Woolly Worm Gazette 2014

Woolly Worm Gazette 37TH ANNUAL

2014

A special publication of

Beautiful Downtown Banner Elk, NC Saturday, October 18 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday, October 19 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Wules & Wegulations Worm Twaining Tips Woad Wace Meet the Woolly Worm Doctor Vendor Info Meet the WWF Committee

2014 Woolly Worm Gazette

Page 2

October 8, 2014

Thousands attend the Banner Elk Woolly Worm Festival each year, many to race worms on the famous board to make memories that last a lifetime, as well as to win some money along the way.

Wacing for big bucks

PHOTOS BY SAM CALHOUN

Money and glory on the line (literally) at Banner Elk Woolly Worm Festival JAMIE SHELL

JAMIE.SHELL@AVERYJOURNAL.COM

A

popular mountain tradition returns to downtown Banner Elk every third weekend in October with the annual Banner Elk Woolly Worm Festival.

Returning for its 37th edition in 2014, thousands of visitors will converge upon Banner Elk for a two-day festival of races, food and fun on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 18 and 19.

Every year, men, women and children, both young and old, bring their woolly worms to compete at the festival in heats, as the worms are raced up a 42-inch vertical string.

Each heat winner of the races that take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday earns a $20 prize and advances to the semifinal round. Victory in that matchup earns the winner a prize of $100. The winner of Saturday’s final race takes home the grand prize sum of $1,000.

On Saturday race day, more than 1,200 woolly worm caterpillars compete for the top prize, as well as the chance to determine the official weather forecast for the coming winter.

During Sunday’s Woolly Worm Festival activities, worm races continue for bragging rights and the opportunity for a lucky worm owner to pocket $500 in first-prize earnings. Generally, statistics show that there are fewer heats that occur on Sunday, which naturally increases a competitor’s opportunity to haul in the extra spending cash with the help of a furry friend.

Banner Elk Woolly Worm Festival features unusual and unpredictable woolly

worm races, in addition to live music, children’s activities and dozens of craft and food vendors.

Mountain folklore contends that a woolly worm with mostly brown coloration indicates that the coming winter weather will be mild, while a worm that is mostly black portends that a cold season approaches.

The bands of fur on the worm that vary in shading and color between brown and black determine the weather forecast. The 13 segments on the woolly worm’s back correspond to the 13 weeks of winter, progressing from the head to the tail.

The darker the band, the more severe the weather forecast for that week.

According to “Mr. Woolly Worm,” Roy Krege, the predictions rendered by winning worms stack up with the best meteorological forecasting with today’s technology.

“Bring on any official forecaster,” Krege said. “You can’t beat nature when it comes to predicting weather.”

Worm owners pay $5 for each worm that they enter in the woolly worm races.

Worms are normally available for purchase from one of the enterprising elementaryage entrepreneurs selling worms outside the festival gates, for those who come to the festival without a worm but eager to compete.

Banner Elk Woolly Worm Festival is a nonprofit event co-sponsored by Kiwanis of Banner Elk and Avery County Chamber of Commerce, with proceeds going to education and service organizations in Avery County.

For more information, call Avery County Chamber at (828) 898-5605, or click to www.woollyworm.com.

Up to 25 worms are raced on the big board during each heat of competition at the Banner Elk Woolly Worm Festival, with the winning worm’s owner pocketing $1,000 at the end of Saturday’s races and $500 at the conclusion of Sunday’s competition. Above, Kathy Boone blows hot air on her worm wacer while Woolly Worm official Jason DeWitt looks on.

October 8, 2014

2014 Woolly Worm Gazette

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The Way of the Woolly Worm CAROLINE HARRIS

CAROLINE.HARRIS@AVERYJOURNAL.COM

I

t’s wild, it’s woolly and it predicts the weather. The Woolly Worm Festival is here once again to celebrate everyone’s favorite fuzzy bug and to glimpse what kind of weather this winter will hold for the High Country.

Over the two days of the festival, Woolly Worm ‘Waces’ will weed out the wimpy worms and the fastest worm will emerge the winner of the grand prize of $1,000.

In addition to the winnings, because it is the strongest and fastest worm, its markings are also the most accurate for prediction of upcoming winter weather.

Woolly worms have 13 segments corresponding to the 13 weeks of winter. The lighter segments represent a milder week of winter and the darker segments represent more ice and snow for that week.

With an estimated 87 percent accuracy rate, you can count on the woolly worm’s markings for the best creature-based weather prediction available.

To enter the Woolly Worm Wace, either “BYOWW” or purchase a worm on site.

Woolly worms can be found in the wild almost anywhere this time of year. Woolly worms do not sting and are actually moth caterpillars, but don’t tell them that.

