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Entertainment

After a Helene Hiatus, Banner Elk’s Woolly Worm Festival Returns Oct. 18-19

October 3, 2025 The Woolly Worm Festival returns to downtown Banner Elk on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 18-19. After a one-year cancellation due to Hurricane Helene, the festival is back and stronger than ever, with new features designed to enhance the visitor experience.

For nearly half a century, more than 20,000 festivalgoers have gathered in Banner Elk the third weekend in October to cheer on woolly worms racing up strings for a chance to become the official predictor of the High Country’s winter forecast.

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The Original Creations of 142 Regional Craftspeople Will Be on Display at the Valle Country Fair Saturday, October 18, 2025

October 3, 2025 VALLE CRUCIS, NC – The 47th annual Valle Country Fair (VCF) coming up Saturday, October 18 will feature the original handmade creations of 142 craftspeople from across the Southern Appalachians. Of those, 36 artists are exhibiting their work for the first time in 2025. “Each artisan was chosen because they have a unique style and point of view that makes their work different from the others,” said VCF Arts & Crafts Committee Chair Carolyn Shepherd.

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Dia Latino at the King Street Farmer’s Market and the Upcoming Winter Market!

October 3, 2025 Come and honor the rich cultural heritage of Latino communities in the High Country at  the Tuesday Farmers Market! This Tuesday, October 7th, community members will celebrate our Latin-American community from 3:30 to 6:30 at 126 Poplar Grove Connector with community group Immigrant Justice Coalition (IJC), a local non-profit supporting the local migrant community. They will be sharing community resources and information to learn more about supporting their cause.

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Blowing Rock School Fall Festival Celebrates Community Resilience

October 1, 2025 BLOWING ROCK, NC – The Blowing Rock School Parent-Teacher Organization will host its annual Fall Festival this Saturday, October 4, 2025 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the school field and inside the gym, located at 165 Morris Street in Downtown Blowing Rock. The annual event supports teachers and students through PTO funding for school improvements, classroom supplies, special projects and educational experiences.

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VCF 2025 – “Come Hungry to the Fair!”

September 30, 2025 Come Hungry to the Valle Country Fair on Saturday, October 18
VALLE CRUCIS, NC – “Come hungry,” said Food Chairperson Trish Lanier. “Nibble your way through Fair flavors like apple cider, roasted corn and fried pies before you stock up on barbecue, Brunswick Stew or chili to take home for your evening meal. Everything you eat helps raise money for the charitable works of the Fair, so there is no such thing as eating too much!”

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VCF 2025 – Gallehers 31st Year as BBQ Bosses

September 29, 2025 VALLE CRUCIS, NC – The October 18 Valle Country Fair (VCF) will be the swan song for BBQ Booth chairs Mike and Debbie Galleher, as the 2025 festival will be the last in their 31-year run as members of the VCF leadership team. “We started going to Holy Cross church and wanted to get involved in the Valle Country Fair,” said Mike. “We were told that everyone starts with garbage.”
Always held on the third Saturday in October (October 18, 2025), the Valle Country Fair is an authentic harvest-season celebration that revolves around hand-made crafts, home-cooked food and mountain music. Proceeds are used to provide grants to local charities and relief to local families with emergency needs. Admission is FREE and parking is available in the adjoining field for $10 per vehicle.

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HCC A Night at Chetola is a hit!

September 23, 2025 Blowing Rock (NC) – “My Girl” echoed around Chetola Resort on Sept. 11 as hundreds of people gathered to raise money for High Country Caregivers, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting grandparents and other kinship caregivers. The 5th Annual “A Night at Chetola”, a gala fundraiser sponsored this year by The Kennedy-Herterich Foundation, Chetola Resorts, UBS — Wickham Cash Partners, Blowing Rock Brewing, and Ron & Reba Kennedy. 

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Appalachian Theatre Announces Fall 2025 Lineup Featuring Music, Magic, Film, and More

September 12, 2025 BOONE, NC — The Appalachian Theatre of the High Country unveils an extraordinary slate of events this fall, bringing world-class entertainment to Boone with a dynamic mix of film, music, magic, and cultural programming. From cult film favorites to Grammy- winning musicians, the historic venue continues its mission of presenting experiences that engage, entertain, and educate the High Country community.

