If you missed the opening act in Parks and Recreation’s Bell Tower Concert series on July 10, not to worry. The free concerts will be staged every second and third Thursday through Oct. 16 at Bell Tower Park. Tonight’s performers are Divided by Four and the Seth Thomas Band.
Salisbury Parks and Recreation has teamed up with Guitars USA to feature dozens of local artists who sing and play everything from Motown to rock to folk and more. Each concert will feature two different bands of different musical genres.
Bell Tower Park at W. Innes and S. Jackson streets is a perfect location to host the concerts. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs, food and refreshments. Parks and Recreation events are always fun, family-friendly and alcohol-free.
The next concert is this evening from 5 to 7 p.m. Watch the city of Salisbury’s Facebook and Twitter social media sites for the names of bands playing and other information of interest.
Questions can be directed to event coordinator Vivian Koontz at 704-216-2708. Vivian also would like to get your feedback about the bands, the location and the evenings selected for the concert series.

A Saturday matinee has been added to the closing weekend schedule of the PPT youth theater’s production of “Disney’s High School Musical.”
The remaining shows are as follows:
Matinee on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and evening shows tonight through Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
For tickets call 704-633-5471 or visit www.PiedmontPlayers.com. Adults are $12 and students/seniors are $10. The play is at the Meroney Theater, 213 S. Main St.
Chickweed is going on in the Rail Walk Arts District this weekend:
• The opening reception for Marietta Smith’s show “Chica, Chica, Chica” is tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at Rail Walk Studios & Gallery;
• The opening reception for Paige Thrasher’s show “Vernissage a la Paige” is tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at Spoken Space Theatre;
• St. Thomas Player’s production of “‘Last Fall” opens tonight at Lee Street Theatre.
• Chickweed: Celebrating Indestructible Women, the third annual benefit for the Family Crisis Council of Rowan County, is on Saturday from 5 p.m. until midnight.
See www.thechickweed.com for details or the Salisbury Post’s Sunday People edition.
SPENCER — On Saturday from 3 p.m. until, B&P Antiques is sponsoring the “Keep Spencer Alive” cruise-in. Registration starts at 3 p.m., the entry fee is $25.
There will be cash prizes in three categories as well as a 50/50 rafffle. The event will be held at 418 S. Salisbury Ave. across from the N.C. Transporation Museum. Food and drink are permitted, but no alcohol.
For more information call 704-636-6004. Rain date is July 26.
Downtown Salisbury will host the annual Krazy Night out tomorrow from 5 to 9 p.m. featuring live music by local Catawba student band LifeSize from 6 to 9 p.m. across from Benchwarmers.
There will be free horse and carriage rides by Triple Springs Horse Run from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Square and kids will enjoy the activities in the Kids Zone on East Innes Street next to K-Dee’s Jewelers.
East Fisher Street will be full of fun for the whole family and several food vendors and shops will be open late for the annual krazy sidewalk sale.
CHINA GROVE — The annual Farmers Day festival is Saturday in downtown China Grove, and to kick off the festivities The Extraordinaires will be in concert on Farmers Day eve — Friday — from 6-10 p.m. on the Hannah Park Stage.
Farmers Day begins at 9 a.m. Saturday and events throughout the day include Little Mr. and Miss Farmers Day contests, entertainment on three stages,a street dance with Atlantic Groove at 7 p.m. and fireworks at 10 p.m.
The complete schedule can be found at www.chinagrovenc.gov/ index.aspx?NID=938 or in the special section in Wednesday’s Salisbury Post.

