Register now for Cabarrus Arts Council summer camps

Looking for a fun, creative way to keep your kids engaged this summer? Our Material Exploration Visual Arts Camp and Choir Camp are the perfect opportunities for young artists and musicians to learn, create, and explore.

Here are the camps:

Material Exploration Visual Arts Camp

Experiment with weaving, clay sculpture, photography, and upcycled jewelry

Led by instructor Reneé Holliday

Dates: June 9-13, 2025

Time: 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Ages: 8-11

Cost: $200

Location: Cabarrus Arts Council, 65 Union St. S., Concord

Choir Camp

Sing in a group and choose an elective (beginner ukulele or movement)

Led by Jacqueline Yost — no experience needed!

Dates: June 23-27, 2025

Time: 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Ages: 7-12

Cost: $175

Location: First Presbyterian Concord, 70 Union St. N., Concord

Info for ticket & sign-ups

For tickets, sign-ups or to RSVP for Cabarrus Arts Council events, visit https://bit.ly/Cabarrus ArtsLinks.

Give to the Cabarrus Arts Council: Help keep art alive in our community through a donation of any size. Visit cabarrus artscouncil. org/support/ how-to-donate.

This week

(Today — April 13)

DIY Knot Bracelet – Tuesday, April 8, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Need more bracelets to add to your ever-growing collection? Want to create a BFF bracelet to give to your bestie? Join us as we design our own DIY knot bracelet. Free; registration required at Mt. Pleasant Library & Active Living Center, 1111 N. Washington St. For more information, visit www.cabarruscounty.us.

April Crafternoon – Friday, April 11, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Join us to celebrate National Library week with this book-inspired Crafternoon! Choose from some fun DIY bookmark techniques! Free; no registration required at Mt. Pleasant Library & Active Living Center, 1111 N. Washington St. www.cabarruscounty.us

Cabarrus County Schools Youth Arts Festival – Friday, April 11, 5-8 p.m. Come join us at Cabarrus County Schools Arts Festival showcasing visual and performing arts. The public is invited to visit and view the extraordinary work of our talented students. Join us for an evening of fantastic performances, food, and fun! Free event; all ages; no registration required at Gibson Mill Market, 305 McGill Ave. NW, Concord. For more information, visit www.cabarrus.k12.nc.us.

Next week

(April 14-April 20)

China Before Communism Shen Yun 2025 – Tuesday, April 15, and Wednesday, April 16, at 7:30 p.m. Eight companies, with 500 world-class artists perform a breathtaking, all-new production every year with live orchestra! The gong resounds, the curtain opens, and fairies emerge from a sea of billowing clouds. Mongolians ride on horseback across grasslands as vast as the sky. Dynasties rise and fall — as ancient legends of love, loss, humor and valor unfold before your eyes. We set out to create a performance so extraordinary, it would not only capture the grandeur of China’s ancient, divinely-inspired culture … you just might catch a glimpse of heaven. All ages welcome. Ticket purchase required. Held at Belk Theatre, 130 N. Tryon St., Charlotte. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.shenyun.com/charlotte.

Upcoming

New CAG Class: Fairies and Sprites Needle Felting with Meghan McKillop – Saturday, April 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Come experience the magic of needle felting. This is a great opportunity to learn how to create a wool-felt sprite or fairy for yourself or as a gift. Meghan will provide you with the supplies (including felting tools to be used in the session) to create the fairy/sprite and mount it on a base for display. Meghan will have kits available in a variety of colors and you will be able to select your kit at the start of the class. She will walk you through creating a wire skeleton or armature and then the techniques to cover the armature with wool, add clothing and locks and then mount on a display. You will be able to customize by adding a fun figure like a dog, cat, flowers, birds or other items. Basic accessories will be provided, and others will be available during the class. The instructor will assist you through each step of the process, offering individual help as needed. Meghan will provide a variety of examples for you to use to in creating your fairy/sprite with basic written instructions. Class Cost: $45 CAG members/$50 non-members, plus cost of kit; and Materials Cost: $20, kit that has everything you need to complete your project. Instructor will provide details to pay by Zelle, Venmo or check at time of registration to Five Oaks Art Studio, 1247 Rural Drive NW, Concord. To register: Send an email to Meghan McKillop at meghan.mckillop@gmail.com. For more information, visit www.cabarrusartguild.org.

