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Saturday’s Blowing Rock Music Festival Considered ‘Great Success’ for First-Time Event at The Blowing Rock

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Festivalgoers sit on the rock outcroppings at The Blowing Rock to watch performances at Saturday’s The Blowing Rock Music Festival. Photos by Ken Ketchie

By Jesse Wood

Sept. 22, 2014. Organizers of The Blowing Rock Music Festival, which featured some world-class musicians such as Wayne Henderson performing on the grounds of The Blowing Rock attraction on Saturday, considered the first-time event a success and already have plans in the works for the second-annual festival.

“Well, I feel like – thanks, to the Town of Blowing Rock Police and Fire Departments and in general, town personnel, and all of our bands, volunteers and sponsors, it was a great success for a first-time event,” Charlie Sellers, owner of The Blowing Rock and visionary for the festival, said. “We are now looking at making it an annual event. The music bands and entertainers were excellent, and I was really overwhelmed.”

Helping out also was the weather, which was perfect for the outdoor event, which included two stages on the grounds of oldest travel attraction in North Carolina. One of the stages was located in the parking lot and the other was adjacent to the rock outcroppings, for which the attraction is famous. The grounds are also home to one of the finest views of the John’s River Gorge, which descends 3,000 feet below Blowing Rock.

Sellers took over The Blowing Rock attraction at the beginning of the year and immediately began “thinking outside the box” for the attraction to remain a prominent fixture in the state’s tourism industry for years to come. Sellers said he envisioned weddings, corporate meetings, family reunions and, in particular, The Blowing Rock Music Festival, helping to attract new visitors to retain The Blowing Rock attraction as prominent fixture in the High Country’s tourism industry.

Sellers mentioned that The Blowing Rock has wine tastings with live music scheduled in October.

The Blowing Rock is located at 432 Rock Road off of U.S. 321. Look for the attraction sign across from Green Park Inn. For more information, click here or call 828-295-7183.

Read this recent High Country Press “Business Spotlight” on The Blowing Rock attraction.

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Vendors on the grounds of The Blowing Rock Music Festival. The festival’s programming took place in the parking lot and adjacent to the rock outcroppings for which the attraction is famous.
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Musicians perform early on Saturday. Many more folks would stroll through the grounds later in the afternoon.
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Folks enjoy a day at The Blowing Rock, listening to good music and soaking up the gorgeous views of John’s River Gorge.
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The observation deck offers awesome views of Mount Mitchell, Grandfather Mountain, Grandmother Mountain, Table Rock and the John’s River Gorge all in one swoop.
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The Harris Brothers perform for the crowd at The Blowing Rock Music Festival
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Relaxing on the grounds of The Blowing Rock and listening to music and talking with friends.
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The Blowing Rock attraction is a essentially a nature preserve with flowers, waterfalls and gorgeous views.
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The Blowing Rock attraction featured VIP tents with preferred parking and seating at the festival.
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This photo of the parking lot that hosted one of the stages was taken early in the day of the festival.
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The Blowing Rock owner Charlie Sellers thanked staff, volunteers and Town of Blowing Rock personnel for their hard work in making the first-time event a success.