May 5, 2021 The past week has no doubt been a difficult one for the High Country, as community members are mourning the loss of neighbors, coworkers, friends and family. On April 28, Sgt. Chris Ward and K-9 Deputy Logan Fox responded to a welfare check and died in the line of duty. The individual suspected of killing the two officers, Isaac Barnes, is also suspected of killing Michelle and George Ligon. Barnes, who is the son and stepson of the deceased civilians, also died at the scene. As the High Country continues to grieve over the tragic event that resulted in five deaths, there has been an outpouring of support from community members to get through the hard time.  / Read more…

May 4, 2021  Appalachian State University will recognize more than 3,600 Mountaineer graduates during its Spring 2021 Commencement, presenting virtual and in-person commencement options to allow for the greatest possible participation and maximize health and safety of all participants. A series of in-person commencement ceremonies will be held in the George M. Holmes Convocation Center on App State’s campus at the following dates/times: May 7, 8, 10 and 11 at 9 a.m., 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.; May 12 at 1 p.m. / Read more…

April 29, 2021 At an elevation of 5,506 feet, Beech Mountain is Eastern America’s highest incorporated town. It has 350 full-time residents, but the population swells to as high as 10,000 during the winter and 5,000 in the summer. People flock to Beech Mountain in the winter to ski at Beech Mountain Resort and in the summer to take advantage of the mild climate and numerous recreational opportunities. However, this year, the people of Beech Mountain are doing something more. They are celebrating because the town has reached 40 years as a municipality. By growing from a private resort destination in the 1960s to the town Beech Mountain is today, a lot has been happening in its many years of history, especially when looking at its 40 years as a municipality. In May of 1981, the Town of Beech Mountain was incorporated by act of the North Carolina General Assembly. By Harley Nefe / Read more…

April 28, 2021 Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture is excited to announce that the King Street Market will be back on Tuesday, May 4! Come on out from 4-7 p.m. for music, kids’ activities, community organizations, vendors and friends! This year, the King Street Market is back and better than ever with more vendors and products, while still offering a spacious and sanitary shopping experience for customers. “If you’ve never been to the King Street Market, this year is the year to go! It’s a very spacious and relaxing afternoon market that offers a wide variety of local groceries and is filled with upbeat music, kid’s activities, and special events. This year in particular, we are happy to host 26 vendors that are selling products that will satisfy all of your craft and veggie needs. It’s a really lovely place to be and I hope folks come out to visit.” stated Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture’s Farmers’ Market Manager Ellie Mullis. / Read more…

April 28, 2021 The Opening Day of the 2021 season for the Watauga County Farmers’ Market is Saturday, May 1 from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. at Daniel Boone Park, Horn in the West parking lot in Boone. Watauga County Farmers Market has been “Boone’s Town Square” since 1974 and provides the community with the unique opportunity to source local foods and artisan goods directly from the growers and makers who produce them. This season, the market welcomes a number of new vendors that will bring many exciting additions to market, including; mushrooms, pasta, hemp, popsicles, fermented foods, artisan snacks, unique crafts and much more! / Read more…

April 27, 2021 The Blue Ridge Chapter of the North Carolina Native Plant Society is announcing two native plant sale events to be held at the Daniel Boone Native Gardens located at 651 Horn in the West Drive, Boone. The dates for the events are Saturday, May 22 and Saturday June 26, rain or shine.  In the event of rain, the location will be moved across the street to the picnic shelter in Boone Park. Both events will run from 8:00am to 12:00pm. At least 80 different varieties of perennials, ferns, grasses, sedges, trees and shrubs native to this region and well suited to our local growing conditions will be offered. Some rare species will be available. Growing native plants benefits both the environment and the gardener.  Native plants readily provide food, shelter and protection for the insects, birds and other wildlife in their given region and by providing plants that are native to their region, the gardener ensures that the local pollinators, birds and wildlife will thrive.  The gardener benefits because native plants are well suited to their particular climate, annual rainfall, soil conditions and elevation; they require less fertilizer or additional watering. / Read more…

