The Cockman Family plays Saturday in the Mooresville Concerts series.

By BILL KISER
DavidsonNews.net

In the mood to hear – or sing – some good music? The gospel-singing  Cockman Family will perform Saturday night in the Mooresville Concert Series, while singers are invited to an open house Sunday for the North Mecklenburg Community Chorus. Meanwhile, many area venues will have live music this weekend, including Summit Coffee and the Lake Norman Cottage in Davidson. Also below, news about sports, a children’s show at Armour Street Theater, the Polar Bear Ride in Davidson and a Polar Bear Plunge at the YMCA in Cornelius.

If you’d like to see some budding actors and actresses, visit the Armour Street Theatre in Davidson on Friday or Saturday. An ensemble from the Connie Company — the Davidson Community Players’ youth group — will put on a free performances of Wind in the Willows.

Want to create your own artworks? Check out Sip and Sketch at Cornelius’ Cafe Elie on Thursday night. Bring your favorite bottle of wine and your BFF’s, and they’ll supply the rest – canvas, paint, art lesson, and a light snack. Or you can check out Girls Night Out at Davidson’s Wooden Stone Gallery.

For those more athletically inclined, Davidson College’s men’s and women’s basketball teams are both in action at Belk Arena this weekend — the Wildcats men host Western Carolina on Thursday night, and the women face the Catamounts on Friday afternoon.

And if you’re an athletic glutton for punishment, the 14th-annual Polar Bear Ride will begin Saturday morning in Davidson, with 50- and 100-kilometer bike rides through northern Mecklenburg County and the Lake Norman area; and the Polar Bear Plunge — featuring a dip in the frigid waters of Lake Norman — will take place later that day at the Lake Norman YMCA in Cornelius.

These events — and more below — 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.

ONGOING EVENTS

Teaching Talents exhibit, Cornelius Arts Center, behind the police station in the Oak Street Mill, 19725 Oak St., Cornelius – Cornelius PARC Department and The Community Arts Project host a display and holiday sale of multimedia works from the center’s instructors, on display through Friday. Hours: Mondays to Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon. 704-896-8823.

Davidson Board of Commissioners Retreat, Thursday, 9 a.m.-4:45 p.m., at Starrette Farm, 204 Pecan Tree Lane, Statesville. Also Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m, at Town of Huntersville Rotunda Conference Room, 105 Gilead Road, Huntersville. Davidson’s newly-elected Board of Commissioners will hold an off-site retreat. The purpose is described as “team building.”

Wind in the Willows, 7 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday, Armour Street Theatre, 307 Armour St., Davidson. Free performance by an ensemble of students from the Connie Company, the Davidson Community Players’ youth company. Information: Visit www.davidsoncommunityplayers.org.

THURSDAY, JAN. 12

North Meck Senior Center Grand Opening, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., North Mecklenburg Senior Center, Solid Rock Christian Church, 16601 Old Statesville Road (N.C. 115), Huntersville. Grand opening for the senior center in its new home. Activities all day, with ribbon cutting at noon. Information: Call 704-875-1270.

Cabarrus Food Policy Council, 6:30-8 p.m., Cabarrus Governmental Center, 65 Church St. SE, Concord. Cabarrus County Food Policy Council meeting. Agenda includes goals for 2012, council structure and 2012 retreat planning. Info, call Aaron Newton at 704-920-2206.

Attracting Wild Birds to Your Yard, 7 p.m., Mooresville Public Library, 304 S. Main St., Mooresville. The Lake Norman Wildlife Conservationists will host a program by Joe Kaesten, owner of Wild Birds Unlimited in Huntersville, on the right foods, bird houses and bird baths to use to create a backyard bird habitat. Information: Visit www.lakenormanwildlife.org or call 704-877-4788.

Davidson men’s basketball vs. Western Carolina, 7 p.m., Belk Arena, Davidson College. The Wildcats’ men’s basketball team puts their undefeated Southern Conference record on the line against Western Carolina. See a preview and the latest Southern Conference standings in Sports.

Home Safety Seminar, 7 p.m., Cornelius Police Department, 21440 Catawba Ave., Cornelius. Officials with the Cornelius PD will hold a seminar on “Keeping Your Home Safe When You Are Away,” which will share tips on keeping your home secure during the holiday and travel seasons. Residents planning on attending the seminar are asked to RSVP either by emailing events@corneliuspd.org or by calling 704-892-1363.

Sip and Sketch, 7 p.m., Cafe Elie, 20700 N. Main St., Suite 110, Cornelius. A new twist on “Ladies Night Out.” Bring your favorite bottle of wine and your BFF’s, and we’ll supply the rest – canvas, paint, art lesson, and a lite snack. Enjoy a creative and relaxing evening with your friends, at the end of the class, you will leave with a beautiful painting worthy of display in your own home. Cost: $50 per person, discounts available for large groups and active Cafe Elie students. Information-reservations: Call 704-896-9766.

Live music at Summit Coffee, 8-11 p.m., Summit Coffee, 128 S. Main St., Davidson – Live music: The Velcrows Info: 704-895-9090.

