LOCAL HAPPENINGS: A Christmas concert from local entertainer Brandon Shepherd

Brandon Shepherd’s first Christmas concert set for Nov. 6

ASHEBORO  — Local entertainer Brandon Shepherd is known for his one-man concerts at the Sunset Theatre. Now he’s preparing his first holiday show — “This Time of the Year: A Christmas Celebration.”

Shepherd will take the stage on Friday, Nov. 6, beginning at 7 p.m. Doors will open at 5 p.m. with Santa Claus on hand from 5 to 7. During that time, prior to the concert, there will be “stuff to watch on the screen” above the stage.

“I’ll have all kinds of Christmas music, from the past, newer and some not heard as much,” he said. “And there’s always surprises and fun stuff.”

Shepherd will perform two songs from a vinyl record he hopes to have available for sale. The A side is “All I Want for Christmas Is You” and the B side is something he wrote with Caleb Lucas, “Dancing in the Snow.”

He’ll also be performing such favorites as “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,” “Winter Wonderland” and “O Holy Night.”

“There will be fun for you from the time you walk in ’til the time you leave,” Shepherd guaranteed.

There will also be merchandise on sale in the lobby.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at Brightside Gallery on Worth Street or online. They can also be bought at the door if supplies last.

THIS WEEK

RYTC’s ‘Who Killed Elvis’ this weekend at Sunset Theatre 

ASHEBORO — Helmed by longtime RYTC director Devan Walsh and stage managed by RYTC alumna Alanna Cheek, Randolph Youth Theatre Company is bringing “Who Killed Elvis?” to the stage Oct. 8-11 at the historic Sunset Theatre. RYTC will present this comedic mystery on Thursday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 10, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 11, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 and available now at rytc.org or Brightside Gallery, 170 Worth St., Asheboro. Tickets will also be available at the door beginning one hour before each performance.

United Way’s Cereal Sale Fundraiser Saturday at 8 a.m.

ASHEBORO — United Way of Randolph County’s popular Cereal Sale Fundraiser is set for Saturday, Oct. 10, in Bicentennial Park. Post Consumer Brands provides the United Way of Randolph County with thousands of boxes of cereal, sold for $1 per box, with all proceeds going to the United Way. Cash only is accepted for this  drive-thru event which begins at 8 a.m. and continues until noon or all cereal is sold.

Fall Into Franklinville Festival set for Saturday, Oct. 10

FRANKLINVILLE — Franklinville gets in on the fall festival fun this year on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 4 to 8:30 with the Fall Into Franklinville Festival at 123 W. Main St. in Franklinville. Enjoy complimentary apple cider and pastries, heritage demonstrations and even a movie at sunset, “Pocahontas.” There will also be a community scarecrow competition to vote on and the opening of a Town Time Capsule. See more details in today’s Events Calendar on 5A.

Archdale’s Bush Hill Hometown Jamboree is Oct. 10

ARCHDALE — Archdale’s annual Bush Hill festival offers that corner of Randolph County some fall festival fun in downtown Archdale on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 12 to 6 p.m. The family tradition for 40 years includes live music, craft vendors and food trucks, plus a kids’ play area, dinosaurs, face painting and a lot more.

Miss Randolph County pageants at ERHS this Sunday

RAMSEUR — On Sunday, Oct. 11, Eastern Randolph High School will be the site for this year’s Miss Randolph County and Miss Randolph County’s Teen Pageant. The pageant is a preliminary for the Miss North Carolina / Miss America pageants and serve as a scholarship pageants for young ladies ages 14-28. Admission is $20. The event takes place from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.

UPCOMING

41st Annual Hospice Auction & Barbecue next week

ASHEBORO — This year’s 41st annual Hospice event includes the Bid & Q live auction and dinner event, a drive-thru BBQ sale and an online auction. The 5th annual Bid & Q live auction and dinner event is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 15, at 5:30 p.m.; the drive-thru BBQ sale is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17, at Sunset Avenue Church of God, 900 Sunset Ave., Asheboro ($12 a plate) and the online auction begins Saturday, Oct. 17, and will end at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22.  The auction showcases more than 200 items. For more information about the 41st Annual Hospice Auction & Barbecue or to register for the online auction, visit www.hospiceofthepiedmont.org/event/2026abbq/.

Ed Rich will present history of Back Creek area through paintings

ASHEBORO — Join local artist Ed Rich for a visual journey through the history of the Back Creek area in paintings, 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, at the Asheboro Public Library. 

Through extensive research into his family’s 275-year history in the Randolph County area, Rich began to trace the original roads and paths inhabited by his family and their neighbors.

His journey took him through a changed landscape, looking for the last traces of earlier residents, including the mills, dams and natural scenes of Back Creek and Caraway Creek, which he depicted through his artwork.

During his presentation, Rich will take a walk through time and space with his paintings and the story of his journey through local history.

Rich, a Randolph County native and lifelong resident, owns and operates the American Classic Motorcycle Company and Museum in Asheboro. He restores antique bikes and cars, and has been known as the “motorcycle artist,” with many of his paintings on display at the museum.

Largely a self-taught painter, Rich received early inspiration from Dwight Holland, who taught art when Rich attended Park Street (now Loflin Elementary) School in Asheboro.

The library is located at 201 Worth Street. For further information, call 336-318-6815.