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There’s so much going on in Davidson this weekend, it’s hard to pick the highlight.  Is it the 10th annual BBQ, Blanket and Bluegrass festival Friday? The Davidson Land Conservancy’s Run for the Green Saturday morning? The 10th anniversary celebration of Summit Coffee Saturday night? The opening of the St. Alban’s music series Sunday afternoon? The finale of the Concerts on the Green Sunday evening? Wow! Take your pick!

And that’s just part of a weekend that also features health events from prostrate screening to breastfeeding awareness, plus concerto contests and piano flare from the college’s music department, a book discussion led by Tony Abbot, scout night, an art show opening, a gospel concert and historical home tours.

Weekend of Sept.18-21

THURSDAY, SEPT. 18:

The community conversation about Ron Rash’s “One Foot in Eden” will continue Thursday with a discussion led by local author and retired Davidson College professor Tony Abbott.  The free event, part of the 2008 DavidsonReads series, will begin at 7 p.m. at The Pines, a retirement community located on Avinger Lane. For more about DavidsonReads and this year’s community reading book, see our August preview, “Ready, set, read: Events surround ‘One Foot in Eden.’”

Interested in become a cub scout or girl scout?  Scout Night is Thursday, starting at 7 p.m. in Davidson Elementary School.  Cub Scout Pack 58, which represents the Town of Davidson, and representatives of the Hornet’s Nest Council of the Girl Scouts will be on hand to talk about programs and how to join.  Scouting is open to boys and girls from first grade on up.

The Davidson College music department will present a free faculty recital Thursday, starting at 7:30 p.m. in the Sloan Music Center’s Tyler-Tallman Hall.  The evening will feature professor William Lawing, trumpet, and Davidson alum Harry Pickens, piano, performing “A Concert of Chet Baker Transcriptions.”

FRIDAY, SEPT. 19:

The Lake Norman Chamber will host a Lake Advisory Committee Meeting on Public Access Swimming, and the public is welcome to attend.  The meeting starts at 9 a.m. at the chamber offices (19900 West Catawba Avenue in Cornelius). For more information contact Patty McIlroy at 704-892-1922.

River Run Country Club will present the 6th Annual Jill Lake Pro-Am Tennis Tournament Friday, Sept. 19, through Sunday, Sept. 21, at the club. Eighteen professionals from around the U.S. will pair with 64 River Run Country Club amateur ranked players in the three-day event.  On Sunday at 11 a.m., there’s a public event: a Pro-Pro Shootout, with pros playing among themselves to determine a pro winner. Details: 704-892-4994.

The Davidson College music department will present “Musical Interludes: Scholarship Winners,” featuring Davidson students performing works on a variety of instruments, Friday, starting at 12:30 p.m. in Tyler-Tallman Hall.

Serving up food at last year's BBQ, Blanket and Bluegrass festival.

The Town of Davidson Parks & Rec department will host the 10th Annual BBQ, Blanket and Bluegrass festival Friday, 5-8 p.m. at the Beaver Dam historic park (located on Davidson-Concord Road near the River Run entrance). Live music will be provided by Kent Dowell & Friends.  Bring lawn games or play in one of the inflatables. BBQ prices range from $4-$8 while supplies last.

Davidson Alum and jazz pianist Harry Pickens performs a free night of jazz Friday, starting at 7:30 p.m. in Tyler-Tallman Hall. Harry Pickens is a pianist, composer, teacher, organizational consultant and engaged citizen.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 20:

The Davidson Lands Conservancy’s annual Run for Green kicks off Saturday morning, including a fun run, 5-k and half-marathon. The events start and end at McEver Field on South Street. Registration opens at 6:30 a.m., with the half-marathon set to start at 7:45, the 5K at 8:15 and the fun run at 9 a.m.

The new Davidson Farmers Market will continue Saturday, 8 a.m. - noon, offering shoppers fresh local produce and meats, baked items, flowers and more. This weekend features live music by Dave Herring and the Eastbound String Machine. Chef Marla Thurman from Art Institute of Charlotte will be cooking with ingredients from the farmers. The market will continue through October and is located next to Town Hall and behind Summit Coffee.

