Festivals Archives

Join Us for the Boone Fall Fest Weekend: Buskers Fest and Boonetoberfest! Oct. 4 and 5

September 18, 2024 This fall, the streets of Downtown Boone will come alive with music, art, food, and festivities! The Watauga Arts Council, in partnership with the Downtown Boone Development Association, is proud to present the 4th Annual Buskers Fest and the brand-new Boonetoberfest on October 4th and 5th, 2024, for a Boone Fall Fest weekend. Mark your calendars for a weekend packed with vibrant entertainment, local talent, and fun for the whole family. On Friday, October 4th, from 5 PM to 9 PM, the streets of Boone will be filled with artists and performers for Buskers Fest—a unique celebration of the arts where local musicians, magicians, dancers, and visual artists showcase their creativity in unexpected places. From fire dancers to live painting, there’s something to delight everyone!

September 9, 2024 Saturday, October 19 marks the 46th consecutive year that Holy Cross Episcopal Church and the Valle Crucis Conference Center have invited the public to join them in the heart of one of the most ethereal valleys in Western North Carolina for their annual fall festival, the Valle Country Fair. Harvest flavors of Brunswick Stew, Western NC barbecue, homemade apple butter, and hundreds of cakes, pies and breads are served up in this elevation of all things homegrown, handmade and local.

August 30, 2024 Plan your strategy for the 23rd annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival! The event’s free mobile app has dropped, along with the full schedule, and single day passes are on sale now! The three-day event is slated for Sept. 13-15 along State Street, where Tennessee and Virginia meet and the 1927 Bristol Sessions created the “big bang of country music.” Produced by the nonprofit Birthplace of Country Music and presented by Ballad Health, Bristol Rhythm is listed among USA Today’s top 10 music festivals in the country.

August 27, 2024 One of the North Carolina High Country’s most popular, and downright beloved annual events– the Avery County Agricultural and Horticultural (A&H) Fair–will run this year from Wednesday, September 4 through Saturday, September 7 at Heritage Park (Avery County Fairgrounds), located at 661 Vale Road in Newland. The Fair will start at 5:00 p.m. and last until 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 4; Thursday, September 5; and Friday, September 6. The Fair will begin at 1:00 p.m. and last until 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 7. Admission at the gate each day/evening/night of the Avery A&H Fair is free. By Tim Gardner

August 16, 2024 Toe River Arts is excited to announce that this year’s Music In the Mountains Folk Festival will be on Saturday, September 14, 2024 at Homeplace Beer Company & Hog Hollow Pizza in Burnsville, North Carolina. This year’s festival honoree is local legend, Terry McKinney. We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to celebrate his many contributions to our local music tradition. Terry McKinney was born in Spruce Pine and grew up in Mitchell and McDowell counties surrounded by traditional mountain music, and he has been singing and playing music most of his life.

August 14, 2024 Lace up your lederhosen and don your dirndl for Sugar Mountain Resort’s 34th annual Oktoberfest celebration, Saturday & Sunday, October 12 & 13. Take in Sugar’s cool and comfortable mountain temperatures, its beautiful fall foliage, and a weekend full of festival activities from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Be sure to bring the kids because Sugar’s Oktoberfest is yodels-n-yodels of fun for the whole family. Admission, parking, and shuttle service are free of charge.

August 12, 2024 It’s been two weeks since our audiences enjoyed music, dance, theatre, film and visual arts, and we are still reflecting on the incredible talent that graced our stages this year! Classical audiences and bluegrass fans alike came together when Béla Fleck performed with the Eastern Music Festival Orchestra on June 30 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Have you ever heard this performed on the banjo before? Only an artist of Béla Fleck’s caliber could do it with such virtuosity and perfection!

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.

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.

