Banner Elk

Banner Elk is among wintry towns nationwide to qualify as a ‘Winter Hidden Gem,’ according to Trip Advisor.

PHOTO BY TODD BUSH

Banner Elk: Winter home for many

BY JAMIE SHELL

The road bends and weaves around the buildings standing side-by-side. The trees stand strong in the distance, serving as a backdrop to the beautiful town of Banner Elk.

The town of Banner Elk sits nestled at the base of Beech Mountain, and while being approximately two square miles in size, it is hard to overlook the array of events held within town limits.

The town and community leaders hold an array of festivities throughout the year, including Art on the Greene, the annual Banner Elk Woolly Worm Festival and a Halloween Trunk-orTreat.

Yet, the festivities do not stop when the leaves fall from their place on the tree. The Town of Banner Elk hosts an array of winter festivities, including “A Small Town Christmas,” which is in early December, and includes the lighting of the town tree at The Corner on Main.

Additional weekend winter celebrations start bright and early with a Holiday 5K, in additional to other traditional festivities such as breakfast with Old Saint Nick and a book exchange activity at the Banner Elk Book Exchange inside Historic Banner Elk School.

For more information on the goingson around Banner Elk, visit the town website by clicking to www.townofbannerelk.org or contact the Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce at (828) 898-8395 or www.bannerelk.org.