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Weekend Roundup: Exciting Things to Do This Weekend; Check ‘em Out and Make Plans Jan. 30 – Feb. 1

By Madison Fisler Lewis

Jan. 30, 2015. 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

Movie Times

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.

Craft Enrichment Registration: For many High Country residents, the Michael R. Patricelli Craft Enrichment Program, offered each year at Appalachian State University, is a welcome outlet for creativity and a great way to learn a new craft or hobby. Serving both students and the community, the Craft Enrichment Program offers participants the use of professional equipment and dedicated instruction to guide them in their pursuits. For more information, click here.

Dawn Mathews Exhibit: Art exhibit “The Go-o-o-od Life” featuring artwork by Dawn Mathews will be on display during the first quarter of 2015 at the Caldwell Memorial Hospital Art-in-Healing Gallery, Mulberry Street Entrance. Free. Open 7-days/week 7 a.m.-8 p.m. daily.

Girl Scout Cookies: Thin mints, Do-Si-Dos, and Peanut Butter Patties will once again grace the palates of High Country cookie lovers starting next week. That’s right, Girl Scout Cookies are on their way, and there are many places around the area to get your sugar fix! To find out where to find your cookies, click here.

College Week: Students rejoice! If skiing and snowboarding have been a little bit outside of your price range this year, fear not, Beech Mountain Resort has got you covered. Jan. 30 through Feb. 8, Beech Mountain Resort will host College Week with great discounts, college competitions, live music, contests and much more. For more information click here.

Artist Reception: Appalachian Social Justice Educators and the Watauga Branch of the NAACP will screen the award-winning documentary, “Race to Nowhere: The Dark Side of America’s Achievement Culture,” on Thursday, Jan. 29, from 7-9 p.m. in room 114 of Belk Library at ASU. Free parking is available in the parking deck adjacent to the library and elsewhere on campus after 5:30 p.m. Discussion will follow the 85-minute film.

Friday, Jan. 30

Race to Nowhere: Appalachian Social Justice Educators and the Watauga Branch of the NAACP will screen the award-winning documentary, “Race to Nowhere: The Dark Side of America’s Achievement Culture,” on Thursday, Jan. 29, from 7-9 p.m. in room 114 of Belk Library at ASU. Free parking is available in the parking deck adjacent to the library and elsewhere on campus after 5:30 p.m. Discussion will follow the 85-minute film.

Freakin’ Firkin Friday: Freakin’ Firkin Friday at Five continues at Lost Province Brewing Company with the release of two infusion beers at 5 p.m. (Strawberry Blonde and Grapefruit IPA). Live music will take place 8-11 p.m. with the Worthless Son-In-Laws.

Saturday, Jan. 31

Live Music at Lost Province Brewing Company: Lost Province will host live music starting at 8 p.m. featuring the Swing Guitars Trio. There is an optional cover charge.

Local Caving Trip: High Country Recreation is partnering with River and Earth Adventures for an upcoming LOCAL caving trip to Worley’s Cave on Saturday, Jan. 31. Join other local families for an underground caving adventure you will never forget.

Bonfire Nights at Chetola Resort: This winter, High Country residents will have yet another activity to enjoy on 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 evening from 6-9 p.m. The Bonfire Nights 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.

Winter Birds at Elk Knob State Park: Have you ever wondered how birds survive the winter in the mountains? Join us at the Park Office at 1 p.m. on Jan. 31 to find out. See what kinds of birds you may see during the cold, dark months of winter. Call 828-297-7261 for more information or for travel conditions.

24-Hour Play Festival: Are you interested in helping Appalachian State University students write, rehearse and perform a play in 24 hours? Five campus clubs are collaborating for this exciting feat and need volunteers. Anyone wishing to participate must attend a 45-minute informational meeting on Saturday, Jan. 31, in Chapell Wilson Hall Room 105 at 2:15 p.m. At 3 p.m., the clock will start and playwrights will begin to write. Actors and directors will be dismissed after the meeting, and come back later on Saturday night to audition and begin rehearsals. A full schedule will be outlined at the informational meeting. Food and caffeinated beverages will be provided for all participants.  Breaks for food will take place throughout the 24-hour period. The final performance will take place on Sunday, Feb. 1, at 3 p.m. in I.G. Greer Studio Theatre. Admission will be by suggested donation for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids.

Sunday, Feb. 1

Super Bowl Sunday: If you haven’t yet made plans for the biggest game in the entire professional football season, it’s not too late. Here is your chance to see what is going on in the High Country for the most important day of the year for die-hard football fans, so grab your friends, family and your lucky jersey and head on out for a night to remember. For information, click here.

Harmonia Baroque: Harmonia Baroque will perform Sunday, Feb. 1, at 4 p.m. in Broyhill Music Center’s Recital Hall on the Appalachian State University campus. Admission is free. The early-music ensemble from the Hayes School of Music performs on 17th and 18th century instruments and reproductions. Members are Nancy Schneeloch-Bingham, traverso; Alicia Chapman, hautbois; Lauren Hayworth, soprano, Corinne Cassini, cello, Douglas James, theorbo, and Michael Bell, harpsichord. The program includes “Sonata in A Major, Op. 8, No. 7” by Pietro Locatelli, “Sonata á 5” by Giuseppi Baldassare Sammartini and “Sonata” by Giovanni Battista Fontana.

Baha’i Devotional Meeting: There will be a Baha’i devotional meeting at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 1, in Stony Fork. The theme of the meeting will be “Progressive Revelation.” Baha’is believe that all of the world’s great faiths are divine in origin. All are welcome. For more information and directions, call 268-2191.

Last Mountain Film Screening: Hear the story of a West Virginia community’s fight to defend their mountains from the destructive practice of mountaintop removal coal mining as this documentary exposes the harmful impacts of coal on health, biodiversity, the economy and the climate. Film will be followed by a short Q&A session with screening host Appalachian Voices. Refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Kimber at 828-262-1500 or kimber@appvoices.org.

Sunday Jazz Brunch: On Sunday, 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.