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Events

Get Ready to Strum, Pick, and Sing Your Way Through Summer at Jones House Cultural Center

June 5, 2025 The Jones House Cultural Center has announced a series of summer “slow” jams, where participants of all ages can come together to explore the timeless sounds of old-time and classic bluegrass music in a fun and inclusive setting. Each session will be led by two music teachers from the Boone JAM (Junior Appalachian Musicians) program. No matter your age or skill level, those who have a passion for traditional music are welcome to join the jams. Bring an acoustic string instrument and come prepared to learn, jam, and make new friends. While some basic chord knowledge is certainly helpful, these sessions are open to beginners and seasoned players alike, offering a supportive environment for everyone to grow and develop their musical talents.

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Grandfather Mountain’s annual Animal Birthday Party to be held June 11

June 4, 2025 Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, will throw its annual birthday bash for all resident animals on Wednesday, June 11 — and you’re invited! Included with park admission, the celebration will feature games, contests, crafts and surprises. The park’s habitat staff is preparing a fun-filled afternoon for guests with programs to celebrate its furry and feathered inhabitants as they mark another trip around the sun. Millie the Bear, the mountain’s mascot, will also make special appearances throughout the day.

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Amos Lee Kicks off the 41st Season of An Appalachian Summer on Saturday, June 28

June 2, 2025 Appalachian State University’s annual multi-disciplinary summer arts celebration, An Appalachian Summer, opens its 41st season with Amos Lee, Saturday, June 28 at 7:30pm at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts. The soulful singer-songwriter released his gold-selling self-titled first album in 2005 and has been known for his association with a long list of collaborators and touring partners, including Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Zac Brown Band, and Willie Nelson. With a laconic style, gravelly, evocative voice, and acoustic Americana sound, Lee is equally comfortable and affecting amidst a range of genres — from folk, soul, and jazz, to Americana, roots rock, and country — in his quest to connect honestly and emotionally with his audience. 

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All Ears: Banner Elk Unveils First-Ever Summer of Music Featuring 90-Plus Live Performances

May 30, 2025 While the arts have always played a key role in Banner Elk, the town takes it up a notch in 2025 with its first-ever Summer of Music. Top-level national, regional and local acts take the stage at a variety of venues all summer long. The schedule features 90-plus live performances, highlighted by Country Music Hall of Famer Jimmy Fortune, bluegrass stars Jim Lauderdale and Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer John Oates and Gary Morris, who has five No. 1 country songs.

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UNC Health Appalachian’s Local Chapter of “Walk with a Doc” Starts on June 7th

May 30, 2025 UNC Health Appalachian is proud to announce the launch of a local chapter of Walk with a Doc, a monthly walking program led by our Family Medicine residents designed to promote wellness and build community – one step at a time. On Saturday, June 7, the Boone community is invited to join a monthly physician-led walk that begins with a short health talk followed by a casual walk. The program is free and open to all ages and fitness levels. Whether you’re managing a chronic condition, looking for a reason to get outside, or simply interested in connecting with local healthcare providers in a relaxed setting, this is a great opportunity to take charge of your health.

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Watauga County Farmers’ Market Returns to Daniel Boone Park on May 31

May 29, 2025 The Watauga County Farmers’ Market is pleased to announce its return to Daniel Boone Park, located at 591 Horn in the West Drive, beginning Saturday, May 31. After a temporary relocation to Appalachian State University’s State Farm lot during a repaving project, the Market is excited to welcome customers back to its longtime home — now with a smoother, safer, and more navigable parking lot and market space. “We are thrilled to return to Daniel Boone Park,” said Michelle Dineen, Market Director. “This is the heart of our Market community, and it’s home for the past 50 years! We’re grateful for the improvements that will make it even more welcoming and accessible for everyone.”

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Beppe Gambetta and Clay Lunsford with Matthew Weaver to Open 2025 Summer Concert Series at the Jones House on June 6th

May 29, 2025 The Town of Boone is proud to kick off the 2025 Summer Concerts at the Jones House series with an unforgettable evening of world-class roots music on Friday, June 6, beginning at 5:30 PM at the Jones House Cultural Center in downtown Boone. The concert is free and open to the public. The evening begins with a performance by internationally acclaimed Italian guitarist and composer Beppe Gambetta, followed by a set from dynamic Appalachian and Americana duo Clay Lunsford & Matthew Weaver, bringing their rich regional heritage to the Jones House front porch

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Elk River Helping Hands Concert Featuring Rock Hall of Fame Member John Oates and Grammy Award-Winning Artist Jim Lauderdale Set for June 20th at Lees-McRae College

May 29, 2025 The Elk River Helping Hands Concert Series proudly announces its next event to be held Friday, June 20, 2025, at Hayes Auditorium on the campus of Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, North Carolina. Doors at 6pm and concert at 7pm. This extraordinary evening of music and community will feature Rock Hall of Famer John Oates (Hall and Oates) and the Grammy award-winning singer and songwriter Jim Lauderdale, with proceeds benefiting Hurricane Helene relief efforts in the area

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W.A.M.Y. Community Action’s Denim & Diamonds 2025 Event Shines Bright, Raising $119,000 to Support High Country Families

May 29, 2025 On May 22, the High Country community gathered at The White Crow Farm in Banner Elk for WAMY Community Action’s annual Denim & Diamonds gala. The enchanting evening welcomed over 250 guests and raised an incredible $119,000 to aid families in Watauga, Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey Counties. Proceeds will focus on supporting low-income families, particularly those still recovering from the damage caused by Hurricane Helene.

