Events & Live Entertainment

Accommodations 2022 Main Events

FIND DETAILED WEEKLy EVENTS @ HIGHCOUNTRyCALENDAR.COM

JANUARY

January 27-30 24th Annual Blowing Rock Winterfest

live music and specials at area restaurants, ice carvings & more. blowingrockwinterfest.com

MARCH

March 20-21 App Ski Meltdown Games & Beach Blast

Cardboard box derby, 3-man sled contest, railjam & more. appskimtn.com

APRIL

April 28-May 1 Merlefest

1350 S Collegiate Dr, Wilkesboro, 800-343-7857 Committed to producing a high-quality diversified American-roots-based musical experience that attracts a broad audience & reunites guests, supporters and performers in an annual celebration of Americana music. merlefest.org

JUNE

June 2022 Family Fun Month

30 days of family activities and lodging specials

beechmtn.com

June 11-12 Art in the Park Weekend

Art show feating 90 artists Saturday. Free concert in the park Sunday. blowingrock.com

June 17 12th Annual Town of Boone Doc Watson Day

Enjoy music & stories at this free event in downtown Boone. joneshouse.org

JULY

July 1-31 An Appalachian Summer Festival

Boone, 800-841-ARTS Appalachian State University’s annual summer arts celebration featuring a diverse mix of music, dance, theatre, visual arts & film programming.

appsummer.org

July 1-2 34th Annual Christmas in July Festival

Arts, crafts, music, Civil War reenactors, food & fun in downtown West Jefferson! (Live music & food Fri.) christmasinjuly.info

July 2 Blowing Rock 4th of July Weekend

Music in the park, games & Main Street parade!

blowingrock.com/july4th July 4 Annual Roasting of the Hog

Pork, smoked turkey & all the fixin’s along with music & fireworks. beechmtn.com

July 4 Town of Boone 4th of July Celebration

Small town parade, free watermelon, music, family activities & fireworks. joneshouse.org

July 7-10 66th Annual Grandfather Mtn Highland Games

MacRae Meadows, Linville, 828-733-1333 One of the premier Scottish Highland celebrations featuring the largest clan gathering in the world! Celebrate Celtic culture & competition at MacRae Meadows on Grandfather Mountain.

gmhg.org

July 9 Frontier Day

Cowboy fun and history for the whole family at our Old West Town. saloonstudioslive.com

July 15-17 Fine Art & Master Crafts Festival

Juried festival with nationally & internationally known artisans at new location: Sugar Mountain Resort. averycounty.com

July 22 Symphony by the Lake at Chetola

Symphony of the Mountains on the lawn of Chetola Resort with fireworks finale.

symphonybythelake.com July 22-23 Ashe County Fiddlers Convention

Adult & youth competitions in bluegrass & old time music. ashefiddlersconvention.org

July 30 Brushy Mountain Peach Festival

Street festival centered around peaches in the downtown Wilkesboro Historic District.

discoverwilkesboro.com

AUGUST

August 6-7 Ashe County Studio Tour

Drive the countryside and visit artists in their own studios. ashecountyarts.org

August 12-14 Fine Arts & Master Craft Festival

Juried festival with nationally & internationally known artisans at new location: Sugar Mountain Resort. averycounty.com

September 3-4 Beech Mtn Annual Mile High Kite Festival

Kite club demonstations, free kites to the 1st 200 kids. beechmtn.com

September 10-11 Art in the Park Weekend

Art show feating 90 artists Saturday. Free concert in the park Sunday. blowingrock.com

September 16-17 West Jefferson Olde Time Antiques Fair

Outdoor antique vendors, live music & food vendors oldetimeantiquesfair.com

September 17 27th Annual Mountain Heritage Festival

Heritage craft demonstrations and vendors, live music & food vendors.

alleghanycountychamber.com September 23 Jimmy Run and Street Party

Downtown Boone street party with live music, games, food, & a mini-race around Jimmy Smith Park. Free. joneshouse.org

September 24 Art on the Mountain

Fine arts & crafts, demos, food & more!

ashecountyarts.org

OCTOBER

October 1 Brushy Mountain Apple Festival

Music, dancing, arts & crafts, food & a celebration of mtn. apples. applefestival.net

October 8-9 Oktoberfest

Festive Bavarian atmosphere at Sugar Mountain Ski Resort with live music, costume contest, kids fun center and German beer. Free admission. oktoberfest.skisugar.com

October 15 43rd Annual Valle Country Fair

Juried fine art & crafts booths, music & food.

vallecountryfair.org

October 15-16 45th Annual Woolly Worm Festival

Woolly Worm wace, crafts, food & kids activities. woollyworm.com

NOVEMBER

November 11- December 24 Choose & Cut Christmas Tree Season

Select a free tree and enjoy amenities such as hot hayrides!highcountryholiday.com

November 18 Ski Slopes begin to open

Weather pending- slopes will begin to open up in mid-November!

