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Today’s Email Announcements

1) Pinto Bean Supper on Wednesday to Support Relay for Life

Grace Lutheran Church will host a pinto bean supper on Wednesday, May 20 at 5:45 p.m. in the church fellowship hall. All proceeds will support the American Cancer Society and the church’s Relay for Life fundraising efforts. Call the church at 828-264-2206 for more information.

2) Elk Knob Opens New Outdoor Amphitheater on Sunday

Celebrate the grand opening of the new outdoor amphitheater at Elk Knob State Park at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 24. Appalachia Cookie Company will join the festivities, which will include a ribbon cutting, a program for kids about amphibians and live music performed by William Ritter and Sarah Ogletree. Call 828-297-7261 for more information.

3) Western Square Dances at Linville Land Harbor

Linville Land Harbor Mountain Mixers will host the following western square dance events this week at the LLH recreation center.

FRI. MAY 22: Mainstream dance with announced plus tips, 7-9 p.m. Caller is Ron Libby. Dress is casual.

SUN. MAY 24: A2 1:30-2 p.m., Plus 2-4 p.m., caller is Ron Libby. Dress is square dance attire or smart casual.

4) North Wilkesboro to Host Zombie Apocalypse and 2K on May 30

North Wilkesboro will host its inaugural Zombie Apocalypse and 2K on Saturday, May 30.

The Downtown North Wilkesboro Partnership, Kinetic Fitness, Wilkes County Library, Carolina Blood Centers of the Carolinas and the Wilkes Playmakers are partnering to bring the fun-loving dead together for a good cause. Proceeds will go to help North Wilkesboro School aid in the fundraising for a Beanstalk Adventure Playground, that will be available to the school and community alike, the Wilkes Playmakers (as the designated non-profit of choice) and a food drive to benefit Wilkes Ministry of Hope.

Event organizers have worked hard to bring something new and different to the streets of North Wilkesboro.

“We are pleased with the positive feedback from all those contacted so far to be a part of this event in Downtown North Wilkesboro, whether in partnerships, sponsors, vendors, schools, or special guests so far,” they said. “There’s plenty of room for more, and we can’t wait to make this event, well, ‘apocalyptic.’

“We enjoy doing these kinds of events — not only do we have lots of fun at them but we love that it benefits our community, especially when it involves the children, like with the Beanstalk Adventure Playground and Community Theatre Arts. It just shows that charity work doesn’t have to be such a solemn event; you can really have fun with it.

“We’ve been involved in several Zombie Walks and this is going to be different than anything else out there. From the response we’ve been getting on social media and around town this is going to be quite the epic event.”

Crystal Keener of the Downtown North Wilkesboro Partnership said, “The DNWP is happy to support any family friendly event that brings visitors to downtown North Wilkesboro. We’re looking forward to seeing great costumes, hearing live music and enjoying the evening with zombies, super heroes and more.”

Megan Griffith of Kinetic Fitness agreed, saying, “We have such a great downtown area for events like this. I’m so excited about it.”

Paula Joines, president of the Wilkes Playmakers said, “The Wilkes Playmakers are very happy to support the Downtown North Wilkesboro Partnership in this project by sharing our time and talents. What’s not to love about an event that promotes our town, local businesses, healthy ‘living’, and the arts?”

Even the local downtown businesses are getting into it. The Dispensary Restaurant will have food and drink specials and the staff will be “dressed up” for the occasion.

Special guests will include: Hillside Horror, Digger the Zombie, Carolina Coffin Cruisers, Wilkes County Zombie Response Unit, Rowan County Zombie Outbreak Response Team Unit 12, Forbidden Forest, Ghoul Skool and more!

Some vendor spaces are still available to sell wares and food. Sponsorship packages are available. More information is available on our NWZA and 2k Facebook page.

Tickets for the 2k Zombie run are $10 per person, no age limit, with parent or guardian, or $5 with a donation of 2 or more canned goods for The Wilkes Ministry of Hope. Registration is available at Kinetic Fitness, online, and at the registration booth on the day of event, beginning at 4 p.m. Free T-shirt with pre-registration for the first 25 runners by May 23.

Tickets for the walk are $7 per person, no age limit, with parent or guardian, or $5 with a donation of 2 or more canned goods for The Wilkes Ministry of Hope.

