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12 Things You Could Do This Weekend in the High Country; Check ’em Out & Make Plans With Our Weekend Roundup: May 18 to 20

Compiled by Paul T. Choate & Rebecca Gitlen

May 18, 2012. If you sit on your couch this weekend, you should be ashamed of yourself. Don’t even start with that “there’s nothing to do,” “I’m bored,” “If only there were a website that would tell me about cool things to do.” The High Country has so many wonderful events to offer its community and visitors. 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.

The Inn at Ragged Gardens in downtown Blowing Rock is an enchanting early 1900’s manor with Music on the Lawn every Friday. This Friday, Soul Benefactor will be the featured band.

When: May 18, 5:30 to 8 p.m. 
Where: Inn at Ragged Gardens, Blowing Rock
For more information, call 828-295-9703.

The Rocky Knob TGIF Mountain Bike Ride takes place all day today. This is a loosely organized time to meet others and ride at Boone’s local bike park.

When: Friday, May 18, from 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Where: Rocky Knob Bike Park on Highway 421 just outside of Boone.
For more information, visit www.rockyknob.wordpress.com.

Linville Mountain Mixers will host Western Square Dancing. Wear casual or square dance attire. The dance levels are Mainstream & Plus and the caller will be Ron Libby of Land Harbor. Visitors are very welcome.

When: Friday, May 18, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Where: Land Harbor Recreation Hall, 20 Land Harbor Plaza, Newland
For more information, visit www.mountainmixers.com.

Check out the Watagua County Farmers’ Market. The market has so many things to love: fresh and nutritious local foods, beautiful handmade crafts, face-to-face interactions with the farmers who grow your food, scrumptious breads, jams, jellies and cheeses made by community members, meat and eggs from local farmers and of course the friendly social atmosphere of “Boone’s Town Square.” 

When: Saturday, May 19, 8 a.m. to noon
Where: Horn in the West parking lot, Boone
For more information, call 828-355-4918 or 828-264-3424.

Mountain Home Music will present the Banjo Jubilee, a joyous, folksy band of three members: Steve Lewis, Edwin Lacy and Brandy Miller. Tickets can be purchased online at or at one of these Boone area locations: Mast General Store (Boone & Valle Crucis), Rydell Music Center (Boone), Pandora’s Box (Blowing Rock) or Fred’s General Mercantile (Beech Mountain).

When: Saturday, May 19 at 8 p.m.
Where: Blowing Rock School Auditorium
Admission: $10 for students, $15 for adults in advance
For more information, visit www.mountainhomemusic.com/tickets.php.

Household Hazardous Waste Day takes place this weekend. Items you can turn in include paint, household batteries, NiCad batteries, lead-acid batteries (car type), antifreeze, ethylene, gasoline, lighter fluid, solid and liquid pesticides, oxidizers, used oils and household cleaners.

When: Saturday, May 19, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Watauga County Landfill, 336 Landfill Rd., Boone, N.C.
For more information, call 828-265-4852.

Earth.Water.Fire Run and Paddle Challenge is a duathlon that includes running and paddling. Participants will compete solo or in a two-person team in which case one team member will run and one will paddle. There will also be a community wide celebration.

When: Saturday, May 19, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Walter and Annie Cook Park, across from the Todd General Store in Todd, N.C.
For more information, visit www.wataugacountypathways.org.

The 10th Annual Music in the Valle concert series kicks off this weekend. The show will feature Diana and Sarvis Ridge, Southbound, and The Sheets Family. Food will be available for purchase from the Come Back Shack.

When: Saturday, May 19, from 12 to 6 p.m.
Where: Valle Crucis Community Park, 2918 Broadstone Rd., Valle Crucis, N.C.
For more information, call 828-963-9239.

Drug Take-back Day, as part of Community Pride Week, takes place this weekend at five locations. This is a great opportunity to get rid of old, outdated medications around the house.

When: Saturday, May 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: The Food Lion groceries stores on Blowing Rock Road, Old Highway 421 and 321 in Blowing Rock. The Foscoe Fire Department on Highway 105. The Beaverdam Fire Department on Bethel Road in Sugar Grove.
For more information, call 828-265-4852.

The ASU Biology Department Greenhouse Plant Sale happens this weekend. Choose from hundreds of healthy tropical plants, perennials and vegetables, all grown by student volunteers. Prices start at $1.

When: Friday, May 18, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, May 19, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: ASU Greenhouse, 333 Dale St., Boone
For more information, call 828-262-4025.

Saturday Night Out at New River is a weekly program teaching children from grades 1 through 7 the basic principles of gymnastics.

When: Saturday, May 19, from 6 to 9 p.m.
Where: New River Gymnastics Academy, 419 Daniel Boone Drive, #B, Boone, N.C.
Admission: $20
For more information, call 828-264-0641.

Watauga residents Willa and Ledah Finck present a year-end violin recital this weekend. The recital is free and open to the public. The sisters will perform masterworks by Bach, Bruch, Lalo, Saint Saens, Mozart, Paganini, and Sarasate.

When: Sunday, May 20, at 4 p.m.
Where: St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 170 Council St., Boone
For more information, call 828-963-6504. 

Things to Do This Weekend logo by Debbie Carter.