FRIDAY, JAN. 13

Davidson women’s basketball vs. Western Carolina, 12 p.m., Belk Arena, Davidson College. The Wildcats’ women’s basketball team hosts Western Carolina in a Southern Conference game.

Girls Night Out at Wooden Stone Gallery, 4-6 p.m., Wooden Stone Gallery, 445 S. Main St., Davidson. Event features wine tasting (with a complimentary wine glass) and a mini-workshop. Cost: $12 per person, reservations required. Information-reservations: Email jinny@woodenstonegallery.com or call 704-892-1449.

Freckled Dog Pub and live music at Summit Coffee, 5-11 p.m., Summit Coffee, 128 S. Main St., Davidson – Live music: Freckled Dog Pub 5-9 p.m., followed by Mike Strauss Trio, 8-11 p.m. Info: 704-895-9090.

Live music at The Brickhouse, 8:30 p.m. Brickhouse Tavern, 209 Delburg St., Davidson – Live music with . Info: 704-987-2022 or brickhousetavern.com.

SATURDAY, JAN. 14

Polar Bear Ride, 8:30 a.m., Ingersoll-Rand, Beaty Street, Davidson. The 14th-annual Polar Bear Ride held by the Rocky River Road Club, which takes bicycle riders on 50- and 100-kilometer rides through the north Mecklenburg-Lake Norman area. A portion of the event’s proceeds will go to the Ada Jenkins Center in Davidson. Ride will begin at 10 a.m. Cost: $20 before Jan. 14, $25 on day of ride. Registration, waivers, route sheets and directions available online at www.rockyriverroadclub.org, or by calling 704-896-3331.

Kannapolis E-Cycling Day, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., old Kannapolis Post Office, Vance Street and Dale Earnhardt Boulevard, Kannapolis. Drop off old electronic items for recycling, including TVs, computers, stereos, and more. Also on site: Paper-shredding service. Electronics are now banned from N.C. landfills. See a list of recyclable items (PDF).

Davidson Farmer’s Market, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., downtown Davidson, next to Town Hall. Davidson Farmer’s Market winter tailgate market. Local farmers and vendors selling meats, produce, dairy products, baked goods, and other items. Runs second and fourth Saturdays January through March. Information: Visit www.davidsonfarmersmarket.org.

Polar Bear Plunge, 11 a.m., Lake Norman YMCA, 21300 Davidson St., Cornelius. The Lake Norman YMCA will hold its inaugural Polar Bear Plunge fundraiser to support the YMCA’s programs. The event begins with the plunge into Lake Cornelius, followed by lunch by Chick-Fil-A, music, a waterfront bonfire and dessert by Sweetly Yours Cake Botique. Cost: $20 per person through Jan. 13, participants receive a long-sleeved T-shirt. Information-registration: Call 704-716-4400.

Martin Luther King Jr. Parade, 11 a.m., North Tryon Street, downtown Charlotte. The annual parade heads south on Tryon, to 9th Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Note: Some CATS bus routes affected. Details: RideTransit.org.

Wine Tasting and Live Music at LKN Cottage, 6-9 p.m., Lake Norman Cottage, 200 A North Harbor Place, Davidson. Wine from California and a light three-course meal. $20 per person. Live music DoubleDay Band from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Call for reservations: 704-237-3629.

The Cockmans, 7 p.m., Joe Knox Auditorium, Charles Mack Citizen Center, 215 N. Main St., Mooresville. Mooresville Concerts presents The Cockman Family in a concert of gospel music for all ages. A reception follows. Tickets $10 for adults, $5 for students, and free for children under 10. Season passes are $45. Tickets available at the Recreation Department office, 418 Carpenter Ave., by calling 704-663-7026, or online at www.MooresvilleRecreation.org.

Live music at Summit Coffee, 8-11 p.m., Summit Coffee, 128 S. Main St., Davidson – Live music: Steve Simpson and Herschel Lee Browne Info: 704-895-9090.

SUNDAY, JAN. 15

DCPC Covenant Class, 9:45 a.m., Room B, Congregation House, Davidson College Presbyterian Church, downtown Davidson. George Ramsey, Kristen Herrington professor emeritus of religion at Presbyterian College, will lead four sessions on the artistry of Biblical storytellers. Information: Call 704-892-5641.

Hopewell Presbyterian Church 250th Celebration Kickoff, 11 a.m., Hopewell Presbyterian Church, 10500 Beaties Ford Road, Huntersville. Hopewell Presbyterian Church begins a year-long celebration of its 250th anniversary with a kick-off service and luncheon. Guest speaker is the Rev. Bob Wise. Information: Visit www.hopewellpresbyterian.com.

North Meck Community Chorus Open House, 6 p.m., Wedgewood North Clubhouse, 8925 Babbitt Way, Charlotte. The North Mecklenburg Community Chorus will hold an open house leading into the start of its spring performance season. Information: Visit www.nmcchorus.org.

HAVE NEWS?

To have your event listed in our calendars, please send to listings@davidsonnews.net. Our events calendars appear on both DavidsonNews.net and CorneliusNews.net.