January 22, 2021 Blowing Rock WinterFest was created to celebrate the the fun side of a chilly, sleepy season. As we all look for ways to enjoy the outdoors and find little things to celebrate in 2021, WinterFest invites everyone to do just that! Though the festival will look different from any of its prior presentations, there will still be plenty to enjoy from Thursday, January 28 through Sunday, January 31. “This year, we modified WinterFest to still have aspects of our favorite events without large gatherings,” says Suzy Barker, festival coordinator. “For example, WinterFeast, A Restaurant Crawl and the Chili Challenge are taking place at individual restaurants to spread out attendance. WinterFest is all about celebrating the fun side of winter and that spirit is still present at this year’s festival with ice sculptures, fun activities, and delicious winter treats!” / Read more…

January 26, 2021 Join the Jones House and the Boone Junior Appalachian Musicians for a free virtual sing-along! In lieu of in-person group classes, The Jones House will be hosting a number of virtual sing- along workshops, or “Zoom-Alongs,” throughout the spring semester. These free events will take place on the Zoom video conferencing application. Some of the best local music instructors will discuss, demonstrate, and perform a select number of classic bluegrass and old time songs from the JAM Songbook. Lyrics and chords will be available to view on the Jones House website during the event so everyone can sing and play along at home. “This is a great, low pressure way to practice your instrument and singing skills alone or with other family members in your household,” says Town of Boone Cultural Resources Coordinator Brandon Holder. / Read more…

January 22, 2021 Hickory Museum of Art’s exhibition “Works by Warhol” will bring 36 iconic masterworks by one of America’s most prominent artists to Hickory Museum of Art. The exhibition will raise the museum’s profile while affording opportunities to connect with audiences of all ages. The museum’s staff is pleased to partner with Imagine One Hospitality as the presenting sponsor for this important project, which will be accompanied by a Studio54 themed gala. This special event will occur at a time when it is safe for our community to come together and celebrate Andy Warhol’s pioneering creative spirit. / Read more…

January 22, 2021 An all-free lineup of music, dance, and powerful storytelling theatre goes virtual February 4-March 25 with Dr. Jane Goodall, and the spring series offers an equally diverse lineup: award-winning playwright and actor Anna Deavere Smith, the best in contemporary dance by the renowned BalletX, the Steep Canyon Rangers in a live streamed concert from the stage of the Schaefer Center, and a “best of” showcase by the Appalachian Dance Ensemble, featuring works by distinguished faculty choreographers in the Department of Theatre and Dance. A companion series of free virtual events for K-12 schools and families across our region is also being offered throughout the spring by the APPlause! K-12 Performing Arts Series. / Read more…

December 23, 2020 With Christmas coming just around the corner, folks can take a break from all the last minute gift shopping and remember the reason for the season. With many local churches offering special services that are open to the community, there are more ways than one for people to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. Here is a list of local churches in the High Country with the times of their services and in what format they are being offered including necessary links. By Harley Nefe / Read more…

December 16, 2020 For the past 23 years, presenting “An Appalachian Christmas” in mid-December has become a holiday tradition for Joe Shannon’s Mountain Home Music as a way to raise money for two worthwhile community non-profit organizations known for helping those less fortunate. But in the final month of a year unlike any other in our lifetimes, the Covid-19 pandemic affords JSMHM an opportunity to try something a little different in 2020 in order to keep this tradition alive. This year JSMHM is presenting a “Virtual Appalachian Christmas Card Concert”. This on-line event will go live on Thursday, December 17th and will feature a variety of music videos on the JSMHM YouTube channel by some of the best loved local and regional musicians that have graced the JSMHM stage over the years. As always, all monies donated will be split between the Hospitality House and Santa’s Toy Box. / Read more…

