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Events

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

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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

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Newly-Renovated Lees-McRae College Historic Commons Buildings Rededicated and Celebrated with Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

July 25, 2024 The celebration of one of the top milestones in the 125-year history of Lees-McRae College—the rededication of its Historic Commons buildings following the recent completion of their renovations and extensive physical upgrades–was held with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 18. A large and highly enthusiastic gathering of approximately 225 attended the celebration ceremony held at the North Carolina Building on campus, including school officials, employees, alumni, Town of Banner Elk and County of Avery officials, regional and state dignitaries, and other special guests and visitors. By Tim Gardner

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Watauga County Habitat for Humanity Announces Their 34th Home Dedication

July 25, 2024 Watauga Habitat is thrilled to announce the dedication of their 34th home, which occurred on July 20, 2024. The Gay family of four invited Habitat supporters, their church community from the Harvest House, and their friends and family into their home for an official Home Dedication. The Home Dedication is a ceremony that functions as the symbolic passing of the keys from Watauga Habitat for Humanity to the homeowner, signifying the transfer of ownership.

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Author Ron Rash to Speak at The Appalachian Theatre of the High Country August 7th

July 25, 2024 The Watauga County Public Library is proud to welcome Ron Rash, prolific and award- winning author best known for his writings about rural Appalachia, to The Appalachian Theatre of the High Country on August 7th at 6:00 PM. Mr. Rash will discuss his twentieth book, The Caretaker, set in Blowing Rock in 1951. Please join us for an enlightening talk followed by a book signing, with copies of The Caretaker and a selection of Mr. Rash’s other books available for purchase courtesy of the Appalachian State University Bookstore. Admission is free.

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42nd Mid-Summer Group Exhibition Opening at Carlton Gallery; Opening Reception Saturday, July 27th from 2:00-5:00 pm

July 24, 2024 Carlton Gallery begins its 42 Mid-Summer Group Exhibition on Saturday, July 27 with an Opening Reception, 2-5 pm. The Opening Reception is always an ideal time to meet attending artists who will be happy to discuss their artwork. Nature’s Symphony: A Multifaceted Landscape Exhibition presents a collaboration of the gallery artists who render the landscape in diverse compositions from contemporary, abstract to impressionistic traditional.This exhibition showcases new paintings exemplifying the beauty and grandeur of scenic locales, vistas, waterfalls, mountain streams, and bucolic barns. Each painting is rendered in the artist’s unique style, color palette, and interpretation of the subject matter.

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ServeNC To Have Local Impact as Area Churches Join in On Statewide Project August 3 – 10

July 24, 2024 For a number of years, churches within the Three Forks Baptist Association have come together for designated days of community service. For 2024, what has been known as High Country Impact is joining with a statewide emphasis called ServeNC. And no one is more excited about the combined effort than Wesley Smith, Executive Director at TFBA. “We currently have 12 churches in our association that have signed up to join over 1,000 NC Baptist churches in serving our communities for this event,” he said. And it’s all happening locally August 3-10. As an example, Smith said, “Mount Vernon Baptist Church is doing several projects that week, one of which is serving the Bradford Park Community.” By Sherrie Norris

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Back 2 School Festival Urgently Seeking Donations, Sponsorships for August 10th Event

July 24, 2024 The 2024 Back 2 School Festival is coming up on August 10, and is still actively seeking donations and sponsorships. “We still need about $50,000 in order to make the festival happen” said festival coordinator, Kendra Sink. “We’re coming to the community to ask for help to make sure we can get everything we need for our students.” Every year the Back 2 School Festival serves hundreds of Watauga County school children whose families are struggling to meet the need of back to school shopping. Last year, over 1,800 children attended the festival, and received everything from backpacks, crayons, pencils, and 3-ring binders, to a new pair of shoes, and even a fresh haircut courtesy of volunteer stylists from the area.

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Blowing Rock Art & History Museum Awarded South Arts Presentation Grant

July 24, 2024 The Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM) has been awarded a 2024 South Arts Presentation Grant. These funds will allow the museum to bring eighth-generation ballad singer Donna Ray Norton to Blowing Rock for a three-day artist residency in September 2024. Norton’s residency will take place September 12–14, 2024, and will consist of a Thursday evening craft talk at BRAHM, school visits on Friday to teach students a local ballad and a concert on Saturday the 14 at BRAHM. All the public programs associated with the residency will be free and open to the public. The programs will be one part education, one part cultural enrichment and all fun.

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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.

