It’s a good weekend for having fun in Davidson for a worthy cause. You can eat fish and shrimp with the Methodists to benefit a local Habitat for Humanity construction project. Or you can take your family on a bike ride to raise money for the Davidson Housing Coalition, and then bring them to the village green to join a fun fest benefitting St. Jude’s pediatric center. Too lazy for all that? Then contribute to Gray’s Fact Finders in their walk for Autism. Too energetic to be kept at home? Then pick up your shears and volunteer for trail clearing work at Fisher Farm. Find out about all this and more below.

Events, weekend of OCT. 5-7

Davidson United Methodist Church will hold its annual Fish and Shrimp Dinner Friday from 5:30-7 p.m. Proceeds benefit the church’s 2008 Habitat for Humanity construction project. Cost: $10 per plate ($5 for children under 8), and take-outs will be available. Tickets must be bought in advance. Details: 704-892-8277.

South Main Square, the complex of buildings that includes the former icehouse, is planning a month of Friday evening “Parties on the Porch” to introduce shops and restaurants in the neighborhood. The first will be this Friday, Oct. 5, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on the porch of the old icehouse, 427 S. Main St. The parties will continue every Friday in October, with food, festivities and entertainment. Participants include Fuel Pizza, Restaurant X and the icehouse (which is now home to Seaweed Designs and another new tenant soon to be announced).

Summit Coffee on Main Street will have live and local musical entertainment featuring folk rock artist Kenni Falls of Charlotte Friday and members of the Unsung Songwriters Saturday. Performances are 8-11 p.m.

The third annual Ride for Hope and Housing, to benefit the Davidson Housing Coalition will launch from Davidson United Methodist Church at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. A bike rodeo sponsored by the Davidson police department will precede the ride, starting at 9 a.m. Cyclists can choose from 100K, 50K and 25K routes, plus a family 5K fun ride. Find out more at the coalition website.The Town of Davidson Fisher Farm Park, off Shearer Road will be the focus of trail clearing work Saturday and Sunday mornings. Volunteers are asked to meet at 8:30 a.m. in the parking lot either or both days. These are the first two of eight planned weekend trail clearing sessions through Nov. 10. Bring pruning shears, clippers, and hand saws. Experienced trail builders will guide volunteers. Wear appropriate clothing. Youth are permitted to help but parents must sign a waiver on the morning of the work session. Questions: contact Lauren Blackburn, Davidson Town Planner.

Davidson residents Nancy Popkin and Mark Stanback are leading a team called Gray’s Fact Finders in this weekend’s Autism Speaks fund-raising walk. The walk will take place Saturday morning on the Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord – assuming the huffy speedway owner hasn’t already moved out of town by then to build a new dirt track. Contribute to their team on the walk website.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a pediatric center based in Memphis, Tenn., will host a fun fest on the Davidson village green Saturday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The free event will incude raffles, door prizes, games, face painting, balloon animals, music and more.

St. Alban’s Episcopal Church will hold its annual Parish BBQ and Bluegrass event Saturday, 4-7 p.m. The music will start at 5 p.m. and there will also be hayrides for children. Tickets are required for the meal.

Davidson College will conclude Asian Awareness Week by hosting South Asian stand-up comedian Vidur Kapur starting at 8 p.m. in the college union’s 900 room. Mr. Kapur has been described as “getting international attention with his edgy, urban, groundbreaking comedy which focuses on his experiences as a gay, Indian immigrant.”

SPORTS –

Wildcats sports this weekend includes football and soccer. The Davidson football team will play Morehead State starting at 1 p.m. Saturday at Richardson Stadium. The men’s soccer team takes on SoCon rival Furman Saturday at 6 p.m. in the Alumni Soccer Stadium. Sunday the Wildcats women’s soccer team, currently on a six game winning streak, will finish nonconference play by hosting Francis Marion at 2 p.m. in the soccer stadium.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

• Friday, Oct. 12 – Contra Dance Carolina will be twisting and twirling at the Davidson IB Middle School, 7:15 – 10:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, Oct. 10 – Davidson College’s new chorale group will debut with its Fall Choral Concert, 7:30 p.m. at the Davidson College Presbyterian Church. Free.
• Saturday, Oct. 13 – Davidson Police Department is hosting a badminton tournament on the village green to raise money for Special Olympics of North Carolina. Play begins at 9 a.m. with a game scheduled every 15 minutes.
• Sunday, Oct. 21 – Davidson Day School will host an open house starting at 2 p.m. for prospective students, preschool through high school, for the 2008-09 school year. Tour the new facility and meet faculty and staff. For more information, contact the director of admissions, Erin Anderson, eanderson@davidsonday.org
• Thursday, Nov. 8 – The off-Broadway play “Driving Miss Daisy” opens for an eight show run through Nov. 18. Contact Davidson Community Players for more information.
• Monday, Nov. 12 – The American Legion Post 86 and Davidson Parks and Recreation will hold the 14th annual Davidson Veteran’s Day Observance on the village green starting at 11 a.m.