Fall Festival Guide 2014 by Mountain Times Publications

l a v i t Fall Fes GUIDE

g n i r u t a e F

The Valle Country Fair

Woolly Worm Festival High Country

HALLOWEEN and more!

A special publication of

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Boone Heritage Festival celebrates history with education, entertainment BY ERIKA GIOVANETTI erika@mountaintimes.com

t the fourth annual Boone Heritage Festival, travel back to 18th-century Appalachia, a time and place in history when valiant pioneers settled the rugged terrain of the High Country. From 10 a.m. till 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 12, present-day adventurers can learn all about the customs and practices of those who paved the way for modern High Country inhabitants. The festival takes place at Hickory Ridge Living History Museum, located on the grounds of “Horn in the West.” “This is the first time we’ve tried it on Sunday, so I’m looking forward to it,” event coordinator Michelle Ligon said. “We’re expecting it to be a great day.” In the past, Boone held an Apple Festival, until the theme was revamped in 2011 to celebrate the town’s heritage. “Some of the other towns in the area have a signature festival, and Boone didn’t seem to have one,” Ligon said. “We wanted to put it together and name it in a way that the town could feel proud of it.” Visitors are treated to demonstrations of butter churning, wool spinning, paddle weaving, flintlock rifle firing, scarecrow making, leather working and more. Along with many of the demonstrations, visitors are also allowed to try their hand at the activities, as well. A popular attraction at the festival is tomahawk throwing. Here, people can watch a demonstration and then, with a donation, throw the tomahawk themselves. Kids can also learn how to make cornhusk dolls and tin lanterns, which they can then take home to keep. Donations are encouraged to help cover the cost of materials. Vendors also sell various crafts, and the concessions stand will be serving special fall treats in addition to the usual concession fare. Vendors sell homemade goods, including candles, soap and bird feeders, to name a few. The concession stand will also be set up, selling baked goods, fried apple pie, scotch eggs and homemade chili. Hot dogs, nachos and cheese, chips and candy will also be offered. Volunteers from the Hickory Ridge Living History Museum re-enact 18-century Boone life for both education and entertainment, while also helping with children’s crafts. The Boy Scouts volunteer at the festival, offering fresh-pressed apple cider and fresh-popped kettle corn for sale. Live old-time mountain music and storytelling are celebrated at the festival. Familiar faces, like Charlie Glenn and Orville Hicks, are set to perform, among many others. Much of these songs and stories have been passed down for generations and originate from these times, as well. As seating is limited, Ligon encourages visitors to bring their own blankets or chairs. Admission to the event is free, and the money made off of the event is used to pay off its cost. Any extra money goes back into helping the Southern Appalachian Historical Association. “We don’t make a big bunch of money off of it,” Hickory Ridge curator Dave Davis said. “But it’s something good for everyone to get out and see stuff and learn stuff. It’s a culture that everybody really needs to know about.” Hickory Ridge Living History Museum is located at 591 Horn in the West Drive in Boone. For more information, visit www.booneheritagefestival. com.

Hickory Ridge Living History Museum reenactor Travis Souther demonstrates 18th-century craftsmanship during 2013’s Boone Heritage Festival. PHOTOS BY FRANK RUGGIERO

The Boone Heritage Festival offers ample opportunities for young and old to learn about the area’s rich history.

Festivalgoer Steve McSwain tries his hand at hatchetthrowing during 2013’s event.

Hungry? Hickory Ridge reenactors regularly cook rabbit over an open ﬂame for the annual festival.

Hickory Ridge offers an idyllic setting to enjoy authetnic mountain music during its annual heritage festival.

Fall Festival Guide

Oct. 2, 2014

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Festival-goers enjoy Todd’s annual New River Festival, returning to Walter and Annie Cook Park Saturday, Oct. 11.