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Banner House Museum Announces Hours, Tours, and Tickets for Summer 2025

May 23, 2025.  Experience 19th-century life in Banner Elk and the High Country in the home of Samuel Henry Banner, one of Banner Elk’s early settlers and his his wife, Jane Hyder Banner, and their seven children.  The circa 1870 house has been furnished with period heirlooms donated and loaned by area residents to tell the story of Banner Elk life from the 1870’s to the 1900’s. An exhibition room highlights local history from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.  In addition, visitors may see a volunteer weaver demonstrating traditional hand-weaving techniques on a floor loom.

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“Daingerfield & The Tonalist Instinct” to Open May 31 at BRAHM

May 23, 2025. The Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM) announces a new exhibition,“Daingerfield & The Tonalist Instinct,” which will be on view from May 31 through October 19, 2025, in the Fort Gallery at BRAHM. “Daingerfield & The Tonalist Instinct” explores the development of Tonalism—a distinctly American response to early modernist impulses in painting—and its connection to Elliott Daingerfield (1859–1932). Featuring works by Daingerfield and other key figures, the exhibition examines how tonalist principles were applied to the landscapes of the American South and became a significant influence on Daingerfield’s artistic evolution.

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Blowing Rock Remembers Our Veterans as They Welcome Major General William S. Busby, III 


May 21, 2025 The Blowing Rock Civic Association is sponsoring a service over the Memorial Day weekend. All are invited to hear from Maj. Gen. William S. Busby, III. The service will be held on Saturday, May 24 at 11:00 a.m. at the gazebo at Memorial Park in downtown Blowing Rock. The service will be a time to honor those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving the United States. Major General William S. Busby is the Mobilization Assistant to the Deputy Commander, United States Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. United States Strategic Command’s operational mission areas include full-spectrum global strike, space operations, computer network operations, Department of Defense information operations, strategic warning, integrated missile defense, global C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance), combating weapons of mass destruction and specialized expertise to the joint warfighter

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A Winning Day at the Derby: Spirit Ride Raises $26K for Children’s Therapeutic Programs

May 20, 2025. Spirit Ride Therapeutic Riding Center is thrilled to announce the overwhelming success of its 2025 Derby Day fundraiser, held on May 3 at the Broyhill Equestrian Preserve in Blowing Rock. The event raised an incredible $26,000—enough to provide life-changing equine-assisted sessions for the 2025 Season.

Guests enjoyed a festive afternoon of food, music, and derby excitement, all in support of Spirit Ride’s mission to offer therapeutic riding services at no cost to families.

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“Grandfather Presents: T. Edward Nickens” Kicks Off Speaker Series July 24


May 20, 2025 Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, has announced that tickets for the first presentation of the Grandfather Presents 2025 speaker series are on sale now. T. Edward Nickens, an award-winning author and journalist, kicks off this year’s Thursday night presentations on July 24. The event will be hosted in the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery, where guests will experience a “night at the museum” atmosphere, the speaker presentation and book-signing/“meet-and-greet” opportunities.

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Casting Bread Presents the 10th Annual Ducky Regatta — A Celebration of Community and Compassion

May 14, 2025. Blowing Rock, NC — On Saturday, June 28, 2025, Casting Bread will host the 10th Annual Ducky Regatta from 10 AM to 1 PM at 194 Aho Road, Blowing Rock, NC. This family-friendly event celebrates both the spirit of the High Country community and the beauty of the Middle Fork of the New River — flowing just outside Casting Bread’s doors.Festival-goers can look forward to a vibrant morning full of rubber duck races, including exciting kids-only races, bouncy houses, music, fun games, and delicious food served from Casting Bread’s very own Canteen.

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BRAHM Announces Theme and Call for Submission for “ARS POETICA III: A Juried Exhibition” with June 13th Deadline

May 13, 2025. The Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM) is pleased to announce its third annual “ARS POETICA” exhibition, which will be on view in the Alexander Community Gallery from September 6 through November 13, 2025. The Museum invites poets and visual artists to submit their work by June 13, 2025. Inspired by Horace’s “Ars Poetica,” in which the Roman poet wrote, “as is painting, so is poetry,” this juried exhibition explores the profound relationship between visual art and the written word. While distinct in form, poetry and visual art each strive to move, inspire and deepen human understanding.

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Your Future Boone Jaycee Park! Public Input Session for Boone Park Improvements May 16

May 13, 2025. On Friday, May 16th, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Town of Boone staff will host a public input session to learn more about how the public views the Boone Jaycee Park and what improvements the community would like to see at the park. The public input session will be at the Boone Jaycee Park, located at 728 Horn in the West Drive. Boone Jaycee Park is the most centrally located, Town-owned park in Boone. For over 30 years, it has served as a recreational space for children and families to enjoy the outdoors, featuring swings, slides, climbing equipment, and more.