Name and register your worm, then head over to the main stage to race. Every worm wants to be the winner and most

will scurry up that string as fast as they can. Verbally coaching your worm is encouraged, but touching it means disqualification. Races of 25 worms, called by “Mr. Woolly Worm himself,” Roy Krege, lead to semi-final and final races.

“It’s a great family-oriented event,” Krege said. “People of all ages can have fun with racing the worms. The neat thing about the races is that people from 3 years old to 93 years old can race a worm and have the chance of winning, but more than anything just have a good time.”

Proceeds from the Woolly Worm Festival go to Banner Elk Kiwanis Club, which gives 100 percent of its money to children’s activities. Proceeds also go to the Avery County Chamber of Commerce, which promotes business and tourism in Avery County.

When you are not busy racing, the 37th annual Woolly Worm Festival has more homemade craft vendors, fun fair food, kids activities and musical entertainment than ever before. While you’re waiting for your worm to race, walk around the festival and sample what local vendors have to offer.

During the festival, kids can stay busy in between Waces with face-painting, bounce houses and mini golf.

On the entertainment stage, live music is provided by everything from local groups to big-name bands that will play all day Saturday and Sunday.

Whether it’s Mr. Woolly Worm Roy Krege, WWF Grand Marshal Tommy Burleson or Mr. Woolly Worm-in-Training Adam Binder, big personalities and humorous banter are one of the cornerstones of the annual festival.

Mr. Woolly Worm, Roy Krege, shows off his favorite local newspaper, The Avery JournalTimes, and its annual creation, the official Woolly Worm Gazette.

PHOTOS BY SAM CALHOUN

“It’s that draw of getting out, fall foliage, crisp air and incredible vendors,” Mr. Woolly-Worm-In-Training Adam Binder said of the festival. “It’s giving the worms funny names and getting really competitive. There are people who come

year after year to win that $1,000, but I think it’s more important to have your worm predict the winter weather. I think it covers a little bit of everything, but it’s mostly just good old fun.”

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2014 Woolly Worm Gazette

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October 8, 2014

Twicks and tips

to twain a winning worm JAMIE SHELL

JAMIE.SHELL@AVERYJOURNAL.COM

C

hampions aren’t born. They are made.

That old slogan somewhat rings true when it comes to the training and racing of woolly worms at the 37th annual Banner Elk Woolly Worm Festival.

Festivalgoers have spent the past 36 years feverishly working to discover what goes into a winning worm, but only 36 worms have held the distinction of grand champion and ultimate weather predictor.

Every winning worm experience begins, however, with a question: “Where is the best location that I can locate a championship-caliber worm?”

The simplest answer is in the form of another question: “Why not purchase a worm from those selling them onsite?”

One of the many great facets of each year’s Woolly Worm Festival is that worms are available for purchase onsite. Many people are not aware that each year local kids are invited to take time to go out into

the community and painstakingly choose the best and brightest woolly worms. These worms are then bought back by Avery Chamber of Commerce and offered for sale for a small fee for festivalgoers looking to pick out a champion racer.

Now that the question of where to get a worm has been answered, here are a few ways of improving your shot of taking home some cash and bragging rights of having the winning worm on race day: 1 A frisky woolly worm is a fast woolly worm. Make sure that your worm moves around a lot, and you can bet your buttons he’ll be fast on a string.

2 Keep your woolly worm moving before the race. Keep him in a container with lots of sticks and things to climb.

3 The biggest does not always mean the fastest. According to “Mr. Woolly Worm,” Roy Krege, a woolly worm not even an inch long was a heat winner in previous years.

4 Keep your caterpillar close to home.

Should you decide to venture out to pick your own woolly worm in nature, make sure you notice what kind of plant you find

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him on. Take a piece of that plant and put it in his container.

5 Make sure your woolly worm has plenty of moisture. No one can win a race thirsty.

6 Keep your woolly worm energized with plenty of fresh greens. Try feeding him the plant you found him on or dandelion leaves.

7 Keep your woolly worm warm. Many contestants in the past have done this by cupping the woolly worm in their hands and blowing in air to keep them heated.

It’s like a worm sauna.

8 Name him something fast, fierce or lucky. If you’re superstitious at all, the name is quite important. Creativity is key.

If you can’t think of a name, try something like “Woolly Mammoth,” “Woolly Mays,” “Woolly Nelson” or “Woollywinyes.”

9 Wish for sunshine. The fastest woolly worm always performs best in bright sun.

If the sun is shining directly on the board, the woolly worm can race three feet in less than a minute. As the sun goes down and temperatures drop, the caterpillars curl up

Former Woolly Worm Festival champion Armstrong possessed the perfect mix of speed and stamina en route to winning top prize and weather-predicting honors.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

to keep warm.