The ‘Newest’ Festival in the High Country Ruritan Club’s New River Festival continues to celebrate and beneﬁt Todd community BY ERIKA GIOVANETTI erika@mountaintimes.com

he New River area has always been a haven for summer outdoor fun. In the fall, the seasonal woodlands are celebrated with the Todd New River Festival, bringing music, crafts and community to the Walter and Annie Cook Park. The 21st annual celebration takes place all day Oct. 11 from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m. Festivalgoers can expect locally made crafts for sale, bluegrass and country music, timeless autumn activities and fall festival food. The event attracts around 3,000 patrons from Todd and beyond. For 2014, 25 to 30 vendors are expected, according to Todd Ruritan Club president Barry Stevens. These vendors sell handcrafted toys, pillows and blankets, flags, artwork and locally harvested honey and apples.

The festival draws music from near and far, ranging in genre from bluegrass and country to gospel and blues. Boone-based bluegrass and gospel band Carolina Crossing plays at the festival from noon till 1 p.m. CreekSide Grass has been playing acoustic tunes in the High Country since 2003. The Norris family sings gospel music, and a full music schedule is available online. The festival offers fun for families with kids of all ages, including activities, such as pumpkin carving, games, face painting and a petting zoo, featuring local domestic farm animals. Todd locals bring out baby goats and other such animals to the festival. Every year, a Todd community member is presented a key to Todd. “That’s usually a person who has lived in Todd for many years and has been a supporter of the Todd community,” Stevens said. Last year, for example, a retired postmaster received the town’s key.

This festival benefits the community, but patrons from all over are welcome to attend this fundraising event. “Everyone’s welcome to come for good food and good music all day long,” Stevens said. Admission is free, and parking costs $5. Parking is available on-site, and when that is full, shuttled parking is available. This festival is the biggest fundraiser for the Todd Ruritan Club, which sponsors the event. The proceeds go toward scholarships for local students who are going from

high school to college. Any excess proceeds go toward assisting projects in Todd, such as helping people pay their medical expenses, Stevens said. Walter and Annie Cook Park is located off Railroad Grade Road in Todd. To get there, take N.C. 194 North to Todd, and then turn right on Railroad Grade Road. For more information and to see the schedule of events, visit http://toddruritan.com/2013-todd-new-river-festivalschedule, or call (828) 964-1362.

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Amantha Mill performs at a previous New River Festival. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE TODD NEW RIVER FESTIVAL

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Fall Festival Guide

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Oct. 2, 2014

Festivalreturns of the Frescoes Oct. 11

Festival-goers take in Ben Long’s ‘The Last Supper’ fresco at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.

‘The Mystery of Faith’ by Ben Long can be found at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in West Jefferson.

FROM STAFF REPORTS reporter@mountaintimes.com

rt comes to life in Ashe County, with the annual Festival of the Frescoes. Revamped in 2013 to feature more vendors and food, the festival returns Oct. 11, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Glendale Springs, home to artist Ben Long’s fresco, “The Last Supper.” Artwork notwithstanding, the festival promises food, fun, shopping and more. Among the many crafts being offered are wood-turned items, handmade hardwood mirrors, handcrafted Christmas items, walking sticks, inlaid jewelry, folk art, stained glass, wreaths, gift baskets, needlework and lawn ornaments. When shopping brings about the inevitable hunger pangs, the Fresco Café comes to rescue, offering chili, barbecue, chicken, hot dogs and hot and cold beverages aplenty. A baked goods booth features all the popular cakes, breads and pies, fresh from the kitchens of Holy Trinity members, while jams, homemade apple butter and herbal vinegars round out the selection. Another popular fixture at the festival is

Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Glendale Springs is home to Ben Long’s fresco of ‘The Last Supper.’ It’s also the site of the annual Festival of the Frescoes. FILE PHOTOS

Revamped in 2013 to feature more vendors and food, the festival returns Oct. 11, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Holy Trinity in Glendale Springs.

