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Weekend Roundup: Things to Do This Weekend in the High Country; Check ‘em Out, Make Plans Dec. 6-8

by Madison V. Fisler

Dec. 6, 2013. The High Country has so many exciting events to offer its community and visitors, especially as the blustery winter season 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

Check out what’s playing this week at the movies here

Toe River Studio Tour: On Dec. 6-8, more than 100 artists, galleries and craftsmen will open their doors for the bi-annual Toe River Studio Tour. This tour, which takes place from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, will allow guests to view art from more than 100 different vendors. To read the article on this event click here

High Country Christmas Parades: Christmas is a magical time in the High Country, with the crisp winter weather and quaint towns setting the stage for the perfect white Christmas. To celebrate this special time of year, many towns in the High Country offer an annual, highly anticipated event that area residents and visitors alike look forward to all year. For article, click here

The One and Only Santa Claus: The production will premiere at the Harvest House Performing Arts Center located at 247 Boone Heights Drive. The show will run Thursday, Dec. 5 at 6 p.m., Friday Dec. 6 at 7 p.m., and Saturday Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. Click here for article. 

Santa at the Boone Mall: Santa Claus will be visiting the Boone Mall this weekend! Bring the kids to tell jolly St. Nick what they want for Christmas this year. Santa hours are Friday from 4-9 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sunday 12-6 p.m.

Fair Trade Christmas Market: Need unique Christmas gift ideas? First Presbyterian Church at 131 Big Valley Street in Boone is again sponsoring a Fair Trade Gift Sale. The sale will be held Saturday, Dec. 7, from 9:30 a.m. -3:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 8 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 6:30-9:30 p.m. The sale is hosted in partnership with Unique World Gifts, a nonprofit fair trade organization which works around the world to enable artisans and farmers to gain access to markets and receive a fair price for their work. Purchase beautiful and affordable fair trade items handmade by disadvantaged artisans. With each purchase, you help artisans maintain steady work and a sustainable income that will change their lives and those of their families. Do your Christmas shopping with us, these are truly gifts that give twice.  

Friday, Dec. 6

First Friday Art Crawl: On Friday, Dec. 6, downtown Boone will be taken over by the final First Friday Art Crawl of the year. Like always, this month’s crawl will feature food, drinks and live music with work and exhibitions from local artists. And as usual, everyone is invited to come out and enjoy some Friday night fun. If you’ve never experienced First Friday Art Crawl, here is your chance to get in on what the locals already know! Head on down to downtown Boone and enjoy a Friday night out on the town. To read the Art Crawl Round Up, click here.  

Holiday Scholarship Concert: The Hayes School of Music’s 20th annual Holiday Scholarship Concert will be Friday, Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m. in the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts at Appalachian State University. Admission is $10. For article and photos, click here

Craft Enrichment Holiday Sale: On Friday, Dec. 6 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., there will be a craft enrichment holiday sale at Katherine Harper Hall at ASU. The sale will include pottery, glass, baskets, fibers, jewelry, wood, fine crafts and beautiful local art. Come and support the community artists.

Saturday, Dec. 7

Downtown Boone Christmas Parade: The winter chill is in the air, the month of December is upon us and we have already received our first dusting of snow of the year. It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas, but for many High Country residents, it isn’t Christmas until Santa is spotted on King Street! For article and photos click here

Banner Elk’s Christmas in the Park: On Saturday, Dec. 7, the Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce, Banner Elk Tourism Development Association and the Town of Banner Elk will host the annual “Christmas in the Park” celebration and the Parade of Lights. To read the article on this event, click here.

Santa Paws at the Watauga Humane Society: A second Santa Paws session and the annual Open House will be held at the Irma Baker Lyons Adoption Center Saturday, Dec. 7 from 1-4 p.m. To read the  article on this event click here.   

WAMY Winter Gala: On Saturday, Dec. 7, WAMY Community Action will host their second annual Winter Gala at the Foscoe Grandfather Community Center, part of the Grandfather Campground. To read the article on this event click here

Tailwagging Tag Sale: Saturday, Dec. 7 For Animals Sake brings us their second annual Tailwagging Tagsale. This fundraiser will feature one of a kind items such as antiques, paintings, and fresh baked goods as well as Christmas pictures with Santa Claus. All proceeds go to For Animals Sake’s Twilight Inn, their housing facility for retired pets with no other home. To read the article on this event click here

Third Annual Holiday Tour of Homes: Featured Lenoir homes include Georgian colonial, federal, 1804 historic, and mid-century modern styles as well as an Open House at Robin’s Nest Children’s Advocacy Center. Area musicians will be performing seasonal selections at each location.

Santa’s Elves at the Bayou: Meet Randi and Holly, two of Santa’s elves! Join us for an afternoon of interactive family fun featuring face painting, balloon animals and seasonal songs. There will even be a special letter to Santa station where the elves will help kids write their Christmas wish lists to Jolly St. Nick! This event is free of charge and open to the public. Happy holidays from the Bayou!

Boone Service League’s Holiday Market: It’s time for Boone Service League’s Annual Holiday Market! It’s a one stop shopping experience for everyone on your list. The market is located at Watauga High School. 

Banner Elk Christmas Craft Show: Come on out and find some great gifts at the Banner Elk Christmas Craft Show this coming Saturday, December, 7th from 9am to 3pm at the new Banner Elk Elementary School by the Best Western Hotel.

Mountain Home Music’s An Appalachian Christmas: Mountain Home Music closes its season each year with a free Christmas concert. In place of an admission price, a collection is taken and 100% of the proceeds go to the Santa’s Toy Box and the Hospitality House. Santa’s Toy Box helps to assure that children in Watauga County get a visit from Santa, and the Hospitality House is Watauga Countys homeless shelter. Featured will be the Mountain Home Bluegrass BoysScott Freeman, Steve Lewis, Josh Scott, and David Johnsonplus Lisa Baldwin, Dave Haney, and other friends of MHM.

Christmas Dessert Theatre: Christmas Dessert Theatre, 7:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday. Join us for a time of carols, dessert, theatre and the lighting of candles as we ring in the Christmas Season. Come, experience Christmas through those closest to it. Join us and invite a friend to come along. Tickets are required for seating and are available by calling the Mount Vernon Church Office, 828-266-9700, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday.

Sunday, Dec. 8

Lessons and Carols: The choir of St. Mary of the Hills Episcopal Church will present a traditional Lessons and Carols service Sunday afternoon, Dec. 8, at 2 p.m. The service will be held at the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum this year during church renovations, and everyone is truly welcome. In case of bad weather, please call the church office at 295-7323 to confirm that the service is not being rescheduled. For article click here. 

Moravian Love Feast: We hope you will join us Sunday, December 8 at 6:30pm (music starts at 6:00pm) to celebrate the season of Advent with a traditional Moravian Lovefeast Service handed down to us from our brave faith fathers and mothers. First Presbyterian of Boone. 

Ashe Choral Society Performance: The 2013 Ashe Choral Society program will include sacred and secular works of the season. A cappella pieces will be performed as well as accompaniments on the Steinway grand piano. A community Handbell Choir will be featured on two selections. The audience will participate in singing the favorite carol, “O, Come All Ye Faithful”.