The Christmas season gets into full swing this week with the 20th annual Christmas in Davidson festival Thursday throgh Saturday nights. The North Mecklenburg Christmas Parade takes over Main Street Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, public radio station WDAV hosts a talk on “The Death of … the Death of Classical Music,” by Fred Child, host of the popular radio program “Performance Today,” this afternoon (Monday) at 4 p.m. The Wildcat basketball teams are back in action and you’ll have a chance to hear some fine Davidson College musicians on Friday. For details …

WEEK OF DEC. 1-7

MONDAY, DEC. 1, 4 p.m., Davidson College Chambers Hall Hance Auditorium – WDAV-FM, Davidson’s classical public radio station, hosts a talk on “The Death of … the Death of Classical Music” by Fred Child,” host of the daily radio program “Performance Today” and announcer for PBS TV broadcasts “Live from Lincoln Center.” The talk begins a series of events celebrating WDAV’s 30th anniversary. Free. Details: www.wdav.org.

MONDAY, DEC. 1, 6:30-8 p.m., Davidson IB Middle School, South Street – Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools Parent University has rescheduled its course “Knowing the Signs- Suicide Prevention” to this date.

TUESDAY, DEC. 2, 4-8 p.m., Wooden Stone, 445 S. Main St. – Wooden Stone will host a drop-in workshop about its own public art project, a stone bench, being installed in front of the gallery. Help stone sculptor Dean Reganess of Coralatavii Stone Carving in Mooresville brainstorm ideas for carved stone panels. Free. More information is available at Wooden Stone, 704-892-1449. See also our Nov. 28th news item, “Wooden Stone to host Dec. 2 public art workshop.”

TUESDAY, DEC. 2, 7 p.m., Davidson College Belk Arena – Davidson women’s basketball team vs. Furman.

TUESDAY, DEC. 2, 7 p.m., Davidson College Alvarez College Union 900 Room – “Ethical Issues in HIV Research and Practice in Africa,” a lecture by Dr. Kari Hartwig, Assistant Clinical Professor, Division of Chronic Disease Epidemiology and Social and Behavioral Sciences Program, Yale University. Sponsored by the Medical Humanities Program, the Frederick Womble Speas Symposium, and the Dean Rusk International Studies Program. Free.

THURSDAY, DEC. 4, 1 p.m., Bristol Virginia Utilities Board Room, Bristol, Va. – MI-Connection Communications System board of directors meeting to discuss contracts with Bristol Virginia Utilities (BVU) and Level 3 Communications to provide local telephone services. Also, closed session with the system’s attorney. For more about MI-Connections plans to offer phone service, see our Nov. 25 article “Cable and telephone companies going head-to-head.”

THURSDAY, DEC. 4 to SATURDAY, DEC. 6, 6-9 p.m. nightly, downtown Davidson, Exit 30 area, South Main arts district – 20th annual Christmas in Davidson festival. Presented by Downtown Davidson Inc., the festival has food, music and other entertainment, vendors, carriage rides, a visit from Santa, and a trolley shuttling between venues. Details and a full scheduled: www.downtowndavidson.org. For a list of appearances by local student performing groups, see Laurie Dennis’s Nov. 30 school notes column.

THURSDAY, DEC. 4, 6:30 p.m., Bailey Middle School, Cornelius – “Evening with the arts” with student performances in theater, dance and more.

THURSDAY, DEC. 4, 7 p.m., Davidson College Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, Carolina Inn, Main Street – Charlotte Writers’ Club North hosts writer Alan Michael Parker, who will read from and talk about his new book of poems, “Elephants & Butterflies.” Mr. Parker is professor of English and director of creative writing at Davidson College. Details: www.charlottewritersclub.org.

FRIDAY, DEC. 5, 12:30 p.m., Davidson College Sloan Music Center Tyler-Tallman Hall – “Musical Interludes: Outstanding Student Musicians.” Performances by some of the college’s top student musicians. Free.

FRIDAY, DEC. 5, 7:30 p.m., Davidson College Sloan Music Center, Tyler-Tallman Hall – The Aurora Trio of Davidson College presents “Chamber Music 101: Trio Con Brio,” a concert of of work by Hayden, Mendelssohn, Villa-Lobos. With violinist Ryan Cockman, cellist Jacqueline Kim and pianist Emily Howe. Free. Details on the college website.

SATURDAY, DEC. 6, 8-11 a.m., Lake Norman YMCA, Cornelius – annual Breakfast with Santa with a pancake breakfast, pictures with Santa, arts and crafts, games, and a magician. Proceeds go to the YMCA’s outreach and philanthropic programs. Registration: $15 per family, $10 per family for YMCA members. Details: 704-716-4400.

