Wednesday, April 11, 2012 — Music is in the air in Stanly County this weekend with the strains of bluegrass drifting across our rolling hills. After dark on our Mountain—Morrow Mountain, that is—runners lit with glow bracelets and lights look like fireflies as they circle to the peak. Down in the town the Farmer’s Market opens for the season with plants and crafts, and out on our playing fields we’ll hear the thwack of bat and ball as college teams battle it out.

Thursday is the start of the 3-day Big Lick Blue Grass Festival. The event takes place at Big Lick Festival Park beginning on Thursday at 6 pm with Open Mic. On Friday the music starts at 2 pm and ends at 11 pm and features the Rye Hollar Boys, the Goldwing Express, the Little Roy and Lizzy Show, and Balsam Range. On Saturday the fun starts at noon and continues until 11 pm with Movin on Bluegrass, A Deeper Shade of Blue, Goldwing Express, Junior Sisk and Ramblers Choice, and the Lonesome River Band. The show goes on rain or shine with a big tent handy in case of rain. Bring your own lawn chair. There’ll be hot food on premises and there are limited camping hook-ups.

Friday features the first-ever Vac and Dash Moonlight Half Marathon and Movie. The event starts at 10:30 pm at the Badin Road Drive-in. The run is from there to the top of Morrow Mountain and back. Runners will be required to wear lights and will also be provided with glow bracelets to wear. There are two screens at the Drive-In. Movies will start at sunset. The plan is to show running movies on one screen and regular movies on the other. The race will start at 10:30 pm. Family and friends will be able to relax in a nostalgic atmosphere and enjoy the show while the runners race. Reason to run the race: It involves running, a drive-in and Friday the 13th! Proceeds benefit the United Way of Stanly County. For more information please call 704.983.3274 or visit www.vacanddash.com.

Saturday is the season opening of the Stanly County Farmer’s Market at Market Station in downtown Albemarle. Organized by the Albemarle Downtown Development Corporation, the event starts at 8 am and features a spring plant sale and craft show. The Stanly County Farmers’ Market  has been in operation for over 15 years. It’s here you’ll find many local vendors selling their produce, homemade goodies, and crafts to the citizens of Stanly County and surrounding areas. The Stanly County Farmers’ Market is located at Market Station in Downtown Albemarle, 100 Railroad Street, Albemarle, NC 28001.

At noon on Saturday, the Pfeiffer Men’s Baseball team will take on Mount Olive (DH). The game will take place at Home. For more information please call 704.463.1360 or visit gofalconsports.com. Drop by and support the local team.

Also on Saturday, the Stanly Community College’s Women’s Softball team will take on Doubleheader vs Surry CC at 1pm. The game will take place at Officer Jeff Shelton Memorial Park, 199 Park Dr., Locust, NC 28097.For more information please contact 704.806.7419.

On Sunday there’s more baseball to watch as the Pfeiffer Men’s Baseball team take on Mount Olive at 1pm. The game will take place at Home. For more information please call 704.463.1360 or visit gofalconsports.com.

There’s a lot going on here in our county as spring reaches its glorious peak with lots of opportunities to get out and enjoy this lovely time of the year. Come join us