All ages are invited to attend and enjoy the cornucopia of culinary delights that is served from local food trucks. Admission to the rally is free, but food pricing will vary per truck menu.
From New York to Florida, food truck rallies are gaining popularity. "We are proud to host this rally for the Lake Norman area," says Fissel, executive director of Rural Hill. "We have a great venue for festivals and events like this one, and we are excited to offer a food truck rally experience for our community."
Long known in New York, Los Angeles and other large cities, food trucks are on the rise locally as well. Michelle Boudin of Charlotte Magazine recently wrote, "some of the Queen City's tastiest dishes are being served from the side of parked vehicles. These chefs of the road are updating Twitter feeds and websites to share where you can find their roving kitchens which offer inexpensive — and often gourmet — food."
The Rural Hill Food Truck Rally will feature live music, cornhole, local merchants, children's activities and living history experiences. Complete event information can be found at www.ruralhill.net. The rally is sponsored by McIntosh law Firm and by Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department, the Town of Huntersville, Smokes Unlimited, Highland Brewing, Shelton Vineyards, Lake Norman Citizen, Mountain Khakis and Midas Spring Water.
Charity Horse Show at Latta Plantation
Latta Plantation Park Equestrian Center will host the 20th annual Charlotte Charity Horse Show June 28-30. The show is sponsored by Cook's Memorial Presbyterian Church. This year's proceeds benefit the church building fund. Previous shows have provided funds for Habitat for Humanity, Crisis Assistance Ministry, mission projects and other area charities.
Spectators are welcome to the show, which features more than 200 horses and riders representing five Southeastern states. Admission is free. Performances begin each day at 6 p.m., and a Saturday morning session begins at 9 a.m. Each session will last approximately three hours. Concessions including barbecue, hamburgers, hot dogs, ice cream and other desserts will be available.
The Charlotte Charity Horse Show will feature more than 100 classes for American Saddlebred horses, Standardbreds and Hackney ponies with prize money offered during the night performances. Show participants return annually from across the Southeast. The show will also include an Equitation and Academy rider division, along with several classes such as Stick Horse, Ride-A-Buck, Costume and Lead Line. Additional exhibitions will be held Friday and Saturday nights, including the Hunter Clydesdales. For more information, call Dale Luckey at 704-309-0798. Latta Plantation is at 5226 Sample Road off Beatties Ford Road in western Huntersville.
Vera Bradley Classic coming this fall
The Vera Bradley Classic Women's Golf and Tennis Tournament will be held Monday, Oct. 15, at Charlotte Country Club in Charlotte. The Vera Bradley Classic is the largest all-women amateur golf and tennis charity event in the country. The event will include 104 women facing off in a doubles tennis competition on Charlotte Country Club's clay courts. The golf tournament will offer a full field of amateur women golfers the opportunity to play the Donald Ross-designed golf course. The "step-aside" format will allow players of all skill levels to participate. Multiple contests and even a "best dressed team" award are designed to give everyone a chance to win.
Proceeds from the Classic go to the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer, a charitable organization dedicated to supporting breast cancer research. The Foundation was established by the co-founders of Vera Bradley. The Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer has contributed $15 million to the research team at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center.
After the tournaments have concluded, players, guests and volunteers will join corporate sponsors in the Charlotte Country Club dining room for a cocktail reception and celebration dinner. The evening's festivities will be hosted by Vera Bradley co-founders Barbara Bradley Baekgaard and Patricia R. Miller, and include a silent auction to benefit the foundation.
Since its inception, the Vera Bradley Classic has raised more than $8 million for breast cancer research. For information about sponsoring, volunteering, competing in or attending any of the events, or for more information, visit www.verabradley.org/carolinaclassic.
Power Squadron holds boater safety course
The Lake Norman Sail and Power Squadron will hold boater safety training Saturday, July 14, at Mount Zion United Methodist Church, 19600 Zion Street in Cornelius, beginning at 8 a.m. This is a one-day, eight-hour-plus examination course for full certification. Pre-registration is required.
This class meets all USCG and NASBLA requirements for operation of a power-driven vessel including a personal water craft, in North Carolina. Everyone younger than 26 is required to undergo this training before they can legally operate a vessel in the state.
