Cold weather is here are there are so many reasons to get out and enjoy it. WinterFest is back in Blowing Rock this weekend, and we’re here to help you plan your trip.
Grab your hats and scarves and get ready for some serious winter fun. You know what they say: “Don’t hibernate, celebrate!”
ALL DAY EVENTS ALL WEEKEND
High Country Small Plate Crawl: Thursday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Crawl from restaurant to restaurant sampling the best of the High Country’s culinary scene. Participating restaurants will offer special Small Plate Menus priced at $3-$8 to showcase the talents of each chef.
Print our your crawl passport and maps that will help you navigate through restaurants in town. Get more information here or call 828-295-7851.
Participating restaurants will include Gamekeeper, Foggy Rock Eatery and Pub, Timberlake’s at Chetola, Mellow Mushroom, Casa Rustica and The Table at Crestwood.
Shop Til You Drop: Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Love to shop? Do so to your heart’s content while you’re in Blowing Rock for WinterFest.
Antiques, apparel, accessories, art, gifts, crafts, home décor, jewelry, outdoor supplies — whatever you’re looking for, you can find it nearby.
If you want to plan your day ahead, check out the chamber’s list of shops organized by category.
THURSDAY, JAN. 28
WinterFeast: Chetola Resort, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Enjoy a fantastic dinner brought to you by a variety of the area’s best chefs. The 6:45 p.m. seating is sold out, but you may choose between 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. seating’s. A cash bar will be available. Tickets are $29 per person.
This annual event is a highlight of winter in the High Country, and tickets are already sold out online. Call 828-295-7851 to get yours! Don’t miss the WinterFeast After Party at Twigs following dinner.
Participating chefs will represent restaurants including Timberlake’s at Chetola, Canyons, Blowing Rock Ale House, Best Cellar, Roots, The Chestnut Grille at The Green Park Inn, Meadowbrook Inn, Bistro Roca, Restaurant G, The New Public House, Rowland’s at Westglow, Six Pence Pub, Twigs, Woodlands, Town Tavern, The Table at Crestwood, Outback Steakhouse and Ugga Mugga Bakery.
For more information, call Chetola at 828-295-5500.
Chetola: 185 Chetola Lake Drive
Beer Tasting: Foggy Rock, 6-9 p.m.
Try something new from Booneshine Brewery on Thursday night. Start the weekend off right, give their favorite brews a shot and you might even win a free koozie.
Call 828-295-7262 for more information.
Foggy Rock: 8180 Valley Blvd.
WinterFeast After Party: Twigs, 8:30-10:30 p.m.
Wrap up the first night of the four-day weekend with live music from the Jacob Johnson Band until midnight. No cover charge!
Call 828-295-5050 for more information.
Twigs: 7956 Valley Blvd.
FRIDAY, JAN. 29
Pancake Breakfast: Sunny Rock, 7:30 a.m.
Sunny Rock Eggs and Things will offer all-you-can-eat pancakes for $4.95 or all-you-can-eat sweet potato pancakes for $5.95.
Call 828-414-9636 for more information.
Sunny Rock: 8146 Valley Blvd.
WinterFashion Show: Meadowbrook Inn, 11 a.m.
See what’s new in ladies’ fine apparel for spring from your favorite Blowing Rock shops. Doors open for lunch at 11 a.m. at $27 per person with cash bar available. Show starts at 11:30 a.m.
Call 828-295-4300 for more information.
Meadowbrook: 711 Main Street
WinterFest Ice Stroll: Main Street, noon to 5 p.m.
A series of commissioned pieces carved from 300-pound blocks of ice will each represent a business in town, and they’ll all be on display by noon for you to enjoy while you shop.
At First Citizens Bank, check out a piggy bank carved out of ice with pennies and coins frozen inside, and see if you can guess how much money’s inside.
Stop by to have a drink made with the luge inside a frozen English phone booth at Six Pence Pub.
Take your photo with an icy Mona Lisa at the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum or make the news and grab a picture inside a glistening T.V. set at SouthMarke.
Play a game of corn hole on a frozen set of boards with Blue Ridge Mountain Club.
Call 828-295-7851 for more information.
Bonfire: Memorial Park, 5-10 p.m.
Roast marshmallows or make your s’mores, sing along to some favorite tunes and warm up by the campfire. This event will be presented by the Blowing Rock Boy Scouts Troop and will take place weather permitting.
Cork and Canvas: BRAHM, 5:30 p.m.
Get creative over wine and hors d’oeuvres at the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum. Cost: $30 for museum members and $40 for non-members.
Call 828-295-9099 for more information.
BRAHM: 159 Chestnut St.
WinterFest Family Night: Appalachian Ski Mountain, 6-9 p.m.
Learn to ski or snowboard with special pricing from the French-Swiss Ski College. Go ice-skating. Have s’mores by the bonfire. Reservations are required.
Call 828-295-9311 for reservations.
Call 828-295-7828 for more information.
