Avante Vocal Jazz appears in concert Saturday night at Davidson United Methodist Church. Details below.

From books to theater to music to the Amazing Maize Maze, it’s another busy weekend in the Lake Norman area. Summit Coffee’s Songwriter’s Showcase is Thursday, featuring Nashville folk artist Hannah Miller, Paul Finnican, and host Rob McHale with special guest Shantell Ogden of Nashville. Davidson College’s Musical Interludes start up again on Friday at 12:30 p.m. with cellist Tanja Bechtler and pianist Cynthia Lawing. ReadDavidson kicks off its 2012 festivities with a virtual chat with author Ann Patchett. The 48th anniversary Festival in the Park is Friday through Sunday in Charlotte, with food, live music, artists’ booths and kids’ activities. Cornelius Presbyterian Church’s Bluegrass and BBQ music fest continues Saturday morning with Rusty Knox and Michael Reno Harrell.  Warehouse Performing Arts Center in Cornelius opens a production of the “black-hearted” comedy “Smell of the Kill” Thursday through Sunday and the Davidson Farmer’s Market is on Saturday morning. And Saturday afternoon, it’s the Lake Norman Beer Festival at Kenton Place.

Meanwhile, Our Town Cinemas in Davidson has “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” “Last Ounce of Courage,” “End of Watch,” “Trouble with the Curve” and “Lawless” on the schedule. See the movie showtimes at right.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 20

Russian Theatre Lecture, 7:00 p.m., Alvarez College Union, Davidson College – Davidson College invites the public to a lecture by Stanford University professor Monika Greenleaf. Greenleaf, a specialist in Slavic languages and literature, will present a talk titled “Fitful Breathing.” Her remarks will focus on Russian playwright Ivan Turgenev’s play, “A Month in the Country,” and will support the Theater Department’s production of that play, which opens on October 26. Info: 704-894-2397.

Theater: “Smell of the Kill,” 7:30 p.m., Warehouse Performing Arts Center, 9216-A Westmoreland Road, Cornelius – Anne Lambert and Charlotte’s Off-Broadway and The Warehouse Performing Arts Center present “The Smell of the Kill” by Michele Lowe. Sept. 20 to Oct. 6, performances Thur 7:30, Fri-Sat 8 p.m., and Sunday matinee Sept. 30, 2:30 p.m. Tickets: $20; Seniors/students/groups $15, cash or check only. For reservations, call 704-619-0429 or email tickets@warehousepac.com. Read more in our Sept. 19 preview.

Summit Coffee Songwriters Showcase, 8 p.m., Summit Coffee Co., 128 Main St., Davidson – Features Nashville Folk Artist Hannah Miller, Paul Finnican, and Host Rob McHale with special guest and opening act Nashville Artist Shantell Ogden.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 21

Amazing Maize Maze at Rural Hill, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Rural Hill, 4431 Neck Road (off Beatties Ford Road), Huntersville – Amazing Maize Maze, a cornfield maze with an Election 2012 theme. Open Fridays to Sundays through Nov. 4. The Amazing Maize Maze is designed to be navigated in 1-2 hours. Water stations and maze assistance are available throughout. Tickets $10 per person for ages 13+; $7 per person for youth ages 5-12; and ages 4 and under are free. Tickets at the gate or in advance at www.ruralhill.net.

BBQ Lunch, 11:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Peoples Bank, 9624 Bailey Rd., Cornelius – Mary MacDonald, Peoples Bank in Cornelius and her team at the bank will host a BBQ Lunch to raise funds for Our Towns Habitat for Humanity. Sandwich, chips and a drink is $6.

Musical Interludes at Davidson College, 12:30 p.m., Sloan Music Center, Davidson College – First performance of the mid-day “Musical Interlude” concert series featuring cellist Tanja Bechtler and pianist Cynthia Lawing. Free and open to the public. Info: 704-894-2848.

Ann Patchett is the author of this year’s ReadDavidson book, “State of Wonder.” She’ll participate in a video chat Friday.

ReadDavidson Kick-off, 1 p.m., Community School of Davidson High School, 404 Armour St., Davidson – ReadDavidson announces State of Wonder as its pick for the fall of 2012. This year kicks-off with a very special event: Author Ann Patchett “visits” via live interactive webcast. Info: http://www.townofdavidson.org/ReadDavidson. See also Ms. Patchett’s website, http://www.annpatchett.com/

Chemistry Lecture, 2:30 p.m., Martin Chemistry Building, Davidson College – Duke University chemist Stephen Craig will present “Mechanochemistry in Reactions and Materials: The Old Rules No Longer Apply.” Free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served at 2 p.m. Info: 704-894-2307.

Blood Drive, 3:00-7:00 p.m., Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, Davidson – To make an appointment, please visit redcrossblood.org. All donors will receive a coupon for a free pint of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream.

