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Weekend Roundup: Exciting Things to Do This Weekend; Check ‘em Out and Make Plans Aug. 1-3

by Madison Fisler Lewis

Aug. 1, 2014. The High Country has so many exciting events to offer its community and visitors, especially on summer weekends! Check our site every Friday for something new and exciting to look forward to while you’re watching the hour hand crawl to 5 o’clock. Find live music down the street, explore a nearby town’s local secrets or try out a new square dancing class. There’s always something fun to do in the High Country.

Weekend-Long Events

To check out this week’s movie trailers and our weekly movie review of Lucy, click here.

BRAHM Art and Antique Show: Starting on Friday, Aug. 1, the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum will host the eighth annual Art and Antiques Show which will continue through the weekend until Aug. 2. “This is our biggest fundraiser of the year,” said Allison Wonsick, Communications Manager at the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum. “All of the money raised goes towards operating costs of the museum. Being a nonprofit, we need these fundraisers and the generous support from our sponsors.” For more information about this event click here

Desperate Affection: Ensemble Stage continues its summer theatre series with a production of Desperate Affection by Bruce Graham. Performances will be held from July 26 to Aug. 3 at Blowing Rock School Auditorium. Desperate Affection is a two-actor romantic comedy thriller that centers around the relationship between characters Maggie and Richard. As the play goes on, audiences see that things are not as they seem and that something sinister lies beyond the surface. For more information about this event click here

Blowing Rock Horse Show: The 91st Annual Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show is hosting the Hunter and Jumper Division show from July 22-27 and from July 30-Aug. 3 at L.M. Tate Show Grounds in the Blowing Rock Equestrian Preserve. Expect to see world-class hunters and jumpers and their riders competing for glory and showing off the beauty and mystique of an age-old tradition. For more information about this event click here

Friday, Aug. 1

First Friday Art Crawl: On Friday, Aug. 1, downtown Boone will be taken over by the First Friday Art Crawl. Like always, this month’s crawl will feature food, drinks and live music with work and exhibitions from local artists. And as usual, everyone is invited to come out and enjoy some Friday night fun. If you’ve never experienced First Friday Art Crawl, here is your chance to get in on what the locals already know! Head on down to downtown Boone and enjoy a Friday night out on the town. Here’s what is happening this month

Watauga GOP Summer Gala: The Watauga County Republican Party will hold its annual Summer Gala on Friday, Aug. 1, at the Meadowbrook Inn in Blowing Rock. Comedian parodist Paul Shanklin, “the man of many voices” with the Rush Limbaugh Show, will be the featured entertainment. For more information about this event, click here

Concerts at the Jones House: On Friday, Aug. 1, the Jones House presents Amantha Mill and the Jazz Guitar Duo beginning at 5 p.m. The Jones House Community and Cultural Center presents a free outdoor concert every Friday night from June 6-Sept. 12. The Jones House is located at 604 West King St. in downtown Boone. For more information, call 828-268-6280. 

Music on the Lawn: On Friday, Aug. 1, the Best Cellar presents Smokey Breeze. The Best Cellar hosts a free outdoor concert each Friday night through the summer, and is located at 203 Sunset Dr. in Blowing Rock. For more information, call 828-295-9703.

Music in the Valle: Valle Crucis Community Park will host Music in the Valle on Friday, Aug. 1 featuring Rescue Jack. The concert will take place at Valle Crucis Community Park located at 2892 Broadstone Rd. in Valle Crucis starting at 7 p.m. For more information about this event, call 828-963-9239.

Wilkesboro’s Weekly Open Air Market: The Open Air Market is scheduled May 2 through September 19, 2014 on a weekly basis. The regular market is open every Friday from 4:00-8:00 pm. The vendor selling are farmers with locally grown fruits, vegetables, plants and local art & craft vendors, baked goods, plus many other vendors. This market will take place in the town owned parking lot across from the 50’s Restaurant and Royall’s Framing on Main Street in downtown Wilkesboro.

Grandfather Mountain Night WalkThe Grandfather Mountain staff naturalists will lead a guided night walk for adults and children to challenge their senses and experience the beauty of the night. These two-hour walks will be held at 8 p.m. July 18 and Aug. 1 and will explore various locations on the Mountain, talking about nocturnal animals and other natural features. The walks are not strenuous but do include some trails. Reservations are required, and space is limited to 20 participants. Please call 828-733-4326 to reserve your space. Children must be 8 or older to participate. Programs are $7 for the general public and free for Grandfather Mountain Bridge Club members with proof of membership. Participants should arrive at the Entrance Gate by 7:30 p.m. and may pay with cash or card.

