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Weekend Roundup: Things to Do This Weekend in the High Country; Check ‘em Out and Make Plans Aug 9 – Aug 11

Compiled by Madison V. Fisler

Aug. 9, 2013. The High Country has so many exciting events to offer its community and visitors, especially in the summer months. 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

Riders in the Sky at Tweetsie Railroad: Concerts at 12pm and 3pm. Come hear Grammy-winning music and comedy from America’s Favorite Cowboys! 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. Daily admission is $37 for adults and $23 for children ages 3 through 12. Children 2 and under are admitted free. The park’s daily hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For more info, call 877-893-3874 or click to www.Tweetsie.com.

Activation Arts and Music Festival: If you’re looking for a weekend experience that combines music, arts and inspiration, look no further than The Activation Arts and Music Festival coming to the High Country this weekend, Aug. 9-11. For more information, click here

Friday, Aug. 9

Music on the Lawn Featuring the Buck Haggard Band: The Buck Haggard Band will be playing at Music on the Lawn at the Inn at Ragged Gardens in Blowing Rock on Friday, Aug. 9. The shop will run from 5:30-8:00 p.m. and is free for the public to attend. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket to get comfortable. Cash bar is available. 

things-to-do9-300x3001-150x150Wilkesboro’s Weekly Open Air Market: Wilkesboro hosts a weekly Open Air Market on West Main Street in the heart of historic downtown, offering farm-fresh fruits, vegetables and plants, as well as handmade crafts. The market’s focus is on supporting and sustaining the local farm and artisan community. The market takes place every Friday from 4 to 8 p.m., from April 19 through Oct. 18. Admission is free. The town of Wilkesboro will also provide an open mike opportunity during the regular Open Air Market Fridays for local and regional musicians. Open mike signups will be available weekly April through October, not including the Third Friday Events, which are held April through August. To sign up, or for more information, contact Andrew Carlton at Wilkesboro Town Hall at 336-838-3951.

Concerts at the Jones House: Every Friday in downtown Boone. FREE! Bring your own chair or blanket. Concerts start at 5:00 p.m. This week’s concert features Shane Chalke’s BE Jazz Band and Lucky Strikes.

Bluegrass at Todd General Store: Join us every Friday from late May until Thanksgiving and listen to a variety of live Bluegrass Acts. Dinner will be served at 6pm and music starts at 7pm. Come early to be sure you get a seat.

Music in the Valle: Join Valle Crucis Community Park as we celebrate the 11th anniversary season of Music in the Valle! All concerts begin at 7:00 and end at sundown. Admission is free, but a $5 donation per person to the park is recommended. Pets are welcome but must be leashed. There is absolutely no smoking allowed in the park. Bring a picnic, a blanket or chairs, and enjoy! This week’s concert features 8 Miles Apart sponsored by the Mast General Store.

Saturday, Aug. 10

Fundraiser at Linville Falls Winery: Don’t forget! Mark your calendars! Put it in your planner! Tie a string around your finger! Do whatever you need to do to make sure you are there. These families need our help. Linville Falls Winery, in cooperation with Reaching Avery Ministries (RAM’s Rack) and WAMY, will be hosting a fundraiser for the victims of the N.C. 194 mudslide on Aug. 10 from 12-5 p.m. The winery will be donating a percentage of wine sales for the day to be administered through Ram’s Rack directly to the Bailey and Thompson families. There will be live music from 2-5 p.m. as well as winery tours and hiking trails through the winery and Christmas tree farm. They would like to extend an invitation to area businesses to participate in this event by displaying and selling your product at the winery that day in support of these families who need our help.

The Watauga County Farmers’ Market: Every Saturday morning from May to November you will find quality locally farmed meats, fresh produce, artisan cheeses, dried and fresh cut flowers, hardy local plants, delicious edibles, and a wide variety of quality crafts. Farmers’ Market is located at Horn in the West parking lot in Boone next to the Daniel Boone Native Gardens. 

Art in the Park: A series of art and fine handcraft shows featuring juried artisans. Now in its 51st year, Art in the Park features 90 exhibitors in each of six shows May through October. Work includes: painting (oil, watercolor and acrylic), etching, stained and blown glass, basketry, wood carving and turning, clay, photography, fiber, jewelry and more.

Life Care Center of Banner Elk Back to School Fling: On Aug. 10, the Life Care Center of Banner Elk will host the Back to School Fling, a free event that will allow K-8 students in Avery County to come out and collect necessary school supplies free of charge. For more information about this event, click here.

