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Weekend Roundup: Exciting Things to Do This Weekend; Check ‘em Out and Make Plans Sept. 26-28

By Madison Fisler Lewis

Sept. 26, 2014. The High Country has so many exciting events to offer its community and visitors, especially on autumn 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 this week’s movie review, click here.

Breast Buddies: The Dande Lion’s “Breast Buddies” fundraiser is a little more than halfway over, and so far the month-long event has garnered a lot of attention – and donations. The fundraiser involves 14 bras set up inside the shop that were decorated by local businesses and organizations. Participants can vote for their favorite bra by placing donations in the container designated for their favorite. The contest will take place throughout the entire month of September, and a donation will be made on Oct. 1 to the Wilma J. Redmond Fund just in time for the kickoff of National Breast Cancer Awareness month. For more information about this event click here.

Ghost Train Halloween Festival: When the eerie sound from the whistle of a steam locomotive pierces the peaceful quiet of an autumn High Country night, it can only mean one thing: it’s time for Tweetsie Railroad’s annual Ghost Train Halloween Festival. Starting Sept. 26, and continuing every Friday and Saturday night through Nov. 1, guests will enjoy a frightfully spooky ride as the Ghost Train howls its way through the Blue Ridge Mountains with new frights and delights around every corner. For more information about this event click here.

Harvest Boone: The fourth annual Harvest Boone Festival will be held Sept. 25-28 at the High Country Fairgrounds. The event will collect food for the Hunger and Health Coalition to add to the seven tons of food raised for the organization so far in the years since the event’s inception. Harvest Boone is the sister festival to the Boone in Blossom Festival, another community outreach festival that strives to build and support local businesses in the High Country. For more information about this event click here.

First Year Student Showcase: The Appalachian State University Department of Theatre and Dance presents The First Year Student Showcase in the intimate I.G. Greer Studio Theatre on campus. This unique experience allows freshmen and transfer students to take center stage in their first semester at Appalachian. The show will run Sept. 25-27 at 7:30 p.m. with a matinee offered Sept. 28 at 2 p.m. Ticket prices are $5 for students and $10 for adults. For more information visit www.theatre.appstate.edu or call the box office at 828-262-4046.

Grayson Highlands Fall Festival: Grayson Highlands State Park’s 38th Annual Fall Festival will be held Saturday, Sept. 27 and Sunday, Sept. 28, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is a $8 per day parking fee. This event is sponsored by the Rugby Volunteer Rescue Squad, Fire Department, and ladies auxiliary. Live bluegrass and old-time music are featured on Saturday. Music starts at 10:00 a.m. and is played all day.

Friday, Sept. 26

GOP Barbeque: On Friday, Sept. 26, members of the community are invited to “come meet our candidates” at the annual barbecue dinner at the Boone Golf Club at 433 Fairway Drive. The event starts at 6 p.m. and costs $20 per person. For more information about this event click here.

Concerts on the Lawn: On Friday, Sept. 26, the Best Cellar presents The Harris Brothers. The Best Cellar hosts a free outdoor concert each Friday night through the first week of October, and is located at 203 Sunset Dr. in Blowing Rock. For more information, call 828-295-9703.

Sunny Ledford at Canyons: On Friday, Sept. 26, Canyons in Blowing Rock will host Sunny Ledford starting at 10 p.m. Reservations are encouraged for parties of 5 or more. Cover charge for the show will be $10.

Saturday, Sept. 27

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. The farmers’ market is located at the Horn in the West parking lot and runs from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.

High Country Cross Country Classic: On Saturday Sept. 27 Watauga High Cross Country will be hosting the High Country Cross Country Classic on the Watauga High CC course. The course sits below Jack Groce Stadium adjacent to the Greenway. Twenty-five teams from North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina will be represented by over 600 runners. There are 6 races.

Avery County Tour de Art: The sixth annual Avery County “Tour de Art” gallery and studio hop continues this month at seven galleries in the greater Avery County area. Alta Vista Gallery in Valle Crucis, Kevin Beck Studios in Boone, Linville River Pottery in Pineola, Sally Nooney Gallery, Studio of Mike Hill and Studio 140, all three in Banner Elk, have events and exhibits planned for the tour. “Tour de Art” commenced six years ago as a way to encourage art lovers in Avery and surrounding counties to learn more about the artists in the area. Visitors are encouraged to visit as many galleries as possible, meet artists and discover new works. For more information about this event click here.

Grandfather Mountain Sunrise Opportunity: Grandfather Mountain’s sunrise and sunset opportunities are back by popular demand! Photographers and sightseers can take advantage of this rare opportunity to marvel at the nearly 360-degree views available from Grandfather Mountain’s peaks as the sun rises and sets.

Elk Knob Volunteer Trail Work Day: Warmer weather has finally returned along with the Volunteer Trail Work Days at Elk Knob State Park. Every Saturday beginning April 5 and running through the middle of November (except June 28 and September 13), staff and volunteers will meet at the Summit Trailhead at 9 am and work until approximately 3:30 pm, weather permitting. Tools are provided but volunteers should wear close-toed shoes and bring work gloves, lunch and water. Most of the time will be spent building our new one mile loop trail, the Beech Tree Trail, although we may include some repair work on the Summit Trail. If you would like to be involved in a fulfilling project that will fill you with a well-deserved sense of pride, then join us on Saturdays at Elk Knob State Park. For more information please call 828-297-7261.