10 Age does not matter. Whether you are age five or 85, you can pick a quick woolly worm. Everyone has their own strategy.

Think of what you would want if you were the worm and make it work.

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2014 Woolly Worm Gazette

October 8, 2014

Page 5

Wules and wegulations Woolly Worm competition more than hanging by a string JAMIE SHELL

JAMIE.SHELL@AVERYJOURNAL.COM

E

ach year at the annual Banner Elk Woolly Worm Festival, more than 1,000 woolly worms climb a string to earn bragging rights and its owner some cold hard cash.

With so much on the line, it’s important to realize that rules and regulations are instituted to ensure fairness to all racers, including both worms and owners who root them on during the festival weekend.

Although the weekend is packed with fun and excitement (and prizes, too!), the woolly worm race heats and events are governed by a set of strict rules and regulations.

For starters, entrants must obtain, train and register their worm. Attendees can bring their own worm or purchase one at the festival. After paying an entry fee of $5, entrants must also be ready with a name for their worms. There are many great names for a woolly worm, but often times, the more creative the name the better.

Hopeful worm-trainers should register early, because there are a limited number of slots available.

Only 25 worms compete in

each heat, and the number of heats is determined by the number of contestants and the weather.

Only woolly worms are allowed to compete. No variations or genetically altered species are allowed.

“Mr. Woolly Worm” himself, Roy Krege, will accept no imitations. To know if your worm is authentic, check out its body. A woolly worm will have 13 segments, in various combinations of black and brown.

Anything more or less than 13 segments is certainly not The Real McCoy. During each heat, the worms are placed on the bottom of the vertical strings on the race board.

When the starter gives the signal, owners are allowed to release their worms.

The worm, string and race board cannot be touched during the race. People are, however, allowed to scream, whistle, blow on their worms with drinking straws and encourage their worm to make the climb to the top of the heap.

The first worm to reach the top of the string according to the race’s judge, Tommy Burleson, is declared the winner. Burleson has been the grand marshal of the festival and primary judge of the championship

race for more than three decades.

“I did it the first year I came back, in 1981. I was just one of the race officials.

Of course, Charles VonCanon was the grand marshal,” Burleson said.

Burleson also explained the worm-reading secrets he learned from VonCanon that have made him famous as the official weather prediction reader.

“The winter months have 13 weeks, and there are 13 segments on the woolly worm. You start at the head and read to the back. The darker the color the more intense the weather will be that week. You are looking for blacks, flakes and shades of amber,” Burleson added. “The black, many times, will indicate snow. If you get what is called ‘black flake,’ you might be looking at some icy situations.”

Burleson is one of the only officials who can accurately judge when a worm reaches the high finish line, thanks to his sevenfoot, four-inch frame that he used to win an NCAA basketball championship at NC State University, a spot on the 1972 US Olympic basketball team and eventual professional basketball career in the National Basketball Association.

Burleson’s blessing of height makes him a nearperfect judge, with the ability to see the worms finish at the top of the race board and also pluck the worms safely from their high perches.

“My advantage is, of course, that the strings are high,” Burleson explained, comparing his passion for the woolly worm to basketball. “Just like being a center in basketball, that height can be an advantage if used in the right way.”

In addition to interpretation and judging, Burleson also ensures consistent racing conditions. For instance, all of the racing strings must be kept at certain, consistent tension.

“It is to simulate the stalk of a milkweed, which is what Jimmy (Morton) saw when he came up with the idea,” Burleson said, explaining the origins of the festival, which he said came about when Jim Morton was inspired by watching two woolly worms climb milkweed and found himself wondering which would make the ascent the quickest.

“It is exciting to see that type of competition,” Burleson added. “It is just a neat event and I am very blessed to be a part of it.”

Woolly weturns Woolly Worm Festival offers financial aid for local projects and schools JAMIE SHELL

JAMIE.SHELL@AVERYJOURNAL.COM

F

or 37 years, the annual Banner Elk Woolly Worm Festival has brought thousands of people together for an enjoyable weekend of fun, food, games and enter-

tainment. But the festival reaches a far greater scope than a field in downtown Banner Elk. According to Sue Freeman with Avery County Chamber of Commerce, the annual Banner Elk Woolly Worm Festival generates an estimated $250,000

of economic impact to the county, with an estimated $70,000 annually distributed to applying agencies and local schools by the partnership of Banner Elk Kiwanis and Avery County Chamber of Commerce, which organizes and conducts the festival.

“Last year, we had the largest Saturday ever at our event. The money that is taken in from the festival, as well as funds that are distributed through grant applications after expenses, are all distributed within SEE WETURNS, PAGE 6

Legendary athlete and Banner Elk Woolly Worm Festival grand marshal Tommy Burleson (pictured left, with master of ceremonies Roy Krege) observes the woolly worm race heats to ensure that regulations are followed and that competition is fair for all.

