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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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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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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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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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Celebrate Winter in the Mountains at Lees-McRae College with Inspiring Short Films from “Mountainfilm on Tour” this Saturday Feb. 17

February 13, 2024 Mountainfilm on Tour, the annual tour of the most inspiring short films featured at that year’s Mountainfilm Festival in Telluride, Colorado, is coming to Lees-McRae on Saturday, Feb. 17. The tour has been bringing exciting, cutting-edge short films about the great outdoors to cities throughout the country since 1999, and for the first time the tour will be stopping in Banner Elk as part of the college’s High Country Adventure Film and Speaker Series.

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Blowing Rock WinterFest Brings Winter Fun January 25 – 28; Run Down of Events Here

January 25, 2024 The 26th Blowing Rock WinterFest event istarts today, featuring a calendar full of seasonal activities. From Thursday, January 25 through Sunday, January 28, everyone is encouraged to join in the celebration. Don’t hibernate- celebrate! “Blowing Rock WinterFest offers unique opportunities to come out and celebrate this exciting season,” says event coordinator, John Goheen. “Of all our events, I think this festival really showcases our town’s hospitality and fun-loving spirit!”

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This Saturday, Join the Winter King Street Farmers’ Market for Beat the Blues Day

January 25, 2024  This Saturday, join the Winter King Street Farmers’ Market for Beat the Blues Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 252 Poplar Grove Rd, Boone! Has winter got you down? Brighten your spirit with community and learn about supporting your mental health as the Winter King Street Farmers Market celebrates mental wellness. For Beat the Blues Day, the knowledgeable folks from Medicaid Expansion Information and Watauga Mental Health Resources will be sharing accessible mental health resources that everyone can benefit from.

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Local Jazz Great Todd Wright Reprises “Jazz at WinterFest” at the Green Park Inn Next Friday and Saturday, January 26th and 27th

January 18, 2024 While local jazz great Todd Wright can’t remember the first time that he played the Green Park Inn he has no doubt that the location is one of the finest music venues in the High Country, and on Friday and Saturday, January 26th and 27th, Wright will again headline the “Jazz at WinterFest” Series held at the Green Park Inn during Blowing Rock’s annual WinterFest Weekend. “We’re really looking forward to playing the Green Park again for Jazz at WinterFest 2024”, says Wright.

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Grace Bowers, On-the-Rise Competition Class of 2024 Announced for “FloydFest 24~Horizon” Coming July 24-28 to Floyd, Virginia

January 18, 2024 FLOYD, VA — Rooted in the ethos of FloydFest and Across-the-Way Productions is giving the next generation of up-and-coming performers a stage, a leg-up and an audience. Today’s FIFTH round of artist announcements for FloydFest 24~Horizon fulfills that continuing mission in numerous ways, not least of which is the addition of Grace Bowers, a 17-year-old guitar phenom and band leader. FloydFest 24~Horizon is 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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Music Lineup Announced for Third Annual Boonerang Music & Arts Festival on June 14 & 15

January 10, 2024 The Nude Party and Melissa Reaves anchor the 2024 lineup for the Boonerang Music & Arts Festival, taking place Friday and Saturday, June 14 and 15. The third annual street festival and community homecoming features performances on multiple stages throughout downtown Boone. Presented by the Town of Boone and supporting partners, the multi-day event features performances and activities at many downtown locations, an arts and crafts market, silent disco, international festival, dance stage, and kids’ activities

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Charley Crockett, The Record Company, plus eight bands join the lineup for FloydFest 24~Horizon (July 24-28, 2024)

December 14, 2023 FLOYD, VA — Charley Crockett, hailed by Garden & Gun as “one of country music’s most prolific torchbearers;” Grammy-nominated rockers, The Record Company; and up-and-coming Alabama singer-songwriter, Drayton Farley, top Blue Cow Arts Foundation, Inc. and Across-the-Way Productions, Inc.’s FOURTH round of artist announcements for FloydFest 24~Horizon.Ticket prices increase in 18 days, on Jan. 1, 2024, for next year’s five-day outdoor experience dubbed “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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Twelve bands join lineup for FloydFest 24 – Horizon (July 24-28, 2024), with much more to come

November 10, 2023 FLOYD, VA — At the tail-end of a year where FloydFest won six high-profile awards, Blue Cow Arts Foundation, Inc. and Across-the-Way Productions, Inc. followup their Nov. 1 initial artist announcement with a strong second grouping of artists that will perform at 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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Valle Country Fair —- A Family Comes Full Circle !

October 25, 2023 Life can be rather uncanny in the way that at times, some things seem to come “full circle.”  For about  40 years, our family  (James and Cheryl, and then later to include our sons Jimmy and Jason)   attended our favorite mountain crafts festival in Valle Crucis, NC.  We all very much loved the crafts, the food, and the people, and looked forward to this special Fall event every year.  This annual event is sponsored as a fundraiser by the Church Of the Holy Cross, an historic Episcopal Church in the center of Valle Crucis.  Each year, we would see which local non-profit organizations were recognized and supported by these activities.

