By BILL KISER
DavidsonNews.net

^[1]It’s Halloween weekend, with a long list of events for kids and grownups, too, including Cornelius PARC’s annual Boo Bash Saturday night at Bailey Road Park, and the downtown Davidson Halloween march on Friday afternoon. Meanwhile, big kids will find Halloween events at The Dirty Martini, Rusty Rudder and Galway Hooker, among other local clubs. Aside from Halloween, there’s plenty more going on, from Lake Norman Christian School‘s first Autumn Blast at its new home in Davidson IB School to the final performances of “Romeo and Juliet” at Davidson College.

The Miss Race City Pageant will crown winners in four divisions Saturday at the Charles Mack Citizen Center in Mooresville, and the Davidson College Jazz Ensemble performs Saturday morning at the college’s Alvarez College Union, as part of the college’s Family Weekend. The Amazing Maize Maize continues at Rural Hill Farm in Huntersville, and the Carolina Renaissance Festival continues Saturday and Sunday at the festival grounds off Poplar Tent Road just south of N.C. 73.

These events — and more below — along with further details are in our day-by-day calendar at right. Also, at right on this page, see our movie show times listings for Our Town Cinemas.

THURSDAY-FRIDAY

Davidson Town Hall Photo Exhibit, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday through Oct. 31, Davidson Town Hall rotunda, 216 S. Main St., Davidson. Group exhibit of photography and digital art by local artists Kevin Childress, Jan Black, Lyndsay Kibiloski, Rachel Goldstein, Steve Marsh and David Boraks on display in the Town Hall rotunda.

THURSDAY-SATURDAY

History of Cornelius Exhibit, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Cornelius Arts Center, Oak Street Mill, 19725 Oak St., Unit 1, Cornelius. The Cornelius Historic Preservation Commission and Cornelius Parks and Recreation Department present “The History of Cornelius: The Conard Collection” through Nov. 12.

The Haunting Hayride, 7 p.m.-midnight, Oct. 27-29, Latta Equestrian Center at Latta Plantation Nature Preserve, 6201 Sample Road, Huntersville. A Halloween-themed ride through the Equestrian Center’s wooded trails.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY

Romeo and Juliet, Friday, 8:15 p.m., Saturday, 8 p.m., Duke Family Performance Hall, Davidson College, Davidson. Davidson College Theatre Department’s Mainstage Series begins with “Romeo and Juliet.” See Katie Lovett’s Oct. 23 review, “Sword fights, Shakespearean puns and a love story.” ^[2] Tickets are $15 for general admission, $11 for seniors, $9 for faculty/staff, and $6 for students. For more information please visit http://www3.davidson.edu/cms/x44256.xml ^[3] To buy tickets: http://www.davidson.edu/tickets ^[4].

FRIDAY-SUNDAY

Amazing Maize Maze, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Rural Hill Farm, Neck Road, Huntersville. The Amazing Maize Maze is an outdoor challenge in a 7-acre cornfield. Find your way out by following clues and assembling pieces of a map puzzle. Open Fridays to Sundays through Nov. 13. Friday night flashlight mazes Sept. 30 to Nov. 4 (till 8:30 p.m.).

SATURDAY-SUNDAY

Carolina Renaissance Festival, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Carolina Renaissance Festival grounds, on Poplar Tent Road just south of N.C. 73. The 18th-annual Carolina Renaissance Festival, with food; crafts; music, juggling and other circus entertainments; jousting demonstrations; fun rides and games of skill. Continues Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 20.

THURSDAY, OCT. 27

Story Time at Main Street Books, 10 a.m., Main Street Books, 126 S. Main St., Davidson. Story Time, with stories, fun, and songs. Children ages 1-5 welcome.

Red Line Task Force Policy Presentation, 10:30 a.m., CPCC North Campus, Criminal Justice Building auditorium, 11930 Verhoeff Drive, Huntersville. Members of the Davidson and Cornelius town boards of commissioners will be on hand at this public meeting of the Red Line Task Force.

