Charlotte Symphony Family Concerts

The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra performs at Belk Theater in Uptown Charlotte — one of the premier concert halls in the Southeast — and runs dedicated family programming throughout its season that makes orchestral music genuinely accessible to children.

Two programs are worth knowing:

**Rush Hour Concerts** are 45-minute performances specifically designed for ages 3-5. They're held in the smaller Performance Hall (not the 2,000-seat main stage), creating an intimate environment where toddlers can see the musicians clearly and teachers can move around as needed. The format includes instrument demonstrations, interactive segments where kids call out questions, and repertoire chosen specifically for young ears — familiar melodies, dramatic contrasts, and short movements.

Rush Hour tickets are the most affordable Symphony option. They sell out fast.

**Family Series Concerts** are 60-75-minute performances on the main Belk Theater stage for ages 5 and up. These are more formal than Rush Hour but still family-calibrated — conductors explain what the audience is hearing, the programming ties to accessible themes (fairy tales, animals, space), and pre-concert lobby activities include instrument try-outs, character appearances, and craft stations. Tickets are in the $20/10 range per person.

Belk Theater itself is worth experiencing. The hall opened in 1992 after a decade-long effort to give Charlotte a proper performance venue — the acoustics are exceptional and the sight lines from most sections are clear even for small children. Getting dressed up slightly and sitting in a beautiful concert hall is part of the experience for young kids.