14 minute read
Summer festivals
THE FUN RETURNS
SUMMER FESTIVALS A WELCOME ADDITION TO HIGH COUNTRY SUMMER EXPERIENCE
BY JAMIE SHELL
The High Country bounced back in a limited capacity with summer festivals in 2021 following a crippling season due to COVID-19 in 2020.
In 2022, however, area festivals return in earnest to allow locals and visitors alike the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors and take part in specialized and themed events, as well as a number of classic events that promise to be worth the time ane experience.
Traditionally, festivals throughout the High Country are filled with revelers and activities that range from bluegrass and Celtic music to fine arts and symphonies, from hand-created artwork to varieties of performing arts through drama, dance and more.
The following is a listing and brief descriptions of events that are scheduled as of press time to occur during the summer season. As with any public events taking place in the current climate, events can be subject to change, so it’s recommended to consult event websites and area chambers of commerce to the most up-to-date details, including confirmation that the events are taking place, any pandemic-related restrictions in place related to the event, and any additional information to guide your visit.
Blowing Rock Art in the Park (May 21, June 11, July 16, Aug. 13, Sept. 10, and Oct. 1)
Art in the Park was created in 1962 by a handful of area artists and craftspeople to showcase local talent. Today, Art in the Park is host to dozens of fine art and craft vendors at each show. Some of the best local and regional artists and craftspeople showcase their handcrafted jewelry, pottery, fiber, glass, photography, painting and more.
Art in the Park’s high standards and professional jury attract artisans from all over the Southeast to exhibit in a series of six shows, May through October. The quality of work exhibited draws thousands to the area each month.
Art in the Park is planned and administered by the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce, who noted that there will be a reduced number of vendors to allow for social distancing and that the parking shuttle will be available during each show this year.
Enjoy arts and crafts from award-winning and acclaimed artisans. Artists are jury-selected and each show features a different set of artists, curated to present a wide variety of mediums. Find gifts and works for personal collections, functional beauties like furniture and cutlery, and wearable art like handcrafted jewelry and textiles. Artists’ tents line Park Avenue right in downtown Blowing Rock so attendees can enjoy proximity to other shopping, as well as dining options and local parks.
Artist tents extend along Park Avenue, from Main Street to Wallingford Street in downtown Blowing Rock.
Free shuttle for parking is available by taking the Art in the Park Shuttle to save the time and effort looking for a downtown parking space. The free shuttle runs from plentiful free parking at Tanger Shoppes on the Parkway right to the Art in the Park entrance. The shuttle has the same hours as the show: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s only a few minutes ride and the shuttle runs continuously. Look for the red trolley!
Free parking is also available in the Maple Street lot and in the parking decks on Wallingford St. and at Blowing Rock Art & History Museum. Some lots, like Rumple Church and Blowing Rock School, charge a small charity fee for parking.
For updated schedule of artists and more information, click to blowingrock.com/artinthepark or call (828) 295-7851.
Art on the Greene — Banner Elk (May 28-29, July 2-3, Aug. 6-7 & Sept. 3-4)
Visitors are invited to shop the many fine regional and national artists, enjoy good food and experience the welcoming town of Banner Elk. During holiday weekends in the summer from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, the courtyard outside the Cultural Arts Center at Historic Banner Elk School in downtown Banner Elk comes alive with dozens of vendors plying myriad media of crafts and art at the Art on the Greene event.
“Art on the Greene is geared toward artists who are involved in any medium in the Appalachian tradition of hand crafters,” says show director Kimberly Tufts. “We have metal artists, glass artists, potters, and high-quality jewelry from all types of makers. We have wood workers of all varieties from furniture to home decor wood items, as well as painters in a variety of mediums – watercolor, acrylic and oil.”
Master craftsmen from all over the eastern U.S. will be demonstrating and selling their work, as a wide
FILE PHOTO Art on the Greene organizer Kimberly Tufts is pictured with one of her special creations from Kimberly Allynne Designs.
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PHOTO COURTESY ALYSSE GAFKJEN Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives headlines the 2022 “An Appalachian Summer Festival” with a concert at 7:30 p.m. on July 3.
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variety of mediums will be represented, including jewelry, pottery, fiber, clothing, dogs carriers and clothing, fused glass, carving, furniture, watercolor, photography, woodworking, handmade soap and fresh goat cheese.
Art on the Greene is located on Azalea Circle in downtown Banner Elk. For more information, click to www. townofbannerelk.org/beshows or call (828) 898-8395.
