GOLD HILL — Gold Rush Days will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday in the historic village of Gold Hill.
There will be arts, crafts, historic interpretations, bluegrass music and heritage living exhibits reflecting the 19th century gold mining era. Gold panning and a panning competition will also be held.
Regional quilters participate in the ‘Airing of the Quilts,’ where quilts will be displayed along the many white picket fences around the village shops and homes. Come dressed in 19th century period costume to enter the competition at 2 p.m.
Several bands will participate in the Ralph Pennington Memorial Bluegrass Reunion, including Southern Junction of Concord, Grass Strings of Kannapolis, Fox Mountain Entertainers, Willow Creek of Mt. Pleasant, Carolina Rose with Tom Isenhour, Randy Mauldin and Vivian Hopkins, Montgomery & Co., and more. There will be an open jam sessions at the Montgomery Store and other locations all day.
The event is free. Details are available at www.historicgoldhill.com and on the Village of Gold Hill Facebook page at Historic Gold Hill, North Carolina For more details, call 704-267-9439.

Oil Painting demo

Phyllis Steimel will be demonstrating Oil Painting at Fine Frame Gallery for Friday Night Out. Her paintings will be on display along with a display of the Rail Walk Artists.

A new art & wine festival

GOLD HILL— Spend Saturday afternoon with Robert Crum and his fellow artists at a new visual art and wine festival at Morgan Ridge Vineyards.
The event will take place in the newly-constructed pavilion adjacent to the winery.
A wide range of visual art will be displayed in booths inside the pavilion and will include paintings, prints, sculpture and pottery.
Food prepared in the catering kitchen at the winery will be for sale along with wine from the vineyard.
The 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. festival is new this year, with plans to make it an annual event.
Hear music by Rusty Stevens and Jason Atkins from 1 to 4 p.m. Sue McHugh will take the stage from 4 to 8 p.m.
This event is free. There will be tables on the lawn for visitors to enjoy wine, food and music. Feel free to bring lawn chairs and blankets. Coolers and pets are prohibited. Tours of the winery will also be available.
Morgan Ridge Vineyards is located at 486 John Morgan Road.
For more information, call 704-639-0911 or visit www.morganridgevineyard.coms

Open house and festival

Saving Grace Farm, 565 Trexler Loop, will host an open house from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday.
The event will include live music, food vendors, informational booths, a chance to meet the horses, demonstration ride and children’s activities.
It is an opportunity for families of people with special needs, seniors, veterans and those who have experienced trauma to get information about many different local services in one place, or just have a fun family afternoon. Bring a chair.
For more information, call 5794-638-2339 or visit www.savinggracefarm.com
Little Mermaid auditions

Piedmont Players Theatre announces auditions for “The Little Mermaid, Jr.” based on the Hans Christian Andersen story and the Disney film.
Auditions are open to all students who can read well.
They are by appointment only and will be held in the lobby of the Norvell Theater. 135 E. Fisher St. Available dates and times are Monday and Tuesday, May 20 and 21, at 4 and 5 p.m. There are 25 slots per time.
To schedule an audition, call 704-633-5471.
Performance dates are July 11 through 14.

Music for Positive Aging

Rufty-Holmes Senior Center will host its 25th anniversary lecture series called Music for Positive Aging at 7 p.m. Monday.
This is the third in a series of special lectures to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Rufty-Holmes Senior Center.
The session promises to be a very unique presentation.
Dean Quick will present a history and discussion of music therapy, and the benefits that music can have for all of us as we age.
Treat yourself to an enjoyable, therapeutic, presentation followed by light refreshments.
Quick, a graduate of Appalachian State University, is a board certified music therapist living in Salisbury, where he owns his own music therapy private practice, Creative Therapy, which he operates part-time.
He is proficient with the use of piano, guitar and most percussive instruments.
This event is free and open to the public.
Pre-registration is requested by calling 704-216-7714.

Youth Theatre workshop

Piedmont Players Theatre’s Youth Theatre Spring workshop will start at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 18.
The workshop focuses on preparing students to audition for a musical, specifically PPT’s upcoming production of “The Little Mermaid, Jr.”
Skills developed will be in dance, singing and acting.
Only 20 spots are available at $40. To sign up call 704-633-5471.

Double fun symphony

The Salisbury Symphony ends its season with a special pops concert Saturday, May 18.
Themed “Double Your Fun,” it features the very first performance by music director/conductor David Hagy with the Salisbury Symphony. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at Catawba’s Keppel Auditorium.
“Double Your Fun” refers specifically to the Bach “Double” Violin Concerto that Hagy will perform with Daniel Skidmore, orchestra concertmaster.
Other “double” pieces on the program include Ruslan & Ludmilla Overture by Glinka and Lehar’s Gold and Silver Waltz. Selections from “The King and I” and “Guys and Dolls” are scheduled as well as Bugler’s Holiday and Strauss’ Thunder and Lightning Polka.
There will be light refreshments for sale, to benefit the symphony, during intermission.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $6 for students (ages 9-18), and $4 for children.
Livingstone and Catawba college students are admitted free with student ID.
Tickets are available at the usual outlets, at 704-637-4314 or www.salisburysymphony.org

Call for artists

St. John’s Lutheran Church, 200 W. Innes St., seeks artists to create two-dimensional or three-dimensional art for a two-month sermon series on “Restoration: Encounter and Response.” Digital submissions will be accepted through May 31.
Three grand prize winners will be awarded $500 each, and their work will be on display at the church during June and July. A reception will be held for these artists, as well as honorable mention selections, on June 21 at Pottery 101.
The artwork must be no more than 4 feet in height and weigh no more than 40 pounds.
For details, contact Cheryl Goins at pottery101nc@gmail.com

Sesquicentennial lecture

The Confederate Congress is the subject of a free public lecture sponsored by the Robert F. Hoke Chapter 78, United Daughters of the Confederacy. This will be presented in the Stanback Auditorium, Rowan Public Library in Salisbury, NC on Saturday, May 11 at 2 p.m.
Guest speaker will be Rockingham Community College history professor Mark Sattler. Mr. Sattler is a native of Florida, a former newspaper journalist, and an honor graduate of Colorado State University and the University of Connecticut.
For more information Robert F. Hoke Chapter President, Sue Curtis at 704-637-6411 or southpaws@fibrant.com

Join the Zombie Run

CONCORD — Enjoy running from zombies without the “post apocalyptic” despair on Saturday, May 19 at the Cabarrus Arena event center, 4751 Highway 49 N.
The run starts at 12:30 p.m. and the cost is $50 for an individual or $45/team per person. Parking is $5 per vehicle at the entrance.
For details, call 704-920-3976 or visit cabarrusarena.com.