Carolina Artists will host their annual student arts show next Wednesday, March 19 through Friday, March 21, at the Civic Center, 315 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.
The theme of this year’s show for grades K-12 is “The Circus.” Volunteers will begin hanging the show at 3 p.m. on the 19th.
On Thursday, March 20 is the reception and announcement of winners at 5:30 p.m.
A laser concert representing the best of classic rock alongside some of the most stunning laser art ever produced will be shown twice at The Margaret C. Woodson Planetarium.
On Saturday March 15 at 5 and 7 p.m., reminisce, tap your feet, and enjoy an audio-visual event that will rock your body, mind, and soul. ‘Laser Vinyl’ features artists such as AC/DC, Aerosmith, Journey, and Pink Floyd. As part of the fun, the audience is encouraged to wear tasteful “hair band rock” attire. Viewer discretion is advised as some songs may contain lyrics and images inappropriate for young children. Doors open 30 minutes prior to the show. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for 12 and under. The planetarium is located at 1636 Parkview Circle; park and enter in the back from Lilly Avenue. For questions, call Horizons Unlimited at 704-639-3004.
The Salisbury/Rowan Senior Games & SilverArts celebrates senior artists in an exhibit on Friday, March 14, at the Salisbury Civic Center, 315 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. The public is invited to view the exhibit from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
The Rowan Museum offers volunteers the opportunity to serve as docents, giving tours at two house museums: the 1766 Old Stone House in Granite Quarry, and the 1815 Utzman-Chambers House in Salisbury.
The Old Stone House, (located at 770 Old Stone House Road) in Granite Quarry, is open Saturday and Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m., April through November. The Utzman-Chambers House (located at 116 South Jackson Street) is open Saturdays 1 to 4 p.m., April through November.
Training is available on the history of the houses and the families who lived in them, and the collections contained in both house museums. Docents are also expected to open and close the houses. For more information, call the Museum at 704-633-5946 or email rowanmuseum@fibrant.com
“How to Rediscover the Joy of Music, the Delight of Language and the Pride of Achievement in the Age of Trash Talk and MTV” will be presented Thursday, March 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the Country Club of Salisbury.
Mark Evans, PhD, is a writer, composer and an experienced communicator. Audiences and readers have been “marking his words” on his popular television program which airs on the Pinehurst television station he founded, on radio, in his newspaper column in The New York City Tribune, and in his numerous books for adults and children.
He is known as a skilled raconteur who can both inform and entertain audiences, drawing upon a multifaceted background in writing, broadcasting, education and music.
Tickets are $32 and are available by calling Gerry Wood at 704 216-2660. Dr. Evans’ appearance is sponsored by the English Speaking Union Salisbury branch.
Center For Faith & The Arts invites artists with physical and/or mental disabilities to submit artwork by March 31 for the first “Outside the Lines & Labels” show opening on April 30. The artists’ reception will be held May 9 at Center for Faith & the Arts, 207 W Harrison St.
For entry guidelines call 704-647-0999, visit faithart.org under Gallery Exhibits or email faithart@bellsouth.net

Legendary CCM singer/songwriter Randy Stonehill will be in concert at The Inn on Saturday, April 19. Jeremy and Jessica Vess will open for Stonehill. Tickets are $10 and are available now at 1-800-965-9324. The Inn, Salisbury’s Christian music venue, is located at 1012 Mooresville Road. For details call 704-213-1467.

CONCORD — The latest installment in Old Courthouse Theatre’s Living Room Reading Series is ‘The Wisdom of Eve,’ to be presented at 4 p.m., Sunday March 16. Adapted from the story by Mary Orr, on which the film”All About Eve” and the hit musical “Applause” were based, it is the revealing “inside” story of life in New York’s theatre world, told in terms of an unscrupulous ingenue’s rise to Broadway stardom. “Welcome to the theatre and fasten your seat belts, it’s going to be a bumpy night!”
This reading is free, and is rated PG-13. Old Courthouse Theatre is located at 49 Spring St. NW, 704 788-2405, www.oldcourthousetheatre.org

Due to the surprising weather of late, Waterworks Visual Arts Center has rescheduled the opening reception – again – for the spring exhibition. The new date is Friday, March 21.
Meanwhile, tonight is the reception for the “Celebrating Rowan County’s Young Artists” Elementary School exhibition from 5-6:30 p.m. at 123 E. Liberty St. Details at 704-636-1882 or www.waterworks.org
Aspiring photographers of all ages and skill levels are invited to learn more about the concept of “abstraction” in photography through a short workshop. Afterward, hit the streets of downtown Salisbury in search of hidden messages on a photowalk, which is just as it sounds — an opportunity for a group of people to go on a walk with the express purpose of taking photos together.
This photowalk begins at Rowan Public Library headquarters in Salisbury on Saturday, March 22 at 10:30 a.m., and will finish up around noon. Spaces are limited; register at www.rowanpubliclibrary.org or 704-216-8229.

