Compiled by Madison V. Fisler
Jan. 6, 2015. The High Country of North Carolina is a bustling place, with so many different things for residents, visitors and students to do all year long. There really is something for everyone in this beautiful area, from exciting outdoor adventures, spectacular parades, unforgettable festivals and so much more.
This year, we are taking a look ahead in 2015 to help our readers just like you plan out your year and give you a head start on deciding what to do this year. Our recommendation is that you be sure to take in all of your favorites this year, but also that you take a leap and try something new. We hope that this compilation will help you plan your year with exciting adventures that you have come to expect every year, and a few that may come as a surprise.
So make 2015 a year to remember and take in all that you can. We’ve done all of the hard work, just pick a few things that interest you, and maybe a few you never knew about, and get out there to make this year the best one yet.
January
Jan. 1: New Year’s Day Hike at Grandfather Mountain State Park
Jan. 1: First Day Hike at Elk Knob State Park
Jan. 1: Shriner’s Masquerade Ball
Jan. 2: Squire Parsons Concert
Jan. 3: Beanstalk Community Theatre Auditions
Jan. 4: “Owls” at Elk Knob State Park
Jan. 4: Smith Shred for the Cup Rail Jam at App Ski Mtn
Jan. 6: Septuagenarian Party, Sugar Mountain Resort
Jan. 10-11: Winterfest, Beech Mountain Resort
Jan. 10: Ladies Park Night at App Ski Mtn
Jan. 10: National Winter Trails Day, Sugar Mountain Resort
Jan. 10: Second Saturday Studio and Gallery Hop
Jan. 16: K2 Pop This! Ollie Contest, Appalachian Ski Mtn
Jan. 18-19: Burton’s Party in Your Park, Beech Mountain Resort
Jan. 19: Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration at Ashe Arts Center
Jan. 22-25: Blowing Rock Winterfest
Jan. 22-25: High Country Small Plate Crawl
Jan. 25: GNU/Libtech Shred for the Cup Big Air, Appalachian Ski Mtn
February
Feb. 13-16: Valentine’s Day Family Weekend, Appalachian Ski Mtn
Feb. 14: Valentine’s Day Fireworks Celebration, Appalachian Ski Mtn
Feb. 20: Dragon Go Big or Go Home, Appalachian Ski Mtn
Feb. 20-22: Totally 80s Retro Ski Weekend, Beech Mountain Resort
Feb. 22: Volcom/Electroc Shred for the Cup Slopestyle Finals, Appalachian Ski Mtn
Feb. 26: Spyder 2014 Sample Sale, Sugar Mountain Resort
Feb. 28: wRECklESS Rail Jam, Beech Mountain Resort
March
March 2: March Madness, Sugar Mountain Resort
March 4: Broadway tour of RAIN: A Tribute to the Beatles, Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts
March 8: Richard T. Trundy Memorial Sugar Cup Competition, Sugar Mountain Resort
March 8: Sugar Bear’s Birthday Celebration, Sugar Mountain Resort
March 15: St. Patrick’s Day Park Jam, Appalachian Ski Mtn
March 15: Easter Egg Hunt: Sugar Mountain Resort
March 17: The Peking Acrobats, Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts
March 24: Curator Tour, Blowing Rock Art and History Museum
March 29: Neff Beach Bash, Appalachian Ski Mtn
April
April 3: First Friday Art Crawl, Boone
April 4-5: Blowing Rock Trout Derby
April 10: Tweetsie Railroad’s Opening Day
April 16-19: Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival
April 17: Koresh Dance Company
April 23-26: MerleFest
May
May 1: First Friday Art Crawl, Boone
May 5: HCPress’ 10th Birthday
May 9: Blowing Rock Art in the Park
May 10: Mother’s Day
May 15-17: Grandfather Mountain Naturalist Weekend
May 16: Brooks and Dunn Tribute Show, West Jefferson
May 25: Memorial Day
May 29-31: Nature Photography Weekend, Linville
June
June 1-14: Remarkable Rhododendron Ramble, Grandfather Mountain
June 4-7: Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show
June 26-July 3: Lees-McRae Summer Theatre Presents: Oliver, the Musical
June 27: Blood, Sweat and Gears
June 13: Blowing Rock Art in the Park
July
July 4: Fourth of July Scenic Lift Rides at Sugar Mountain Resort
July 4: Fireworks Extravaganza at Tweetsie Railroad
July 9-12: Grandfather Mountain Highland Games
July 10-11: Doc Watson Music Festival
July 15-19: Lees-McRae Summer Theatre Presents: Lend Me a Tenor
July 18: Blowing Rock Art in the Park
July 24: Symphony By the Lake
July 31-Aug. 2: BRAHM Art and Antiques Weekend
August
Aug. 1-7: Lees-McRae Summer Theatre Presents: Denim King, A Musical
Aug. 15: Blowing Rock Art in the Park
September
Sept. 7: Labor Day
Sept. 11-12: Blue Ridge Relay
Sept. 12: Blowing Rock Art in the Park
October
Oct. 3: Blowing Rock Art in the Park
Oct. 3: Brushy Mountain Apple Festival
Oct 17: Valle Crucis Country Fair
Oct. 17-18: Woolly Worm Festival
November
Nov. 27: Thanksgiving Day
Nov. 27: The Gobbler 5K Race
December
Dec. 31: New Year’s Eve Extravaganza at Appalachian Ski Mtn
Dec. 31: New Year’s Eve Celebration at Sugar Mountain Resort
Dec. 31: New Year’s Eve Celebration at Beech Mountain Resort
Remember to check back each month with our online calendar to see the latest and greatest happenings in the High Country.
From all of us here at High Country Press, have a safe and happy New Year and a fantastic 2014 to come.