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Events

Spring Home Show in Blowing Rock  to be Held on May 8 at the American Legion Building

March 18, 2024 The Blowing Rock Chamber is excited to announce a Spring Home Show event to be held on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. The show will be held at the American Legion Building (333 Wallingford Street) in Blowing Rock, from 1-6pm. Free to the public, this event will feature vendors specializing in home services and products that are most needed in the area of home maintenance and care. Cathy Barker, Vice President of Business Development, commented, “The purpose of this event is to give our home services related members a chance to network and promote their products and services to residents of our community.

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Grandfather Mountain Announces An Inspiring Slate of Special Events for the Upcoming Year 

March 14, 2024 Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, has lined up an inspiring slate of events for the coming months. This year’s calendar kicks off with an event for the upcoming solar eclipse and also features a list of favorite annual happenings on the mountain – with some exciting updates. “Our event season is just around the corner,” said John Caveny, director of conservation and education for the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation. “We continue to try to cultivate and offer an event lineup that satisfies and intrigues a variety of guests and ties into our mission to inspire conservation.”

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High Country Humanities Presents ‘Documentary Filmmakers on Interpreting Rural Life’  March 22

March 14, 2024 Appalachian State University’s High Country Humanities — with support from North Carolina Humanities — will present “Documentary Filmmakers on Interpreting Rural Life: From Appalachia to the World” on Friday, March 22, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The event will take place at Appalachian Theatre of the High Country at 559 W. King St. in Boone. Join App State documentary filmmakers for screenings of their work, a panel discussion and an audience Q&A moderated by documentary film scholar Dr. Maria Pramaggiore, chair of App State’s Department of Interdisciplinary Studies. The speakers will address how visual narratives portray and inform the public’s perceptions of communities outside of cities.

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Lineup Announced for 2024 Beech Mountain Summer Concert Series with Five Dates

March 13, 2024 North Carolina’s Beech Mountain Resort has announced the return of its annual outdoor concert series this summer. The series will kick off June 8 with performances by The String Cheese Incident and The Wood Brothers; followed by an extended Party on the Mountain weekend July 19-21 with NEEDTOBREATHE, Dispatch, Greensky Bluegrass, Yola, and Maggie Rose; with Sylvan Esso and Soccer Mommy rounding out the season on August 10.

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Boonerang Kick-Off Event to Feature “Boone’s Got Talent” Show at Appalachian Theatre June 13

March 13, 2024 “There is something in the water.” This phrase has been recycled many times to describe the unusual amount of talented individuals who live in the High Country. Another tongue-in-cheek comment frequently heard boasts, “You can’t throw a rock without hitting a banjo player.” Whether musical, athletic, theatrical, artistic, or simply astonishing, the Boone area abounds with talent, and this year Boonerang Music & Arts Festival kicks off the 2024 festival with an event to showcase some of the area’s best. In collaboration with the Appalachian Theatre and Mountain Home Music, the official Thursday night kick-off event for the 2024 festival will feature the inaugural Boone’s Got Talent showcase at the Appalachian Theatre on June 13.

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Community Good Friday Service Returns at Banner Elk Presbyterian Church on March 29

March 13, 2024 A Tenebrae Service will be held on Good Friday, March 29, 2024, at 6 PM at the historic Banner Elk Presbyterian Church. The community is invited to join a powerful service of readings and songs entitled “7 Last Words”. Christ’s final words will be represented through scripture, meditations and poetry paired with music by the adult choir, handbell choir, soloists, organist and cellist. “Many artists and theologians have addressed the last seven phrases Christ spoke from the cross,” says Dr. Janet Speer, writer for the service. “These words amaze us in their poignancy. Not only are they informative about the brutal crucifixion, but they expand into lessons to be applied to our lives.”

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44th Blowing Rock Trout Derby is Saturday, April 6 from Sunrise to 4:00pm

March 12, 2024 The 44th annual Blowing Rock Trout Derby will take place in Blowing Rock on Saturday, April 6, from sunrise to 4:00pm.  Celebrating the opening of trout season, the Blowing Rock Trout Derby invites families to get out together to enjoy the outdoors and friendly competition. No entry fees are required. Fishing enthusiasts of all ages are encouraged to come out for the Derby.  “If you’re a seasoned fisherman, come by and help some of the younger anglers with your stories, bait suggestions, or just friendly support,” says Kim Rogers, a longtime coordinator of the Trout Derby. “We can’t wait to see everyone’s catch!”