Boone Bike Rally (June 3 and 4)
Gear heads are encouraged to get their motors running to attend the Boone Bike Rally on the weekend of Friday and Saturday, June 3 and 4, at High Country Fairgrounds, located at 748 Roby Greene Rd. in Boone. The rally includes bike contests, live music from several classic rock-and-roll bands, swap meet, burnout pit and more. For more information, click to www. boonebikerally.com.
High Country Jazz Festival (June 9-12)
The Inaugural High Country Jazz Festival in Boone and Blowing Rock is hosted by the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country The festival is a collaborative project to host exceptional and engaging jazz experiences in Boone and Blowing Rock that will attract regional audiences while raising funds to support the arts and education programs of the Appalachian Theatre, App State Jazz Studies Program and Boone Sunrise Rotary that sustain and enrich our High Country home.
Anchor events will take place in the newly reopened Appalachian Theatre and under the tent at the Chetola Resort and will include a host of affiliated jazz experiences featuring outdoor concerts, late night jams, jazz lunches and film produced by great community partners in Boone and Blowing Rock.
For more information, click to www. apptheatre.org/highcountryjazzfest.
Roan Mountain (Tenn.) Rhododendron Festival (June 18 and 19)
Just across the state line near the high-altitude apex of Roan Mountain comes the annual Roan Mountain Rhododendron Festival. Coinciding with the beautiful blooms of the rhododendrons dotting the landscape of the mountain, the festival began in June 1947, conceived and carried out by the Roan Mountain Citizens Club as a two-day celebration to memorialize and perpetuate the most gorgeous display of natural beauty on the North American continent.
Originally the festival was held at the top of Roan Mountain, and in recent years the festival is held in Roan Mountain State Park, located at the foot of Roan Mountain on Hwy. 143 and features handmade crafts, food, and a variety of traditional music, plus an array of old-time folkway demonstrations.
Celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2022, a number of special events and activities are planned to commemorate the occasion. For more information, click to www.roanmountain.com or email rhododendronfestival@yahoo. com.
An Appalachian Summer Festival — Boone (month of July)
Appalachian State University’s annual summer arts attraction, An Appalachian Summer Festival proudly celebrates its 38th season.
This month-long whirlwind of music, dance, theatre, visual arts and film programming has emerged as one of the nation’s leading regional arts festivals. The festival will feature a full schedule of in-person outdoor and indoor performances. AASF will feature nearly 30 days performances, starting July 1.
Performers slated to appear in 2022 include Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, Renée Elise Goldsberry, esperanza spalding, Postmodern Jukebox and Boz Scaggs.
For more information, click to www. appsummer.org or call the box office at (828) 262-4046.
Grandfather Mountain Highland Games — Linville (July 7-10)
The annual Grandfather Mountain Highland Games will be held from July 7 to 10 on Grandfather Mountain near Linville. The Highland Games is the largest Scottish festival in the nation and features more than 100 represented clans, live Celtic and various displays of Celtic culture.
The Games features events such as the turning of the caber, the Scottish hammer throw, and the tossing of the sheaf. People can also enjoy bagpipe, fiddle and pipe and drum contests, sheep herding, workshops and tracing their Scottish ancestry.
General ticket prices to attend GMHG this year (purchased after June 1) are as follows: • Four-day advanced pass with shuttle: $75 (age 13 and older); $30 (5 to 12 years old) • Four-day advanced pass without shuttle: $65 (age 13 and older); $20 (5 to 12 years old)
SEE FESTIVALS ON PAGE 50
FILE PHOTO The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games is a festival celebrating all things Scottish each July.
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• Thursday evening session (4 to 11 p.m.): $15 (age 13 and older); $5 (5 to 12 years old) — no shuttle service on Thursday • Friday all-day session (9 a.m. to 11 p.m.): $25 (age 13 and older); $5 (5 to 12 years old) • Friday evening session only (7 to 11 p.m.): $15 (age 13 and older); $5 (5 to 12 years old) • Saturday all day session (8 a.m. to 11 p.m.): $35 (age 13 and older); $5 (5 to 12 years old) • Saturday evening session only (6:30 to 11 p.m.): $15 (age 13 and older); $5 (5 to 12 years old) • Sunday session (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.): $20 (age 13 and older); $5 (5 to 12 years old) • Sunday Family Pass (up to two adults and two kids): $75
To purchase tickets, an events guide or for more information, click to www.gmhg.org or call (828) 733-1333.
Fine Arts and Master Crafts Festivals — Sugar Mountain (July 15-17 and Aug. 12-14)
Sugar Mountain Resort plays host to a pair of Fine Arts and Master Crafts Festivals in the months of July and August.
