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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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Toe Valley Soup Ministry Celebrates Successful Year with Bluegrass Concert Saturday, April 29th at Pine Grove United Methodist Church in Avery County

April 28, 2023 There are various outreach ministries in the North Carolina High Country founded to assist those in need in various manners. One that serves Avery and Mitchell County has completed its fourteenth year of existence in 2023 is the Toe Valley Soup Ministry.
And to celebrate another year of success, this ministry will hold a bluegrass concert for all who want to attend this Saturday, April 29th at Pine Grove Methodist Church, located at 53 Pine Grove Church Road, in the Ingalls Community of Avery County.  The church is near the intersection of Mullen Hill Road and U.S. Highway 19-E. By Tim Gardner

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Community Dance Celebration on Flatfoot Dance Legend Robert Dotson’s 100th Birthday

April 24, 2023 Valle Crucis- On Saturday, May 13, 2023, friends, family, and members of the public will gather to celebrate what would have been flatfoot dance legend Robert Dotson’s 100th birthday.  The event at the Historic Apple Barn in Valle Crucis, NC, will feature workshops, a documentary film showing, a potluck supper, a square dance, and performances by the Green Grass Cloggers. 

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Damascus celebrates 36th Annual Appalachian Trail Days Festival

April 20, 2023 DAMASCUS, VA – Damascus is celebrating its 36th year of the world-famous Appalachian Trail Days Festival on May 19-21, 2023, as the town gears up for another busy season of hikers on the Appalachian Trail. Known as “Trail Days” by locals and hikers, the event is a celebration of the Appalachian Trail and hiker culture. The title sponsor again this year is Hyperlite Mountain Gear, a company popular among hikers for its ultralight backpacks, shelters, tarps, and accessories.

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LOCAL SMALL TOWN PREPARES FOR ALIEN INVASION: Alien Festival Returns to Small town of Spruce Pine, NC.

March 28, 2023 SPRUCE PINE, N.C. — UFO Enthusiast and Alien lovers will descend upon Downtown Spruce Pine, NC in the hopes of encountering extraterrestrials on June 10th, 2023. Many area residents and locals have reported an astounding number of unexplained UFO sightings in and near the small town and it is no small wonder that the event will be packed with UFO and Alien believers.

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Blue Cow Arts & Across-the-Way Productions announces ‘Local Love’ lineup, top honors in ‘Best of the Blue Ridge 2023’

February 14, 2023 FLOYD, VA — Per tradition, Blue Cow Arts & Across-the-Way Productions celebrates Valentine’s Day with the release of its ‘Local Love’ artist lineup, which showcases the festival’s love and admiration for the local music scene by offering patrons a taste of regional talent. The nine ‘Local Love’ bands join the emerging lineup for FloydFest 23~Forever, the latest annual offering of the Southeast’s premier summer outdoor music festival, taking place Wednesday to Sunday, July 26 to 30, 2023, at its new home, dubbed “FestivalPark,” located at 5826 Floyd Highway North in Check, Va.

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Boonerang Music & Arts Festival releases 2023 music lineup

January 12, 2023 BOONE, N.C. — Propelled by an enthusiastic reception in its inaugural year, the Boonerang Music & Arts Festival today announces its music lineup for the second annual free community event presented by the Town of Boone and supporting partners. The festival returns to downtown Boone Thursday through Saturday, June 15-17.

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10 things to know about the 2023 Blowing Rock WinterFest

January 10, 2023 Thousands of people will be streaming into Blowing Rock the last weekend in January for what could prove to be one of the busiest WinterFests in History.
The Town of Blowing Rock is getting ready to celebrate winter the way it did before anyone had heard of COVID-19, with the return of WinterFeast, ice carvings, s’mores, a snowmaking demonstration with a North Carolina meteorologist— and many other events. By Kris Testori

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Blue Cow Arts & Across-the-Way Productions announce FloydFest 23 ~ Forever for July 26-30, 2023

November 1, 2022 FLOYD, VA — A full headliner announcement paired with a brand-new location top Blue Cow Arts & Across-the-Way Production’s November 1 announcement of FloydFest 23~Forever, the latest annual offering of the Southeast’s premier summer outdoor music festival, taking place Wednesday to Sunday, July 26 to 30, 2023, at its new home, dubbed “FestivalPark,” located at 5826 Floyd Highway North in Check, Va.

