Events: Sheep Shearing Day April 11 at Historic Brattonsville

Poetry time

National Poetry Month: Kukai, 6 p.m. April 8, Steele Creek Public Library. Participate in a kukai, a friendly haiku-writing competition. Bring original haiku and join peers voting for the best one. Light refreshments provided. For adults. 704-416-6800; cmlibrary.org

Comedy play

“Leading Ladies,” opens 8 p.m. April 8, Johnson Theatre, Winthrop University, Rock Hill. This comedy penned by award-winning playwright Ken Ludwig follows two down-on-their-luck Shakespearean actors, Jack and Leo. The two hatch a plot to pass themselves off as English women in the hopes of scamming an elderly woman out of her fortune. More show times: 8 p.m. April 9-11 and 2 p.m. April 12. Tickets: $8 with a Winthrop ID, $15 for the general public. 803-323-3840.

Story time

Preschool Story Time, 10:30-11:15 a.m. Wednesdays, Lake Wylie Public Library. For ages 3-5 with caregiver. No registration required.

Blood drive

Red Cross Blood Drive, 2:30-7 p.m. April 9, Beth Shiloh Presbyterian Church, 184 N. Shiloh Road, York. 1-800-733-2767; redcrossblood.org

Support group

Overeaters Anonymous, 6:45 p.m. Thursdays, River Hills Community Church, Room 116, 104 Hamilton’s Ferry Road, Lake Wylie. piedmontintergroup.org

Yard sale

Community Yard Sale, 7 a.m.-noon April 11, Red Fez Shrine Club, 16600 Red Fez Road, Steele Creek. Rain or Shine Outside under Shelter.

Sheep shearing

Sheep Shearing Day, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April 11, Historic Brattonsville, 1444 Brattonsville Road, McConnells. Interpreters will shear the Gulf Coast Heritage Sheep and demonstrate how raw woolen fleece is processed for carding, spinning, dyeing with natural indigo, and weave the wool into finished garments. Bring a picnic lunch. Admission: Adult $6; Senior $5; ages 4-17 $3. 803-684-2327; chmuseums.org

New exhibit

“Body Embellishment” exhibit, opens April 11, Mint Museum Uptown, Levine Center for the Arts, 500 S. Tryon St., Charlotte. Explore the most innovative artistic expression in the 21st century international arenas of body extension, augmentation and modification. Includes about 100 objects by artists and designers, also including Naomi Yasuda, whose work has appeared on the nails of Madonna and more. Open through Sept. 6. “Body Embellishment, Body Adornment: Fashion Accessories and Trends” is a free talk at 6:30 p.m. April 16 featuring local fashion consultants and experts talking about trends. “Art Fusion: Embellish” is a free public event 6-9 p.m. April 22 with hands-on activities and gallery tours and one-night-only free admission to both “Body Embellishment” and the Mint’s companion exhibition, “Halston and Warhol: Silver and Suede.” 704-337-2000; mintmuseum.org/visit/mint-museum-uptown

Blood drive

“Helping Hands of Baxter Village Hall Blood Drive,” 12:30-5:15 p.m. April 12, Baxter Village Community Center, 3387 Richard’s Crossing, Fort Mill. Community Blood Center of the Carolinas teams up with Baxter Village and Cookies for Kids’ Cancer in honor and memory of local children who have been impacted by cancer: Emma Rose Poplin-Revels, 4; Daniel Kauffman, 6; Carson Caskey, 8; Libby Kern, 6; Justine Seibel, 16; Calvin Bradley. The blood drive will also be in memory of Asa Jay Allen, Jenna Witherspoon, Noah Mayberry and Harlan Sullins. To make an appointment, call 704-972-4700 or visit visit cbcc.us.

Speak Spanish

Conversational Spanish for English Speakers, 6 p.m. Mondays, Steele Creek Public Library. Forget high school Spanish class. No verbs will be conjugated here. This class is for everyday use of the Spanish language. All materials provided. For adults. To register: 704-416-6800. tinyurl.com/calendarST, cmlibrary.org

Crossroads Cafe

Crossroads Cafe, 6 p.m. Tuesdays, Steele Creek Public Library. For adults and teens age 12-18 who speak some English but want to improve. Instructors from CPCC. 704-416-6800; cmlibrary.org

Explore solar system

“The Solar System: A Journey of Exploration,” through September, Schiele Museum of Natural History, 1500 E. Garrison Blvd., Gastonia. A new, original exhibit explores the solar system featuring large, active planet displays, hands-on interactives, touchscreens, iPads, a full-sized Mars Rover replica, a simulated Martian colony and more. 704-866-6908; schielemuseum.org

Grant exhibit

“Vernon Grant: An Illustrious Career” through Oct. 18, The Museum of York County, 4621 Mt. Gallant Road, Rock Hill. The new exhibition encompasses Grant’s life and career from the 1930s-1970s, and showcases Grant’s distinctive wit, style and masterful hand with gouache painting. http://chmuseums.org/myco/