PHOTO BY SAM CALHOUN

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2014 Woolly Worm Gazette

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October 8, 2014

Woolly Worm wellness Surgeon ‘Dr. Susan’ of the Woolly Worm Sports Medicine Clinic CAROLINE HARRIS

CAROLINE.HARRIS@AVERYJOURNAL.COM

T

he annual Woolly Worm Festival on Oct. 18 and 19 is a fierce athletic competition. Even though the competitors are woolly worms, whether it’s falling off the string or twisting an ankle during the race, the worms occasionally need a doctor.

Luckily, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Susan Puls has attended the Woolly Worm Festival for 25 years. Every year, ‘Dr. Susan’ sets up the fully equipped Woolly Worm Sports Medicine Clinic booth at the festival, complete with hundreds of activities

WETURNS: FROM PAGE 5 agencies in Avery County,” Freeman said.

“The indirect impact of the festival that many people don’t realize is how local businesses and our community benefit from the festival and its attendees. Vendors and visitors come to the festival and they visit our restaurants, our hotels, our grocery stores and gas stations. They also visit other local attractions in Avery County, which benefits those businesses as well.”

Avery County Chamber of Commerce uses funds to help with day-to-day operation of the chamber, in addition to aid in promoting tourism and travel to Avery County and the surrounding area through media, brochures, billboards and other methods.

“We’re doing a lot of hard work out there promoting Avery County and how this is a great place to visit for events like the Woolly Worm Festival or to vacation any time of the year,” Freeman explained.

Freeman added that festival officials make concerted efforts to make sure expenses incurred are steered and geared toward using local merchants and businesses to help generate income for businesses here at home.

“The bigger picture is that, besides money raised after expenses, the expense money itself is targeted toward keeping local businesses thriving and feeding their commerce, so we try to keep the event expenses as local

and props modified to woolly worm size.

“One year, a cardiologist put together a stress-test treadmill made from Popsicle sticks and rubber bands. A dentist made little toothbrushes and dental instruments. There is also a trauma helicopter and X-Ray scanner,” Dr. Susan said. The Sports Medicine Center also has crutches made from toothpicks on hand.

For baby worms not quite ready to race, there is a woolly worm nursery.

Retired worms can rest at the Retired Worms’ Home.

Dr. Susan examines potential racing worms at her booth and sometimes finds imposter worms that are not woolly as possible,” Freeman explained. “We’re a huge advocate of using individuals and businesses that are local, from local folks assisting in the operation of the festival to locals helping with selling tickets and woolly worm registrations. That all feeds back into the community and benefits local business.”

Banner Elk Kiwanis utilizes funds each year to provide assistance, primarily to local children through education, as well as to underwrite needed construction projects that benefit the town and other local municipalities. Examples of projects assisted with Woolly Worm Festival funding include Fort VonCanon at Banner Elk Town Park, Lucille Winters Town Park in Elk Park and the construction of restrooms at Wildcat Lake in Banner Elk, just to name a few.

“Each year, Kiwanis seeks to help the community through awarding grants and assisting those in need,” Longtime Banner Elk Kiwanian and “Mr. Woolly Worm” Roy Krege said. “From the Woolly Worm Festival to our Fourth of July Book Drive, Kiwanis is about giving back to those in our local communities what we have been blessed to receive.”

Another way that Kiwanis has impacted children in Avery County has been through distributing three books of each child’s choice every school year to every child enrolled from age pre-K through fifth grade in Avery County Schools, as well as at Williams and Grandfather academies.

“Kiwanis has always been passionate about the theme ‘Reading is Fundamental,’

worms at all.

“We have a lot of fun. We try to bring people a smile. The thing that’s been the most interesting to me over the years is we get smiles from all ages, even teenagers, who are a hard sell. We just try to add to the overall flavor of the festival and have a good time,” Dr. Susan said.

Dr. Susan’s official duty is to examine the winning worm, a job she takes very seriously.

“I have examined the winning worm every year, just to make sure the worm is steroid-free. I have a big magnifying glass to determine how many stripes there are and what color they are,” Dr.

Banner Elk Woolly Worm Festival awards money to the owners of champion worms each year, but of greater lasting value are the funds awarded to local schools and agencies each year for projects and educational needs.

PHOTO BY SAM CALHOUN

and we use funds to help children in our schools to be able to have access to their own books that they can read and enjoy,” Krege added.

For the schools, the funds are a much needed and appreciated boost in the era of tightening budgets that sometimes causes demands to outweigh supplies in the classroom.

