Photo by Lonnie Webster
Photo by Todd Bush
Summer is here and the High Country has come alive with outdoor activities, celebrations, and events that feature art, sports, music, history, food, and more! Throughout this Summer issue of CML you’ll discover that there’s SO much to do and see this season. Here are just some of the happenings and featured events to enjoy!
SYMPHONY BY THE LAKE Conductor Cornelia Laemmli Orth
ART ON THE GREENE
REGIONAL HAPPENINGS | REGIONAL H Celebrations & Festivals
Arts & Crafts
Christmas in July – Share our mountain heritage at one of the best old-fashioned summer festivals in the South, drawing thousands to historic downtown West Jefferson in Ashe County each July. Christmas in July—held this year on July 1 and 2—is a free-admission event featuring the very best in traditional mountain music and handmade arts and crafts throughout the region. The festival also celebrates the farm-grown Christmas tree industry Ashe County is known for. www.facebook.com/CIJFestival/
Avery Fine Art & Master Crafts Festival – Over at Sugar Mountain Resort, mingle with a diverse group of fine artists and master crafters during this popular annual festival being held on July 15-17 and August 12-14. The event is sponsored by the Avery County Chamber of Commerce, and festival hours are Friday, 1-5 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. averycounty.com
Boone’s 150th Birthday Celebration – The year-long party continues as we honor Boone, NC, which incorporated in 1872. From art and history events to fireworks and concerts, the Town of Boone has put together a full year of fun and learning for the whole family. See our article, Town of Boone’s 150th Celebration Continues, for a comprehensive listing of summer events. www.boone150.com
Independence Day Celebration – It’s hard to choose just one 4th of July celebration in the High Country! You’ll find parades, fireworks, kids’ activities, fun runs, food, beverages, live music and more at multiple spots, including downtown Banner Elk, Beech Mountain, Sugar Mountain, downtown Boone, downtown Blowing Rock, Tweetsie Railroad, Newland, Crossnore, North Wilkesboro, and many other locales throughout our region. Festivities occur July 2, 3 and 4, depending on where you decide to celebrate. bannerelk. com, bannerelk.org, www.beechmountainresort.com, www.skisugar. com, www.boone150.com, blowingrock.com/july4th/, tweetsie.com, www.facebook.com/thetownofnewland. 45th Annual Woolly Worm Festival – Make plans now to attend this wildly popular annual event in downtown Banner Elk, NC. It’s the only festival where you can race caterpillars for cash prizes. Sounds unusual, but the festival is a favorite among locals and visitors alike. Always the third weekend of October, this year’s event takes place October 15 and 16. www.woollyworm.com
20 — Summer 2022 CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE
Art on the Greene – Head to downtown Banner Elk for the summertime Art on the Greene show, taking place July 2-3, August 6-7, and September 3-4. This fine art show features quality, hand-made arts and crafts from select regional and national artisans (this is a juried show), and takes place each year on the grounds of the Historic Banner Elk School in downtown Banner Elk. www.townofbannerelk. org/beshows
Art in the Park – Blowing Rock’s Art in the Park, now in its 60th year, offers open-air gallery experiences for art lovers, collectors, and craft enthusiasts. The six-show series, one presented each month from May through October, sets up downtown along Park Avenue. The remaining 2022 Art in the Park dates include July 16, August 13, September 10 and October 1. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A Concert in the Park is paired with each show, presented each Sunday following Art in the Park. Art in the Park is a Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce event. blowingrock.com/artinthepark/ Artists in Residence – Presented by The Blowing Rock Historical Society, this year’s Artists in Residence series runs through September 11. During the program the cottage becomes home to 25 artists representing a variety of outstanding, original two and threedimensional pieces. The series takes place Monday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with different artists each week. www.artistsatedgewood.org Ashe Arts Events – Over in Ashe County, the Ashe County Arts Council has developed a broad visual arts program this summer, including downtown West Jefferson Gallery Crawls on the second Friday of each month through October, and an artists’ Studio Tour on August 6-7. Check out www.ashecountyarts.org for more information on their cultural arts programming, including concerts, the popular Fiddlers Convention, and more!
