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The Walker Center Announces the 2023- 2024 Season Line Up

July 10, 2023 WILKESBORO, N.C. – The Walker Center begins individual ticket sales on Monday, July 10, at noon for the 2023-2024 season shows. This year’s lineup includesDailey & Vincent, Friday, September 8, 2023, 7:30 p.m. sponsored by Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express of WilkesboroA Charlie Brown Christmas, Thursday, December 7, 2023, 7:30 p.m. sponsored by Carolina West Wireless/DRUMLine Live, Tuesday, January 23, 2024, 7:30 p.m., sponsored by Skyline National Bank.

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Lees- McRae Summer Theatre to Take Flight With Final Production of the Season, “The [W]right Sister”

July 10, 2023 BANNER ELK, N.C.─ Every North Carolinian knows the story of Orville and Wilbur Wright who successfully piloted the first manned heavier-than-air aircraft in history at Kitty Hawk and allowed the state to claim the title of “first in flight.” However, another equally important figure in the story has largely been lost to time. The omission of Katharine Wright from the public consciousness will be rectified this summer when her story takes center stage in the final Lees-McRae Summer Theatre production, “The [W]right Sister.”

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828 Community Festival Happening July 8 at the Jones House 

June 30, 2023 There’s nothing boring about downtown Boone this summer, with one amazing celebration after another. Thanks to the upcoming inaugural 828 Community Festival, the fun is sure to continue — and all for a great cause. On Saturday, July 8, 12-3 p.m., at the Jones House on King Street,  828 Real Estate will  host its first 828 Community Day — and everyone is invited!”We founded 828 Real Estate on the principles of community building, love for our town and giving back,” said Sarah Long, owner/broker in charge at 828 Real Estate. “As we mark our fifth business anniversary, the 828 Community Festival is our way of expressing gratitude and reinforcing our commitment to the community that has supported us throughout this journey. We invite everyone to join us for an unforgettable day, while also supporting three incredible non-profits that make downtown Boone thrive.” By Sherrie Norris

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Santa Visits Beech Mountain’s Farmers’ Market July 7th

June 29, 2023 Santa is on summer vacation.  He will be HIKING through the Beech Mountain Farmers’ Market on Friday, July 7th.  Come visit Santa from 4 – 6pm and learn what he loves to do on the mountain.  FREE photo opportunities and children’s activity area.

PLUS…35 vendors will showcase their local fresh organic produce, honey, baked goods, ice cream, plants, flowers, microgreens, gourmet dog treats, art, homemade crafts, jewelry, body and hemp products, farm raised beef/poultry/eggs and much more.

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Blowing Rock 4th of July Festival & Parade

June 29, 2023 The 4th of July Parade is a procession of families in costume, decorated vehicles & floats, musical performances, local officials, and a handful of characters. The Blowing Rock 4th of July Parade will be held on Saturday, July 1 at 10:00 am. It’s presented along Main Street from Mellow Mushroom to the Museum.

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Alair Homes and Hunger and Health Coalition Teaming Up to Help Fight Hunger

June 15, 2023 Locals and visitors are encouraged to fight hunger in the High Country by joining Alair Homes and the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce in supporting the Hunger and Health Coalition at the 2023 Alair Homes High Country Summer Concert Series. This year’s concert series serves as a food drive for the Hunger and Health Coalition’s A Simple Gesture Program. Attendees can drop off canned and other nonperishable food items at the Alair table. 

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2023 High Country Jazz Festival from June 9 – 11

June 6, 2023 BOONE, NC – Here is a chronological overview of the 15 separate events that comprise the 2023 High Country Jazz Festival taking place in ten different locations Boone and Blowing Rock from June 9 through 11, 2023. FREE events are indicated by an asterisk ( * ) with tickets to the headliner events available via the festival website: www.highcountryjazzfestival.org

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Reggie Buie Group Wraps Up 2023 High Country Jazz Festival

June 5, 2023 BOONE, NC – At 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 11, The Reggie Buie Group will perform under the tent at Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock as the final headliner event during the 2023 High Country Jazz Festival.  It is the last of 15 separate events in ten different locations throughout Boone and Blowing Rock that are part of the 2023 festival, which runs from June 9 through 11. The 2023 festival is presented by Mast General Store with additional support from Explore Boone and Hampton Inn & Suites, Boone.

