NCMC Events From Around the State… September 14, 2015

1). The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (www.naturalsciences.org) invites you to their biggest event of the year - BugFest! If you’re hungry for a little creepy, crawly, wiggly action look no further than the Museum of Natural Sciences on Saturday, September 19^th from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.! Now in its 19th year, BugFest continues to be the keystone event at the Museum where visitors turn their fears into fascination, complete with a full day of educational fun for the entire family: science talks, face painting, bug-eating, live music and more! All four floors of the main Museum (NEC - Nature Exploration Center), its new wing (NRC - Nature Research Center), and the surrounding plaza and streets transform into “Bug Central Station” with more than 100 educational stations, presentations and displays.  The day is packed with programs revealing amazing truths about bugs and the culinary delights from the world-renowned Café Insecta, operated by local chefs. This event and Café Insecta food are FREE!

2).  The Mount Airy Museum of Regional History (www.northcarolinamuseum.org) invites you to the Annual Casino Royale Fundraiser at Cross Creek Country Club on Friday, September 18^th  from 6:30 – 11:00 p.m.  There will be Casino Style gaming, Music, Draw-Down Grand Prize and a Silent Auction.  Call the Museum at 336-786-4478 for further information or to purchase tickets.  Also, don’t forget that Historic Downtown Mount Airy Ghost Tours are held at 8 p.m. every Friday and Saturday through the end of October.  Join us for an exciting 90 minute, lantern-lit walking tour through Mount Airy's streets and its historic past.  You will hear about 13 of our "less mortal" friends and some of Mount Airy's final resting places.  Wear comfortable shoes and bring your camera and umbrella, if needed.   Tickets are $13 and pre-paid reservations are required. Call 336-786-4478 to purchase tickets or make your reservation at www.hauntedmayberry.com.

3). The Charlotte Museum of History (www.charlottemuseum.org) announces Backcountry Days with the Charlotte Folk Society on Saturday, September 19^th.  Join them for a free celebration of the Piedmont Backcountry with a variety of musical traditions from the Charlotte Folk Society.  This free family event features music, storytelling, free ice cream, and kids’ crafts.  There will be demonstrations of eighteenth-century crafts such as basket weaving, blacksmithing, pottery, and cooking. FREE to everyone.

Link to register: http://www.charlottemuseum.org/RegisterFree.asp

4). Joel Lane Museum House (www.joellane.org) presents a lecture by Michael Greer on “Breathing Life into a Dying Art: Bookbinding in the Age of the Kindle and Shutterfly” on Thursday, September 17^th at 7 p.m.  Admission is $16 for the general public and $11 for members of the Joel Lane Historical Society. Refreshments will be served. Seating is limited, and advanced payment is required. Please call 919-833-3431 to purchase tickets. Be sure to include the names of all in your party; nametags will serve as tickets. Tickets are non-refundable unless we must cancel the event. For more information, please visit www.joellane.org or call 919-833-3431.

5). Hands On! (www.handsonwnc.org), a Child's Gallery in Hendersonville, invites you to celebrate their 8th birthday on Tuesday, September 15th!  Join them for birthday cake, apples provided by Lyda Farms, and party favors for you!  Events are free with $5 admission or 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 at www.handsonwnc.org or call 828-697-8333.

6). Earl Scruggs Center: Music & Stories from the American South (www.EarlScruggsCenter.org) invites you to “Family Traditions, a Blue Ridge Music Trails “Traditions” Concert on Thursday, September 17^th from 7-9 p.m. at the Earl Scruggs Center. This concert, “Family Traditions,” showcases the talents of two family bands for whom the traditional music of the NC Mountains and Foothills has long been an integral part of their lives. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for kids 17 years of age and under. Tickets can be purchased from the Earl Scruggs Center website at www.EarlScruggsCenter.org, by phone at 704-487-6233 or in person at Earl Scruggs Center Guest Services. This concert is sponsored by the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership.

