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Grandfather by Night Series Returns to Grandfather Mountain for 2026

April 22, 2026 Boone, NC – April 22, 2026 – “Grandfather by Night events provide a great variety of programming, from unbeatable views to unique educational material from our naturalists,” said Lauren Farrell, director of education for the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation. “Getting to be in the park outside of operating hours is so rare and special, and we look forward to sharing these moments with guests every year.”

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More Artists Added, Official ABC Partners Revealed for FloydFest 26~Daydream (July 22-26, 2026)

April 22, 2026 Boone, NC – April 22, 2026 -Across-the-Way Productions, Inc. and Blue Cow Arts Foundation, Inc. announce even more artists, as well as official its ABC partners, added for FloydFest 26~Daydream, the latest annual offering of the Southeast’s premier summer outdoor music festival, taking place Wednesday to Sunday, July 22 to 26, 2026, at its home, FestivalPark, located at 5826 Floyd Highway North in Check, Va.

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Blowing Rock Chamber Announces Thursday Market 

April 22, 2026 Boone, NC – April 22, 2026 -“We’re thrilled to host this market experience,” said Robin Miller, CEO of the Blowing Rock Chamber. “It’s a great way to support local businesses while creating a fun and welcoming gathering space each week.” 

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The Children’s Council Recognizes April as Child Abuse Prevention Month 

[Boone, NC] –  Children’s Council of Watauga County joins Positive Childhood Alliance North Carolina, the State affiliate of Prevent Child Abuse America,  in recognizing Child Abuse Prevention Month 2026. This April, organizations and community members across North Carolina, including nonprofits, government agencies, educators, policymakers, health care providers, faith groups, and businesses, are coming together to highlight the role we all play in supporting families from the start.  “This year’s Child Abuse Prevention Month theme, ‘Positive Childhoods Start With Us,’ reminds us that everyone has a role in creating the conditions children and families need to thrive,” said Sharon Hirsch, President and CEO of Positive Childhood Alliance North Carolina. “When we all work together to strengthen communities and support all families, we build a stronger future for us all.”  Child Abuse Prevention Month is an opportunity for community members to learn more about what it means to create communities where families have what they need so their children can reach their full potential.   The Children’s Council offers a wide range of resources to support families with young children.  Parent education programs like the Incredible Years series strengthen relationships between parents and children and provide caregivers with tools to manage challenging behaviors appropriately, rather than using harsh discipline.  Classes are available for parents …

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MOVIE REVIEW: Lee Cronin’s The Mummy

  By Bob Garver           Prior to what I will generously call his “new take” on “The Mummy,” director Lee Cronin was best known for 2023’s “Evil Dead Rise.” Original “Evil Dead” director Sam Raimi had a new movie out earlier this year with “Send Help,” and he didn’t put his name in that film’s title. And his name carries real weight, he directed the Tobey Maguire “Spider-Man” trilogy back in the 2000’s. But the guy who directed the fifth “Evil Dead” movie thinks his name belongs in the very title of his next project. At least this way I know who to blame for this movie, so points for “owning it,” I guess.             The film follows the Cannon family: father Charlie (Jack Reynor), mother Larissa (Laia Costa), son Sebastian (initially Dean Allen Williams, later Shylo Molina), and daughter Katie (initially Emily Mitchell, later Natalie Grace). They’re an American family living in Cairo next door to a mean matriarch known as The Magician (Hayat Kamille), who we know from the film’s prologue is the protector and caregiver of a malevolent Egyptian entity. Katie goes missing, and the local police, including young detective Dalia (May Calamawy) are no help.             Eight …

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Jones House Announces 2026 Summer Concert Series Lineup

April 22, 2026 Boone, NC – April 22, 2026 – “We love being able to bring free live music to the community each summer,” says Brandon Holder, Cultural Resources Coordinator for the Town of Boone. “It’s a great way to support local artists and create a welcoming space for folks to gather and enjoy downtown Boone.”

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High Country Host Regional Welcome Center Celebrates National Travel & Tourism Week with Open House

April 22, 2026 Boone, NC – April 22, 2026 – The regional welcome center will be holding an open house all week and invites the public to stop by and learn more about local tourism. Locals can pick up goodies from the tourism community, up- to-date Blue Ridge Parkway detour maps, updated hiking maps, coupons to local attractions and enter a drawing to win tickets to local attractions.

