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Christmas in the High Country: Check Out These Christmas Events Happening in the Area

by Madison V. Fisler

Dec. 19, 2013. It’s almost Christmas and the High Country sure knows how to celebrate in style. This year, there are many Christmas-related events planned all around the area, so check out our list and make plans to attend one or many of this year’s Christmas happenings. 

Through Christmas Eve, Santa Claus can be spotted skiing, riding and talking to all the good boys and girls at Sugar Mountain Resort. Come and visit Santa on the slopes and enjoy a day out at Sugar Mountain Resort to make sure your Christmas is a white one indeed. 

App Ski Mtn. will host Skiing with Santa from 1-4 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Come and visit Santa Claus in the winter wonderland. In addition, enjoy a round of ice skating on Christmas Day from noon until 9 p.m. App Ski Mtn. is excited to again provide extended Midnight Blast Sessions for the Holiday week of Dec. 26-30. The slopes will be open continuously from 9am – 12 Midnight on these special nights.

From Dec. 20-22, Santa Claus will pay visits to Beech Mountain Resort from 3:30-5:30 p.m. each day in the View Haus Cafeteria. Be sure to come by and have some hot chocolate, visit with santa and get some great photo packages made as well. Beech Mountain will also host a Sweater Party on Dec. 21 at the Beech Tree Bar and Grille. Don’t forget about the Christmas Eve Service on the ice rink at 4:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Beech Mountain Resort will close at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve and re-open at 1 p.m. on Christmas. 

Enjoy breakfast with Mrs. Claus at Beech Mountain on Dec. 21. A light breakfast will be served free of charge, but donations are appreciated.  This holiday event is family friendly, and will take place at 9 a.m. at the Buckeye Recreation Center.  For more information, please call 828-387-3003.

Chetola Resort’s annual Festival of Lights will continue through the holidays until Jan. 26. The “Festival of Lights” features thousands of brilliant illuminations weaving throughout the resort.  As you drive around scenic Chetola Lake, view illuminated ice skaters, “Rudolf” catching a big fish, strolling carolers and many more captivating holiday scenes all done up in lights. 

The Downtown Boone Development Association and the Watauga County Library are once again partnering to bring a special Holiday StoryWalk to Downtown Boone for the month of December. Pages of the StoryWalk will be displayed in the store windows of downtown businesses. The StoryWalk begins at the library then moves down Depot St. and back up W. King St. Participants are encouraged to visit Youth Services at the Library to pick up their map. If the Library is not open families can still enjoy the StoryWalk by following the directional signs attached to the story book pages.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, international spiritual leader and founder of world-renowned Art of Living Foundation, will lead attendees in the “Weeklong Silent Retreat,” which includes spiritual immersion and self-reflective processes. Additional courses for both children and adults will be held throughout the week. Call 800-392-6870 or go to www.enlighteningholiday.org to get more information about this event.