High Country Press

June 23, 2017. Ensemble Stage’s 2017 Season opened on June 16 with “The Star Spangled Girl,” the Stage’s first performance in its new home in Banner Elk. However, the run for that particular play is coming to a close on Saturday, June 24. On that same day, the first children’s theatre production will be taking place at 11 a.m., and it is going to be a new spin on the classic tale of “Rapunzel.” / Read more…

June 23, 2017. On July 1-2, Art on the Greene in Banner Elk is offering artists the chance to showcase their talents by displaying their artwork on the green at the Historic Banner Elk School. Artists include jewelry makers, wood workers, painters, potters and metal artists. By Katelyn Jenkins / Read more…

June 23, 2017. Music for Harmony, a nonprofit group in Boone, will be holding free concerts at the Daniel Boone Native Gardens throughout the summer. The first concert is for children and takes place on Saturday, June 24, at 11 a.m. The other two concerts, on July 1 and July 22, will be focused on the environment and art, respectively. All proceeds go towards local nonprofits throughout the High Country that strive to help people within our community. For the first concert, due to inclement weather that is expected, will be taking place in the rain venue at the Boone Unitarian Universalist Fellowship located at 381 E. King St. in Boone. By Katie Benfield / Read more…

June 23, 2017. Since 1987 Christmas in July has been filling the streets of Downtown West Jefferson with live music, food, arts and crafts, dancing and most importantly Christmas trees. On June 30 the Festival returns at 3 p.m. until July 1 at 7 p.m. Thousands of people travel each year to enjoy this special event. You don’t want to miss it! By Katelyn Jenkins – Photo Courtesy of the Christmas in July Festival / Read more…

June 23, 2017. Wahoo’s Adventures is partnering with Boondocks Brewing Tap Room & Restaurant of West Jefferson to bring the Float Fest back to the High Country. The Float Fest takes place on the New River, featuring tubing, disc golf, games, local music, local food trucks and local beer. All proceeds go towards benefitting High Country Pathways. / Read more…

June 23, 2017. The Tour de Art returns for its 9th season in the High Country, offering community members the opportunity to tour local artist galleries and studios. Each studio and gallery on the map differ from each other, providing a unique experience at each and every one of them. Look for the yellow signs and the hot pink map so that you can participate every fourth Saturday of the month from now until November. / Read more…

June 23, 2017. Heritage Hall in Mountain City, TN is dedicated to bringing great shows at good prices to the community. Through the months of June and July, Heritage Hall will host multiple musical performances, including The Jeff Little Trio and Phantom. Whether you’re a resident or a visitor, this nonprofit organization is sure to provide you with an entertaining evening for an affordable price. / Read more…

June 23, 2017. Blood, Sweat, and Gears will be hosting their 19th Annual ride Saturday, June 24th in the High Country. The ride will begin and end in Valle Crucis with an option to do a 90 mile or a 50 mile ride. The estimated time it takes to complete the routes is around 9 hours. Be on the watch on June 24 for bike traffic and cyclists during the day. By Taylor Hawkins – Photo Courtesy of Blood, Sweat, and Gears / Read more…

June 21, 2017. Strictly Strings and Strictly Clean & Decent will be performing at the Jones House as part of the 2017 Summer Concerts at the Jones House. The two bands will be setting up and playing from the Jones House porch, starting at 5 p.m. / Read more…

June 23, 2017. FORUM at Lees-McRae has been well-known for decades for providing the community with amazing and high-quality performances. FORUM’s 2017 summer series begins June 26th, having already sold out general admission for their first show. By Taylor Hawkins – Photo Courtesy of FORUM at Lees-McRae and Double Grande / Read more…

June 23, 2017. The 66th season of Horn in the West is fast approaching, waiting to bring drama, action and entertainment to the High Country. Tonight, June 23, is opening night for the 2017 season with special discounts for Watauga residents. Photo Courtesy of Horn in the West / Read more…

June 23, 2017. There has been constant activity of artists as new sculptures are installed, lifted by hoists or carefully carried and gently placed under trees orin the green lawn in the Studio Sculpture Garden & Gallery,
which is located on Highway 221 at the same location of well-known artist Bill Brown’s sculpture studio.
/ Read more…

June 23, 2017. Lees-McRae will present its performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat on June 25th. This play lasts from June 25 until July 2.
By Taylor Hawkins – Photo Courtesy of Lees-McRae Summer Theatre / Read more…

June 23, 2017. An Appalachian Summer Festival returns to the High County with amazing performances in music, dance, theatre, film and other visual art. Each performance is unique and stunning, and regardless of taste, everyone will be able to find something they enjoy throughout the series that starts on June 27 and lasts until August 5. By Katie Benfield – Photo Courtesy of Appalachian State University / Read more…

What’s going on in your community? Here’s a brief update on the emails we received today. Check back each day for an updated list of events going on in the area. As always, please feel free to email us about your event or update.