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The 47th Annual VALLE COUNTY FAIR Scheduled for October 18, 2025

September 11, 2025 VALLE CRUCIS, NC — The colors, flavors, sights and sounds of harvest season in the Blue Ridge Mountains all come together at the Valle Country Fair (VCF) in scenic Valle Crucis, North Carolina, on October 18th. Craftspeople from across the region, High Country musicians and the community of Valle Crucis are all busy putting together an extra-joyful celebration this year to purge the disappointment caused when Hurricane Helene forced the cancellation of the 2024 Fair.

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2025 Gatsby Gala Highlights

September 10, 2025 We are thrilled to share the success of our 3rd Annual Gatsby Gala! Thanks to your generosity and support, we doubled last year’s revenue and raised over $32,389 to preserve and advance the mission of the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country. This year’s event sparkled with community spirit, glamorous fun, and an outpouring of commitment to our historic, independent theatre. We are especially grateful to our presenting sponsors — Allen Wealth Management, Mast General Store, and Neil & Nancy Schaffel and our Sioree Table Sponsors — who’s leadership gifts helped make the evening possible.

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John Peterson, Mary Greene, and Sarah Kate Morgan & Leo Shannon Close Out the Jones House 2025 Summer Concerts August 29

August 25, 2025 BOONE, NC – The 2025 Summer Concerts at the Jones House series concludes on Friday, August 29, with an evening of music that celebrates Appalachian roots and showcases some of its most compelling voices. The lineup features John Peterson, Mary Greene, and the duo of Sarah Kate Morgan & Leo Shannon. Music begins at 5:30 p.m. on the Jones House lawn in downtown Boone.

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FloydFest 25~Aurora Celebrated as “One of the Best FloydFests Ever” by Organizers and Patrons

August 9, 2025 Heralded as “one of the best FloydFests ever” by Across-the-Way Productions’ Chief Operating Officer and Co-Owner Sam Calhoun, FloydFest 25~Aurora is receiving rave reviews online and via patron surveys, in only its second year at its new home, FestivalPark, located at 5826 Floyd Highway North in Check, Va. The latest edition of the Southeast’s premier summer outdoor music festival, FloydFest 25~Aurora took place July 23 to 27, 2025, following being named “Best Music Festival” in Blue Ridge Outdoors’ ‘Best of the Blue Ridge 2025,’ as well as “Best Festival 2025” in Virginia Living Magazine’s ‘Best of Virginia’ readers’ survey. 

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Roots and Rhythm Take Center Stage at the Jones House August 8 with Fern Hilland Pickin’ Thistles

August 6, 2025 BOONE, NC – The Jones House continues its 2025 Summer Concert Series on Friday, August 8 with a vibrant evening of roots music featuring local sibling duo Fern Hill, followed by the local sibling trio Pickin’ Thistles. The show begins at 5:30 p.m. on the lawn of the historic Jones House, located at 604 W. King Street in downtown Boone.
Fern Hill opens the evening with their heartfelt blend of Appalachian, Celtic, and
Western sounds. Sisters Arwen and Lorien Cockman have music in their blood, having
grown up performing with their father and extended family in The Cockman Family
Band. Now performing as a dynamic duo, their album Sister You Sang to Me
showcases rich harmonies and lyrical storytelling rooted in their deep musical heritage. With multi-instrumental talents and songs that echo through generations, Fern Hill offers a fresh and moving take on traditional mountain music.

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Movie Review: “I Know What You Did Last Summer”

July 22, 2025 I’ve never seen 1997’s “I Know What You Did Last Summer” all the way through. 11-year-old me was too young to see the R-rated slasher in theaters, which was just as well because I did see a trailer and lost many nights’ sleep over the killer’s deadly fishing hook. I eventually got caught up via highlights and recaps, to the point where I feel like watching the movie now would just be a redundant bore. This is all to say that I don’t have much loyalty to the original, outside of a begrudging respect for its ability to give me nightmares with something sharp. Once again, this is probably for the best, since without loyalty to the original, I don’t have to worry about betrayal on the part of the same-titled reboot. 

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BeanStalk Community Theatre Welcomes You to a World of Pure Imagination with Willy Wonka

July 16, 2025 BOONE, NC – BeanStalk Community Theatre invites you to unwrap a world of pure imagination with its upcoming production of Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka, presented by Andrea McDonough State Farm Insurance and sponsored by Mast General Store. This musical adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory promises a sweet time for the whole family. Performances will take place at the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country, July 24–26, 2025.