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Grandfather Mountain opens Yonni’s Clubhouse

LINVILLE, N.C. — Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, has announced that the new hands-on science and conservation education center, Yonni’s Clubhouse, opened to the public on April 4. Admission is included with an entrance ticket to the park. Yonni’s is a part of the expanding Conservation Campus at Grandfather Mountain that includes the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery, the Williams Outdoor Learning Space, Cobey Botanical Garden and more. Yonni’s Clubhouse, located next to the Wilson Center, is geared toward children ages 5 to 12, though all are welcome. The space is currently open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will be closed for most of the afternoon on April 18 for a private event. April 20 and beyond, the facility will be open daily. “Our entire Conservation Campus aims to provide our visitors, and particularly young folks, with deeper experiences to provide a fuller understanding of nature and the interconnectedness of all species and natural systems,” said Jesse Pope, president and CEO of the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation. “A large part of our mission is to help educate a new generation of dedicated environmental stewards and by providing …

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MOVIE REVIEW: The Drama

By Bob Garver             Good news, grown-ups, even though most of the screens at your local theater are probably still devoted to “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” there’s a decent option for adults in one of the other houses. I’m convinced that “The Drama” has stayed in the top three at the domestic box office for the past two weekends by reeling in parents who don’t want to watch Mario with their kids, but don’t want to leave the theater. Or it could be good advertising, good word-of-mouth, good reviews, or other non-cynical reasons.             The film follows Charlie (Robert Pattinson) and Emma (Zendaya), a nauseatingly-cute Boston-area couple a week away from their wedding. He’s a bit of a creep and she doesn’t talk much about her military-family upbringing, but they’re sure they can learn to live with each other’s foibles, after all, they’re in love. Hopefully it’s not much of a spoiler to say that their love will be tested over the course of the film as they deal with, well, drama.             That drama first rears its head at a couples’ dinner with friends Mike (Mamoudou Athie) and Rachel (Alana Haim). Rachel has the bright idea to have …

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Getting Wild at Boone’s Art Crawl: Footsloggers Hosts an Earth Day Celebration on April 17

BOONE, NC – On Friday, April 17, Footsloggers is teaming up with Friends of the Blue Ridge and Rock Dimensions to bring the April Art Crawl’s Earth Day Celebration to a higher level. Held in the Footsloggers Courtyard at 139 Depot Street, this free community event blends outdoor adventure, local art, and environmental stewardship. The courtyard will be packed with interactive experiences, including: Event Details:● What: Earth Day & Art Crawl Celebration● When: April 17, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM● Where: The Courtyard between Footsloggers and Rock Dimensions, 139 Depot Street, Boone, NC● Cost: Free and open to the public More Information: Footsloggers Earth Day Celebration (https://tinyurl.com/booneearthday) or call at 828-355-9984.

Boone Sunrise Rotary Celebrates 40th Anniversary

Boone, NC – April 21, 2026 – The Boone Sunrise Rotary Club is proudly celebrating 40 years of service to the High Country community this April. Founded on April 21, 1986, by a group of local business leaders committed to community service, the club has spent four decades living out Rotary’s guiding principle of “Service Above Self.”  A founding Boone Sunrise Rotary Club Member, John Cooper, stated, “The Boone Rotary Club, at that time, had a very long tradition of service and strong membership consisting of the business leaders in Boone and surrounding areas. Because meetings were held during evening hours, tearing members away from their families, many wanted a morning club. The Boone Sunrise Rotary Club was established with a morning breakfast meeting, and quickly set about making Boone a better place, through service and contributions to many of the local non-profits that met the needs of our community. It has continued that good work for over 40 years.”  Today, the club has about 60 active members, both working and retired, who represent a wide range of local businesses and industry including education and nonprofit.    To mark this milestone, Boone Sunrise Rotary members have joined Mark Norris, with …

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Two Mexican Nationals Sentenced To Prison For Methamphetamine Trafficking in Catawba, Caldwell, and Watauga Counties

April 14, 2026 Boone, NC – April 14, 2026 – According to court records, from February 2024 to February 2025, Lemus-Orozco and Gutierrez- Lopez conspired to distribute kilogram quantities of methamphetamine in Catawba, Caldwell, and Watauga Counties and elsewhere. Lemus-Orozco was the leader of the local drug trafficking organization. Investigators conducted at least five controlled purchases of methamphetamine from the defendants.

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Blowing Rock Chamber Announces New Chapter for Symphony by Chetola Lake

April 14, 2026 Boone, NC – April 14, 2026 -“This event simply would not be what it is today without Chetola,” said Ellen Harrell Board Chair for the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce. “We are incredibly grateful for the history we’ve built together, and the memories created since 1987. We also look forward to our future and building new memories for our community as we work to enhance our attendee experience for the future.