Lee Street theatre announces auditions for “RENT,” in a first-ever collaboration and dual venue production with the Catawba College Theatre Arts Department. The two are teaming up to produce this Tony Award-wining rock opera, which will be directed by Beth Homan and Justin Dionne.
Auditions will be held Aug. 16 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Aug. 17 from 3 to 5 p.m.
Prepare 12-16 bars of a modern musical in the style of the show. Auditions will consist of range checks, cold readings from the script and a dance audition. Bring comfortable clothes and dance shoes if you have them. Performance dates are Nov. 13-15 and 20-22.
Auditions will be held at the theater at 329 N. Lee St. For more information, visit www.leestreet.org/auditions, email info@leestreet.org, or call 704-310-5507.
Lee Street theatre has teamed up with The Acting Place to present a 12-week intensive acting program for adults, ages 16 and up.
Craig Kolkebeck, director of education for The Acting Place and professional actor, director and adjunct instructor with the department of theatre arts at Catawba College will lead the class, meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday nights Sept. 29 through Dec. 15.
The final week of class will culminate in a showcase of the student’s work for the public.
Whether you’re an actor with some stage experience who is looking to step up your game or have always wanted to try your hand at acting, this is the class for you. All experience levels are encouraged to attend.
Cost for the class is $225. Class size is limited to 10 in order that each student may have the opportunity to work during each class. Therefore, early registration is encouraged. For registration information, contact Lee Street theatre at 704-310-5507 or email info@leestreet.org

The Carolina Artists will meet this evening at 7 p.m. at Rufty-Holmes Senior Center,1120 S Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. The annual Carolina Artists Art Expo is coming up in August and those entering their works of art are invited to bring one piece to be photographed for publicity.
There will also be a short program presented by two CA members, Coleen Walton and Yvonne Alligood. Guests and new members are welcome.
Salisbury-Rowan Symphony Society invites music lovers in our community to a cabaret where the talents of Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme are celebrated.
The cabaret, “Two on the Aisle,” is the creation of Natalie Cordone and Shawn Kilgore and will be performed in Salisbury only once, on Saturday, Aug. 23.
This fundraiser for the Salisbury Symphony will be performed in the Messinger Room of the Rowan Museum at 8 p.m. A local “mystery guest” will serve as the opening performer. Beer, wine, a special “Cabaret Cooler” and hors d’oeuvres buffet will be provided.
Soprano Natalie Cordone has appeared off-Broadway and with the Orlando Opera while baritone Shawn Kilgore has appeared with the Orlando Philharmonic and at Universal Studios. Friends of David Hagy, they are including Salisbury on their tour as a personal favor. Selections will include favorite hits such as Besame Mucho, Two Lost Souls, Together Wherever We Go and Cheek to Cheek.
Tickets are $50 per person at salisburysymphony.org or by mailing payment to P. O. Box 4264, Salisbury, NC 28145 (make check payable to Salisbury Symphony). Reservations must be received by Aug. 15 to guarantee a seat.
For more information, contact the Salisbury Symphony at 704-637-4314, or ljones@catawba.edu

What are we learning about life here on Earth? What are we learning about our universe? Is life “out there” really possible?
As part of the Literary Elements summer reading program for adults, Rowan Public Library presents “Approaching Star Trek,” a program led by Jack T. Howard, physics and astronomy instructor at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.
He holds a master’s degree in astronomy from James Cook University. He has given talks to schools and other groups about anything from everyday science and the exploration of the universe to the Star of Bethlehem.
This program will be offered at two library locations:
Monday, July 21, at 6:30 p.m., RPL Headquarters (Salisbury)
Tuesday, July 22, at 6:30 p.m., South Rowan Regional (China Grove)
There is no charge to participate. Visit www.rowanpubliclibrary.org or call 704-216-8229 for more information.