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MerleFest Shares Stage Schedules for 2024 Event; 36th Annual Festival Takes Place April 25-28 in Wilkesboro

March 12, 2024 MerleFest, presented by Window World, will hold its 36th annual festival April 25-28 on the campus of Wilkes Community College. Today festival organizers announced MerleFest pioneering artist John Cowan will join the already stellar lineup, including appearances by Old Crow Medicine Show, Turnpike Troubadours, The Teskey Brothers, Nickel Creek, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, The Earls of Leicester, and many more. Additionally, the festival is proud to unveil the complete 2024 stage schedules, in conjunction with the release of the updated MerleFest 2024 mobile app (available now for download now on all Apple and Android devices), making it easier than ever to plan your weekend, set reminders for performance times, learn more about each artist, listen to the official MerleFest 2024 Spotify playlist, and much more.

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“Dollar Days” set to begin April 1 at Grandfather Mountain; April brings a Mile-High Slate of Programs, Activities and More

March 11, 2024 Grandfather Mountain will open its gates to High Country residents, employees and their guests for only $5 each during the month of April, as the park’s “Dollar Days” promotion returns in time for spring. The promotion allows anyone who lives or works in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell (added this year), Mitchell, Watauga or Wilkes counties — along with their guests traveling in the same vehicle — to visit at the discounted rate (per person). It is important to note, Dollar Days guests must book their visit online at www.grandfather.com. To take advantage of the reduced rate, guests should choose the Dollar Days admission calendar and rate when reserving their tickets.

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Beech Mountain Resort’s “Runs for Buns” Colon Cancer Fundraiser Is This Weekend

March 5, 2024 Let’s come together, once again, to kick colon cancer’s butt, pun intended. No one should lose a person they love, so let’s ski, snowboard, show up and raise funds for the cause! Not a skier or snowboarder? No problem. Register to be a fundraiser to participate in a great event and win incredible prizes! Runs for Buns is similar to a run or walk to support cancer; participants can ask family and friends to pledge per ski run or make a simple donation. Participants range in age, and many do not even ski. Join us for a day of skiing, snowboarding, and fun, all for a good cause.

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16 New Acts Join FloydFest 24~Horizon (July 24-28, 2024) Lineup

March 5, 2024 Two important partners to Across-the-Way Productions, Inc. and Blue Cow Arts Foundation, Inc. — Bitchin’ Sauce/Bitchin’ Music Group and The Floyd Country Store/Handmade Music School — announce a total of 16 new acts that will join the lineup of FloydFest 24~Horizon, the latest annual offering of the Southeast’s premier summer outdoor music festival, taking place Wednesday to Sunday, July 24 to 28, 2024, at its new home, FestivalPark, located at 5826 Floyd Highway North in Check, Va.

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Lees-McRae College Summer Theatre Announces Exciting New 2024 Season Featuring Audience Favorites; Tickets Go on Sale Monday, April 1

March 5, 2024 Get ready for another summer of engrossing performances, stunning set design, and inspiring stories with the latest season of Lees-McRae Summer Theatre. The 2024 season of the beloved theatre series is the official kickoff of the college’s 125-year anniversary celebration, and Lees-McRae is bringing back some crowd favorites to commemorate the milestone. This year’s season will feature an all-new variety show and a revival of the beloved local history tale “From the Mountaintop: The Edgar Tufts Story.”

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Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture is Hosting the 2nd Annual LocalFAM Summit on March 7

March 1, 2024 On average, one in six people in the High Country are food insecure, despite the deep agricultural roots in the region and abundance of locally produced food. Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture (BRWIA) operates a Local Food as Medicine program which helps bridge this gap by redistributing healthy, local food to those most in need, while also providing a new market channel for local farmers and producers. Local Food As Medicine(LocalFAM) is a grant-funded food access program, which enables community organizations to provide their neighbors with fresh, nutritious food, supplied by local producers. The food is free to recipients, but producers are paid full retail price for their products. The LocalFAM program is composed of multiple food access programs that often operate at the same time, impacting 7 counties in the High Country.