April 26, 2021 A unique feature of humanity is the desire and ability to create and appreciate art. Over the centuries many stylistic movements have risen and fallen. Today, contemporary art allows all styles to create their own space in galleries and museums around the world. The Art Cellar Gallery is fortunate to represent many artists with styles spanning from photo realism to abstraction. One prominent style that is widely practiced and celebrated in contemporary art is impressionism. Impressionism originated in the late 1800s and is categorized by rapid thick brush strokes, which enable the artist to capture light, movement and color like they never could with other traditional styles. The style gained popularity with French artists like Monet, Degas, Renoir and Cezanne. Later, its influence captured the attention of artists and collectors internationally and remains highly sought after. / Read more…

April 26, 2021 Appalachian State University will hold a community COVID-19 vaccine clinic on Thursday, April 29, from 9 a.m.–noon. The clinic will administer the Moderna vaccine, which is approved for adults ages 18 and older. Walk-ins are welcome, although appointments are recommended for little/no wait times. Register for an appointment time at appstate.edu/coronavirus/vaccine/. Call 828-262-6578 or email [email protected] if you have questions or need assistance. App State’s community vaccine clinics are held at the Holmes Convocation Center and are open to anyone in North Carolina ages 18 and older. There is no charge for the vaccine, nor do you need to provide any insurance information or show identification.  / Read more…

April 26, 2021 Appalachian State University’s annual summer arts attraction, An Appalachian Summer Festival (AASF), proudly celebrates its 37th season from July 2-31, 2021. This monthlong whirlwind of music, dance, theatre, visual arts and film programming has emerged as one of the nation’s leading regional arts festivals. After last summer’s transition to all-virtual programming, the festival is pleased to return to a full schedule of events featuring a variety of in-person outdoor and indoor performances, along with additional livestreaming and virtual options. Tickets for festival events will be available online and at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts box office beginning Monday, May 10 at 9am. For more information, visit www.appsummer.org or call the box office at 828-262-4046. / Read more…

April 23, 2021 The Watauga Arts Council has been very busy planning for upcoming summer exhibits, and the staff is eager to begin providing enriching programming and classes for the community’s enjoyment. According to the latest newsletter, here is what the Watauga Arts Council has going on. This weekend, the beloved community event Empty Bowls is happening. Empty Bowls in an annual fundraising event hosted by the Watauga High School Art Department. The proceeds go to the Hunger and Health Coalition, a food pantry that helps High Country residents who struggle with food insecurity. / Read more…

April 22, 2021 Thursday marks the opening day for the Avery County Farmers’ Market at the Old Banner Elk School. The market opens at 4 p.m. and will remain open until 7 p.m. “It’s cold but some of us will be there anyway,” said Bonita Smith of Smith Family Farm, one of the vendors who will be at the farmers’ market. “We never know about April or May weather and sometimes June and July it rains every Thursday, but you can’t control the weather.” Throughout the year, Smith says that vendors will show up in small numbers and continue to increase as the years go on. “We have a good number of vendors, we’ll start out with four or five and then add on vendors according to when their produce or whatever they are selling gets ready,” she said. “The more vendors we have, the more of a crowd we will draw.” By Nathan Ham / Read more…

April 22, 2021 Community members are asking for donations to support safe and affordable housing for Watauga Habitat for Humanity’s 2021 Big Kahuna Campaign. Community-minded “movers and shakers” are participating in a friendly, peer-to-peer competition to see who can raise the most money to support Habitat’s affordable housing program. The winning team will be crowned The Big Kahuna on June 10th at Booneshine Brewing Company. Past winners include Linda Robinson of Premier Sotheby’s, Justin Davis of Blowing Rock Town Tavern, Jenny Miller/Community Volunteer, Crystal Smith formerly of Appalachian Mountain Brewery, Ginny Walker of Mountain Times Publications. In 2020, Watauga Habitat’s recruited Kahuna teams replacing individual participants and the winning team was Three Kahunas and a Guy (Jenny Miller, John Dean, Jane Meyers, and Susan Devine) raising close to $12,000. Over the past six years, Habitat’s Big Kahuna Campaign has raised more than $230,000. / Read more…

April 21, 2021 Potters, get to your wheels. Empty Bowls is Back! The 

Watauga Arts Council is teaming up with the Watauga High School Art Department and the Hunger and Health Coalition to host Empty Bowls*. Empty Bowls is an annual fundraising event organized by the High School art department. Proceeds of Empty Bowls go to the Hunger and Health Coalition – a large-scale local food pantry serving High Country residents who struggle with food insecurity.