December 9, 2020 Family and friends have another holiday activity to look forward to in the High Country as Watauga County Parks and Recreation’s Drive-Thru Christmas Parade is scheduled to happen this Saturday, Dec. 12 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Watauga Community Recreation Center parking lot, located at 231 Complex Drive in Boone. Visiting groups will be able to enjoy the beauty and spirit of the holiday season from the comfort, care and warmth of their cars and have the opportunity to listen to holiday music while they follow a route to experience the different exhibits of parade floats and entertainers who will be set up in the parking lot for cars to drive by, come rain or shine. By Harley Nefe / Read more…

December 9, 2020 SugarFest will continue as planned at Sugar Mountain Resort this weekend with a full slate of events and what looks like some great weather for the annual celebration. The preseason clinic will get things started each morning on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 a.m., followed by the popular demo time from 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. This is when skiers and snowboarders can test out some of the latest and greatest equipment from numerous manufacturers. “You can register and test any of the equipment that is out on display. If you are in the market to buy something or just want to try a new product that you might think is cool. It’s free and you can take a could of runs down the mountain, put the equipment back and try something else,” said Kim Jochl, Vice President of Sugar Mountain Resort. On Saturday and Sunday, people on the slopes can take advantage of the delicious SugarFeast that is always a part of the annual celebration. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

December 4, 2020 Blowing Rock is celebrating December and the Christmas season with various events and activities in the works including a Holiday Stroll and Christmas Cheer Contest. “Blowing Rock has really transformed in the last couple of days into a Christmas wonderland,” said Suzy Barker, who is the Events and Communications Specialist for the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce. The town will be holding its Holiday Stroll on Friday, Dec. 4 from 4-8 p.m. This event will resemble a town-wide holiday open house, where shops will be open late for holiday shopping with many having special deals just for the season. By Harley Nefe / Read more…

December 3, 2020 Boone’s Winter Farmers’ Market, facilitated by Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture, is returning for the 2020-2021 season starting this Saturday, Dec. 5. It will operate from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. every Saturday in December through April at the Watauga Agricultural Conference Center, located at 252 Poplar Grove Road in Downtown Boone. This year marks the Boone Winter Farmers’ Market’s fifth season offering retail space to local farmers and producers and providing community members an opportunity to continue accessing  fresh, local foods and products all winter long. Watauga Cooperative Extension Director Jim Hamilton said the Cooperative Extension System helps market and promote the farmers’ market. “We support it because it’s another outlet to support our farmers through the winter season so that customers can have access to locally grown food year round,” Hamilton said. By Harley Nefe / Read more…

December 3, 2020 The Western Youth Network (WYN) is taking a modern twist on the “old-school” telethon! Mark your calendar and tune in for this family friendly event, fun for all ages. This two-hour virtual event is sure to be a good time; featuring a community talent revue, contests, prizes, an auction and lots of ways to give.  Anyone who purchases an auction item, makes a telethon pledge or donates at any level whatsoever is entered into a drawing to win our exciting grand prize “52 Weeks of Christmas”— a gift from the community for every week of the year including restaurant gift certificates, area attraction passes and many other gifts — an estimated value of $3,000! / Read more…

December 2, 2020 A Carolina Snowbelle Christmas returns this December 12, 2020-January 4, 2021 with a “very virtual” rendition of the High Country’s newest holiday tradition. Spectacular changes are happening for The Carolina Snowbelles as they present an online show partnering with Arthur Rasco of Journey Light Creative, LLC. The 1-hour production features a brand new digitally engineered routine inspired by the late Busby Berkeley entitled TWILIGHT. Filmed with green screen technology, this icicle wonderland is made possible by the heartfelt imagination of each dancing Snowbelle who transports us into a magical world where ballerinas drop out of the cool snowy sky and urban dancers multiply by the droves. Finally, the routine culminates into dancing kaleidoscopic snowflakes. Tickets on sale at thecarolinasnowbelles.com . Performances can be enjoyed December 12, 2020-January 4, 2021. / Read more…