SATURDAY, DEC. 6, 8:30 and 9:45 a.m., Red Rocks Cafe, Birkdale Village, Huntersville – Our Towns Habitat for Humanity will host a Breakfast with Santa. Tickets are $5 for children and $10 for adults. The event will include music, food, fun and Jolly Old St. Nick.

SATURDAY, DEC. 6, noon, Time Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte – Davidson men’s basketball vs. N.C. State. Details on www.davidsonwildcats.com

SATURDAY, DEC. 6, 1 p.m., downtown Davidson to downtown Cornelius – 26th annual North Mecklenburg Christmas Parade with fire trucks, floats, marching bands, old cars and more. Sponsored by Davidson Fire Department, Cornelius-Lemley Volunteer Fire Department, Davidson Lions Club. Note that Main Street and many other streets along the route will be closed for the event. Details on the Cornelius Parks & Recreation website, www.corneliuspr.org

SATURDAY, DEC. 6, 6-9 p.m., Historic Latta Plantation, Sample Road, Huntersville – Annual “Candlelight Christmas” celebration. Walk the plantation house, kitchen, cabin and grounds by candlelight and see how Christmas was celebrated in the 1820s. Also, watch interpreters re-enact the Dec. 1828 wedding feast of the youngest Latta daughter, Nancy. Admission $6 for adults, $5 for seniors (62+) and students, ages 5 and under free. Details: www.lattaplantation.org.

SUNDAY, DEC. 7, 2 p.m., Davidson College Union – Annual Alternative Gifts Fair at Davidson College, offering a chance to buy services and supplies for international needs, ranging from eye surgery for someone in Cambodia to a microloan for an entrepreneur in Haiti. Purchasers receive a card and explanation of their alternative gift.

SUNDAY, DEC. 7, 7 p.m., Davidson College Presbyterian Church – Davidosn College Christmas Vespers service, with pre-service music beginning at 7. Featuring Davidson College Chorale, Brass Ensemble, and Flute Choir performing as as narrators tell story of Christ’s birth.

GALLERY OPENINGS & ART EVENTS

CORNELIUS ARTS CENTER, 19725 Oak St., Cornelius, in the Oak Street Mill behind the police station – Through Dec. 27: Instructors and staff at the Creative Art Exchange and Childrens Arts Project will show their work at a Faculty Show. Gallery hours: Weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays by appointment. Information: 704-892-7323 or www.creativeartexchange.org.

LAKE NORMAN ART LEAGUE GALLERY, South Main Square office building, 442 S. Main St. – Through Jan. 23: Lake Norman Art League’s “Small Works 2008 Exhibit & Sale,” with paintings, prints, 3-D and other works by art league members. The Small Works Exhibit and Sale will be open to the public during Christmas in Davidson, Dec. 4-6, from 6 to 9 p.m. nightly. Gallery hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Details: www.LKNart.org

DAVIDSON COLLEGE VAN EVERY/SMITH GALLERIES, Davidson College Visual Art Center, Main and Griffith streets – Through Dec. 10: “Beloved Daughters: Photographs by Fazal Sheikh.” Related events: , 8 p.m., Davidson College Union 900 Room; opening reception Thursday, Oct. 16, 7-9 p.m., at the gallery. Hours: Weekdays: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. & Weekends: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. (See our Oct. 17 “Letter from the Editor” about the show’s opening.)

MERRILL-JENNINGS GALLERY, 463 S. Main St. – Hours: Mondays to Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Details: 704-895-1213 or on the gallery’s new website, www.merrilljennings.com.

CHRISTA FAUT GALLERY, 19818 North Cove Road, Jetton Village, Cornelius – Through Dec. 31: “Metamorphosis: From Jewelry to Sculpture,” featuring Hongsock Lee, Reiko Ishiyama, Barbara Bayne, Ashka Dymel and Christy Klug. Opening reception Saturday, Nov. 22, 4-6 p.m. Gallery hours: Weekdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., or by appointment. Information: www.christafautgallery.com or 704-892-5312.

WOODEN STONE, 445 S. Main St. – Functional fine art and hand-made objects. Through Dec. 31: trunk shows of work by Sonoma Art Works and Flambeaux Art Pottery. The Sonoma Art Works collection includes elegant and modern jewelry in sterling silver and semiprecious stones. Flambeaux has one-of-a-kind pieces in crystalline glazes from the Collector’s Series by renowned potter Bill Campbell. Special events: Dec. 2, 4-8 p.m., “Get involved with public art” workshop and discussion; Dec. 4-6, 6-9 p.m., open during Christmas in Davidson. Gallery hours: Mondays to Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sundays, 1-6 p.m. 704-892-1449. www.woodenstonegallery.com.