“The impact that is made by Kiwanis and the Woolly Worm Festival is tremendous. It is absolutely amazing, and allows teachers in schools to do things that funding that is currently in place just doesn’t allow them to do,” Avery County Schools Superintendent David Burleson said. “Teachers can do extraordinary programs for kids. They can

Susan said.

Every year, the Woolly Worm Sports Medicine Center focuses on awareness of a different woolly worm racing-related injury.

“One year, it was to tape ankles to prevent injuries during the race. Because of the big focus on head injuries in sports, we are focusing this year on helmet use.

We recommend helmets so the worms don’t end up with brain injuries from falling off the string,” Dr. Susan said.

To seek medical care for your woolly worm, visit Dr. Susan at the 37th annual Woolly Worm Festival in Banner Elk on Oct. 18 and 19. get funding for many of their projects, but for that little extra needed for efforts and projects in the classroom the Woolly Worm funds help them to make the projects happen. The Woolly Worm Fund and Kiwanis have always been a strong source of support to the schools and in the community, and those involved partner with us in recognizing that impact to Avery County; it starts with our youngest citizens.”

The Woolly Worm Committee takes its commitment to giving back to the community seriously, and through the years has helped myriad groups to aid children and help provide for their needs.

“The impact on the community is just fantastic, and I don’t think people really realize what the proceeds go toward, despite signage that discuss the different organizations and groups that receive the money,” Mary Jo Brubaker, chair of this year’s Woolly Worm Committee, said. “Funds go to sponsor Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Little League Baseball, the Key Club at the high school and a variety of mini-grants through the local schools. Thousands of dollars go out to teachers to do projects with their classes that they otherwise would not have funding from the school board or the state to accomplish, as well as agencies within the county that provide food for families so children are well fed at home and to my personal favorite project, the RIF program.”

For more information, call Freeman with Avery County Chamber of Commerce at (828) 898-5605, or click to www.woollyworm.com.

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October 8, 2014

2014 Woolly Worm Gazette

Page 7

Woolly Worm Festival

BEHIND THE WORM

e e t t i m m o C

PHOTO SUBMITTED

As the core team of festival organizers, the Woolly Worm Festival Committee meets throughout the year to plan, coordinate and implement the Woolly Worm Festival. The committee thanks Avery County Chamber of Commerce and Kiwanis Club of Banner Elk for sponsoring the festival, as well as the legions of volunteers who work tirelessly to make the Woolly Worm Festival a success.

Woolly Worm Festival Committee members for 2014 are, from left, Robert Branch, Nancy Morrison, Mary Jo Brubaker, Dr. Carol Schaffer, Avery County Chamber of Commerce Director Susan Freeman, Tom McMurray, Kathy Boone, Babette McAuliffe and Dan Brubaker. Adam Binder is not pictured.

2014 Woolly Worm Gazette

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October 8, 2014

WOOLLY WORM VENDORS

Wild Abandon Woolly Mittens............. 1 Harmony Acres Soaps .................... 2&4 John & Linda Greene ........................... 3 Palm Tree Pottery ................................ 5 Prince Leather Company ................ 6&7 Tdux Treasures .................................... 8 Duck Sauce.......................................... 9 Hoopla................................................ 10 Millcreek Arts ..................................... 11 Firefly Glass ....................................... 12 Misty Mountain Soap Company . 13&14 Whitson’s Crafts ................................ 15 Joy in the Journey ............................. 16 Santa’s Bag ........................................ 17 Beech Mountian Bee Keeping .......... 18 Art Island ............................................ 19 Keswick Candles ............................... 20 Fisher of Pens .................................... 21 Persinger ............................................ 22 Artworks Unlimited ................23&24&25 The Nut House ................................... 26 Adoughables................................ 27&28 Bule Ridge Praline Co. ...................... 29 Kimberly Allyne Design ..................... 30 Dogwood Petwear ............................. 31 Floyd’s Woodworking ........................ 32 Peace Path Pottery ........................... 33 Wood N atler Art ................................ 34 Jerry’s Custom Woodcraft .......... 35&36 Spring Rock Farms ............................ 37 Banner Elk SDA Church .................... 38 Woodland Lampshapdes .................. 39 Bob and Lucille Conard .................... 40 One of a Kind ................................... 41a Doug Coffee ....................................... 42 Sugar Rush ........................................ 43 Robin’s Handmades .......................... 44 Beech Mountain Ski Education ........ 45 TNT Mine Co. ..................................... 46 Vintage Home Studio ........................ 47 Dances with Strings .......................... 48 Soulfully Salvaged Arts ..................... 49 Seasons to Sew ................................. 50 Detil Sensations................................. 51 Simply Totes ...................................... 52 Yellow Mountain Enterprises ............ 53 Tastefully Simple................................ 54 Avery Journal Times .......................... 55