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Come and Ride the Rural Roller-Coaster Roads at the Boone Gran Fondo on August 4

July 23, 2024 Sitting at just over 3,000 feet above sea level in North Carolina’s high country, mid-summer temperatures in Boone, NC, are among the most comfortable in the Southeast. Early August is a prime time to be in Boone! Nestled in the Western Carolina Appalachian Mountains the scenery in Boone is unparalleled with grand vistas stretching over 100 miles. The laid-back atmosphere of this western North Carolina college town is contagious. One of the smaller fields for a Gran Fondo National Series event, the Boone Gran Fondo has a supportive, family feel with great local food. There are distances of 24, 57 or 95 miles to suit all abilities of cyclists. The rural roller-coaster roads around Boone are a ton of fun, and quite challenging.

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Writers, Young and Old Invited to Wordkeepers at the Ashe County Arts Center August 17

July 23, 2024 Writers, young and old!  Come to Wordkeepers, a gathering of writers in the High Country at the Ashe County Arts Center, 303 School Avenue, West Jefferson, North Carolina, on Saturday, August 17th, at 4:00 in the afternoon.  Refreshments will be provided, and a warm and welcoming audience awaits your own original works.  Readers are asked to keep their selections, from any genre, to under eight minutes, but please join us and share, or at least join us and listen.  If you would like to read, please contact Sandy Lassen at slassen@skybest.com so that she can reserve your slot.  

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Hospitality House 40th Anniversary Luncheon to take Place August 16 at Chetola; Featuring Internationally Recognized Trauma Survivor and Advocate Tonier Cain

July 22, 2024 Hospitality House of Northwest North Carolina is thrilled to welcome internationally recognized trauma-informed care expert and survivor Tonier Cain as the guest speaker for its fortieth anniversary Hope Luncheon. Taking place 11:00 a.m. Friday August 16, 2024, lakeside at the award-winning Chetola Resort, individual tickets are $40 to attend or a table of eight may be purchased for $400. This is the agency’s largest annual fundraiser, and guests will be encouraged to give generously to reach their goal of $100,000. 

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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.

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Guest Column – Why My Sons and I Love the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games

July 19, 2024 Once a year, the second week in July. Tents are raised, kilts are dusted off, sporrans and Sgian-dubh are properly placed. People start pouring in from around the country, even parts of the world to Grandfather Mountain, NC, all with one thing in common–the gathering of the Grandfather Highland Games. It’s a time when those with Scot-Irish heritage and those without can learn and research history.  It’s also a time for my sons–Laiden Gragg-Smith, Cam Gragg-Smith, Mason Gragg-Smith–and me to get in contact with our roots and a way to keep our heritage alive. We are made up of several different clans. On Saturday of last week (July 13), we were in attendance for the 68th annual Highland Games. By Tara Gragg Daniels

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Grandfather Mountain and Kitty Hawk Kites Celebrate 50th Anniversary of First Hang Glider Flight at Grandfather with Commemorative Event at Linville, and Nature Park on July 27

July 18, 2024 Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, and Kitty Hawk Kites are set to celebrate the flight of the latter’s founder and the first person to hang glide off the mountain, John Harris, with programming, a panel discussion and fun on Saturday, July 27. The two iconic North Carolina attractions and businesses are marking 50 years since that “first flight,” with activities open to Grandfather Mountain guests and included with regular admission. There will be no actual hang glider flights from the mountain during this celebration.

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Top to Toe 5K Race Coming to Mitchell County on August 3rd

July 18, 2024 The Top to Toe 5K is an adventurous descent from the top of a quto the bottom of the Toe River valley. Built for record chasers and families alike, this course begins at The Quartz Corp’s Chalk Mountain and ends at Riverside Park in Spruce Pine. The race proceeds benefit Mitchell County Chamber of Commerce, NC Mineral and Gem Festival. Each registered participant receives one free admission ticket to the NC Mineral and Gem Festival as well as a t-shirt!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Nik Aston Secures Top Spot in Men’s Heavy Athletics at Grandfather Mountain Highland Games

July 16, 2024 Nik Aston placed in the top four in all seven men’s heavy athletic events during the 2024 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, earning him the top spot overall for the competition. This year marked Aston’s sixth competing at these games and his second as a professional. The 29-year-old from Los Lunas, N.M, is a personal trainer and strength-and-conditioning specialist. During his time as a graduate student at Appalachian State University, he approached someone at his gym with a Grandfather Mountain Highland Games shirt and asked how to get involved. This year, in his second competition as a pro, he notched first-place honors.

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BRAHM Receives Gift of a Painting “Early Morning Early June,” by Maud Gatewood

July 14, 2024 GSK, a global biopharma company, has gifted a work of art to the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM). The gift is a six-panel polyptych, entitled “Early Morning Early June,” by iconic North Carolina artist Maud Gatewood, which will be featured in the upcoming exhibition, “The Hard Edge & The Soft Line: A Retrospective of Maud Gatewood.” The exhibition will be on view in the Fort, Atwell, and Rankin East Galleries of the Museum from June 28, 2024, through January 5, 2025.

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