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Weekend Roundup: Exciting Things to Do This Weekend; Check ‘em Out and Make Plans July 18-20

by Madison V. Fisler July 11, 2014. The High Country has so many exciting events to offer its community and visitors, especially on summer weekends! Check our site every Friday for something new and exciting to look forward to while you’re watching the hour hand crawl to 5 o’clock. Find live music down the street, explore a nearby town’s local secrets or try out a new square dancing class. There’s always something fun to do in the High Country.

Weekend-Long Events

To check out this week’s movie trailers and our weekly movie review of Tammy, click here.

Fine Art and Master Craft Festival: The 2014 Fine Arts and Master Craft Festival will be held July 18, 19 and 20 in Banner Elk, hosted by theAvery County Chamber of Commerce. This event, which has been an Avery County installment for 23 years, brings together 85 of the top artists and master craftsmen (and women!) to the High Country for a weekend of art, entertainment and fun. 

A Grand Night for Singing: After a great production of Kiss Me, Kate, the cast and crew of Lees-McRae Summer Theatre are excited to begin their next show: A Grand Night for Singing. This production will be performed July 16-20 at 7 p.m. and July 17, 19 and 20 at 2 p.m.

Holy Cross Rummage Sale: With a little time and effort, residents can track down some real treasures during the rummage sale at Holy Cross Episcopal Church located on N.C. 194 in Valle Crucis. The sale begins on Thursday, July 17 and runs until Saturday, July 19. The sale is open each day from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. and admission is free.

Friday, July 18

Blowing Rock Trails Camp: High School Cross Country Distance Camp open for all high school runners who want to improve upon their knowledge base as a distance runner. Training is a two a day training model that focuses on building a strong distance base for the upcoming Cross Country season. Camp includes, cabin stay, 8 day dinner plan, pool,indoor basketball court,and recreation room.

Grandfather Mountain Programs: Grandfather Mountain will be bringing animals often perceived as “creepy”. We will look at snakes, insects, an opossum, and an owl and discuss reasons why they are important to have in our environment.

Wilkesboro’s Weekly Open Air Market: The Open Air Market is scheduled May 2 through September 19, 2014 on a weekly basis. The regular market is open every Friday from 4:00-8:00 pm. The vendor selling are farmers with locally grown fruits, vegetables, plants and local art & craft vendors, baked goods, plus many other vendors. This market will take place in the town owned parking lot across from the 50’s Restaurant and Royall’s Framing on Main Street in downtown Wilkesboro.

Concerts at the Jones House: The 2014 Concerts at the Jones House Series will run from June 6th to September 12. Concerts begin at 5:00pm unless otherwise stated.

Hickory Ridge Living History Museum: Hickory Ridge Living History Museum, located on the grounds of “Horn in the West,” is an eighteenth-century living history museum highlighting the daily lives of our mountain ancestors. See live demonstrations of various pioneer skills, such as hearthside cooking, flintlock rifle, blacksmithing, spinning and weaving, etc. Open Saturday mornings, May – October (during Farmers Market on site), and evenings before “Horn in the West,” Tues. – Sun., late-June through mid-August. Admission to the museum is by donation.

Music on the Lawn: “Music on the Lawn” at The Inn at Ragged Gardens has become Blowing Rock’s favorite outdoor concert series. Held each Friday from May through October (weather permitting), the event draws locals and visitors alike. The event has grown in popularity over the years and attendance in the hundreds can be expected. A different band is featured every week and performances are from 5:30 until 8:30. A cash bar and lawn menu are available. There is no charge for the concerts and we encourage guests to bring a lawn chair and arrive early to secure a spot on the lawn. Dogs are not permitted and we do not allow coolers or outside food and beverage. Each week a private non-profit organization is featured to educate and inform the public about their cause. We encourage you to come and enjoy music, food and drink on the beautifully landscaped grounds at The Inn at Ragged Gardens. See you on Fridays!

Music in the Valle: Valle Crucis Community Park presents the 12th season of its Music in the Valle concert series, a favorite among Watauga County locals as well as visitors to the High Country! Concerts begin at 7 p.m. May 23 through August 8. August 15 through September 5 concerts begin at 6:30 p.m.

Carolina Chamber Symphony Players: Carolina Chamber Symphony Players presents an evening of songs by Hoagy Carmichael featuring vocalist Martha Bassett.

Grandfather Mountain Night Walk: The Grandfather Mountain staff naturalists will lead a guided night walk for adults and children to challenge their senses and experience the beauty of the night.

Saturday, July 19

Coffee Talk: The Art Cellar Gallery summer season of Saturday Coffee Talks continues this Saturday, July 19, with Charlotte artist Tony Griffin. Tony will be in the gallery Saturday morning from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. for a casual talk and will be on hand for conversation about his paintings and drawings. The gallery is currently showing a wide range of this well-known artist’s work, which ranges from large landscapes to plein air paintings and figurative work from oil portraits to charcoal nudes on paper. 

Dance Theatre of Harlem: On Saturday, July 19, the famed Dance Theatre of Harlem will have a one-night-only performance at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts. The show will start at 8 p.m., following a pre-show question and answer session held at 7 p.m. by artistic director Virginia Johnson.

Brews ‘n Views: On Saturday, July 19, from 2-7 p.m., Beech Mountain Resort will host the highly anticipated Brews n’ Views festival. Admission to the day-long festival is free and fun for all ages. This year’s event will be complete with live music, craft beer, a Hash Run, food vendors and much more.

Watauga County Farmers’ Market: Join us for the 40th anniversary season of Watauga County Farmers’ Market! The farmers’ market has been Boone’s Town Square since 1974.

Ashe County Farmers’ Market: We will have everything from fresh produce and meats to plants and crafts all under one roof!

Elk Knob Volunteer Trail Work Day: Warmer weather has finally returned along with the Volunteer Trail Work Days at Elk Knob State Park. Every Saturday beginning April 5 and running through the middle of November (except June 28 and September 13), staff and volunteers will meet at the Summit Trailhead at 9 am and work until approximately 3:30 pm, weather permitting. Tools are provided but volunteers should wear close-toed shoes and bring work gloves, lunch and water. Most of the time will be spent building our new one mile loop trail, the Beech Tree Trail, although we may include some repair work on the Summit Trail. If you would like to be involved in a fulfilling project that will fill you with a well-deserved sense of pride, then join us on Saturdays at Elk Knob State Park. For more information please call 828-297-7261.

Cool Summer Nights: Stroll down Tweetsie Railroad’s Main Street and say howdy to the Marshal and the Cowboys. Visit the shops and the eateries. Along the way you’re sure to meet lots of interesting folks … and maybe a few outlaws, too.

Johnson County Farmers’ Market: The main work of the Johnson County Farmers Market is to help strengthen a sustainable local agricultural and food economy. We do this by providing education, engaging in community and economic development, and promoting the availability and benefits of local food and agriculture.

Banner Elk Heritage Day: The day will begin at 9am with a free bus tour of historic Banner Elk, sponsored by Lees-McRae College. Tours of the Banner House Museum will run from 9am-1pm. Also traditional music, craft displays, and demonstrations are planned at the Banner House Museum from 9am to 1pm.

Sunday, July 20

Vintage Valle Music: This summer’s Vintage Valle Music continues Sunday, July 20 with musical performances by Damascus, Carolina Crossing and Rev. Bryan McFarland as well as traditional Jack Tales told by Rev. Tommy Brown. The event lasts from 4 to 6 p.m. at Baird’s Creek Presbyterian Church and is free and open to all of the public. Event organizers encourage attendees to bring non-perishable food items to donate to Watauga County’s Hunger Coalition.