Penick Village is abuzz with activity in preparation for the fourth annual art show and sale, which takes place this weekend, Feb. 28 through March 1.

Proceeds from the weekend events will benefit the Penick Village Benevolent Assistance Fund.

"All are invited to come and have fun, while helping Penick Village raise funds for its important commitment to benevolent assistance," says a spokesman.

Kicking off the weekend is a Friday, Feb. 27, preview party, with valet parking,cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, music and a talented team of bartenders, including local area bankers, academics, business execs, attorneys, clergy and media pros. This is an opportunity to have first preview and purchase of featured art prior to the Art Show, which opens Saturday, Feb. 28.

The preview party, in Penick's North Building, features alternating silent and live auctions. Party hours are 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Admission is $45. Tickets can be purchased online at www.penickvillage.org or contact the Penick Village Development Office at 692-0381.

Local Celebrity Bartenders

A list of celebrity bartenders adding fun, excitement and unparalleled service to the preview party includes Dr. John Dempsey, president, Sandhills Community College; Jim Byrd, president of Crescent State Bank; Patrick Coughlin, president of the Sandhills Chamber of Commerce; the Rev. John Tampa, rector of Emmanuel Episcopal Church; Severine Hutchins, wife of Penick Village CEO Jeff Hutchins; Sherwood Blackwood, president, First Citizens Bank; Wayne Robbins, partner, Robbins, May & Rich LLP; Byrd Gwinn, retired managing director, the Chubb Group; David Woronoff, publisher, The Pilot; Mike Haney, mayor, Southern Pines; and Jay St. John, headmaster, Emma-nual Episcopal Day School.

'A Day in the Life' Experiences

Specially featured in this year's auction are chances to bid on spending a "Day in the Life" with excavators on Blackbeard's Queen Anne's Revenge, behind-the-scenes at the Men's U.S. Open at Bethpage and the Women's U.S. Open at Saucon Valley, or skydiving with an Army Golden Knight. If NASCAR is more your style, a high velocity behind-the-scenes day at the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte could be yours.

Also featured are visits to WRAL-TV5, Old Salem or nearby Aberdeen with The Bakehouse's Master Pastry Chef Martin Bruener.

Auction items also include golf packages, spa treatments, wine, cooking classes, a Caribbean vacation, porcelain and stoneware, theater tickets, gift certificates and more-- not to mention paintings, pottery, photography and jewelry from talented area artists.

The annual art show and sale, also in the North Building at Penick Village, opens to the public Saturday, Feb. 28, at 11 a.m., and is open until 4 p.m. On Sunday, March 1, the show runs from noon to 3 p.m.

Admission is free, and light refreshments will be served.

For more information, or to purchase admission to the preview party, visit www. penickvillage.org or contact the Penick Village Development Office at (910) 692-0381.