The juried festivals feature an eclectic gathering of unique handcrafted wares from fine artists and master crafters. Fine art examples are photography, paintings, jewelry , sculpture, pottery, weaving, glass art, wood crafts, wood furniture, specialty candles, body care & soaps and many more. The Avery Fine Art & Master Crafts Festival benefits the Avery County Chamber of Commerce.
Hours of the festival are 1 to 5 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, and admission is free.
For more information, click to averycounty.com/ chamber-events/fine-art-master-crafts-festivals.
Chetola Symphony by the Lake — Blowing Rock (July 22)
Experience a moving performance by the Symphony of the Mountains, surrounded by the beautiful Blue Ridge. Take your seat on the grass by Chetola Lake, under the evening sky. Bring a picnic to enjoy with friends and family, or purchase meals from caterers at the event. The performance ends with a spectacular fireworks show.
Officials encourage attendees to park at one of the parking decks/areas in Blowing Rock and also at Tweetsie Railroad and ride the shuttle to the event. In an effort to alleviate traffic at the symphony, all the shuttles will unload and load at the back entrance to Chetola at Tanger Shoppes on the Parkway beside the
PHOTO SUBMITTED A boy enjoys kite flying at the Mile High Kite Festival in Beech Mountain, which takes place each year over Labor Day weekend.
Polo Outlet. Please save the Food Lion parking area for the handicapped and mobility challenged.
Those handicapped or mobility challenged can catch the shuttle at the Food Lion Parking Lot, and is the only shuttle that will unload and load on the symphony lawn at Chetola.
General Admission tickets for the symphony are $65 for adults (all tickets are Will Call only). A small section located just in front of the symphony tent (the Audiophile section) will be fenced off with reserved seats and shared side tables, a charcuterie box (meats, cheeses, fruit and olives) with two beverage tickets and water. This Audiophile section is limited to 100 seats, with tickets available for $125. Parking passes are also available for a cost of $10 each.
Tickets are available online or in person at the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce, and may be purchased from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with no refunds on tickets.
For more information, click to symphonybythelake. com or call (828) 295-7851.
NC Mineral and Gem Festival — Spruce Pine (Aug. 4 to 7)
The North Carolina Mineral and Gem Festival is celebrating its 63rd year as one of the oldest and most popular mineral and gem shows in the country from August 4 to 7. The festival takes place in the area of Spruce Pine, and features gem, jewelry and mineral dealers from across the country showcasing various merchandise. The event also offers mine tours.
The festival takes place Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and from 12:30 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Festival admission tickets are sold at the door on the day of the event, with a discounted cost of only $1 on Sunday for Mitchell County residents.
For more information, click to www.ncgemfest.com or call (828) 765-9033.
Ashe County Studio Tour (Aug. 6 and 7)
The Ashe County Arts Council will sponsor the Ashe County Studio Tour, a two-day, self-guided, free event in which Ashe County artists open their studios to the public on Aug. 6 and 7.
Tour participants will discover art studios located all over the county – in and around West Jefferson, Jefferson, Crumpler, Laurel Springs, Todd, Creston, Warrensville and Lansing. Most of the studios are not usually open to the public, so this is a rare opportunity for people to see where these artists work and at select locations, to watch them as they create their art.
For more information, click to ashecountyarts.org/ studio-tour or call (336) 846-2787.
Mile-High Kite Festival — Beech Mountain (Labor Day weekend)
On Labor Day weekend, children of all ages are invited to cover Beech Mountain’s blue skies with kites of all shapes and colors. Located at more than 5,000 feet in elevation, the meadow behind Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria makes it easy to sail kites more than a mile above sea level.
This free, family friendly event features craft and food vendors, music and contests with prizes awarded for the biggest kite, smallest kite and best decorated. Other activities include races with kids pulling parachute kites, face painting and kite-flying demonstrations given by the professional kite flying clubs.
For more information, click to beechmountainresort.com or call (828) 387-9283.
Ashe County Bluegrass and Old-Time Fiddlers Convention (July 22-23)
Friday night concert with Nobody’s Business and High Country Ramblers Saturday — Youth competition, individual adult competition, dance and band competition, jamming workshops and more! Food by Todd Ruritan Club, Crafts Village, Luthiers’ Tent, merchandise and more! $10 Friday and $10 Saturday. Camping available. The convention will be held at the Ashe Park on July 22-23.
The High Country’s Premier Steak & Seafood Restaurant
• Dinner nightly from 5pm • Martini & Meatloaf Mondays with $7 house martinis and comfort food specials
• Tuesday – Specialty burger night • Wednesday – 25% off bottles of wine
• Private room available
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• One main lodge and three cabins with mountain views
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The High Country’s Best Choice for Event Catering
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The High Country’s Best Sace for Gatherings
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