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 7th annual Blue Ridge Fiber Fest to be held in Sparta, NC on June 6 & 7 at Higgins Fairgrounds

May 12, 2025 The 7th annual Blue Ridge Fiber Fest will take place on June 6 and 7, 2025 at the Higgins Fairgrounds, Sparta, NC. Admission is free, but your generous donation for parking helps to support the Marine Corps Leagues of Alleghany and Surry County and the various charities they support. Over 40 vendors will be on site offering materials for makers, finished goods, and beautiful examples of their work

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Pottery Lot Hosts “Brain Tumor Awareness Day” — A Creative Community Fundraiser Inspired by Personal Experience

May 12, 2025 On Monday, May 19, The Pottery Lot will host Brain Tumor Awareness Day, a powerful day of community, creativity, and purpose. Through hands-on pottery classes and fundraising efforts, the event will raise money and awareness for those affected by brain tumors—both locally and beyond. The day features three hand-building pottery classes at 11:00 AM–1:00 PM, 3:00–5:00 PM, and 6:00–8:00 PM, open to all skill levels. The cost is just $35 per person, The Pottery Lot’s lowest class fee ever offered, with 100% of class proceeds donated to support brain tumor awareness, research, and care.

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Announcing the 2025 Storytelling Live Season at the International Storytelling Center

May 12, 2025 The first artist of the series, Grammy-nominated bluegrass musician and storyteller Josh Goforth, follows two sold-out benefit concerts by West Virginia storyteller Bil Lepp. (Lepp will return to Jonesborough for a full residency later in the season.) Goforth’s week in residence will include daily matinee concerts, Tuesday through Saturday at 2 p.m., as well as an evening performance on Thursday, May 22, at 7:30 p.m. Goforth’s Thursday night show is part of an expanded slate of nighttime events scheduled throughout the season. Nine other performers will follow in his footsteps, including fan favorites Tim Lowry, Andy Offutt Irwin, Megan Wells, and Donald Davis.

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Bounce Back Continues as Art on the Greene Shows Return to Banner Elk

May 7, 2025 After serving as a staging ground for Hurricane Helene relief, Banner Elk’s town green gets back to its regular purpose with the return of community events. The first four events to return are the popular Art on the Greene summertime two-day art shows, which take place the following weekends: May 24-25, July 5-6, Aug. 2-3 and Aug. 30-31. Some of the best artwork in the Blue Ridge Mountains can be found as 40 to 60 local and regional artists display their wares on the manicured lawn of the Historic Banner Elk School.

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Boone Junior Appalachian Musicians (Boone JAM) Spring Recital to Be Held May 13 at Appalachian Theatre

May 7, 2025 Boone Junior Appalachian Musicians (Boone JAM) is proud to present its Spring 2025 Semester Recital on Tuesday, May 13, at the Appalachian Theatre in downtown Boone. The performance is free and open to the public, with music beginning at 5:30 PM. This semester’s recital will showcase talented youth from 18 different classes, performing traditional Appalachian music on guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, and ukulele. Boone JAM has over 80 students currently enrolled with 8 teachers sharing their talents. The event offers a heartwarming celebration of the students’ dedication and the region’s deep-rooted musical traditions.

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Grandfather Mountain Creates New Mindfulness and Well-being Series

May 5, 2025 Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, is set to debut its new Mindfulness and Well-being Series in July and August 2025. “The response from individual mindfulness events we’ve held in the past was outstanding,” said John Caveny, director of conservation and education for the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation. “It was clear to us that folks got a lot out of the workshops, so we wanted to create more opportunities through a series.”

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From Student to Studio Renter: Alumni Ashlynd Scovato Takes on Art After Graduation

May 4, 2025 Inside the Nth Degree Gallery on King Street in Boone, art spills across the walls with a tactile sense of history, memory and recovery. It’s not surprising once you meet the artist behind it — Ashlynd Scovato, a recent Appalachian State University graduate who turns saved materials into mixed-media works that explore human connection and the landscapes of her mountain home. Originally from Asheville, Scovato moved to Boone for its proximity to home and its cultural art and music scene. “I saw videos of the DIY music scene here and thought, ‘This is where I want to be,’” she said. “Boone just felt like art was happening everywhere.” By Greta Jenkins

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Latest Updates for FloydFest 25~Aurora Music Festival Taking Place July 23 to 27 in Check, Va

April 30, 2025 FLOYD, VA — A renowned cornerstone of Appalachian culture and music, The Floyd Country Store returns as a marquee partner for FloydFest 25~Aurora, not only as the sponsor of FloydFest’s cherished Porch Stage, but also as a lead for its programming during the latest annual offering of the Southeast’s premier summer outdoor music festival, taking place Wednesday to Sunday, July 23 to 27, 2025, at its new home, FestivalPark, located at 5826 Floyd Highway North in Check, Va. Patrons who have still not secured tickets to FloydFest 25~Aurora are encouraged to do so soon, as some non-sold-out ticket types are in short supply.

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