 For the first time since its inception in 2001, Watauga High School Empty Bowls had to be canceled in 2020. “Because of the prolonged nature of the pandemic, an event at the high school was not plausible and we were searching for possibilities to continue with the spirit of the event”, says Brett McDonough, High School Ceramics Teacher. “Our event is built 100% on donations from generous local potters, restaurant owners, and artists. We were sensitive to even ask for donations due to the challenges many have faced this year. So, when Amber, the Director of the Watauga County Arts Council, reached out offering to help we were thrilled”, shares Dacia Trethewey, Watauga High School art teacher. / Read more…

April 21, 2021 “Hyperstition,” the latest exhibition from Boone native, Mike Geary, opened at Lump Gallery on April 9 and continues through May 15. “Anything that removes the crippling nature of decision making, I’m a big fan of,” says Team Lump bad boy, Mike Geary according to the Lump website. The title of his show refers to the experimental science of self-fulfilling prophecies. As opposed to a superstition, which is simply a belief paired with magical thinking, a hyperstition functions to manifest its own reality through specific methods. Geary’s personal hyperstition employs the generative techniques he uses to create improvised, modular music; he allows the machine and the method take over as a kind of low brow, artificial intelligence that manifests its own reality.  / Read more…

April 20, 2021 Earth Day has been celebrated on April 22 each year since 1970 and has always been a celebration of what people are doing or can do to save the planet. Now, over a billion people worldwide recognize the day as a day of action to fight for a cleaner world and bring awareness to many of the issues that are facing people from all parts of the globe. First celebrated in the United States, Earth Day went global in 1990 with over 200 million people participating in 141 countries. Earth Day 2020 marked 50 years with global activations that aim to mobilize a billion people worldwide for transformative action for our planet. Here in the High Country, there will be several events going on to bring awareness to the environment at a local level. Appalachian State is leading the way with numerous events that have been ongoing through the month of April and more coming this week and next week. From April 19-23, App Builds a Home will be working two shifts per day in the Peacock Parking Lot to build the interior walls for the home of Sheila Potter, who has been an Appalachian State employee since 2006 and will be the owner of the second home built by App Builds a Home, working in cooperation with Habitat for Humanity. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

April 16, 2021 On April 22 at 6:30 pm, in partnership with the Watauga County Public Library, Working Films and Appalachian State University’s Sustainable Department, a film screening and discussion event sponsored by North Carolina Humanities and titled “Revisioning Recovery: Uncovering the Roots of Disaster” will take place. The program features a collection of five short films that tell environmental disaster recovery stories and examine historical inequities that worsen when disasters hit. This free event will also include an interactive post-screening discussion. / Read more…

April 14, 2021. Watauga County Parks & Recreation is holding tours of the Watauga Community Recreation Center where the public can see what the new facility has to offer.The recreation center is a 100,000 square foot facility featuring a six-lane competition pool with a climbing wall, a leisure pool with a 20-foot slide, four multi-use gym courts, a fitness center with weights and exercise rooms, birthday party rooms, fitness classrooms, event space and an elevated jogging track. Available dates for the tours include April 15, 18 and 20. Each day has two start times for the tours: 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The tours are free, but there is a limit of 20 people per group, and masks are required to participate. Interested people can call WCP&R on weekdays between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to reserve a spot. By Harley Nefe / Read more…