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Daniel Sherrill and The New Quintet Perform at the Jones House on July 18

July 16, 2025 BOONE, NC – The Summer Concerts at the Jones House series continues on Friday, July 18, with an evening of acoustic artistry and progressive roots traditions from two standout regional acts. The show begins at 5:30 PM on the Jones House lawn in downtown Boone and is free and open to the public. Opening the evening is Daniel Sherrill, a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter newly based in North Carolina. Performing on clawhammer banjo, guitar, and vocals, Sherrill brings a blend of rhythmic precision and melodic warmth to the stage. Winner of the 2025 App State Banjo Competition, Daniel is known for his intricate fretwork and lyrical, meditative style. His albums From A Heritage Tree (2022) and Back to P.A. (2023) have both appeared on multiple Official Spotify Playlists and received praise for their calming, “zen-like” atmosphere.

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Tribute Concert to Rock History Comes to Boone – A Night of Music, Community, and Conservation

July 15, 2025 BOONE, NC – July 26, 2025 – Music lovers and river stewards alike are invited to Appalachian Mountain Brewery for “A Watkins Glen Summer Jam Tribute Concert,” a one-night celebration of one of the most legendary rock festivals in history. The tribute honors the iconic 1973 Summer Jam at Watkins Glen, a historic gathering that drew an estimated 600,000 fans to see The Band, The Allman Brothers Band, and The Grateful Dead—a concert that held the Guinness World Record for the largest audience at a pop festival for decades.

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Watauga Arts Council and Downtown Boone Development Association Announce the Return of Buskers Fest 2025 on September 20th

July 8, 2025 The Watauga Arts Council, in collaboration with the Downtown Boone Development Association, is thrilled to announce the return of Buskers Fest in 2025. The event will take place on September 20th, 2025 from 2-7pm, bringing art, music, and creativity back to the streets of downtown Boone. “Every year, we strive to make the festival better and better,” says WAC Executive Director, Amber Bateman. “We found that people weren’t able to make it to all the activities in such a short window. By moving it to a Saturday and expanding the hours, we hope to improve the overall experience and make it more accessible, especially for those who couldn’t attend in previous years when it was held on a Friday.”

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Sammy Osmond and the No-Hellers with Redbud Perform at the Jones House on July 11

July 4, 2025 The Town of Boone continues its Summer Concerts at the Jones House series on Friday, July 11, with a night of powerful string band music and fresh bluegrass sounds from two of the High Country’s most exciting young acts. The show begins at 5:30 PM on the Jones House lawn in downtown Boone. As always, the concert is free and open to the public. Sammy Osmond and the No-Hellers will open the evening with their heartfelt songwriting, old-time grit, and high-energy stage presence. Following their set, Redbud will take the porch with their seamless blend of traditional and original bluegrass. With stunning harmonies, infectious melodies, and driving rhythms, Redbud brings both reverence and innovation to their sound.

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Boone Pride Parade and Festival Grows to Over 1,000 Strong

July 1, 2025 June has been Pride month in North Carolina for many years, dating back to the “Our Day Out” march in Asheville back in 1981. It became an official month to focus on and proclaim LGBTQ+ rights in 2018 when then-Governor Roy Cooper officially declared it. Although the LGBTQ+ community in Boone and the High Country has fought and celebrated their rights for years, the first Boone Pride Parade started in 2022.  According to Todd Carter, a Boone Town Councilman and local LGBTQ+ activist and organizer, “That first year in 2022, there were 300 marchers and a small rally at the Jones House; to [now] have anywhere from 1,000-1,200 people attend the parade and/or the festival just shows how much Pride needs to be celebrated.” By Sam Garrett

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Catgut ‘n’ Jugs Bluegrass Show is Now on Live365.com

June 27 2025 Host Ronnie Moretz and the Catgut ‘n’ Jugs Bluegrass Show are moving from terrestrial radio to a streaming platform with a reach to over 80 million listeners. Live365.com will stream the Catgut ‘n’ Jugs Bluegrass Show each Sunday from 8–10 p.m. beginning July 6, 2025. “I have been on radio for over 17 years,” said Moretz. “This will give me the opportunity to continue to share my love for bluegrass with people in the High Country and will have the added benefit of sharing bluegrass with people from around the world.” By Sam Garrett

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