Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment

Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment is the South's largest privately owned arts facility, featuring over 200 working artists in a converted textile mill. Families can explore interactive galleries, watch artists at work in their studios, take hands-on art classes, and enjoy live performances in a creative, industrial-chic setting that sparks curiosity and imagination in kids of all ages.

• ✓Watching artists work in real-time through open studio doors, from painters to sculptors to jewelry makers
• ✓The on-site food court with multiple casual dining options perfect for refueling mid-exploration
• ✓Interactive art installations and galleries designed for kids to touch and experience
• ✓Flying Monkey Arts performance space hosting family-friendly theater and concerts
• ✓Drop-in art classes and workshops where kids can create their own masterpieces to take home

1. 1.Visit on First Fridays (monthly evening events) for live music, food trucks, and special demonstrations when most studios stay open late.
2. 2.Bring cash for purchasing directly from artists and for some food court vendors, though most accept cards.
3. 3.Download the Lowe Mill map from their website beforehand as the massive building can be maze-like with multiple floors and wings.
4. 4.Check the events calendar before visiting to catch kid-friendly workshops, theater performances, or concerts that require advance registration.
5. 5.Let kids pick up a free activity sheet at the front desk to turn studio hopping into a scavenger hunt.

Thursday through Saturday afternoons between 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM offer the most open studios and artist interactions without overwhelming crowds. Avoid First Friday evenings if you prefer a quieter, more focused experience, as these events draw large adult crowds.

Admission to browse the complex is free, though individual art classes and workshops have fees (typically $15 to $40 per person). The on-site food court offers casual dining options, free parking is plentiful, and the building is stroller and wheelchair accessible with elevators throughout.

Open year-round, but holiday seasons (November through December) feature special craft fairs, performances, and extended hours. Summer months offer additional children's art camps and workshops. The indoor setting makes it an excellent rainy day or hot summer afternoon destination.

Campus 805, a family-friendly food and entertainment complex with multiple dining options and outdoor green space, is just 5 minutes away. For classic comfort food, Rosie's Mexican Cantina offers a full kids menu and is located within 10 minutes of Lowe Mill.