Mt. Pleasant Literary Festival – Thursday, April 24, to Saturday, April 26. The Friends of Mt. Pleasant Library are proud to announce the Children, Adult and Teen’s lineup for our 2025 Literary Festival. Eric Litwin will perform three shows where he sings and dances and tells us all about his Pete the Cat books. We’ll have Joan Holub lead a graphic novel workshop. Kimberly Wilson will teach our elementary children to draw and learn about his popular series Owly. Dr. Sadie Leder will lead a special storytime to tell us about the trouble Boopers the Bad Cat can get into! For the adults, Craig Johnson will be here all the way from Wyoming to talk about his Longmire series, which has been turned into a popular Netflix series. Mary Alice Monroe is releasing her first adult book in four years and will be here to tell us all about it! We are also hosting inspirational author Lauren Denton, local author Emily Francis, poet Maurice Manning and up and coming author Terah Shelton Harris. For the teen group, Megan Shepherd will be offering a writer’s workshop. We have an exciting lineup for all ages! Thanks to the gracious donations from local businesses and a grant from the Cabarrus Arts Council, all these events are free! All ages are welcome and no registration required at Mt. Pleasant Library, 1111 N. Washington St., Mt. Pleasant. For more information, visit www.mpfol.org/mp-literary-festival.

Spring Festival at Rocky River Vineyards – Saturday, April 26, from noon to 6 p.m. Spend a perfect spring day at Rocky River Vineyards in Midland. Enjoy live music as you browse artisan craft vendors, sip on your favorite wines or refreshing wine slushies, and enjoy tasty options from local food trucks. It’s a day full of shopping, sipping, and soaking in the spring vibes. Rocky River Vineyard is also a stop on Explore & Pour, Cabarrus County’s craft beverage trail. Be sure to check in using the free mobile pass and start earning prizes for supporting local! Admission is free. For more information, visit www.explorecabarrus.com.

Tannahill Weavers on Stage at the Davis Theatre – Saturday, April 26, at 7:30 p.m. One of the world’s premier traditional Celtic bands, their diverse repertoire spans centuries with fire-driven instrumentals, topical songs, original ballads and lullabies, and humorous tales of life in Scotland. All ages welcome. Ticket purchase required. Held at 65 Union St. S. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit www.cabarrusartscouncil.org or call 704-920-2787.

New CAG Class: Mountaintop Vista Fabric Book with Susan Edmonson – Wednesday, May 7, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Back by popular demand … Susan Edmonson is teaching a fabulous fiber art class at the Guild! The mountains are a perfect place to view beautiful scenery, with the rolling hills and delicate wildflowers along every path for this very unique project! Susan has created many different little fabric books from Italy to Alaska, her love of hand stitching, painting, collage, and collecting, all combines to create these little treasures. In this class she will walk you through creating landscapes, collage appliqué to create unusual textures. All of which will be lavished with hand embroidery techniques using hand-dyed fabrics, trims, and threads. The pattern and kit will be provided by Susan for your convenience if you would like. The kit details ($30) are listed on our website under classes. Class cost: $58 CAG members, $62 non-members. Materials cost: The pattern for the class is $16. If you wish to purchase the kit with supplies and the pattern, it will be available at $30. Cost of both is payable in the class. To register: Please go to Susan’s website at https://www.susanedmonsondesigns.com to register. Click on “Shop” and select Video Classes. Don’t worry, this is an in-person class. The details of items included in the kit and the supply list will be provided at registration. Payment method: Prepayment and preregistration are required before class. A supply list is provided when you register on Susan’s site. Five Oaks Art Studio is at 1247 Rural Drive NW. For more information, visit www.cabarrusartguild.org. To sign up for the class, go to Susan’s website, https://www.susanedmonsondesigns.com, under “Video Classes” and look for Little House on the Hill “In-Person” class.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Find the complete arts calendar online at independenttribune.com.

