1000 x 90

Toe River Arts’s Music In the Mountains Folk Festival in Burnsville is September 1

August 16, 2024 Toe River Arts is excited to announce that this year’s Music In the Mountains Folk Festival will be on Saturday, September 14, 2024 at Homeplace Beer Company & Hog Hollow Pizza in Burnsville, North Carolina. This year’s festival honoree is local legend, Terry McKinney. We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to celebrate his many contributions to our local music tradition. Terry McKinney was born in Spruce Pine and grew up in Mitchell and McDowell counties surrounded by traditional mountain music, and he has been singing and playing music most of his life.

Read more

Boone Area Chamber of Commerce 75th “Spirit of Boone” Annual Membership Gathering Sept. 12

August 15, 2024 The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to invite you to our highly anticipated “Spirit of Boone” Annual Meeting, a celebration of our community’s vibrant spirit and shared accomplishments over the past year. This event is more than just a gathering—it’s an opportunity to connect, collaborate, and contribute to the growth and prosperity of our beloved Boone community.

Read more

Don your Dirndl and Lace up Your Lederhosen for Sugar Mountain Resort’s 34th Annual Oktoberfest, October 12 & 13

August 14, 2024 Lace up your lederhosen and don your dirndl for Sugar Mountain Resort’s 34th annual Oktoberfest celebration, Saturday & Sunday, October 12 & 13. Take in Sugar’s cool and comfortable mountain temperatures, its beautiful fall foliage, and a weekend full of festival activities from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Be sure to bring the kids because Sugar’s Oktoberfest is yodels-n-yodels of fun for the whole family. Admission, parking, and shuttle service are free of charge.

Read more

St. Mary of the Hills Brings Trio to Next Summer Concert on Sunday, August 11 at 3 pm

Join the Friends of Music at St. Mary of the Hills for a lovely afternoon tour of musical poetry this Sunday, August 11, at 3 pm. Alicia Chapman, oboe, Eric Koontz, viola, and pianist Mi-Jin Kim will present a program they’re calling Loeffler, Bax, Manet, a Spirit and the Moon, the next performance in the St. Mary’s Summer Concert Series. Music for this concert includes Deux Rhapsodies (1905) by Loeffler, Silvestrini’s Le Ballet Espagñol, Gluck’s Dance of the Blessed Spiritsfrom Orfeo ed Eurydice, and Claire de Luneby Debussy

Read more

Milepost Music brings Live Music to The Bluffs Restaurant at Doughton Park on August 11 & 25

August 5, 2024 Milepost Music is bringing live mountain music to The Bluffs Restaurant at Doughton Park, located at milepost 241 on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Laurel Springs, N.C. Free outdoor concerts will take place from 2 to 4 p.m., on the second and fourth Sundays in August. The Almost Irish Band will perform Sunday, Aug. 11. Hailing from Mount Airy, N.C., the group plays Irish and other Celtic music, as well as oldies, The Beatles, and lots of other gems from past decades.

Read more

America’s Favorite Cowboys “Riders In The Sky” are Coming to Tweetsie Railroad August 10 & 11

July 31, 2024 Once again, Tweetsie Railroad is hosting Grammy Award-winning Riders In The Sky (a.k.a “America’s Favorite Cowboys”) for a weekend of Western music and comedy performances, August 10 and 11. “This is one music performance you don’t want to miss,” said Cathy Robbins of Tweetsie Railroad. “Riders In The Sky are very talented musicians. They bring lots of energy, laughs, and their spirit is infectious.”

Read more

Dinner In The Gap Auction Raises  $13,700 In Support of F.A.R.M Café

July 26, 2024 Three years and counting and Dinner in the Gap has done it again —  successfully bridging the gap between local agriculture, growers, consumers, some of the best chefs in the state and the High Country community, in general.  During the 2024 annual farm-to-table gala, which from the onset has been a statewide collaborative with special emphasis on the High Country, a live auction raised the largest amount yet for F.A.R.M. Café in Boone. Organized by Daniel Brown and hosted by BFR Meats and the Brown Family on part of their farm in Deep Gap, the July 21 event welcomed 324 attendees, representing a wide spectrum of farmers, friends, food industry leaders and supporters from the mountains to the coast. By Sherrie Norris

Read more

Doc & Rosa Lee Watson Music Fest Brings Out The Best – Three Area Pickers Among Winners in the Inaugural Terry Baucom Banjo Competition

July 26, 2024 The 22nd Doc & Rosa Lee Watson MusicFest, July 19-20, saw hundreds of musicians, fans, vendors and volunteers crowding into the picturesque community of  Sugar Grove for a two-day event to remember. While most of the entertainment was on the Explore Boone-sponsored center stage, the inaugural Terry Baucom Banjo Championship, held in the adjacent Old Cove Creek School on Saturday morning, attracted much attention and thrust three local banjo players into the coveted winner’s circle. Plus, an impromptu workshop by the Kruger Brothers in the school’s Red Raider Room, also on Saturday, drew a standing-room only crowd. Their scheduled concert later in the afternoon sealed the deal for many fans, said Danny Platt, MusicFest chair and promoter. By Sherrie Norris

Read more

Dance and Country Legends Wrap Up An Appalachian Summer Festival this Week

July 24, 2024 Paul Taylor Dance Company has been transforming modern dance since 1954. Founder Paul Taylor, who created 147 dances over the course of 64 years, is noted for the inventive, sometimes sardonic and frequently humorous dances he choreographed for his company. Brad Paisley is one of country music’s most talented and decorated singer-songwriters (as well as a highly acclaimed guitarist), boasting Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards, and Country Music Association Awards, including an Entertainer of the Year honor. A member of the Grand Ole Opry since 2001, the West Virginia native has written 21 of his 25 No. 1 hits, his past works amassing nearly five billion streams.