The Lake Norman Regional Medical Center will offer free prostate cancer screening Saturday, 9-11 a.m. at the Davidson College student health center.  The screening includes blood work and an exam.  For details, call LNRMC’s Community Outreach Department at 704-660-4859.

Daniel Legrand, Davidson College Class of 2011, will compete on the flute in Saturday's concerto competition.

Student musicians at Davidson College will perform in a concerto competition on Saturday, starting at 9 a.m. in Tyler-Tallman Hall. Students will be competing for a chance to perform as a soloist with the Davidson College Symphony Orchestra on Nov. 14.

The Lake Norman Baby Fair, hosted by La Leche League of Lake Norman will be at the Davidson Village Green, 10 am. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The event will feature speakers on childbirth, breastfeeding, aromatherapy, money management for families, and family nutrition. Info will be available about fitness and childbirth classes, prenatal and postpartum counseling, custom photography, birth announcements, baby gear, and more.  The first 150 registrants will receive a free pair of BabyLegs leg warmers.  Raffle prizes will include a yaer’s supply of organic milk, a Medela Freestyle Pump, a free semester-long course at The Little Gym and more.  Also, La Leche League Leaders will be available to answer questions and offer information about breastfeeding.

The opening wine-and-cheese free reception for an art show and auction in Birkdale will be held Saturday, 6 p.m. with Mayors John Woods of Davidson, Jill Swain of Huntersville, and Jeff Tarte of Cornelius. The event is organized by Lake Norman-Huntersville Rotary Club and the Lake Norman Art League. The “Art Spectacular Show” features 20 works by area artists, chosen by juror Tom Stanley, gallery director at Winthrop University.  The show runs through Oct. 12 at the Great Frame Shop in Birkdale Village.  The auction will be Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. at the Rotary Club’s Wine Spectacular, with proceeds benefiting Hope House and Lake Norman Free Clinic.

Summit Coffee will celebrate its tenth anniversary Saturday, with live music, beer specials, giveaways and more, 6-11 p.m.  Performers will include the Rick Spreitzer Band, Billy Jones and The Pocket.  The event is free and Summit will donate proceeds from purchases to the Davidson Lands Conservancy.  Live music prior to the celebration includes Attila’s Honey Thursday and Volatile Baby Friday, 8-11 p.m. Read more about the shop’s anniversary, click here.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 21:

Bachfest III at St. Alban's

The fifth season of the “Music at St. Alban’s” series opens Sunday at 3 p.m. with Bachfest III, featuring works by Bach, Buxtehude, and Bohm.  Performers will include nationally-acclaimed soloists. Tickets are available at the church (St. Alban’s Episcopal is located at 301 Caldwell Lane) or in advance by calling 704-941-0650. More information in our Aug. 1 season preview of the series.

Davidson United Methodist Church will host a “Gospels and Spirituals” concert Sunday, starting at 4 p.m., with performances by the adult and youth music ministries of the church, followed by an ice cream social in the Fellowship Hall. Donations accepted, with proceeds benefiting a new “Music Academy” outreach program for children in the Lake Norman area. More information is available by calling Kevin Turner, director of music and worship, 704-892-8277, ext. 281, or by email at kturner@davidsonumc.org.

The Davidson Historical Society is offering tours of two old homes on North Main Street Sunday starting at 4 p.m. - the Currie House and the Stough House. The event is open to historical society members, though you’ll be able to join in if you become a society member the day of the tour.  See our previous coverage, “Historical Society tours old houses Sunday.”

The Davidson College orchestra will perform on the green Sunday.

The Davidson College Symphony and Jazz Band will play the season’s finale Concert on the Green Sunday, 6-8 p.m. Bring a picnic and pull out your Wildcats gear: event sponsor Downtown Davidson will host a contest for “most collegiate.” 

