By BILL KISER
DavidsonNews.net

The return — albeit a brief one — of the American Civil War, along with Davidson College’s annual Green Ball, a performance of an Oscar Wilde classic and the national TV spotlight shining on the Wildcats’ men’s basketball team, all highlight this weekend’s activities in our area.

The Historic Rural Hill Farm will host the 38th North Carolina Infantry of 1862 for a historic Civil War encampment and company drill on Saturday. Lectures and demonstrations on the era are among the activities at the Huntersville park during the day.

On Friday night, Davidson College and its Environmental Action Coalition will hold its eighth-annual Green Ball in the Lilly Family Gallery’s Chambers Hall, with proceeds from the ball and a silent auction going to the Davidson Lands Conservancy.

Then on Saturday evening, Aquila Theatre will present Wilde’s 116-year-old classic, “The Importance of Being Earnest,” at Davidson College’s Duke Family Performance Hall.

Also on Saturday, Davidson College’s men’s basketball team — the leader in the Southern Conference’s South Division — hosts Wichita State at Belk Arena in one of the 13 scheduled ESPN BracketBuster Games.

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

Celebrate Black History Exhibit, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Cornelius Arts Center, 19725 Oak St., Unit 1, Cornelius. A multimedia exhibit featuring works by local African-American artists, including Cornelius native James Donaldson, as part of the Cornelius PARC Department’s Black History Month celebration. Exhibit runs through Feb. 29.

THURSDAY, FEB. 16

Business After Hours, 5:30-7 p.m., Moliver Chiropractic, 624 Jetton St., Suite 260, Davidson. Business networking event co-sponsored by Moliver Chiropractic and the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce.

LKN Teen Council Fundraiser, 6-8 p.m., Ben and Jerry’s, 202 S. Main St., Davidson. The Lake Norman Teen Council will partner with Ben and Jerry’s in a fundraiser, which will give 20 percent of the evening’s proceeds to the Teen Council. Information: Call 704-892-6031, 704-766-2220 or 704-892-3349, or visit www.corneliuspr.org ^[1], www.huntersville.org ^[2], or www.d-recs.org ^[3].

Environmental Studies Lecture, 7 p.m., Carolina Inn, Davidson College. Talk by professor Sarah Frohardt-Lane from Birmingham-Southern College on “Why Not Take the Bus? Public Transit, Race, and the Environmental Legacy of Prejudice.” It will consider the social and cultural origins of prejudice against public transit riders, and the environmental consequences. There is no charge to attend. Information: Call 704-894-2487 or email abschade@davidson.edu ^[4].

Live music at Summit Coffee, 8-11 p.m., Summit Coffee, 128 S. Main St., Davidson. Live music from the Summit Songwriters Series. Free. Info: 704-895-9090.

Live music at The Brickhouse, 8:30 p.m., Brickhouse Tavern, 209 Delburg St., Davidson. Live music with Rayen and Joanna. Info: 704-987-2022 or brickhousetavern.com ^[5].

Live music at Laketown Tavern, 9:30 p.m., Laketown Tavern, 19708-K W. Catawba Ave., Cornelius. Live music with B-Sides Band. Info: laketowntavern.com ^[6].

FRIDAY, FEB. 17

Davidson baseball vs. Niagara, 6 p.m., Wilson Field, Davidson College. The Wildcats’ baseball team opens their season against Niagara.

Davidson College Green Ball, 7-11 p.m., Davidson College Chambers Hall, Lilly Family Gallery, Davidson. Eighth-annual Green Ball, hosted by the college’s Environmental Action Coalition. It’s a night of contra dancing and fun, including a silent auction, to raise money for Davidson Lands Conservancy ^[7]. Tickets $8 students, $10 general admission, $12 at the door. Info on Davidson.edu ^[8].

Live music at Freckled Dog Pub, 8-11 p.m., Summit Coffee, 128 S. Main St., Davidson. Freckled Dog Pub upstairs at Summit presents the Nita B Jazz Duo. Free. Info: 704-895-9090.

Charlotte Symphony, 8 p.m., Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, Belk Theater, 130 N. Tryon St., Charlotte. Guest conductor Michael Stern leads the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra in a concert of works by Samuel Barber, Mozart and Copland. With pianist Jean Louis Steuerman on the Mozart Piano Concerto No. 17. Ticket info: 704-972-2000 or www.charlottesymphony.org ^[9]. Also Saturday, Feb. 18.

Live music at The Brickhouse, 8:30 p.m., Brickhouse Tavern, 209 Delburg St., Davidson. Live music with Johnny, Johnny and Wendell. Info: 704-987-2022 or brickhousetavern.com ^[5].

SATURDAY, FEB. 18

Civil War Encampment, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Historic Rural Hill Farm, 4431 Neck Road, Huntersville. Historic Rural Hill will host the 38th North Carolina Infantry of 1862 for an historic encampment and company drill. This special event is free and open to all. Rural Hill docents will also be on hand to share stories and skills such as open hearth cooking, woodworking, animal feedings, fiber spinning, and blacksmithing. Information: Visit www.38thnct.com ^[10].

Drop-In Art, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Cornelius Arts Center, 19725 Oak St., Unit 1, Cornelius. Parents can bring their children to work at various art stations throughout the studio. As part of Black History Month, several of the stations during the month of February will be centered around African-American artists. The fee is $6 for the first hour and $4 for a second child or additional hours.