July 3, 2024 The long and storied tradition that is the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games returns to MacRae Meadows on Thursday, July 11, continuing through Sunday, July 14. This marks the 68th year for the beloved and historic celebration of Scottish ancestry and heritage, with the popular festival once again bringing a “wee bit o’ Scotland” to the High Country of North Carolina. Throughout the weekend of events, guests can take in the awe-inspiring spectacle of traditional Scottish athletic competitions, which includes Scottish heavy athletics, track and field competitions, Highland wrestling and more.

July 9, 2024 The Watauga County Farmers’ Market is excited to announce a month-long celebration in honor of its 50th anniversary, culminating in a grand anniversary party on Saturday, July 27th. The festivities began this past Saturday, July 6th, commemorating the day North Carolina Governor James E. Holshouser attended the formal dedication of the market in 1974. Throughout July, the market invites the community to immerse themselves in its rich history with the Market Memory Installation. This special exhibit encourages customers to contribute cherished photos, news clippings, and favorite memories, creating a tapestry of shared experiences and community spirit.

July 9, 2024 If you have a fascination for antique engines, tractors or other old vehicles and equipment — or if you would like to learn more about them, or maybe you just like to mingle with those who already know all about what makes them chug — the 44th annual High Country Crank-Up is the place you ought to be. For three big days — Thursday-Saturday, July 25-27 — one of the premiere events in the southeast for lovers of all things old, hit or miss, will be converging upon the High Country Fairgrounds for this once-a-year event. Sponsored by the Carolina Flywheelers, this attraction draws folks in from all over the country, with something for the young, and especially the young-at-heart. By Sherrie Norris

July 9, 2024 Watauga County residents will be among over 38 million people in 18,000 communities across the country, including U.S. territories and military bases worldwide, coming together for National Night Out 2024. Easily considered the biggest block party anywhere, and happening in most locales on the first Tuesday of August, the event will once again unite individuals and families from all walks of life for one evening of celebration. Watauga County will be no exception as on Tuesday, Aug 6, the upper parking area at Watauga High School in Boone will once again be transformed — for two full hours, 6 p.m. -8 p.m. — into a mecca of entertainment, awareness and community spirit at its best. By Sherrie Norris

July 8, 2024 An Appalachian Summer Festival, Appalachian State University’s annual summer arts event, shines this week, July 9-14, with Canadian Brass (the very best of brass bands), Buddy Guy (a pioneer of Chicago’s fabled West Side sound), and Norm Lewis (owner of Broadway’s silkiest baritone), plus the award-winning film The Taste of Things and the 38th annual Rosen Sculpture Walk & Competition. The festival, now in its 40th year, runs through July 27 and features a diverse mix of music, dance, visual arts, and film programming. Purchase tickets online at AppSummer.org, by calling 828-262-4046, or in person at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts box office, 733 Rivers St.

July 1, 2024 On July 4th, 2024, the Town of Boone will be hosting all-day festivities to celebrate the Fourth of July. Please see the information below regarding the scheduled events and road closures. Prior to the Town of Boone’s annual Fourth of July Parade, the Jones House will be hosting the Watauga Community Band on King Street in front of the Jones House. The Watauga Community Band, a local band of musicians of all ages, will play patriotic tunes for all to enjoy. Parking before the parade is available at all Town-owned parking stations; however, it should be noted that cars will be unable to leave until after the parade if parked on King Street. All Town-owned parking spaces are free on July 4th. Public restrooms and port-a-potties will be available at the Jones House.

June 28, 2024 New vendors and activities have been revealed for 2024’s annual Fairy Day in the Daniel Boone Native Gardens on Saturday July 13, 2024, from 1-5pm. Admission is free for children and adults dressed in mythical/fairy attire and $3 for un-costumed adults with proceeds benefiting the Daniel Boone Native Gardens, a non-profit garden, located at 651 Horn in the West Drive in Boone. Music and dance will be ongoing throughout the afternoon with local singer/songwriters: Erin Williams Banks and Cayla Fralick, Noelle Austin with a song circle and scarf play leading into Beginner Ballet with Gigi Perazolo. Neighborhood yoga will provide a kid friendly yoga flow, Sole Impact Studios will showcase a clogging performance, Old Souls are playing old time music along with The Walls, a gospel family band with members 13 and unde