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Avery County Woolly Worms Win 2023 Festival

October 24, 2023 Anyone wondering about what kind of weather the North Carolina High Country will get for the 2023-2024 winter season of course, can check weather almanacs and meteorologist forecasts, but perhaps as reliable or even more so, they can check the results of the world-famous Woolly Worm Festival that happens in Banner Elk every third weekend in October.

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Tarpestry: Built in the Blue Ridge

October 12, 2023 With the mountain scenery that surrounds the area and the breathtaking views that can be enjoyed by all, the High Country is a hub for outdoor opportunities. Hiking, camping, and picnicking are just some of the ways nature enthusiasts can experience the environment. And with all of these activities, there is one product available that can take one’s adventure to the next level. Whether you’re going to a live music festival or catching a sporting event at the park, Tarpestry tarps make a statement no matter the occasion. By Harley Nefe

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Farmers’ Market Apple Pie Contest Delivers Sweet Success

October 3, 2023 The Watauga County Farmers’ Market is thrilled to announce the results of its highly-anticipated Apple Pie Contest, a highlight of the recent AppleFEST celebration. This delightful event, made possible by the skills of passionate bakers and the discerning palates of the esteemed panel of judges, celebrated the essence of autumn with the rich flavors of apple pies. The panel of judges included renowned culinary expert Chef Robert Back of Caldwell Culinary Institute, Gail Greco, a celebrated Foodwriter and Foodie Extraordinaire with a distinguished career in the food industry, and our very own Genevieve Sanders, the talented and innovative owner of The Hive Bakery.

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Annual Fall Bazaar at BUMC Just Around the Corner

September 7, 2023 If there’s anything that excites folks in the High Country, it usually has to do with finding treasures at a good price. Or, it might be helping a good cause with a mission in mind. Anyone familiar with the annual Fall Bazaar at Boone United Methodist Church knows that both of these opportunities can be accomplished during the upcoming event.For two days — Friday, Sept. 22, 7:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 23, 7:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. — the BUMC family is hosting its signature fundraiser that draws literally thousands of people from far and wide. By Sherrie Norris

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Wilkes Agricultural Fair Starts Wednesday October 4th

September 7, 2023 Wilkes Agricultural Fair runs from Wednesday, Oct. 4 through Saturday, Oct. 7, at the Worth Evan Tomlinson Rotary Fairgrounds, just off U.S. 421 Business Bypass beside West Park in North Wilkesboro.The Rotary Club of North Wilkesboro will sponsor the event.

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Hill Holler LLC receives final permit approval to develop FestivalPark

August 17, 2023 CHECK, VA — Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ) approved Hill Holler LLC’s Stormwater Management Plan for the development of FestivalPark, the new home for FloydFest, on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023. This final approval means FestivalPark will be ready to welcome patrons for FloydFest 24, set for July 24 to 28, 2024.

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The annual Honey Harvest Hoedown Returns on Saturday, Aug. 5

July 18, 2023 It’s not just another fundraiser, we’re told, because this year’s annual Honey Harvest Hoedown, on Saturday, Aug. 5 — supporting the great work at De la Cruz Farms in Deep Gap — will feature live entertainment by award winning Nashville recording artist, Dan Roberts, and well-known fiddle player/maker, Bob Kugot.  By Sherrie Norris

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Reggie Buie Group Wraps Up 2023 High Country Jazz Festival

June 5, 2023 BOONE, NC – At 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 11, The Reggie Buie Group will perform under the tent at Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock as the final headliner event during the 2023 High Country Jazz Festival.  It is the last of 15 separate events in ten different locations throughout Boone and Blowing Rock that are part of the 2023 festival, which runs from June 9 through 11. The 2023 festival is presented by Mast General Store with additional support from Explore Boone and Hampton Inn & Suites, Boone.

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Emmet Cohen Trio Featured at 2023 High Country Jazz Festival App Theatre Hosts “Poster Man for Contemporary Jazz” on June 10

May 30, 2023 BOONE, NC – Internationally acclaimed jazz artist Emmet Cohen and his award-winning trio take to the Appalachian Theatre stage in Boone at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 10 as a headliner event during the 2023 High Country Jazz Festival. It is one of 14 separate events in ten different locations throughout Boone and Blowing Rock that are part of the 2023 festival, which runs from June 9 through 11. Tickets for The Emmet Cohen Trio are $35 and $42.More than half of the 14 events are free of charge to the general public with tickets on sale for headliner performances via the festival website: www.highcountryjazzfestival.org

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19th Annual Emergency Fest – Having Fun While Learning About Safety

May 9, 2023 Saturday, May 20, promises to be a busy day in the High Country with  a full calendar of events for local fundraisers and family fun. None, however, will be more exciting for the younger generation, especially, than the 19thannual Emergency Fest to be held on the campus of Appalachian State University in Boone. For one big day, the Peacock parking lot, known to many as the former Raley Lot on Rivers Street, will be transformed into an educational, but fun festival atmosphere as the Watauga County Firefighters Association, area emergency services organizations, New River Tire and others team up to sponsor this event. By Sherrie Norris

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