What’s going on in your community? Here’s a brief update on the emails we received today. Check back each day for an updated list of events going on in the area. As always, please feel free to email us about your event or update.

Town of Boone Meeting Agendas for July 17 and July 19

Grandfather Mountain hosts ocean conservationist Julia Roberson July 19

What’s Happening This Week at Lost Province Brewing Company

Boone Planning Commission to Meet July 23

Blue Ridge Native Plant Society Events This Week

Watauga Parks and Recreation Holding Free Kickball Games Every Wednesday

Upcoming Events Along the Blue Ridge Parkway

Read more…
Compiled by Nathan Ham

July 16, 2018. See Horn in the West on Saturday, July 21 or Sunday, July 22 for a discounted price of $15, a $20 drop from the usual price to see this spectacular drama. This discount is for both adults and children. To receive the discounted tickets, you simply have to mention the Weekend Sale or Sale of the Summer. Discounted tickets are available through the website, horninthewest.com or by calling the ticket office at 828-264-2120. You can also purchase your tickets at the gate. By Hailey Blevins / Read more…

July 13, 2018. Daily Tunes will be bringing you live music performances in the High Country area for every day of the week. Get out there and enjoy the cool breezes and relaxing music of summer before it’s over! If you’re a bit of a daredevil, come enjoy live music every Saturday at Beech Mountain’s 5506’ Skybar, located 5,506 feet above sea level. By Elly Murray / Read more…

July 13, 2018. Nickelodeon, the number one entertainment brand for kids and Tweetsie Railroad invite kids to meet SpongeBob, star of Nickelodeon’s hit animated series SpongeBob SquarePants, on July 13-15 in Blowing Rock. The Nickelodeon costumed character will be available for meet and greet appearances at 11:00 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. daily. Patrick Star will also be available to pose with kids and families to take photos. The character-driven cartoon chronicles the nautical and sometimes nonsensical adventures of SpongeBob, an incurably optimist and earnest sea sponge, and his undersea friends. / Read more…

July 13, 2018. Join Mike Campbell and Max Stone on July 18th from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Hickory Ridge Living History Museum for a demonstration and talk on tactics and weapons used by Long Hunters such as Daniel Boone. Mike is a longtime volunteer at the museum whose specialty is backcountry woodsmen skills. This summer, Max has been completing an internship from Flager College under Mike’s guidance. The two of them will demonstrate and discuss the lifestyle of Long Hunters. Long Hunters braved the frontier and beyond with nothing more than minimal provisions for journeys that lasted upwards of a year. Max says, “The resourcefulness of long-hunters cannot be understated enough.” Long Hunters faced many challenges in addition to running out of supplies such as the dangers of encountering Native American attacks, animal attacks, theft, and injuries. The demonstration by Mike and Max will include examples of Long Hunter equipment and provide a black powder firing demonstration. By Savannah R. Watts / Read more…

July 13, 2018. History will come alive in Blowing Rock on August 5 when the Daniel Boone Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution hosts one of its most unique fundraisers, to date. “Teas and Toddies, a traditional 18th century tea party will take the women’s ongoing efforts to support local service projects to a new level when the Blowing Rock Country Club is transformed to an earlier time and place. Festivities get under way at 5 p.m. and promises to be a highlight of your High Country summer. By Sherrie Norris / Read more…

July 12, 2018. Beech Mountain Resort continues celebrating their 50th Anniversary with two shows left in their Summer Concert Series. Last weekend, they started the series featuring The Wood Brothers with Sean McConnell and have two more great concerts lined up for July 14th and August 11th. The Beech Mountain Resort Concert Series is not the first time that Beech Mountain has featured musicians, but it is the first live music they have had in this magnitude. To celebrate their 50th year, they have amplified their music scene by adding a stage and lighting at the bottom of the ski slope, surrounding visitors with the beauty of Beech Mountain. And the audience seems to love it. Talia Freeman, Director of Marketing for Beech Mountain Resort, says ticket sales are strong and the picturesque scene really adds to the value of the concert series. By Savannah R. Watts / Read more…

July 12, 2018. Daily Tunes will be bringing you live music performances in the High Country area for every day of the week. Get out there and enjoy the cool breezes and relaxing music of summer before it’s over! On a calm Sunday afternoon in the delightful Memorial Park in Blowing Rock, everything is so fresh and green, you almost forget bustling Main Street is right behind you. Artists are just beginning to pack up after another successful Art in the Park, as a crowd moves in for the Blowing Rock Concerts in the Park. By Elly Murray / Read more…