November 19

Ashe County Holiday Parade Small town parade in the Christmas Tree Capital of the USA!

ashechamber.com

November 25-26 Christmas in the Park & Lighting of the Town

Music, games, Santa, parade and more!

blowingrock.com/christmas-park

DECEMBER

December 2 Boone Festive First Friday

Solar tree lighting, music, and festive small-town holiday evening fun in downtown Boone.

joneshouse.org

December 3 Banner Elk A Small Town Christmas

Night parade of lights, luminary trail with minitrain rides, santa visits, music & light show

bannerelk.com

December 31 New Year’s Eve Extravaganza

Fireworks, torchlight skiing and more! Moonlight ice skating from 10 pm to midnight. AppSkiMtn.com

EVENTS CALENDAR Accommodations Events in a Series

An Appalachian Summer Festival

July A summer arts celebration featuring a diverse mix of music, dance, theatre, visual arts & film programming. appsummer.org

Appalachian Theatre of the High Country

year-round The 629 seat art deco theatre showcases regional, national & international acts, movies & corporate events year round. apptheatre.org

Art in the Park

May-Oct: Various Saturdays A juried art & craft show featuring 90 artisans.

blowingrock.com/artinthepark Artisan Market

May-Nov: First Friday-Sunday Showcasing arts & crafts vendors, along with outdoor fun and games!

tangeroutlets.com/blowingrock ASU ‘The Schaefer Center Presents’

September-April Featuring a diverse array of acclaimed music, dance, & theatre, showcasing artists from around the world. theschaefercenter.org

Downtown Boone Art Crawl

Feb-Dec: 1st Friday of the month Stroll galleries along King St., meet artists, listen to music and enjoy a meal. downtownboonenc.com

Downtown West Jefferson Art Crawl

June-Oct: 2nd Friday of the month Enjoy openings, demonstrations, new artists, and food. ashecountyarts.org

Ensemble Stage

year-Round 185 Azalea Circle, Banner Elk, 828-414-1844 The High Country’s only year-round professional theater presents full-length plays, staged radio dramas, interactive murder mysteries, shows for kids and an annual musical holiday variety show.

ensemblestage.com Grillin & Chillin at Sugar Mountain

Memorial Day - Labor Day Come to the Caddyshack Café golf deck for a free outdoor concert and dancing every Wednesday evening. seesugar.com/summer-concerts

Horn in the West

June - Aug: Nightly @ 8pm; except Mondays An outdoor dramas about the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution. horninthewest.com

Jones House Concerts

Various Dates House-concert style ticketed indoor performances

joneshouse.org Lees-McRae Summer Theatre

June- August Producing quality theatre experiences in the heart of Banner Elk. lmc.edu

Mountain Home Music Concerts

Memorial Day-Christmas Season Appalachian musicians, dancers, storytellers & poets. Appalachian tradition includes celtic, oldtime, bluegrass and African American forms of artistic expression. mountainhomemusic.com

At the Banner Elk Cultural Arts Center Historic Banner Elk School 185 Azalea Circle SE

Music on Main

June-September Listen to live music at various locations in downtown Sparta.

alleghanycountychamber.com

Saloon Studios Live

Seasonal 19th-century western town replica and saloon, complete with two live stages & recording studio. Our concerts & events are unlike anything you’ve experienced before!

saloonstudioslive.com

Crossnore Jam

Town Meeting House, Crossnore, 828-733-0360 Live jam sessions are held the 1st Friday of every month, 7pm-9pm. crossnorenc.com

The Orchard at Altapass

1025 Orchard Rd, Spruce Pine, 828-765-9531 Live bands perform weekends from June-Oct

altapassfoundation.org Concerts in the Park

Memorial Park, Blowing Rock, 828-295-7851 Sundays after Art in the Park. Feature a wide array of music. blowingrock.com

Jones House Community Center

604 W King St, Boone, 828-268-6280 Free concerts every Friday, 5pm, June-August Old-time jam sessions indoors every Thursday at 7:30pm. joneshouse.org

COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCESunday Sunset Concert Series Beech Alpen Inn, Beech Mtn DEDICATED TO COMMUNITYEnjoy a variety of bands every Sunday, 5-8 from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Music on the Veranda

Green Park Inn, Blowing Rock Sundays, 5-8pm from May-Oct. Everything from Bluegrass to rockabilly. greenparkinn.com

Tate-Evans Park

210 Park Ave, Banner Elk, 828-898-8395 Eclectic mix of musicians perform Thursday evenings: June-Sept at 6pm. bannerelk.org

Blowing Rock, Boone Area

Appalachian State Hayes School of Music

813 Rivers St, Boone, 828-262-3020 An array of faculty, student & guest performers. Grand opera to bluegrass showcased.

music.appstate.edu Red, White & Bluegrass Jam

Blowing Rock American Legion, 828-963-3546 April-Nov, 1st & 3rd Tuesdays, 6-9pm Indoors with seating. Suggested $5 Donation.