December 1, 2020 Horn in the West Outdoor Drama and Hickory Ridge History Museum are two Watauga County attractions where kids and adults can enjoy an invigorating walk through frontier living and an immersive experience in early American history. Since 1952, Horn in the West has been dramatizing the founding of our nation live on stage in the beautiful Daniel Boone Amphitheater. And for forty years, Hickory Ridge History Museum has been basking in the last vestiges of old mountain culture on the grounds of Daniel Boone Park. Southern Appalachian Historical Association invites High Country friends and repeating visitors to join in supporting these programs and initiatives by becoming an Association member. Membership not only helps preserve our cultural heritage, it helps grow SAHA’s programs for school age children and senior scholars. / Read more…

November 23, 2020 Now in its fifth season, Boone’s Winter Farmers’ Market is returning for the 2020-2021 season to offer delicious healthy, fresh local foods and products all winter long! The farmers’ market will operate from 9:00AM-12:00PM every Saturday from December through April at the Watauga Agricultural Conference Center. Due to COVID-19, the 3Ws (Wear, Wait, Wash) will be strictly enforced. Vendors will be spread throughout the Agricultural Center’s parking lot, Conference Center, and Warehouse with a one-way customer traffic pattern and customer limits. Upon arrival to the farmers’ market, patrons will be greeted by market staff and easy-to-follow maps to help you navigate this new system. Masks are required for both vendors and customers and hand sanitizer and masks will be provided to ensure that everyone has a safe shopping experience. / Read more…

November 19, 2020. Watauga Arts Council announces the opening of their second art exhibit in their new space located at 585 W. King Street (Above Doe Ridge Pottery). Their new facility, now named King Street Art Collective, will be open on weekends, Friday’s through Sunday’s from 12-5pm, starting November 20th-December 20th. This newest exhibit highlights the works of three local artists and includes colorful abstract paintings, wood and clay sculptures, alcohol ink paintings, and mixed media metallic wall sculptures. Artists being exhibited are: abstract artist Adam Kahn, who’s bold colored canvases are representative of a multitude of deeper, primal energies; mixed media artist Pegge Laine, who for the past ten years has created beauty by remaining curious and responding to light, color and texture created by everyday items; and wood sculptor Aviva Kahn who derives inspiration from nature’s shapes and textures, combining wood, clay and other materials to express her spiritual being. / Read more…

November 18, 2020 Chetola Resort once again greets the holidays with its drive-through tour of the Festival of Lights. The free display includes close to 30,000 lights throughout the resort and around Chetola Lake. In an effort to keep you (and Santa) safe this year, Chetola Resort will offer visits with Santa and carriage rides to resort guests only on Friday, Nov. 27, and Saturday, Nov. 28.  Chetola Resort will open the free, drive-through light show to the public beginning Sunday night, November 29. / Read more…

November 18, 2020 Carlton Gallery’s 38th Winter Group Exhibition with Small Works begins with a Holiday Open House on Friday and Saturday, November 27-28 from 10 am to 5 pm. This exhibition features small works in paintings, decorative and functional pottery, basketry, gourds, wearable fiber, wood, glass, and jewelry by the many talented artisans in the gallery. Social distancing with safety protocols are practiced throughout the gallery. Paintings reflecting the beauty and serenity of the winter landscape by Freeman Beard, Egidio Antonaccio and Sharon Rusch Shaver are some of the many art works of various styles and subject matter in this exhibit.   / Read more…

November 17, 2020 The coronavirus pandemic is making everything look a lot different this year and that includes the High Country Turkey Trot 5K. The annual Thanksgiving Day event, benefitting Hospitality House of Northwest N.C., has been taking place on the Boone Greenway Trail since 2011. This year, its tenth anniversary, the High Country Turkey Trot will take place virtually, for an entire week, with contests across multiple social media platforms. Hospitality House has dubbed November 19 through November 26, ‘High Country Turkey Trot Week’ with contests, sponsored by Mast General Store and The Winkler Organization, taking place on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok with prize packages totaling $1,000.   / Read more…

