12 minute read
Regional Happenings & Featured Events
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!
Photo by Todd Bush
ART ON THE GREENE
Photo by Lonnie Webster
SYMPHONY BY THE LAKE Conductor Cornelia Laemmli Orth
Celebrations & Festivals
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 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/
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
Arts & Crafts
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 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 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!
ART IN THE PARK Blowing Rock
Photo by Mark Seelig
AVERY FINE ART & MASTER CRAFTS Banner Elk CHRISTMAS IN JULY West Jefferson
Photo courtesy of Mystery Hill
MYSTERY HILL RIVER WALK Blowing Rock
Lost Province – Create your own art this Summer! The Lost Province Center for Cultural Arts (LPCCA) offers a variety of courses— based on traditional Appalachian art—for all skill levels, including Ceramics, Fiber Arts, Printmaking, Wine Making and more. Come see the LPCCA campus at the historic Lansing School property for yourself this July at their Family Fun Day event, featuring a dunking booth, hot dogs, popcorn, corn hole, face painting, pie throwing, and more! Time and date TBD. lostprovincearts.org
Music
Symphony by the Lake – Symphony by the Lake returns to Chetola Resort for a centerpiece event of the summer on Friday, July 22. The theme, “Movie Soundtracks,” will be reflected in the musical selections as well as the décor of patron tents that line the lake. The much-loved Symphony of the Mountains, directed by Conductor Cornelia Laemmli Orth, will be featured once again this year. symphonybythelake.com.
See our full music guide, “Where the Music Is,” on page 45, along with our Cultural Calendar, Appalachian Summer Festival, and Boone 150th features.
History
Banner House Museum – Enjoy guided tours of the 1870 Samuel Banner House, with period furnishings that set the stage to tell the story of the settlement and growth of Banner Elk. Guided Walking Tours lead visitors on an “insider’s” tour of Banner Elk. And check out the other 2022 offerings from the Greater Banner Elk Heritage Foundation, including a special Bus Tour, Pocket Sights Walking Tours, and virtual History Trunks. The Banner House Museum is located at 7990 Hickory Nut Gap Road, Banner Elk, and is open from 11-3, Wed-Sat, June-Sept. BannerHouseMuseum.org
Nature and Natural Wonders
Wildlife at Parks – Come meet wildlife ambassadors from the May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center at Lees-McRae College and learn about a variety of animals and their habitats. Free public presentations are held on Fridays and Saturdays at 1 p.m. at the Banner Elk Town Park Pavilion, and on Wednesdays at 11 a.m. at the Valle Crucis Park, through the last week in July. facebook.com/BlueRidgeWildlifeInstitute/ See the Stars and More! – The Earth to Sky Park is an environmental educational park for those interested in learning about the natural world we live in, from the earth to the sky. The Park is open to the public and there is 24-hour access to the parking area for stargazing. With the opening of The Glenn and Carol Arthur Planetarium this summer, the Earth to Sky Park is one of two International Dark Sky certified parks in the world operated by an educational institute that have both an observatory and a planetarium. www.mayland.edu/ planetarium/ Mystery Hill – One of North Carolina’s most unique attractions, Mystery Hill is a blend of indoor and outdoor activities located in Blowing Rock, NC. Explore the mysterious Natural Gravitational Anomaly. Have fun with weird science in their hands-on science attraction, the Hall of Mystery. Find treasure at Prospector Hill Gem Mining. Explore the Native American Artifacts Museum, home to the largest private collection of Native American artifacts in the world. And wade in the waters of the New River, which runs alongside Mystery Hill. mysteryhill.com
Outdoor Adventure and Sports
Goat Yoga – Avery Community Yoga and Apple Hill Farm have teamed up for another season of baby goat yoga! Join in this fun outdoor yoga class and connect yourself with a farm experience while surrounded by adorable baby goats. Apple Hill Farm is a family-owned working fiber farm with a mission to bring joy and moments of connection to our community. Avery Community Yoga, with a studio located at the Historic Banner Elk School, provides affordable yoga classes and special events that highlight creativity, health, and connection through yoga. averycommunityyoga.com/goat-yoga, applehillfarmnc.com continued...