Watauga County Gospel Singing, June 24

Concert at St. John’s Episcopal Church, July 2

Summer Excursion Train Through the Great Smoky Mountains, Aug. 12

Blue Ridge Parkway Evening Program, June 24

Blue Ridge Parkway Evening Programs, June 30, July 1

Read more…
Compiled by Katie Benfield

June 22, 2017. The 36th Annual Cornbread Cook-Off returns to the Old Hampton Store in Linville this Saturday, June 24, from 10:30 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. Competitors will need to bring in their cornbread by noon on Saturday in order to be in the running for the winning cornbread. Photo Courtesy of the Old Hampton Store / Read more…

June 22, 2017. A look at the recent deed transfers in Watauga County. The information comes courtesy of the Watauga County Register of Deeds. Compiled by Debbie Carter / Read more…

June 22, 2017. High Gravity Adventures will be adding a new Zip Line Tour by July 4 of this summer season. The Zip Line Tour swings adventurers all throughout the trees of the High Country, over ravines and even on a 70 foot free fall. Photo Courtesy of High Gravity Adventures / Read more…

June 22, 2017. Looking to stay up-to-date on what’s happening in your neighborhood? Want to keep an eye on criminal activity in your area? Take a look at these recent incident and arrest reports from the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office and the Boone Police Department. Read more…
Compiled by Katie Benfield

June 22, 2017. Letters to the Editor. Jeanne Supin / Dear Editor, Rumor has it Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will reveal the secret healthcare bill on Thursday. That’s right – the words “rumor” and “secret” best define a bill that would affect all 326,474,013 Americans, a bill that would throw 19-23 million people off insurance, a bill that would decimate essential benefits like maternity care, mental health treatment, and addiction services, a bill that would allow insurance companies to charge more for pre-existing conditions and put strict annual and lifetime limits on how much they would cover and pay for, a bill that would destroy Medicaid (a program that has been a successful cost-effective safety net for 52 years), and a bill that could cause as many as 43,956 new deaths per year. / Read more…

June 22, 2017. On Saturday, the Town of Banner Elk will be holding a ceremony to dedicate a new stone clock tower as the first installation in a new park in the heart of town. The public is invited to attend. / Read more…

What’s going on in your community? Here’s a brief update on the emails we received today. Check back each day for an updated list of events going on in the area. As always, please feel free to email us about your event or update.

Lees-McRae Student Athletes Named to the Conference Carolinas Presidential Honor Roll

Watauga County Gospel Singing, June 24

Concert at St. John’s Episcopal Church, July 2

Public Notice: Mountain Family Medicine to Close on July 7

Sirens on the Mountain 2017 Schedule

Banner Elk Cafe Music on the Patio in Full Swing

Read more…
Compiled by Katie Benfield

June 21, 2017. The Blowing Rock Movies in the Park hits the High Country for another summer season full of family-friendly events that people of all ages are sure to enjoy. The series starts off around 8:30 p.m. on June 29,
with Back to the Future. All movies are free, and everyone is encouraged to bring something to sit on and whatever snack and drink (non-alcoholic) that they prefer! / Read more…

What’s going on in your community? Here’s a brief update on the emails we received today. Check back each day for an updated list of events going on in the area. As always, please feel free to email us about your event or update.

Mile High Yoga at 5506′, June 24

Flower Bouquet Workshop at Beech Mountain Resort, Saturday 

Medical Practice Offer Same-Day Patient Access

Blue Ridge Electric Annual Membership Meeting, June 22

Concert at St. John’s Episcopal Church, July 2

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Visit Tweetsie Railroad, July 7-9

Blowing Rock Monday Night Concert Series Begins July 10 

Public Notice: Mountain Family Medicine to Close on July 7

Sirens on the Mountain 2017 Schedule

Special Program at Grandfather Mountain with Author Randy Johnson, July 1

Read more…
Compiled by Katie Benfield

June 20, 2017. The Watauga County Farmers’ Market is still in full swing. Every Saturday, until the month of October, the Farmers’ Market will be offering the community the freshest produce and most skillfully crafted items, all local, from 8 a.m. until noon. By Katie Benfield – Photo by Ken Ketchie / Read more…