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Elk Knob Trails, Past and Future: Join Ranger-Led Hike on May 7

TODD, NC – Friends of the Blue Ridge invites outdoor enthusiasts to a unique hiking adventure, “Elk Knob Trails Past and Future,” at Elk Knob State Park on Wednesday, May 7th. This guided excursion will be led by NC State Park Ranger Marissa Mabe. As participants trek to the summit, Ranger Mabe will share the rich history of the park and the surrounding mountains. Hikers will also learn to identify the flora and fauna that call the Elk Knob area home, highlighting the ecological significance of this high-elevation landscape.In addition to exploring existing paths, the event will feature an educational discussion regarding the future of the park’s trail system. Highlights include an introduction to the Northern Peaks Trail, an ambitious project that will eventually connect downtown Boone to West Jefferson by crossing the Amphibolite Mountains. Event Details:

Boone Sunrise Rotary Invites the Public to a Free Viewing of the Film Colossus: The Forbin Project at the Appalachian Theater

Boone, NC, —  Part One of a Two-Part series will examine a growing public curiosity and concern about artificial intelligence and offer the community an opportunity to use examples from science fiction and modern technology to explore how imagined ideas often become reality.  Every day, the acronym AI can be found in media publications, on television and in private conversations.  Most people know it refers to Artificial Intelligence and generally only deal with it in the context of how they use it, many commonly using platforms like Chat GPT or Claude to help with day-to-day tasks, writing projects or research.   We also hear stories about how AI has entered everyday life events or how AI helps medical diagnostics and worry about whether AI may or may not take over certain jobs now held by human workers.  We also recognize that AI can very convincingly dispense information or advice that is untrue or even illegal.  Even so, how many of us really understand what AI is, how it works, and what dangers may accompany the benefits that can exist?  The complexities and possibilities of AI are both fascinating and alarming.   Sometimes the best way to motivate ourselves to think about complex …

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 “Sounds of Nature – Kids’ Music Day” returns to Grandfather Mountain

April 9, 2026 Boone, NC – April 9, 2026 -Returning after a successful debut in 2025, the fun-filled, nature-themed afternoon of music will take place in the Williams Outdoor Learning Space, and it is included with park admission. Families can groove to the sounds in nature through an interactive concert celebration, featuring lively performances from the band Acoustic Folklore, eco-themed songs and hands-on activities.

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MOVIE REVIEW: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

By Bob Garver             2023 brought audiences “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” by far the most successful cinematic adaptation of a video game ever. It was a wonder how appealing the property was with vibrant, colorful animation and respect for both its source material and its audience. I couldn’t bring myself to recommend the film, as the story, action, characters, and humor never really “came together” for me, but it was definitely a step in the right direction.             In that film, plumber brothers Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Cox) stumbled upon the Mushroom Kingdom, led by Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy), who they saved from having to marry Bowser (Jack Black), king of the evil Koopas. They also aligned with headstrong ape Donkey Kong, but he’s not in play here. The brothers and Peach were hailed as heroes, while Bowser was ultimately shrunk down and imprisoned in a jar.             This film starts out by introducing some new characters. Princess Rosalina (Brie Larson) rules over a planet of childlike stars in another galaxy. She’s abducted by Bowser Jr. (Benny Safdie), who needs to harness her powers to activate a doomsday weapon. But first, there’s the matter of rescuing his …

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High Country Power of Women

April 16th 2026 Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM Location: Mark E. Ricks Athletic Complex  425 Jack Branch Dr, Boone, NC 28608 We are bringing together an incredible panel of women who are leading at the highest level in collegiate athletics: Alaura Sharp – Head Women’s Basketball Coach Annie Richards – Women’s Distance Coach Aimee Haywood – Head Women’s Soccer Coach Together, they’ll share real, impactful insights on: This is more than just an event — it’s an opportunity to connect, grow, and be inspired alongside other amazing women in our High Country community. We would love to see you there!

Parkers’ Mandolin to Perform Concert at the Jones House Cultural Center

April 9, 2026 Boone, NC – April 9, 2026 -For this special performance, the duo will be joined by guitarist Andy Page and bassist Adam Booker, rounding out the ensemble with a rich and dynamic rhythm section. Both musicians are respected educators who teach in the Hayes School of Music at Appalachian State University, and bring a depth of experience and musicality that enhances the group’s already compelling sound.

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The Exchange Music Hall Presents: Umphrey’s McGee July 17

Roanoke, VA – April 2, 2026 — Roanoke, Va.’s new, premier venue, The Exchange Music Hall, located at 201 S. Jefferson Street, welcomes Umphrey’s McGee on Friday, July 17, 2026, presented by Across-the-Way Productions as a special stop on the genre-defying band’s Summer 2026 Tour. Tickets for The Exchange Presents: Umphrey’s McGee – Summer 2026 go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 3, via https://theexchangeva.com/ & https://aftontickets.com/theexchange-umphreysmcgee. Doors open at 7 p.m. for the all-ages show, with Umphrey’s McGee taking the stage at 8 p.m. In addition to GA tickets, a small number of VIP tickets are also available for the July 17 concert, which feature exclusive access to The Exchange’s Mezzanine Level, including the Speakeasy and VIP bars. With over 2,800 live shows, 15 studio albums and more than 27 years of musical evolution, Umphrey’s McGee continues to defy classification and expectation. Drawing fans from around the globe and across musical boundaries, the band has cultivated a devoted community rooted in spontaneity, precision and connection. Pioneers at the intersection of music and technology, their live experience fuses cutting-edge production with fan-centric innovation, creating a space where longtime followers and newcomers alike feel at home. Genre lines blur …

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