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Join the Fun as the Town of Banner Elk and Lees-McRae College Unite for a Family Picnic and Concert Oct 4th.

The Town of Banner Elk and Lees-McRae College will celebrate their mutual histories Thursday, Oct. 4 with a Founder’s Day Ceremony and Family Picnic and Concert.   

The Founder’s Day Ceremony will begin at 4:30 p.m. in Tate-Evans Park in Banner Elk and features a twin-tree planting and presentation to symbolize the Town and College enduring connections. One tree will be planted in Swank Park on the campus of Lees-McRae and another in Tate-Evans Park. 

Starting at 5 p.m. in Tate-Evans Park, the evening will feature live entertainment, food trucks, inflatable games for all ages, and interactive novelties. 

On the main stage, performances from The Harris Brothers, a Lenoir-based Bluegrass band, followed by Nashville-based Mountain Heart will set the scene as several High Country food trucks offer options for all tastes.

Mountain Heart is an International Bluegrass Music Association award-winning band known for pushing the boundaries of acoustic music to new heights. They have appeared at the Grand Ole Opry more than 130 times, and have shared the stage with acts ranging from Lynyrd Skynyrd to Merle Haggard to Alison Krauss to the Avett Brothers.

Food trucks will include Betty’s Biscuits from Banner Elk, The Cardinal, Egg Roll-In, All Thai’d Up Ice Cream Rolls & Smoothies from Boone, Carolina Barbeque from Newland, Beech Mountain’s own Beech Mountain Brewing Company, and Banner Elk’s Flat Top Mountain Brewery.  Free hot dogs will be available for children 12 and under provided by the Town of Banner Elk.

Attendees can park for free at either the Historic Banner Elk Elementary School or the Town Hall parking lot.  Attendees are invited to bring a non-perishable food item to be donated to Feeding Avery Families in lieu of admission.

The Banner Elk Founder’s Day Celebration and Community Picnic/Concert precede the Oct. 5 inauguration of Dr. Herbert King Jr. as the 16th president of Lees-McRae College and the college’s annual Homecoming weekend from Oct. 5–7.

For more information, call the Town of Banner Elk at 828-898-5398.