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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.

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.
Open April & May, Saturday only, 8am — 12 pm.
Starting 1st Saturday in June through November,
hours are Tues. 7am-1pm, Thurs. 11am - 5pm, and Sat. 7am—1pm.
Hours subject to change.