Book Clubs Fall Tea, 3 p.m., The Pines at Davidson, 400 Avinger Lane, Davidson. The 15th-annual Book Clubs of Davidson Fall Tea, with guest speaker poet and journalist Dannye Romine Powell.

Pumpkin Carving Contest, 5-8 p.m., Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, downtown Davidson. The local Ben & Jerry’s will hold its annual pumpkin carving contest.

MI-Connection Board of Directors Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Meeting Room, Davidson Town Hall, 216 S. Main St., Davidson. Meeting of the local cable-internet system MI-Connection’s board of directors.

Davidson candidate forum, 7-9 p.m., Davidson Presbyterian Church, Depot Street, Davidson. Davidson Coalition for Fiscal Responsibility hosts a forum with the Town Board and mayoral candidates. Free.

Panel discussion about breast cancer, 7:30 p.m., Davidson College Alvarez College Union 900 Room – Connor House and AKA will host a Breast Cancer Panel entitled “Unraveling the Ribbon: Behind Breast Cancer.” The panel will feature breast cancer survivors, family members, the founder of Friends for an Earlier Breast Cancer Test, and Dr. Joe Konen, a family physician and pharmaceutical researcher. One of a series of events on campus for breast cancer awareness. ^[5]

Live music at the Brickhouse, 8:30 p.m., Brickhouse Tavern, 209 Delburg St., Davidson. Live music with Rayen.

FRIDAY, OCT. 28

Cookout and Costumes for Change, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Earth Fare, 14021 Boren St., Huntersville. The inaugural event will follow the Fall Harvest 10K, 5K and fun runs.

Focus Friday, 8-9:30 a.m., Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce, 19900 W. Catawba Ave., Cornelius. Monthly morning gathering of the LNCoC’s Focus Friday will discuss the upcoming Democratic National Convention in Charlotte.

Davidson College Jazz Ensemble, 10 a.m., C. Shaw Smith 900 Room, Alvarez College Union, Davidson College, Davidson. Performance as part of the Family Weekend Concert Series.

Downtown Halloween March, 5 p.m., Main Street Davidson (lineup at Town Hall). The town’s nnual downtown Davidson Halloween March.

Reformation/Fall Festival Celebration, 6-8 p.m., Prosperity Presbyterian Church, 5533 Prosperity Church Road, Charlotte. Wear your favorite costume and come to the church’s family-friendly Fall Festival.

Ghost Walk, 7-10 p.m., Latta Plantation, 5225 Sample Road, Huntersville. Come explore the plantation in the dark. Experience the candlelit tour with an explosive Civil War Battlefield, the haunted plantation house, a cemetery, the old kitchen, an insane asylum and more.

Hough High football at Mallard Creek, 7 p.m., Mallard Creek High School, 3825 Johnson Oehler Road, Charlotte. The Huskies close out their regular-season schedule against the Mallard Creek Mustangs, currently ranked No. 1 in the state among 4A-level teams in the latest Associated Press poll.

Davidson College Chorale and Symphony Orchestra, 7 p.m., Davidson College Presbyterian Church, corner of Main Street and Concord Road, Davidson. Performances as part of the Family Weekend Concert Series.

Live music at the Brickhouse, 8:30 p.m., Brickhouse Tavern, 209 Delburg St., Davidson. Live music with Golden Eagles (blues).

Hickory Tavern’s Halloween Bash, 9 p.m., Hickory Tavern, 9526 Birkdale Crossings Drive, Huntersville. Come check out the “Criminals and Protectors” Halloween party.

Pink Party, 11 p.m. to 2 a.m., Davidson College Black Student Coalition – Connor House and AKA will host a “Pink Party” at the Black Student Coalition. Dress in pink in respect for those affected by breast cancer. One of a series of events on campus for breast cancer awareness. ^[5]

SATURDAY, OCT. 29

Davidson Farmers Market, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., downtown Davidson next to Town Hall. Local farmers and vendors selling meats, produce, dairy products, baked goods, and other items every Saturday through November.