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2022 WCRC Trunk-or-Treat Space Assignments

October 24, 2022 Assigned parking space information for the WCRC Trunk-or-Treat is now available. See the attached PDF for more information! Join WCRC for their Trunk-or-Treat this Halloween! The event will be held in the parking lot of the Watauga Community Recreation Center on Sunday, October 30th from 5-7 p.m. Spaces will be marked off for trunks, and this will be a walk through event. In years past, we’ve had between 700 to 1,000 kiddos visit our “neighbooooo-hood.”

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Famous Woolly Worm Festival to be Held This Weekend – October 15th and 16th in Banner Elk

October 11, 2022 The annual Woolly Worm Festival, one of the High Country’s largest, most famous and most unique festivals, returns to the Historic Banner Elk Elementary School grounds, located at 185 Azalea Circle in downtown Banner Elk to expected massive crowds this weekend. This year’s 45th annual Woolly Worm Festival will run from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 15th, and 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 16th..   By Tim Gardner

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The Hills Are Alive With the Sound of Traditional Bluegrass Music At The 44th Annual Valle Country Fair on Saturday, October 15th

October 10, 2022 VALLE CRUCIS, NC — For 44 years the Valle Country Fair has been honored that country, gospel, folk, and bluegrass groups from all parts of the High Country have given up a mid-October Saturday to provide the soundtrack that makes the overgrown church bazaar an authentic celebration of mountain life expressed through crafts, food and music.

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Food and Family – Always a Huge Draw to Valle Country Fair

October 7, 2022 We all know that food is a huge draw to most festivals, but there’s just something extraordinary about the food that goes hand-in-hand with a country fair. Valle Country Fair, always held on the third Saturday in October —and falling this year on Saturday, Oct. 15 — is no exception, and as one of the state’s premiere events, attracts thousands of visitors from near and far.   By Sherrie Norris

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MerleFest Announces Additions of Old Crow Medicine Show, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Steep Canyon Rangers, Allison Russell, and We Banjo 3 to Music Lineup

January 10, 2022 MerleFest, presented by Window World, is proud to announce the second round of artist additions for MerleFest 2022, which will be held April 28-May 1, 2022. Old Crow Medicine Show, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Steep Canyon Rangers, Allison Russell, and We Banjo 3 will join an already impressive lineup which includes performances by Emmylou Harris, Greensky Bluegrass, Rissi Palmer, and more. MerleFest is the annual late April homecoming of musicians and music fans on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. “We are so excited to welcome music fans back to the campus of Wilkes Community College in the spring,” says MerleFest’s new Festival Director, Wes Whitson. Additional fan favorites announced today include Darrell Scott, Alison Brown, 49 Winchester, Arlo McKinley, Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band, The Arcadian Wild, Caleb Caudle, and Dr. Bacon.

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Woolly Worm Festival Returns for 44th Year on Oct. 16-17; Vendors and Volunteers Still Needed

October 6, 2021. The color of leaves are changing, the seasons are shifting, and cooler temperatures are approaching, which means it’s getting to be time for the annual woolly worm winter forecast prediction. The beloved Woolly Worm Festival will be making a reappearance this year for its 44th annual event on Oct. 16-17 in Banner Elk, which will bring together many locals and visitors alike in attendance. “Everyone is excited that the Woolly Worm Festival will be back this year,” said Anne Winkelman, Executive Director of the Avery County Chamber of Commerce. By Harley Nefe

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MerleFest Details COVID-19 Safety Protocol for the Upcoming 2021 Festival

August 19, 2021. Festival organizers for MerleFest have announced updated safety protocol for this year’s event which takes place Sept. 16-19 in Wilkesboro, NC. MerleFest prides itself on being a safe environment for music fans to experience the joy of collectively celebrating the very best in Americana, bluegrass, folk, and roots music in a family-friendly environment. In the interest of safety for all participants—and at the recommendation of high-ranking public health officials and performing artists—all attendees to this year’s event must provide either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of entering the event. the driving factor in MerleFest’s decision to require proof of vaccination or a negative test within 72 hours of attending. “Safety first,” said festival director, Ted Hagaman. “After many conversations with public health officials, it’s clear that the smartest and safest change we can make is to require vaccinations or proof of a negative test.”