Festival in the Park, 4-9:30 p.m., Freedom Park, Charlotte – 48th anniversary Festival in the Park, co-hosted by Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation, with food, live music, artists’ booths and kids’ activities. Participating groups include Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, Carolina Raptor Center, the Carolina Clowns, the Magicians’ Stage, the Charlotte Folk Society, the Actors Crib and the Jazz Arts Initiative. Continues Saturday and Sunday. Details: www.festivalinthepark.org

Live music at Campania, Live music Party on the Porch, 6:30-9 p.m., Campania Cafe, 416 S. Main St., Davidson – Live music on the front porch (weather permitting) every Friday. This week: Scotti Benge. Info: 704-987-5111 or www.campaniacafe.com

Hough at Hopewell football, 7 p.m., Hopewell High School, 11530 Beatties Ford Road, Huntersville – Hough football at Hopewell.

Theater: ‘Smell of the Kill’, 8 p.m., Warehouse Performing Arts Center, 9216-A Westmoreland Road, Cornelius – Anne Lambert and Charlotte’s Off-Broadway and The Warehouse Performing Arts Center present “The Smell of the Kill” by Michele Lowe. Sept. 20 to Oct. 6, performances Thur 7:30, Fri-Sat 8 p.m., and Sunday matinee Sept. 30, 2:30 p.m. Tickets: $20; Seniors/students/groups $15, cash or check only. For reservations, call 704-619-0429 or email tickets@warehousepac.com. Read more in our Sept. 19 preview.

Music at Summit Coffee, 8-11 p.m., Summit Coffee, 128 S. Main St., Davidson – Live music with Vel-Crows. Free. Information: 704-895-9090 or visit www.summitcoffee.com.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 22

Davidson Farmer’s Market, 8:00 a.m.-noon, downtown Davidson, off Main Street next to Town Hall – The weekly Davidson Farmer’s Market. Local farmers and vendors selling meats, produce, dairy products, baked goods, and other items. Runs every Saturday through October. Information: Visit www.davidsonfarmersmarket.org. DavidsonNews.net and CorneliusNews.net are pleased to be media partners of the Davidson Farmer’s Market.

Farm stand at Kenton Place, 8 a.m. to noon, Kenton Place shopping center, 17111 Kenton Drive, Cornelius – Know Your Farms and area farmers this weekend will launch a new producer-only farm stand at the Kenton Place shopping center, off West Catawba Avenue. Also runs the next three Saturdays, and could be extended if there’s interest. More info: http://www.knowyourfarms.com/ The Farm Stand at Kenton Place will be offering local produce, eggs, flowers, breads, hydroponic lettuce, hydroponic herbs, and more. Meats and dairy will be available in the future.

Festival in the Park, 10am-9:30pm, Freedom Park, Charlotte – 48th anniversary Festival in the Park, co-hosted by Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation, with food, live music, artists’ booths and kids’ activities. Participating groups include Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, Carolina Raptor Center, the Carolina Clowns, the Magicians’ Stage, the Charlotte Folk Society, the Actors Crib and the Jazz Arts Initiative. Also Friday and Sunday. Details: www.festivalinthepark.org

Amazing Maize Maze at Rural Hill, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Rural Hill, 4431 Neck Road (off Beatties Ford Road), Huntersville – Amazing Maize Maze, a cornfield maze with an Election 2012 theme. Open Fridays to Sundays through Nov. 4. The Amazing Maize Maze is designed to be navigated in 1-2 hours. Water stations and maze assistance are available throughout. Tickets $10 per person for ages 13+; $7 per person for youth ages 5-12; and ages 4 and under are free. Tickets at the gate or in advance at www.ruralhill.net.

Face jug pottery workshop at CAP, 10 a.m. to noon, Community Arts Project, Cornelius Arts Center, 19725 Oak St., Cornelius – North Carolina-Style Face Jug Workshop, with instructor Loretta Banner. Face jugs originated in North and South Carolina and were thought to have first been made by slaves to be placed on grave sites. Later they were adapted to store whiskey. In this fun workshop, students will be adding a face to a pre-thrown jug and then glazing it on the second week. This is a two-day workshop. All supplies included. Saturdays, Sept. 22 and Oct. 6. Ages 10-adult. For more about classes at CAP and the Cornelius Arts Center, or to register for this class, visit http://cornelius.org/parc. Or call 704-892-6031, ext. 160.

Michael Reno Harrell and Rusty Knox play in Saturday’s Bluegrass and BBQ festival at Cornelius Presbyterian Church.