November 13, 2020. The Town of Beech Mountain will be hosting its inaugural Christmas parade and festival on Wednesday, Dec. 23 at 4 p.m. “It’s a little different timing than most parades are, but for Beech Mountain, that’s when all the people are really up here,” said Sean Royall, Executive Director of Beech Mountain Parks and Recreation. “They start coming up on Christmas week, and that’s why we are doing it that time rather than earlier in the month.” The parade route will begin at Beech Mountain Ski Resort and finish past Town Hall. People should aim to get where they need to go by 3:30 p.m. because the roads will shut down with barricades around 4 p.m. for the start of the parade. “It’s a parade to promote businesses and different people who are around,” Royall said. Royall further said families, residents or anyone who would like to make a float and be in it is welcome. Being their first parade, they are not charging for floats this year and want a good turnout. “Hopefully people will come out or set up a float or drive their car and decorate them,” Royall said.  By Harley Nefe / Read more…

November 13, 2020 The Lees-McRae Skiing & Snowboarding Team, in a partnership with the Ski Industry Business and Instruction program will host viewings of this year’s Teton Gravity Research Film on Friday, Nov. 13 and Saturday, Nov. 14 at 6 p.m. in a unique setting at the band pavilion in the Banner Elk Park. Jump Boone will be providing a projector and screen that will allow people to sit out under the stars and watch adventure athletes take on some of the most challenging terrains in winter snow sports.   / Read more…

November 10, 2020 “Join us for a virtual book talk by Vivian Howard, NC chef, restaurateur, TV star, and best-selling cookbook author,” invites Jeff Fissel, Executive Director of the Ashe County Arts Council in West Jefferson. The Arts Council and the Ashe County Public Library team up each September to present On the Same Page, Ashe County’s literary festival. This year, of course, the usual three-day festival didn’t happen, but, Fissel says, “We can get together online to celebrate reading, writing, and especially good cooking and food.” Vivian Howard is an award-winning cookbook author, TV personality, chef and restaurateur. The OTSP event will focus on the new book as Vivian shares her inspiration for it and experience in writing it. / Read more…

October 20, 2020  The coronavirus pandemic is making everything look a lot different this year and that includes the High Country Turkey Trot 5K. The annual Thanksgiving Day event, benefitting Hospitality House of Northwest N.C., has been taking place on the Boone Greenway Trail since 2011. This year, its tenth anniversary, the High Country Turkey Trot will take place virtually, from wherever the racers, runners and walkers are. “Pivoting to a virtual event was really the only option,” states Hospitality House director of development Todd Carter. This year’s event has gone from a single day, to what’s being billed as, ‘High Country Turkey Trot Week.’ Taking place across multiple social media platforms, including contests and prizes, the event will run from November 19 through November 26.  / Read more…

November 7, 2020 The Appalachian Theatre of the High Country (ATHC) is joining the Junaluska Heritage Association to celebrate their historic community with a large window display at the historic landmark on King Street in Boone. The exhibit may be seen 24 hours a day, seven days a week until late November when it will be replaced with holiday-themed windows. The display consists of historic photographs, artifacts, and signage compiled by Roberta Jackson and other members of the Junaluska Heritage Association (JHA), which works to preserve the only remaining African-American Community in Watauga County. Their mission is to assist interested residents of Junaluska in defining, preserving, and sharing the important history and culture of their mountain community and its origins. The Association also works with the residents of the neighborhood to help ensure the continuing viability of Junaluska as a vibrant and productive community.  / Read more…

November 6, 2020 “Waging Change,” a documentary film on the movement to end tipped minimum wage, will be presented in a special online screening by the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country. The film’s award-winning director, Abby Ginzberg, will take part in a post-screening interview immediately following the documentary. The public is invited to view these events online at 3 p.m. on Sunday, November 8, 2020. “Waging Change” is the third event presented by BOONE DOCS, the newly-launched year-round film series at the App Theatre featuring documentary films that spark community conversation by presenting an independent lens to view our world. Showcasing emerging and award-winning filmmakers and distinct perspectives from across the globe, BOONE DOCS celebrates the creative power of independent film. / Read more…