Granny’s Attic, featuring a colorful array of costume jewelry, collectibles, kitchen gadgets, books, linens and home decorations. Holy Trinity is located at 120 Glendale School Road in Glendale Springs, Ashe County. All proceeds from the festival are used for outreach. The Parish of the Holy

Communion includes Holy Trinity and St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in West Jefferson, which is home to three frescoes by Long.

ABOUT THE FRESCOES The four frescoes found in the area were created by world-famous fresco artist Benjamin F. Long IV and are among the

nine frescoes found along the Benjamin Long Fresco Trail in the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area. Four of those are located in Ashe County. St. Mary’s Episcopal Church (400 Beaver Creek School Road, West Jefferson) houses three frescoes — “Mary Great with Child,” “John the Baptist” and “Mystery of Faith.” “The Last Supper” fresco can be found at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, sisterchurch to St. Mary’s, in Glendale Springs. It adorns the entire front wall of the sanctuary. More of Long’s frescoes can be found in Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Iredell, Mecklenburg and Wilkes counties in North Carolina. The artist was born in Texas, but grew up in Statesville. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Art Students’ League in New York. After serving in the military, Long studied under Pietro Annigoni in Italy for almost eight years. Long painted several frescoes in Italy, and, since 1978, has finished 13 frescoes in North Carolina. To see some of Long’s other works, visit www.benlongfineart.com.

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Oktoberfest is sweet at Sugar BY CAROLINE HARRIS reporter@mountaintimes.com

on your dirndl, brush off your beer stein, and get ready for the High Country’s take on the world’s most famous fall festival, Oktoberfest. Sugar Mountain Resort will host the 24th annual Oktoberfest from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11 and 12, rain or shine. Admission, parking and shuttle service are free. A 200-year-old tradition, Oktoberfest is an annual celebration of Bavarian food, drink and culture. The Munich festival lasts more than two weeks and is known internationally for its food and beer. It’s also a time for fun, music, rides and games. Sugar Mountain’s Oktoberfest brings all these traditions together for a genuine Bavarian celebration. An oom-pah band will set the Oktoberfest tone with authentic Bavarian music. Harbour Towne Fest Band will perform from noon until 4 p.m. on

each day of the festival. The Valle Crucis Middle School band will also perform on Saturday at 2 p.m. While you’re tapping your feet to the music, enjoy some genuine German cuisine, including bratwurst, knockwurst, sauerkraut, strudel and pretzels, beginning at 11 a.m. If German food is not your preference, hot dogs, hamburgers, cotton candy, kettle corn, funnel cakes, candy apples and other festival foods will be on hand. Wash it all down with a Bavarian brew, Spaten beer. First brewed in 1872, Spaten is the world’s first Oktoberfest beer. To keep the young ones entertained, the children’s activity center, located in the Ski School Play Yard, will be open from noon until 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Hayrides, inflatable bounce houses and a chance to meet Sugar Bear and Sweetie Bear are a few of the things that make Oktoberfest fun for the whole family. With fall colors in full swing, take the opportunity to see it all from above with Sugar Mountain’s round trip ski lift ride. Going all the way up to Sugar Mountain’s 5,300-foot peak, there

If German food is not to your liking, hot dogs, hamburgers, cotton candy, kettle corn, funnel cakes, candy apples and other festival foods will be on hand.

For Oktoberfest, returning Oct. 11 and 12 to Sugar Mountain, Sugar Mountain Resort is ensuring an ample supply of Spaten Lager will be on draft for thirsty festival-goers. PHOTOS BY FRANK RUGGIERO

is a breathtaking panoramic view of fall foliage. The ride takes approximately 45 minutes, and rides run from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Lift ticket prices are $12 for a one-time ride and $25 for an all-day ticket. Children ages 4 and younger ride free with a paying adult. Groups of 20 or more can buy one-time ride tickets for $8. Advanced reservations are required. Peruse the wide variety of wares from local artisans and craftsmen at the festi-

val. More than 40 vendors will offer handmade items, such as pottery, woodwork, instruments, toys, soaps, artwork, food, jewelry, books and furniture. Commemorate your Oktoberfest experience with T-shirts and souvenir items for sale under the tent on the main celebration deck. For more information, call Sugar Mountain Resort at (828) 898-4521, or visit http://oktoberfest.skisugar.com.