April 12, 2021 The Wilkes Heritage Museum will host Candlelight Ghost Tours in Historic Downtown Wilkesboro on Saturday, April 17. Ghost tours are 90 minute walking tours that begin at 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. The tours are led by costumed guides and cost $10 per person. Reservations for Ghost Tours are required and have a limit of 15 people total per tour. All participants are required to wear a face mask and maintain appropriate social distancing. Highlights of the tour include the Old Wilkes Jail, Cleveland Cabin, and Tory Oak Site. Learn all about the hauntings and history of Historic Downtown Wilkesboro. Additional dates for the 2021 Candlelight Ghost Tour season include May 15, June 19, July 17, August 21, September 11, October 29 and October 30. / Read more…

April 12, 2021 Festivalgoers and music fans worldwide will be delighted to know that MerleFest, presented by Window World, will officially reconvene September 16-19, on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. MerleFest, dubbed by Rolling Stone as “the gold standard for bluegrass, Americana, and string music festivals,” is normally held the last weekend of April, but the 2020 festival was canceled due to public safety concerns amidst the COVID-19 outbreak. Officials stressed that this would be a one-time-only move to this fall, and they plan to return to the traditional April weekend in 2022. / Read more…

April 7, 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many organizations to have to cancel their events due to safety regulations, and for nonprofit groups especially, these cancelled events included major fundraisers. W.A.M.Y. Community Action, Inc. has had to postpone their largest annual fundraiser, Brunch and Bubbly, for the second year, which is starting to have a huge impact on funding. Therefore, W.A.M.Y. personnel put their heads together and came up with a fanciful, fun way to raise money and gain more local support from the community. Many people are tired of being stuck at home working remotely and are longing for things to be normal again — like going out and about, attending in-person events, seeing loved ones and traveling. So, W.A.M.Y. developed a creative, non-event idea to do just that — to travel Around the World in One Day. And the best part is passengers will not have to stress about packing and leaving their house. They can book their seat on their comfiest couch, recliner or rocker at home and see the world virtually. W.A.M.Y. is inviting everyone to grab their passports and join in on the adventure with the whimsical fundraiser on April 20. By Harley Nefe / Read more…

April 7, 2021 The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games had to cancel last year’s annual tradition for the first time since the games started in 1956. This year, thanks to COVID-19 vaccinations and smaller numbers of infections, the Highland Games will fire right back with as much normalcy as possible. “We are excited to announce plans to be back on Grandfather Mountain the second weekend in July and get back to all the great traditions of this Scottish gathering-from a variety of music to highland dancing and Scottish athletic events,” Stephen G. Quillin, Grandfather Mountain Highland Games President, said. “We’ll welcome more than a hundred Scottish clan associations and their members as well as honored and distinguished guests from Scotland while offering everyone in attendance the opportunity to be immersed in traditions and activities as old as the Scottish Highlands.” The games are scheduled for July 8-12 at MacRae Meadows in Linville. All attendees are strongly encouraged to receive their COVID-19 vaccine prior to attending the games. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

April 5, 2021 April 4-10, 2021 is National Library Week, a time to highlight the essential role libraries, librarians and library workers play in transforming lives and strengthening communities. The theme for this year’s National Library Week is “Welcome to your library,” which promotes the idea that libraries extend far beyond the four walls of a building and that everyone is welcome to use their services, whether in person or virtually. Celebrating, supporting and funding libraries has become even more important during this pandemic.
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April 5, 2021 Country star and former App State student Luke Combs announced on social media today that his stadium show at The Rock has been postponed because of North Carolina restrictions. Combs’s Kidd Brewer Stadium performance was originally scheduled for May 2, 2020 and was moved to May 1, 2021 due to COVID-19. The concert has now been rescheduled, once again, and the new date has not been released yet. His Facebook post read, “I’m sorry y’all, but due to North Carolina restrictions, we’re not able to have the show in Boone, NC just yet. So, the show scheduled for May 1, 2021 is being postponed. The new date is TBD, but all original tickets will be valid, so hold on to them and we’ll let y’all know the new date real soon. Keep an eye on your email and my social media.” By Harley Nefe / Read more…