World Of Wonder, 10 a.m., Herpetology Lab, Davidson College. A presentation by Nitya Rao of Davidson College on “Scaly, Slimy, but Never Scary — Come Pet Something That’s Not Hairy” about the world of herpetology. A number of the animals will be there to see and to touch as participants learn about reptiles and amphibians and meet some species that are native to North Carolina. This outing is open to children with their families. Minimum age of 5 years old. Pre-registration is required by emailing dlc.wow@gmail.com ^[11].

Weathers Creek Writers Series, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., The Farm at Weathers Creek, 1170 Shinnville Road, Cleveland, N.C. Workshop on “The Absent Witness” by award-winning journalist and author Ron Stodghill will help students explore the techniques and tools for writing emotionally-layered narrative nonfiction by reassembling scenes, moments, and characters that have slipped away into the past. Space is limited to 14 students. Lunch is included. Cost: $75 per person. Information-reservations: Call 704-662-0187.

Say It In Sign, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m., Armour Street Theatre, 307 Armour St., Davidson. The Davidson Community Players and the N.C. Arts Council will hold a free American Sign Language workshop. Led by Lyndi Patton-Gura, one of the “shadow interpreters” for the DCP’s upcoming performance of “Children of a Lesser God,” the workshop will cover simple phrases, finger spelling, numbers and colors as well as information about the deaf culture. Space is limited. Reservations can be made by calling 704-892-7953.

Break Dancing Master Class, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Dance Davidson, 140 Jackson St., Davidson. A free break dancing class for boys ages 8-up conducted by Matthew Sanchez, founder of the Charlotte-based Antix Crew who has taught break dancing in both Charlotte and New York City. Reservations can be made by emailing tknox@dancedavidson.com ^[12].

Davidson vs. Wichita State in ESPN BracketBusters Game, 12 p.m., Belk Arena, Davidson College. Davidson’s men’s basketball team will host Wichita State as part of ESPN’s 10th-annual BracketBusters Game series. The series features 13 nationally-televised games on the ESPN network, and pits potential NCAA Tournament hopefuls against each other.

Guytime at Davidson Branch Library, 2 p.m., Davidson Branch Library, 119 S. Main St., Davidson. A monthly gathering for middle school guys to discuss popular fiction, movies and culture with high school guys. Snacks and games provided.

Davidson women’s basketball vs. Appalachian State, 2:30 p.m., Belk Arena, Davidson College. The Wildcats’ women’s basketball team hosts Appalachian State in a Southern Conference game.

Don’t Ask Y at Davidson Branch Library, 3:30 p.m., Davidson Branch Library, 119 S. Main St., Davidson. A book discussion group for girls in fifth grade and up. This month’s title is “The Frog Princess” by E.D. Baker.

Davidson baseball vs. La Salle, 3:30 p.m., Wilson Field, Davidson College. The Wildcats’ baseball team hosts La Salle.

Wine tasting at Lake Norman Cottage, 6-9 p.m., Lake Norman Cottage, 200-A North Harbor Place, Davidson. $20 per person includes a light 3-course meal and wines from California and South Africa. Call 704-237-3629 to make a reservation.

The Importance of Being Earnest, 7:30 p.m., Duke Family Performance Hall, Davidson College, Davidson. Aquila Theatre present’s Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, which was first performed on Feb. 14, 1895. It tells the tale of Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff, both young men who have taken to bending the truth to add a dash of excitement to their lives. However, their deceptions eventually cross paths, resulting in a series of hilarious discoveries that threaten to spoil their romantic pursuits. Reserved seating. Tickets are $8 for Davidson College students, $15 for faculty and staff, and $20 for the public. Information and tickets: www.davidson.edu ^[13].

Live music at Summit Coffee, 8-11 p.m., Summit Coffee, 128 S. Main St., Davidson. Live music: Too Wet to Plow. Free. Info: 704-895-9090.

Charlotte Symphony, 8 p.m., Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, Belk Theater, 130 N. Tryon St., Charlotte. Guest conductor Michael Stern leads the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra in a concert of works by Samuel Barber, Mozart and Copland. With pianist Jean Louis Steuerman on the Mozart Piano Concerto No. 17. Ticket info: 704-972-2000 or www.charlottesymphony.org ^[9]. Also Friday, Feb. 17.

Live music at The Brickhouse, 8:30 p.m., Brickhouse Tavern, 209 Delburg St., Davidson. Live music with Robin Burke. Info: 704-987-2022 or brickhousetavern.com ^[5].

SUNDAY, FEB. 19

^[14]

Triumphant Quartet plays Sunday at Mount Zion United Methodist Church's Cornelius Concert Series.

Davidson baseball vs. Bucknell, 1:30 p.m., Wilson Field, Davidson College. The Wildcats’ baseball team wraps up a three-game home series against Bucknell.

Triumphant Quartet, 7 p.m., Mt. Zion United Methodist Church sanctuary, 19600 Zion Ave., Cornelius. Performance by the award-winning, Grammy-nominated quartet as part of Mt. Zion UMC’s Cornelius Concert Series. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted at the door for the quartet.

HAVE NEWS?

To have your event listed in our calendars, please send to listings@davidsonnews.net ^[15]. Our events calendars appear on both DavidsonNews.net and CorneliusNews.net.