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Weekend Roundup: Things to Do This Weekend in The High Country; June 7-June 9

June 7, 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.

Friday, June 7

First Friday Art Crawl: The first Friday of every month turns downtown Boone into the Art Crawl. For this Friday’s lineup of events, click here

90th Blowing Rock Saddlebred Charity Horse Show: Steeped in tradition, the Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show is the oldest continuously running show in the United States. The show is free and open to the public with a $5.00 parking charge per person. A variety of vendors and food are available on the grounds and the Grandstand provides ample seating to watch the lineup of classes. Saddlebred Horses, Friesians, and Hackney ponies will be competing at the peak of their physical ability. The competition will occur in the main arena for most of the four days, ensuring plenty to see. Visitors are allowed to walk the grounds during the show. Each competing barn recreates a “home away from home” and visitors can get a better look at the individual horses and the inner workings of a top-rated horse show. The most popular classes are the three- and five-gaited pleasure classes and the Roadster classes. Also popular is the Fine Harness division, which is filled with beautiful carriages and show harness. For more information, call 336-469-8297.

Wilkesboro’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: Concerts at the Jones House – Every Friday in downtown Boone. FREE! Bring your own chair or blanket. Concerts start at 5:00 p.m. Tonight’s show will feature Forget-Me-Nots; Michael Reno Harrell and Williams and Company.

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. The event is free but tips and donations for the band are appreciated. The Todd General Store is on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1914, the store was the last stop for the Western “Virginia Creeper” Railroad. A deli and grill compliment the store today. Storytelling can be heard most Tuesdays at 6pm. Local and regional artisans, authors and book signings also are present most Saturdays. The Todd General Store is located 10 miles south of West Jefferson or 11 miles north of Boone off Highway 194, overlooking the South Fork of the New River and located on Railroad Grade Road, one of the most scenic bike routes in North Carolina. For more information, click here

Music in the Valle at Valle Crucis Community Park: 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! For more information, click here.

Chilhowie Lions Club Dance: Friday Night Chilhowie Lions Club Dance – For a great time, fellowship and clean family fun, come listen and/or dance to the music of a different band every Friday night(7:30-10:30). For more information, click here.

Mainstream Square Dance at Linville Land Harbor: Square Dancers, come join us for Mainstream square dancing every Friday at 7:30 p.m. National callers! The public is welcome. We are known for having “The Best Summer Square Dance Schedule in the USA.” For more information, click here.   

Saturday, June 8

The Black and Blue Double Century Bike Relay: The only cycling event of its kind in the contiguous United States, The Black & Blue, a double century (200-mile) relay, showcases the demanding mountainous roads and notable rivers of Northwestern North Carolina and Southwestern Virginia. The Black & Blue is a bike challenge like no other. For more information, click here.

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. For more information, click here.  

Hunter’s Heroes: Run in Memory of Deputy William Mast, Jr.1st Annual Hunter’s Heroes 10 mile race is a race on foot in memory of Deputy William Mast Jr. The race will span from the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office and follow main roads to the Blowing Rock Police Departments. The proceeds will be going to Hunter Mast’s Scholarship Fund for his college career. Shuttles will be available for those that need a water break or cannot complete the entire race. The race will begin at 9am for both runners and walkers. The race will conclude in Memorial Park in Blowing Rock (beside the Police Department) for a celebration for runners and their families. The public is welcome to join for this celebration picnic as well. We will be having a band, games/activities for children, a memorial area for Deputy Mast, and much more! Registration will be open in the following weeks. Please check back for the web address and Facebook page in the next couple weeks. We hope to have a huge turn out to show support to Deputy Mast’s wife and son. For more information, 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. For more information, click here

Deerfield Ridge Carnival: Deerfield Ridge Assisted Living will be hosting their first Community Carnival on June 8, 2013 at 287 Bamboo Road, Boone. There will be games, a bouncy house, an inflatable bull ride, carnival foods, music and much more! Everyone is invited to attend. The event is FREE along with all the games, food and prizes. Hope everyone can make it! Please feel free to contact Jen Teague for additional information at 828-264-0336.

King Bees play Live at Music in the Park: World-class musicians, the King Bees, open the Todd Summer Music Series once again this year. The King Bees have played their rocking blues all over the world, from the Lincoln Center in New York, to Mississippi juke joints, to European music festivals. If you have not seen them perform in Cook Park, be sure to catch them this summer when they turn the park alive with one of the most entertaining shows you will ever see. For more information, click here.

Contra Dance at the Apple Barn: New dancers workshop at 7:30. New and experienced dancers are welcome at this workshop! Dancing begins at 8:00. Dance admission is $7. $5 for high school students, 12 years old and under get in free. New dancers are always welcome! No partner or experience required. For more information, click here.

Mountain Home Music-Mountain Traditions: The High Country Ramblers play bluegrass and traditional mountain music. The band features David Wiseman (mandolin), Jim Smith (guitar), Perry Woodie (banjo and dobro), Ron Shuffler (bass), and Alan Johnson (fiddle). Each musician has deep mountain roots and extends a family musical tradition. For example, David Wiseman comes from a family of musicians including radio and movie stars Scotty and Lula Belle Wiseman, as well as fiddler Jimmy Wiseman. And Alan Johnson’s father played occasionally with the father of bluegrass, Bill Monroe.
Steve and Ruth Smith are masters of the mountain sound. Based mostly on Scottish and Irish traditions, their music includes hammer dulcimer, guitar, and banjo.  For more information, click here.

Sunday, June 9

Howard Street Exchange Festival: The Howard Street Exchange festival will showcase local nonprofits, artists, farmers, businesses, and food/beverage vendors, including Appalachian Mountain Brewery! There will also be a stage with several bands performing throughout the afternoon. After a very successful initial Howard Street Exchange festival on April 7th (of this year) the Town of Boone decided to become a sponsor of this event, voting unanimously to cover the special event fee of $1500. The Howard Street Exchange festival is being organized by the Boone Community Network, a startup local social network launching this summer. For more information, click here.

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.  For more information, click here.

Concert at BRAHM- Little Windows: Music duo comprised of Julee Glaub and Mark Weems, who specialize in traditional Irish and Appalachian music. $20/person. For more information, click here.