July 24th’s Brick Street Live concert features Salisbury’s very own Motel Soap, entertaining the crowd with the hits of the ’70s and ’80s. The concert starts at 7 p.m. in the brick-paved Fisher Street entertainment district. The next concert is planned for Aug. 28, featuring On The Border.
For more information, visit www.brickstreetlive.com
MOCKSVILLE — Broadway’s Best Theatre Company presents the second in their visiting artists series, the Whitetop Mountain Band, on Saturday, July 26 starting at 6 p.m.
The Whitetop Mountain Band is one of the most popular dance bands of the Appalachian Mountains, with a great following at square dances all over Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky. The band has also performed all over the United States at festivals, concerts, competitions and colleges.
This band has deep roots in mountain music. and has done much to preserve the Whitetop region’s style of old time fiddling and banjo picking.
Tickets are $15 (cash or check only) at the door. Online tickets include a $2 handling fee, and are available at www.broadwaysbest.biz
Broadway’s Best is located at 103 Beechtree Place, near the intersection of I-40 and Farmington Road in Davie County.
CHARLOTTE — James Gregory, fondly known as “the funniest man in America,” brings his down-home stories of food, funerals and funny relatives to the Comedy Zone this weekend, July 17-19. His jokes are squeaky clean as, he says, “My mother wouldn’t let me tell them if they weren’t.” It’s the kind of show you could feel comfortable bringing your date or your grandmother.
The Comedy Zone is located at the NC Music Factory, 900 Music Factory Blvd. For details and ticket info, visit www.cltcomedyzone.com/ or call 980-321-4702.
CHARLOTTE — Legendary musician and songwriter Leon Russell will be in concert one night only, Sunday, July 27, at the Neighborhood Theatre. Doors open at 7 p.m., show is at 8 p.m.
Russell has been performing his gospel-infused Southern boogie piano rock, blues and country music for more than 50 years. He led the famous Joe Cocker’s “Mad Dogs & Englishmen” tour and performed with George Harrison and Friends at the Concert For Bangladesh. His songwriting credits include “A Song For You,” “Delta Lady,” “Hummingbird,” “Lady Blue,” “Back To The Island,” ”Tight Rope” and ”This Masquerade.”
Neighborhood Theatre is located at 511 E. 36th St., www.neighborhoodtheatre.com/
Sign up your team for the tricycle races to be held during the Crossroads Classic: Sun & Ski Salisbury Criterium on Thursday, July 31.
First race: 6:40 p.m.; second race: 7:20 p.m.; third race: 8:05 p.m.
The finish line is on Main Street in front of the Rowan Museum.
Cost is $50 per seat, $200 per four-person team. All proceeds support Downtown Salisbury Inc.
To sign up call the Visitors Center at 704-638-3100 by tomorrow. Prizes will be awarded to the top winners in each race. Get creative and dress your team up in fun costumes for a chance for extra prizes.
See more at www.downtownsalisburync.com
gold hill — Historic Gold Hill Merchants invite car buffs to get ready for the Hot Summer Nights Cruise-In on Saturday, Aug. 16 from 2 until 8 p.m. Showcase your classic cars, antique cars, street rods and cycles while deejay Gary Walter sets the scene with rock and roll music of the ’50s and ’60s Shops will be open, food available and vendors will be in the village. Historic Gold Hill is located at 840 St. Stephen’s Church Road. E-mail questions to goldhillmerchants assocation@gmail.com/

Albemarle — Ruth Moose, Stanly County native and award winning author, will discuss her writing process and her new mystery, “Doing It at the Dixie Dew,” at the Stanly County Public Library on Saturday at 10 a.m. Q&A, book signing and light refreshments will follow. Moose’s late husband, Talmadge Moose, was a well known local artist.

Botanical Gardens to hold children’s workshop on
CHARLOTTE — The UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens will offer “Bugs Beware! Carnivorous Plants of the Carolinas” on Saturday.
Designed for children age 7 to 12, the workshop will focus on the what, why, where and how of carnivorous plants in the Carolinas. Prospective attendees can register for two options — a 90-minute session that includes a Venus fly-trap or the two-hour session that features hands-on construction of a 12-inch bog dish garden with Venus fly-trap, pitcher plant, sundew and bog moss.
Sessions begin at 9:30 a.m. and cost $15 and $35, respectively. To register, email Paula Gross pmgross@uncc.edu with participant(s) names and workshop option; cash/checks accepted on the morning of the workshop.