7). Hickory Museum of Art (www.HickoryArt.org) welcomes back local artist Joël Urruty in a solo exhibition that celebrates the harmony between two opposites.  INTERCONNECTED: Tangible Dualities by Joël Urruty will be on exhibit Sept. 19, 2015 – Feb. 28, 2016 in the Shuford Gallery, Hickory Museum of Art. Although the two bodies of work come from different starting points, they both share a minimalist quality that compliment and work well with one other. In the Gold series, the primary material, wood, is gilded in 23K gold leaf. The luminescent quality of gold allows light and shadow to play off the subtle shifting facets of these carved sculptures.  The exhibition’s second series, Wall Hangings, are wood assemblages, designed and constructed from salvaged pallets discarded from nearby factories. The wood is cut and burned, then composed in unique ways to create minimalist, one-of-a-kind pieces, rich in character and texture.  Hickory Museum of Art is located on the SALT Block, 243 3rd Avenue NE, Hickory. Admission is free. For more information about exhibitions, events and programs, visit www.HickoryArt.org or call 828-327-8576.

8). The Matthews Heritage Museum (www.matthewsheritagemuseum.org) announces their newest exhibit, “Girl Scouts through the Years”.  The exhibit will be on display from September 12^th until January 30, 2016.  Started in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low, at a time when women in the U.S. couldn’t yet vote, the formation of the Girl Scouts sparked a worldwide movement inspiring girls to meet their world with courage, confidence, and character.  This year the Girl Scout program in Mecklenburg County reached its 80th birthday.  It is among the oldest and largest girl organizations in the Carolinas. The exhibit features a variety of Girl Scout memorabilia, photos, publications, jewelry and several uniforms.  There will be a thumb print tree, where girl scouts now and then can add their thumb print to the tree.  It will be exciting to see how many girl scouts visit during the exhibit.  This is also an excellent opportunity for current Girl Scouts to earn their Girl Scout Way badge, by scheduling a tour of this special exhibit and the general museum.  To schedule a tour please call 704-708-4996 Thursday - Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You can also contact the museum regarding a tour to info@matthewsheritagemuseum.org. Please include your name, phone number, date you are interested in and size of the troop.  Reservations for a guided tour are necessary.  Cost for a troop tour is $15.00 for the group.  A girl scout with her family is free if she is wearing part of her uniform.  For more information please contact 704-708-4996.

9). N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher (www.ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher) announces that it has “BOOth” Space available for “Trick or Treat Under the Sea”.  Hosted by the N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher, this event offers local businesses a prime opportunity to reach thousands of area families and consumers. The 2015 event features three nights of ghoulish good times, 4:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, Oct. 28- 30.  Businesses are invited to sponsor a booth or activities at this popular, annual event. “Trick or Treat under the Sea” features indoor trick-or-treating, games and programs for children and families. More than 4,000 people experienced safe Halloween fun at the Aquarium last year. The Aquarium offers three ways to involve your business with Trick or Treat under the Sea: reserve your booth space for one to three nights, donate prizes, coupons or gift certificates for drawings and contests, or invest in sponsorship opportunities. Booth sponsors interact with visitors and compete for the “Best BOOth Contest.” Winners receive prizes and public recognition, including exposure to thousands of Aquarium friends online. Booth reservations and sponsorships are available first-come, first-served and are limited. For more information and to reserve your space call Keely Herron at (910) 772-0535.

10). High Point Museum () announces a special Constitution Week program on  Wednesday, September 16^th, at High Point University. The program begins at 7 p.m. in The David L. Francis Lecture Hall at Earl N. Phillips School of Business. This program is jointly sponsored by the High Point Museum Guild, the Alexander Martin Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, and the North Carolina Sons of the American Revolution Color Guard. This is their third annual collaboration for Constitution Week. The public is cordially invited to attend. The program features Dr. Paul Ringel, associate professor of history at High Point University.