The Thanksgiving holiday always brings a slowdown on our community calendar, but there’s still fun around the area this week, from a Davidson College choral concert to a Town of Cornelius tree lighting. Local runners have a choice of Turkey Trot races on Thanksgiving Day, in Mooresville and Cornelius.

Our Town Cinemas in Davidson has “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2″ as well as “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Skyfall,” and “Rise of the Guardians.” Check the showtimes at right on this page. Read the full story

We’ve got lots of choices this fall weekend in the Lake Norman area, from theater and food to a pair of 5K runs and a Greenway celebration. Tree lightings are planned in Concord and at Birkdale Village, and this weekend brings the two-day Fall Festival at Historic Latta Plantation in Huntersville. On Saturday night, Summit Coffee hosts its 2nd annual Twilight 5K, followed by a post-race festival in downtown Davidson.

Theater offerings include Davidson College’s production of “The Pride”) and Davidson Community Players’ Armour Street Theatre (“Into the Woods Jr.”). And it’s the final weekend for the Carolina Renaissance Festival in Huntersville. Food-related events include “United We Dine,” a daylong fundraiser at Cornelius restaurants Friday to benefit the United Way, Community School of Davidson’s Friday night Food Truck Rally to help mark the groundbreaking for a high school addition. Meanwhile, the Carolina Thread Trail celebrates its fifth anniversary and its 100th mile of developed trail with an event Saturday off Shearers Road in Davidson. Read on for more about those and other events this week.

Our Town Cinemas in Davidson has “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2″ opening Thursday night, with a 10pm show. They’ll also have a “Twilight marathon on Thursday.” Also at Our Town Cinemas: “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Skyfall,” and “Argo.” Check the showtimes at right on this page. Read the full story

Bella Love, an arts group that’s making things happen in downtown Cornelius, will launch a new open mic series this Thursday night at Kadi Fit in the Oak Street Mill, and they’re looking for folks to join in. Meanwhile, our weekend music listings also include the monthly Summit Songwriters Showcase at Summit Coffee in Davidson, where Charlotte Music Awards Folk Artist of the Year 2012 Marie Calabro is on the bill. And on Saturday, The Birdsnest in Davidson will present sing/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Sydney Shepherd of Winston-Salem. Read the full story

Food, theater, music, lectures and public meetings fill our schedule this week. It’s the final weekend for the Carolina Renaissance Festival in Huntersville, and New York Times columnist David Brooks speaks Monday night at Davidson College. Food events include “United We Dine,” a daylong fundraiser at Cornelius restaurants Friday to benefit the United Way, while Community School of Davidson’s Friday night Food Truck Rally will help mark the groundbreaking for a high school addition. Davidson Community Players Connie Co. youth theater continues its performances of the fairy-tale-themed “Into the Woods Jr.,” while Davidson College’s theater department produces “The Pride.” Summit Coffee hosts its second annual Twilight 5K race on Saturday night, followed by a post-race festival in downtown Davidson. And the Carolina Thread Trail celebrates its fifth anniversary and its 100th mile of developed trail with an event Saturday off Shearers Road in Davidson. Read on for more about those and other events this week. Read the full story

John Cummins, organist and choirmaster at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Winston-Salem, will be the guest organist at the next Organ at Davidson concert Tuesday, Nov. 13.  The program includes an appearance by tenor John Charles Clark, who teaches at East Carolina University. The concert begins at 7:30pm in the sanctuary of Davidson College Presbyterian Church, Main Street and Concord Road in downtown Davidsn.

As the third offering in the 2012-2013 Organ at Davidson series, the program includes Messiaen, Couperin, Bach, Sowerby, and Vierne organ classics with Mr. Clark’s vocal additions. Read the full story

Looking for a few laughs after a long Election season? Check out Saturday night’s improv comedy battle at the Warehouse PAC between two troupes of comedians: The Chuckleheads of Charlotte and Check!, an improv group from Marvin Ridge High School. Davidson College’s men’s basketball team tips off for a new season Friday night against Emory at Belk Arena. Kadi Fit in Cornelius plans a “Marketplace Day” at the Oak Street Mill in Cornelius. And there’s a Fall Festival at Jetton Village, also in Cornelius. This weekend also brings the annual Rural Sheepdog Trials and Dog Festival. Sunday brings the annual meeting and nature festival of the Davidson Lands Conservancy at Abersham Park Sunday, followed by a hike to an old mill and the Whale Rock site. Read on for the details about those and other events.

Our Town Cinemas in Davidson is showing “Wreck-It Ralph” on two screens, along with “Chasing Mavericks,” “Fun Size,” and “Argo.” Opening Friday is “Skyfall,” and here’s a reminder: Coming up next Thursday, it’s “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2.” They’ll also have a “Twilight” marathon. See showtimes on the right side of this page.
Read the full story