Fall in love with festival season WOOLLY WORM FESTIVAL, BANNER ELK
BY MAKAELAH WALTERS
D
espite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic community members in the High Country still find the arrival of fall as good a reason as any to celebrate with fun, food and fellowship. The changing of the leaves, the crisp autumn air, the promise of the coming winter are each a perfect opportunity to gather for old fashioned fall fun. Whether it’s apple picking, hand-made crafts, or a locally brewed beer, the High Country offers a little something for everyone during the season.
VALLE COUNTRY FAIR, VALLE CRUCIS
The Valle Country Fair is every fairgoers dream with activities diverse enough to satisfy visitors from all over. Located in the hamlet of Valle Crucis, the fair takes place in a sprawling meadow, across from Holy Cross Church, located at 122 Skiles Way in Banner Elk. Events, which include live mountain music, crafts, pumpkin bowling and more, begin Saturday, Oct. 16 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission to Valle Country Fair is free, though parking costs start at $10 per personal vehicle. Parking is $25 per small bus or van and $50 per large bus or 134
PHOTO SUBMITTED Woolly Worm greets the alpacas at the 2017 Woolly Worm Festival in Banner Elk.
A WORD ON COVID-19 Details regarding the events listed are subject to change due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Some events may undergo a change of venue, be postponed, re-scheduled or canceled altogether. COVID-19 procedures vary depending on the venue. Information about vaccination and mask policies can be found by visiting the website or calling the phone number included in the listing. motor coach. Valle Country Fair was founded and is sponsored by members of Holy Cross Episcopal Church. Members host the annual event to raise funds for community outreach programs. The churches mission of “sharing Christ’s love through compassionate ministry” has always been the driving force of the fair. Several of the fair’s
vendors donate all proceeds from concessions to the fair. Other vendors donate 10 percent of their revenue to the fair as an act of tithing. All work exhibited at the fair undergoes a strict jurying process, by members of Holy Cross Church, to ensure the work is hand-crafted and original in design, form and concept. Two stages adjacent to
the dining tent allow fairgoers to enjoy traditional mountain music with a hot bowl of Brunswick Stew. Other concessions at the fair include apple butter, jams and jellies and baked goods, as well as, sausage with onions and peppers, chili and barbeque. The youth stage, conveniently located near grazing alpacas, face painters and a sand artist booth, will feature performances from young performing artists and dancers. A Kids Area offers a kidfriendly classic fall fair experience, complete with carnival games and pumpkin carving. In 2019, the fair distributed $60,000 to nonprofit organizations
serving people in need throughout Watauga and Avery County. This year’s Valle Country Grant Recipients include Watauga County Schools’ Extended Learning Center, Spirit Ride, Parent to Parent Family Support Network, Mountain Alliance, Life Village, Hunger and Health Coalition, High Country Caregivers, The Children’s Council, Blue ridge Women in Agriculture and Appalachian Senior Programs, Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion Programs. For more information on Valle Crucis Fair call the Valle Country Fair committee at (828) 963-4609 or email holy_ cross@skybest.com.
Banner Elk’s Woolly Worm Festival, recognized as “The Official Woolly Worm Festival of North Carolina,” is a joyous 2-day event, bringing thousands of patrons to Banner Elk each year. The Woolly Worm Festival honors a 44-year-old tradition with friendly — and fuzzy- competition. Patrons place bets on the small fuzzy worms as they wriggle to the top of a LENGTH string; the winning worm bears a prediction about the coming winter weather. These small creatures outlast frigid winters in the area by going into hibernation. Some worms are known to survive as many as 14 winters using this method. They produce a chemical that allows their bodies to freeze solid without any adverse effects. Jim Morton, co-founder of the Woolly Worm Festival, first learned about the woolly worm in 1973. That year, he spent his first autumn in the area. His interest in the local folklore laid the foundation for the theory that woolly worms can predict the weather. Legend has it, the woolly worm’s 13 segments correspond with 13 weeks of winter. Black segments are said to indicate severe SEE FESTIVAL ON PAGE 135
AUTUMN TIMES 2021
