Miracle on 34th Street opens this week at Our Town Cinemas.

Our Town Cinemas in Davidson will be screening the holiday classic “Miracle on 34th Street” this holiday season, beginning with a Lake Norman Chamber Kickoff and Fundraiser for the Ada Jenkins Center this Thursday, Dec. 8. A reception begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by a screening at 7 p.m. at the cinema, in the Sadler Square Shopping Center off Griffith Street.

Ada Jenkins Center representatives will be at the theater Thursday to greet guests and collect donation checks. The regional community services center, at 212 Gamble St. on Davidson’s West Side, provides a variety of services – from free health and dental clinics to after school and counseling programs. Read the full story

Joseph Roenbeck

Organist Joseph Roenbeck will accompany the 1928 silent French film “The Passion of Joan of Arc” as the second artist in the 2011-12 Organ at Davidson series Tuesday, Oct. 18, at Davidson College Presbyterian Church.

The concert and film begin at 7:30 p.m. on the Wicks Organ in the church sanctuary, North Main Street and Concord Road in Davidson. Read the full story

"Real Steel" is among the offerings this weekend at Our Town Cinemas in Davidson.

By BILL KISER
DavidsonNews.net

The nip of fall is in the air, and there’s plenty to do in the area for those inclined to spend time outside in the cooling temperatures, from the Carolina Renaissance Festival to Hough High homecoming football to a Haunting Hayride in Huntersville. And for those who prefer to stay out of the weather, there’s plenty as well, from Davidson Community Players’ “Love Letters” on stage to a Cornelius Fire Department open house to the North Meck Senior Center’s annual Harvest Fair. Read the full story

By BILL KISER
DavidsonNews.Net

It’s a new work week – I know, you’re groaning right now – and the kids are back at school. That doesn’t mean life has to turn into days and nights of drudgery. There’s plenty to do in the region this week, and even more this weekend.

The Hurricane Hugo Juggling Festival is Friday and Saturday in Davidson. That includes  fire juggling outside the college union Friday nights, and a public juggling event Saturday morning on the Village Green, where everyone’s invited to help set a world record for most people bouncing paddle balls at once. And Saturday night, it’s the annual Vaudeville Extravaganza at Davidson College’s Duke Family Performance Hall, followed by more outdoor fire juggling. On Monday with the Lake Norman Kiwanis annual golf tournament at noon at Cowan’s Ford Golf Club. And The Light Factory in Charlotte hosts its monthly Cult Movie Monday; the screening of “The Big Lebowski” is free and so is the popcorn. Public meetings this week include the Davidson Planning Board Monday, and another Davidson Town Board “Commissioner Chat” Tuesday. Davidson College’s sports teams are busy this weekend. And the Carolina Panthers play their final preseason game Thursday, and a huge tailgating party is planned near Bank of America Stadium. The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art in downtown Charlotte will host a tribute to jazz great Dizzy Gillespie on Friday. Also Saturday, Fall into Huntersville promotes downtown Huntersville. To cap off the week, the Sunday Union Band will perform a Davidson Concert on the Green Sunday evening. Read the full story

Michael (left) and Jack Thomas Smith.

HUNTERSVILLE – A taste of Hollywood is coming to the Lake Norman area, and community members ages 3 and older are invited to an open extras audition Saturday.  Brothers Jack Thomas Smith and local resident Michael Smith will be shooting and producing the feature film “Infliction” locally and need about 200 extras.

“We wanted a place with a small-town, southern feel to it, and this area was the ideal setting,” Michael Smith said. His wife, Erika, owns Lake Norman Performing Arts, which is the location for the auditions and the production facility. Read the full story

By KARYN JESTER
DavidsonNews.net

The Cloers - Cate and John Cloer - play in the Summit Songwriters Showcase Thursday.

This week is full of summer outdoor activities, movies and theater. The LKN Summer Soiree at The Palace on Tuesday features an open bar and live entertainment and aids Autism Speaks. The Cornelius Outdoor Movie Series continues Wednesday night with a screening of “The Karate Kid” at Ramsey Creek Park. There’s a Songwriters Showcase at Summit Coffee on Thursday featuring The Cloers, Jamie Kay and host Rob McHale. Davidson Community Players will be presenting the comedic play “Moon Over Buffalo” starting Thursday and running through Sunday. And an outdoor screening of the film “Rio” is scheduled Saturday at McGuire Nuclear Station’s EnergyExplorium in Huntersville. Saturday also brings a Beach Bash at Bailey Road Park in Cornelius featuring the music of the North Tower Band.

These events and more below, or in our day-by-day calendar at right. Also, at right on this page, see our movie show times listings for Our Town Cinemas where “Captain America: The First Avenger opens on Friday, joining “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2,” “Zookeeper,” “Larry Crowne,” and “Transformers: Dark of the Moon.” Read the full story