Bluegrass and Barbecue, 10:30 a.m., Cornelius Presbyterian Church, Catawba Avenue and Church Street, Cornelius – Not Strictly Bluegrass – BBQ, Bluegrass and Beyond! concert.  Music and mouth-watering barbecue. Music begins 10:30am with the barbecue fundraiser starting at 11:30am. Performers: Michael Reno Harrell and Rusty Knox. Info: 704-892-5577 or email corneliuspresbyt@bellsouth.net

Davidson Lands Conservancy World of Wonder, 10:30 a.m.-noon – Come wade in the edge of a local pond and the mud to see what kinds of critters we uncover. Dr. David Grant, a Professor Emeritus of biology at Davidson College, a consultant with Discovery Place, and an adjunct curator at Schiele Museum, will guide us. Open to children at least 6 years old and their families. Pre-registration is required. For registration and location, contact Erin at dlc.wow@gmail.com.

Davidson football at Marist, Noon, Marist College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. – Davidson football at Marist. More info: www.davidsonwildcats.com

Lake Norman Beer Festival is Saturday at Kenton Place.

Lake Norman Beer Festival, 3-10 p.m., Galway Hooker, 17044 Kenton Dr., Cornelius – Sample over 50 craft beers and enjoy great music with good friends. $25 for general admission, $50 for VIP tickets. Info: http://lknbeerfest.com

Oyster and shrimp fest, 6 p.m., All Seasons Marina, 827 Langtree Road, Mooresville – Lake Norman Wildlife Conservationists invites the public to its fourth annual Wildlife Oyster & Shrimp Fest, with dance music, food, live and silent auctions, and educational displays of Lake Norman wildlife and plants. Tickets are $40 each, two for $75. Reservations required. Visit lakenormanwildlife.org, or call 704-660-8192 weekdays during business hours, or 704-877-4787 evenings and weekends. See our preview article in Pets & Animals.

Jazz at Davidson Methodist, 7:30 p.m., Davidson United Methodist Church, 233 S. Main St., Davidson – Avante Vocal Jazz, a group of eight singers that perform contemporary choral works and cutting edge jazz with a modern flair, will be performing. Open to the public. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Visit the Crown Tickets website to get your tickets. See more about the group at avantevocaljazz.com

Film: “The Hunger Games”, 7 p.m., Charles Mack Citizens Center, 215 N. Main St., Mooresville – Town of Mooresville Movies on Main presents a free screening of “The Hunger Games”. Info: 704-662-3334.

Theater: “Smell of the Kill,” 8 p.m., Warehouse Performing Arts Center, 9216-A Westmoreland Road, Cornelius – Anne Lambert and Charlotte’s Off-Broadway and The Warehouse Performing Arts Center present “The Smell of the Kill” by Michele Lowe. Sept. 20 to Oct. 6, performances Thur 7:30, Fri-Sat 8 p.m., and Sunday matinee Sept. 30, 2:30 p.m. Tickets: $20; Seniors/students/groups $15, cash or check only. For reservations, call 704-619-0429 or email tickets@warehousepac.com. Read more in our Sept. 19 preview.

Film screening, 8:45 p.m. Village Park, Kannapolis –  “I am Legend,” 411 Community Read Film Screening. Info: www.cityofkannapolis.com

Music at Summit Coffee, 8-11 p.m., Summit Coffee, 128 S. Main St., Davidson – Live music with Reeve Coobs and John Dungan. $8. Information: 704-895-9090 or visit www.summitcoffee.com.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 23

Festival in the Park, 11am-6pm, Freedom Park, Charlotte – 48th anniversary Festival in the Park, co-hosted by Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation, with food, live music, artists’ booths and kids’ activities. Participating groups include Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, Carolina Raptor Center, the Carolina Clowns, the Magicians’ Stage, the Charlotte Folk Society, the Actors Crib and the Jazz Arts Initiative. Also Friday and Saturday. Details: www.festivalinthepark.org

Open House at the Ranch, 4-6 p.m., Bit of Hope Ranch, 5001 CR Wood Rd., Gastonia – Bring your family and friends to experience the great programs and facilities at the Ranch. Admission is free. Includes pony rides, family portrait shoots, tours, and natural horsemanship training methods with special guest Dawn Roth.

Carol Quillen on tolerance, 7 p.m., Davidson College Presbyterian Church, 218 Concord Rd., Davidson – Davidson College President Carol Quillen will speak on “In Defense of Tolerance.”

Amazing Maize Maze, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Rural Hill, 4431 Neck Road (off Beatties Ford Road), Huntersville – Amazing Maize Maze, a cornfield maze with an Election 2012 theme. Open Fridays to Sundays through Nov. 4. The Amazing Maize Maze is designed to be navigated in 1-2 hours. Water stations and maze assistance are available throughout. Tickets $10 per person for ages 13+; $7 per person for youth ages 5-12; and ages 4 and under are free. Tickets at the gate or in advance at www.ruralhill.net. Open by appointment other days.

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