July 12, 2018. In tribute to the Denim King himself, Moses H. Cone, the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is inviting guests to attend The Denim Ball at 6 p.m., Friday, August 3, at Chetola Resort at Blowing Rock. Attendees are in for a fun summer evening to benefit Moses H. Cone Memorial Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The third annual event will feature a musical performance by the Jeff Little Trio, led by the namesake, Boone-raised musician who translates Appalachian and Americana music for the piano. The night also includes an auction, buffet dinner, and cash bar. Tickets for both previous events sold out, so early purchases are recommended. / Read more…

July 12, 2018. On the heels of another successful spring production that wooed and won its audiences with “The Last Round Up of the Guacamole Queens,” Beanstalk Community Theatre is at it again and bringing to the local stage yet another incredible weekend of performances later this month. Another of our all-time favorite story lines, “The Addams Family: A New Musical Comedy,” will be presented July 26-28 in the Ross Auditorium at Watauga High School by the Boone-based theatre group, and promises to be one more success in a long line of the troupe’s great accomplishments. According to Amy Beane, Beanstalk’s creative director, The Addams Family features an original story — and it’s every father’s nightmare. By Sherrie Norris / Read more…

July 12, 2018. There hasn’t been a kid in a candy store any more pleased than I have been in my garden these past couple of weeks. Watching as our squash, zucchini and cucumber vines have not only grown at rapid speed, it seems, but transitioning from blossoms to veggies overnight, has been delightful. The very first squash I picked this year turned into a sliced oven-baked delicacy, with a little olive oil and a few herbs sprinkled on top for good measure. Ahhh, it was delicious. There is no shortage of ways to prepare summer squash, so sit back for the next week or so, and we will dive into a few of the more appealing and familiar ways to prepare it — for the health-conscious as well as those who love it in its pan-fried or creamy casserole form. By Sherrie Norris / Read more…

July 11, 2018. The Baird’s Creek Presbyterian Church will be lit up this Sunday July 15 from 4 to 6 p.m. for their Vintage Valle Music series. This jam-packed performance features music from three different local bands: the Dollar Brothers, the Burnett Sisters, and the Junaluska Gospel Choir. Jinx Miller, who is often the MC for these events, says, “This is a really dynamite line up, I’m so excited to have them all.” By Elly Murray / Read more…

July 11, 2018. It has been 150 years since Tom Dooley was hanged for the murder of Laura Foster. For the 17th year, Bleu Moon Productions is sharing the story of the crime as an outdoor drama. Although they were common punishments then, today we view hangings as harsh punishments. And they were. It’s still widely debated whether Tom was guilty or innocent, but Bleu Moon invites you to experience the story and decide for yourself whether another suspicious character was truly to blame. By Savannah R. Watts / Read more…

July 11, 2018. Sunday, July 15th from 2 – 4pm, artist Noyes Capehart will be at the Art Cellar Gallery for our popular Sunday Afternoons with the Artists series. During this special event with the artist, Noyes Capehart will give his personal thoughts and ideas on the “meaning” of art and what art means to the viewer. / Read more…

July 11, 2018. This year, the Woolly Worm Festival of Banner Elk has an abundance of achievements to celebrate. Founded in 1978 by Jim Morton, the Woolly Worm Festival is celebrating its 41st anniversary this year, honoring 41 years of worm racing, charity, and family fun. Not only is the Woolly Worm Festival inching up its middle ages, the Banner Elk festival has just been named the official Woolly Worm Festival of North Carolina. The bill was signed into law on June 25th of 2018 by the North Carolina General Assembly. By Andrea Rodriguez-ortiz / Read more…

July 11, 2018. Grandfather Mountain isn’t about moving mountains; it’s about moving people. And the people have spoken. Again. This summer, Grandfather Mountain was inducted into the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Hall of Fame, having received five consecutive Certificate of Excellence awards since 2014, including 2018. In total, since 2012, Grandfather Mountain has received seven consecutive Certificates of Excellence. / Read more…

July 11, 2018. After celebrating its 30th anniversary last year, the Symphony by the Lake at Chetola Resort begins a fourth decade of summer centerpiece events in 2018. This year’s Symphony by the Lake will take place Friday, July 27th. The theme, Colors of the Mountains, will be reflected in the musical selections as well as the décor of patron tents that line the lake. / Read more…

July 10, 2018. Daily Tunes will be bringing you live music performances in the High Country area for every day of the week. Get out there and enjoy the cool breezes and relaxing music of summer before it’s over! Back in Beech Mountain, Fred’s General Mercantile is hosting their Sunday summer concerts at Fred’s Gazebo. Fred’s has been the gathering place for all of Beech Mountain since it opened in 1979, and the legendary store hosts concerts out of the graceful white gazebo next to it. By Elly Murray / Read more…

July 9, 2018. Saturday, July 14th, Nate Fisher will be leading Redistricting Reform 101, a forum on gerrymandering and non-partisan map making in North Carolina. The event will begin at 10:00 am at the Boone Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. It aims to help people understand the complicated issue of gerrymandering and what goes into drawing unbiased electoral districts. The forum will include a discussion of the legal requirements and standards for producing a non-partisan fair map of North Carolina, as well as the subjective considerations that inevitably shape electoral districts. By Joe Wiswell / Read more…

What’s going on in your community? Here’s a brief update on the emails we received today. Check back each day for an updated list of events going on in the area. As always, please feel free to email us about your event or update.

