by Madison V. Fisler
June 27, 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 Think Like a Man Too, click here.
Watauga Humane Society Annual Rummage Sale: On Friday and Saturday, June 27-28, The Watauga Humane Society will host the 33rd annual Rummage Sale Fundraiser inside the Boone Armory. For months, the Watauga Humane Society has collected donations of items to sell at the Rummage Sale to raise funds for the care of the animals who call the shelter their temporary home. For more information on this event click here.
Ashe County Little Theatre Presents Les Miserables: Starting on Thursday, June 26, The Ashe County Little Theatre will present “Les Miserables” in an adaption of the award-winning Broadway musical favorite. The musical is set during the French Revolution, where love, dreams, passion and redemption intertwine to create an unforgettable story. The show will run from June 26-30 at the Ashe Civic Center in West Jefferson. For more information about this event click here.
High Country Farm Tour: Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture is hosting the eighth annual High Country Farm Tour to be held on Saturday, June 28 and Sunday, June 29 from 2 to 6 p.m. For more information about this event click here.
Tuna Does Vegas: Ensemble Stage is back for the summer and will kick off the 2014 summer theater season on June 21 with the premiere of “Tuna Does Vegas.” For more information about this event click here.
Spongebob Squarepants at Tweetsie Railroad: Jumping Jellyfish! You can meet Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star in Meet & Greets from 11am – 3pm throughout the weekend. Stroll down Tweetsie Railroad’s Main Street and say howdy to the Marshal and the Cowboys. Visit the shops and the eateries. Along the way you’re sure to meet lots of interesting folks … and maybe a few outlaws, too.
Friday, June 27
Opening Day for Horn in the West: On June 27, Horn in the West, the classic outdoor Revolutionary War drama by Kermit Hunter, will once again kick off just as it always has since the show first premiered in 1952. But don’t think for a second that this historical show doesn’t have a few new tricks up its sleeve! For more information about this event click here.
Event Honoring the Chancellor: Community members are invited to attend a celebration honoring Chancellor and Mrs. Kenneth E. Peacock Friday, June 27, at 8 p.m. in the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts on campus. The event will honor the Peacocks for their 31 years of leadership and service to the university. For more information about this event click here.
Art in the Park at Honeybear Campground: Come do art in the park with us this Friday from 3:00 – 5:00 pm! Tower time daily from 1 – 3pm. Scavenger hunt from 12-5pm. Friday day pass only $5!
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.
On Friday, June 27, the Jones House presents Red Leg Husky and the Monroebots 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.
On Friday, June 27, the Best Cellar in Blowing Rock will present Soul Benefactor as part of this week’s installment of the Music on the Lawn at the Inn at Ragged Gardens. 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.
Valle Crucis Community Park will host Music in the Valle on Friday, June 27 featuring Brother Gravity. 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.
Saturday, June 28
Kiddo Fishing Derby: Beech Mountain Parks and Recreation is hosting its annual Kiddo Fishing Derby on Saturday, June 28 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Lake Coffey. All children ages 12 and under are allowed to participate and admission is free. Rods will be cast at 9 a.m., so arrive early to be registered in time. For more information about this event click here.
Health Splash: On Saturday, June 28, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Appalachian Regional Healthcare System will present Health Splash, a free summer health fair. The fair will take place at the Sloop Medical Office Plaza on the campus of Cannon Memorial Hospital in Linville. For more information about this event click here.
Greater Avery Tour de Art: Tour De Art 2014, the original High Country gallery and studio tour, kicks off the summer season on Saturday, June 28 at 9 a.m. In its sixth year, Tour De Art is a monthly event where artists open their studios to the public and galleries hold special art events. For more information about this event click here.
Outdoor Fireworks Concert Featuring Little Big Town: The 30th anniversary season of An Appalachian Summer Festival will officially kick off with the annual Fireworks Concert at Kidd Brewer Stadium, which will take place on Saturday, June 28, at 7:30 p.m. This year’s concert will feature country superstars Little Big Town. 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!
Hickory Ridge Living History Museum: Hickory Ridge Living History Museum, located on the grounds of “Horn in the West,” is an eighteenth-century living history museum highlighting the daily lives of our mountain ancestors. See live demonstrations of a various pioneer skills, such as hearthside cooking, flintlock rifle, blacksmithing, spinning and weaving, etc. Open Saturday mornings, May – October (during Farmers Market on site), and evenings before “Horn in the West,” Tues. – Sun., late-June through mid-August. Admission to the museum is by donation.
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.
Fields to Forests: Ever wonder what happens when farmland grows up or old forests fall to fire? All is not lost! Early succession is a natural and vital part of the landscape. A healthy landscape is a mosaic of different forest types including open spaces. Join a Ranger for a walk around an old field to discover what utilizes this environment and see the wealth of plant and wildlife diversity present. There will be a brief discussion followed by a short hike around the field lasting about an hour total. This program is appropriate for all ages but children must be accompanied by an adult. To improve our chances of observing wildlife, please leave pets at home.
High Country Festival of the Book: Organized by the Friends of the Watauga County Public Library to draw attention to the importance of books, reading and literacy. With two special ticketed events on June 27 and a day-long Book Festival on June 28.
Junaluska Jubilee: The third annual Junaluska Jubilee, celebrating Boone’s historic African-American community of Junaluska and honoring a native son, will be held on Saturday, June 28, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Events include an 11 a.m. Commemorative Church Service with tributes/video devoted to community honoree Virgil Greer, a community lunch at 12:30 p.m. and afternoon family entertainment beginning at 1:30 p.m., plus children’s activities. All events will take place at the Boone Mennonite Brethren Church, located at 161 Church St., Boone, two short blocks above the public library.
Sunday, June 29
On Sunday, June 29, the Green Park Inn’s Music on the Veranda will present Pop Ferguson starting at 5 p.m. For more information about this event, call 828-414-9230.
On Sunday, June 29, 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.
On Sunday, June 29 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.