Special Consensus on Stage at the Davis Theatre – Saturday, May 10, at 7:30 p.m. As one of the Midwest’s leading bluegrass groups, Special Consensus has created a body of work that’s fresh while honoring the founding fathers of bluegrass. They have achieved a contemporary sound and become bluegrass royalty over their four decades of performing. Though they are no stranger to the area, this will be their debut performance at the Davis Theatre. All ages welcome. Ticket purchase required. Held at 65 Union St. S. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit www.cabarrusartscouncil.org or call 704-920-2787.

Sinatra, Stems, & Sips: A Mother’s Day Affair – Sunday, May 11 from 1-5 p.m. — Celebrate Mother’s Day at Rocky River Vineyards in Midland with an unforgettable day filled with creativity, live music, and local flavors! On Sunday, May 11, craft a custom bouquet with Twin Blooms Flower Cart, sip on a glass of wine, and enjoy a live Frank Sinatra tribute performance by Tracey Bentley. Treat Mom to delicious bites from Thai Smile Street Food and shop for a special keepsake from Bee-U-tifully Linked’s permanent jewelry. Tickets are $35 and include the bouquet-making experience and one glass of wine. Reservations are required by May 1 — call 704-781-5035 to reserve your spot! Food and jewelry are available for additional purchase. Don’t forget to check in Explore & Pour to earn rewards while you support local! For more information, visit www.explorecabarrus.com.

Painting with Wool with Lynn Cavanaugh – Saturday, May 31, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is your chance to create a customized wool painting. The wool is needed to create the design, and some embellishments will be provided to further customize your piece. You can select a landscape, floral design or other subject. You will work with the instructor to define colors, layout and potential embellishments at the time of registration. This is an intermediate 2D needle felting class. If you do not have your own needle felting tools, including a felting pad and needles, please let Lynn know at registration. This is your chance to take your 2D needle felting techniques to the next level. You can display your painting in a frame, use it as a pillow, decorate a bag or a piece of clothing. When you register, provide Lynn with the photo that you want to use for your painting. She will prepare a kit just for you. Class cost: $50 CAG members/$55 non-members, plus cost of kit. Materials cost: $15, kit with your customized pattern, wool base (9 x 12), wool and accessories. Payment Method: Instructor will provide details to pay by Zelle, Venmo or check at time of registration. To register: Send an email to Lynn Cavanaugh at lynn.c.cavanaugh@gmail.com. Five Oaks Art Studio is at 1247 Rural Drive NW, Concord. For more information, visit www.cabarrusartguild.org.

Ongoing

Puddle Painting Workshop – Every Monday from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Experience the mesmerizing art of fluid acrylic pouring in this intuitive, hands-on workshop. Choose from three canvas sizes and let your creativity flow — no experience needed! Come solo or bring a friend for fun, stress-free, painting adventure! All ages welcome. RSVP required at High Branch Brewery, McGill Avenue Northwest #100. For more information or to RSVP, visit www.tuxedokat.com.

Community Survey: Concord Public Art Commission Project – A new public art project is coming to Les Myers Park in Concord! Help guide the mural design by participating in the online survey! To fill out the survey, visit www.publicinput.com/concordmural.

Love Local Thursdays in Downtown Concord – Every first & third Thursday from 5-8 p.m. in downtown Concord introduces Love Local Thursdays — a community-driven event happening on the first and third Thursdays of the month. Enjoy a fun night out dining at your favorite downtown Concord restaurants, late-night shopping with exclusive deals, and live music on Barbrick Avenue. Cozy up to one of our tables or bring your own chairs and stay a while! Explore unique pop-up markets inside The Lenz Studio, and take advantage of the new Social District, where you can stroll downtown with your favorite beverage. We hope you’ll join us on Thursdays as the start of something new in downtown Concord. Visit the website for more information and businesses who will be participating. All ages welcome; free; no registration required at Union Street North, Concord. For more information, visit www.explorecabarrus.com.

The Swanee Theatre is the place to be for moving and grooving through your week. Mark your calendars. Kannapolis Parks and Recreation is offering several dancing opportunities for all to enjoy: Mondays — free line dancing from 6-8 p.m.; Tuesdays — free dance. Walk. Party. A Fitness experience! 5:30-6:30 p.m.; Wednesdays — Shag dancing, $5 a person, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Come out to any or all of these events to make new friends and discover a healthy life in Kannapolis. No registration needed, just come join the fun. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/CityofKannapolis.

