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Weekend Roundup: Exciting Things to Do This Weekend; Check ‘em Out and Make Plans Jan. 9-11

By Madison Fisler Lewis

Jan. 9, 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

weekend-roundup-things-to-do-this-weekend-in-the-high-country-check-em-out-make-plans-nov-8-nov-10Live 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.

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.

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.

Skiing 101 at Beech Mountain: In conjunction with national Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month, Beech Mountain’s Skiing 101 will be offered again this January. n conjunction with national Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month, Beech Mountain’s Skiing 101 will be offered again this January. For more information about this offer, 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.

Midnight Blasts: Appalachian Ski Mtn. Marketing Director Drew Stanley said the Midnight Blast sessions are perfect for folks looking for the “most bang for your buck” and also for those that may work later in the evening. “I would say people looking for a value, this is definitely the most bang for your buck with the extended time. It’s also real convenient for people who might work say five to six. There’s still a couple hours to get ready, get on the mountain and still get a full session in,” Stanley said.

Farmers Market Vendor Applications: The beginning of a new year means brand new vendors present at the Watauga County Farmers’ Market this summer, and the market is currently accepting vendor applications for the 2015 Farmers’ Market season. Eligible parties are producers who reside and produce in Watauga County and the adjacent counties. New craft vendor applications are also being accepted this year. For more information click here.

Friday, Jan. 9

Freakin’ Firkin Friday: On Friday, Jan. 9, Lost Province Brewing Company will host Freakin’ Firkin Friday at Five with the release of a special 12-gallon cask of beer at 5 p.m. This week’s concoction is local ginseng, honey and green tea inflused cream ale. Live music courtesy of Holden Bare will be held from 8-11 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 10

Casting Call: On Saturday, Jan. 10, CMT Networks will host a live casting call for a new reality series focusing on small town love. The casting call is open to anyone who lives in a small town and has experience with dating in a small town. For more information about the casting call, click here.

Second Saturday Celebration: Located at 377 Shadowline Drive, Watauga County Arts Council hosts its monthly Second Saturday celebration of on Saturday, Jan. 10, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. For more information click here.

Beech Mountain Beer Festival: On Saturday, Jan. 10, Beech Mountain Resort will host the first ever Winterfest Beer Festival, which will feature breweries and cideries from all over North Carolina to the top of Beech Mountain for a day of brews, views and winter fun. The event will feature a total of 14 breweries and one cidery, and will feature more than 50 varieties of craft brews and ciders. For more information click here.

National Winter Trails Day: Brrr! It’s wonderfully cold outside. Discover the fun and fitness of snow sports by participating in the 20th annual National Winter Trails Day on Saturday, Jan. 10, at Sugar Mountain Resort. Children and adults can try snowshoeing for free at Sugar Mountain Resort on Saturday, Jan. 10. Guided snowshoe tours go out every hour from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. The complimentary 45-minute snowshoe guided your includes snowshoe rental. For more information click here.

Live Music at Lost Province: On Saturday, Jan. 10, Lost Province Brewing Company will host live music featuring Andy Ferrell and friend with an optional cover charge.

How Nature Predicts Weather at Elk Knob State Park: Benjamin Franklin once said “Some are weather-wise, some are otherwise.” Come find out how to predict the weather by observing nature. Are some of the old wives tales about weather true? We will examine some of those to find out. This program will be held indoors. Meet at the Park Office at 1 pm on January 10. For more information or for travel conditions to and within the park, please call 828-297-7261.

Sunday, Jan. 11

Cardboard Box Derby: Picture yourself flying down the side of a snow covered ski slope in a decorated cardboard box, gliding past your peers in a wide open, race competition. No you aren’t dreaming. If this sounds like your kind of fun, head on out to Beech Mountain Resort on Sunday, Jan. 11, for the annual Great Cardboard Box Derby. For more information click here.

Music on the Veranda: On Sunday, Jan. 11, the Green Park Inn’s Music on the Veranda (Indoors!) will present The Todd Wright Jazz Quartet at 5 p.m. For more information about this event, call 828-414-9230.

Sunday Jazz Brunch: On Sunday, Jan. 11, 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: On Sunday, Jan. 11, 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.