Waterworks Visual Arts Center will host the fourth annual Big Chili Cook-Off on Saturday, Nov. 3 from 6:30-11 p.m. in the F&M Trolley Barn, a festive evening of fun, food, and friendship. Taste the best chili in Salisbury from 15 volunteer cooks and vote for favorite recipes. Chili tasting ends at 8 p.m. and the winner will be announced at 8:30 p.m. The festivities continue until 11 p.m. with dancing and a mechanical bull.
Tickets are on sale now at www.waterworks.org or 704-636-1882, at $30/person members; $35/person nonmembers. Ticket price includes chili shots, beer, wine and other beverages, dessert provided by El Patron, and three tickets to vote for favorite recipes.
All proceeds support Waterworks’ education and outreach programs. Waterworks promotes educational opportunities through hands-on studio classes for adults and children, artist lectures, demonstrations and workshops, week-long summer ARTventures for children and more.
The 2012 chili cooks are Henry Alexander (The Heritage Room), Daniel Almazan (Allen Tate Real Estate), Amy and Ronnie Beamus/Karen and Jeff Martinez, Ted Blanton/John Blanton, Capri Brixey/Kristen Hodges (The Bread Riot), Jessica Buckwalter/Leah Campion (Salisbury Art Station), Chris Foote (Longhorn Steakhouse), Josh Harrell (Cooper’s The Gathering Place), Scott Howard (Uncle Buck’s All American Pub), Glenn Hudson (Butch’s Brisket), Sue Lesso, Christopher McCoy/Mary Wymbs (Salisbury Academy), Cheryl and Doug McGraw/Traci and Brad Williams (Crescent Construction Services), Jorge Morales, Jr. (El Patron), and Taylor Starrett (The Lettered Lily).
Handbell festival concert
Directed by renowned handbell clinician Timothy Waugh, a handbell festival concert will be performed at 5 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 3 at First Presbyterian Church’s Lewis Hall, 308 W. Fisher St.
The festival is hosted by the First Presbyterian Bell Tower Ringers and will feature multiple local bell choirs.
Featured soloists for the concert are Michelle Chaffee, soprano; Dr. Jim Shepherd, trumpet, Dr. Barry Sang, French horn; Jennie Brooks, percussion; and Monty Bennett, piano.
Erickson earns residency
Salisbury cut paper artist Ingrid Erickson has been awarded an artist residency at Wildacres Retreat in Little Switzerland, NC. Erickson was among 25 selected from a pool of more than 175 applicants. Since opening its doors in 1999, the Wildacres Residency Program has hosted 315 writers, artists, and musicians.
Erickson will work on a series of large scale works in cut paper, tyvek, and fiber.
Make a flute
Mark Beaver, local flute maker and luthier, hosts a hands-on workshop entitled “Making a Native American style flute out of PVC” on Dec. 1 at 10 a.m. All the materials and tools will be provided for making your flute out of PVC and then he will give you a some pointers on how to play. Participants will leave with a finished flute and the instructions on how to go home and make more. $25, limited to 20 participants. Held at The Treehouse, 506 1/2 S. Salisbury Ave., Spencer. Questions or info? www.TheTreehouseSpencerNC.weebly.com or email TheTreehouseSpencerNC@carolina.rr.com
Roosters on display
Carol Dunkley, Salisbury’s rooster lady, will have her artwork on display in a one-woman show at the Hollingsworth Gallery, 147 E. Main St. in Brevard. New, original paintings will be featured, including roosters as well as landscapes and holiday themed paintings. The show will be on display for the month of November, beginning next Thursday. To see Dunkley’s work locally, visit Attic Art Studio, 704-636-0633, www.atticartstudio.com
History of America
Coming Nov. 7 to Lee Street Theatre is “The Complete History of America (Abridged)!” – a journey through 600 years of history in 6,000 hiarious seconds. It is a 90- minute rollercoaster ride through the glorious quagmire that is American History, reminding us that it’s not the length of your history that matters – it’s what you’ve done with it. Performers Jacob Asher, Brian Romans and Jason Roland tackle such controversial questions as: Who really discovered America? Why did Abe Lincoln free the slaves? How many Democrats does it take to screw in a lightbulb? The show promises to be one of the biggest hits of the season, so a second weekend has been added. Performances are Nov. 7-10 and 16-17 at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m., tickets are available at the door. They will also be sold ahead of time at The Literary Bookpost or at 704-798-7768. All performances at the Looking Glass Artist Center’s black box theatre, 405 N Lee St.
Outdoor movie
Saturday evening, Oct. 27, Patterson Farm Market will host an outdoor movie night featuring “Babe,” the tale of a beloved pig. The movie begins at 7:30 p.m. Regular fall weekend activities will take place on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 27-28, including The Maize at Patterson Farm, hayrides, Paw Paw Carl’s Playground, pumpkin bowling, and more. Weekend activities begin at 10 a.m. Saturday and 12:30 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $8 per person. www.pattersonfarminc.com
Memorial for Chris Jones
A memorial service for Blue Vine co-owner Chris Jones will be held on Monday, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. at the Meroney Theater, followed by a celebration of Chris’ life next door at The Blue Vine with live music, food, laughter and tears.
Rural Hill sheepdog trials
HUNTERSVILLE – Historic Rural Hill announces the 18th annual Rural Hill Sheepdog Trials And Dog Festival to be held Nov. 10-11. The Trials are based on tasks that a working dog is asked to do on the farm.
New for 2012 is the competition in dock jumping and dock diving sport for dogs. In addition to Sheep Herding, Carolina DockDogs, and a sports demo, the Trials and Dog Festival will also offer historic agriculture machinery, pumpkin chunkin’, and kid’s activities. The 1760s Davidson Family Homestead site will be open for visitors with open hearth cooking and blacksmith demonstrations. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.
Rural Hill is located at 4431 Neck Road (off Beatties Ford Road) in Huntersville. Pets are welcome and need to remain leashed and under their owner’s control. Gates open at 8 a.m. each day. Admission is $10 for ages 13+, $7 for children ages 5-12, and children 4 and under are free. For advance tickets and complete event details, visit www.ruralhill.net
Belly dance class
The Introduction to Tribal Belly Dance class is for absolute beginners or the just plain curious. The first class only $5 and there will be a special drawing for a free class card, as well as other door prizes at the first class. Discount prices for the four class holiday beginners session. First class is Wednesday, Nov. 7, from 7-8:30 p.m. Taught by Kalima of Kalima Tribal Belly Dance at The Treehouse, 506 1/2 S. Salisbury Ave., Spencer, NC. More information: www.KalimaTribal.com or KalimaTribal@carolina.rr.com
American Indian heritage in Raleigh
RALEIGH – This year’s 17th Annual American Indian Heritage Celebration at the NC Museum of History in Raleigh falls on Saturday, Nov. 17. Dancers in traditional regalia, drum groups, storytellers, craftspeople and others from North Carolina’s eight state-recognized tribes will take part in this free event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Museum of History and outside on Bicentennial Plaza. The event lineup ranges from a performance by blues musician Lakota John of the Lumbee tribe to a weapon-making demonstration by John Blackfeather Jeffries of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation. For a schedule of all performances and presentations, go to ncmuseumofhistory.org or call 919-807-7900.