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Apple Hill Farm’s alpacas are a festival favorite at the Valle Country Fair.

Harvest season is, perhaps, the most picturesque scene for the High Country, and the Valle Country Fair captures this picture with entertainment, handmade crafts and timeless fall festivities. On the front: A young fair-goer enjoys a fresh apple. Apples abound at the Valle Country Fair, from apple butter to apple cider to the original, simple delight. PHOTOS BY FRANK RUGGIERO

The Major Sevens will bring their lively blend of bluegrass and Americana to the Valle Country Fair playbill.

Annual, autumnal

Valle Country Fair HighCountryNC.com

live the adventure Step 1: Put down your bags Step 2: Find your adventure

marks the season with 37th event BY ERIKA GIOVANETTI erika@mountaintimes.com

or 37 years, Valle Crucis has been the leaf-strewn home to the Valle Country Fair. The fair, which is a fall festival of the most charitable accounts, is held from 9 a.m. till 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18. Harvest season is, perhaps, the most picturesque scene for the High Country, and the Valle Country Fair captures this picture with entertainment, handmade crafts and timeless fall festivities. Festivalgoers enjoy crafts, food and mountain music from around the High Country. The 2013 fair raised more than $40,000 for charities in the High Country, including the Hospitality House, Western Youth Network, the Hunger and Health Coalition, High Country Women’s Fund and more.

The Holy Cross Episcopal Church sponsors the event. The fair takes place by the Valle Crucis Conference Center on N.C. 194 in a meadow between a red barn and grain fields. More than 150 craft exhibitors set up tents across the grounds with lanes separated by bales of hay. Exhibitors donate at least 10 percent of their profits back to the fair to go toward the charity fundraiser. Local homemade crafts include gemstone jewelry to pottery to photography and everything in between. As for food, feel free (and obligated) to eat your heart out, as the church and other non-profit organizations, which return 100 percent of their earnings to the charities, operate almost all of the food concessions. Some of the available fare includes the fair’s famous Brunswick stew, barbecue, chili, hot dogs, hamburgers, corndogs, sausage with onions,

ham biscuits, ice cream, funnel cakes, baked goods, jams and jellies, freshpressed apple cider, apple butter and more. Tables and chairs are provided for those partaking in festival fare, which are located under a tent by the entertainment stage. This way, fairgoers can enjoy music and entertainment as they dine. Two stages are set up for entertainment: The stage located near the dining tent features mountain music, including local bluegrass and country bands. Another stage is set up near the youth area that features storytellers, cloggers and other performers for a younger audience. “The performers all perform for free,” fair chair Jo Pine said. “They’re all relatively local, and it’s typical mountain music. There might be CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

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some gospel, there might be some country.” Some of the artists include the Major Sevens, a folksy bluegrass band with hints of jazz and rock, and Emily Stewart & the Baby Teeth, an Americana country band out of Greensboro. Other performers include Tom Shirley, Holy Smokes, Jody Watson, Kinsey Green and the Bluegrass Mafia, Jodi Howald, Elise Sigmon and the Appalachian Rhythm Cloggers and Amber Henley and the High Country Cloggers. In 2013, a kids’ area was introduced to the fair, and this year it’s set to be even bigger and better. Activities include pumpkin carving, crafting, old-fashioned carnival games, face painting, an alpaca farm and a kids’ market, where children can set up booths to sell their own fall crafts. The kids’ area is also home to the best fall treats, like kettle corn, cotton candy and candied apples. Admission to the fair is free, and festivalgoers are only responsible for paying for parking, which is adjacent to the fair and benefits the local charities. Parking costs $10 for car or personal vehicle, $25 per small bus or van and $50 for a large bus or motor coach. No pets are allowed. For more information, visit www.vallecountryfair.org.

