SPENCER ó “A Spencer Christmas Gathering” will be held Friday from 6-9 p.m. in downtown Spencer.
This is the seventh annual Christmas Gathering. Stores will be open and offering gifts and specials. There will be strolling carolers, carriage rides, a creche exhibit, and visits with Santa at his Spencer headquarters.
Visitors can also enjoy Spencer’s new Christmas lights and decorations.
For more information, visit www.ci.spencer.nc.us.
Creche display
SPENCER ó The family nativity collection of Nick Bishop and wife Scotty Thomas will be open to the public at Spencer’s Central United Methodist Church from 6-9 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.
There are over 100 nativity scenes from more than 40 different countries. They are made from a variety of materials and reflect the interpretation of the Christmas story from different cultural perspectives.
Admission is free, but donations of food or money to Rowan Helping Ministries will be accepted.
For information, contact Bishop at Stoudemire Furniture, 704-633-0451.
Glory of Christmas
The third annual Glory of Christmas concert will be presented at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 14, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.
The ecumenical massed choir is drawn from churches throughout Salisbury and Rowan County and will be accompanied by orchestra. The concert will feature choral selections interspersed with holiday readings and vocal solos. Various musical styles from classical to gospel will be presented.
The concert this year is funded by grants from the Proctor Foundation, the Woodson Foundation and St. Luke’s Foundation.
Featured soloists include Phyllis Partee, Rebecca Stinson, Dr. Grant Harrison, and Teresa Moore-Mitchell.
A reception will follow the concert in the church Parish Hall.
Gallery crawl
MOORESVILLE ó The December Historic Downtown Mooresville Gallery Crawl and the Mooresville Artist Guild artist’s reception will be held Friday from 6 to 8 p.m.
Original art is displayed and available for purchase at Depot Fine Arts Gallery, 202 North Main Wine Shop, “Cotton” Ketchie’s Landmark Galleries, Old World Arts, Ye Olde Mantel, Soirée, Art Works on Main, Four Corners Framing and Gallery, and The Prickly Pear. There is no charge for this event.
The Depot’s December Gallery will be presenting a Member’s Judged Show. Awards will be presented during the reception. The show will remain on display through Dec. 28.
For more information call 704-987-5117.
Paolino plays bluesSalisbury’s Bob Paolino brings his solo roots blues act to The Blue Vine this Saturday night, 9 p.m. to midnight.
There will be no cover charge, but donations will be accepted to help send Paolino to the 2009 International Blues Challenge competition in Memphis, Tenn. on Feb. 4.
Paolino was a semi-finalist in the 2005 International Blues Challenge. He was winner of the 2004 Lower Cape Fear Blues Challenge. and also won the 2008 Charlotte Blues Society Solo/Duo Blues Challenge.
The Blue Vine is located at 209 S. Main St.
For more information, call 704-797-0093.
Poetry reading
Rail Walk Studios and Gallery will feature four returning poets during their next Jazzy Art event, 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17. The poets are:
James Donaldson, who is an artist as well as an author who has written a book of his poetry. He will have copies for sale on this night.
Peggy Barnhardt, who has also written a book of poetry and is in the process of having her second book published.
Tyeisha Campbell, a mother of three who writes her own poetry and has participated in poetry readings and poetry slams in Charlotte.
Paul Thompson, a student at Rowan Cabarrus Community College. He recently had his work exhibited at Rail Walk with other art students in their annual art exhibition. He was a participant in the Pecha Kutcha night that was held at East Square Artworks.
Jimmy Alston will also be playing original Christmas jazz that he composed. New songs will be introduced to promote his upcoming CD.
Holiday refreshments will be served.
For more information, call 704-232-1467.
After-School Strings
On Dec. 18 the After-School Strings Holiday Concerts will be held at Granite Quarry, Landis and Overton Elementary Schools. All three concerts begin at 4 p.m. and will last approximately one hour. They are all free, and the public is invited to attend and stay for refreshments.
The After-School Strings Program, a joint project of the Rowan-Salisbury School System and the Salisbury-Rowan Symphony Society, provides a group learning experience for many young musicians in our area. Classes at Granite Quarry, Landis and Overton Elementary Schools serve students from elementary, middle and home schools in Rowan County.
Violinist Carrie Webster teaches the classes at Granite Quarry, assisted by Anne Cave. At Landis, Salisbury Symphony violist Frank Albert teaches the classes, assisted by Sharon Gunther, music specialist at Landis and Millbridge. Overton students are instructed by Salisbury Symphony concertmaster Dan Skidmore, assisted by Anne Musselman, music specialist at Isenberg and Overton.
For more information, call 704-637-4314.
PPT gift idea
Looking for a creative Holiday gift idea? Know someone who would love to be in a show, but doesn’t have time for months of rehearsals? Want to impress your friends and family with your amazing stage presence?
For $100 you can purchase a guest appearance for yourself or as a gift for someone else in the upcoming Piedmont Players production of “A Flea In Her Ear.” The gift includes a cameo appearance in one performance of the show, one ticket to the show night of your choice, a costume to wear while on stage and a t-shirt from the show. There are two guests per performance,and no lines to memorize. You must be able to run down stairs.
Show dates are Jan. 22-26 and 28-31.For more information call PPT at 704-633-5471 or e-mail md@piedmontplayers.com.
The office will close on Dec. 19 for the holidays.