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Watauga Parks and Recreation Center Hosting Health Fair Friday, March 1 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m

February 26, 2024 It’s all about health and fitness every day at the Watauga County Parks and Recreation Center in Boone, but the folks there are taking it all one step further on Friday, March 1. Partnering with about three dozen area agencies and healthcare organizations, the Rec Center is hosting the High Country Health Fair from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on location at 231 Complex Drive in Boone. According to Laura Hawley and Janie Prewitt, volunteer coordinators who have been working closely on this project with Parks and Rec Director, Keron Poteat, the fair promises to be “a unique healthcare event.” By Sherrie Norris

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App State Celebrates Mountaineer Pride with 11th Annual iBackAPP Event March 6

February 28, 2024 App State’s 11th annual iBackAPP event — the university’s day of giving and celebrating all things App State — will be on Wednesday, March 6. In 2023, thousands of donors made gifts to more than 200 funds — setting records for donor participation, providing support to every major area of campus and meeting crucial needs for the university. During iBackAPP, all members of the App State Community are encouraged to wear App State gear and black and gold colors, post photos and videos on social media using #iBackAPP, and consider making a gift of any amount to support present and future Mountaineers.

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“The Reading Room: From Seuss to Geisel & Back Again” Opens at BRAHM February 29

February 28, 2024 A new exhibition entitled “The Reading Room: From Seuss to Geisel & Back Again” has opened at the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM). The exhibition features Kathy and Jim Griffel’s collection of Theodor Seuss Geisel’s drawings, paintings, and sculptures and will be on view in the Atwell Gallery of the Museum through June 2, 2024. Geisel (b. 1904, Springfield, MA; d. 1991, San Diego, CA), better known as Dr. Seuss, was an author, illustrator, and political cartoonist possessing a sharp wit and legendarily inventive mind. The characters and worlds he created have shaped the imaginations of children and adults alike for nearly 75 years while his stories have served as a foundational block in the literacy journey of many.

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No Men, No Boats, No Way You Want to Miss This Show! Feb. 28 to Mar. 2 at Valborg Theatre

February 22, 2024 The Appalachian State University Department of Theatre and Dance proudly presents “Men on Boats,” a thrilling and widely acclaimed work by Jaclyn Backhaus. The cast is comprised of thirteen individuals, spanning across all undergraduate class levels. The production will take place in the Valborg Theatre on campus at 7 p.m. from Feb. 28 to March 2 with a 2 p.m. matinee on March 3, 2024. Student admission is $10, faculty/staff is $15, and adult admission is $17. Tickets are available online through the department website, as well as by phone and in person through the Schaefer Center for the Arts box office.

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Spring into ART; The TURCHIN CENTER Will Host Its Spring Exhibition Celebration March 1st


February 19, 2024 Matthew Makdad, P.E., has been named general The TURCHIN CENTER will host its Spring Exhibition Celebration on Friday, March 1st from 5-8 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public with refreshments, snacks and a cash bar available throughout the evening. With a firm commitment to fostering dialogue and understanding around pressing issues, the Turchin Center is proud to present a diverse array of thought-provoking exhibitions. Through the lens of artistic expression, these exhibitions delve into the intricate relationships between humanity, nature, and the rapidly changing world in which we live. From immersive installations to striking visual narratives, each exhibition offers a unique perspective, inviting viewers to engage with the need for awareness and action. By harnessing the power of art to inspire, educate, and provoke meaningful discourse, the Turchin Center aims to enact positive change and empower individuals to become stewards of our planet.

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Jazz at Lincoln Center Presents SING AND SWING: Our American Songbook at App State’s Schaefer Center on Tuesday, March 5

February 19, 2024 The Schaefer Center Presents series, presented by Appalachian State University’s Office of Arts and Cultural Programs, welcomes Jazz at Lincoln Center’s SING AND SWING: Our American Songbook, Tuesday, March 5 at 7:30pm at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts. This celebration of the Great American Songbook and iconic partnerships in jazzfeatures trumpeters, vocalists, and composers Bria Skonberg and Benny Benack III. The North American tour of SING AND SWING: Our American Songbook will reach 45 cities across the United States and Canada, including major markets such as Los Angeles, CA, and Toronto, ON, and smaller but significant destinations such as Irving, TX, Ogden, UT, and Boone, NC.

