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Festivals

‘Local Love’ Lineup Revealed for FloydFest 26~Daydream (July 22-26, 2026)

February 12, 2026 CHECK, VA – February 12, 2026 — At the heart of FloydFest’s annual purposeful programming, Across-the-Way Productions, Inc. and Blue Cow Arts Foundation, Inc. showcase their love and admiration for the remarkable local music scene by offering patrons a taste of regional talent via the ‘Local Love’ lineup. Across-the-Way Productions and Blue Cow Arts Foundation welcome 13 bands as 2026’s ‘Local Loves’

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Announcing FloydFest 26~Daydream, July 22-26, 2026; Tedeschi Trucks Band, My Morning Jacket, Stephen Wilson Jr., Lukas Nelson to Headline – Tickets on Sale Now with ‘Early-Bird’ Pricing

November 6, 2025 CHECK, VA – November 6, 2025 — Never-before-offered, limited-time ‘Early-Bird’ ticket pricing, paired with arguably the strongest initial lineup in the festival’s two-decade-plus history, top Blue Cow Arts Foundation & Across-the-Way Production’s Nov. 6 announcement of FloydFest 26~Daydream, the latest annual offering of the Southeast’s premier, award-winning, summer outdoor music festival, taking place Wednesday to Sunday, July 22 to 26, 2026, at its home, FestivalPark, located at 5826 Floyd Highway North in Check, Va. Tickets are on sale now on the completely redesigned FloydFest.com.

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Watauga County Farmers’ Market Announces Winners of the 2025 ApplePie Contest

October 8, 2025 Boone, NC – October 8, 2025 — The Watauga County Farmers’ Market celebrated the flavors
of fall during its annual AppleFEST this past Saturday, highlighted by the ever-popular Apple Pie Contest. Market visitors gathered around the judging table to admire a lineup of beautiful,
creative pies and to cheer on local bakers who captured the spirit of the season in every slice. This year’s panel of judges brought a wealth of culinary expertise: Chef Robert Back of the
Caldwell Culinary Institute, Dawn Sullivan, author of Dawn’s Early Light and longtime food industry veteran, and Alex DelTurco, owner and baker at Layers of Love, one of the Market’s
own vendors known for gourmet cakes, pastries, and specialty desserts.

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After a Helene Hiatus, Banner Elk’s Woolly Worm Festival Returns Oct. 18-19

October 3, 2025 The Woolly Worm Festival returns to downtown Banner Elk on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 18-19. After a one-year cancellation due to Hurricane Helene, the festival is back and stronger than ever, with new features designed to enhance the visitor experience.

For nearly half a century, more than 20,000 festivalgoers have gathered in Banner Elk the third weekend in October to cheer on woolly worms racing up strings for a chance to become the official predictor of the High Country’s winter forecast.

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The Original Creations of 142 Regional Craftspeople Will Be on Display at the Valle Country Fair Saturday, October 18, 2025

October 3, 2025 VALLE CRUCIS, NC – The 47th annual Valle Country Fair (VCF) coming up Saturday, October 18 will feature the original handmade creations of 142 craftspeople from across the Southern Appalachians. Of those, 36 artists are exhibiting their work for the first time in 2025. “Each artisan was chosen because they have a unique style and point of view that makes their work different from the others,” said VCF Arts & Crafts Committee Chair Carolyn Shepherd.

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Dia Latino at the King Street Farmer’s Market and the Upcoming Winter Market!

October 3, 2025 Come and honor the rich cultural heritage of Latino communities in the High Country at  the Tuesday Farmers Market! This Tuesday, October 7th, community members will celebrate our Latin-American community from 3:30 to 6:30 at 126 Poplar Grove Connector with community group Immigrant Justice Coalition (IJC), a local non-profit supporting the local migrant community. They will be sharing community resources and information to learn more about supporting their cause.

