NCMC Events From Around the State… September 29, 2014

1). High Point Museum (www.highpointmuseum.org) presents its fourth annual History Rocks! fundraiser at the High Point Museum on Saturday, October 4^th, Noon to 4 pm. It’s a fun-filled day with something for everyone. The event includes food, bake sale, hands-on activities, and demonstrations. Music will be provided by Kozak & the Poets (noon to 1 pm); Flat Blak Cadillac (1:30 pm to 2:30 pm); and Justin Johnson (3 pm to 4 pm). Bring chairs and blankets to sit and listen to the music in our Historical Park. A special feature will be a rock-a-thon to benefit the Historical Society Adopt-An-Artifact program. Artifacts include work table by Peter Thurston, eyeglasses and case owned by David L. Clark and musical notations by John Coltrane. Brad Jones of FOX8 will be the master of ceremonies for the event. Admission is free so come out and support the High Point Historical Society. 

2). The Museum of Anthropology (www.moa.wfu.edu) invites you to Day of the Dead Excursion on Saturday, October 25^th from 10:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.  The Hispanic League, the Museum of Anthropology at Wake Forest University and Sawtooth School collaborated to create this special outing celebrating the Day of the Dead.  The excursion will start in the morning at the Museum of Anthropology for an educational presentation and guided tour of the exhibit Life After Death: The Day of the Dead in Mexico. The exhibit’s centerpiece, a traditional Mexican ofrenda or home altar, serves as the backdrop to teach participants about the celebration’s history, observances, and folk art. After an authentic Mexican meal at the Museum over the lunch hour, participants will move to Sawtooth School for a workshop where veteran mask maker Martina Moore will guide them through each step of the creative process to produce a Day of the Dead inspired mask. Participants will have the option of displaying their masks in the Museum of Anthropology’s exhibition through early December. The excursion is open to ages 14 and over.  The fee is $50 per person.  Visit www.sawtooth.org for information and to register.

3). Historic Oak View County Park (www.wakegov.com/parks/oakview) invites you to Heritage Day on Saturday, October 4^th from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.  Heritage Day at Historic Oak View County Park is a FREE county fair type event featuring lots of live animals, antique farm equipment displays, heritage crafts, handmade items, live music, antique cars, horse-drawn carriage rides, reenactors, local produce, and much more! Back again this year: a Boutique of quilted and craft items for sale and a live quilt auction with a professional auctioneer at 2 p.m., benefitting Capital Quilters Guild and The Center for Volunteer Caregiving. Visit www.wakegov.com/parks/oakview/events/Pages/heritageday.aspx for more information about Heritage Day.

4). North Carolina Museum of Natural Science (www.naturalsciences.org) invites you to hear the story behind the stunning, extreme weapons we see in the animal world — teeth and horns and claws — and what they can tell us about the way we humans develop and use weapons when biologist and author Douglas J. Emlen presents “Extravagant Weapons: The Story Behind Arms Races in Animals and Men,” at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences’ Daily Planet Theater on Thursday, October 2 at 7pm. Free. All ages welcome.  Come early (6pm) for poster presentations from budding young scientists from the Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity, plus refreshments.

5). Old Salem Museums & Gardens (www.oldsalem.org) presents guest speaker, Robert Edsel, for a special one-night only lecture on the American Perspectives on Wednesday, October 1^st  7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Lower Level/$50, Upper Level/$35. Stevens Center of the UNC School of the Arts. Tickets available through the Stevens Center box office in person, by calling 336-721-1945 or online.

6). The Battleship NORTH CAROLINA (www.battleshipnc.com) invites Batty Battleship's Halloween Bash on Tuesday, October 28^th from 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Batty Battleship, brother Buggy and their friends return to the Battleship for a spooktacular trick or treating time.  A lot of fun and no scares it is the best location for the family to share.  But don’t be frightened and don’t you fret we promise we’ll provide a zoo with animals to pet. With candy and sweets there’s plenty of treats you’ll be asking yourself what more should I eat. Batty also announces she will have two very special guests this year, Anna and Elsa from “Frozen”.  Come have fun aboard the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA for the 6th annual Batty Battleship's Halloween Bash. Carnival festivities with henna tattoos, face painting and bounce house included trick-or-treaters of all ages will be begging not to leave. Admission is $5 per person. Kids 2 and under free. Some activities are weather dependent. Thank you to Sunny 104.5 for sponsoring this event.

7). The N.C. Museum of History (www.ncmuseumofhistory.org) invites you to join them in October for fall fun and learning. Don’t miss a reunion of the New Deal String Band, and bring your instrument for the PineCone Bluegrass Jam. While at the museum, be sure to see the exhibit Carolina Bluegrass: Breakdowns and Revivals, featuring Earl Scruggs’ banjo and Doc Watson’s guitar. Bring the kids to the spooktacular Halloween Safe Night at the Museum on October 31. There will be many treats in store throughout the exhibit The Story of North Carolina. Many other children’s programs will take place throughout the month.  If you need advice about caring for a treasured possession, sign up for an appointment during Conservation Assistance Day. Or if you are interested in digital photo restoration, join a workshop with photographer Dr. Brenda Scott.   Visit the N.C. Museum of History’s website and mark your calendar for these October happenings and more at the N.C. Museum of History. Programs are free unless otherwise noted. Parking is free on weekends. 

8). Hands On! A Child's Gallery (www.handsonwnc.org) invites you to visit on Tuesday, October 7^th at 11:00 a.m. for Mad Scientists Lab - Boo-Bubbles! Ages 3 yrs & up. Join Dr. Bunson & Dr. Beaker in the Mad Scientist Lab as they make crazy concoctions. Mad Scientists Lab will be every Tuesday morning at 11:00 a.m. during the month of October and through May. $7 non-members (includes admission for child participating in class); free for members.  Limited spaces. Please call to register. Sponsored by BP Fueling Communities.

9). The Asheville Art Museum (www.ashevilleart.org) is delighted to be hosting the 2014 Urban Loft + Art Tour on Thursday, October 2^nd, an annual event that offers an exclusive opportunity to explore city living at its best. Guests enjoy private tours of downtown Asheville’s most stunning art-filled lofts, followed by a reception that includes live entertainment, drinks and light hors d’oeuvres. Departing from the Museum entrance on the corner of Pack Square and Biltmore Avenue, timed walking tours will begin at 4:30 p.m. and every 15 minutes thereafter. The last tour begins at 6:30 p.m. Each tour lasts approximately 90 minutes.  Early reservations are recommended as space on the tours is limited. Tickets are $50 for members, and $55 for non-members. To purchase tickets, call 828.253.3227 or purchase at www.ashevilleart.org.

10). Tryon Palace (www.tryonpalace.org) is looking for excited volunteers to assist as actors and dancers during its annual candlelight tour. Auditions will be held 10 a.m. to noon and 1-3 p.m. on Oct. 4 for “Eve of Revolution,” a production focusing on Christmases from various periods of American history, spanning from the Revolutionary War through World War II. Tryon Palace is currently looking for men and women ages 16 and up for speaking and nonspeaking roles, as well as 18th-century period dancers. Auditions will involve a cold reading— please, no prepared monologues—at Tryon Palace’s Waystation Auditorium, located on the corner of Pollock and George Streets. The production, “Eve of Revolution: A Candlelight Celebration,” will be held Dec. 5 (dress rehearsal), 13 and 20 from 4:30-10 p.m., with some flexibility.

For more information about the auditions, please call 252-639-3587.  Tickets to “Eve of Revolution” are now available at the North Carolina History Center and online at www.tryonpalace.org/candlelight.