Read more

Paul Taylor Dance Company and Brad Paisley Wrap Up An Appalachian Summer Festival

July 19, 2024 An Appalachian Summer Festival concludes its milestone 40th anniversary season with performances by two legends of their respective genres: Paul Taylor Dance Company, one of the modern dance world’s most celebrated troupes who is returning to the festival for a remarkable eighth time on July 24, and country-Americana singer-songwriter Brad Paisley, who brings his Son of the Mountains World tour to Boone to play in front of a packed Kidd Brewer Stadium for the festival finale on July 27. A special behind-the-scenes informal chat with some of PTDC’s artistic visionaries will be held on July 23. For information and tickets to the festival’s final events, visit AppSummer.org.

Read more

Mountain Home Music Announces Next Matinee Concert Series on July 23 from 2:00 to 3:15

July 17, 2024 Mountain Home Music is excited to announce the next 2024 Matinee Concert series to be held at Grace Lutheran Church, 115 E King St, Boone from 2 to 3:15 pm.  Join us on July 23 for Tucker Connor and Steve Lewis. Twelve year old Tucker Conner is a long-time member of the Boone Junior Appalachian Musicians and wowed audiences at the inaugural Boone’s Got Talent showcase! He will be joined by national banjo champion Steve Lewis who also holds the title of Walnut Valley National Bluegrass Banjo Champion, and he placed second in their guitar competition in. Lewis is a member of the Mountain Home Bluegrass Boy’s and Tucker’s guitar teacher.

Read more

Celebrate National Farmers Market Week and USA Olympic Team at Beech Mountain’s Farmers Market on Friday, August 2nd

July 17, 2024 We will celebrate National Farmers Market Week and the USA Olympic Team on Friday, August 2nd at the Beech Mountain Farmers’ Market.  40 vendors will showcase their local fresh organic produce, honey, baked goods, plants, flowers, microgreens, gourmet dog treats, fine art, homemade crafts, jewelry, body and hemp products, leather, woodwork, farm raised beef/pork, ice cream and much more. And celebrate with a sample of Mookie’s Kettle Korn while supplies last! Ample parking, Doggie Hospitality, Town Welcome Station and music add to your market experience.

Read more

Violin, Piano and Cello; Funk, Soul and R&B, a “Perfect” film, Visual Arts, Take the Stage July 16-21 at An Appalachian Summer Festival

July 16, 2024 This week at An Appalachian Summer Festival, July 16-21, there’s a little something for everyone — from violin, piano and cello, to funk, soul, R&B and more. The festival, now in its 40th year, runs through July 27 and features a diverse mix of music, dance, visual arts, and film programming. For information and tickets, visit AppSummer.org.

Read more

Highland Games Set to Return to Grandfather Mountain’s MacRae Meadows July 11 – July 14

July 3, 2024 The long and storied tradition that is the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games returns to MacRae Meadows on Thursday, July 11, continuing through Sunday, July 14. This marks the 68th year for the beloved and historic celebration of Scottish ancestry and heritage, with the popular festival once again bringing a “wee bit o’ Scotland” to the High Country of North Carolina. Throughout the weekend of events, guests can take in the awe-inspiring spectacle of traditional Scottish athletic competitions, which includes Scottish heavy athletics, track and field competitions, Highland wrestling and more.

Read more

Symphony by the Lake in Blowing Rock Returns to Chetola Resort on Friday, July 19th

July 11, 2024 Symphony of the Mountains returns to perform at the 2024 Symphony by the Lake in Blowing Rock, NC. Their concert, “Live from Vienna” with soloist Roy Cornelius Smith, will take place outdoors at Chetola Resort on Friday, July 19th at 7:30pm. With Symphony of the Mountains’ electrifying performance, this concert promises to be an unforgettable night for fans of all ages.

Read more

Watauga County Farmers’ Market Celebrates 50th Anniversary Throughout July

July 9, 2024 The Watauga County Farmers’ Market is excited to announce a month-long celebration in honor of its 50th anniversary, culminating in a grand anniversary party on Saturday, July 27th. The festivities began this past Saturday, July 6th, commemorating the day North Carolina Governor James E. Holshouser attended the formal dedication of the market in 1974. Throughout July, the market invites the community to immerse themselves in its rich history with the Market Memory Installation. This special exhibit encourages customers to contribute cherished photos, news clippings, and favorite memories, creating a tapestry of shared experiences and community spirit.