April 1, 2021 “Cured,” a multiple award-wining documentary film illuminating the pivotal but largely unknown chapter in the struggle for LGBT equality, will be screened online prior to its upcoming broadcast on PBS by the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country (ATHC) at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 18. This free online event is part of the popular BOONE DOCS film series and the Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers. Co-Producers and Co-Directors Patrick Sammon and Bennett Singer will take part in a post-screening discussion along with the Reverend Magora Kennedy, one of the film’s storytellers, moderated by John Cunningham and Roddy Williams of the National AIDS Memorial. Tickets for both events are available at no cost to participants on the theatre’s website at www.apptheatre.org.  / Read more…

March 30, 2021 Carlton Gallery is starting to prepare for its upcoming painting workshops that begin on May 25. There are many different types of classes including Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor-Gouache, Mixed Media Painting along with Drawing Workshops. People can surely find something they want to try. These workshops give participants an opportunity to be out again and to be a part of something by using creativity as an emotional outlet for all the things everybody has been through in the last year or so. These classes are designed to inspire and lift spirits while highlighting everyone’s creativity. / Read more…

March 16, 2021. Across-the-Way Productions, Inc. invites patrons to embark on an ‘Odyssey’ to celebrate FloydFest 21, the latest annual offering of the Southeast’s premier summer outdoor music festival, taking place Wednesday to Sunday, July 21 to 25, 2021, at Milepost 170.5 on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Floyd, Va.  Across-the-Way Productions released its Covid Safety Plan. A portion of the plan includes a decision by Across-the-Way Productions to voluntarily reduce the amount of tickets sold to FloydFest 21~Odyssey, as a proactive measure to ensure that the festival is safe for all attendees. The plan also features a detailed list of vetted Covid protocols and precautions, the intention to hire a ‘Covid Czar’ to serve as point-person for the protocols and precautions and the unveiling of the FloydFest.com webpage dedicated to disseminating crucial, need-to-know information. / Read more…

March 24, 2021 The Watauga Arts Council announces a partnership exhibit with Appalachian State University’s Turchin Center for the Visual Arts. From March 18th – April 10th, 2021, the King Street Art Collective will exhibit Maggie Flanigan’s photography in a show entitled, “Our Eyes are Bigger than our Stomachs and Other Gluttonous Illusions.” The Watauga Art Council’s Gallery Committee chose artist Maggie Flanigan from a list of photographers who originated from the 18th Annual Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition hosted by the Turchin Center at ASU. The Arts Council wanted to feature photography in March and asked the Turchin Center if they would like to collaborate by offering a list of photographers from their competition who could provide an intriguing solo exhibit. The Turchin Center was happy to work together on a complimentary show. / Read more…

March 16, 2021. Horn in the West, Boone’s exciting summer outdoor drama produced by the Southern Appalachian Historical Association (SAHA), is preparing for its historic 69th season by holding auditions and interviews for actors, singers, dancers, technicians, and crowd scene members.  This year, there is a choice of in-person auditions, held on March 27th at Northwestern Dance Studios, and electronic submissions.  People who want to be a part of the fun crowd scenes do not need to audition, only interview. “Last year, we had to make the heart-breaking decision to postpone our 2020 season to 2021,” states SAHA’s Operations Manager, Marrena Greer.  “Horn in the West has been a Boone as well as a North Carolina tradition since 1952, never having missed a season until 2020.  This year, we are excited to be returning better than ever.” / Read more…

March 22, 2021. On Sunday, March 28th, 2021 Watauga County Parks and Recreation will host the Bunny Trail Parade at the new Watauga Community Recreation Center parking lot. This parade, like the Halloween & Christmas parade events, will be a drive-thru only event. Parade viewers will drive into the WCRC parking lot and through the lot to see the parade exhibitors and floats. The Bunny Trail Parade will be open from 2 p.m. till 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 28th. Traffic flow from State Farm Road will be directed courtesy of the Boone Police Department. Incoming traffic will be limited to right-hand only turns from the Deerfield Road side. / Read more…

