SPENCER ó The N.C. Transportation Museumís Family Rail Days Festival celebrates the golden age of railroading on Saturday, June 11 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, June 12 from 1-5 p.m.
Events and activities include passenger train rides with antique diesel engines, caboose train rides, motor car rides, turntable rides, model railroaders model train set-ups, music from Piedmont Natural Grass, a childrenís craft area, the annual Rail Days chili cook-off and artwork by local and regional artists.
Advance tickets are $10, day of tickets are $12. The museum is located at 411 S. Salisbury Ave. www.nctrans.org or 704-636-2889 for details.
PPT auditions
Piedmont Players Theatre (PPT) will hold auditions for Neil Simonís ěThe Prisoner of Second Avenue.
Audition are at 7 p.m., June 14-15, in the third floor rehearsal hall of the Meroney Theater and will consist of cold readings from the script. Show dates are July 28-Aug. 6.
See character breakdown at www.piedmontplayers.com/ shows/Prisoner.asp.
The Meroney Theater is locatd at 213 S Main St., 704-633-5471.
Knit in Public day
Worldwide Knit in Public Day began in 2005 as a way to bring knitters out into the open and has grown to include almost 1,000 worldwide events.
This yearís event includes Salisbury and will be held on the front lawn at TranqWool Knitting Provisions, 310 Mocksville Ave. on Saturday, June 11, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Olde Rowan Fiber Guild will demonstrate knitting, crocheting, spinning and weaving. TranqWool will provide shade, lemonade and free knitting lessons for anyone wishing to learn.
The first 25 participants will receive a free gift. Contact TranqWool at 704-431-4527 or tranqwool@yahoo.com.
Community Music
ěA Tribute to the Stage,î a Broadway summer camp, is being offered by Catawba College Community Music, and will focus on Broadway style singing techniques and choreography using music from various musicals.
Led by Dean Orbison, classes are June 20-24 from 12:30-3:00 p.m. on the Catawba College campus, open to students age 12-18 at a cost of $100 per student. Registration information and forms are online at www.catawba.edu/communitymusic, or call 704-433-8015. Space is limited to 30.
Open mike night
Looking Glass Artist Collective will host an open mike night at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 25, in the black box theater. All musicians are invited to bring their instruments along with microphones if desired. LGAC member photographer and musician David Lamanno will also be performing with his handmade instruments. LGAC invites all to come out for a night of music and dance. There is no cover charge and beverages will be available.
34th dance showcase
CHINA GROVE ó ěYou Better Work!,î Dance Dreams Studioís 34th annual showcase, is Sunday, June 12 at South Rowan High School. Admission is free and refreshments will be available.
The show is divided into two parts beginning with the pre-show at 2:30 p.m., featuring award winning solos and duets chosen from the Competition Teams.
The showcase beginning at 3 p.m. features the competitive and recreational students performing jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical, hip hop and musical theater routines.
Dance Dreams is under the direction of Glenna Wilson.
Triad Pride chorus
TRIAD ó The Triad Pride Menís Chorus will hold its spring concert, ěLocation, Location, Location,î in Greensboro on Saturday, June 11 at 8 p.m. at the Greensboro Day School, 5401 Lawndale Drive; and in Winston-Salem on Saturday, June 18 at 8 p.m. at UNC School of the Artsí Watson Hall, 1533 South Main St.
Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door, and may be ordered online at www.triadpridemenschorus.org or charged by phone at 336-589-6267.
UNCC commissions art
CHARLOTTE ó UNC Charlotteís collection of public artworks increased with the formal dedication of ěSpirit of Discovery,î located in the Bioinformatics Building.
Commissioned by Irwin Belk in honor of his wife, ěSpirit of Discoveryî is an abstract work designed not only for its location in the Bioinformatics Building but to reflect the research and scholarship taking place in the facility.
Greenville artists Hanna Jubran and Jodi Hollnagel-Jubran created ěSpirit of Discovery.î