CHARLOTTE – Marking the day that celebrates the anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s arrival in America is important to our nation. On October 12, 1492, Christopher Columbus a Genovese-born explorer arrived in the Americas. He was a subject of the Hispanic Monarchy that led a Spanish enterprise searching for an alternative route to the Far East, only the journey landed them in the New World.
October 12, 1792, was celebrated as the first Columbus Day to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the landing. Several hundred years went by, and on this date, several historical events took place causing some uproar about the marking of the day, but in 1966 a gentleman from Buffalo, NY, Mariano A. Lucca, composed the National Columbus Day Committee. This committee lobbied to mark on the second Monday in October a federal holiday known as Columbus Day. Their efforts were a success, and legislation creating the day a federal holiday was signed by President Johnson on June 28, 1968, to begin in 1971.
The holiday marks a day in commemoration for the Americans. During the weekend, get out and enjoy some fall events to mark the celebration.
2nd Annual Oktoberfest at The Music Yard will be celebrated on October 8 and 9 with events starting at 2:00 pm on both days at 2433 South Blvd Charlotte, NC 28203. There will be live music, performers, vendors, DJs, seasonal craft beer options, hammerschlagen, pumpkin carving, contests, and more. Information and the music lineup can be found at https://www.facebook.com/musicyardclt.
Ramsey Creek Park is hosting the Charlotte Dragon Boat Races and Asian Festival. The park address is 18441 Nantz Road, Cornelius, NC, and starts at 9:00 am on Saturday Saturday, October 8 and will end at 4:30 pm. Admission to the festival is free, but there will be no parking at the park. To attend the event, park at 8900 North Pointe Executive Park, Huntersville, NC, and a shuttle service will be available. This popular event hosts the racing of colorful dragon boats created by a number of local teams. It is a cultural event that is surely not to be missed. Information on the festival can be found at http://www.charlottedragonboat.com/.
Waxhaw’s Autumn Treasures Fall Festival will take place in the downtown area on October 8 and 9. On Saturday, the events will start at 10:00 am and run through 6:00 pm, and on Sunday starting at 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Activities and events for all ages, the family-friendly festival that will include crafters, a free kids’ zone under the water tower, inflatables, carnival rides, a petting zoo, children’s entertainment, children’s crafts, live music, and BBQ teams selling home-cooked meals. This is one of the town’s biggest festivals of the year, and there is something for everyone. Check out their website for more information https://www.waxhaw.com/our-town/events/autumn-treasures.