SO ALIVE GALLERY, 108 S. Main St. – Through Dec. 31: Artwork by local artists and artisans. Eight artists are being chosen for display and sale during the holiday season. Preview Thursday, Nov. 20, 7-9 p.m. Gallery hours: Tuesdays to Fridays, 11-6, Saturdays, 10-2, Sundays 12-5. Details: 704-892-0044.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

• MONDAY, DEC. 8, 10 a.m., Barnes & Noble, Birkdale Village, Huntersville – Hanukkah Story Time, with a reading of “Sammy Spider’s First Hanukkah,” followed by a Hanukkah activity. Free. More about the congregation at www.bslkn.org
• TUESDAY, DEC. 9, 6 p.m., North Mecklenburg High School, Huntersville – North Meck High School will host an informational open house for families interested in its International Baccalareate program. The event will be held in the media center, followed by a basketball game.
• WEDNESDAY, DEC. 10, 11 a.m., Davidson Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. – Davidson Public Art Commission meeting. Agenda includes discussion of the public art piece proposed by Davidson’s first artist-in-residence, Andy Dunnill.
• WEDNESDAY, DEC. 10, 5:30 p.m., Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. – Davidson Board of Adjustment meeting to hear two appeals from FC Summers Walk LLC of Davidson’s assessment of fees under the adequate public facilities ordinance. Open to the public. Details: 704-892-7592.
• THURSDAY, DEC. 11, 7 p.m., Davidson public library branch, on the Village Green – “Seasonal Makeup by Sheetal,” a free program by makeup artist Sheetal on how to apply makeup, appropriate colors for the season, and Q&A. Registration required. For ages 18+. Registration: 704-416-4000.
• FRIDAY, DEC. 12 to SUNDAY, DEC. 14, Davidson United Methodist Church chapel, 233 S. Main St. – Walk the Labyrinth, and get away from the traffic and noise and stress of the season. Hours: Fri. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m. o 4 p.m. Free. Details: 704-892-8277.
• SATURDAY, DEC. 13, 9 to 10:30 a.m., Davidson United Methodist Church fellowship hall – Breakfast with Santa, sponsored by DUMC Christian Mothers United. Open to the DUMC church community. Free, though attendees are invited to make a cash donation to hep fulfill the Christmas wishes of a local family in need. 704-892-8277.
• SATURDAY, DEC. 20, 9 a.m.-noon, next to Town Hall, Main Street – Davidson Farmers Market presents at special Holiday Market, with fresh meats, produce, baked goods, soaps, lavender items and more. Details: www.davidsonfarmersmarket.org.
• SATURDAY, DEC. 20, 3:30 p.m., Conseco Field House, Indianapolis, Ind. – Davidson men’s basketball vs. Purdue, at 9th Annual John Wooden Tradition tournament.
• SATURDAY, JAN. 17, 7 p.m., Peninsula Club at Lake Norman – Ada Jenkins Center hosts its Ice 2009 fund-raising gala. All proceeds benefit the regional community services center and its programs. Sponsorships available. Details: www.adajenkins.org/ice/

CALENDARS ON THE WEB

DAVIDSONNEWS.NET SCHOOL CALENDAR – Laurie Dennis’s most recent listing of school events, CLICK HERE>

TOWN OF DAVIDSON – Listings of public meetings, citizens committee meetings and other town events are available on the town website, http://www.ci.davidson.nc.us/

DAVIDSON COLLEGE – For an up-to-date listing of events on the college campus, visit the college calendar page.

DAVIDSON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH – http://davidsonumc.changemywebsite.com/calendar.asp

DAVIDSON COLLEGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH – Calendar of events. http://www.dcpc.org/article83232.htm

DAVIDSON PUBLIC LIBRARY BRANCH – Events calendar on Charlotte-Mecklenburg public library’s PLCMC.org website.

ST. ALBAN’S CHURCH online calendar – http://www.saintalbans-davidson.org/

ST. ALBAN’S SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD – http://www.stalbanssq.org/calendar.html

LAKE NORMAN SENIOR CALENDAR, at LKNSenior.com

MUSIC AT ST. ALBAN’S, 2008-9 concert season.

YOUR COMMUNITY CONNECTOR – online listing of alternative and holistic health information and events. http://www.yourcommunityconnector.com/

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