Arts and entertainment briefs

Artist Robert Toth is teaching a mind aerobics art class — an introduction to drawing, pastel and sculpture — at Rufty Holmes Senior Center. Classes meet Mondays and Fridays from 2-4 p.m.at $10 per two-hour session. For more information, call 704-279-9301.

GroundHawg’s Day

LEXINGTON — On Thursday. Feb. 2 “GroundHawg’s Day” is celebrated in Lexington — with a twist. Uptown Lexington’s mascot, Miss Charlotte, a miniature potbellied pig, will take center stage to predict if March will bring spring weather or if winter will last a little longer.

This event, similar to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania’s festival, celebrates the tradition that says if on this day it is fair, bright and sunny so that an animal can cast its shadow, it is an omen winter will last six more weeks. However, if the day is cloudy and shadowless, it is a sign of spring’s imminent arrival.

The festivities begin just past sunrise around 7:35 a.m. At about 7:45, Miss Charlotte will come out to see if she can see her shadow. Official GroundHawg’s Day representatives in tuxes and tails, will lead the celebration.

Since 2005, the GroundHawg’s Day prediction in Lexington has been optimistic with a prediction of an early spring each year. Join the festivities again this year to see if that tradition continues.

For more information about the 8th Annual GroundHawg’s Day, contact Uptown Lexington, Inc. at 336-249-0383.

Quilt show

STATESVILLE — The Quilting and Needle Art Extravaganza will be held Friday, Jan. 27 and Saturday, Jan. 28 at the Statesville Civic Center, 300 South Center St. The show hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days. Admission is $5. Parking in the Civic Center lot is free. The Quilting and Needle Art Extravaganza features 37 shops under one roof that will interest any quilter, knitter, or fiber craftsperson. For a complete list of vendors, visit www.quiltersgallery.net

UNC Clef Hangers

CHARLOTTE — The UNC Clef Hangers, also known as “The Clefs,” is UNC’s oldest a cappella group and a staple in the tradition of the University.

See The Clefs this Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts, 430 South Tryon St. Tickets start at $10 at 704-372-1000 or https://tix.carolinatix.org

Since their inception in 1977, the all-male group has pushed the boundaries of a cappella music, being recognized numerous times for their outstanding work by the Best of College Acappella and Contemporary Acappella Recording Awards organizations. They will perform a wide variety of songs ranging from chorale music, to Top 40, country, rock and more.

‘Shutter2012’ exhibit

CHARLOTTE — “Shutter2012,” a juried exhibition sponsored by the UNC Charlotte Art of Light Photography Club, is on display through Tuesday, Feb. 7, in the Student Union Art Gallery.

The exhibition, which features photography and mixed media by UNC Charlotte students as well as undergraduates and graduates across the southeastern region, showcases innovative contemporary photography bridging traditional silver-based work with digital processes.

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, University City Blvd., 704-687-5830, www.uncc.edu

Ballroom dancing

CHARLOTTE — On Jan. 28, dancers from beginner to advanced will perform “Bravissimo! on Broadway” at 8 p.m., a ballroom dancing review of music from the greatest operas and Broadway musicals of our time.

The magic of dance comes to life in the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center’s Booth Playhouse, 130 N Tryon St. Tickets are $20 at 704-372-1000 or https://tix.carolinatix.org

White liquor and dirt tracks

MOUNT AIRY — The annual White Liquor & Dirt Tracks exhibit is returning for its third season at the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History.

The exhibit launches with a special day of activities Jan. 28 and runs through mid May. This year’s theme is “Biographies,” highlighting the life and times of pioneers in stock car racing, a sport with strong ties to northwestern North Carolina.

NASCAR Hall of Fame crew chief Dale Inman will headline a roundtable question-and-answer session with the public on Jan. 28. The roundtable will also include 1960 Grand National champion Rex White, among others.

Following the roundtable, many of drivers and panelists will participate in an open autograph session.

There will also be afternoon programs and day-long activities that include a wintertime cruise-in for classic cars, vintage race cars and moonshine runners, book signing with Margaret Sue Turner Wright (Curtis Turner’s daughter), and demonstrations by Virginia-based artist and pin-striper Tom VanNortwick.

Museum admission price is $5 per person. For info on the White Liquor and Dirt Tracks program or ongoing exhibit, visit www.whiteliquoranddirttracks.com or call 336-786-4478.

NC Symphony comes to Sanford

SANFORD — Maestro William Henry Curry brings the North Carolina Symphony to Sanford for masterworks by Chopin and Tchaikovsky. The performance, featuring North Carolina native John Noel on piano, takes place at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center on Thursday, Feb. 2 at 8 p.m.

He takes the stage with the Symphony for Chopin’s final composition for piano with orchestral accompaniment, the Andante spianato et grande polonaise brillante. The towering work is a joining of two separate compositions.

Tickets are $23. Visit the North Carolina Symphony website at www.ncsymphony.org or call North Carolina Symphony Audience Services at 919-733-2750 or toll free 877-627-6724.

The Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center is located at 1801 Nash St. in Sanford.

Sustainable art sought

CHAPEL HILL — Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation will host the fifth year of Earth Action Day on Saturday, April 14.

The setting of this event is outside with the back drop of environmentally inspired works of art, plus a fair featuring the work of artists who create work fundamentally using recycled and up-cycled materials. Local artists who follow such a sustainable approach are encouraged to apply to sell their artwork. Registration deadline is March 10, 2012 and the link to register is www.townofchapelhill.org.

Old Salem summer camp

WINSTON-SALEM — Old Salem Museums & Gardens will offer a three day, hands-on summer camp called “Three Yesterdays,” a one-of-a-kind learning program for rising first and second graders. The program will take place July 24-26 from 9 am to noon. The camp is located at the Single Brothers’ Workshop, 10 W. Academy St.

This hands-on summer sessions will allow children to follow Sister Maus through Salem to discover how children worked, learned and played long ago.

Registration is $100 for each child. A registration form is available at www.oldsalem.org/summer-camps. For more information, call 336-721-7390 or email dsnyder@oldsalem.org

‘Wagon Roads’ class

CHARLOTTE — The registration deadline for the history lecture series “From Wagon Roads To New South City” has been extended through Saturday, Jan. 28, the date of the first of five Saturday lectures. Priced at $10 for the five lectures, it is an extreme bargain.

In partnership with the Charlotte Museum of History and the Levine Museum of the New South, the MHA Docents are offering this series of five lectures on regional history. Presenters include distinguished scholars Kitty Wilson Evans, Michelle Lanier, Dr. David Goldfield, Dr. Stephen Criswell and Dr. Tom Hanchett.

To register, call 704-568-1774 or email programs@ charlottemuseum.org

Van Halen tickets

CHARLOTTE — Tickets for the Van Halen concert with Kool & The Gang go on sale Saturday, Jan 28 at 10 a.m.

The April 25 concert will be held at Time Warner Cable Arena. Tickets start at $29.50 and are available at www.ticketmaster.com, www.aeglive.com[0xba] or 800-745-3000.