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Weekend Roundup: Exciting Things to Do This Weekend; Check ‘em Out and Make Plans Dec. 19-21

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By Madison Fisler Lewis

Dec. 19, 2014. The High Country has so many exciting events to offer its community and visitors. 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 this week’s movie review, click here.

Live Music at Twigs: Twig’s Restaurant in Blowing Rock hosts live music every Friday and Saturday night, from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. featuring great local and regional artists with no cover charge.

Pack the Pantry Food Drive: The Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge is organizing a “pack the pantry” food drive until Sunday, Dec. 21, to help feed those in need this holiday season for residents of the High Country. For more information, click here.

Satie’s Holiday Sale at Caldwell Arts Council: Artists and crafters from Caldwell & surrounding counties create lovely handmade items for holiday gifts. The entire house changes over to a gift shop during December, full of beautiful items for your shopping delight! Open Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. & Saturdays 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. during this sale, along with extended hours a few evenings.

Todd Bush Book Signing: Todd Bush Book Signing: Todd Bush will be doing a Book Signing at Boone Mall Dec. 19-21 (Fri, Sat, Sun) from noon -3 p.m. to share his pictorial journey through Blowing Rock with more than 200 beautiful images of this enchanted mountain town and the surrounding High Country scenery, communities and faces. Also there is a special Holiday Sale being offered at the book signing.

Newland’s Season of Celebration: On Friday, Dec. 19, and Saturday, Dec. 20, the town of Newland will host Caroling by the Christmas Tree. Meet at the tree next to Three Nail Hardware, and enjoy surprises, singing and Santa Claus, weather permitting. For information, call 828-719-1620.

Friday, Dec. 19

Live Music at Chetola: On Friday, Dec. 19, the Maureen Renihan and Keith McCutchen Jazz Duo will perform at Timberlake’s Restaurant at Chetola Resort. The music will begin at 6 p.m.

Freakin’ Firkin Friday: Freakin’ Firkin Friday at Five continues with the release of a special 12 gallon cask of beer at 5pm: Wildberry Cream Ale. Live music will be provided by Jody Lee Hager (Optional Cover). Jody plays a wide range of styles, from Bluegrass and folk, to rock, to gospel. He has many original songs that reflect his life experiences.

Friday Night Magic at the Mana Spot: This is our weekly Friday Night Magic: The Gathering casual tournament! Entry is $6 and the format is standard. We’ll also fire off a draft on 8+ sign-ups with a $15 entry fee. Any skill level is allowed. We have experienced players ready to help new players learn and we do random raffles on every event with 25+ entries. We also have an extensive collection of free board and card games that everyone is welcome to play!

Saturday, Dec. 20

Chetola’s Bonfire Nights: This winter, High Country residents will have yet another activity to enjoy chilly Saturday nights. Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock will be home of Bonfire Nights, a new winter event held at a new bonfire pit on the lawn each Saturday night starting Dec. 20. The Bonfire Nights will feature live music, s’mores packets available for purchase for $5 each, an outdoor bar and special winter drink specials. No reservations are required to enjoy bonfire nights and the events are open to the community. For more information click here.

Winter Warmer Drive: Continuing the philanthropy part of its three-pronged mission – community, sustainability and philanthropy – Appalachian Mountain Brewery (AMB) is hosting its “Winter Warmer Drive” on Saturday, Dec. 20, along with Blood Sweat and Gears (BSG), an organization that now sponsors three charity bike rides in the High Country each year. For more information about this event click here.

Blues Porch Jam: On Saturday, Dec. 20, the Blue Ridge ArtSpace will host the Blues Porch Jam. This Blues-Centric Jam Session features the Blues but caters to the whims, interests, and favorite tunes of those present. Musicians, vocalists, foot-stompers, groupies – all are welcome to this unplugged (no amps) session each Saturday afternoon.

Ride with RECESS Day: If you want to shred some snow, hang out with professional snowboarders and enjoy a day with the RECESS crew without the pressure of a big competition, Ride with RECESS Day is for you. The first annual Ride with RECESS Day will be held on Saturday, Dec. 20, at Beech Mountain Resort. For more information about this event, click here.

Breakfast at Buckeye: Breakfast at Buckeye with Mrs. Claus will be held Saturday, Dec. 20. For complete details about the free December to Remember events or to RSVP, call 828-387-3003.

Live Music at Lost Province: Ashton and Kennedy (Optional Cover). With dynamic live performances, crafty songwriting, and a sound defined by their exceptional harmonies, country duo Ashton & Kennedy has quickly built a strong reputation amongst their fans.

Black Bears at Elk Knob State Park: The black bear is one of the most exciting to see yet feared large mammals in our mountains. Discover their habits and habitats and learn how humans can peacefully coexist with these magnificent mammals. Please meet at the park office at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20, for a close-up look, through a PowerPoint presentation, at this beautiful animal. This program will be held indoors.

Pet Adoption Fair and Vaccination Clinic: The Watauga Humane Society is sponsoring a pet adoption fair at Pet Supplies Plus on Saturday, Dec. 20. The adoption fair will take place from 1-3 p.m., weather permitting, and will feature some of the organization’s most adoptable animals. The fair will feature a special price for adoptions in order to help find pets a home for the holidays, which will include spay or neuter, a microchip, rabies vaccination and more for just $25. For more information, click here.

Sunday, Dec. 21

Music on the Veranda: On Sunday, Dec. 21, the Green Park Inn’s Music on the Veranda (Indoors!) will present The Neighbors starting at 5 p.m. For more information about this event, call 828-414-9230.

Sunday Jazz Brunch: On Sunday, Dec. 21, 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.

Lessons and Carols Service: The choir of St. Mary of the Hills Episcopal Church will present a traditional Lessons and Carols service Sunday afternoon, Dec. 21, at 3:30 p.m. The service will be held in the church, and everyone is truly welcome.  In case of bad weather, please call the church office (295-7323) to confirm that the service is not being rescheduled.

Baha’i Devotional Meeting: There will be a Baha’i devotional meeting held at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 21, at 300 Beaver Dam Rd. in Bethel. The theme of the meeting will be “The Creative Power of the Word of God.” Baha’is believe in the divine origin of all of the world’s great faiths. All are welcome. For more information and directions, call 828-297-6222.

Lost Providence Sunday: Residents of “The Lost Province” (Watauga, Ashe, Avery and Alleghany) receive 10% off food with verification of residency.

Watauga NAACP Monthly Meeting: On Oct. 28, 2013 local Watauga citizens began collecting membership commitments to establish a local NAACP Chapter. On Feb. 15, 2014 our Watauga NAACP Branch was officially chartered by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. We were largely inspired by the North Carolina NAACP and Forward Together Moral Movement beginning in the spring of 2013, and we have participated in many of the demonstrations in Raleigh. We are committed to making a difference here in Watauga County to enhance dignity, democracy, and freedom; and to eliminate race-based discrimination. We support equal status and equal rights for all; and we stand against all forms of injustice.