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Valle Crucis Park’s Friday Night ‘Music in the Valle’ Concert Series Offers Fun for All Ages

By Jessica Isaacs | jessica@highcountrypress.com

Whether you’re new to the Valle Crucis area or you’ve been enjoying it for years, there’s no time like summertime to head out and enjoy the beautiful Valle Crucis Community Park. Lucky for us, the park’s summer concert series, Music in the Valle, gives us one more reason to get out and enjoy this pristine mountain community with our friends and neighbors.

Situated along the Watauga River just off of Broadstone Road, the Valle Crucis Community Park is a private, nonprofit park that is funded entirely by donations and support from local folks.

The park offers playground equipment, flat walking trails, shelters, pavilions and incredible scenery; and, every Friday night this summer, it also features great live music and fun for all ages.

“It started about 15 years ago now as just a community jam session in Valle Crucis here in the park, and it’s grown from there,” said Caroline Gandy, the park’s executive director. “Now, we probably have anywhere between 300-600 people that come every week.”

Concerts are held every Friday night between Memorial Day and the week after Labor Day, beginning at 7 p.m. until Aug 12 and at 6:30 p.m. between Aug. 19 and Sept. 9.

Performances take place on the solar-powered stage that was built and designed by Appalachian State University and will feature a state-of-the-art sound system and professional sound engineering.

Bring the whole family, because the atmosphere is one that everyone can enjoy.

“It’s very family friendly and family oriented,” Gandy said. “We have tons of families with little kids that come out. The kids can play on the playground while the parents sit back and listen to music.

“The river levels are often perfect for small children to get in and play in the creek, so there’s always a lot of splashing around.”

The concerts are “bring-your-own everything” events, so make sure to pack a picnic blanket, your lawn chairs and any refreshments you’d like to enjoy.

Donations to the park are accepted in lieu of admission every week, and the concert series remains the nonprofit’s most significant fundraiser of the year.

“We don’t charge a fee, and we have always liked the idea that people are paying because they want to and not because they have to, so we pass the hat every Friday night,” said Gandy. “Most people donate $5, some people choose to give more. The money we make from the concerts makes up a huge portion of our operating budget for the year.

Continue reading to see this year’s Music in the Valle lineup.

For more information on the park and the concert series, including driving directions, visit vallecrucispark.com or call 828-963-9239.

Music in the Valle 2016

June 17: The Neighbors (bluegrass)

June 24: The Lucky Strikes (timeless hits)

July 1: Maybe, Maybe Not (Americana)

July 8: The Djangovers (Appalachian Swing/Jazz)

July 15: Grits & Soul (Bluegrass)

July 22: Zoe and Cloyd (Americana)

July 29: The Worthless Son-In-Laws (Indie rock)

Aug. 5: ClayBank (bluegrass)

Aug. 12: The Sheets Family Band (old time)

Aug. 19: Dashboard Hula Boys (eclectic acoustic)

Aug. 26: The Mountain Laurels (Celtic folk)

Sept. 2: Joseph Houck (Americana, folk, rock)

Sept. 9: Folk and Dagger (acoustic folk)