Saturday, Aug. 2

SugarBrew: It’s that time of year again. Time to get ready for beer tastings, wine samples, live entertainment, spirits tastings, delicious food and much more. That’s right. It’s time for SugarBrew! The highly anticipated annual event will take place on Saturday, Aug. 2 at Sugar Mountain Resort. For more information about this event click here

Watauga County Farmers’ Market: Join us for the 40th anniversary season of Watauga County Farmers’ Market! The farmers’ market has been Boone’s Town Square since 1974.

Ashe County Farmers’ Market: We will have everything from fresh produce and meats to plants and crafts all under one roof!

Vintage Rummage Sale: Help Baird’s Creek Presbyterian Church raise funds to buy and install a chairlift for handicapped access. Rummage sale features vintage furnishings, linens, good size-10 clothing, dishes, decorative items, an antique highchair, some crafts, toys, books, CDs, DVDs and more. Shop comfortably, rain or shine, from 8 a.m. until noon – the sale is in the church basement, located at 2147 NC Hwy 194 South, just 2 miles north of the Mast General Store.

Elk Knob Volunteer Trail Work Day: Warmer weather has finally returned along with the Volunteer Trail Work Days at Elk Knob State Park. Every Saturday beginning April 5 and running through the middle of November (except June 28 and September 13), staff and volunteers will meet at the Summit Trailhead at 9 am and work until approximately 3:30 pm, weather permitting. Tools are provided but volunteers should wear close-toed shoes and bring work gloves, lunch and water. Most of the time will be spent building our new one mile loop trail, the Beech Tree Trail, although we may include some repair work on the Summit Trail. If you would like to be involved in a fulfilling project that will fill you with a well-deserved sense of pride, then join us on Saturdays at Elk Knob State Park. For more information please call 828-297-7261.

Johnson County Farmers’ Market: The main work of the Johnson County Farmers Market is to help strengthen a sustainable local agricultural and food economy. We do this by providing education, engaging in community and economic development, and promoting the availability and benefits of local food and agriculture.

New River Celebration DayJoin us in “Celebrating the New River: A day of Stewardship Awareness and Recreational Fun”, with children’s activities, tube rides, and the opportunity to meet a Snot Otter!

Sunday, Aug. 3

Music on the VerandaOn Sunday, Aug. 3, the Green Park Inn’s Music on the Veranda will present The Harris Brothers starting at 5 p.m. For more information about this event, call 828-414-9230.

Sunday Jazz Brunch: On Sunday, Aug. 3, Canyons in Blowing Rock will host the weekly Sunday Jazz Brunch with Todd Wright. Starting at 11 a.m., the event will feature live jazz music at Canyons located at 8960 Valley Blvd. in Blowing Rock. For more information about this event, call 828-295-7661.

Alpen Summer Concert: On Sunday, Aug. 3 starting at 5 p.m., Beech Alpen Inn will host the weekly Alpen Inn Summer Concert. The event will be held at the Beech Alpen Inn Pavilion located at 700 Beech Mountain Parkway in Beech Mountain. For more information about this event, call 828-387-2252.

Otto Wood Hike: Join a ranger Sunday, August 3 at 2 p.m. as he presents Otto Wood, celebrated Appalachian folk hero and convicted felon. Participants will hike as they learn how the criminal genius broke the law, escaped from prison and captured the imagination of the American public. Hike is weather dependent. Hiking attire to include boots is recommended. Meet at the summit trailhead.

Barter Theatre Presents: The Wizard of Oz: By L. Frank Baum With Music and Lyrics by Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg Background Music by Herbert Stothart Dance and Vocal Arrangements by Peter Howard Orchestration by Larry Wilcox.

Moth Madness: 2014 is the Year of the Lepidoptera for North Carolina State Parks! Lepidoptera is the scientific name for moths and butterflies and means ‘scale wing’. Moths are just as beautiful and varied as their butterfly cousins. Join a Ranger for some Moth Madness as we turn on the lights after dark and try to lure in some moths for observation and identification. Please dress for the weather conditions, bring a headlamp or flashlight and be prepared for walking on uneven ground. Please No Pets.