More than 150 craft exhibitors set up tents across the grounds, with lanes separated by bales of hay.

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Mountain residents have used the brown and black stripes of the woolly worm for many years to predict the severity of the coming winter, and the Woolly Worm Festival maintains that tradition. FILE PHOTOS

Let’s Get Woolly! Banner Elk Woolly Worm Festival returns Oct. 18 and 19

BY JAMIE SHELL reporter@mountaintimes.com

acers…. Warm up your woolly worms! For 37 years, the annual Banner Elk Woolly Worm Festival has warmed the hearts of visitors and locals throughout the High Country. This year’s Festival weturns, er … returns to downtown Banner Elk on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 18 and 19. The grounds of the historic Banner Elk Elementary School will swell with thousands of people for the weekend, as the festival marks a sure sign that autumn has arrived in the High Country. Woolly worms race on strings during individual heats, and the champion is used to predict the “official” woolly worm forecast on Saturday. Mountain residents have used the brown and black stripes of the woolly worm for many years to predict the severity of the coming winter, and the Woolly Worm Festival maintains that tradition. In addition to Saturday’s races, races take place for fun and prizes on Sunday. This family event welcomes more than 20,000 people to the community each year to not only make once-in-a-lifetime family memories, but also to win

the prestigious title of predicting the High Country weather. A grand prize of $1,000 doesn’t hurt participation, either. Come early, as the fun begins at 9 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, with entertainment all day. Local groups and impromptu guests provide quality music and entertainment during the weekend. Numerous vendors selling arts and crafts, as well Contestants take their worms to the racing area for a series of heats. as food and drink vendors, add to the entertainment of the festival. Contestants may bring their own woolly worm, or purchase worms onsite to train and race. Banner Elk resident and “Mr. Woolly Worm” Roy Krege serves as host during the event. “It’s a great festival, as it has something for everyone,” Krege said. The 37th annual Woolly Worm Festival is cosponsored by Banner Elk Kiwanis and Avery County Chamber of Commerce, with all proceeds given back to the local community to enhance schools, support children’s programs and promote business and tourism in Avery County. Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for kids ages 5 to 12. Children younger than 5 are admitted free. For more information or advance tickets, visit www.woollyworm.com, email events@averycoun- Banner Elk resident and ‘Mr. Woolly Worm’ Roy Krege serves as host during the event. ty.com, or call (828) 898-5605.

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Return of the

Ghost Train Chills and thrills on track for Tweetsie Halloween festival

A true scream-worthy experience, a journey aboad the Ghost Train is ﬁlled with spooky frights around every bend.

The Spice Ghouls bust a spooky move on Main Street at Tweetsie.

hen the eerie sound from the whistle of a Named one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast by steam locomotive pierces the peaceful quiet the Southeast Tourism Society, the hauntings include of an autumn High Country night, it can much more than the signature train ride. Enjoy a spooky only mean one thing: It’s time for Tweetsie stroll through the Freaky Forest, while encountering dark Railroad’s annual Ghost Train Halloween surprises along a desolate woodland Festival. pathway of terror. Visit The Boneyard, Starting Sept. 26 and continuing every where you can venture into the 3-D Friday and Saturday night through Nov. 1, Maze, the disorienting Black Hole and, guests will enjoy a frightfully spooky ride new for 2014, the mystifying Warp Tunas the Ghost Train howls its way through nel. Brave visitors should not miss the the Blue Ridge Mountains, with new spine-chilling Haunted House, where 13 frights and delights around every corner. spooky rooms will startle and challenge Daytime visitors can still enjoy all of the imagination. Tweetsie’s Wild West adventure, rides For those looking for less chills and and attractions; but when the sun goes thrills and more tricks and treats, visidown, ghosts and spirits fill the park when tors of all ages can be enchanted and When the sun goes down, the gates open at 7:30 p.m., daring brave amused by the spook-tacular black light ghosts and spirits ﬁll the park, show at the Haunted Palace Saloon, guests to take a trip back in time to the daring brave guests to take a “Great Train Wreck of 1914.” the lively dance party on Tweetsie’s trip back in time to the ‘Great Ghost Train passengers will travel back Main Street, the amusement rides at Train Wreck of 1914.’ in time to the scene of one of the worst the Creepy Carnival and, of course, (fictional) accidents in railroading history. traditional trick-or-treating throughout Old-timers swear they’ve seen an apparithe park. The Ghost Train Halloween tion of the phantom locomotive and its doomed engineer Festival is safe, scary fun for all ages. and passengers. Due to the popularity of this annual event, a limited According to Tweetsie, “A true scream-worthy experinumber of tickets is available for each evening. Many ence, the journey is filled with spooky frights around every nights often sell out, so ordering advance tickets online is bend and is guaranteed to give passengers a ghostly good strongly recommended. Admission is $31 for adults and time.” children, while kids ages 2 and younger are admitted free.