Read more

The High Country Will Be Cranking it Up With Carolina Flywheelers, July 25-27 

July 9, 2024 If you have a fascination for antique engines, tractors or other old vehicles and equipment — or if you would like to learn more about them, or maybe you just like to mingle with those who already know all about what makes them chug — the 44th annual High Country Crank-Up is the place you ought to be. For three big days — Thursday-Saturday, July 25-27 — one of the premiere events in the southeast for lovers of all things old, hit or miss, will be converging upon the High Country Fairgrounds for this once-a-year event. Sponsored by the Carolina Flywheelers, this attraction draws folks in from all over the country, with something for the young, and especially the young-at-heart. By Sherrie Norris

Read more

Block Party of the Year Returns To Boone Aug. 6 National Night Out Bringing Communities Together Across the US

July 9, 2024 Watauga County residents will be among over 38 million people in 18,000 communities across the country, including U.S. territories and military bases worldwide, coming together for National Night Out 2024. Easily considered the biggest block party anywhere, and happening in most locales on the first Tuesday of August, the event will once again unite individuals and families from all walks of life for one evening of celebration. Watauga County will be no exception as on Tuesday,  Aug  6, the upper parking area at Watauga High School in Boone will once again be transformed  — for two full hours, 6 p.m. -8 p.m. — into a mecca of entertainment, awareness and community spirit at its best. By Sherrie Norris

Read more

Brass, Blues, and Broadway Shine at An Appalachian Summer Festival this Week

July 8, 2024 An Appalachian Summer Festival, Appalachian State University’s annual summer arts event, shines this week, July 9-14, with Canadian Brass (the very best of brass bands), Buddy Guy (a pioneer of Chicago’s fabled West Side sound), and Norm Lewis (owner of Broadway’s silkiest baritone), plus the award-winning film The Taste of Things and the 38th annual Rosen Sculpture Walk & Competition. The festival, now in its 40th year, runs through July 27 and features a diverse mix of music, dance, visual arts, and film programming. Purchase tickets online at AppSummer.org, by calling 828-262-4046, or in person at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts box office, 733 Rivers St.

Read more

Mountain Home Music Presents ‘Bluegrass and Brass’, a July 4th Musical Celebration & High Country Staple since 1999

July 1, 2024 A Mountain Home Music Fourth of July musical tradition, “Bluegrass and Brass” returns to the High Country. This special patriotic show has been a High Country staple since 1999 and features the unusual blending of musical styles by the Mountain Home Bluegrass Boys and the King Street Brass Band. The concert begins at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 4, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Boone. The program will run until 8:30 PM without an intermission so that folks can still make their favorite local fireworks displays. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students. Purchase tickets at mountainhomemusic.org or at the door.

Read more

Town of Boone Announces Fourth of July Day Events and Road Closures

July 1, 2024 On July 4th, 2024, the Town of Boone will be hosting all-day festivities to celebrate the Fourth of July. Please see the information below regarding the scheduled events and road closures. Prior to the Town of Boone’s annual Fourth of July Parade, the Jones House will be hosting the Watauga Community Band on King Street in front of the Jones House. The Watauga Community Band, a local band of musicians of all ages, will play patriotic tunes for all to enjoy. Parking before the parade is available at all Town-owned parking stations; however, it should be noted that cars will be unable to leave until after the parade if parked on King Street. All Town-owned parking spaces are free on July 4th. Public restrooms and port-a-potties will be available at the Jones House.

Read more

The Annual Fairy Day in the Daniel Boone Native Gardens is on Saturday, July 13th from 1-5pm

June 28, 2024 New vendors and activities have been revealed for 2024’s annual Fairy Day in the Daniel Boone Native Gardens on Saturday July 13, 2024, from 1-5pm. Admission is free for children and adults dressed in mythical/fairy attire and $3 for un-costumed adults with proceeds benefiting the Daniel Boone Native Gardens, a non-profit garden, located at 651 Horn in the West Drive in Boone. Music and dance will be ongoing throughout the afternoon with local singer/songwriters: Erin Williams Banks and Cayla Fralick, Noelle Austin with a song circle and scarf play leading into Beginner Ballet with Gigi Perazolo. Neighborhood yoga will provide a kid friendly yoga flow, Sole Impact Studios will showcase a clogging performance, Old Souls are playing old time music along with The Walls, a gospel family band with members 13 and unde

Read more

Milepost Music Brings Live Music to Doughton Park on July 14 and 28 from 2 to 4 p.m.

June 26, 2024 Milepost Music is bringing live mountain music to Doughton Park/The Bluffs, located at milepost 241 on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Laurel Springs, N.C. Free outdoor concerts will take place from 2 to 4 p.m., on the second and fourth Sundays in July. Gap Civil will perform Sunday, July 14. Hailing from Sparta, N.C., Gap Civil plays old-time, country, bluegrass, Americana, and gospel with a hearty dose of original music. The Mountain Laurels will perform Sunday, July 28. A Celtic folk band from the High Country of North Carolina, The Mountain Laurels bring a mix of Celtic, fiddle, and folk music to the stage.

Read more