Piedmont Players Theatre announces auditions for the youth production of “Nancy Drew, Girl Detective.” The world’s most famous girl detective is at it again—another River Heights mystery has developed at the old Van Pelt Estate, home of the Footlighter’s Barn Theater. Leander Van Pelt has died, and rumors abound of hidden cache of jewels that have been left somewhere on his estate. A mysterious ghost (or puppet?) has been haunting the estate while the Footlighters try to rehearse their play. Nancy Drew leaves no stone unturned in this fun, campy whodunit.
Auditions are by appointment only, on Tuesday, March 25 and Wednesday, March 26 at 4 and 5 p.m. each day (25 slots per time), held in the Norvell Theater and are open to all students who can read well. To schedule an audition time call 704-633-5471.
Performance dates are May 8-17. The Norvell is located at 135 E. Fisher St.
CHARLOTTE — This month’s free gathering of the Charlotte Folk Society features Michael York and The Big Cigar Band, with the Myers Park High School Bluegrass Club opening.
The music starts at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 14; doors open at 7. The Great Aunt Stella Center is at 926 Elizabeth Ave.
Monthly second-Friday Charlotte Folk Society Gatherings are family-friendly and free. Refreshments, a song circle, jam sessions, and an Appalachian dulcimer group follow the hour-long concert.Visit www.folksociety.org
ROCKWELL — Award-winning author, poet and song writer Nancy Brewer will be the guest speaker during the combined meeting of the Rockwell Lions Club and Rockwell Civitan Club on Tuesday, March 18, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church Fellowship Building located on Emanuel Church Road. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. with a home cooked southern meal ($9), and guests are invited to attend by making prior reservations before March 16. For more information, call 704-279-9533. Ms. Brewer’s books include historical fiction, romance, mystery and Christian fiction novels.
Paint for fun with artists Patt Legg and Carol Dunkley at Wine Down and Create, a casual class that meets from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursdays. The cost is $25/session and paint, easels, paint, brushes, and aprons are provided. Bring your own canvas. The event is held at Gritz Restaurant, 1221 E. Innes St. Reservations are required; call Patt at 704-762-9647 or Carol at 704-636-0633.
The 2015 U.S. Figure Skating Championships Poster Competition is open to North Carolina artists to create and submit original works of art for the 2015 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in January 2015 at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex.
The submissions that capture the spirit, athleticism and grace associated with figure skating will be used as the main image for the official poster of the 2015 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. The winning artist will receive $3,000 plus royalties.
For rules and instructions, see www.greenhillnc.org/ and click on Call For Artists.
Gluten Free Event: The March 29 event is by reservation only. The cost is $40 per person. Call Angie Smith of the Salisbury Symphony Guild at 704-431-44447.
The Salisbury YMCA trip to see “Porgy and Bess” at the Blumenthal in Charlotte on July 20. For questions or reservations call Louise Klaver at 704-636-0111, or email lklaver@rowanymca.com

SPENCER — The NC Transportation Museum’s annual Spring Kick Off offers train rides and family activities, including the Lehigh Valley #126 steam locomotive pulling the museum’s caboose train and the debut of the newly restored Clinchfield 100 passenger rail car.
The Whistle Machine features a collection of unique, historically significant whistles from the steam locomotive era.
Reed Gold Mine will be providing gold panning activity for an additional $2 fee.
Kids will be able to make a craft during a visit to the Wagons, Wheels & Wings exhibit area while Barbie LeBrun tells stories for the assembled children.
Across the N.C. Transportation Museum’s 57 acre site will be costumed museum volunteers playing the roles of those you would find on a journey through transportation history. Tickets for the N.C. Transportation Museum’s Spring Kick Off are $14 for adults, $12 for seniors and active military and $10 for kids 3-12. Tickets include museum admission, unlimited train rides and all events (except gold panning) and can be purchased through www.nctrans.org, or on the day of the event .