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Weekend Roundup: Things to Do This Weekend in the High Country; Check ‘em Out and Make Plans Oct. 25-27

by Madison V. Fisler

Oct. 25, 2013. The High Country has so many exciting events to offer its community and visitors, especially as autumn is already upon us. 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

Haunted Hayrides: Oct. 25-27 at 8 p.m., enjoy a haunted hayride or two with the Beech Mountain Parks and Recreation Department and the Lees-McRae Equestrian Club. Tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the door, with proceeds going to community projects and the Equestrian Club. Saturday night early ride is family friendly, but later events may not be appropriate for kids. Tickets for this fun event can be purchased at the Buckeye Recreation Center. 

Haunted Horn: Walk the haunted trail for thrills and chills that will keep you coming back for more. This haunted walk through the Daniel Boone Woods is sure to be fun for all. This year’s trail will run from 7:30-11 p.m. Oct. 23 to 26 and Oct. 29-31. Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for WHS students with valid student ID. 

Haunted Trail at Honey Scare Campground: Every weekend visit the haunted trail at Honeybear (HoneyScare) Campground from 8-11 p.m. There will be a Halloween movie shown at 8 p.m. and a scary movie shown at 10 p.m. Visit every weekend in October for some good, Halloween fun!

Tweetsie’s Ghost Train Festival: For a family-friendly, yet frighteningly good time, experience Tweetsie Railroad’s 24th annual Ghost Trail Halloween Festival. The High Country’s most popular Halloween celebration begins Sept. 27 and continues every Friday and Saturday night through Nov. 2. Guests of all ages will enjoy spooktacular family fun at the park, and brave Ghost Train riders will experience frights and delights around every corner as the train howls its way through the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Downtown Boone Story Walk: The Story Walk officially beings Oct. 22 and will run through Nov. 6. Read a book page by page in the windows of local merchants in Downtown Boone. What a great way for friends and family to join in on a beautiful walk through town while enjoying a story great for all ages. 

Circle C Haunted Hayrides: Circle C Tree Farms is offering Haunted Hay Rides from Friday, Oct. 25 through Sunday, Oct. 27. The hay rides are completely free and open to the public for a great time!

Mountain Biking Collegiate Nationals: Beech Mountain Resort is excited to announce that the resort will be hosting this year’s USA Cycling Mountain Biking Collegiate Nationals Oct. 24-27. Nearly 350 students from 50 different colleges and universities will be in attendance. To read the article on this event, click here.

Alpine Ski Shop’s Tent Sale: October is halfway through, and that means wintertime is swiftly on its heels! Alpine Ski Shop at Appalachian Ski Mtn welcomes the winter weather with Alpine Ski Shop’s 16th Annual Tent Sale, Ski and Snowboard Swap and Raffle, scheduled for ten full days of fun from Oct. 18-27. Read the article on this event here.  

Friday, Oct. 25

Trunk-or-Treat: Bring your boos and grab your ghouls for the Trunk-or-Treat at Bethany Lutheran Church at 1030 Big Hill Road on Friday, Oct. 25 at 6 p.m. Raid the trunks from 6-7 p.m. and join us for a chili cook-off fundraiser supper, yummy treats, a costume contest, games and face painting. All proceeds go to adopting local families at Christmas. Sponsored by Bethany Lutheran Youth Group and Thrivent. 

Bluegrass at Todd General Store: Join Todd General Store every Friday from late May until Thanksgiving and listen to a variety of live Bluegrass music great for the entire family. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. and music will begin at 7 p.m. 

Harvest Festival: On Oct. 25, the Watauga Humane Society will host a Harvest Festival Celebration from noon until sunset. The festival will include some great Harvest-themed activities that will be fun for the entire family, including your furry friends! The celebration will include exciting activities including a pumpkin carving contest, a costume contest, parade, refreshments and much more! To read the article on this even, please click here. 

Saturday, Oct. 26

Black Saturday: Saturday, Oct. 26 is Black Saturday at the Rock as the Appalachian State Mountaineers take on Georgia Southern at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Kickoff for this football contest is 3:30 p.m. at the Rock. 

Blowing Rock Halloween Festival: On Oct. 26, bring the little goblins to the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum for some “creepy crafts” –Halloween-themed, hands on activities for the family! This entire event is free and open to the community. The festival is located on Chestnut Drive and will continue from 2-3 p.m. Games & a Fun House in the Recreation Center for the Kids! 3:00p.m.-5:30p.m. The event also includes trick-or-treating in downtown Blowing Rock starting at 6 p.m. and so much more!

Beech Mountain Halloween: Saturday, Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. come and enjoy some spectacular Halloween fun at Beech Mountain Town Hall and the Buckeye Recreation Center. Start at town hall for Trick-or-Treating at local businesses on the way to Buckeye Recreation Center. Once you arrive, enjoy games, food, costume contests, a haunted egg hunt, and even a bounce house!

Grandfather Mountain Halloween: On Saturday, Oct. 26, Grandfather Mountain visitors will be in for a scare as the park opens its doors to trick-or-treaters for a Beary Scary Halloween celebration. Families and children of all ages will be able to experience the beauty of fall at Grandfather Mountain while enjoying a full day of Halloween activities in addition to the regular programming.

Ensemble State Presents: Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow: “The Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow,” will help you get the spooks in just in time for Halloween. This great show will be featured on Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. An adaptation of Washington Irving’s famous short story, this production will be done in the style of 1940′s radio dramas with live sound effects.

Trunk-or-Treat: Valle Crucis United Methodist Church will host their annual Trunk-or-Treat Festivities on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 5-7 p.m. Lots of treats and activities for kids and free hot dogs for the entire family. Located across from Valle Crucis Elementary School and Mast Store Annex.

Punkin Party: On Saturday, Oct. 26, the Mast General Store in Valle Crucis and Western Youth Network jointly host the 7th annual Punkin Party of Valle Crucis in celebration of the changing colors, ripening pumpkins and cooling weather of the fall season. Click here to read the article on this event. 

Oktoberfest and Autumn Leaf Festival: On Saturday, Oct. 26, Jefferson hosts the first annual Octoberfest and the second annual Autumn Leaf Festival. The two festivals are linked side by side along the same stretch of road where visitors can experience the German food, music and beer of a classic Octoberfest along with Civil War reenactments, Civil War author talks and heritage crafts of the Autumn Leaf Festival. Click here to read the article on this event

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. The Farmers’ Market is located at Horn in the West in Boone. 

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.

Sunday, Oct. 27

Howard Street Exchange Festival: The fourth and final Howard Street Exchange Festival of 2013 will take place on Sunday, Oct. 27, featuring live music, art, vendors, food trucks, beer from Appalachian Mountain Brewery and various other local attractions. This festival is completely family friendly, so come on out and celebrate Fall in Boone!

Hallelujah Festival: Join the Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church for the annual Hallelujah Festival. The festival will feature games, prizes, a cake walk and much more. The festival is geared toward children through grade 5, and will take place in the Fellowship Hall at the church.