Tickets are available at www.tweetsie.com. Tweetsie Railroad is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays Aug. 18 through Nov. 2. The 2014 season ends Sunday, Nov. 2. The park’s Wild West themed hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Ghost Train Halloween Festival runs from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. Tweetsie Railroad is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains on U.S. 321 between Boone and Blowing Rock. For more information about the 2014 season at Tweetsie Railroad, visit www.tweetsie.com, or call (877) 893-3874.

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Oct. 2, 2014

High Country Halloween BY ERIKA GIOVANETTI erika@mountaintimes.com

he High Country is famous for its beautiful autumn scenery, which also doubles as the perfect setting for pumpkin carving, costume wearing and candy collecting. There are endless activities in the mountains during this time of year, bustling with excited townsfolk and visitors alike, but perhaps the most popular festivities are those centering on Halloween festivals, corn mazes and haunted houses. Dress your kiddies (or yourself) up for these festive Halloween-time events.

• NEW RIVER CORN MAZE Sept. 1 to Oct. 31

Don’t get too lost in this year’s New River Corn Maze, a great way to celebrate autumn’s arrival with the Halloween-time tradition of the corn maze. The maze, which is set on the banks of the scenic New River, winds through five acres of corn. Good luck finding your way through a mile of twists, turns and dead-ends! The fun continues with a fall train ride and pumpkin patch, where you can hand-pick your very own pumpkin for Halloween. The Corn Maze is open on weekends from now until Halloween, operating from 10 a.m. till dark on Fridays and Saturdays, and 1 p.m. till dark on Sundays. Other days, you may visit the maze by appointment. Tickets for the maze are $7 for adults, $5 for ASU and other students, and kids younger than 5 are admitted free. School groups visit on Friday only, and teachers are admitted free and students for $3. Train rides are $5, and combo tickets for both the maze and the train ride are $10 for adults and $8 for students and kids. For more information, visit www.newrivercornmaze. com, or call (828) 264-2986.

• ASHE COUNTY CORN MAZE Sept. 27 to Nov. 1 Crumpler is home to the Ashe County Corn Maze, an acre-and-a-half labyrinth with tricks and turns sure to discombobulate even the most avid maze-goer. The maze, located in the mountains of northwestern N.C., will take patrons anywhere from 25 minutes to hours to complete. In addition to the maze itself, this venue offers games, such as corn hole, horseshoes and inflatable slides. Visitors are also welcome to enjoy marshmallow roasting and face painting on the weekends. Admission is $7 for adults and children and free for children younger than 3. For groups of 20 or more, admission is $6 for each person. The maze is open Thursday and Friday from 5:30 till 9 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. till 9 p.m. and Sunday from 2 till 7 p.m. For more information and directions, visit www.ashecountycornmaze.com, or call (336) 982-6285.

