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Last-Minute Preparations for Woolly Worm Festival, Takes Place Saturday and Sunday, Races Start at 10 a.m.

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Babette McAuliffe, a Woolly Worm Festival and Avery County Chamber board member stands with Anna Hollifield of the Avery County Christmas Tree Growers’ Association on the grounds of the Woolly Worm Festival in Banner Elk. The two are setting up Frasier fir Christmas trees to display at the festival. Photo by Ken Ketchie

 

By Jesse Wood

Oct. 18, 2013. The Woolly Worm Festival is just around the corner, and vendors are setting up booths right now for the influx of visitors to downtown Banner Elk for one of the Top 10 festivals in the South.  The festival takes place Friday, Oct. 19, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 20, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.. Races begin at 10 a.m.

“We are very excited,” said Annie Rutenberg of the Avery County Chamber of Commerce, which co-sponsors the event with the Kiwanis Club.

Nick Ward exercises his woolly worm in anticipation of the caterpillar races held each year on the third weekend in October at the Woolly Worm Festival in Banner Elk to determine which one worm will have the honor of predicting the weather for the coming winter.
Nick Ward exercises his woolly worm in anticipation of the caterpillar races held each year on the third weekend in October at the Woolly Worm Festival in Banner Elk to determine which one worm will have the honor of predicting the weather for the coming winter.

Rutenberg added that the weather forecast is “fabulous, perfect fall weather.”

All proceeds go to the community to enhance local schools, children’s programs and promote business and tourism in Avery County. 

For all the details on the festival, check out this story.