West Jefferson, Sparta Area

Backstreet Park Summer Concert Series

Backstreet, West Jefferson, 866-607-0093 Held May-August. visitwestjefferson.org

Crouse House Pickers

60 Cherry St, Sparta, 336-372-4591 Jam session held every Monday at 6pm. Bring an instrument to join in! alleghanycountychamber.com

MUSIC · DANCE · THEATRE · FILM · VISUAL ARTS

Todd Summer Music Series

Cook Park, Todd, NC 28684 Free concerts every other Saturday from June- August at 6pm. Food & refreshment available.

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FESTIVaLSummer FeStivAl MUSIC | DANCE | THEATRE | VISUAL ARTS | FILM july 2022 Dear Friends, The past year has transformed and challenged us in so many ways. We now realize how much of our daily lives, pre-COVID 19, we took for granted: traveling, seeing family and friends, being in public, and attending concerts, plays, dance performances and museum openings. We also learned that the arts events which inspire us and nourish our souls are more than the artistry we enjoy in a concert hall, theatre or gallery space. They are a social experience, and a critical means of human connection. As COVID restrictions begin to ease, and we celebrate the return of live events — and seeing each other once again — the festival will embrace new and different program formats. This year’s festival will include an exciting mix of outdoor events, limited-attendance events at the Schaefer Center (with a livestreaming option) and virtual content. Presenting events with limited seating and in outdoor venues has been a costly adjustment. Even in the best of times, ticket sales cover only 43% of the festival’s expenses. Private support is critical in making up the difference. Please join us in supporting the festival’s 2021 season with a donation that may be received anytime through September 15, 2021. However, in order to recognize your gift in the 2021 Festival Playbill (which greatly assists the festival, because it encourages others to follow your example), we must receive your gift or pledge by June 1, 2021. Your support ensures a continued commitment to affordable ticket prices and the highest standards of artistic excellence, while enabling the festival to sustain itself during this unusual season. Thank you in advance for your support of the festival’s astonishing array of events that make life in the High Country so special. We look forward to celebrating another arts-filled summer together! With warmest regards, Dear Friends, The past year has transformed and challenged us in so many ways. We now realize how much of our daily lives, pre-COVID 19, we took for granted: traveling, seeing family and friends, being in public, and attending concerts, plays, dance performances and museum openings. We also learned that the arts events which inspire us and nourish our souls are more than the artistry we enjoy in a concert hall, theatre or gallery space. They are a social experience, and a critical means of human connection. As COVID restrictions begin to ease, and we celebrate the return of live events — and seeing each other once again — the festival will embrace new and different program formats. This year’s festival will include an exciting mix of outdoor events, limited-attendance events at the Schaefer Center (with a livestreaming option) and virtual content. Presenting events with limited seating and in outdoor venues has been a costly adjustment. Even in the best of times, ticket sales cover only 43% of the festival’s expenses. Private support is critical in making up the difference. “Named One of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society.” Please join us in supporting the festival’s 2021 season with a donation that may be received anytime through September 15, 2021. However, in order to recognize your gift in the 2021 Festival Playbill (which greatly assists the festival, because it encourages others to follow your example), we must receive your gift or pledge by June 1, 2021. Your support ensures a continued commitment to affordable ticket prices and the highest standards of artistic excellence, while enabling the festival to sustain itself during this unusual season. Thank you in advance for your support of the festival’s astonishing array of events that make life in the High AppSUMMER.oRg Country so special. We look forward to celebrating another arts-filled summer together! 828-262-4046With warmest regards, Kent Tarbutton Jenny Miller Chair, Festival Advisory Board Vice-Chair, Festival Advisory Board

Kent Tarbutton Chair, Festival Advisory Board Jenny Miller P.S. Please make your gift online at http://appsummer.org/support/ or use the enclosed return envelope. Vice-Chair, Festival Advisory Board

P.S. Please make your gift online at http://appsummer.org/support/ or use the enclosed return envelope.

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Dear Friends, Dear Friends, Dear Friends, Summer FeStivAl MUSIC | DANCE | THEATRE | VISUAL ARTS | FILM Summer FeStivAl MUSIC | DANCE | THEATRE | VISUAL ARTS | FILM Summer FeStivAl MUSIC | DANCE | THEATRE | VISUAL ARTS | FILM The past year has transformed and challenged us in so many ways. We now realize how much of our daily The past year has transformed and challenged us in so many ways. We now realize how much of our daily lives, pre-COVID 19, we took for granted: traveling, seeing family and friends, being in public, and attending The past year has transformed and challenged us in so many ways. We now realize how much of our daily lives, pre-COVID 19, we took for granted: traveling, seeing family and friends, being in public, and attending concerts, plays, dance performances and museum openings. lives, pre-COVID 19, we took for granted: traveling, seeing family and friends, being in public, and attending concerts, plays, dance performances and museum openings. concerts, plays, dance performances and museum openings.