Well-known across the Southeast as a prime mountain destination for outdoor activities, Boone, North Carolina, is also an area hotspot for summer music and arts events. A few of the events happening this summer around Boone are highlighted below:
An Appalachian Summer Festival 2017
(Summerlong, June 27 through Aug. 5)
An annual celebration of the performing and visual arts, An Appalachian Summer Festival brings music, dance, theatre, visual arts and film programming to the area. In its 33rd year, the festival attracts more than 25,000 guests a year and is one of the United States’ leading regional arts events. Local artists are well-represented, and big names perform as well. This year includes a high-spirited and dazzling evening with two-time Tony Award-winning actress, dancer and singer Sutton Foster (July 8), Grammy Award-winning trumpeter Chris Botti (July 22), country superstar Jennifer Nettles (July 15) and Bruce Hornsby and the Noisemakers (July 27). For the full schedule of events, visit appsummer.org/schedule.
Grandfather Mountain Highland Games & Gathering of Scottish Clans
(Thursday, July 6, through Sunday, July 9)
Imagine more than 100 Scottish clans costumed in tartan plaids gathering in the shadow of 6,000-foot-high Grandfather Mountain, one of the tallest peaks in the Blue Ridge. The more-than-60-year-old four-day celebration of Scottish heritage at MacRae Meadows in nearby Linville, North Carolina, features a celebration of all things Scottish, ringed by nearly 200 colorful tents. The schedule of events includes heavyweight athletic competitions (such as telephone-pole-sized tree trunk tossing and hammer throws); bagpipe band parades; piping, drumming and harp competitions; dancing; and all kinds of Celtic music entertainment. There is also a popular open-air market featuring Scottish crafts and food (yes, meat pies, too!) and even a tent where guests can trace their highlands heritage.
Summer Concerts at the Jones House
(Fridays, Summerlong, June 2 through Aug. 12)
Every Friday night, the Jones House Community Center in downtown Boone hosts concerts as a part of this summer series. The concerts begin at 5:00 p.m. and feature local artists and bands. Guests are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket and a picnic. Highlighted performances include Doc Watson Day (June 16) and a concert by Lazybirds, a well-loved classic American roots band (August 4).
Horn in the West
(Summerlong through Aug. 5; Nightly except Mondays)
The longest-running Revolutionary War outdoor drama in America, Horn in the West returns for its 66th consecutive season this summer at the historic Daniel Boone Amphitheatre in downtown Boone. Brought to life through the stories of famous American frontiersman Daniel Boone, this outdoor reenactment tells the story of American resistance to British tyranny during the Revolutionary War and features famous song and dance numbers such as the Loch Lomond song.
Yestival: YES with special guests Todd Rundgren & Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy
(Evening of Saturday, Aug. 5)
Appalachian State University is throwing an end-of-summer celebration with Yestival: YES with special guests Todd Rundgren & Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy. The concert is the cap to An Appalachian Summer Festival and will be held at the Holmes Convocation Center.
For information: http://appsummer.org/schedule/id/yes-with-todd-rundgren-carl-palmer-elp-legacy.
High Country Beer Fest
(Saturday, Aug. 26)
The 10th annual High Country Beer Fest at the High Country Fairgrounds will celebrate craft beer from around the region and the world, with more than 25 breweries in attendance, including local favorites Appalachian Mountain Brewery, Blowing Rock Brewing Co. and Lost Province Brewing Co. Attendees can sample craft beers and food, enjoy live music and listen in on seminars that will cover many aspects of beer tasting, brewing and food pairing. The 100% nonprofit event benefits the Appalachian State University Fermentation Sciences program and local nonprofits. For more information, see www.hcbeerfest.com.
“Summer is peak festival season, and here in Boone we have unique opportunities for people to see and experience great music and cultural events,” said Wright Tilley, executive director of Watauga County Tourism Development Authority. “Boone offers easy access to Blue Ridge Mountain adventures, from hiking to mountain biking to kayaking, as well as exciting events and performances. Come check us out.”
For a complete list of summer events in Boone, visit www.exploreboone.com/things-to-do/events/ or call the Watauga County Tourism Development Authority at (828) 266-1345.
About Boone, North Carolina
The town of Boone, founded in 1872 and named in tribute to legendary frontiersman Daniel Boone, is the cultural and economic hub of northwest North Carolina. Nestled in the High Country region of the state, this thriving mountain town is the county seat of Watauga County and home to Appalachian State University. Located 3,333 feet high in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Boone encompasses a vibrant arts community, bustling tourism industry, and numerous outdoor pursuits. Step outside yourself and find your adventure. Visit www.exploreboone.com and join in the conversation on social media with #ExploreBoone.
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