ASM: 940 Ski Mountain Road
WinterFest JazzFest: Green Park Inn, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
The Green Park Inn will be featuring the Todd Wright Trio in the Chestnut Grille, which is the original Grand Ballroom of the historic Inn with stage and the original oak dance floor on Friday night. There is no cover charge or minimum, and our full food and beverage services are available off our standard menu with six entrees priced below $20.
Call 828-414-9230 for more information.
Green Park Inn: 9239 Valley Blvd.
SATURDAY, JAN. 30
Pancake Breakfast: Sunny Rock, 7:30 a.m.
Sunny Rock Eggs and Things will offer all-you-can-eat pancakes for $4.95 or all-you-can-eat sweet potato pancakes for $5.95.
Call 828-414-9636 for more information.
Sunny Rock: 8146 Valley Blvd.
Silent Auction and Raffle: BR Community Club Room, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Stop by the Blowing Rock Community Club Room behind the library on Main Street to bid on a variety of great things. Prize pick-up will take place later that day. Proceeds from this event will support Mountain Alliance.
BR Community Club Room: 1022 Main Street
Free Hayrides: Blowing Rock Chamber, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Depart from the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce and tour the town on a ride sponsored by Country Boy Landscaping.
Call 828-295-7851 for more information.
Blowing Rock Chamber: 132 Park Ave.
Polar Plunge: Chetola Resort, 10 a.m. to noon
WBTV’s John Carter will emcee this crazy cold event as locals and visitors dive right into the icy waters of Chetola’s lake to benefit the Western Youth Network and the Hospitality House.
Want to take the plunge? You can sign up starting at 9 a.m. for the 10 a.m. jump.
If you’d rather stay indoors but don’t want to miss the fun, enjoy a special brunch buffet at Timberlake’s Restaurant and watch a live feed of the plunge.
Call 800-243-8652 for more information.
Chetola: 185 Chetola Lake Drive.
BrrrrAHM Free Admission: BRAHM, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Enjoy free admission to the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum.
Call 828-295-9099 for more information.
BRAHM: 159 Chestnut St.
Chilly Chili Cook-Off: Blowing Rock School, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Things will start heating up at the annual chili chook-off. Try recipes from local chefs and the area’s best restaurants. Vote for your favorite as the dishes compete for cash prizes. Jam to live music from Handlebar Betty. Cost: $7 for unlimited tasting.
Call 828-295-3204 for more information or to register your recipe.
The school: 165 Morris St.
Little Miss WinterFest: Meadowbrook inn, noon to 2:45 p.m.
All kids are welcome to participate! Proceeds will support Blowing Rock School PTO’s playground renovation. Cost: $5 admission for audience only.
Call 828-295-4300 for more information.
Meadowbrook: 711 Main Street
Ice Carving Competition: Memorial Park, noon to 4 p.m.
See what’s new with the Southeast Regional Invitational Collegiate Ice Carving Competition! Watch as each chilly masterpiece comes to life and check out demos by Certified Master Ice Carver Travis Dale.
Arctic Art: BRAHM, 1-2:30 p.m.
Get crafty with fun, free kids’ activities just before the Snowflake Parade.
Call 828-295-9099 for more information.
BRAHM: 159 Chestnut St.
Winter Tastings and Auction: American Legion Building, 2-4 p.m.
Try excellent wine, beer, spirits and food! The auction will immediately follow the tastings at 4 p.m. Cost: $30 per person. Must be 21 years of age or older, so be sure to bring ID. Drink responsibly and designate a driver. Plenty of parking will be available.
Get tickets here.
AL Building: 33 Wallingford St.
Snowflake Parade: Main Street, 3 p.m.
Watch as participating kids show off their winter crafts on a parade leaving from BRAHM. This year, the kids will be joined by the ASU football team, which is celebrating its first Camellia Bowl win.
Call 828-295-9099 for more information.
BRAHM: 159 Chestnut St.
Bonfire: Chetola Resort, 6-9 p.m.
Enjoy drink specials and s’mores ($5 s’mores packets available) at the fire pit on the lawn.
Call 828-295-5500 for more information.
Chetola: 185 Chetola Lake Drive.
Firewalk: Memorial Park, 6-7:30 p.m.
In this free program, Firewalk Productions’ Dave Albin will walk barefoot on hot coals to show you that fear is the only thing stopping you from doing what you want to do. Get it on the adventure!
WinterFest JazzFest: Green Park Inn, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
The Green Park Inn will be featuring the Charlie Ellis Trio in the Chestnut Grille, which is the original Grand Ballroom of the historic Inn with stage and the original oak dance floor on Friday night. There is no cover charge or minimum, and our full food and beverage services are available off our standard menu with six entrees priced below $20.
Call 828-414-9230 for more information.
Green Park Inn: 9239 Valley Blvd.
SUNDAY, JAN. 31
Sunday Brunch: Foggy Rock, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Brunch and sangria — how can you beat that?
Call 828-295-7262 for more information.
Foggy Rock: 8180 Valley Blvd.
WinterPaws Dog Show: 165 Morris Street, 1:30 p.m.
Make a donation to see the show or enter your pup at $5 category or $25 for all six categories. All proceeds will support the Watauga Humane Society.
For more information, call 828-295-3204.
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