Book Club

Steele Creek Readers Book Club, 10:30 a.m. April 14, Steele Creek Public Library. Discuss “Lisette’s List” by Susan Vreeland. Led by a staff member. Light refreshments available. New members welcome. For adults. 704-416-6800; cmlibrary.org

Red Cross

Red Cross Blood Drives, 2:30-7 p.m. April 14, Tirzah ARP Church, 6161 Mount Gallant Road, York, and Unity Presbyterian Church, 303 Tom Hall St., Fort Mill. 1-800-733-2767; redcrossblood.org

Grow veggies

Green Living: More Productive Vegetable Gardening With Companion Planting, 6 p.m. April 15, Steele Creek Public Library. Be a more savvy gardener by using companion planting. Find out how this organic approach to vegetable gardening can increase the productivity of your garden without the use of commercial pesticides or fertilizers. For adults. 704-416-6800; cmlibrary.org

Diabetes management

Living Healthy with Diabetes, 9:30 a.m.-noon Wednesdays April 22-May 27, Lucile Tatum Center, Gastonia. Learn to better manage diabetes through this self-management program. Sponsored by the N.C. Cooperative Extension and Centralina Area Agency on Aging. Program is free to participants, valued at more than $100. Registration required by April 8. 704-865-3291

Learn LinkedIn

Job Seeking: Networking with LinkedIn Basics, 5:30 p.m. April 22, Steele Creek Public Library. Learn about using LinkedIn to market yourself, network and improve your odds of getting the job. Bring a resume on a removable flash drive or in an email to create a LinkedIn account. For adults. 704-416-6800; cmlibrary.org

Yoga at Camp T

Yoga, 10 a.m. April 25, Duke Pavilion at Camp Thunderbird, 1 Thunderbird Lane, Lake Wylie. Open to the community, donations accepted to help Send a Kid to Camp campaign. Class taught by Om Yoga instructors of Fort Mill. Arrive 15 minutes early. More classes: June 13 with instructors from Jenny’s Yoga of Gastonia, and Aug. 8 and Sept. 12 with Charlotte Metro YMCA instructors.

Spring concert

Carolinas Wind Orchestra spring concert, 7:30 p.m. April 27, Byrnes Auditorium, Winthrop University, 1703 Memorial Circle, Rock Hill. The program includes: Mozart’s “Gran Partita,” Persichetti’s “Symphony No. 6 for Band,” Sousa’s “Picadore March,” Marquez’s “Danzon No. 2,” Herold’s “Zampa Overture,” Hogg’s “In Stillness,” and Follas’s “Mary Mare March.” The CWO is led by Dr. William Malambri and Dr. Stanley Michalski. Free admission. carolinaswindorchestra.org

Mystery book club

Mystery Readers Book Club, 6 p.m. April 28, Steele Creek Public Library. Discuss “A Tap on the Window” by Linwood Barclay. For adults. 704-416-6800; cmlibrary.org

Rain or Shine

Whether it’s Rain or Shine, it’s Weather!, 3-4 p.m. May 2 and May 23, McDowell Nature Center, Steele Creek. Explore what weather is and where it comes from. For ages 6-12. Participants will learn about cloud classification and thunderstorm development, and how to use basic weather instruments and read weather maps. Free event, but registration requested. 704-588-5224; parkandrec.com

Fabulous Equinox

The Fabulous Equinox, 7:30 p.m. May 7, The Community Performance Center, 249 E. Main St., Rock Hill. The “Mostly Mercer Show” gives the Equinox Band a chance to show off one of the South’s best exports – the music of Johnny Mercer. From “Blues in the Night” to “Jeepers Creepers,” “Hooray for Hollywood” to “One for My Baby,” hear American music from one of the 20th century’s most prolific song composers. Advance tickets: $35, or $30 for arts council members; $40 at the door. 803-328-2787; yorkcountyarts.org, equinoxorchestra.com

Family day

Homeschool Family Field Day, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. May 13, Copperhead Island shelter, Steele Creek. Enjoy a collection of activities including games, fishing, kayaking and hiking. Hot dog lunch will be served. For ages 5 and older. Cost: $8. Registration required by calling McDowell Nature Center, 704-588-5224. parkandrec.com

Home tour

York-Chester Historic Neighborhood’s Home and Garden Tour, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. May 16, Gastonia. Tour features five homes and seven gardens. 704-691-7922

Take a hike

Fitness Hike, 3-4 p.m. May 31, McDowell Nature Preserve, Steele Creek. Enjoy a comfortable, yet steady pace hiking throughout the preserve. For beginner and advanced hikers ages 8 and older. Dress in layers, wear sturdy shoes and bring bottled water. Free admission. Registration requested. 704-588-5224; parkandrec.com

This story was originally published April 2, 2015 at 3:45 PM with the headline "Events: Sheep Shearing Day April 11 at Historic Brattonsville."