On average, the moon sits a whopping 226,000 miles away from Earth. But this  autumn, the moon comes closer than ever before as Moonlight on Main shines in Belmont, NC. 

For three consecutive weekends this October and November, Moonlight on Main will bring a warm glow to chilly  nights in historic downtown Belmont. Museum of the Moon is an international touring exhibition from U.K. artist  Luke Jerram featuring a seven-meter detailed NASA image of the lunar surface. Traveling across global public  spaces, this astounding artwork will take center stage at the Stowe Park amphitheater Thursdays to Sundays  from Oct. 22 to Nov. 7. 

“We hope the exhibit will be an educational experience of a lifetime and inspire the next generation of scientists,  artists, poets, writers, and musicians from Gaston County,” said Phil Boggan, downtown director for the City of  Belmont. “The evenings and weekends will evoke passion and exploration as the ethereal blue light cast by the  full moon serves as the perfect environment for art exhibitions, theater performances, and a variety of musical  concerts.” 

In addition to the glowing and gleaming moon itself, lunar-inspired events unfold throughout the three-weekend  presentation. A free Opening Night Art Exhibit and Downtown Art Tour will take place on Oct. 21, 7-9 p.m.,  ushering in Moonlight on Main with original art pieces and a guided outdoor walking tour. Other festivities  include kid-friendly Boo Fest on Oct. 23, a Halloween Bar Crawl on Oct. 30, Howl at the Moon for furry friends  on Oct. 31 and a Moon Educational Program on Nov. 7, presented by The Schiele Museum of Natural History.  Live music also will infuse life into the lunar occasion; from the Charlotte Jazz Band to Noel Freidline and Maria  Howell, Villains Cabaret and the Pink Floyd Experience, tunes of various genres will accompany and fill the  moonlit Belmont sky. 

For the full three weeks of the exhibition, downtown Belmont will radiate as an outdoor art gallery with projected  art and lights around Main Street. Additionally, nine outdoor mural installations representing the moon’s role in  the Underground Railroad will be displayed daily in Stowe Park with guided tours available on Oct. 22. 

Added Ted Hall, chairman of the Belmont Tourism Development Authority, “Moonlight on Main is a family  friendly opportunity for visitors across the Charlotte region and well beyond to be awed by the moon and by  Belmont, N.C. It’s a perfect time to discover Belmont’s mouthwatering restaurants, local businesses, renowned  destinations and, above all else, its small town charm.” 

Moonlight on Main is presented by the Downtown Belmont Development Association and free to attend. Ticket  prices for select events vary. Additional details about Moonlight on Main, artist Luke Jerram and the numerous  events throughout the downtown exhibit are available at MoonlightOnMain.com.