Wildcats Sports this weekend features field hockey and the women’s soccer team. The women’s field hockey team will begin a four-game homestand when they host Longwood Saturday at 1 p.m., followed by Wake Forest Sunday at 3 p.m.  Games are played at the Belk Turf Field, located off of Ridge Road. The Davidson Wildcats women’s soccer team had to cancel last weekend’s match against Providence, due to rain, but sunny skies should prevail for Sunday’s match against UNC Wilmington, set for 2 p.m. at Alumni Stadium.  The game will mark the end of non-conference play for the Cats.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

• TUESDAY, SEPT. 23, 6 p.m., Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. - Sept. Town Board Work Session. Agenda on the town website.
• TUESDAY, SEPT. 23, 7 p.m., St. Alban’s Church, 300 Caldwell Lane - St. Alban’s Square Neighborhood Association annual membership meeting. Open to neighborhood residents, to elect Council of Stewards and ratify 2008-2009 budget.
• TUESDAY, SEPT. 23, 7:30 p.m., Davidson College Presbyterian Church - Robert Parrish opens the 2008-9 Organ at Davidson music series with a performance of works by Frescobaldi, Kremer, Bach, Langlais, Hurd and his own Prelude on “Divinum Mysterium.” More about the series in our season preview.
• THURSDAY, SEPT. 25, 7:30 p.m., St. Alban’s Church, 301 Caldwell Lane - St. Albans Neighborhood Discussion Group hosts a forum for at-large candidates for Mecklenburg County Commission. With introductory statements by each candidate, followed by a Q&A.
• 

  Sulaiman

  THURSDAY, SEPT. 25, 8:30 p.m., Davidson College Duke Family Performance Hall - Davidson Muslim Students’ Association presents a free appearance by HBO Def Poetry Spoken Word artist Amir Sulaiman. With an introduction by Davidson student poets. Free tickets available in advance at the college union box office. Doors open at 8 p.m.

• WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 24, 6:30 p.m., Sardis Presbyterian Church, 6100 Sardis Road, Charlotte - Davidson Professor and Classics Dept. Chair Jeanne Neumann lectures on “Religion in Pompeii” as part of the Discovery Place/Davidson College Pompeii Lectures. Details: Free. 704-366-1854.
• WEDNESDAY, OCT. 1, 6:30 p.m., Myers Park Baptist Church, 1931 Selwyn Ave., Charlotte - Davidson Professor and Classics Dept. Chair Jeanne Neumann lectures on “Home & Garden in Pompeii” as part of the Discovery Place/Davidson College Pompeii Lectures. Details: Free. 704-334-7232, ext. 56.
• THURSDAY, OCT. 2, 7 p.m., Davidson Public Library, on the Village Green - Carol Higham, adjunct professor of history at Davidson College, speaks on native American history as part of the Davidson Reads series. Free. Details in our August Davidson Reads preview, “Ready, set, read: Events surround ‘One Foot in Eden.’”
• SATURDAY, OCT. 4, 7:30 a.m. - “Ride for Hope and Housing,” sponsored by the Davidson Housing Coalition, will feature four routes – 100 kilometer, 50 kilometer, 25 kilometer and a 5 kilometer Family Fun Ride. All rides begin and end in the parking lot of Davidson United Methodist Church on South Main Street. Pre-registration is $25 for adults and $5 for Family Fun Ride participants. Visit www.davidsonhosuing.org for event details and registration information, or call 704-892-4486.
• SUNDAY, OCT. 5, 3 p.m., St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 301 Caldwell Lane - Classical music concert with Ensemble Vermillian, featuring Frances Blaker, recorders; David Wilson, baroque violin; Barbara Blaker Krumdieck, baroque cello; Henry Lebedinsky, harpsichord. They’ll play “Jewels from the Royal Crown: Music of Fire and Ice from 17th Century London.” Admission: $15 general admission, $10 students and seniors. Under 10 free. Details: 704-941-0650.
• SUNDAY, OCT. 5, 4-6 p.m., Davidson United Methodist Church, 233 S. Main St. - Social Justice Ministry Team of the church hosts a forum “Our Criminal Justice System: Is it Broken? What Is Our Responsibility?” Panelists: Mecklenburg Sheriff Chipp Bailey, social worker Laverne Fesperman, assistant district attorney Bruce Lillie, Davidson College Police Chief Fountain Walker. Free. Reception to follow. Details: 704-892-4753.
• 

  Dr. Keith Devlin, the "math guy"

  THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 7:30 p.m., 900 room of the Davidson College student union - Dr. Keith Devlin, better known as “The Math Guy” on National Public Radio’s Weekend Edition. will be giving the annual Bernard Society Lecture for the Davidson College Math Department.