June 20, 2017 “Cars” is probably the most unpopular arm of the Pixar universe. The first film was only moderately well-received, the sequel was the first eligible Pixar film not to be nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars, and the two “Planes” spinoffs (which are from a non-Pixar branch of Disney) are direct-to-DVD-quality garbage. To be clear, I liked the first two “Cars” movies and I don’t think Pixar has ever made a “bad” movie, but I don’t know why they’re dead-set on expending this franchise when they keep hitting a wall with anthropomorphic vehicles.
The movie once again follows race car Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson), who finds himself in possibly the twilight of his career. By Bob Garver. / Read more…

June 20, 2017. Carlton Gallery’s 35th Spring Group Exhibition with Florals, Still Lifes and Interiors is currently in full swing, featuring artists Mary Dobbin and Tonya Bottomley. The Spring Group Exhibition also displays paintings by Dottie Leatherwood and Debbie Arnold. Photo Courtesy of Carlton Gallery / Read more…

June 20, 2017. All throughout the summer season and on, Sugar Mountain, in cooperation with Sugar Mountain Ski Resort, will be offering the community several opportunities to participate in fun and exciting events. The first event, starting on July 1 with the Summit Crawl & Classic Car and Truck Cruise-In. Don’t miss out on these exciting summer events that are sure to make your summer memories the best ones yet. / Read more…

June 19, 2017. The Town of Seven Devils brings you the 14th Annual SafetyFest on Saturday, July 1, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Come on out and enjoy some amazing food, some fun activities and games and wonderful times within the community. By Katie Benfield / Read more…

June 19, 2017. Another year has come and gone, and the Blowing Rock Garden Club is once again hosting the Mile of Flowers in Blowing Rock this upcoming Friday, June 23. With beautiful flowers, a boutique, handmade goodies and awe-inspiring gardens, this year’s Mile of Flowers is sure to brighten up your summer. By Katie Benfield / Read more…

June 19, 2017. Ensemble Stage opened for the 2017 season on Friday, June 16, with The Star Spangled Girl by Neil Simon. The opening performance was a major success, bringing in a fantastic audience to Ensemble Stage’s new venue at the Historic Banner Elk School. The Star Spangled Girl will run until June 24, so purchase your tickets today and don’t miss out on an uproariously funny play that christened the new theater with laughter and community. Photo Courtesy of Ensemble Stage / Read more…

June 19, 2017. The North Carolina Writers’ Network is coming to the High Country for the 2017 Squire Summer Writing Workshops which take place from July 13 through July 16. If you are interested in learning about and writing poetry, fiction or creative non-fiction, you can register for the event up until Wednesday, June 28. / Read more…

June 19, 2017. The 3rd Annual Homegrown Music Festival returns to the High Country on Saturday, August 12, at the Foscoe-Grandfather Community Park. The renowned music festival will be presenting various local bands and performers, such as Amantha Mill, The High Country Boomers, Adam Church, Blue Country and so many more. Along with music, there will be craft vendors and food to add to the festivities. / Read more…

What’s going on in your community? Here’s a brief update on the emails we received today. Check back each day for an updated list of events going on in the area. As always, please feel free to email us about your event or update.

Blowing Rock Monday Night Concert Series Begins July 10 

Public Notice: Mountain Family Medicine to Close on July 7

Sirens on the Mountain 2017 Schedule

Artists Mary Dobbins and Tonya Bottomley at Carlton Gallery

Special Program at Grandfather Mountain with Author Randy Johnson, July 1

Blue Ridge Parkway Ranger Programs, June 28-July 2

Abingdon Farmers’ Market’s 3rd Annual Berry Fest, June 24

Weekly Events at Lost Province Brewing Company, June 21-July 1

Read more…
Compiled by Katie Benfield

What’s going on in your community? Here’s a brief update on the emails we received today. Check back each day for an updated list of events going on in the area. As always, please feel free to email us about your event or update.

Watauga Amateur Radio Club Participates in Annual Field Day, June 24-25

Award-Winning Pianist, Fidel Leal, to Perform in Blowing Rock, June 24

Vintage Valle Music at Baird’s Creek Presbyterian Church, June 18

Wordkeepers Event at the Ashe County Arts Council in West Jefferson, June 17

Public Notice: ASU’s Board of Trustees to Meet June 22-23

Read more…
Compiled by Katie Benfield