Fake a Face Painting ......................... 56 Sock Zen / Historic Trade ................. 57 Grandfather Home ............................. 58 Beara Bows ....................................... 59 Mike Roberts ..................................... 60 West End Wreaths ............................. 61 Wenta Pottery .................................... 62 Granny’s Glassworks......................... 63 Just-A-Dash ....................................... 64 Feeding Avery Famlies ...................... 65 Marzullo Chainsaw Art ...................... 66 Mountain Hollow Crafts .................... 67 Artistic Designs ................................. 68 Jewerly Design by Heidi Cline .......... 69 7th Moons Gifts ................................. 70 Carolina Tye Dyes .............................. 71 Kirsten’s Clay ..................................... 72 Mallory’s Candles .............................. 73 Runway 45 ......................................... 74 Patrica Adam’s Photography ............ 75 Designs by Zoey ................................ 76 Ellis Brothers Builders ....................... 77 Lees Mcrae ........................................ 78 Bulue Ridge Wildlife .................... 79&80 Savel .................................................. 81 Trinity Tree Co./ Avery Farms ............ 82 Amazing Handmade Dresses............ 83 Silverware Treasures ......................... 84 Hoston Hat Project ...................... 85&86 Stonegate Candles ............................ 87 Siver and Stones Jewerly............ 88&89 Savannah Mae Fashions ................... 90 Bill Lyons Woodcarving..................... 91 Sonrise Pottery .................................. 92 Blue Ridge Mountain Belt Co. .......... 93 Blue Ridge Light ................................ 94 Avery County Habitat ........................ 95 Wishful Thinking Studios .................. 96 Firefly Cove Creations ....................... 97 Austin’s Pottery ................................. 98 Iron Mountain Forge .......................... 99 Riddle Farm Glass ........................... 100 Americamanta ......................... 101&102 Pop Woodshop ................................ 103 Free Reign Farm .............................. 104 Dan Goad ......................................... 105 Those Kooky Chickens ................... 106 Darlene Calvert ................................ 107

Treasures.......................................... 108 House of Douglas Bakery ....... 109&110 Woolly Worms N Stuff ..............111-112 Bounty Hunter Hats ......................... 113 3 Came Home .................................. 114 Turtle Old Man Jewerly.............115-117 Lawder Pottery ................................ 118 Town of Banner Elk.......................... 119 Bill Elder ................................... 120&121 In the Potter’s Hand..................122-124 Jewerly by Wonder .......................... 125 Tabby’s Wooden Toys ............. 126&127 Silly Willy .......................................... 128 Face Painting by Donnie ................. 129 Hoffman Blacksmithing ................... 130 Art of Nancy Stroupe / Just Hang It 131 Dichroic Glass Art............................ 132 Oasis ................................................ 133 Jeri’s Jewels .................................... 134 Larson’s Fine Furniture.................... 135 Robin Goodwin ........................ 136&137 Metis Leather Crafts .................138-141 Art and Soul Creations by Shelly .... 142 Smith Enterprise ...................... 143&144 Harry’s Woodworks ................. 145&146 Auntie Ruths .................................... 148 Paris Festival ................................... 149 Dave’s Carolina BBQ ....................... 150 Steak Boys Inc................................. 151 Southland Concessions .................. 152 K&M.................................................. 153 Asia Fusion Elite .............................. 154 Mac’s Fine Foods ............................ 155 Stanley’s Produce............................ 156 CK Concessions .............................. 157 Sweet Tooth Bakery ........................ 158 BSA Troop 807 ................................. 159 Rigdon’s BBQ .................................. 160 Alf’s Sweet Cotton ........................... 161 Rock Star Grille................................ 162 Rainbow Food Services .................. 163 Otter Creek ...................................... 164 3 Little Birds ..................................... 165 A&Y Concessions ............................ 166 International Grill Co. ...................... 167 Frostbite Ridge Farm ...................... 168

Page 9

2014 Woolly Worm Gazette October 8, 2014

138– 141 Meachum Leather 48 ft 142 Creations By Shelly 12ft

143-144 Smith Enterprise Yard Art 24 ft

145—146 Suddereth Furniture 24 ft

T-Shirts Pink Gorilla 20 ft

Worm Regis 40ft Sound 10 ft

17 Santa’s Bag

148 Auntie Ruths 149 Paris Festival

150 Carolina BBQ

108 Treasures Jewelry

109 & 110 House of Douglas Bakery 97 Firefly Cover

71

84 J Silverware Jewelry

135 Larson’s Furniture

153 K&M

3 John Greene

155 Mac’s Fine Food

129 Face Paint

by Donnie

156 Stanley’s Produce

157 CK Concessions

Entertainment and Music Stage (Per Dave - move stage 8 ft. to the right towards grass.)

