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Weekend Roundup: Things to Do This Weekend in the High Country; Check ‘em Out, Make Plans May 9-11

by Madison V. Fisler

May 9, 2014. 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

Check out this week’s movie trailers and our weekly movie review of The Amazing Spider-Man 2, click here.

ASU Commencement Ceremonies: Appalachian State University will hold the 2014 Spring Commencement Ceremonies this weekend, May 9-11. The date and time of the graduation ceremonies are based on the graduating student’s college. For those attending the graduation ceremonies this weekend, the office of the registrar suggests parking 45 minutes before the ceremony starts to ensure that you get to the commencement on time. For more information, click here

Friday, May 9

Concert: The Walker Center on the campus of Wilkes Community College wraps up its 2013-2014 season with “1964…The Tribute” on Friday, May 9 at 8 p.m. This performance is sponsored by Wells Fargo. Since the early eighties, “1964″ has been thrilling audiences around the globe by taking them on a journey through a quintessential moment in history that will live forever. Be a part of the journey on Friday, May 9 at the Walker Center. Sing along to favorite Beatles’ hits like “Yellow Submarine,” “Let It Be,” “Hey Jude,” “Help!” “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” “Day Tripper,” “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and “Penny Lane.” More than 20 years of researching and performing have made “1964″ masters of thier craft. They are hailed by critics and fans alike as the most authentic and endearing Beatles tribute, which has earned them the distinction from Rolling Stone Magazine as the “Best Beatles Tribute on Earth.” A limited number of tickets are available for this performance. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact the Walker Center Box Office at 336-838-6260 or walker.boxoffice@wilkescc.edu.

Adult Services Expo: This 12th Annual Adult Services Coalition EXPO will feature over 50 agencies that will be on hand to give out information regarding services available in our community.This event is sponsored by the Adult Services Coalition of Watauga County. At noon, “Celebration of Living Awards” will be presented and these will include “Caregiver of the Year”, “Centurion of the Year”,”Facility Resident of the Year”,”Individual of the Year” and “volunteer of the Year”.Live entertainment will be presented after the Award presentations and door prizes will be awarded during this event.For more information, please contact Project on Aging at 265-8090. Please plan to drop by on the 9th.

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.

Whispering Waters Gathering: This is new group forming that will be exploring various forms of walking and sitting meditation, Buddhist and other contemplative texts, kirtan (chanting) and group discussion. A different person will lead each session as they feel comfortable doing so.

Saturday, May 10

Watauga Arts Council Second Saturday: The Watauga Arts Council will host the May installment of the Second Saturday Arts Celebration at the Blue Ridge ArtSpace located at 377 Shadowline Drive in Boone. The event will take place on Saturday, May 10 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. For more information, click here

Appalachian RollerGirls Bout: On Saturday, May 10, the Appalachian RollerGirls will take on the Rogue Rollergirls of Fayetteville at Skateland USA in Hickory. The game kicks off at 2 p.m. and will feature a halftime performance by acclaimed jam skating group “Cool Rollings.” For more information, click here.

Mr. Watauga High School Pageant: The glitz, the glamour, the excitement! For almost 15 years, Watauga High School has held the annual Mr. WHS pageant to raise funds for those in need, and this year is no different. Mr. Watauga High School, presented by the Watauga High School Student Council, will be held on Saturday, May 10 at 7 p.m. For more information click here.

Watauga Humane Society Fundraiser: The Watauga Humane Society will hold its fourth annual Perennial, Herb and Seed Sale on Saturday, May 10 from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. in the parking lot of Precision Printing located at 1302 Blowing Rock Rd. in Boone. All plants come from well-established gardens of SNIPS (Spay, Neuter Is a Positive Solution) committee members and will be priced from $.50 to $5. All proceeds from this sale will fund the $15 spay-neuter special now being offered by the Humane Society. For more information click here.  

Singalong Master Class: Join Will & Ann Schmid for a Singalong Master Class on Saturday, May 10th, and rediscover the importance of singing in our lives, communities, schools and churches. As president of NAfME (MENC, ’94-96), Will created the original “Get America Singing . . . Again!” campaign which involved Pete Seeger as national honorary chair. Author of numerous publications for guitar, choir, general music and world drumming, Will has championed active music making throughout his life. His wife, Ann, was founder/director of the nationally known Stringalong Weekends (amateur folk music retreats) for 30 years. Will & Ann have given workshops and performed widely in the U.S. and beyond.

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. Don’t miss our 4th annual Boone Heritage Festival on Saturday, October 11, 2014!

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.

The Mountain Classic: On Saturday, May 10 starting at 9 a.m., The Mountain Classic, sponsored by the Paul H. Broyhill Wellness Center, will be the first Boone Duathlon combining a 250 yard swim and 5K run. The Duathlon starts at the Broyhill Wellness Center swimming pool located at 232 Boone Heights Dr, Boone.

Wildflower Hike: Join a Park Ranger for a woodland walk among Southern Appalachia’s forest gems: wildflowers and song birds. Spring wildflowers are blooming in abundance and the Neo-tropical wood warblers have returned to their summer nesting grounds. Field guides and binoculars are encouraged and will enhance the experience. Participants should be prepared to hike a two mile round trip along a moderately strenuous trail. Trail conditions will vary depending on weather but all participants should wear hiking boots and bring a light jacket. Please contact the park office if you have further questions. 828-963-9522

Adoption Event: Join us at The Pet Place for pet adoptions through Avery Humane Society. We are hosting a food drive in partnership with Precise Food, will have specials throughout the store, give aways and more!

Wildflower Hike at Grandfather Mountain State Park: The popular weekly spring wildflower hikes in Grandfather Mountain State Park are back! Hopefully spring will be along soon! The rich, humid coves of the lower Profile Trail will soon be lush with herbaceous spring wildflowers and each week provides new blooms, buds or emerging leaves to discover. Park Rangers Sue McBean and Luke Appling are ready to get out on the trails and start leading excursions to see what is blooming.

SHINE Dance Performance: SHINE Dance Ensemble presents a trilogy of works in one evening: For His Envy, In The Beginning, and The Great Day. Join us Saturday, May 10th at 6:30pm at the Ashe Civic center for the unfolding of God’s redemptive plan from the Creation of the world through the Revelation imparted to John. Contemporary dance, martial arts, beautiful costuming, banners, swords and more bring this multimedia production to life. Admission is free, a love offering will be gratefully received.

Mountain City 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.

Sunday, May 11

Baha’i Devotional Meeting: There will be a Baha’i devotional meeting from 10 a.m. until noon on Sunday, May 11 at 297 Cherry Drive in Boone. The theme of the meeting will be “Creating Living Families.” All are welcome. For directions and more information call 828-264-2297.

Wildflowers at Elk Knob State Park: Come view a PowerPoint of the many different flowers that call the mountains home. After the presentation, we will wander around the woods to see what we can find in bloom early in the season. Please meet at the Park Office at 2 pm.

Blowing Rock Jazz Society: Blowing Rock Jazz Society presents concerts every 2nd Sunday from April thru October at the Meadowbrook Inn. Please call 828.295.4300 to make reservations.