Friday
▪ The 90th Annual Academy Awards airs Sunday, and there’s still time to make sure you’ve seen all nine of the best picture nominees by then. At Regal’s Best Picture Film Festival, if you start at 1 p.m. Friday, you can literally screen all nine by Sunday afternoon. Participating theaters are Cinebarre Arboretum Stadium 11, Ballantyne Village Stadium 5 and Phillips Place Stadium; $35 for festival pass. ... Meanwhile, AMC Concord Mills 24 and AMC Carolinas 22 will show a five-film marathon (“Dunkirk,” “Darkest Hour,” “Call Me By Your Name,” “The Post,” “Get Out”) beginning at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, which marks Day 2 of AMC’s Best Picture Showcase; $40.
▪ While the social events and reunion atmosphere are a huge draw for the annual CIAA basketball tournament in Charlotte, its primary purpose is, of course, crowning men’s and women’s basketball champions to send to the NCAA Division II championship tournament. Women’s semifinal games are to be played at uptown’s Spectrum Center at 1 and 3 p.m. Friday, with the men’s semifinal action scheduled for 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Championship games will be at 1 p.m. Saturday (women’s) and 7 p.m. Saturday (men’s). Tickets: www.ticketmaster.com.
▪ The city’s top orchestra pays tribute to a legendary folk singer during “Charlotte Symphony Pops: The Music of John Denver,” with performances Friday and Saturday. More than 20 years after Denver’s death, musician Jim Curry (who voiced Denver’s songs in a posthumous CBS TV movie) continues to share Denver’s music thanks to a voice whose similarity to the fabled folk singer’s is uncanny. Curry and the CSO will revisit hits like “Rocky Mountain High,” “Calypso,” “Take Me Home, Country Roads” and “Annie’s Song.” 7:30 p.m. Belk Theater. $17-$77.
▪ Go on an hour-long adventure of story, song and magic during “Caleb Sigmon Live!: Nothing Up My Sleeve.” The illusionist uses personal stories as a jumping-off point into time travel, weather wonders and daring escapes. For children 5 and up. 7:30 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday, and 2 and 4 p.m. Sunday. Children’s Theatre of Charlotte at ImaginOn. $12-$20.
Saturday
▪ Naomi Lewin, host of the nationally syndicated radio program “Classics for Kids,” brings “Classics for Kids Live!” to Blumenthal’s Stage Door Theater. Musicians and orators join Lewin as she explores Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons.” 11 a.m. Free.
▪ Sylvia Theater in York, S.C., hosts the premiere of the indie film “How You Think You Look When You Play NERF” by director Wilder Troxell and York County graduate Bailey Fatool, who were roommates at Temple University. The film, which is hitting the festival circuit, is about a shy kid’s unwanted birthday party turning into a fantasy-fueled NERF battle – during which he learns about winning and losing (and whom he can rely on when facing possible defeat). 4 p.m. $5.
▪ Did you know Hello Kitty could drive? She even has her own food truck. Fans of Sanrio’s famous feline can flock to Northlake Mall, where the Hello Kitty Café Truck will set up shop in the courtyard near H&M to sell edible kitty-themed treats like petite fours, macarons, and cookies from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday. Exclusive and new items include bow-shaped water bottles, stainless steel thermal bottles, keychains, T-shirts and accessories for kids and adults.
Wednesday
▪ “Downton Abbey” may be gone, but it’s certainly not forgotten. The Ballantyne celebrates all things Crawley with “A Very British Tea Inspired by Downton Abbey.” From 1-4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, March 10, the South Charlotte resort will serve jam-packed Manchester tarts, fluffy apricot scones and Downton Abbey’s own Earl Grey macarons with a glass of champagne (free) or a Highclere Cocktail (an additional $10). Children and adults are encouraged to don 1920s and 1930s attire as they sip tea and sample sweets. $45 for adults, $25 for ages 5-12, and $10 for ages 4 and younger. Reservations: 704-248-4100.
▪ As co-founder of the iconic Minneapolis bar band the Replacements (and one of the longest-running non-original members to stick with Axl Rose’s pre-reunion Guns n’ Roses), Tommy Stinson has been a part of two of the biggest bands in rock. In recent years, he returned to his own band, Bash & Pop, for a successful new album. Now he’s teamed with friend Chip Roberts for a living room-style acoustic tour dubbed “Tommy Stinson’s Cowboys in the Campfire,” which stops at Lunchbox Records for an intimate set. 7 p.m. $20 ($100 for VIP tickets).
Thursday
▪ It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years since then-16-year-old singer David Archuleta charmed “American Idol” audiences and became the Season 7 runner-up. Now 27, Archuleta spent two years as a missionary and has released six albums, including 2017’s “Postcards in the Sky.” He’ll perform at Visulite Theatre at 8 p.m. $25-$30 ($125 for VIP meet-and-greet tickets).
This story was originally published February 28, 2018 4:58 PM.