Community Events

Perfect for runners and walkers of all levels and ages – beginner to expert

Join us at the Ballantyne Arts Center for a family friendly event that engages imaginations of all ages. Lead by professional teaching artists, we will feature a live reading and performance from selected story books along with a sensory-rich visual art experience. Themes change biweekly. Registration required for both adult and child.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever follows the outrageous shenanigans of the Herdman siblings, or “the worst kids in the history of the world.” The siblings take over the annual Christmas pageant in a hilarious yet heartwarming tale involving the Three Wise Men, a ham, scared shepherds, and six rowdy kids. The Ballantyne Arts Center provides production opportunities throughout the year for youth interested in performance. The rehearsal process utilizes an educational approach, providing theatrical training and direct application in a fun yet challenging environment. Professional directors, stage managers, and theatrical design teams support these quality productions.

Join us for some holiday fun by painting a piece of pottery to create a unique masterpiece! A professional artist is on site to guide and assist. Pieces are fired in the kiln and ready for pick up within two weeks. Children 12 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Drop in no later than 30 minutes prior to end time. Pricing includes a large piece or two smaller pieces. Individual pieces available for sale additionally by emailing ballantyneartscenter@ymcacharlotte.org. Pre-registration encouraged.

Join us at the Ballantyne Arts Center for a family friendly event that engages imaginations of all ages. Lead by professional teaching artists, we will feature a live reading and performance from selected story books along with a sensory-rich visual art experience. Themes change biweekly. Registration required for both adult and child.

Help your community by donating blood! There’s no substitute for blood. When a patient receives blood, it was given in advance by a generous donor. Visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter "MorrisonYMCA" to schedule an appointment. Streamline your donation experience and save up to 15 minutes by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass to complete your pre-donation reading and health history questions on the day of your appointment.

The Ballantyne Arts Center provides production opportunities throughout the year for youth interested in performance. The rehearsal process utilizes an educational approach, providing theatrical training and direct application in a fun yet challenging environment. Professional directors, stage managers, and theatrical design teams support these quality productions featuring young performers. Casting is by audition only. Robin Hood In this merry play of medieval England, Robert Fitzooth of Locksley (aka Robin Hood) earns the displeasure of the sheriff of Nottingham by defending his home from unlawful seizure in the king's absence. Declared an outlaw, Robin gathers a few loyal friends about him and retires to Sherwood Forest, where he trains his men to play pranks on the rich, usurping officials and wins fame by his prowess as an archer. In an effort to capture him, the sheriff declares a shooting match at the Nottingham Fair. Robin and his men, taking the precaution to wear disguises, enter the town long enough for Robin to win the golden arrow. They escape with difficulty, pursued by the sheriff and his party. In the ensuing duel between Robin and the sheriff, it appears that Robin has lost, and his men are in despair at the tragedy when the tide suddenly turns.

In this merry play of medieval England, Robert Fitzooth of Locksley (aka Robin Hood) earns the displeasure of the sheriff of Nottingham by defending his home from unlawful seizure in the king's absence. Declared an outlaw, Robin gathers a few loyal friends about him and retires to Sherwood Forest, where he trains his men to play pranks on the rich, usurping officials and wins fame by his prowess as an archer. In an effort to capture him, the sheriff declares a shooting match at the Nottingham Fair. Robin and his men, taking the precaution to wear disguises, enter the town long enough for Robin to win the golden arrow. They escape with difficulty, pursued by the sheriff and his party. In the ensuing duel between Robin and the sheriff, it appears that Robin has lost, and his men are in despair at the tragedy when the tide suddenly turns. The Ballantyne Arts Center provides production opportunities throughout the year for youth interested in performance. The rehearsal process utilizes an educational approach, providing theatrical training and direct application in a fun yet challenging environment. Professional directors, stage managers, and theatrical design teams support these quality productions.

Matilda has astonishing wit, intelligence...and special powers! She's unloved by her cruel parents but impresses her schoolteacher, the highly loveable Miss Honey. Matilda's school life isn't completely smooth sailing, however – the school's mean headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, hates children and just loves thinking up new punishments for those who don't abide by her rules. But Matilda has courage and cleverness in equal amounts, and could be the school pupils' saving grace! The Ballantyne Arts Center provides production opportunities throughout the year for youth interested in performance. The rehearsal process utilizes an educational approach, providing theatrical training and direct application in a fun yet challenging environment. Professional directors, stage managers, and theatrical design teams support these quality productions.

The Ballantyne Arts Center provides production opportunities throughout the year for youth interested in performance. The rehearsal process utilizes an educational approach, providing theatrical training and direct application in a fun yet challenging environment. Professional directors, stage managers, and theatrical design teams support these quality productions featuring young performers. Casting is by audition only. Inspired by the rousing true story of newsboys in turn-of-the-century New York City, Newsies Jr. features a Tony Award-winning score by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman and a book by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein. When powerful newspaper publishers raise prices at the newsboys' expense, the charismatic Jack Kelly rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions. Together, the newsies learn that they are stronger united and create a movement to fight for what's right. This is a timeless story full of spirit and heart.

Cady Heron may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the wild and vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois. How will this naïve newbie rise to the top of the popularity pecking order? By taking on The Plastics, a trio of lionized frenemies led by the charming but ruthless Regina George. But when Cady and her friends devise a "Revenge Party" to end Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a Queen Bee without getting stung. The Ballantyne Arts Center provides production opportunities throughout the year for youth interested in performance. The rehearsal process utilizes an educational approach, providing theatrical training and direct application in a fun yet challenging environment. Professional directors, stage managers, and theatrical design teams support these quality productions.

Help your community by donating blood! There’s no substitute for blood. When a patient receives blood, it was given in advance by a generous donor. Visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter "MorrisonYMCA" to schedule an appointment. Streamline your donation experience and save up to 15 minutes by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass to complete your pre-donation reading and health history questions on the day of your appointment.

Inspired by the rousing true story of newsboys in turn-of-the-century New York City, Newsies Jr. features a Tony Award-winning score by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman and a book by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein. When powerful newspaper publishers raise prices at the newsboys' expense, the charismatic Jack Kelly rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions. Together, the newsies learn that they are stronger united and create a movement to fight for what's right. This is a timeless story full of spirit and heart. The Ballantyne Arts Center provides production opportunities throughout the year for youth interested in performance. The rehearsal process utilizes an educational approach, providing theatrical training and direct application in a fun yet challenging environment. Professional directors, stage managers, and theatrical design teams support these quality productions.

Help your community by donating blood! There’s no substitute for blood. When a patient receives blood, it was given in advance by a generous donor. Visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter "MorrisonYMCA" to schedule an appointment. Streamline your donation experience and save up to 15 minutes by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass to complete your pre-donation reading and health history questions on the day of your appointment.

Help your community by donating blood! There’s no substitute for blood. When a patient receives blood, it was given in advance by a generous donor. Visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter "MorrisonYMCA" to schedule an appointment. Streamline your donation experience and save up to 15 minutes by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass to complete your pre-donation reading and health history questions on the day of your appointment.

Help your community by donating blood! There’s no substitute for blood. When a patient receives blood, it was given in advance by a generous donor. Visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter "MorrisonYMCA" to schedule an appointment. Streamline your donation experience and save up to 15 minutes by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass to complete your pre-donation reading and health history questions on the day of your appointment.