November 5, 2020  Families will be able to enjoy the beauty and spirit of the holiday season from the comfort and care of their cars this year with Watauga County Parks and Recreation’s drive-thru Christmas parade. This event is scheduled to take place Saturday, Dec. 12 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Watauga Community Recreation Center parking lot, located at 231 Complex Drive in Boone. Visiting groups will be able to stay in the warmth of their cars with the opportunity to listen to holiday music while they follow a route to experience the different exhibits of parade floats and entertainers who will be set up in the parking lot for cars to drive by. This event comes after an immensely popular Halloween drive-thru trunk or treat event that was also presented by Watauga County Parks and Recreation. “The trunk or treat was such a huge success,” said Keron Poteat, Recreation Specialist II for Watauga County Parks and Recreation. “Families were happy and comfortable that they could stay in their cars and go through the event without having to worry about the spread of Covid and exposing their kids to folks they weren’t sure of.” By Harley Nefe / Read more…

November 5, 2020  On Thursday, November 12th, 2020 from 11:00 – 12:00 pm, Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM) will present a lecture on their newest exhibition, Qualla Arts & Crafts Mutual: Tradition and Innovation. This talk will examine the founding and development of Qualla Arts & Crafts Mutual, Inc. Qualla Arts and Crafts is the oldest Native American Cooperative. Founded in 1946, Qualla Arts and Crafts continues to uphold a standard of excellence when it comes to the traditional arts and crafts of the Eastern Cherokee. Showcasing the works of over 250 members, Qualla Arts and Crafts preserves and promotes the traditional arts and crafts of the Eastern Band of Cherokee. We will hear from exhibit curators Anna Fariello and Pam Meister. Anna will guide us through the founding of the Qualla Arts & Crafts Mutual. Pam will tell us about the Mountain Heritage Center’s Cherokee Craft collection at Western Carolina University and how the collection influenced the development of the Qualla exhibit. / Read more…

November 3, 2020 Lees-McRae College invites community members and alumni to attend a special Veterans Day ceremony on Nov. 11 to honor past and present members of the U.S. Armed Forces. The ceremony will be held at the Veterans Memorial in Swank Park (see linked map for directions) and will begin at 11 a.m. Anyone in the community is welcome to attend and take part. If any community members would like to be recognized during the ceremony for their past or present service, please complete this form. Lees-McRae faculty, staff, and students who have served or are serving will also be recognized.  / Read more…

October 30, 2020  Watauga County Parks and Recreation hosted its first community trunk-or-treat on Thursday, Oct. 29, in the parking lots around the Watauga Community Recreation Center. The event was a big success as around 350 cars showed up, and nearly 1,000 trick or treaters in costumes received candy. “What a crowd,” said Keron Poteat, Recreation Specialist II. “It exceeded our expectations. It was great. We were pleased.” The trunk or treat was a drive-thru only event where visiting cars containing families drove by decorated trunks of parked cars and received candy from individuals who volunteered and registered to participate. By Harley Nefe / Read more…

October 28, 2020 With Halloween coming up on Saturday, costumes and candy will still be prevalent despite the challenges of COVID-19 during these events in the High Country. On Saturday, Oct. 31, Howard’s Creek Church will be hosting a free, safe drive-thru trunk or treat. On Thursday, Oct. 29, from 5-7 p.m., the Watauga County Parks and Recreation department will be presenting a free drive-thru only trunk or treat. Another event is at the the Apple Hill Alpaca Farm, which will be holding family fun trick-or-treat mini farm tours on the evenings of Oct. 30-31 from 4-5:30 p.m. By Harley Nefe / Read more…