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Avery County’s Fine Art and Master Crafts Festival Returns August 13-15

August 11, 2021. Avery County’s Fine Art and Master Crafts Festival will return for its second part this weekend, from August 13 through August 15, at Sugar Mountain Resort, where approximately 60 hand-selected artisans will showcase their unique work for sale. The first part was held July 16-18, establishing the 30th year of the festival. The free event will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. After a successful festival last year, this is the second year that the event will be located at Sugar Mountain Resort. Everything will be set up in the parking lot of the resort lodge. After a successful festival last year, this is the second year that the event will be located at Sugar Mountain Resort. Everything will be set up in the parking lot of the resort lodge. By Harley Nefe

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Proof of COVID-19 Vaccine or Negative Test Required to Enter High Country Beerfest Later This Month

August 11, 2021. The return of the High Country Beerfest is slated for Saturday, August 28 at the High Country Fairgrounds with a couple of big changes in store for the in-person event. On Tuesday, festival organizers announced on social media that due to the rise in COVID-19 cases in the High Country, festival-goers must have proof of full vaccination for COVID-19 or proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of the beerfest. Each person will need to present their vaccine card, photo of their vaccine card or a digital copy of the card along with the event ticket and identification at the entrance. Each person must have had their final vaccine shot at least two weeks prior to August 28. Last year, the High Country Beerfest was held virtually due to the virus and unfortunately, new positive cases have started ramping up again in the area. By Nathan Ham

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Haircut 101 Hot Lips Competition: Hottest Lips in the High Country

https://www.hcpress.com/boone/haircut-101-hot-lips-competition.html
Feb. 28, 2018. Who has the hottest lips in the High Country? During the first few weeks in February, Haircut 101 invited the community to compete in their Hot Lips Competition. Competitors paid one dollar, and kissed a napkin. A variety of lipstick colors and styles were used in order to select the most outstanding kiss. By Kate Herman – Photos by Ken Ketchie

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The Town of Boone Announces St. Patrick’s Day Parade to be Held on March 17

Feb. 12, 2018. “Shamrock floats” take on a new meaning this March, as the Town of Boone’s Cultural Resources Department presents the inaugural St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Come celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Boone, and be part of a new tradition! Events begin Saturday, March 17, at 2:00 P.M. on King Street in Boone with the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The parade will start at the Poplar Grove Extension traveling east on King Street through Boone.

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Watauga County Arts Council is Hosting 3rd Annual Mardi Gras Celebration, Feb. 18

https://www.hcpress.com/arts/watauga-county-arts-council-hosting-3rd-annual-mardi-gras-celebration-feb-18.html
Feb. 8, 2018. On the 18th eve of the month of February in the quaint little village known as Blowing Rock there will be held a festive celebration filled with merriment, dancing, music, and festive attire.  This event, known as the Mardi Gras, is being put on by the Watauga County Arts Council and will be held at the Meadowbrook Inn, located at 711 Main Street in Blowing Rock.

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Appalachian State University: The Schaefer Center Presents Award-Winning Comic Ballet Feb. 9

https://www.hcpress.com/boone/schaefer-center-presents-award-winning-comic-ballet-feb-9.html
Feb. 6, 2018. The “The Schaefer Center Presents…” performance series, presented by Appalachian State University’s Office of Arts and Cultural Programs, continues its 2017-18 season with a performance by the world’s foremost all-male comic ballet company Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo on Friday, Feb. 9, 7 p.m. at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are $35 for adults, $25 for Appalachian faculty/staff and retired faculty/staff and $15 for students and children. For more information, call the Schaefer Center Box Office at 800-841-ARTS (2787) or 828-262-4046, or visit http://theschaefercenter.org/.

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