June 25, 2024 The Avery County Heritage Festival, a popular and family-oriented annual function, will be held Saturday, June 29 on the county square across the road from the courthouse (200 Montezuma Street) in downtown Newland. There is no admission charge to the event. It will start at 9:00 a.m. and end at 3:00 p.m. Those attending can visit booths and vendors while tracing their ancestral roots in the county. Visitors can also view demonstrations of homesteading skills from pioneer days. Nationally renowned genealogists, artisans from a variety of media, war battle reenactors, and traditional mountain singers and musicians will appear to collectively help celebrate Avery County’s history, which spans 113 years. By Tim Gardner

June 24, 2024 Appalachian State University’s annual summer arts celebration, An Appalachian Summer Festival, kicks off its 40th anniversary season this week. The festival runs June 29-July 27 and features a uniquely diverse and world-class mix of music, dance, visual arts, and film programming. Performances take place at multiple venues on the campus of App State. From alt-rock, bluegrass and blues, to soul, Broadway, classical and more, the festival offers something for everyone. Purchase tickets online at AppSummer.org, by calling 828-262-4046, or in person at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts box office, 733 Rivers St.. Click here for full schedule:

June 14, 2024 During An Appalachian Summer Festival, visit the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts (TCVA) as it hosts a variety of contemporary art exhibitions and programs that complement the performing arts being celebrated this July. Join us for the Summer Exhibition Celebration on July 5 from 5 – 9 pm, a trademark festival event honoring the visual arts. TCVA will unveil three new exhibitions, offering guests a chance to engage with the artists and delve into the excitement of the featured exhibitions. The Belle Peppers will be performing live on the plaza; refreshments and a cash bar are available. Admission is free and open to all, thanks to our community arts supporters.

Parking and Road Closure for Boonerang Music & Arts Festival on June 14 and 15

June 6, 2024 Come join the Town of Boone for the third annualBoonerang Music & Arts Festival, on Friday, June 14, and Saturday, June 15, in Downtown Boone! The Boonerang Music & Arts Festival celebrates Boone, North Carolina with a free downtown street festival; this community homecoming brings Boone-connected artists and fans together every third weekend in June to “Boonerang” back to the place we love. For the safety of guests, staff, and volunteers, the following roads will be closed on June 14, and will reopen late in the evening on June 15:

June 3, 2024 “The third annual Boonerang Music & Arts Festival will be held in downtown Boone the weekend of Friday and Saturday, June 14 and 15. Presented by the Town of Boone and supporting partners, the free street festival and community homecoming event features performances and activities on multiple stages, as well as local food and drinks, a vendors market, silent disco, dance and cultural demonstrations, and kids’ activities. Boonerang especially emphasizes artists with a connection to Boone and the High Country. The full lineup of performing artists includes The Nude Party, Melissa Reaves, Snake Oil Medicine Show, Empire Strikes Brass, Gringo Star, The Tan & Sober Gentlemen and dozens more acts spanning genres from funk to folk and rock to reggae.

May 22, 2024. Presented by Appalachian State University’s Office of Arts & Cultural Programs, this annual celebration of the performing and visual arts is held every July in venues across the university campus, and features an eclectic, diverse mix of music, dance, theatre, visual arts and film programming. An Appalachian Summer Festival began in 1984 as a chamber music series, and retains strong roots in classical music, combined with a variety of other programming geared to almost every artistic taste and preference. The festival has risen in stature to become one of the nation’s most highly respected summer festivals, acclaimed for the breadth and quality of its artistic programming.

May 21, 2024 The wildly popular Carolina Renaissance Festival is holding open auditions for colorful personalities of all types to bring to life the Festival’s make-believe Village of Fairhaven. Amateur and professional opportunities are available for actors, street performers, cosplayers, historical reenactors, musicians, singers, dancers, variety acts, and stagehands too! Auditions will be held on Saturday, June 15th from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and Saturday, June 22nd from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM at the Bonnie Cone Leadership Academy located at 16115 Poplar Tent Road, Huntersville, NC.