Open Mic, Spotlight Series: Every fourth Thursday from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Come join us for this incredible spotlight series and open mic. Sign up to share on the mic at the event. Free to the public and best coffee in town. Free; no registration required at Wired Coffee Express, 469 N. Cannon Blvd. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/guerilla.poets.founders.

After-school and Adult Art Classes in drawing, painting, pottery and sculpture. After-school classes from 4:30-6:30 p.m. and adult classes from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday or Thursday one day per week for six weeks. For more information, call 704-786-8570.

North Carolina Music Hall of Fame: The North Carolina Music Hall of Fame Museum is a safe, fun and touch-free visit for your friends and family. The museum is open to the public Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to noon and 1-4 p.m., closed noon to 1 p.m. for lunch. Reserve your visit at Make A Reservation — North Carolina Music Hall of Fame, 600 Dale Earnhardt Blvd., Kannapolis.

Open Art Day: Every Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bring your lunch and drink, bring a project you are working on and your supplies. Or bring work you’d like to share and discuss. This is a working, weekly meeting each Tuesday to work with and share with artists and like-minded people who appreciate creativity. ClearWater Arts Center & Studios is at 223 Crowell Drive NW, Concord — enter through the double glass doors facing Kerr Street, called the Greenway Gallery. For more information, go to cabarrusartguild.org.

Caffeinate with Creatives: Every Second Saturday from 10-11 a.m. The Concord area is filled with artists of all kinds, so let’s take some time to get to know each other. Join us every second Saturday for coffee and creative conversations. All artists are welcome; no registration; free; with coffee for purchase at ClearWater Arts Center & Studios, 223 Crowell Drive NW, Concord. For more information, visit www.clearwaterartists.com.

Plein Air with the CAG: Calling all artists. First-timers welcome. Don’t worry if you don’t have all the things you think you need, this is a very informal gathering, and your fellow artists are happy to help. Reach out to get on the mailing list for various events. Has the idea or the fun of Plein Air ever fascinated you? To explain, Plein Air is a French term meaning, “denoting or in the manner of a 19th-century style of painting outdoors, or with a strong sense of the open air, that became a central feature of French impressionism.” Some famous Plein Air painters were among the most impressive painters from history, including Monet, Homer and Sargent. Within the Cabarrus Art Guild, a group of Plein air painters have banded together to enjoy the lovely North Carolina Piedmont and surrounding sites via Plein air. They have named themselves, “Dusty Road Painters” and meet to explore the indoors (inclement weather) and outdoors that offer countless opportunities to express one’s artistic curiosity and passion. Have questions or interested in joining this free group of adventurous artists? Reach out to Plein Air Chair O’Lynda Walker at olynda.walker@gmail.com. Free. For more information, visit www.cabarrusartguild.org.

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Course Offerings: Continuing Education courses available with Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. In addition to career courses, we also offer personal-enrichment courses. Call 702-216-7222 or register online at https://cce.rcc.edu/. New course offerings can be found at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hwaTI5nAM_bMAiQ_XooVkANHnnJOqN63/edit.

FREE Outdoor Movie Nights — Join us select Friday and Saturday nights from March through December as we enjoy iconic movies on the big screen! Bring a chair, grab a friend, and sip on a beer as you enjoy a free outdoor movie. Enjoy retro arcade games and throwback tunes one hour prior to the start of each movie. Food, drinks and movie concessions will be available for purchase. Limited table seating will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. For the best viewing experience, we recommend bringing your own chairs! This project is organized in partnership with Rice Family Community Events, Aurora Star Lit Cinema and Cabarrus Brewing Co. and is supported by a grant from the Grassroots Arts Program of the @ncartscouncil, a state agency, and the @cabarrusartscouncil. Free and all ages welcome. Located in the parking lot in front of the Cabarrus Brewing taproom entrance at 329 McGill Ave. NW, Concord. For more information, to see the full lineup, or to purchase tickets for another event, visit https://www.cabarrusbrewing.com/ events-calendar/.