• HARVEST FARM CORN MAZE & PUMPKIN PATCH Now to Oct. 31 Visitors of all ages are invited to get lost in Valle Crucis,

Colorful characters of all shapes and sizes (and ages) take to the streets of Boone during the annual Boone BOO! Halloween celebration. FILE PHOTO

with the Harvest Farm Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch. Located at 3287 N.C. 194 in Valle Crucis, Harvest Farm features a seven-acre corn maze, a pumpkin patch, hayrides and more. Furthermore, folks can tackle the maze during both daytime and night. Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday. On other weekdays, the maze and patch are open only by appointment. For the day maze, admission costs $8 for ages 13 and older and $5 for children ages 4 to 12. Children 3 and younger are admitted free. For the Flashlight Maze, admission costs $10 for ages 13 and older, $7 for ages 4 to 12 and free for children 3 and younger. All children must be accompanied by parents or guardians. Hayrides cost $3 for ages 13 and older and $2 for children ages 4 to 12. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/harvestfarm.

Festival offers a plethora of bloodcurdling attractions. Visitors stroll down the pathways of the Freaky Forest, encountering spooky surprises around every dark turn. The Boneyard, which is in the Hacienda, is the eerie home of the Black Hole, 3-D Maze and the newest addition to the park, the Warp Tunnel. Brave visitors must not miss the Haunted House, which is home to 13 ghostly rooms, and is sure to send chills down the spines of its guests. For a more mellow thrill, patrons of all ages are welcome to trick-or-treating throughout the park, a hair-raising blacklight show at the Haunted Palace Saloon, amusement rides at the Creepy Carnival and a costume dance party on Tweetsie’s Main Street. Admission is $31 for adults and children, while kids ages 2 and younger are admitted free. Ordering advance tickets is strongly recommended, due to the limited number of tickets available for each evening. The Ghost Train festival tickets do not include admission to the park’s daytime activities. For more information, call (877) 893-3874, or visit www.tweetsie.com.

• TWEETSIE RAILROAD GHOST TRAIN Sept. 26 to Nov. 1

• BEARY SCARY HALLOWEEN AT GRANDFATHER MTN. Join the ghosts and ghouls of Tweetsie Railroad for the 25th annual Ghost Train Halloween Festival, one of the most popular Halloween attractions in the High Country. The celebration begins Sept. 26 and continues every Friday and Saturday through Nov. 1. The park opens at 7:30 p.m., with the merriment ending at 11:30 p.m. Ghost Train passengers travel back in time to the “Great Train Wreck of 1914,” putting them at the scene of what was the worst (albeit fictional) wreck of railroading history. In addition to the traditional Ghost Train, Tweetsie’s

Oct. 25 Celebrate Halloween with the wildlife of Grandfather Mountain from 10 a.m. till 3 p.m. on the Saturday before Halloween. The festivities include crafts, nature programs, trickor-treating and a costume contest. Children watch the animals get a special Halloween enrichment, where the bears get treated to pumpkins. CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

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Audan Parks shows off his scary guitar skills as Jimi Hendrix during a past High Country Halloween. PHOTO BY FRANK RUGGIERO

Boone’s annual Boone BOO! sees downtown locations, including the Boone Fire Department, open their doors and candy bowls to trick-or-treaters. FILE PHOTO

HALLOWEEN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

Children can also participate in the interactive program, “Going Batty for Bats.” Activities are included with park admission, and children in costume get in for half price. For more information, visit www.grandfather.com, or call (828) 733-2013 for more information.