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Denim & Diamonds Event Raised Record-Breaking Funds for WAMY Community Action

June 5, 2023 BOONE — More than 200 supporters donned their denim best to celebrate and contribute to WAMY Community Action initiatives at Denim & Diamonds 2023 — the second annual charity event and auction raising money for poverty-fighting programs in Watauga, Avery, Mitchell and Yancy counties.The event was held Thursday, May 18, at the White Crow Farm in Valle Crucis, with a lively auction featuring renowned auctioneer Jesse Miller, of First Security Peak Insurance, who drummed up bids for restaurant certificates, golf and getaway packages, and gifts donated by local businesses. Proceeds from the event will fund summer camp scholarships for children and necessary home repairs for impoverished people in the four-county area.

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Watauga Community Housing Trust Announces Fundraising Campaign

June 5, 2023 BOONE, NC: The Watauga Community Housing Trust is announcing a project partnership with the Junaluska Heritage Association to fundraise for the purchase of a home near downtown Boone. By securing this property, WCHT will create its first permanently affordable using the housing trust model. The organizations pursuing this project seek the support of the community to make this project a reality, and create a new way for the community to add more affordable homes each year.

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Emmet Cohen Trio Featured at 2023 High Country Jazz Festival App Theatre Hosts “Poster Man for Contemporary Jazz” on June 10

May 30, 2023 BOONE, NC – Internationally acclaimed jazz artist Emmet Cohen and his award-winning trio take to the Appalachian Theatre stage in Boone at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 10 as a headliner event during the 2023 High Country Jazz Festival. It is one of 14 separate events in ten different locations throughout Boone and Blowing Rock that are part of the 2023 festival, which runs from June 9 through 11. Tickets for The Emmet Cohen Trio are $35 and $42.More than half of the 14 events are free of charge to the general public with tickets on sale for headliner performances via the festival website: www.highcountryjazzfestival.org

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Musical Artists Announced for 2023 Summer Concert Series at St. John’s Valle Crucis, Banner Elk, Junaluska Choirs, and Wild Blue Yonder Celtic Band

May 26, 2023 VALLE CRUCIS, NC – There is a framed needlepoint artwork in the choir room at Holy Cross Episcopal Church that reads, “For heights and depths no words can reach, music is the soul’s own speech.” While the author of that phrase is unknown, the revered saying could well be the mantra for an upcoming series of musical concerts.The line-up of artists has been announced for the popular Summer Concert Series at historic St. John’s Church in Valle Crucis with monthly events planned from June 4 through August 6. A summer mission of Holy Cross Episcopal Church, the picturesque chapel, consecrated in 1862, is located in the Watauga County countryside and provides marvelous acoustics for music with its wooden walls and floors forming a natural sounding board for live performances.

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Count Basie Orchestra Headlines 2023 High Country Jazz Festival 

May 24, 2023 BOONE, NC – “We’re bringing 88 years of classic ‘Count Basie Jazz’ directly to you,” said Scotty Barnhart, director of The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra about their Appalachian Theatre debut performance that is headlining the 2023 High Country Jazz Festival. “I’ve programmed something from every decade of the orchestra’s existence that will feature each of the 19 artists on stage, including new charts added to your program that haven’t been played in years!”

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Fun for All Ages at Ashe County Safety Day

May 24, 2023 Jefferson, NC– If you are looking for a fun filled day with family and friends, while learning about safety and interacting with emergency personnel and law enforcement, this is the event for you! The Ashe County Safety Day is an educational event that is free and open to all ages – families included! The event will be held Saturday, June 3rd from 10am to 2pm at the Ashe County High School.

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Grandfather Vineyard & Winery to Host June 7 Benefit for Casting Bread Featuring Adam Church and Food From Eleven80 Eatery

May 18, 2023 BLOWING ROCK, N.C. – Casting Bread announces an evening at Grandfather Vineyard & Winery on Wednesday, June 7 from 6:30p.m. – 8:30 p.m. The event will feature a performance by local favorite Adam Church. Tickets are $50.00 and include wine and a meal from Eleven80 Eatery Smokehouse’s barbecue food truck. “We are grateful for the support from Grandfather Vineyard, Eleven80 and Adam Church,” stated Sam Garrett, Casting Bread’s executive director. Proceeds from the June 7 event will help the organization supply food for its free, client-choice pantry. 