Waterfall Hike: Join a local naturalist and Blue Ridge Conservancy staff on a 3 hour scenic hike to a pristine waterfall on a private conservation easement property near the Blue Ridge Parkway in Alleghany County. This is a special hike and one of our favorites!! Moderate difficulty.

Public Lands Day Clean Up at Grandfather Mountain State Park: To celebrate National Public Lands Day we will be cleaning up a section of the Park land. This volunteer day is suitable for adults and children above 12 years of age. All volunteers under the age of 18 must have a parent or legal adult guardian present. Volunteers should be dressed in appropriate clothing for outdoor work, bring work gloves, wear closed toed shoes and bring food and water for refreshment during the day.

GOP Caravan: A local GOP caravan will travel to 11 locations across the county to meet Republican candidates. Folks can travel with the caravan or stop at select locations at certain times. For more information about this event click here.

BRAHM Fall Fables: The leaves are starting to get a bit of red and orange in them, there is a crispness to the air and piles of pumpkins are appearing on the roadsides. In short, it is beginning to look like fall in western North Carolina. And what better way to celebrate autumn in the High Country than by gathering up your children, getting together with friends or just heading over solo to the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum (BRAHM) to hear mountain folktales? For more information about this event click here.

Art Songs of the Heart: Enjoy and celebrate the 32nd year of Carlton Gallery during the Autumn Group Exhibition along with the “Art Songs of the Heart” exhibit by Toni Carlton on Saturday Sept. 27. The Avery Tour de Art is from 10-5 and the Opening Reception is from 2-5 p.m. The gallery is located 10 miles south of Boone and seven miles north of Linville on N.C. 105 in the Grandfather Mountain community. For information on artists, exhibitions or available workshops, call 828-963-4288 or visit www.carltongallery.com.

Blues Porch Jam: On Saturday, Sept. 27, the Blue Ridge ArtSpace will hold 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.

Hoe Down for the Humane Society: Join us for a hoe down on Saturday, Sept. 27 from 7-10 p.m. The cost will be $75 per couple, $40 per person, $15 for teens and $8 for children 4-12. Children under three get in for free. All proceeds benefit the Avery County Humane Society. There will be food, drinks and good times for all at the Chapman Center. Music will be provided by Doug Gragg’s Golden Strand Band with square dancing called by Roy Krege. Barbecue, desserts and beer and wine will be available.

H.A.M. Biscuit Breakfast: Casting Bread Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen would like to advertise the H.A.M. Biscuit Breakfast to honor Hunger Action Month. It will be on Saturday, Sept. 27, from 8-10 a.m. Coffee and water will also be available. This breakfast will be free to anyone with donations graciously accepted.

Hog Slaughter Workshop: There will be a hog slaughter workshop held on Saturday, Sept. 27, starting at 8 a.m. It will be held at Vicki Baublitz’s farm located at 1218 Mountainview Baptist Church Rd. in Boone. The workshop fee will be $5 per person and needs to be paid by Friday, Sept. 26, at 5 p.m. The workshop will cover all aspects to prepare the animal and the process to butcher your pig. Call Eddy Labus at 828-264-3061 for more information.

Music Moves My Sole 5K: Split Rail Records, Appalachian State University’s student-run record label, will host its first ever “Music Moves My Sole” 5K race on Saturday, Sept. 27, at 9 a.m. The race will begin and end at Duck Pond on the campus and will feature various local artists performing along the route to encourage the runners on their way. Advanced registration is available at www.splitrailrecords.com through Sept. 19. The $15 fee covers registration and guarantees a race-day T-shirt. This is a family friendly event and runners of all ages and ability levels are invited to attend. Prizes will be awarded in various age categories. While 5K fundraisers are not sparse in the High Country, Kim Wangler thinks that “Music Moves My Sole” will stand out from the crowd as an annual favorite. Wangler is director of Appalachian’s music industry studies program. “We have local musicians set up to play along the route while our runners are out and we can’t wait to showcase the amazing talent we have here in Boone,” she said. Runners will also be treated to door prizes and refreshments from local companies and will be able to buy merchandise from participating bands.

Sunday, Sept. 28

A Musical Feast: Boone professional chamber ensemble “A Musical Feast” will perform a benefit concert Sunday, Sept. 28 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church to raise money for the Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge. The concert will begin at 2:30 p.m. and guests can gain admission by donation, with a suggested range of $10-50. A reception catered by Earth Fare will follow. For more information about this event click here.

Music on the Veranda: On Sunday, Sept. 28, the Green Park Inn’s Music on the Veranda will present The Harris Brothers starting at 5 p.m. For more information about this event, call 828-414-9230.

Sunday Jazz Brunch: On Sunday, Sept. 28, 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.

Jon Beebe Performs Bassoon Concert: Works for bassoon will be performed Sept. 28 at Appalachian State University. The faculty recital presented by Hayes School of Music faculty member Jon Beebe will begin at 8 p.m. in Broyhill Music Center’s Rosen Concert Hall. Joining Beebe will be Lynn Beebe, clarinet, Karen Robertson, horn, Rodney Reynerson, piano, and Christina Hayes, piano.

Autumnfest: Join the Mountain Pathways community in celebrating Autumnfest. We’ll have inflatables, hayrides, cake walks, games and lots to eat. Go to www.mountainpathways.org for more info, and go towww.facebook.com/MtnPathways to check out and bid on our silent auction items.