DAYs in a Week

Saturday, Sept. 4

Indian festival

Discover the sophisticated taste of Indian cuisine at the annual Festival of India from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday at Knight Theater on Tryon Street in Charlotte. There will be displays of the arts and crafts of India, colorful performances of old and new dance forms, authentic Indian music, displays of Indian musical instruments and live demonstrations. Tickets are $5 and valid for both days. Children younger than 10 are admitted free. The India Association of Charlotte is proud to showcase the cultural heritage of the Asian-Indian community at the forthcoming 16th Annual Festival of India. For more information, visit www.indiafestival.net.

Monday, Sept. 6

Butterflies and orchids

Something's A-Flutter at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden on South New Hope Road in Belmont, N.C. The butterflies are back when Something's A-Flutter returns to The Orchid Conservatory as hundreds of butterflies fill the conservatory. Enjoy butterfly releases, exhibits, demonstrations and lots more fluttering fun. The cost is free with garden admission, which is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors 60 and older and $6 for children ages 4 to 12. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and the program runs through Sept. 30.

Labor Day barbecue

The annual Uriel/Lewis Fire Department Labor Day barbecue starts at 11 a.m. Monday at Uriel Presbyterian Church on Stringfellow Road in Chester. Homemade barbecue sauce is back for $5 per quart or $3 per pint. Kid's hot dog plates with chips, slaw and drink will be $6; barbecue sandwich plates with sandwich, chips, slaw and drink will be $6; and barbecue plates with barbecue, chips, slaw, beans and drink will be $7. A bake sale will be held in the social hall. Live music will be performed by Country Grass, Bill Hinson and Knox Station. Barbecue will be available by the pound for $8 from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at the church.

Thursday, Sept. 9

Artist reception

A reception for artist Jane C. Lee will be from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Ann D. Marion Gallery, 123 Main St. in downtown Chester. Lee will have a month-long exhibit in the gallery. Her artwork includes oil and acrylic paintings, painted oyster shells and gourds and palm tree seedpod paintings. The free, catered reception is open to the public.

Ventriloquist comedy

The comedy ventriloquism of Lynn Trefzger opens the ninth season of the Clover School District Auditorium Performing Arts Series at 7 p.m. Thursday. An opening night reception follows the show. Lynn Trefzger is a ventriloquist/comedienne with a trunk full of zany characters that have accompanied her to stages throughout the country. She has performed with artists including Jeff Foxworthy, Ray Romano, The Smothers Brothers and Drew Carey. Her off-the-wall audience interplay is riotously funny, and her performances are tailored for both family and adult audiences. She also has appeared on ABC, TNN, A&E, VH1 and Lifetime television. She also appears in the 2009 feature film "I'm No Dummy" with Jeff Dunham and Jay Johnson. Tickets are $15. For tickets and information, call the auditorium, 803-222-8018.

Def poetry

Jon Goode, Emmy Nominee and HBO Def Poet will perform at 8 p.m. Thursday in the DiGiorgio Theatre at Winthrop University. Goode has performed his unique brand of comedic and life-affirming poetry at colleges and universities all over the nation, and venues both domestic and abroad. He is one of the featured artists in the sold-out Passion and Poetry concert series that features some of the top-rated poets and spoken word artists in the nation. Tickets are $5 with Winthrop ID, $10 for the public and free with a fall pass.

Yiasou Greek Festival

The annual Yiasou Greek Festival opens at 11 a.m. Thursday at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral on East Boulevard in Charlotte. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $2 with children younger than 12 admitted free with a parent or guardian.