• OCT. 24-26, Fisher Farm Park, off Shearers Road - National Mountain Bike Oktoberfest, a three day, family oriented festival with short track, time trials and kids races as well as the season’s final USA Cycling National Ultra Endurance race. Proceeds benefit Davidson Parks & Recreation Youth Scholarship Fund. Featuring national champion and two-time Olympian David “Tinker” Juarez, and co-sponsored by Cowbell Challenge Inc. Details: www.nationalmtboktoberfest.org
• FRIDAY, OCT. 24, 7 p.m., Davidson Public Library, on the Village Green - Ron Rash, author of “One Foot in Eden,” will speak as part of the Davidson Reads series. Rash’s “Eden” is the featured book in this fall’s community reading program. Details in our August Davidson Reads preview, “Ready, set, read: Events surround ‘One Foot in Eden.’”
• SATURDAY, OCT. 25, 10 to 11:30 a.m., Main Street Books, 126 S. Main St. - Author Ron Rash signs copies of his “One Foot in Eden” as part of the Davidson Reads series. Free.
• FRIDAY, NOV. 7, 10 a.m., Davidson Public Library, on the Village Green - Lecture by naturopathic doctor Amy Naylor, as part of Davidson Reads.
• SUNDAY, NOV. 16, 4-5 p.m., Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. - Davidson Historical Society presentation about the history of Lake Norman, in the final event of the 2008 Davidson Reads series. Free.

OF REGIONAL INTEREST:

• SEPT. 11 - NOV. 2, Rural Hill Center of Scottish Heritage, Huntersville - 7th Annual Amazing Maize Maze features flashlight mazes, group fun and a chance to get lost in a huge field of corn.  The maze is open Thursdays through Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for children ages 5-17.  For directions and more, see the maze website.
• THURSDAY, SEPT. 18, 6 p.m., Huntersville Town Hall, Huntersville - Public meeting to discuss the proposed Discovery Place Kids development.  Information: Huntersville Commissioner Charles Jeter, 704-400-8031.
• SUNDAY, SEPT. 21, noon to 4 p.m., Levine Museum of the New South, Church Street, Charlotte - Charlotte Area Association of Black Journalists and National Association of Hispanic Journalists sponsor “Your Voice. Your Vote,” a forum and information session on the 2008 election. Speakers include Davidson’s Lenny McAllister, who has been writing and talking about what it means to be a “hip-hop Republican,” as well as Charlotte Observer columnist Tonya Jameson and candidates for state and local offices. Voters will be able to ask questions, get voters’ guides, and register to vote. The event also includes a discussion “The Changing Face of Politics,” looking at the relationship between the media and the public. Free. Details: www.caabj.com
• SATURDAY, SEPT. 27, 1 to 7 p.m., VanHoy Farms family campground, Harmony - Bluegrass legend Doc Watson is the featured performer in a benefit concert that includes Richard Watson, David Holt, Michael Kelsh, Wayne Henderson, the Grove Trio and CookShack Gang.  Funds will aid Well of Mercy, a spiritual retreat center near Harmony.  VanHoy campground is at I-77 Exit 65, 15 miles north of Statesville. Tickets $25, children 10 and under free, available online at www.wellofmercy.org, or phone 704-539-5449, or at the gate. Food, crafts, Camping, picnic, RV sites available.
• WEEKENDS, OCT. 4 - NOV. 16 - The Carolina Renaissance Festival will return for a 15th year at its home off N.C. 73 and Poplar Tent Road in Huntersville.
• THURSDAY, Oct. 16 - Early “no excuse” voting starts in Mecklenburg County.  The closest location to Davidson is the Cornelius Public Library, which offers voter registration and one-stop voting for the General Election.  Click here for previous coverage.
• SATURDAY, OCT. 18, 9 a.m. to noon, Lake Norman Regional Medical Center, 171 Fairview Road, off I-77 Exit 33, Mooresville - Stork’s Landing Maternity Center and Child Birth Education Center at the medical center present their annual Baby Fair, “Falling for Babies.” Free. Info: 704-660-4374. www.lnrmc.com.

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