Blowing Rock School to Host New Annual Event “Rocket Run” at Davant Field May 24

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May 14, 2024 Blowing Rock School is set to host a new annual event with its first-ever Rocket Run on May 24, 2024 from 3 to 6 p.m. at Davant Field. As a start to the summer, the fun-run style event will include a bubble run, food trucks, music, games, bounce houses, a photo booth and more. The event is free and open to the public, with proceeds benefiting a newly endowed Playground Maintenance Fund. When the school’s Parent-Teacher Organization was reestablished following the pandemic, it came to the board’s attention that the school playground – widely enjoyed by residents and visitors alike – had no plan for ongoing maintenance. The needs are vast and costly, from the turf surface to the beams and ropes that make up the play space so many children and families enjoy year-round.

May 14, 2024 The Small Town of Spruce Pine North Carolina prepares for a RETURNAlien Invasion of massive proportions! On June 8th the town of Spruce Pine awaits the visitation of 10’s of thousands of show guests and Alien Interstellar visitors to the downtown Main Street Spruce Pine, NC on Oak Avenue. Alien Lovers and UFO believers don’t want to miss the Spruce Pine Alien Festival and hear the latest information from the Spruce Pine Alien experts, scientist & researchers on the local area sighting, as well as, the recent shoot downs of Unidentified flying objects over Alaska, the US and Canada and recent sightings in Spruce Pine and surrounding Mountain towns and woodlands.

+ More Articles

Join Us for the Boone Fall Fest Weekend: Buskers Fest and Boonetoberfest! Oct. 4 and 5

Homegrown Meets Handmade at the Valle Country Fair on Saturday, October 19, 2024

23rd Annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion Music Festival Slated for Sept. 13-15

The 2024 Avery County A&H Fair Runs Wednesday, September 4 through Saturday, September 7 at Newland’s Heritage Park

Toe River Arts’s Music In the Mountains Folk Festival in Burnsville is September 1

Don your Dirndl and Lace up Your Lederhosen for Sugar Mountain Resort’s 34th Annual Oktoberfest, October 12 & 13

Take A Look Back at App Summer’s 2024 Broyhill Classic Concert Series Series! Take Our Survey

Dance and Country Legends Wrap Up An Appalachian Summer Festival this Week

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

Highland Games Set to Return to Grandfather Mountain’s MacRae Meadows July 11 – July 14

Watauga County Farmers’ Market Celebrates 50th Anniversary Throughout July

The High Country Will Be Cranking it Up With Carolina Flywheelers, July 25-27

Block Party of the Year Returns To Boone Aug. 6 National Night Out Bringing Communities Together Across the US

Brass, Blues, and Broadway Shine at An Appalachian Summer Festival this Week

Town of Boone Announces Fourth of July Day Events and Road Closures

The Annual Fairy Day in the Daniel Boone Native Gardens is on Saturday, July 13th from 1-5pm

Avery County Heritage Festival to be Held Saturday, June 29 in Newland’s Town Square

An Appalachian Summer Festival’s 40th Anniversary Season Kicks Off June 29 with a Classic(al) Fusion of Music Genres

Visual Arts On Display at An Appalachian Summer Festival Summer ’24

Parking and Road Closure for Boonerang Music & Arts Festival on June 14 and 15

3rd Annual Boonerang Music & Arts Festival to be Held June 14–15 in Downtown Boone

A Symphony of Sounds: Tuba and Trombone, Violin and Cello, Piano and … Banjo! App Summer Tickets on Sale Now for Broyhill Concert Series

Carolina Renaissance Festival is Holding Open Auditions on Saturdays June 15 and June 22

Blowing Rock School to Host New Annual Event “Rocket Run” at Davant Field May 24

Spruce Pine Alien Festival Prepares for a RETURNAlien Invasion of Massive Proportions on June 8th with Experts & Researchers