Feeding Avery Fami-

52 Simply Totes

39

Woodland Lampshad

119 Town Banner Elk

106 TKC Folk Art

93 Blue Ridge Mt. Belts

66 Jewel Passage

67 Mtn. Hollow Crafts

41a One of a kind furniture

54 Tastefully Simple

40 Conard Furniture

53 Yellow Mtn.

79 & 80 Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute

92 Sonrise Pottery

105 Dan Goad Paintings

118 Lowder Pottery

WORM PURCHASE (PTO)

115-116-117 Turtle Old Man Jewelry Jewelry

91 Bill Lyons Wood

104 Free Reign Farm

90 Savannah Scarves

103 Pop’s Woodshop

88 & 89 Silver & Stones Jewelry

101 & 102 Americamanta Native Crafts

114 Three Came Home Books

128 Silly Willy!

Kid Crafts

136 & 137 Robin Goodwin Christmas Crafts

2&4 Harmony Acres Soap

1 Woolly Mittens

154 Asian Fusion

MAP

152 Southland

134 Jeri’s Jewels

100 Riddle Farm Glass

113 Bounty Hunter Hats

126 & 127 Tabby’s Wooden Toys

99 Iron Mtn Forge

87 Stonegate Candles

76

78 Lees McRae

64 Just-ADash

65

77 Ellis Bros.

Builders Designs Zoey Jewelry

Grannies Glassworks

75 Adams Photo

62 Wenta Pottery

74 Run Way 45

61 West End Wreaths

73 Mallory’s Candles

60 Roberts Wood toys

63 59 Beara Bows

72 Kirsten’s Clay

85 & 86 Holston Mtn. Hat Project

98 Austin Pottery

111 & 112 Woolly Worm And Stuff

125 Jewelry by Wonder

133 Oasis

151 Steak Boys

41b Sunday Quilting Biddy

Golf

Trampoline

INFLATABLES

WOOLLY WORM 5 Palm Tree Pottery

107 Calvert Sewn Crafts

83

96 Wishful Thinking

82

Habitat

95 Avery County

Avery Farms Trinity Trees

Amazing Handmade Dresses

71 Carolina Tie Die

58 Grandfather Home

51 Datil Sensations

38 BE SDA Hlth Screen

50 Seasons To Sew

37

Spring Rock Farms

49 Soulfully Jewelry

35 & 36 Jerry’s Custom Wood Craft

48 Dances with String

34 Walsh Antler & Wood

47 Vintage Studios

33 Peaceful Path Pottery

46 T-N-T Mine Co. Jewelry

32 Floyds Creative Woodwork-

45 Beech Foundation

31 Dogwood Petwear

Robin’s Handmades

44

57 Sock Zen

70 7th Moon Gifts

56 Fake A Face

69 Heidi Cline Jewelry

55 Avery Journal

29

43 Sugar Rush

Radio

30 Kimberly Allen Design

42 Coffee birdhouse

68 Artistic Designs

81 Savel Clocks

94 Blue Ridge Light

131 130 132 Nancy Hoffman Dichroic Stroupe & 120 & 121 Blacksmith Just Hang it Glass Bill 122-123-124 Elder’s In the Potter’s Hand Apples Pottery

Ticket, Gate Entrance, Information

6&7

19 Art Island

18 Beech Mt Bee keeping

Prince Custom Leather

21 Fisher of Pens

20 Keswick candles

9 Duck’s Sauce Inc.

8 T Dux Treasures

10 Hoopla

27 & 28 Adoughables Ornaments

26 The Nut House

23 24 & 25 Dick Crowder Artwork Wood

22 Persinger Textiles

11 Millcreek Arts 12 Firefire glass 13-14 Misty Mt. Soaps

15 Whitson Crafts 16

Joy In The Journey

Worm Dr.

Blue Ridge Praline

158 Sweet Tooth Baker

159 Boy Scouts

160 Rigdon’s BBQ

161 Alf’s

162 Rockstar Grille

163 Rainbow Food Services

164 Otter Creek

165 3 Little Birds

166 A&Y Conces-

167 Intl. Grill

OPEN SPACE

168 Frost Bite

Ticket, Gate Entrance, Information

Pet Sitting

CE RA M E OR AG W ST

2014 Woolly Worm Gazette

Page 10

October 8, 2014

Avery County Chamber of Commerce employees Teresa Bledsoe and Sue Freeman plan the layout of the 2014 Woolly Worm Festival.

PHOTO BY CAROLINE HARRIS

Behind the scenes of the Woolly Worm CAROLINE HARRIS

CAROLINE.HARRIS@AVERYJOURNAL.COM

W

hat does it take to pull off an annual festival like the Woolly Worm? There are 20,000 attendees that descend on the small town of Banner Elk, dozens of vendors and musical acts and, of course, the woolly worms themselves.

