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The Nexsen Ringers Present “Holiday Bells” Concert

December 7, 2023 The Nexsen Ringers, a community handbell choir will present “Holiday Bells” on Saturday, December 16th at 4:00pm.You will be amazed to hear the holiday classics on this unique instrument. This talented group consists of musicians from all ages and walks of life. They come together to share their unique love of handbells across all musical genres with the High Country. Don’t miss the technical display of choreographed teamwork as multiple musicians perform as one. 

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Banff Mountain Film Festival returns to App State for the 27th year/ Tickets go on sale Dec 4th

December 4, 2023 BOONE, N.C. — The Banff Mountain Film Festival returns to Appalachian State University at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts from Thursday, March 21, to Saturday, March 23, 2024, and tickets will go on sale Monday, Dec. 4.Hosted by App State University Recreation, the festival’s World Tour has been making stops in Boone for 27 years, inspiring audiences with the world’s best films that highlight mountain adventure, culture and the environment.

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Movie Review: “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé”

December 4, 2023 When the writers’ and actors’ strikes of 2023 forced several movies off the fall schedule, it was a pair of musicians that came to the rescue with two of the most heavily-promoted concert movies of all time. “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” got the box office through a rough patch back in October. Now comes “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé” to get it through early December. The box office shouldn’t need Beyoncé to get it through early December, Thanksgiving weekend should have brought about some hits with staying power, but where the slate of traditional blockbusters failed, the concert documentary is here to thrive.  By Bob Carver

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Beech Mountain’s Christmas Parade Details Announced

November 29, 2023 Beech Mountain, NC, November 29, 2023 – The theme for the Town of Beech Mountain’s 4th Annual Christmas Parade is “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas!”  This year’s Grand Marshal is Frosty the Snowman.  The Parade will take place on Thursday, December 21st at 4pm.  The route runs along the Beech Mountain Parkway starting at the Ski Resort and ending just past Town Hall.Visit with Santa, Mrs. Claus and Frosty Immediately after the Parade in the Brick Oven Pizzeria side room, next to the mini-golf course.  Give Santa your wish-letter, pose for a family photo and enjoy hot cocoa and cookies during this free, “small-town” celebration.

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Movie Review: “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes”

November 20, 2023 I’ve been referring to this movie as “Hunger Game of Thrones.” It’s a prequel to “The Hunger Games,” but the influence of a certain HBO fantasy series is pretty apparent with the casting of Peter Dinklage and the “Song of Ice and Fire”-like subheading. I’ve seen it as little more than an attempt to combine two franchises that were wildly popular in their 2010’s heyday, but audiences have since left behind, frankly with a bad taste in their mouths after underwhelming finales. Watching the whole movie as opposed to gleaming the advertising does make it feel like less of an ill-advised cash grab, but still not great.   By Bob Carver

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Joyous Community Carol Sing Returns to Banner Elk Presbyterian Church

November 14, 2023 On Saturday, December 2, 2023, at 3 PM, join a festive sing-along of familiar Christmas carols in the sanctuary of the historic Banner Elk Presbyterian Church. The third annual Community Carol Sing is a 45-minute casual service that includes a dozen favorite songs, ranging from White Christmas to Joy to the World, that all ages will enjoy. Last year, a capacity crowd joined in enthusiastic singing.To allow the audience to rest their voices occasionally, the Lees-McRae Highlanders, church choir and soloists will sing beloved classics including O Holy Night and Jingle Bell Rock. The singing is led by the church Choral Director Nina Allbert and Pianist/Organist David Soyars. 

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Tweetsie Railroad Makes Spirits Bright at Tweetsie Christmas®

November 14, 2023 Blowing Rock, N.C. (November 14, 2023) – As the holidays draw near, there’s no better way to get into a festive spirit than an enchanting evening with the family at Tweetsie Christmas. Starting November 24th and running on select nights through December 30th, the park will open its gates at 5:30 p.m. each evening of the event to offer an unforgettable and unique holiday experience.“Tweetsie Christmas is the perfect opportunity for family and friends to come together and celebrate the magic of the season,” said Cathy Robbins of Tweetsie Railroad. “Hopping aboard a train behind a steam locomotive to enjoy the lights and singing Christmas carols has become an annual family tradition.”

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“A Carolina Snowbelle Christmas” Returns December 1 – 3, 2023 Expanded Schedule, Christmas Tea Party Await App Theatre Audiences

November 9, 2023 BOONE, NC – For the fourth consecutive year, having experienced sold out performances in each of their first three seasons at the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country, “A Carolina Snowbelle Christmas” returns to the venerable, state-of-the-art facility with an expanded performance schedule of four public performances and an encore family event to enhance their standing as the region’s newest must-see family holiday tradition.

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13th Annual High Country Turkey Trot 5K on Thanksgiving Day

November 8, 2023 BOONE, N.C. – The High Country Turkey Trot 5K Race and Fun Run / Walk will take place on Thanksgiving morning, Thursday November 23, on the Boone Greenway Trail at the Clawson-Burnley Park entrance. Excepting two virtual years during the pandemic, the annual Thanksgiving Day event, benefiting Hospitality House of Northwest N.C., has been taking place on the Boone Greenway Trail since 2011.

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9th Annual WYN Festival of Trees

November 7, 2023 There’s a chill in the air and it’s time for the much-anticipated High Country holiday event — The Western Youth Network (WYN) annual Festival of Trees. More than 120 decorated trees and wreaths will be displayed in business organizations and public spaces across Watauga, Ashe and Avery Counties from Tuesday, November 14 through Thursday, November 30.