GOAT YOGA
LEES-MCRAE WILDLIFE AMBASSADORS AT THE PARK
Photo by Jack Rice @jackiericecakes
GRAVITY MOUNTAIN BIKE CAMP Sugar Mountain
Wildcat Lake – Wildcat Lake, now owned and operated by LeesMcRae College, is open to the public this summer! This premier High Country attraction features a white sand beach with a swimming area, and two docks for fishing and wildlife observation. In addition, there are four rental shelters with grills, perfect for family gatherings or summer parties. Nearby are a volleyball court, playground sets, and public restrooms. Located on Hickory Nut Gap Road in Banner Elk, this 13-acre lake is an iconic summer experience for children and families! www.lmc.edu/community/wildcat-lake.htm Sugar Mountain Adventures – Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (plus Monday July 4th and Labor Day Monday), from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., the Sugar Mountain bike park is open to bikers and hikers. Chairlift rides aboard the Summit Express shuttle bikers and footpassengers to the mountain’s peak and the Easy Street lift services a beginner-level gravity skills trail for bikers only. The Sugar Mountain Resort Summit Crawl on Monday, July 4, is a fun and competitive event (if you want it to be) via foot to Sugar Mountain’s 5,300’ peak by way of the Easy Street, Gunther’s Way, and Northridge slopes. The Crawl covers a distance of approximately 6,500 ft., or 1.2 miles. Sugar’s Gravity Mountain Bike Camp for tweens and teens ages 11-16 will be held July 15-17 and August 5-7. And a Ladies Gravity Mountain Bike Clinic will be held on July 23. www.skisugar.com Beech Mountain Adventures – Beech Mountain is truly an outdoor playground for kids ages 2 to 102, with a wealth of summer activities and adventures. Participate in guided hikes, street dances, and the popular Mile High Kite Festival on September 3-4. Try Mile High Yoga at 5506’ at Beech Mountain Resort, or hone your disc golfing skills on their chairlift-accessible Disc Golf Course, with a new and improved design for the 2022 summer season. Check out the 38th Annual Crafts on the Green on August 13, and book your tickets now for Autumn at Oz, held select weekends beginning in early September. Plan your activities to include the many live music concerts happening on Beech throughout the summer. Beechmtn. com, www.beechmountainresort.com, www.landofoznc.com Blue Ridge Brutal – The Blue Ridge Brutal Bike Ride is scheduled for August 20, so be sure to register soon for this popular ride. Because of construction on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the routes have changed for this year—but with new routes come new views! All of the rides—50, 70 and 100 miles—have steep elevation gains and can be considered challenging to strenuous. However, you can mix the pain with the joy of riding through some of the most beautiful scenery in North Carolina. blueridgebrutal.org The Devil’s Stairs Motorcycle Loop – The Devil’s Stairs motorcycle ride is an 80-mile loop starting and ending in West Jefferson, NC, and is based on a local folk tale. The route weaves through the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and features great pavement, technical curves, and gorgeous High Country scenery. In addition to much of Ashe County, the route will also take riders through Trade, Boone, and Todd. Sharp’s Falls Dam, Worth’s Chapel, the Trade Grist Mill, Appalachian State University, the former railroad boomtown of Todd, and scenic stretches alongside the ancient New River are just some of the highlights to be enjoyed on the way. devilstairs. com, Ashechamber.com
Food
Summer Farmers’ Markets – Enjoy the Bounties of Summer! Our local open-air farmers’ markets are welcoming shoppers all season long. This convenient directory will help you find a market near you—enjoy the best of what our region has to offer! Please be sure to confirm dates/times with your markets of choice prior to scheduling a trip.
Abingdon, VA Farmers Market
Saturdays 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., April – October Tuesdays 3 – 6 p.m. April - September Corner of Remsburg Dr. and Cummings St. in downtown Abingdon
Ashe County Farmers’ Market
Saturdays 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., April 16 – October 29 108 Backstreet, West Jefferson, NC
Lansing Farmers’ Market
Fridays 1 - 5 p.m., through October 21 Lansing Creeper Trail Park, 114 S Big Horse Creek Rd, Lansing, NC
Avery County Farmers’ Market
Thursdays 4 - 6:30 p.m. Historic Banner Elk School Parking Lot, 185 Azalea Circle, Banner Elk, NC
DEVIL’S STAIRS MOTORCYCLE LOOP WILDCAT LAKE Lees-McRae College, Banner Elk
FARMERS’ MARKET
Watauga County Farmers’ Market
Saturdays April through Oct, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. Saturdays November 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. 591 Horn in the West Dr, Boone
King Street Farmers’ Market
Tuesdays 4 - 7 p.m., May - October 126 Poplar Grove Connector, Boone, NC
Blowing Rock Farmers’ Market
Thursdays 3 - 6 p.m., May 19 - September 29 132 Park Ave., Downtown Blowing Rock, NC
Johnson County Farmers’ Market
Saturdays May through October, 9 a.m. to Noon Ralph Stout Park in Mountain City Mountain City, TN
Wilkes County Farmers’ Market
Saturdays 7:30 a.m.-Noon, Tuesdays 3:30-5:30 p.m., April 23 - September Yadkin Valley Marketplace in downtown N. Wilkesboro
Morganton Farmers’ Markets
Saturdays 8 a.m.-Noon, May-October 300 Beach St., Morganton Wednesday Mini Market, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., May-October 111 North Green St. Morganton
High Country Food Hub
Order fresh, local foods online and pick them up at one of six convenient locations throughout Ashe, Avery, and Watauga Counties. And don’t forget to pick up your copy of their brand new cookbook! www.highcountryfoodhub.org
Add to Your Summer Calendar
Some of the best resources for checking event listings, updates and changes are our local Chambers of Commerce and Tourism Development Associations. Be sure to visit these websites before planning your visit to take advantage of all that our region has to offer.
Ashe County Chamber of Commerce: https://ashechamber.com/
Avery Chamber of Commerce:https://averycounty.com
Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce:
https://www.bannerelk.org/
Beech Mountain TDA: https://beechmtn.com
Boone Chamber of Commerce: https://www.boonechamber.com/
Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce:
https://blowingrockncchamber.com/home
Burnsville-Yancey Chamber of Commerce:
https://www.yanceychamber.com/
Caldwell County Chamber of Commerce:
https://www.caldwellchambernc.com/
Morganton Chamber of Commerce:
http://www.downtownmorganton.com/
Johnson County, TN, Chamber of Commerce:
http://www.johnsoncountytn.org/
Photo by Todd Bush
Mitchell County Chamber of Commerce:
https://mitchellcountychamber.org/
Sugar Mountain TDA: https://seesugar.com/
Wilkes County Chamber of Commerce:
https://www.wilkeschamber.com/
