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Weekend Roundup: Exciting Things to Do This Weekend; Check ‘em Out and Make Plans Dec. 12-14

By Madison Fisler Lewis

Dec. 12, 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.

Drive-Thru Live Nativity Scene: On Friday, Dec. 12 and Saturday, Dec. 13 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Poplar Grove Baptist Church will host the annual drive-thru nativity. Grab the whole family and drive around the church to view the beautifully decorated scenes that tell the story of the birth of Jesus. The Live, Drive-Thru Nativity has become an annual Christmans tradition for many High Country families. Whether this is your first time, or you’ve been before, come see what many in the High Country call a holiday family tradition. For more information click here.

The Nutcracker: This holiday season, local youth ballet company, Studio K, will once again light up the stage of Appalachian State University’s Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts with the annual production of The Nutcracker. The show will be performed by more than 300 dancers from Boone and the surrounding areas. Performances will be held on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 3 and 7 p.m. and on Sunday, Dec. 14, at 3 p.m. For more information click here.

SugarFest: Grab your gear and head to the slopes! Sugar Mountain Resort’s annual SugarFest will take place Dec. 12-14 and will feature an entire weekend stuffed full of fun and exciting activities for snow sports fanatics of all kinds to enjoy. “We’ve had fantastic snowfall this winter so far,” said Kim Jochl, vice president of Sugar Mountain Resort. “We have had close to 27 inches of natural snowfall, and we had a record weekend for Thanksgiving last weekend. Conditions are fantastic and people are coming and having a great time, and participating in our activities to the fullest. Winter is back, and we are excited.” For more information about SugarFest 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.

Santa at the Boone Mall: Nothing says Christmas in the High Country like Santa Claus, so it’s a good thing that he has made his way down from the North Pole to The Boone Mall, so children can sit on his lap, take a picture and tell Kris Kringle exactly what they want to find under their Christmas Tree. For more information about this event click here.

Chetola Resort’s Festival of Lights: Each evening through January, guests can drive through the streets of Chetola Resort and be transported to a winter wonderland full of illuminated scenes and meticulously decorated buildings throughout the resort. Thousands are on display for all to see, and the spectacle attracts plenty of excited onlookers every year. For more information about the Festival of Lights, click here.

Rotary Fruit Sale Pick Up: Those generous community members who have purchased fruit from the Boone Sunrise Rotary for the club’s annual Indian River Fruit Sale may pick up their orders fromThursday, Dec. 11 through Sunday, Dec. 14 at Legends on Hardin Street on the Appalachian State University campus.

Satie’s Holiday Sale: 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.

Christmas at Apple Hill Farm: Join us as we celebrate the Christmas season with mini tours of the farm, pony rides on Saturday afternoons and complimentary homemade hot chocolate, hot apple cider and Christmas cookies.Our store is fully stocked with your favorite alpaca yarns and accessories as well as table top Frasier fir trees, hand tied wreaths, and white pine garland.

Friday, Dec. 12

A Taste of the Nutcracker: This weekend, Hertitage Hall in Mountain City, Tenn. will present the final production of 2014, and announces the next upcoming shows for the spring 2015 season. “A Taste of the Nutcracker,” will be presented on Friday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door and $5 for students for this classic holiday fantasy story presented by the East Tennessee Youth Ballet. For more information or for tickets, click here.

Caroling at the Boone Mall: On Friday, Dec. 12, Caroling will be held at the Boone Mall. Local church choirs and ensembles present Christmas carols, traditional and new. Stop by to hear these beautiful songs about Christ’s birth and let what you hear remind you of why we celebrate Christmas!

Freakin’ Firkin Friday: Freakin’ Firkin Friday at Five continues with the release of a special 12-gallon cask of beer at 5 p.m.: Calypso hop infused rye pale ale. 10 p.m.-closing Live Music: Dr. Bacon Band. Dr. Bacon is a genre-defining “Appalachian Funk-Grass” band from Boone. They play an infectiously danceable blend of funk, soul, jazz, rock, blues, folk, hip-hop and more with a southern bluegrass foundation and instrumentation. $3 cover and 21+ only.

Saturday, Dec. 13

ASU Commencement: Appalachian State University students are in the midst of exam week for the fall 2014 semester, with Friday being the last day of exams. Starting Friday evening, winter break officially begins for the roughly 18,000 students that attend the institution. Commencement for students graduating at the end of the semester will take place on Saturday, Dec. 13, at the Holmes Convocation Center. This weekend, close to 1,400 ASU students will receive their degrees. For more information about this event click here.

Blues Porch Jam: On Saturday, Dec. 13, 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.

BanDam at Lost Province: BanDam is a local group originating in Boone.The band takes a little bit of everything into their sound, leaving no musical influence out of their playing and writing. Optional cover. The live music will start at 8 p.m.

Girl Scout Christmas Festival: GS Troop 10807 will host a Christmas Festival on Saturday, Dec. 13, from 5-7:30 p.m. at Boone United Methodist Church. They will have baked potato and chili supper by donation, silent auction, fun Christmas crafts and local vendors for your last minute Christmas shopping.

Turkeys and Ravens at Elk Knob State Park: Learn about these fascinating birds that love to call Elk Knob home. Meet at the park office at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13. This program will be held indoors.

Sunday, Dec. 14

Music on the Veranda: On Sunday, Dec. 14, 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. 14, 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.

Baha’i Devotional Meeting: There will be a Baha’i devotional meeting at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 14, in Stony Fork. The theme of the meeting will be “The Power of Prayer.” Baha’is believe in the divine origin of all the world’s great faiths. All are welcome. For more information and directions, call 268-2191.

Sunday Football at Lost Province: Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Football Game on the large screen. Lost Province Sunday: Residents of Watauga, Ashe, Avery and Alleghany counties receive 10 percent off of food with verification of residency.