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Girls on the Run of the High Country Presents No Man’s Land Film Festival Nov. 16th

November 7, 2023 BOONE, N.C. — Girls on the Run of the High Country proudly presents the inspiring No Man’s Land Film Festival at the Appalachian Theatre on Thursday, Nov. 16, from 7:30 to 10 p.m. The film festival has been celebrating and exploring what it means to be a woman in adventure, sport and film since 2015.Tickets to the film screening are $15, with a $5 discount for Girls on the Run coaches andparticipants. VIP tickets are $50, which include admission to the screening and a 5:30 p.m. pre-film reception with drinks and appetizers. Children under the age of 17 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Purchase tickets at apptheatre.org or at the door.

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THE GIBSON BROTHERS LIVE AT THE APPALACHIAN THEATER

November 1, 2023 BOONE, N.C.- On Thursday, November 9, the Appalachian Theater will host The Gibson Brothers, Eric and Leigh, in their debut performance on the Doc Watson Stage for Americana Music. The performance by the multi-award winning duet begins at 7:30 p.m. and doors open at 7:00 p.m.What started as a discovery by Ricky Skaggs after a performance at the Ryman two decades ago has turned into a successful career for the pair in the bluegrass music scene. From working with big names such as Black Keys singer Dan Auerbach and producer Jerry Douglas, the Gibson Brothers have a resume anyone in country music would be proud of. 

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Brook “Hollow-een” Unites Community For Unique Fall Festival

October 31, 2023 At this time every year, festivals are taking place on nearly every corner, but few likely have the impact as did “Brook Hollow-een” last Wednesday afternoon. Most kids and their families have to leave home for major celebrations, but for nearly three hours on October 25, youngsters and their parents in the Brook Hollow community —White Laurel, Bradford Mobile Home Park and Hospitality House — were fortunate to have the party brought to them.   By Sherrie Norris

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Boone Moose Lodge Hosts First- Ever Moose Market and State Dart Tournament

October 30, 2023 Boone Moose Lodge #1805 is one of the area’s nonprofit organizations that works quietly behind the scenes to raise community awareness and funds to help meet the needs of others — especially children and the elderly.Two upcoming events —the lodge’s inaugural Moose Market on Saturday, Nov. 4, and the North Carolina Moose Association Dart Tournament, which they will host on November 18-19 — are just two of many things happening for the hard-working lodge members. By Sherrie Norris

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Valle Country Fair —- A Family Comes Full Circle !

October 25, 2023 Life can be rather uncanny in the way that at times, some things seem to come “full circle.”  For about  40 years, our family  (James and Cheryl, and then later to include our sons Jimmy and Jason)   attended our favorite mountain crafts festival in Valle Crucis, NC.  We all very much loved the crafts, the food, and the people, and looked forward to this special Fall event every year.  This annual event is sponsored as a fundraiser by the Church Of the Holy Cross, an historic Episcopal Church in the center of Valle Crucis.  Each year, we would see which local non-profit organizations were recognized and supported by these activities.

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Boone United Methodist Church Invites the Community to Treat Street

October 25, 2023  Boone United Methodist Church is hosting Treat Street on Tuesday, Oct. 31, from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m., in their Family Life Center, located at the back of the church building. Treat Street is a walk-through, trick-or-treat experience featuring a miniature town of Boone, fun Halloween games with prizes, and a photo booth opportunity with the “Great Pumpkin.”

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Boone BOO! Downtown Trick-or-Treating, Costume Contest on Halloween

October 23, 2023 Boone BOO!, the annual Halloween celebration hosted by the Town of Boone and the Downtown Boone Development Association, will take place on Tuesday, October 31. From 5:00 to 7:30 p.m., the public is invited to downtown Boone for an evening of trick-or-treating and family-friendly festivities. During the event, the central part of King Street, between Appalachian Street and Burrell/Waters Streets, will be closed to vehicle traffic to allow extra space for pedestrians to enjoy trick-or-treating and other entertainment.

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Entertainment Highlights Heritage at The Valle Country Fair 45th Annual Event Takes Place This Saturday, October 21

October 19, 2023 VALLE CRUCIS, NC — Entertainment for the Valle Country Fair coming up Saturday, October 21, includes six musical groups performing on the main stage next to the dining tent and eight groups of dancers, story tellers and singers on the lower stage next to the children’s activity area.Tom and Pamela Shirley of Boone will open the show on the main stage shortly after the opening prayer at 9:00 am. “It is just such a neat spiritual thing to be the act that opens the Fair,” says Shirley. “It is a time when I get to share my heart.”

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Halloween at the Farmers’ Market and Third Annual Pumpkin Decorating Contest

October 18, 2023 Boone – The Watauga County Farmers’ Market is thrilled to announce the return of the Annual Pumpkin Decorating Contest, set to take place during Halloween at the Market on October 28th. This creative and family-friendly event is presented in partnership with the Watauga Arts Council and made possible through the generous support of Fishel Organic Farm.To ensure that all participants have access to pumpkins for the contest, pumpkins will be available for pickup at the Watauga County Farmers’ Market on October 23rd, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Fishel Organic Farm, our generous sponsor, will provide these pumpkins for free upon registration.

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Noted Pianist Closes Concert Season at St. Mary of the Hills

October 17, 2023 Noted pianist Bair Shagdaron will bring a romantic flourish to the final concert of the season at St. Mary of the Hills with the music of Chopin and Rachmaninoff. The concert, sponsored by the Friends of Music at St. Mary’s, will be in the nave of the church on Main Street in Blowing Rock on Sunday, October 29 th at 3 pm. 

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