RuffNeck Challenge, 8 a.m., 11530 Beatties Ford Road, Huntersville. A 24-station, five-kilometer obstacle course.

Hoops for Hope, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., ICEHOUSE South End, 2100 South Boulevard, Charlotte. A 3-on-3 basketball tournament.

Recon Patrol Rally, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Richard’s Coffee Shop, 128 S. Main St., Mooresville. Participants can use any legal motorized vehicle.

Operation Medicine Drop, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Rite Aid, 21500 Catawba Ave., Cornelius. The Cornelius Police Department and Rite Aid are partnering to give the public a safe and secure way to dispose of expired, unused prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications.

Wells Fargo Community Celebration, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., downtown Charlotte. An arts and cultural experience presented by Wells Fargo. Free admission to cultural facilities, live art demonstrations, and a concert by jazz great Branford Marsalis.

Dine for the Animals, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Tenders Restaurant, 18341 Statesville Road, Cornelius. Percentage of sales will be donated to the Cornelius Animal Shelter.

Autumn Blast, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Lake Norman Christian School, 251 South St., Davidson. The school will hold its first event at its new facility in the former Davidson IB School building with its Autumn Blast fall festival.

Davidson College football vs. Campbell, 1 p.m., Richardson Stadium, Davidson College, Davidson. The Wildcats host the Campbell Fighting Camels in a Pioneer League game.

NoDaWEEN, 2 p.m.-until, NoDa Neighborhood Theatre, 511 E. 36th St., Charlotte. Come to the Halloween fundraiser for the NoDa Neighborhood Association.

Open House, 4-7 p.m., Point Blank Range, 743 River Highway, Mooresville. Live concert with Early Ray and Damon Hill, tactical demonstrations, a barbeque, raffle and live auction to benefit the Welcome Home Veterans Living Military Museum at Richard’s Coffee Shop.

Monsters, Music and Mayhem, 5 p.m., N.C. Music Factory, 935 N. Graham St., Charlotte. Entrance at TWC Uptown Amphitheatre entrance. Ten venues, five stages, eight bands, featuring O|A|R. Also enjoy The Fright Factory Haunted House.

Boo-Bash 2011 6-9:30 p.m., Bailey Road Park, 11536 Bailey Road, Cornelius. A family Halloween event presented by the Cornelius Parks, Arts, Recreation and Culture Department. Activities include hayrides, arts and crafts, face painting, pumpkin decorating, a costume contest for kids and adults, and more. Evening concludes with showing of Spooky Buddies. Admission is free, but some activities may have a fee.

Miss Race City Pageant, 7 p.m., Charles Mack Citizen Center, 215 N. Main St., Mooresville. The Miss Race City pageant, an official preliminary pageant by the Miss America Organization, will crown winners in four divisions.

Evil Never Dies, 8 p.m., The Warehouse Performing Arts Center, 9216-A Westmoreland Rd., Cornelius. About Town Tours will hold its second-annual murder mystery show at The Warehouse PAC.

The Dirty’s Halloween Party, 8 p.m., The Dirty Martini, 17036 Kenton Drive, Cornelius. Drink specials and a costume contest.

Live music at the Brickhouse, 8:30 p.m., Brickhouse Tavern, 209 Delburg St., Davidson. Live music with Matt Stradford.

Rusty Rudder Halloween Party, 10 p.m., The Rusty Rudder, 20210 Henderson Road, Cornelius. Tenth-annual Halloween Party.

Halloween at the GHOULway Hooker, 10 p.m., Galway Hooker, 17044 Kenton Drive, Cornelius. “Woodland Fairies, Gnomes, and Leprechauns” party with live music and $100 bar tab to best dressed leprechaun.

HAVE NEWS?

To have your event listed in our calendars, please send to listings@davidsonnews.net ^[6]. Our events calendars appear on both DavidsonNews.net and CorneliusNews.net ^{[7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13]}