallas Park, Dallas | 704-922-2160 |
| "Shone On-Richard Trice & The Bull City Blues" (1st) | Gaston County Museum, Dallas | 704-922-7681 |
| Sunset on the Pinnacle (3rd) | Crowders Mountain State Park | 704-853-5375 |
Abbey Chorus Spring Concert (4th) |
Belmont Abbey College, Belmont | 704-461-6813 |
| First Tuesday featuring Container Gardening (6th) | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden | 704-829-1252 |
| Darin Aldridge in Concert (8th) | Gaston County Public Library | 704-868-2164 |
| Subaru River Jam featuring Scott Smith (8th) | US National Whitewater Center | 704-391-3900 |
| Annual Blues Out Back Concert Series (9-10) | Gaston County Museum | 704-922-7681 |
| Down Home Festival (9-10) | Downtown Bessemer City | 704-833-0362 |
| International Migratory Bird Day (10th) | Crowders Mountain State Park | 704-853-5375 |
| Mother's Day Weekend (10-11) | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden | 704-829-1252 |
| Subaru River Jam featuring The Masonboro Boys (15th) | US National Whitewater Center | 704-391-3900 |
| Volunteer Trail Work Day (17th) | Crowders Mountain State Park | 704-853-5375 |
| Garibaldifest (17th) | Downtown Belmont | 704-825-8191 |
| Subaru River Jam featuring Roadside Attraction (22nd) | US National Whitewater Center | 704-391-3900 |
| NC Catch Fishing Clinic (24th) | Crowders Mountain State Park | 704-853-5375 |
| Gardening in the Backcountry (25th) | Schiele Museum, Gastonia | 704-866-6908 |
| Late Afternoon Spring Walk (25th) | Crowders Mountain State Park | 704-853-5375 |
| Subaru River Jam featuring Orange Crush (29th) | US National Whitewater Center | 704-391-3900 |
| Stone Age Bakery (31st) | Schiele Museum, Gastonia | 704-866-6912 |
| Making Faces with Mike Ball (31st) | Gaston County Museum, Dallas | 704-922-7681 |
| Wildlife Gardening (31st) | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden | 704-829-1252 |
| Lowell Freedom Festival (31st) | Harold Rankin Park, Lowell | 704-824-0099 |
| JUNE | ||
| 19th Century Games (1st) | Gaston County Museum, Dallas | 704-922-7681 |
| Night Hike/Owl Hike (1st) | Crowders Mountain State Park | 704-853-5375 |
| First Tuesday featuring Great Herbs for the Garden (3rd) | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden | 704-829-1252 |
| Summer Kickoff (7th) | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden | 704-829-1252 |
| Downtown Alive Concert Series: The Spontanes! (7th) | Downtown Gastonia | |
| Garden Nights: Off the Vine (12th) | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden | 704-829-1252 |
| Summer Night Hike (12th) | Schiele Museum, Gastonia | 704-854-6676 |
| Friday Night Live: Coastline (13th) | Downtown Belmont | |
| 10th Annual Blues Out Back: Abe Reid (13th) | Gaston County Museum, Dallas | 704-922-7681 |
| Animal Stories and S'mores by the Campfire (15th) | Crowders Mountain State Park | 704-853-5375 |
| Red Hills English Country Dancers (16th) | Gaston County Museum, Dallas | 704-922-7681 |
| Summer Solstice Celebration (20th) | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden | 704-829-1252 |
| Mid-Summer Festival (21st) | Schiele Museum, Gastonia | 704-866-6908 |
| Basic Canoeing 101 (23rd) | Crowders Mountain State Park | 704-853-5375 |
| Downtown Alive Series: The Embers (26th) | Downtown Gastonia | |
| Friday Night Live: The Tams (27th) | Downtown Belmont | |
| Volunteer Trail Work Day (28th) | Crowders Mountain State Park | 704-853-5375 |
| Carolina Culture (28th) | Gaston County Public Library | 704-868-2164 |
| Ride The Waves: Ham Radio Demonstrations (28th) | Schiele Museum, Gastonia | 704-866-6908 |
| Ranger on the Ridge (29th) | Crowders Mountain State Park | 704-853-5375 |
| JULY | ||
| Gastonia Grizzlies vs. Forest City (1st) | Sims Legion Park | 704-866-8622 |
| First Tuesday featuring Urban Havens (1st) | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden | 704-829-1252 |
| Coffee with the Curator (2nd) | Gaston County Museum, Dallas | 704-922-7681 |
| Gastonia Grizzlies vs. Forest City (3rd) | Sims Legion Park | 704-866-8622 |
| July 4th Celebration (4th) | Cherryville Mini Park | 704-435-1730 |
| Children's Fishing Contest (4th) | Crowders Mountain State Park | 704-853-5375 |
| Hanging Herb Garden (5th) | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden | 704-829-1252 |
| Movies in the Park (5th) | Stowe Park, Belmont | 704-825-8191 |
| Carnivorous Plants (9th) | Gaston County Library | 704-868-2164 |
| Gastonia Grizzlies vs. Thomasville (9th) | Sims Legion Park | 704-866-8622 |
Gastonia's Downtown Alive Concert Series (10th) |
Downtown Gastonia | 704-868-2164 |
| 10th Annual Blues Out Back Concert (11th) | Gaston County Museum | 704-922-7681 |
| Gastonia Grizzlies vs. Martinsville (11th) | Sims Legion Park | 704-866-8622 |