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Blowing Rock School Fall Festival Celebrates Community Resilience

October 1, 2025 BLOWING ROCK, NC – The Blowing Rock School Parent-Teacher Organization will host its annual Fall Festival this Saturday, October 4, 2025 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the school field and inside the gym, located at 165 Morris Street in Downtown Blowing Rock. The annual event supports teachers and students through PTO funding for school improvements, classroom supplies, special projects and educational experiences.

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VCF 2025 – “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” Release

September 25, 2025 Helene turned our world upside down last year and forced the cancelation of the 2024 Valle Country Fair (VCF), but the congregation of Holy Cross Episcopal Church rallied and is planning to reintroduce the beloved Fair on October 18, 2025, at the Red Barn pasture on Highway 194 between Banner Elk and Valle Crucis.

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National Storytelling Festival returns to Jonesborough Oct. 3–5

September 22, 2025 JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. — Large white tents will once again transform historic downtown Jonesborough into a stage for the imagination as the National Storytelling Festival returns Oct. 3–5 for its 52nd year. Recognized as America’s premier storytelling event, the Festival draws visitors from across the country and around the globe to the Storytelling Capital of the World. Since 1973, audiences have gathered in Tennessee’s oldest town to be inspired and entertained by folktales, fables, myths, legends, and personal stories told by master storytellers.

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The 47th Annual VALLE COUNTY FAIR Scheduled for October 18, 2025

September 11, 2025 VALLE CRUCIS, NC — The colors, flavors, sights and sounds of harvest season in the Blue Ridge Mountains all come together at the Valle Country Fair (VCF) in scenic Valle Crucis, North Carolina, on October 18th. Craftspeople from across the region, High Country musicians and the community of Valle Crucis are all busy putting together an extra-joyful celebration this year to purge the disappointment caused when Hurricane Helene forced the cancellation of the 2024 Fair.

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Buskers Fest Returns to Downtown Boone on Saturday, September 20, 2025

September 10, 2025 Boone, NC — The Watauga Arts Council (WAC), in collaboration with the Downtown Boone Development Association (DBDA), is thrilled to announce the return of Buskers Fest on Saturday, September 20, 2025, from 2-7 p.m. The streets of downtown Boone will come alive with music, performance, demos, and hands-on art experiences for all ages.

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Boone United Methodist Church – Fall Bazaar 2025 

September 3, 2025 The Bazaar has evolved into one of the most fun and effective ways of recycling used furniture, clothing, linens, seasonal items, books, puzzles, home décor, toys and yard sale items. You can also find jams, jellies, and baked goods as well as lunch on Friday.

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Kendra Danzer named overall winner in women’s heavy athletics at Grandfather Mountain Highland Games

July 16, 2025 Kendra Danzer finished first in four of the seven women’s heavy athletic events during the 2025 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, thereby claiming the top spot overall for the competition. This is Danzer’s first time competing at Grandfather Mountain Highland Games.
The 41-year-old clinical social worker for suicide prevention who resides in Fayetteville, N.C., has been competing in heavy athletics for nearly six years. She has competed in multiple states including Virginia, South Carolina, Florida and California.

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Grandfather Mountain Highland Games names track and field outstanding men’s and women’s athletes

July 16, 2025 LINVILLE, N.C. – At the 69th-annual Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in 2025, two track and field athletes secured the Outstanding Men’s Athlete and Outstanding Women’s Athlete honors. Nick Goard from Aberdeen, N.C., and Veronica Cheechov from West End, N.C., earned the respective titles. Both athletes run for Sandhills Classical Christian School’s track and cross country teams, and they hope to return next year.

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Watauga Arts Council and Downtown Boone Development Association Announce the Return of Buskers Fest 2025 on September 20th

July 8, 2025 The Watauga Arts Council, in collaboration with the Downtown Boone Development Association, is thrilled to announce the return of Buskers Fest in 2025. The event will take place on September 20th, 2025 from 2-7pm, bringing art, music, and creativity back to the streets of downtown Boone. “Every year, we strive to make the festival better and better,” says WAC Executive Director, Amber Bateman. “We found that people weren’t able to make it to all the activities in such a short window. By moving it to a Saturday and expanding the hours, we hope to improve the overall experience and make it more accessible, especially for those who couldn’t attend in previous years when it was held on a Friday.”