March 18, 2021. Anglers of all ages and levels are invited to compete for cash and prizes at the 41st Blowing Rock Trout Derby! The Derby will take place in Blowing Rock on Saturday, April 3, from sunrise to 4:00pm.  No entry fees or pre-registration are required. This event has celebrated the opening of trout season for four decades now, encouraging families to get out together to enjoy the great outdoors. From Price Lake to the Middle Fork River, there are lots of places in Watauga County to fish for eligible entries. Kids especially are invited to fish right in Blowing Rock at Broyhill Park, where fishing licenses aren’t required. Mayview Lake is fairly small, so the areas around the lake in Broyhill Park will be sectioned off to assist with social distancing this year. / Read more…

March 17, 2021. A partnership between Appalachian State University Outdoor Programs, the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, and Virtual Blue Ridge, the AMPC celebrates the unique people, places, and pursuits that distinguish the Southern Appalachians. Attracting entries from across the United States, the Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition has grown into one the region’s most prestigious photography competitions with over 800 submissions this year. The AMPC is made possible through the generous sponsorship of the Mast General Store, who are providing gift certificates for each category winner.  On Saturday March 20th 2021 at 6:00pm, AMPC organizers will live stream the awards ceremony which will feature perspectives from the jurors this year, Eric Heistand and Shauna Caldwell. / Read more…

March 17, 2021 The 4th annual AppKIDS Superhero 5K will be virtual for 2021. Register to run, walk, or fly between March 27, 2021, to April 10, 2021. The event benefits the Appalachian Kindness In Donations and Service (AppKIDS) program. Organized by a Staff Senate committee, AppKIDS is an annual shopping event for 100 underprivileged children, K – 12, from Watauga County Schools to provide them with Winter clothing, hygiene, and snack food items. Appalachian faculty and staff, using donated funds, volunteer their time to mentor and guide these children on AppKIDS Day. / Read more…

March 17, 2021. The Schaefer Center Presents (SCP) virtual performing arts series, presented by Appalachian State University’s Office of Arts and Cultural Programs, will showcase the university’s Dept. of Theatre and Dance in Best of the Appalachian Dance Ensemble Thursday, March 25 at 8pm, the final event of the SCP spring season. This virtual best-of program will feature nine previously recorded works from faculty choreographers danced by App State student performers. All curated works were produced and presented between 2011-2019 and highlight the genres of modern dance, tap dance, dance of the African diaspora, and dance theatre. Run time is 75 minutes. The event is free, but registration is required. / Read more…

March 11, 2021. Spring is on its way, which means Easter will be here soon. To celebrate, Watauga County Parks and Recreation will be hosting a drive-thru Bunny Trail Parade on Sunday, March 28. This event is scheduled to take place from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Watauga Community Recreation Center parking lot, located at 231 Complex Drive in Boone. Families will be able to enjoy the festive event from the comfort and care of their cars as 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 and see. This event comes after an immensely popular Halloween drive-thru trunk or treat event and a drive-thru Christmas parade that were also presented by Watauga County Parks and Recreation. Watauga County Parks and Recreation is currently seeking individuals, groups, businesses, churches and departments to fill the parking lot with parade vehicles, displays and entertainers. All parade exhibits will be stationary, and prizes will be awarded for the best displays. Vendors are also welcome to offer candy and/or prizes to the parade viewers. There is no fee to register as a vendor. By Harley Nefe / Read more…

March 11, 2021 The Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM) will open a captivating exhibition on March 20th, guest curated by prominent collectors of contemporary photography Carlos Garcia-Velez, Allen Thomas, and Former Director of The North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA), Larry Wheeler. The exhibition, on view through August 21, features works from the prestigious North Carolina private collections of Carlos Garcia-Velez, Allen Thomas, Larry Wheeler, as well as Hedy Fischer and Randy Schull, and Chandra and Jimmie Johnson. TRANSFORMATION is an impressive statewide collaborative effort presenting some of the most significant contemporary photographs of our time, as well as several important works from NCMA’s permanent collection.  / Read more…