Tickets are on sale now online or in Downtown North Wilkesboro businesses Electric Steel Tattoo, The Record and Thursday Printing, or at the registration booth on the day of the event.

For more information about the Zombie Apocalypse, rules for cosplay, and close ups on the Special Guests, go to the event’s Facebook page or the website.

  • 3 p.m. A film trailer from “Night of the Stalkers”. By Ghoul Skool members Jon Stewart & Evan Anderson.
  • 3:30 p.m. “Infectious” by Debi Waddell. A film about the rise of Zombie Culture in the South. Both films will be shown in the Wilkes County Library. A panel discussion with Heather Dean, Digger the Zombie, & filmmakers follow each showing.
  • 4-7 p.m. Ticket booths open. Zombie make-over’s begin, free with ticket purchase, by some of our area’s finest make-up artists. (Tipping your artist is recommended)
  • 4:30-7 p.m. Community Blood Center of the Carolinas will have the bus on hand for “donors” Blood Donors will receive a free ticket for the Zombie Walk. (Please bring a valid ID to donate blood)
  • 5-7 p.m. The Hunter and the Hunted, a Dark Genre Cosplay Contest. Come in costume as your favorite Zombie, Hero, Witch, Villain or monster, etc… Prizes for best costumed character will be awarded after the Zombie Walk finishes at 8:15 p.m.
  • 6:30 p.m. Wilkes county’s first ever Run for your life Zombie 2k will start and loop around the town.
  • 7.30 p.m. Zombie Walk down Historic Main Street. Both will begin in the Ruritan Park on 10th Street.
  • Live music from Salisbury’s Graveyard Boulevard from 6-7:30 p.m. and Wilkes County’s own Three Quarters Dead plays from 9-10:30.

5) ChickenFest Americana Music Festival May 22-24

Tyson Foods will present its 10th annual ChickenFest three-day music festival on Memorial Day weekend, May 22-24, at the corner of Fourth and E streets in North Wilkesboro.

More than 35 acts will perform at this festival, which celebrates Americana music and the area’s poultry industry. Bojangles of 2nd Street will sponsor the event, which is hosted by The Record and Tyson Foods.

As always, a diverse line-up of musicians will perform on The Sammy Lankford Stage and the Tut Taylor Spotlight Stage inside the Tyson Pavilion, with genres ranging from old-time, folk, bluegrass, blues, acoustic rock and gospel.

Friday evening at ChickenFest, which begins at 6 p.m., will be hosted by WKBC Radio’s Steve Handy and Ed Racey, and will be held in tribute of Grammy winning musician Tut Taylor who died April 9, at the age of 91.

Performers for the evening include: Ward Eller and Friends; Madison McKinney; Mike Palmer, Cathy Palmer, Niki Hamby, Jeff Moore, Ben Holbook and Rick Gaughan;  Larry Griffin; and R.G. Absher and the Backwater String Band..

Saturday, May 24’s music begins at 11 a.m. A flag raising ceremony will be conducted by members of VFW Post 1142’s Honor Guard. The National Anthem will be sang by Lauren Stutts and a welcome will be given by North Wilkesboro Mayor Robert Johnson and Record Publisher Ken Welborn.

A highlight of the evening will be a tribute to Charles Tesh. Having performed at most every ChickenFest, Tesh helped organize the lineup for the Tut Taylor Spotlight Stage and was an invaluable “go to guy,” said event organizer Record Editor Jerry Lankford. “It didn’t matter what we needed, Charles was there to help. ChickenFest will never be the same without him. He was a good and dear friend on many levels.”

Performers on Saturday at Chicken will include: Keith Watts and Linda Cabe, Devin Huie, The Dixie, Emma Averi, Copper Creek, Rocky Point, Lauren Stutts and Jerry Lankford, Misty River Band, Ralph Clanton, Sonny Remington, Chris Eller and Ruby Williams, Rude Mood, Ernest Johnson and Friends, Dvaughn Ladd, Crabgrass, Adam and Ray Winebarger, Herb Key and Trevor McKenzie with a discussion and performance of the song Otto Wood: The Bandit, a scene from the outdoor drama Otto Wood: The Bandit, Bobby Billings, Doreen Pinkerton, Hard Tymes, Uncle Joe and the Shady Rest, Heidi and Tatum Holloway, Rick Brockner and Autumn Hollars, Adam Younce, Jimmy Owen and Roger and Michelle Cranford with a Tribute to Charles Tesh.

Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame members David Johnson, Eric Ellis and Friends will close out the evening with “Looking Back on 10 Years of ChickenFest.”

Sunday at ChickenFest will begin at 11 a.m., with a church service conducted by Rev. Larry Thompson and Arbor Grove United Methodist Church. Music begins at noon and runs to mid-afternoon. Performers include: Padraic Wildermuth, Jimmy Owen, Doreen Pinkerton, Uncle Joe and the Shady Rest, and Doug Davis and Friends.

Chicken barbeque, chicken hotdogs and chicken sandwiches, baked goods, nachos and other snacks will be sold by Arbor Grove United Methodist Church. Master Griller Clarence Carty and Blake Sebastian of Woodhaven Catering will prepare barbeque chicken.

A play area will also be provided at The Record Park.

For more information about ChickenFest and other events at The Record Park, call The Record at 336-667-0134. ChickenFest is an Alcohol-free family event.

6) Blowing Rock Yard Sale to Support Humane Society on June 6

The first Mayview Homeowner-sponsored yard sale will be held on Saturday, June 6 beginning at 7 a.m. at 119 Wonderland Trail on the corner of Laurel Lane and Wonderland Trail in Blowing Rock. All proceeds will support the Watauga Humane Society. Barbecue from Bistro Roca will be available for purchase. For more information, including yard sale item pick-up, call 828-264-7865.

7) Weekly Events at Lost Province Brewing Company

TUES: Cheap date night, $25 dinner for two from 6-10 p.m.

THURS: $3 Thursdays, $3 pints on all LP brewed beers (except high gravity). Live music 8-10 p.m. with Matt Walsh. Matt Walsh is from Statesville, NC. He does around 200 shows a year with The Low Counts and under his own name. His sound is influenced by anyone from Link Wray to Robert Nighthawk to Black Sabbath. His music has a primary focus is original music and blending his roots with new ideas rather than replicating them. The result reflects many genres of music – early electric and hill country Blues, Rock, old Country, Rockabilly, Soul, Stoner and Garage Rock, Hip-Hop and Psychedelia.

FRI: Freakin’ Ferkin Friday at Five continues with two varieties of LP pilsner. We will feature pilsner aged with sugar maple and pilsner dry hopped with Mandarina Bavaria hops. Live music 8 p.m. to closing with Hilltop Riot. Hilltop Riot (formerly Cougar Bait) was born in a cornfield in Illinois, shooting skeet, drinking shine, and rocking the husks off some GMO corn stalks. After taking it on the road all the way to Illinois and back the group decided that while it was no cornfield, the High Country would be their next venue to divide and conquer. After another successful gig rocking out a nursing home it was clear that Hilltop Riot was destined to take over the world. Soon after founding members Ben McPherron, Chris Cappozoli, and Toma Fuller started abandoning their familial duties to practice and hone their soul swinging acoustic blues sound. With the “support” of their loving wives and girlfriends the trio managed to craft a varied repertoire ranging from blues to soul to swinging jazz to old country. While never forgetting our humble roots in the nursing homes and cornfields Hilltop Riot aims to get people off their phones and into the music, moving on their feet or at the very least tapping their toes. See for yourself!

SAT: 10 a.m. brunch. Live music 8 p.m. to closing with Mark Bumgarner. He’s a son of the south, but Mark’s influences span the American landscape, from the traditional sounds of the Appalachian mountains, to the west coast country and folk rock sounds of the 60’s & 70’s. These influences and his own sense of musical direction have guided Mark for the last thirty years as a performing musician and songwriter. During this time, he has worked with several national and regional touring bands, half of the duo CALICO MOON, and now as a solo artist. His musical style is a blend of roots country, bluegrass and folk, with a contemporary approach that creates a true “Southern Americana” sound.

SUN: 10 a.m. brunch. Lost Province Sunday: Residents of the “Lost Province” (Watauga, Ashe, Avery and Alleghany) receive 10 percent off food with verification of residency.