BLUEGRASS: The Flowers Family is performing Friday with the Charlotte Folk Society at the Great Aunt Stella Center in Charlotte.

Mooresville Childrens Theatre presents Willy Wonka Junior. Pictured are Joshua Miles and Steven Readling. Photo by Megan Farrell.

Downtown Night Out

Downtown Salisbury Inc. is hosting 70s Night Out this Friday, 5-10 p.m., featuring platform shoes, polyester, and all things disco.

Divided by Four will be playing disco, R&B and funk from 7-10 p.m.

As always, there will be free trolley rides; activities for the youngsters such as moon bounces, face painting, and Wacky Doo the Clown; entertainment and music around Downtown; carriage rides; and extended merchant hours for shopping and dining.

Local car enthusiasts will have their classic cars on display for all to enjoy in the Farmers Market lot on the corner of South Main and East Bank streets, and Carolina Artists will have their creations available for purchase.

There will be a contest for the Best Disco Costume, taking place during the band's second break, just before 9 p.m., and the audience will make the call.

The City of Salisbury is proud to announce a "soft" opening of the Fisher Street Entertainment District in conjunction with 70s Night Out. The 100 block of East Fisher Street will be closed (starting around 3 p.m.), Cheerwine will be offering its signature soda free of charge, Divided by Four will be playing in a staged area and the street will be open for dancing.

The Leadership Rowan Class of 2007-08 has generously donated Fisher Street's new festoon lighting, which will be dedicated Friday evening around 7:45 p.m. by a member of Salisbury City Council.

For more information, contact Downtown Salisbury Inc. at 704-637-7814 or visit www.downtownsalisburync.com.

Tribute to Don Helms

D.C. and the Chosen Few and Thunder Magic productions will present a tribute to the legendary Don Helms at East Rowan High School Auditorium on U.S. 52 Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

In addition to D.C. and the Chosen Few (a Nashville Legends back-up band) appearing will be Dave Ridenhour singing the songs of Hank Williams Sr. and Lane Ridenhour, with special guest Matt Arrowood (nephew of Randy Travis.)

In 2005, Helms suffered a stroke before a benefit appearance for St. Peter's Lutheran Church, making it the first time he had missed a show. The benefit went on without him and was a successful fund raiser, and Helms returned to perform for the church in 2006.

This Saturday's benefit will be a benefit for the St. Matthew's Lutheran Church Family Life Center and will be a recreation of The Grand Ole Opry. Helms had been scheduled to appear, but health problems will again prevent his appearance.

Helms is the last living member Hank Williams' group Drifting Cowboys. He played steel guitar on 10 out of 11 number one hit songs.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Children under 12 are free. Scout Troop 333 from St. Matthews will be selling hot dogs, hamburgers and drinks.

For ticket information, call Darrell Connor, 704-637-6261.

Tickets are also available at Flower Town on West Innes St., Jimmy's Restaurant at High Rock Lake, Escape the Daily Grind in Spencer and the Christian Book Store in Granite Quarry.

Children's Theatre

MOORESVILLE — The Mooresville Children's Theatre presents "Willy Wonka Junior" this month.

Shows will be 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Aug. 8-9 and 15-16, and 2:30 p.m. Sundays, Aug. 10 and 17. All performances will take place at the Charles Mack Citizen Center located at 215 N. Main St. in Mooresville.

Director Jack Rhoades has worked with over 40 children, ages 8 to early 20s, preparing for the show.

The Mooresville Children's Theatre is funded in part by the North Carolina Arts Council's Grassroots Arts Program though the Iredell Arts Council.

Tickets are $10 each. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 704-662-1025.

Charlotte Folk Society

CHARLOTTE — Music returns to the Great Aunt Stella Center Friday when the Charlotte Folk Society opens its 2008-2009 Gathering series with a bluegrass concert by The Flowers Family Band, first-place winner in this year's Fiddler's Grove Bluegrass Band Competition, with special guests, the legendary Little Family.

The hour-long concert begins at 7:30 p.m., followed by refreshments, jam sessions, and a song circle.

All Folk Society Gatherings are family-friendly, open to the public, and free. Donations are always appreciated.

After 26 years of holding concerts and jam sessions on the Central CPCC Campus, the award-winning Charlotte Folk Society was compelled to move its monthly events when attendance outgrew venue capacity. The Great Aunt Stella Center, a beloved downtown landmark, was originally designed as a church. The former sanctuary offers seats for 400.

Parking is available adjacent to the Stella Center, with free parking available after 7 p.m. in a nearby parking deck.

For more information call 704-563-7080 or visit www.folksociety.org.

Yo-Yo Ma auction

RALEIGH — The North Carolina Symphony announces their first online auction, inviting the public to bid on a package to see world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma when he returns to Meyamadi Concert Hall in the Progress Energy Center for the Arts in Raleigh on Sept. 18.

Each auction package includes two premium Orchestra floor tickets, Yo-Yo Ma's latest CD (autographed), Elgar's Cello Concerto score signed by Yo-Yo Ma, four drink vouchers, one VIP parking pass, $100 N.C. Symphony gift certificate, personal pre-concert backstage tour and meet and greet with N.C. Symphony Music Director Grant Llewellyn.

To participate in this auction, visit the Ticketmaster auction page by Aug. 11 at www.ticketmaster.com/auction/OE0040BBA3BA5CB6/1/.

For more information about the North Carolina Symphony, visit www.ncsymphony.org.

Woodturners

CONCORD — Southern Piedmont Woodturners promotes the art and craft of woodturning, provides an opportunity for woodturners and other interested individuals to meet, share experiences and to learn more about woodturning. SPW meets the third Tuesday of each month at the Historic Cabarrus County Courthouse at 7 p.m. Contact Steve Martin, 704-279-9087 or e-mail stephensmartin@msn.com.

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