Davidson College invites the public to a variety of events on campus in December and January, including artists’ talks, concerts, and this weekend’s Alternative Gifts Fair and Christmas Vespers events. Author Thomas Mallon, who is this year’s McGee Visiting Professor of Writing, gives a lecture in January, while Davidson Community Players teams with the college theater department in late January on a production of “Sleeping Beauty.” Read the full story

The 2011 North Meck Christmas Parade is Saturday afternoon. Above, the Hopewell High Band marched in the 2010 parade. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

By BILL KISER
DavidsonNews.net

Well, Thanksgiving is over — the leftovers have been packed away or devoured and you’re contemplating a week at the gym. Christmas is in the wind, beginning this week with Christmas in Davidson, a three-night festival in downtown Davidson Thursday through Saturday. The event officially begins at 6 p.m. Thursday with an early visit by Santa on Davidson’s Village Green, and the shops and stores in downtown Davidson will be open late all three days.

And on Saturday, the 29th-annual North Mecklenburg Christmas Parade, runs from Davidson south on N.C. 115 into Cornelius. It starts at 1 p.m. and features feature floats and bands from area high schools, as well as a visit from Santa. Also this week, “Retrieving the Lamb” opens as Davidson Community Players’ holiday show at Armour Street Theatre. Read the full story

By BILL KISER
DavidsonNews.net

It’s a week full of the arts — for the eyes, ears and taste buds — for residents in Davidson and surrounding communities. See below for details. Read the full story

Duo Pleyel - Willis (left) and Wissick

Duo Pleyel, a two-man combo of pianist Andrew Willis and cellist Brent Wissick will perform this Sunday afternoon, Nov. 6, in the Music @ St. Alban’s Concert Series at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, Davidson.

The concert begins at 3 p.m. at the church, 301 Caldwell Lane, off Concord Road.

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Rock band Plain White T's play at Duke Family Performance Hall Friday.

The Grammy-nominated rock band Plain White T’s bring their Wonders of the Younger tour to Duke Family Performance Hall Friday, headlining a busy schedule of public events at Davidson College in November. The calendar also includes dance with Ballet Hispanico, a visit by Celtic fiddler Jamie Laval, an exhibit opening for art professor Hagit Barkai, as well as other lectures, concerts and theatrical performances. Here’s a list:

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Ballet Hispanico performs at Davidson College Wednesday.

By BILL KISER
DavidsonNews.net

It’s the first week of November, and as the mercury begins its autumn slide toward winter weather, events in and around Davidson head indoors. Ballet Hispanico, the nation’s preeminent Hispanic-American dance group, performs Wednesday, while the Grammy-nominated Plain White T’s are on stage Friday, both at Davidson College’s Duke Family Performance Hall. Hough High School’s theater department will perform “Our Town”, the Thornton Wilder classic, on Thursday through Saturday nights; and the Connie Company — the Davidson Community Players’ youth program — will open its eight-show run of “Schoolhouse Rock Live!” with two shows daily on Saturday and Sunday. Read the full story