October 27, 2020  The physical building of The Children’s Playhouse, has been closed to the public since mid-March due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but the heart of the High Country’s only nonprofit children’s museum is alive and well and serving local families in through their innovative Play Kit Project and later this week with a registration required Drive Thru Halloween. “Since May, we have distributed close to 1,000 Play Kits to local families,” explains Playhouse executive director and founder Kathy Parham. Each Kit contains all the materials and instruction for as many as 12 different hands-on activities families can enjoy at home. / Read more…

October 23, 2020  Ski season is just around the corner and the Alpine Ski Shop is ready for customers with the 23rd year of its annual preseason sale. The sale began last Friday and will continue through Sunday, October 25. “The response from our customers has been extremely positive and there has been lots of excitement about getting on the slopes this winter! We have made numerous changes this year to be COVID compliant to make things safe for our staff and customers for our preseason sale,” said Brenda Speckmann, who operates the ski shop. Each year, the Preseason Sale and Swap at the Alpine Ski Shop is located in the downstairs lobby at the base lodge. The sale offers customers some great deals on clothing, ski and snowboard equipment, and accessories. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

October 21, 2020  Don’t miss your chance to view and purchase the fabulous handmade creations of the women of the Blue Ridge Fiber Guild, during the last two weekends of October. In celebration of American Craft Week and in partnership with Doe Ridge Pottery, Watauga Arts Council is hosting this expansive exhibition of handmade fiber art by 16 members of the Blue Ridge Fiber Guild. Featuring more than 100 works in quilting, weaving, knitting, felting, crochet & fabric collage, the works span the range of the creative possibilities of fleece, yarn, and cloth. You will find handmade items such as framed fabric and felt landscape scenes, dish towels, rugs, Christmas ornaments, aprons, shaws and wraps, handbags, blankets, bookmarks and more. / Read more…

October 20, 2020  The second event in The Schaefer Center Presents (SCP) virtual performing arts series, presented by Appalachian State University’s Office of Arts and Cultural Programs, features a streamed production of North Carolina Black Repertory Company’s dramatic play The Resurrection of Alice, about a young girl trapped in an arranged marriage in mid-20th century South Carolina, Thursday, Oct. 29 at 8pm. The award-winning, Winston-Salem, NC-based theatre company filmed the play on the stage of the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts especially for the virtual series. The event is free of charge, but advance registration is required at TheSchaeferCenter.org.. / Read more…

October 19, 2020  In a winner-take-all virtual woolly worm race Saturday afternoon, it appears that we could be in for a cold and snowy start to the 2020-21 winter season. The two leading sponsors for the annual Woolly Worm Festival, the Avery County Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis Club of Banner Elk, each had one worm competing for the top spot, the Chamber Charger and the Kiwanis Kicker. Even with the annual festival being canceled because of COVID-19, the race had to go on. “We use this festival not only to raise money for the Kiwanis Club and Avery Chamber, but the winning worm is used to predict the winter weather,” said Adam Binder, who handled the play-by-play call for the race. “One of the most important things and one of the biggest reasons why it was so difficult to cancel this festival is that we raise about $125,000 and that goes back into the community. Half of that money is used by the Kiwanis Club and we give Woolly Worm grants and the Avery County Chamber of Commerce uses the funds to promote tourism in our area so losing a festival for a small county and a small town like this is very serious. Obviously, there was no question with what is going on, having that many people together was not the right thing to do.” By Nathan Ham / Read more…

October 12, 2020  OASIS will be hosting a virtual 5k fundraiser event during the week of Oct. 18-24, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month Week of Action. OASIS offers free and confidential services to victims and survivors of intimate partner violence ranging from immediate emergency shelter to comprehensive, wrap around services and referrals. The virtual 5k fundraiser is designed to raise awareness about intimate partner violence. While completing the 3.1 miles, participants can reflect on the realities of intimate partner violence, consider their roles in breaking the cycle of violence, think about ways to support survivors and spend time with themselves to heal and grow.  By Harley Nefe / Read more…