| Gastonia Grizzlies vs. Thomasville (12th) | Sims Legion Park | 704-866-8622 |
| Friday Night Live (11th) | Downtown Belmont | |
| Urban Gardening (12th) | Crowders Mountain State Park | 704-853-5375 |
Summer Movies (5,12,19) |
Stowe Park, Belmont | 704-825-8191 |
| Downtown Alive Concert Series (10,24) | Downtown Gastonia | 704-865-5044 |
| Blues Out Back (11th) | Gaston County Museum, Dallas | 704-922-7681 |
| Exotic Invasive Species Management (13th) | Crowders Mountain State Park | 704-853-5375 |
| Gastonia Grizzlies vs. Martinsville (15th) | Sims Legion Park | 704-866-8622 |
| Gastonia Grizzlies vs. Florence (17th) | Sims Legion Park | 704-866-8622 |
| Pirate-themed Family Fun Night (17th) | Gaston County Museum, Dallas | 704-922-7681 |
| Extreme Reality (17th) | Gaston County Library | 704-868-2164 |
| Gastonia Grizzlies vs. Edenton (19th) | Sims Legion Park | 704-866-8622 |
| Accenting the Garden with Art (19th) | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden | 704-829-1252 |
| Animals of Crowders Mountain (19th) | Crowders Mountain State Park | 704-853-5375 |
| Mini-History Camp (23rd) | Gaston County Museum, Dallas | 704-922-7681 |
| Garden Nights: Forbidden Fruits (24th) | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden | 704-829-1252 |
| Summer Night Hike (24th) | Schiele Museum | 704-854-6676 |
| Friday Night Live (25th) | Downtown Belmont | |
| Volunteer Trail Work Day (26th) | Crowders Mountain State Park | 704-853-5375 |
| Mini Cartooning Camp (29th) | Gaston County Museum, Dallas | 704-922-7681 |
| JULY EXHIBITS | ||
| Gemstone Mining | Schiele Museum | 704-866-6908 |
| Summer Reading Program 2008 | All Gaston-Lincoln Regional Libraries | 704-868-2164 |
| Summer at the Backcountry Farm | Schiele Museum | 704-866-6908 |
| The Catawba Village (Saturday and Sundays only) | Schiele Museum | 704-866-6908 |
| Swamp Things | Schiele Museum | 704-866-6908 |
| How 'Gators Feed | Schiele Museum | 704-866-6908 |
| How Snakes Feed | Schiele Museum | 704-866-6908 |
| The Planets: A Voyage Across our Solar System | James Lynn Planetarium, Schiele Museum | 704-866-6908 |
| The Summertime Sky Show | James Lynn Planetarium, Schiele Museum | 704-866-6908 |
| Bear Tales | James Lynn Planetarium, Schiele Museum | 704-866-6908 |
| AUGUST | ||
| Downtown Alive Series (7,21st) | Downtown Gastonia | 704-865-5044 |
| Blues Out Back (8th) |
Gaston County Museum, Dallas | 704-922-7681 |
| SEPTEMBER | ||
| Labor Day Concert (3rd) | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden | 704-825-4490 |
| Downtown Alive Concert Series (4th) | Downtown Gastonia | 704-865-5044 |
| Bikes, Boogies & BBQ (5-6th) | Carolina Harley-Davidson, Gastonia | 704-867-2855 |
| Blues Out Back (12th) | Gaston County Museum, Dallas | 704-922-7681 |
| Starving Artists Show (call for dates) | Gaston Gazette | 704-869-1870 |
| Fall Family Weekend (27-28th) | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden | 704-825-4490 |
| Old Trucks and Art in the Park (27th) | C. Grier Beam Truck Museum, cherryville | 704-435-3072 |
| OCTOBER | ||
| Country Fest (3rd-4th) | Stanley, Downtown | 704-263-4779 |
| Gem & Mineral Show (3-5th) | Gaston County Park, Dallas | 704-865-6748 |
| Dogtoberfest (4th) | Gaston County Park, Dallas | 704-922-2160 |
| Blues Out Back (10th) | Gaston County Museum, Dallas | 704-922-7681 |
| Cotton Ginning Days (10-12th) | Gaston County Park, Dallas | 704-922-2160 |
| Belmont Fall Festival (11th) | Stowe Park, Belmont | 704-825-8191 |
| Fall Symposium (10-11th) | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden | 704-825-4490 |
| Halloween Bash (25th) | Belmont, Downtown | 704-825-8191 |
| NOVEMBER | ||
| Harvest Day (15th) | Schiele Museum, Gastonia | 704-866-6908 |
| Christmastown, USA (30th-Dec) | McAdenville | |
| DECEMBER | ||
| Christmastown, USA (1st-26th) | McAdenville | 704-823-2260 |
| Annual Holiday Open House (6th) | Gaston County Museum, Dallas | 704-922-7681 |
| Christmas Open House (call for dates) | C. Grier Beam Truck Museum | 704-435-3072 |
| Christmas on Main Street (4th) | Downtown Cherryville | 704-435-3451 |
| Colonial Christmas (14th) | Schiele Museum, Gastonia | 704-866-6908 |
| Season of Light (call for dates) | Schiele Museum Planetarium | 704-866-6908 |
| Star of Wonder (call for dates) | Schiele Museum Planetarium | 704-866-6908 |
| Holiday Gallery of Art (call for dates) | Downtown Gastonia | 704-865-5044 |
| Holiday Lights at the Garden (call for dates) | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden | 704-825-4490 |
| York Chester Candlelight Home Tour (6th) | Gastonia | call Visitor Center for details |
Gastonia Farmers Market 410
E. Long Avenue, Gastonia. 704-853-0049. |
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