BELMONT, NORTH CAROLINA –
On average, the moon sits a whopping 226,000 miles away from the Earth. But this autumn, the Downtown Belmont Development Association (DBDA) brings the moon closer than ever before as Moonlight on Main glows in Belmont, N.C. For three consecutive weeks this October and November, Moonlight on Main will bring a warm glow to chilly nights in
historic downtown Belmont.
The Museum of the Moon is an international touring exhibition from U.K. artist Luke Jerram , comprised of a 23-foot moon replica, which features detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface. Traveling across global public spaces, this astounding artwork will take center stage at the Stowe Park amphitheater on weekends 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 moon itself, lunar-inspired events unfold throughout the three-week event.
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 an outdoor projection art gallery and feature original art pieces featured in the projections. This projection exhibit will be visible each night for the duration of the event, and visitors can take a self-guided tour of the artworks using the Belmont GO App.
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 The Lunar Experience Program, hosted by the Schiele Museum Planetarium Staff on Nov. 7. Live music also will provide soundtracks for the lunar occasion; from the Charlotte Jazz Band to a Villains Cabaret and the Pink Floyd Experience, tunes of various genres will accompany and fill the moonlit Belmont sky.
Moonlight on Main and its presentation of the moon are 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 www.MoonlightOnMain.com. The Museum of the Moon was co-commissioned by a number of creative organizations brought together by Luke Jerram and Norfolk & Norwich Festival. These include: Greenwich+Docklands International Festival, Brighton Festival, Without Walls, Cork Midsummer Festival, We The Curious, Lakes Alive, Provincial Domain Dommelhof, Les Tombées de la Nuit, Rennes and Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. The artwork has also been created in partnership with the UK Space
Agency, University of Bristol and The Association for Science and Discovery Centres.
The Downtown Belmont Development Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The mission of the DBDA is to
further advance the economic, aesthetic, and cultural environment of historic downtown lBelmont.