 Lenoir Downtown Farmers’ Market: The Lenoir Downtown Farmer’s Market is a local producers only market. All goods are grown, made, designed or processed by the market vendors. Our vendors include vintners, local grass fed beef and pork, free range eggs, goats milk soaps and lotions, honey, alpaca wools, various produce, local arts and crafts, heritage eggs, herbs and spices, both living and dried, Herbville and Crane teas and sauces, just to name a few. We also feature a variety of live music including Celtic music, classic acoustic rock, Jazz saxophone, and many more. Need another reason? Here it is. Our market often features a specific product from one of our vendors, and we’ll be grilling up something almost every weekend, chicken wings, 100% beef hot dogs, grilled corn, tomatoes, and asparagus! Don’t miss this chance to meet and support your local farmers and producers, and help keep North Carolina foods close to home.

Puss in Boots Outdoor Play: The Master Cat in the tale of “Puss in Boots” will win the hearts of children of all ages. Children’s play on the Horn in the West outdoor stage starts at 10:30 (45 minutes long) each Saturday, July 20 – August 10. Cost of admission is $6. On Saturday, arrive in time to enjoy the adjacent Watauga County Farmers Market before the show! Tickets are available online at www.horninthewest.com and at the box office, 591 Horn in the West Drive, Boone. Call 828-264-2120 for directions and information.

Sound Traveler’s Poetry and Music Workshop at Watauga County Public Library: Join Bob & Patty Tatum, former public school Language Arts educators, as they demonstrate the connection between poetry & music in this innovative workshop. Enjoy live music, original photography, and discussion as you learn to see poetry in a whole new light!

Sunday, Aug. 11

Live Music At Linville Falls Winery: Linville Falls Winery will be having live music from 3-6 p.m. from Redleg Husky and Mama Dukes Wood Fired Pizza from 12-6 p.m. Come enjoy the afternoon and try out new wines!

25th Annual Community Service Days: Join the Blowing Rock Community Foundation for a week of great events. Your contribution will enable the Foundation to pursue its goal of service to the citizens of Blowing Rock. Proceeds are used to provide scholarships for college students from Watauga County and grants to numerous local agencies and civic organization every year.

The Ascent: Sign up on SportOften.com by March 31 and you will be entered into a drawing for a Lupine 900 lumen Piko 3 Light and Uvex Supersonic helmet combo from Gretna Bikes worth over $400! or a New Pair of Running Shoes! This year you will have the option to double up and do BOTH of the Hardest Hill climbs in the South. Sign up for the 9.25 Mile Bike Hill Climb at 10AM, then compete in the 3.7 Mile Run from Watson Gap Pavilion back to the top at Noon – best combined uphill time wins (no downhill racing, that’s just begging for trouble). Of course, if you just want to compete in the Bike OR the Run, you can do that too.

Music on the Veranda: Come & join us this Sunday, August 11th for the Harris Brothers at the Green Park Inn They’re a blues mix up band with a little jazz, blue grass, and rock n’ roll. The concerts are always free and open to the public. 

Alpen Summer Concerts: Join in the summer fun at the Alpen Inn Pavilion on Beech Mountain for free outdoor concerts every Sunday from 5:00 to 9:00 (weather permitting), Memorial Day thru Labor Day. The event is free and open to the public. Bring a lawn chair, blanket, or use seating provided. Food and beverages are available for purchase on the lawn through the Alpen Inn Restaurant. Events are family and pet friendly (permitted on leash). Musical acts scheduled to perform: The Lucky Strikes, Shane Chalke BE Jazz, Smokey Breeze, The Mercury Dames, Sound Traveler, Echo Park, Klee Liles/Klee and Mike Show, Liz Hayes and the Common Threads, Amantha Mill. Music ranges from Jazz, Swing, Old-time Americana, Blues, Beach, Classic Rock-n-Roll and more.

Groovy Nights Variety Show: The Blowing Rock Community Foundation (founded in 1985) is putting on another fun show to raise funds in pursuit of its goal of service to the citizens of Blowing Rock. Everyone is welcome! Proceeds are used to provide scholarships for college students from Watauga County and grants to numerous local agencies and civic organization every year. For more information, click here

Grandfather Mountain State Park Twilight Hike: Join a Park Ranger for an evening stroll through the Southern Appalachian Forest and see the woods come to life after the sun sets. Experience the park from a different prospective and learn about nocturnal wildlife. Participants must bring flashlights or headlamps and are encouraged to wear hiking boots. Hike will go approximately 1.5 miles. Dress appropriately for the weather. Please no pets. For questions, please contact our office at (828) 963-9522 or luke.appling@ncparks.gov.