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VIP Tents Still Available for Second Annual The Blowing Rock Music Festival on Sept. 19

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Festivalgoers sit on the rock outcroppings at The Blowing Rock attraction to watch performances during inaugural Blowing Rock Music Festival last year. Photos by Ken Ketchie

By Jesse Wood

Four VIP tents are still available for the second annual The Blowing Rock Music Festival, which takes place Saturday, Sept. 19, on the grounds of the oldest travel attraction in the state of North Carolina.

The festival features music from noon to sunset from about a dozen acts, including The Harris Brothers and Their Very Greasy Friends; The Moore Brothers Band; Steve Davidowski & Zenobilly; Lacy Green; The Buck Haggard Band; The Neighbors and much more.

The setup consists of a main stage in the parking lot in front of the main building of The Blowing Rock Attraction and a second smaller stage inside the attraction and within view of The Blowing Rock outcrop.

The main stage is in the middle of the parking lot and the VIP tents and reserved seating for 100 under a large tent are setup on either side. Only 20 of the reserved seats remain.

“The [tents] all have prime view of the main stage and they are roped off in front of the tents for seating,” Charlie Sellers, owner of The Blowing Rock, said. “With the VIP tent comes 12 tickets, two parking passes in the field and tables and chairs.”

VIP tents cost $900 are 10-x-10. Advanced reserved seating costs $40. General admission tickets, which went on sale earlier this month, cost $40 on the day of the festival and $30 in advance. Children under 12 years old are $10.

Sellers noted that patrons are allowed to bring lawn chairs and coolers. In addition, two food vendors and an ice cream vendor will be on hand.

The outdoor event is rain or shine, and Sellers is hoping for plenty of sunshine like last year during the successful, inaugural festival.

“That can really make or break anything up here in the High Country,” Sellers said.

The attraction provides some of the most spectacular views in the High Country, looking over the John’s River Gorge, which descends 3,000 feet below Blowing Rock.

When Sellers, a grandson of The Blowing Rock founder Grover C. Robbins, took over the attraction in 2014, he said he began to immediately think outside the box in order to ensure that the attraction would remain a prominent fixture in the state’s tourism industry for years to come.

In addition to envisioning weddings, corporate meetings, family reunions and wine tastings, Sellers said he thought The Blowing Rock Music Festival would help attract new visitors to the attraction, including locals that have just never made that trek before.

The Blowing Rock is located at 432 Rock Road off of U.S. 321. Look for the attraction sign across from Green Park Inn. For more information, click here or call 828-295-7183.

Read this High Country Press “Business Spotlight” on The Blowing Rock attraction.

See photos of last year’s inaugural festival below:

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Vendors on the grounds of The Blowing Rock Music Festival. The festival’s programming took place in the parking lot and adjacent to the rock outcroppings for which the attraction is famous.
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Musicians perform early on Saturday. Many more folks would stroll through the grounds later in the afternoon.
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Folks enjoy a day at The Blowing Rock, listening to good music and soaking up the gorgeous views of John’s River Gorge.
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The observation deck offers awesome views of Mount Mitchell, Grandfather Mountain, Grandmother Mountain, Table Rock and the John’s River Gorge all in one swoop.
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The Harris Brothers perform for the crowd at The Blowing Rock Music Festival
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Relaxing on the grounds of The Blowing Rock and listening to music and talking with friends.
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The Blowing Rock attraction is a essentially a nature preserve with flowers, waterfalls and gorgeous views.
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The Blowing Rock attraction featured VIP tents with preferred parking and seating at the festival.
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This photo of the parking lot that hosted one of the stages was taken early in the day of the festival.
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The Blowing Rock owner Charlie Sellers thanked staff, volunteers and Town of Blowing Rock personnel for their hard work in making the first-time event a success.