The cost of the class is $45 and includes a student manual and lunch. Seating is limited and previous classes have been filled to capacity, so those interested are urged to register as soon as possible. To register, visit the squadron website at www.usps.org/lakenorman.
For more information, call Bob Yannacci at 704-660-5568 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
In addition, the USCG has recently classified paddle boards as vessels, and although no certification is necessary to operate a paddle board, users should be aware of the new requirements. They will be covered in the updated training. For more information regarding paddleboards, visit the USCG website at http://coastguardnews.com/coast-guard-classifies-paddleboards-as-vessel/2008/.
Call to photogs for MAG exhibit
Mooresville Artist Guild announces a call to artists for entries for its Annual Photography Exhibition, which will be held July 3-27 at The Depot Fine Arts Center at 103 W. Center Ave. in Mooresville. The exhibit is open to all artists age 18 and older who work in the medium of photography, including traditional photography, digital or digitally altered photography and mixed media with photography works. See the prospectus for category specifics and entry details at www.magart.org.
The revised work acceptance process for the photography exhibit will be held Sunday, July 1, from 2 to 4 p.m., and Monday, July 2, from 1 to 4 p.m. or 5 to 7 p.m. All entries must be submitted directly to the Fine Arts Center. Bring the completed entry form and $15 for up to two entries for MAG members or students, a $5 fee for each additional entry, with a four-entry limit. For non-members, entry fee is $20 for up to two entries, $10 for each additional entry with a four-entry limit.
Dennis Kiel, chief curator at The Light Factory in Charlotte, will be the juror. Prizes will be awarded for each category. The exhibit can be viewed by the public Monday through Friday during depot hours, which can be found at www.MAGart.org. Admission is free and open to the public.
LKN Excursion to benefit Red Cross
Cool Breeze Cyclery will raise money for the American Red Cross by holding the fifth annual Lake Norman Excursion 5K Run and Bike Challenge Saturday, July 14, at the Lowe's corporate headquarters in Mooresville. The event is the second leg of the three-event Cool Breeze third annual Corporate Multisport Challenge.
Nearly 1,000 participants are expected for the event, which will include a 5K run/walk, a 10-mile family fun bicycle ride and 40-, 65-, and 100-mile timed bicycle rides. The 5K and Family Fun Ride will take place on a closed-loop course on the Lowe's campus, eliminating the worry about traffic for families. The longer bike rides take place through the countryside of Iredell, Rowan and Catawba counties. Last year's event raised nearly $20,000 for the American Red Cross.
The challenge series grew out of the Lake Norman Excursion. Other events include a 5K run, which already took place in March, and a triathlon that will be held Sept. 9. Through the corporate challenge, Cool Breeze offers companies a way to encourage better health through coaching and a training program that prepares them for the three events. Many of the participants have never trained for any kind of sport. Lowe's, Ingersoll Rand and Newell Rubbermaid are major sponsors, joined this year by Lake Norman Regional Medical Center and Carolinas HealthCare System.
All three events raise money for a charity. The Excursion benefits The American Red Cross, the 5k supports Girls on the Run and the triathlon supports the Ada Jenkins Center in Davidson. Last year, the events raised more than $60,000 in support.
For more information about the Corporate Multisport Challenge visit http://coolbreezecyclery.com and look under the Corporate Wellness tab or send an e-mail to Leigh Ann Mueller at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
DCP will get 'Crazy' in June
Davidson Community Players will present the musical comedy Crazy For You, directed by Melissa Ohlman-Roberge June 21-30. The winner of the 1992 Tony Award for Best Musical, the production features many of the Gershwin brothers' classics, including "I Got Rhythm," "Someone to Watch Over Me" and "They Can't Take That Away From Me."
The Wild West has never seemed so crazy with tap-dancing cowboys and Follies girls. Crazy For You will be performed in the Duke Family Performance Hall on the Davidson College campus June 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30 at 8 p.m., and June 24 and 30 at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $12-$24 and are available by calling 704-892-7953 or at www.davidsoncommunityplayers.org.
On opening night, Davidson Community Players will be presented with the state award for "Community Theatre of the Year" by the North Carolina Theatre Conference. A reception at Flatiron Kitchen in downtown Davidson will follow the performance.
Davidson Community Players season sponsors are McIntosh Law Firm and Davidson Wealth Management. Show sponsors are Peoples Bank and MI-Connection.