Blowing Rock Town Council Agenda for July 10 Meeting

Blue Ridge Chapter of the North Carolina Native Plant Society Meeting on July 11

What’s Happening This Week at Lost Province Brewing Company

Emergency Blood Shortage: Red Cross Issues Urgent Call for Blood Donors

North Carolina Community Foundation Awards $2,500 Grant for Digital Watauga Project

DD Adams, N.C.’s 5th District Nominee for U.S. House, Visits Communities and Farmers Markets

Cast Members Needed at Banner Elk Presbyterian Church

Sugar Grove Developmental Day School Students Become Published Authors

Read more…
Compiled by Nathan Ham

July 9, 2018. If you enjoy good music, food, fun and fellowship while supporting a good cause, you will not want to miss the upcoming Honey Harvest Hoedown in Deep Gap. On Saturday, July 28, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m., the High Country community will come together for a fundraising event to help with the ongoing needs of de la Cruz Farms, located just across from Deep Gap Fire Department Since 2014, de la Cruz Farms (meaning “of the cross”) has been serving area children and families in a unique farm-like setting that provides hands-on experiences in a safe, family friendly and faith-based atmosphere. By Sherrie Norris / Read more…

July 9, 2018. Children and families are invited to Daniel Boone Native Gardens on July 14th from noon to 4 p.m. for the 5th Annual Fairy Day. This event is a free learning experience for young children with lots of activities to keep them engaged. Visit the Gardens on Fairy Day to be greeted by a roving fairy. Sarah Gilley described Fairy Day as “an annual event that the Gardens sponsor to encourage children to enjoy nature.” Activities you can look forward to include: face painting by “Colorful Cheeks,“ music by Sarah Borders and Tom Pace, building a fairy garden and learning about butterflies with Dr. Annkatrin Rose. Creating fairy gardens will include finding twigs, leaves and other items throughout Daniel Boone Native Gardens. Activities will also be available for preschool children. By Hailey Blevins / Read more…

July 9, 2018. Grab your fork, put on your “eating pants” and get ready for the North Carolina Blackberry Festival, July 13th and 14th in Lenoir. Featuring the world’s largest blackberry cobbler, The Blackberry Parade complete with the NC Panthers PurrCussion Drumline, blackberry eating contests, live music, vendors, food trucks, Bites, Brews and Blues and more. The 17th Annual NC Blackberry Festival begins on Friday at 5:00 pm in downtown Lenoir and will continue through Saturday evening at 9 pm. / Read more…

July 6, 2018. Daily Tunes will be bringing you live music performances in the High Country area for every day of the week. Get out there and enjoy the cool breezes and relaxing music of summer before it’s over! IBack in Blowing Rock the Green Park Inn is hosting their Music on the Veranda series. These Sunday evenings of live music on the Green Park Inn’s beautiful front veranda are free and sure to be enjoyed by people from all walks of life, including yourself! By Elly Murray / Read more…

July 6, 2018. To finish out the Fourth of July week, Blowing Rock will host its Fourth of July Festival and Parade in Downtown Blowing Rock on July 7th. The events of the Festival actually begin on Friday, July 6, with a Park Dance in Memorial Park. The dance is from 6 to 8 p.m., and music is provided by the Summer Daze Band. By Elly Murray / Read more…

July 6, 2018. In Banner Elk, Lees-McRae has been organizing FORUM as a way to bring cultural programs to the area for over 38 years. The events of FORUM are spectacular at bringing the High Country community together, in an enjoyable and entertaining way. By Elly Murray / Read more…

July 6, 2018. Tickets are still available for the Kool and the Gang performance this Saturday July 7th! Two time Grammy Award winners, Kool and the Gang is an upbeat R&B group that has been performing for 45 years. Ronald Bell and his brother Robert “Kool” Bell joined up with their friends, Robert “Spike” Mickens, Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas, Ricky Westfield, George Brown, and Charles Smith, to start a band that was a distinct mix of jazz, soul, and funk. They’ve gone on to become legends, and earned many prestigious awards, with their theme of “Music is the message” By Elly Murray / Read more…

What’s going on in your community? Here’s a brief update on the emails we received today. Check back each day for an updated list of events going on in the area. As always, please feel free to email us about your event or update.

