Our community calendar this week includes a variety of autumn activities, from the Downtown Davidson Halloween March on Friday to the Amazing Maize Maze at Rural Hill to to a Ghost Walk at Latta Plantation. Friday night’s high school football schedule this week brings a big matchup between Hough and Mallard Creek, who are battling for the I-Meck 4A title. Lake Norman Christian School hosts its annual Autumn Blast on Saturday in Davidson, and several local middle-schoolers have organized their annual Think Pink Dog Show on the Davidson Green Saturday as well. It’s Family Weekend at Davidson College, where events include the opening of the theater department’s production of “A Month in the Country,” free concerts by the Symphony and Chorale, and the Jazz Ensemble, and a Saturday football game vs. Butler. Read on for details about those events and more.

Our Town Cinemas in Davidson is showing “Argo,” “Paranormal Activity 4,” “Taken 2,” and “Hotel Transylvania.” See showtimes on the right side of this page.
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The Pumpkin Patch runs daily through the end of October at Davidson United Methodist Church’s McKay Youth House on South Main Street, Davidson. Funds raised go for church missions. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

It’s fall and there’s no shortage of things to do in the Lake Norman area this weekend. How to choose? The ‘Tawba Walk art crawl and a history walk are scheduled Friday in downtown Cornelius. Saturday brings two festivals at the same time a block apart in Davidson: the Children’s Schoolhouse Fall Carnival on the Village Green, and Flatiron Kitchen’s Fall Festival. Around the lake,  Statesville’s Carolina Balloonfest runs all weekend, dedicated this year to Cornelius balloonist Ed Ristaino, who died in a March accident.  And the Lakeside Artists Studio Tour runs Friday and Saturday. Sporting events include Hough vs. Lake Norman and other high school games Friday, and the Davidson Wildcats Red-Black basketball scrimmage Saturday. Meanwhile, the Amazing Maize Maze continues at Rural Hill and the musical “Baby”has more performances at Armour Street Theatre in Davidson.

Our Town Cinemas in Davidson has one more day of “Looper” on Thursday. The cinema also is showing “Argo,” “Paranormal Activity 4,” “Taken 2,” and “Hotel Transylvania.” See showtimes on the right side of this page. Read the full story

Joseph Howell will talk about his book “Civil Rights Journey: The Story of a White Southern Coming of Age During the Civil Rights Revolution” on Friday, Oct. 5, at 4 p.m. at Davidson College’s Chambers Building, Room 1062, Davidson College.

Mr. Howell is a 1964 Davidson graduate who grew up as a white southern male. At Davidson, he became involved in the civil rights movement. Read the full story

This weekend the play “Smell of the Kill” continues at Warehouse PAC in Cornelius, while youth from Davidson Community Players’ Connie Co. stage “The Tempest: Unplugged.” The Amazing Maize Maze is open again at Rural Hill and the Davidson United Methodist Church begins its annual Pumpkin Patch for Missions sale.  Bethel Presbyterian Church in Cornelius is holding a BBQ Thursday benefiting Barium Springs Home for Children. First Baptist Church in Huntersville celebrates its Annual World Hunger Day on Saturday with a huge yard sale, bake sale, barbecue lunch, silent and live auctions, and more. On Saturday, the Know Your Farms stand will be open at Kenton Place and the Taste of Birkdale with a Twist of Fashion will be at the Birkdale Shopping Center.

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. Opening Friday: “Looper” and “Hotel Transylvania.” See the movie showtimes at right. Read the full story

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. Read the full story

Want to see this season’s lineup of Davidson College music and shows free? Duke Family Performance Hall is looking for ushers for events at the theater, in the Alvarez College Union on the Davidson campus. Read the full story