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Gen X Hitmakers Joan Osborne and Lisa Loeb Celebrate Their 30-Year-Old Landmark Albums in Boone Concert Friday, July 11

June 26 2025 Appalachian State University’s annual summer arts celebration, An Appalachian Summer, presents Joan Osborne and Lisa Loeb, two unmistakable voices of the ’90s, for a special evening marking the 30th anniversaries of their breakthrough albums — Osborne’s Relish and Loeb’s Tails — Friday, July 11 at 7:30pm at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts. Revisit the songs that shaped a generation, alongside new music and career-spanning fan favorites. Both Relish and Tails were landmark albums that transcended genres, blending folk, pop, and rock with deeply personal storytelling. Osborne’s “One of Us” and Loeb’s “Stay (I Missed You)” became defining anthems of the era, and their impact continues to resonate with longtime fans and new audiences alike. Tickets are $25-$55, with discounts for App State faculty/staff and local residents

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Boone Pride Parade and Festival Happening June 28; Parade Steps Off at 12 Noon with the Festival to Follow from 1 pm – 6pm

June 23, 2025 Boone Pride returns to downtown Boone on Saturday June 28 for a Pride Parade and Festival. What started in 2022 as a small march on the sidewalks of King Street and a rally at The Jones House, has grown to include a parade down King Street and a half-day festival with vendors, live music, drag performances and food trucks. “I remember that first year scrambling to pull something, anything together in just two weeks,” states Boone Pride co-founder and Boone town council member Todd Carter. “It is important to me that the Town of Boone recognize and celebrate LGBTQ Pride Month so that every single person who lives, works, plays, and visits our beautiful town knows that they are welcome here.”

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Highland Games Set to Return to Grandfather Mountain’s MacRae Meadows July 10 to 13

June 20, 2025 The long and storied tradition that is the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games returns to MacRae Meadows on Thursday, July 10, continuing through Sunday, July 13. This marks the 69th 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. “This year’s games are a great reason for folks to travel to the North Carolina High Country,” said Stephen Quillin, president of the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games.

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P.B. Scott’s Music Hall Reunion and Round-Up Taking Place at Boonerang Festival this Saturday, 6:30 at the Jones House

June 16, 2025 It’s time for another P.B. Scott’s reunion! The famous Blowing Rock music hall closed some 40 years ago, but those who experienced it during its seven years in operation still can’t stop talking about it. There have been a number of reunions over the these past 40 years and another is on its way at Jones House during this year’s Boonerang Festival, taking place this weekend, June 19th through the 22nd. The Boonerang Festival takes place in and around downtown Boone. Festival organizers added a spot on the calendar for the P.B.’s reunion and get together on Saturday June 21st at 6:30pm at the Jones House.

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Sculptures, Stories and Stunning New Exhibits at An Appalachian Summer

June 17, 2025 Engage, discover, and connect through the arts during the 41st season of An Appalachian Summer, presented June 28-July 26 by App State’s Office of Arts Engagement and Cultural Resources. In partnership with the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, App Summer showcases the visual arts through intriguing exhibitions, a juried guided tour of captivating sculptures, and a series of behind-the-scenes chats with visual and performing artists. Each of these events is free and open to the public. For more information, visit appsummer.org.

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App Summer: The Helene and Stephen Weicholz Global Film Series Feature Movies That Shine a Light on the Many Paths to Happiness

June 16, 2025 Seeking to broaden perspectives, plumb universal emotions, and explore the world at large, An Appalachian Summer’s Helene and Stephen Weicholz Global Film Series showcases four award-winning and critically acclaimed international films. This year’s set of films hails from Iceland, Lebanon, Thailand, and Sweden. United by the theme of family, the movies take personal yet universal looks at the fragility and tenacity of familial relationships when tested by adversity.

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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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