NCMC Events From Around the State… August 24, 2015

1). The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (www.naturalsciences.org) invites you to join them for a live look at California’s Monterey Bay and watch one of nature’s great “reality” shows, featuring humpback whales, blue whales, sea lions, dolphins, elephant seals, sea otters, great white sharks, shearwaters and brown pelicans. This broadcast of “Big Blue Live,” a new production from PBS and the BBC, takes place Monday, August 31^st at 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. ET in the Museum’s WRAL Theater. Museum doors open at 7:00 p.m. with additional Museum programming starting at 7:30 p.m. This special program is free.

2). The N.C. Transportation Museum (www.nctrans.org) will host the Lincoln Funeral Train and the Leviathan locomotive to Spencer, N.C. for a full weekend of Civil War-era recreations, music, living history, tours, sutlers, and more, August 28^th – 30^th.  The Lincoln Funeral Train is a full size replica of the train that carried the mortal remains of Abraham Lincoln from Washington, D.C. to Springfield, Ill in May of 1865. The N.C. Transportation Museum will feature train rides behind this historic replica, a composite reenactment of some of the stops the train made across the nation, allowing the mourners to pay their respects, and a host of other Civil War themed activities. The museum’s 57 acre site will be filled with reenactors, living history demonstrations, live music, expert speakers and much more. A full schedule of activities and ticket information can be found at www.nctrans.org.

3). The Charlotte Museum of History (www.charlottemuseum.org) announces that it will host a series of afternoon teas accompanied by lectures that survey the castles, monuments, and important public buildings of the British Isles. Their August tea will explore Scotland on August 29^th from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Participants will enjoy a Scottish-themed menu of tea sandwiches, scones, and desserts, along with a favorite Scottish tea.  Individual public tickets are $25 and member tickets are $20. To register, please visit:  http://www.charlottemuseum.org/Register.asp.

4). Turchin Center for the Visual Arts (www.tcva.org) announces that  three female artists with powerful worldviews will bring their work to the Turchin Center beginning Friday, September 4.  All three women—Endia Beal, who uses a delicate but incisive wit to tackle the often ridiculous quandaries facing black women in the everyday world; Kirsten Stolle, who slyly examines the sinister influence of agribusiness and biotech companies on the world’s food supplies; and Ruth Ava Lyons, who paints lush canvases reflecting profound concerns about man’s fragile coexistence with the Earth— work and live here in North Carolina while enjoying prominence on the national art landscape. The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts presents exhibition, education and collection programs that support Appalachian State University’s role as a key regional educational, cultural and economic resource.   For additional details about the Turchin Center, becoming a donor, the upcoming exhibitions, to be added to the mailing list or to schedule a tour, please call (828) 262-3017 or visit www.tcva.org.  

5). Bellamy Mansion Museum (www.bellamymansion.org) invites you to attend “The Stories of Oakdale Cemetery” on Thursday, August 27^th at 6:30 p.m.  Join Oakdale Cemetery Superintendent Eric Kozen as he discusses the beautiful Oakdale historic cemetery and the stories that surround it. Free admission, but a $5 suggested donation greatly appreciated.

6). Hands On! (www.handsonwnc.org), a Child's Gallery in Hendersonville, invites you to come celebrate the Apple Festival September 1-6. Pin the apple on the tree, learn apple facts & help Hands On! decorate for the Apple Festival!   This self-directed activity is located in their Party Room and is available to visitors all day. Hands On! will be open Sunday, September 6, from 1-5. This event is free with $5 admission/free for members. The mission of Hands On! is to provide “hands on” educational experiences that stimulate the imagination and motivate learning in a fun, safe environment.  For additional information about their educational programs and facility, please visit their website or call 828-697-8333.

7). Kings Mountain Historical Museum (www.kingsmountainmuseum.org) announces that tickets are still available for “Tracks through Time”, the 12th Annual Reverse Raffle & Auctions event.  This year’s event will be held on Saturday, September 12^th at the Patrick Senior Center.  This fun and festive evening provides the majority of the Museum’s annual operating costs, and allows them to offer quality educational exhibits, events, and outreach services at no cost to the public.  One $125 ticket will include a delicious dinner for two and a chance to win the Grand Prize of $10,000 – which is the maximum prize amount a nonprofit organization can award under state law.  The event will also include Live, Silent & Cake Auctions, as well as lots of great door prizes, camaraderie, and entertainment.  Tickets are currently available at the Museum. Cash, check, and credit cards are accepted. For more information, please visit: http://www.kingsmountainmuseum.org/annual-fundraiser.html or call 704-739-1019.

8). The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences at Whiteville (www.naturalsciences.org)  presents "Science Cinema" on Saturday, August 29, featuring Disneynature’s "African Cats.” An epic true story set against the backdrop of one of the wildest places on Earth, “African Cats” captures the real-life love, humor and determination of the majestic kings of the savanna. This 89-minute film will be shown at 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. The film is rated G. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated. The last Saturday of each month, the museum will be showing engaging nature and sciences films, perfect for the entire family.  For more information, please contact the museum at 910-914-4185 or Whiteville@naturalsciences.org.     

9).  The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (www.secca.org) is proud to present Beth McKee’s Sugarcane Revival and Hurricane Party on Saturday, August 29^th at 7:00 p.m. The first set of the evening will be a songwriter-in-the-round with Beth, Tommy Malone (subdudes) and Jeffrey Dean Foster, showcasing recent work by each artist and discussion of the songwriting process. After a brief intermission, Beth McKee and her band will launch the second set with the North Carolina debut of her new album Sugarcane Revival and end with a “Last Waltz” style Hurricane Party, a coordinated jam with special guests performing New Orleans-centric songs. The concert commemorates the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina with a celebration of rebirth, resilience and revival.  Galleries open at 5:00 p.m. New Orleans food and drink (including hurricanes) will be available at 6:00 p.m. in the Auditorium Lobby. Doors open to Auditorium and seating at 6:30 p.m. and concert begins at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $15/general admission and $25/VIP available online (www.secca.org/hurricaneparty) and at the door if still available.

10). Transylvania Heritage Museum (www.transylvaniaheritage.org) will hold its 7th Annual Founders Day Fair on Saturday, September 5th. Festivities begin at 10:00 a.m. with an opening ceremony featuring Kit Owen performing the National Anthem. There will be music on stage all day and a special performance from the Bailey Mountain Cloggers. Local crafters selling collectibles, rustic wood furniture, cornhusk dolls, period costumes and artwork will be featured outside the Museum. Family displays, craft activities for the kids, and the ongoing exhibit of Transylvania’s Summer Camps will be featured inside the Museum. Blue Smoke BBQ will be available for purchase, and sweets will be on hand at the Museum’s Bake Sale Booth. The Founding Fathers Guided Walking Tour will depart from the street at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. No reservations are required for these tours and the cost is $10 per person. Payment will be taken in the Museum Gift Shop. Bring your tour tag and meet the guide at the street.