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The Embers featuring Craig Woolard bring beach vibes to 3,333 ft

May 18, 2023 BOONE, NC – Bringing their joyful Carolina beach music to the mountains, The Embers featuring Craig Woolard are slated to make their debut at the Appalachian Theatre on Wednesday, May 31 at 7:30 p.m.The Embers roots go back to 1958 when a couple of enterprising high school boys in Raleigh, North Carolina answered the Soviet challenge of Sputnik by forming a band called The Satellites. They played for school dances and parties, and on a good night could pocket as much as $60 for their efforts. The group’s name soon changed to The Embers, but they continued to play the timeless Rhythm and Blues music which is as popular now as it was back in the late 50s and early 60s.

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The Fabulous Equinox Orchestra kicks-off Memorial Day Weekend in the High Country

May 16, 2023 BOONE, NC – Appalachian Theatre of the High Country honors Memorial Day with a concert featuring the Fabulous Equinox Orchestra on Friday, May 26 at 7:30 p.m. The theatre will host the highly sought after big band who will perform their arrangements of patriotic numbers and favorite tunes from the Great American Songbook.Audiences across America and worldwide have fallen in love with the two sophisticated Southern gentlemen who lead the Fabulous Equinox Orchestra and bring their rich camaraderie and charm to the stage. Their high-energy show features the greatest songs, the best original arrangements and phenomenal musicianship.

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Summer Concerts at the Jones House

May 15, 2023 The Town of Boone will kick off the 30th season of its Summer Concerts at the Jones House. This popular annual concert series features a diverse lineup of local and regional acts representing various musical genres such as bluegrass, jazz, folk, old time, songwriters, Celtic, and more. The concerts are free and open to the public, offering an enjoyable experience for music enthusiasts of all ages.Concerts take place at the historic Jones House Cultural Center every Friday from June through August, starting at 5:30 p.m. Regardless of the weather conditions, the concerts are held as scheduled. Downtown Boone offers free parking after 5 p.m., making it convenient for attendees to park their vehicles.

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Hollywood and the High Country: 1987-1993

May 15, 2023 The year was 1987, more precisely a multi-year span between the late 1980s and early 1990s, when the Hollywood movie industry discovered the North Carolina High Country. In rapid succession, several notable films were produced either partially or entirely within the High Country region, namely The Last of the Mohicans (Daniel Day-Lewis); The Handmaid’s Tale (Faye Dunaway); Chapter Perfect (Wilford Brimley); The Green Mile (Tom Hanks) and the television series Rescue 911, among other productions such as television commercials. By Peter Morris

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Blowing Rock Art & History and Joe Shannon’s Mountain Home Music Present Summer Square Dance Series

May 10, 2023 Blowing Rock, NC – The Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM) and Joe Shannon’s Mountain Home Music are pleased to present a summer square dance series at BRAHM. Dances will feature local dance callers and a live band, the first dance of the season will take place on Thursday May 18, 2023 from 6 – 8 PM. The event is FREE and open to the public. All levels of dance experience are welcome and encouraged to participate. From 6 – 6:30 PM there will be a beginners lesson, where we will go over the basic moves so you can join the fun! This event is FREE and open to the public. Pre-registration is encouraged so we will have an idea of how many people will attend. 

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2023 Lees- McRae Summer Theatre Season Celebrates the History, Culture and Stories of NC

May 3, 2023 BANNER ELK, N.C.─ The 2023 season of Lees-McRae Summer Theatre is right around the corner and tickets for this season are available online now. The in-person box office will be open Wednesday, June 14−Saturday, July 29 and will be reachable by phone at 828.898.8709. This year every Summer Theatre production will celebrate the history, diversity, and natural beauty of North Carolina. Kicking off the celebration of this wonderful state will be the “Red, White, and Blue Ridge Variety Show.” With productions at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 30 and 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 2, the variety show, directed by Janet Barton Speer, will be fun for the whole family.

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Mayhem, Mobsters and the Millennium Falcon this May @ the App

May 3, 2023 BOONE, NC – BOONE — The Appalachian Theatre is featuring a variety of films during May, ranging from Academy Award winners to iconic classics.The theater’s Tuesday night classic film series continues with the aptly titled Mobster May, which features three of the most audience-requested film titles from recent surveys.The month opens with a screening of the 2022 Academy Award winner, “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” This acclaimed interdimensional cross-genre piece features Michelle Yeoh in her Oscar winning portrayal as an unlikely hero. The recent hit makes its debut on the screen at the Appalachian at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 2.

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