In order to make the festival run smoothly every year, for the Woolly Worm Committee, Banner Elk Kiwanis and the Avery County Chamber of Commerce, as soon as one Woolly Worm Festival is over,

planning for the next one begins.

“We don’t just pick this thing up the week before the event,” Avery County Chamber of Commerce Director Sue Freeman said.

All their hard work paid off when the Woolly Worm Festival was recently named one of the top 10 fall festivals in the South.

From fielding vendor applications to marketing, the Woolly Worm planners work all year to make the next Woolly Worm Festival the best yet.

“We make sure we don’t duplicate too many of the craft vendors,” Woolly Worm Committee chairman Mary Jo Brubaker

said. “You don’t want 160 pottery booths!”

Every craft vendor is required to sell only handmade crafts. Vendors are evaluated by a jury of Woolly Worm planners before being admitted.

“Everyone has a fair shot to get in here,” Freeman said. “We make sure we partner with people that can benefit the festival.

We also give many of our vendor spaces away to the community. We want to make sure we are a good steward of this festival.”

By advertising on social media, TV and radio stations and the Woolly Worm website, the Avery Chamber spreads the word about the festival throughout the year. Mr.

Woolly Worm Roy Krege gives interviews about the festival across North Carolina and Tennessee.

“Our goal is to make sure that we’re marketing 24/7, throughout the year.

Our marketing makes sure that the word continues to stay out and keeps it alive. If you don’t know about a festival, you don’t come. Our job is to facilitate the event,” Freeman said.

Yearly, the Avery Chamber also finetunes and makes improvements around the festival where possible. Streamlining SEE BEHIND, PAGE 11

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2014 Woolly Worm Gazette

October 8, 2014

Woolly Worm Woad Wace October 11

BEHIND: FROM PAGE 10 Worm Wegistration, offering tickets for sale online and rearranging vendor booths to facilitate foot traffic flow were the result of the Chamber acting on public feedback.

“We want it to continue to be better each year and have some element of newness for the people who are returning,” Brubaker said.

“For the month prior to the festival, work goes full throttle, from making the winner badges for the winning worms to changing up different procedures,” Freeman said.

According to Freeman, everyone takes a lot of pride in planning the festival because the proceeds go to benefit children in Avery County.

“Honestly, we take great pride as a staff,” Freeman said. “After the race is over on Saturday and everyone has gone home, I’ll wait for the phone calls from media sources all over wanting to know what the winter weather prediction was.

We pride ourselves on that.”

Avery Chamber also donates tickets to the Woolly Worm Festival to children in every elementary school in Avery County, another way that the festival gives back to the kids.

The Avery Chamber, Banner Elk Kiwanis and Woolly Worm Committee’s 12 months of planning and preparation culminates in one moment.

“When Mr. Woolly Worm stands up there and they have the final heat of races, that worm will determine the winter weather,” Freeman said.

SPECIAL TO THE AVERY JOURNAL-TIMES NEWS@AVERYJOURNAL.COM

T

he five-mile Woolly Worm Woad Wace takes place on Saturday, Oct. 11, beginning at the Lees-McRae College track in Banner Elk at 9 a.m. A one-mile fun run begins at 10:15 a.m.

The races are being held the week prior to the annual Woolly Worm Festival held annually in downtown Banner Elk. Preregistration for the five-miler is $25. Race-day registration is also offered for $30. Fun run registration for kids age 12 and under is $10.

The Williams YMCA and the Avery County Chamber of Commerce sponsor the events.

Registration is available by clicking to https://runsignup.com/Race/NC/ BannerElk/WoollyWormWoadWace or on race day.

The race will start and end at the Lees-McRae track and will loop through some of Banner Elk’s back roads and onto the trails on the grounds of the Holston Camp. Rolling hills and beautiful scenery make this course both challenging and fun, race officials said.

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Page 11

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Merriweather the Woolly Worm congratulates wacers in the 2011 Woad Wace.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Mark Your Calendar!

What: Woolly Worm Woad Wace and fun run When: Saturday, Oct. 11 Time: 9 a.m. wace; 10:15 a.m. fun run Where: Banner Elk Cost: Wace: $25 pre-race, $30 day-of; fun run: $10

Shop Main Street in Elk Park It’s like a walk down memory lane!

Shopping • Dining • Antiques Hardware • Furnishings Join us October 17th & 18th for Customer Appreciation

From the Woolly Worm Festival: Take Hwy 194 West to Hwy 19E Turn Right on Hwy 19E One Mile Ahead, On the Right

Page 12

2014 Woolly Worm Gazette

October 8, 2014