• BLOWING ROCK HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL Oct. 25

On the Saturday before Halloween, Blowing Rock hosts its annual Halloween Festival from 2 to 9 p.m. The festival, which is hosted in downtown Blowing Rock, is sure to have spooky activities to suit mummies and ghosts alike. The festivities begin at Memorial Park, where superheroes learn how to fly at the bounce houses from 3 till 8 p.m. Later at the park, festival patrons of all ages can grab a hay ride, running from 4 till 8 p.m. At the Blowing Rock Recreation Center, kids can practice their astronaut walk at the inflatable fun house. Games will also be available at the rec center from 3 until 5:30 p.m. Gutsy ghouls may show off their ghastly getups at the Monster March, which begins at 5:45 p.m. Monsters should arrive at the American Legion at 5:30 p.m. to line up. The trick-or-treating at downtown Blowing Rock begins at 6 p.m., and children and their supervisors must look out for the orange and black balloons indicating participating businesses. For the more competitive Halloween patrons, a costume contest is held at the rec center, starting at 7 p.m. Those wishing to participate must sign up by 6:45 p.m. Following the costume contest, there is a Moonlight Scavenger hunt hosted at Broyhill Lake. Kiddies age 6 to

13 can participate in teams of three or less, and remember to bring a flashlight! For more information, call (828) 295-5222.

• TRICK-OR-TREAT FOR TOTS Oct. 30 Appalachian State University’s Housing Office welcomes ASU faculty and staff, as well as community families, to bring the kids to this year’s Trick-or-Treat for Tots, which takes place from 5 to 8 p.m. the day before Halloween. Costumed children are welcome to visit the dorms on the East Side of ASU’s campus, including Hoey, Cannon, Lovill, East, Doughton, White, Summit and Cone residence halls. ASU students will be handing out candy, and the hall lobbies will be bustling with treats, games and other fun activities, as well. Parents and children must check in at the Legends parking lot to receive a map and instructions for the evening’s festivities. Parking is available in the faculty/staff parking lots on the East Side of campus. For more information, contact the University Housing Office at (828) 262-2160.

• AMB HALLOWEEN PARTY Oct. 31 For the adults, Appalachian Mountain Brewery offers Halloween festivities sure to impress even the sternest beer-snob. Come down to AMB on Halloween for local brews, farm-fresh food and Boone tunes. Music from BanDam, an alternative rock band from Boone, kicks off the merriment at 7:30 p.m. With $3 pint specials and buy-one-get-one-half-off Farm to Flame pizza specials, there’s no reason not to go local at AMB’s party. Farm to Flame is a food truck, which debuted this summer and offers locally fresh fare prepared in a woodfired oven. During the party, there will be a costume contest with

Grandfather Mountain’s Beary Scary Halloween offers a frighteningly good time for both visitors and residents. PHOTO SUBMITTED

prizes for best beer-related, scariest, best couple and best overall costumes. The excitement continues with fire jugglers, and the brewery stays open with extended hours till midnight. This year’s Halloween Party will raise money for local nonprofits through AMB’s Pints for Nonprofits program. There’s truly no reason not to grab a cold one at this local-oriented party. For more information about AMB’s Halloween Party, visit www.appalachianmountainbrewery.com, or call (828) 263-1111.

• BOONE BOO! Oct. 31 Families and visitors from all around Watauga County and beyond flock to Boone on Halloween for the annual Boone BOO! celebration, hosted by the Downtown Boone Development Association. The festivities start at the Watauga County Library at 4:30 p.m., descending into the dark hours of the evening. At the library, kids can participate in arts and crafts, play games and listen to storytellers, as well as live music. Around 5 p.m., the children parade to the Jones House Community Center, where there is a haunted house. “One side of the house is ‘scary,’ suitable for older children and adults, and the other side of the house is family-friendly, suitable for children of all ages,” Virginia Falck of the town of Boone said. Prizes and candy are given out at the Jones House, and, weather permitting, there will be outdoor games and entertainment at the venue, as well. Merchants in downtown Boone begin to pass out candy just after 5 p.m. November 1 is the Family Day game for Appalachian State’s football team, so Falck is expecting a bigger crowd. She hopes that some of the out-of-town visitors will attend Boone BOO!, as well. As for safety tips, Falck recommends that children stay together in groups, watch out for cars and carry glow sticks or flashlights.

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Fall Festival Guide

Oct. 2, 2014