UNCC Center City Literary Festival Opens on Friday

The UNC Charlotte English Department is sponsoring a Center City Literary Festival, complete with violin music.
The festival, headed by veteran UNCC English Department chair Mark West, will open at 6 p.m., on Friday with a reading by James Grymes, author of "Violins of Hope," about the music and the instruments played by Jews to buoy their spirits while imprisoned in the Nazi concentration camps.
Violin music will accompany the reading.
Others performing on Friday evening include poet Chris Davis, mystery writer Mark de Castrique, essayist Sandra Govan and poet Grace Ocasio.
Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., is for the youngsters. On hand will be authors and illustrators, including Caldecott-winning writer Gail Haley, illustrator Mathew Myers and digital artist Heather Freeman. These artists will present hands-on activities for the kids.
Beth Murray of the UNCC Theater Department will coordinate activities based on picture books.
The festival will conclude with a performance by the UNC-Charlotte Chamber Orchestra.
Everyone is welcome to the free events.

UNCC Center City Campus: 320 East Ninth St., Charlotte, 28202