TODAY: Town of Boone Seeking Board Members for Open Seats, Applications Due by 5 p.m.

Mayland Community College Focus On Success: Bradley Carpenter

Beech Mountain Town Council Agenda for July 10 Meeting

Campus emergency siren test to be conducted July 11

Upcoming Programs Along the Blue Ridge Parkway

Watauga Humane Society’s Upcoming Events

Watauga County Public Library Hosting Class on Basic Concepts of Microsoft Excel

Read more…
Compiled by Nathan Ham

July 6, 2018. Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture is excited to present the 12th Annual High Country Farm Tour with some new and fun twists! This year, let us take you on a guided afternoon bus tour that will allow an engaging story to unfold about our High Country local food system and the passion and diligence that drives our local farmers. Mark your calendars for this inspiring adventure that will feed your belly and your soul! / Read more…

July 6, 2018. Come share the excitement at the Watauga County Farmers’ Market this Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon at Daniel Boone Park, Horn in the West parking lot in Boone. Hopefully everyone enjoyed their Independence Day here in the High Country. What better way to roll into the weekend than with a trip to the Watauga County Farmers’ Market. As always the market will have the best selection of produce, crafts, sweet treats, coffee, food trucks and more. Looking forward to seeing you there.  / Read more…

July 5, 2018. Daily Tunes will be bringing you live music performances in the High Country area for every day of the week. Get out there and enjoy the cool breezes and relaxing music of summer before it’s over! In bustling downtown Boone, the Jones House hosts its Concerts on the Lawn. On Friday nights, patrons climb the smooth stone stairs, and stretch out on their blankets on the grass, surrounded on all sides by leafy green trees.
The musicians begin to play from the wide porch of the Jones House, and the wonderful sounds can be heard all the way down the street. If you arrive late enough, the big beautiful white house is lit up so enchantingly that for a second you forget that downtown is literally right next to you. By Elly Murray / Read more…

July 5, 2018. Someone, somewhere, has declared that Saturday, July 7, is World Chocolate Day, but I’m quite sure that every day is a great day to celebrate one of the most delicious treats ever. Apparently, this will be a big day in Europe, since the history of this commemorative date is connected with the history of chocolate in Europe. Food historians have said that modern chocolate bars were introduced in Europe on July 7, 1847, by English chocolate maker Joseph Fry. Fry was thought to be the first person to add melted cacao butter to chocolate to make chocolate moldable. The first milk chocolate appeared in 1857, and since then, many chocolate makers have worked toward making the perfect bar. We think they’ve done a wonderful job, so here’s to one more celebration this week — World Chocolate Day. Tip for the week: Put “eat chocolate” at the top of your list of things to do today. That way, at least you’ll get one thing done. By Sherrie Norris / Read more…

July 5, 2018. “Variations on a Theme” will feature abstract painted works from Gregory Smith and Tim Turner. Gregory Smith will be showing 24 alterations of the same composition, from small to large paintings. This concept was inspired by the 24 variations of Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini by Sergei Rachmaninoff. Tim Turner’s work is often a variation of an idea. Using and reusing canvases, Turner builds onto his paintings, creating shape and texture by using scraps of canvas from paintings that, “didn’t make the cut.” These two artists showing together will thrill and excite any viewer. From color to technique, this will be a show you don’t want to miss. / Read more…

July 5, 2018. The Boone Unitarian Universalist Fellowship will continue its showcase of singer/songwriters next Wednesday, July 11. Local and regional favorite singer and songwriter Alexa Rose will host an intimate evening of original songs and the stories, ideas, or moments that inspired them. For this third session of the Muusic Room, Alexa will be joined by friends Bea Troxel of Nashville, and Matt Townsend of Asheville. The evening will begin at 6:00 PM with a community pot-luck in the Founder’s House with music beginning at 7:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall. A suggested donation of $15 per person will support the performers and the Hospitality House.   / Read more…

July 3, 2018. Catch The King Bees at Watauga County Public Library this Saturday, July 7th at 2 p.m. Husband and wife duo Rob Baskerville and Penny Zamagni are Todd, North Carolina based. Their presentation on Saturday is free and open to all ages. The presentation will be held in the Meeting Room at Watauga County Public Library. The duo calls the mountains of North Carolina home but travel the world performing and spreading their Blues and American Roots music as their audiences swing along to the rhythmic blues they produce. The library says the duo “will bring their musical virtuosity to the library in a program combining performance with background on the history, evolution and cultural significance of blues music in the United States and around the world.” By Hailey Blevins / Read more…