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Watauga County Cooperative Extension Report to the People Luncheon on Monday, March 4

February 19, 2024 Please mark your calendars to join your Watauga County Cooperative Extension staff for lunch on Monday, March 4, from 11:45 to 1pm, for our annual “Report to the People” at the Agricultural Conference Center. We’re looking forward to seeing you and our other community friends, partners, and leaders. We are providing lunch (prepared by our own chef and dietitian, Margie Mansure!), and staff will discuss key programs that we’re working on here in the county. Plus, you’ll get a chance to meet the new additions to the Watauga staff. We have a lot to “report”…but we promise to have you fed, met, and out by 1pm

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The Watauga County Republican Women’s Club Monthly Meeting is Wednesday, Feb. 28

February 16, 2024 The Watauga County Republican Women’s Club (WCRWC) will have its next monthly meeting on Wednesday, Wednesday, February 28, at Mike’s Inland Seafood, 174 Jefferson Road, Boone, NC. Come at 11:30AM for lunch. The meeting will begin at noon. All interested in furthering the Republican cause in The High Country are welcome to attend and are invited to join. Call 828-832-6864 for more information. The WCRWC meets the last Wednesday of each month. See us on Facebook and learn more. Should Watauga County Schools close or change to remote learning due to the weather, we will not meet.

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Nominations Being Accepted for the Second Annual Town of Boone 1872 Award

February 15, 2024 Nominations for the second annual Town of Boone 1872 Award are currently being accepted. The Town of Boone 1872 Award was created as a way to recognize people and organizations who have made significant contributions to the town in a manner different from a proclamation. The Town of 1872 Award honors living individuals and active organizations for their substantial contributions to the town. Any individual or organization that has made a significant impact on Boone is eligible to be nominated regardless of their place of residence.

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AtWP Celebrates Valentine’s Day with its ‘Local Love’ Lineup Announcement for FloydFest 24~Horizon (July 24-28, 2024)

February 14, 2024 At the heart of our purposeful programming, we showcase our love and admiration for the brilliant local music scene by offering patrons a taste of regional talent via the annual ‘Local Love’ lineup, a fitting announcement for Valentine’s Day. Across-the-Way Productions, Inc. welcomes 14 bands as this year’s Local Loves — Addie Levy, Annalyse Marie, Appalachian Space Train, Blue Mule, Chad Nickell & The Loose Change, Cinémathèque, GOTE, The Hillside Chaotics, Isaac Hadden Project, Leonard Blush & the Camelcals, Phat Anchovies, Pumphouse Blues, Sugarbush and War Chile — each of which will pepper performances over the five days of FloydFest 24~Horizon

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Sugar Mountain Adult Ski League Finishes Their Race Series and Here Are the Winners for 2024

February 14, 2024 Matt Leonard of Ski Country Sports said it has been a fabulous six weeks of Monday night racing this year that was held on the Oma Meadows Racing Course each race, and with perfect weather each night.  On behalf of the family run ski shop, Ski Country Sports, the sponsor of the race series, Leonard said the Sugar Mountain facilities makes it all happen. “From top to bottom and from bottom to top they run a first class operation over there. And that was evident for our race series. We thank the resort and the race crew who took care of the course and the many volunteer timekeepers for taking good care of us.” The annual awards presentation was full of camaraderie as well as cheers for the winners.

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MerleFest Announces Initial Lineup for April 25-28, 2024 Festival – Tickets Available

February 13, 2024 MerleFest, presented by Window World, has announced the initial lineup for its 36th annual event, taking place April 25-28, 2024, on the campus of Wilkes Community College. Leading the breadth of can’t-miss performances this year are Grammy-winning rogue-folk ensemble Old Crow Medicine Show (celebrating both their 25th anniversary and nearly 25 years since their MerleFest debut in 2000), Red Dirt stalwarts Turnpike Troubadours, decorated blues-rock duo The Teskey Brothers, and recently reunited bluegrass sensation Nickel Creek. MerleFest favorites Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, The Earls of Leicester, and more are also set to appear. View the initial lineup below. Additional artists are to be announced.

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