LOCAL HAPPENINGS: Fall festivals start up, with country days, music, breakfast and pottery

Southern Country Days return to Seagrove Sept. 18-19

SEAGROVE — On Friday and Saturday, Sept. 18-19, Southern Randolph Country Days fills downtown Seagrove with arts and crafts vendors, food, music and family fun.

On Friday evening, Southbound 49 kicks off the festivities at 7 p.m. on an outdoor stage on Main Street.

On Saturday, multiple bands provide live music throughout the day. 

Gospel groups take the stage in the morning, with Bobby Marsh & Scott Auman at 9:30 a.m. and Upper Road at 10:45 a.m. 

Country/Americana sets the tune for the afternoon, with Noah Nelson on guitar at 1 p.m. and Ty Miller closing out the show from 3 to 6 p.m. 

Shop from booth to booth along Main Street with vendors offering arts and crafts, savory meals and sweet treats, plants and fall decor.

Kids’ activities and games will also be available. 

And at 2 p.m., a parade brings floats, bands, cars, trucks and tractors right through town.

For more details and updates, visit the Seagrove Firefighters Volunteer Auxiliary page on Facebook.

NC Pottery Center offers September pottery classes

SEAGROVE — Want to learn how to make pottery?

The North Carolina Pottery Center is offering three classes in September, all Saturdays: Saturday, Sept. 5; Friday, Sept. 11; and Wednesday, Sept. 16. All workshops begin at 11 a.m., last approximately 2 hours and cost $65 to take. Workshops are open to ages 16 and up.

You’ll learn the fundamentals of throwing pottery on the wheel in this beginner’s workshop. You will get a feel for how to center clay and move it into basic forms that can be finished with a glaze of choice and kiln-fired to be safe and functional for home use.

Visit ncpotterycenter.org to review full workshop policies & guidelines before booking. Also, a Waiver & Release form is required for all NCPC education program participants. Each new individual signed up for the workshop must submit their own wavier & release form, which you can download off the website.

The price of the workshop includes all materials, tools, demonstration, hands-on instruction, and glaze firing. The workshop fee is non-refundable. Please allow 4 weeks for items to be ready for pickup. Items can be shipped for an additional charge, please notify the instructor if shipping is requested.

Finally, dress for a mess. Any watches, hand, wrist or long necklace jewelry should be removed before using the wheel. All long hair must be pulled back. Wear comfortable clothes that you do not mind getting dirty.

The North Carolina Pottery Center is located at 233 East Avenue, Seagrove. Call the center at 336-873-8430 for more information.

THIS WEEK

‘Arsenic & Old Lace’ this month’s Thrifty Thursday movie

ASHEBORO — The Thrifty Thursday movie for September stars Cary Grant in “Arsenic & Old Lace” about a writer soured on marriage who risks his reputation after he decides to tie the knot. Thrifty Thursday movies take place on the first Thursday of each month at Sunset Theatre, 234 Sunset Ave., Asheboro. Tickets are $5, which includes popcorn and a drink. Those 50 and over get in free thanks to local sponsors.

Farmer Civitans breakfast: All you can eat Saturday

FARMER — On a Labor Day weekend when not much is happening because of the travel holiday signaling the unofficial end of summer, the Farmer Civitans are offering an all-you-can-eat breakfast to kick off Saturday. For a $10 donation, fill up on eggs, Thomas Brothers sausage and ham, gravy, biscuits and pancakes, plus a variety of beverages. Proceeds go toward the Civitans’ many projects. The Farmer Civitan clubhouse is at 3986 Old NC 49.

UPCOMING

Local movie’s premiere is set for Asheboro on Sept. 12

ASHEBORO — A homegrown Asheboro film will make its debut at Sunset Theatre in downtown Asheboro at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12.

The plot: When a roommate at a Badin Lake halfway house suspiciously disappears, the residents decide they’re not waiting around for answers ... so they take matters into their own hands. 

Winner of the Audience Award at the New Orleans Film Festival, Rowdy Friends features an unforgettable performance from Asheboro native JD Cranford and was filmed entirely in Randolph County and Stanly County. It’s equal parts gritty, funny and heartfelt, and tells a story rooted right here in our own backyard. 

Tickets are $10 and available an hour before the show.

The British are coming ... in band form to Sunset Theatre

ASHEBORO — The British Invaders will do just that on Sept. 11: Invade the Sunset Theatre with music from British bands in the 1960s and some 1980s MTV hits from British bands, as well. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at Brightside Gallery, 170 Worth St., Asheboro. Showtime is 7:30 p.m.

The Entertainers close out a musical summer

ASHEBORO — The final Sunday night concert at Bicentennial Park for the Summer of ’26 takes place on Sept. 13. The Entertainers will take the stage from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Food trucks will be on site and a platform in front of the stage can be filled with some locals showing off their dancing skills. Admission is free. Bring a chair or blanket for this outdoor concert.

Whitaker Farms readies its 4th annual Outdoor Market

CLIMAX — Whitaker Farms, 2991 Providence Church Road in Climax, will be the site of a vendor-heavy and food-heavy outdoor event on Saturday, Sept. 12. Visitors can eat breakfast (9-11 a.m.) and/or lunch (12-3 p.m.) while also browsing more than 40 vendor booths. There’s also a kids zone. The event is free; a kids zone pass is $7.

Scared of AI? Love it? Library classes eye both sides

ASHEBORO — Whether you want to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) or run from it, there’s a class for you at Randolph County’s public libraries.

Digital Services Librarian Harris Mason will take on both sides of the issue, first with a general introduction in Adult Learners: What Is AI? for ages 16 and up at the Randleman Public Library, 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15. Space is limited, so call 336-498-3141 to sign up.

Learn about a different side of AI with How To Avoid AI Pushing Us Around at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24, at the Asheboro Public Library. With AI becoming sophisticated and widespread, it can become a nuisance or even a danger. This class will offer tips on how to remove the pull of AI from your daily life. No registration required.

The Randleman library is located at 142 W. Academy Street. The Asheboro library is located at 201 Worth Street. Call 336-318-6803 for more info.