SPENCER — Steam will again soar over Spencer Shops as the N.C. Transportation Museum hosts the first ever Spring Kick Off, March 19, a day full of music, food, games for the kids and train rides. One of the museum’s largest and most impressive structures will also be honored during the day’s events.
Tickets are available at www.nctrans.org or at the museum on the day of the event, allowing access to all events and unlimited train rides. The Spring Kick Off runs from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with trains departing at 10:00, 10:45, 11:30 a.m., 1:00, 1:45, 2:30, and 3:15 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for children 3-12. Member discounts are available.
The museum’s regular passenger train will be pulled by a classic diesel engine, and special rides will be available on a train full of cabooses, pulled by the Flagg 75 steam locomotive. Steam engine train rides have not been available at the museum for several years, so having the Flagg 75 caboose train is a special treat.
The Spring Kick Off will feature live music with classic rock/beach band JP and Crawdaddy, and bluegrass band Piedmont Natural Grass.
Activities for the kids include magician Ryan Short, miniature golf, an outdoor play area, bubbles and sidewalk chalk, temporary tattoos, Thomas play tables and coloring areas in the Roundhouse. Wacky-Doo the Clown will be on hand with balloon creations.
At the museum’s gift shop authors A.J. Fallon, author of “Choo Choo Woody, the Little Engine with a Heart” and Julia Taylor Ebel, author of “Walking Ribbon” and “Addie Clawson, Appalachian Mail Carrier” will talk with guests.
In a 2 p.m. ceremony, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers will grant Historical Landmark status to the Bob Julian Roundhouse and Turntable.
Two new Laser shows
On Saturday, March 19, the Margaret C. Woodson Planetarium presents two new shows never before seen in Salisbury.
“Laser Country,” 5 p.m. — Country music fans will enjoy this fast-paced, toe-tapping program where legends from the early days of country music such as Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline are blended with songs from more contemporary artists such as Rascal Flatts and Zac Brown Band.
Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for guests 12 and under.
“Hypnotica,” 7 p.m. — Dynamic techno/laser dance show experience featuring selections from Fat Boy Slim, Chemical Brothers, Delerium, Crystal Method and more. This body-shaking laser experience has pulsing beats, dazzling lights, and incredible imagery.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under.
The Margaret C. Woodson Planetarium is located at 1636 Parkview Circle. Park and enter in the back of the building accessible from Lilly Avenue. For information, contact Horizons Unlimited at 704-639-3004.
Steel guitars all day
LANDIS — The Mid-Atlantic Steel Guitar Association (MASGA) will hold its annual meeting with all-day music performances at the Kannapolis Moose Lodge, 990 Old Beatty Ford Road, just east of Hwy. 29 in Landis.
On Saturday, March 19, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., steel guitar players will perform with soundtracks and with the band Distant Thunder on stage. The Moose Lodge kitchen will be selling meals.
This event is open to the public. Admission is $5 for current members and $10 for nonmembers. For more details, visit www.masga.org.
Spring Fest Step Show
The Salisbury High School Step Team presents the Spring Fest Step Show on Saturday, March 19 at 6 p.m.
This family-friendly program of high stepping and choreography features elementary, middle and high school step teams from Statesville, Salisbury, Greensboro, Albemarle, Hillsborough and Concord.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Admission is $5 at the door only on the day of the show. It will be held at the Salisbury High School Auditorium on located at 500 Lincolnton Road. For more information, call: 919-616-8694.
OCT youth auditions
CONCORD — Old Courthouse Theatre announces youth summer production auditions for “Comedy of Errors.”
Audition dates are April 18-19 from 7-9 p.m. for actors and actresses age 12-18.
Performance dates are June 16, 17, 18, 24, 25 at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees on June 19, 26 at 2:30 p.m. The show will be directed by Andy Rassler.
For details visit www.oldcourthousetheatre.org.
OCT is located at 49 Spring St. NW in Concord.
Night of creativity
Join the artists of Looking Glass Artists Collective for an informal night of creativity in the classroom at LGAC every second and fourth Tuesday.
This is not a class but an opportunity to work on one’s art or craft at leisure. You supply everything you need, and LGAC will supply the space and some good company. Members and non-members are free to drop in and out.
Bring a favorite beverage and light snack to share. There is no charge, but send your name, address, phone, email and type of art or craft to salisburyartists@gmail.com before attending.
The classroom will be open starting Tuesday, March 22 at 5:30 p.m. Stay as long as you want until 9 p.m.
Looking Glass Artist Collective is located at 405 N. Lee Street, Salisbury (across from the DMV).
For more information call 704-633-ARTS or visit www.salisburyartists.com.
Imax’s ‘Tornado Alley’
CHARLOTTE — On March 18, “Tornado Alley,” the explosive new film narrated by Bill Paxton (Twister, Titanic), will bring nature’s most dramatic weather phenomena to Discovery Place’s IMAX[0xae] Dome Theatre.
In addition, guests will have a chance to meet the star of Discovery Channel’s “Storm Chasers” series, Sean Casey, and get up close to the 14,000-pound TIV, the military-style vehicle with bullet-resistant windows and four hydraulic drop-down metal “skirts” used to block wind and debris. It will be parked on North Tryon Street in front of the Museum on March 31 and April 1.
“Tornado Alley” follows Casey and the researchers of the VORTEX2 initiative on a quest to witness the birth of a tornado from its very heart. For more information, visit www.tornadoalleymovie.com.
‘Invisible Children’ at Catawba
The Catawba College Gospel Choir, under the direction of 2006 alumnus Dennis Reed, will host Invisible Children at 6 p.m. Friday, March 18 in Tom Smith Auditorium on campus.
Invisible Children is an organization that uses the power of media to inspire young people to help end the longest running war in Africa, the war in Uganda. Their model has proven effective, and hundreds of thousands of people have been called to action through the organization’s films and the volunteers that tour them.
The film features triumphant stories of young Ugandan survivors, one of whom will be present.
CHARLOTTE — “VaudeVizual” features aerialist /acrobat and noted Cirque de Soleil performer Karl Baumann, VaudeVizual in a late-night, black light cabaret with a silent choir, the deliciously strange Mime Zone, a Robotic Box, a Ghost Pole and an aerial tour de force.
Blumenthal Performing Arts presents “OMIMEO: VaudeVizual” April 7-9 with a special $20 ticket for the April 7 performance.
The Booth Playhouse is located at 130 N. Tryon St. Prices for the April 8-9 shows begin at $29.50. For tickets call 372-1000 or visit www.carolinatix.org.