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Save the Date: Check Out all of the High Country Happenings in Store for You in 2014 and Plan Ahead

Compiled by Madison V. Fisler

2014 events

Dec. 31, 2013. The High Country of North Carolina is a bustling place, with so many different things for residents, visitors and students to do all year long. There really is something for everyone in this beautiful area, from exciting outdoor adventures, spectacular parades, unforgettable festivals and so much more.

This year, we are taking a look ahead to 2014 to help our readers just like you plan out your year and give you a head start on deciding what to do this year. Our recommendation is that you be sure to take in all of your favorites this year, but also that you take a leap and try something new. We hope that this compilation will help you plan your year with exciting adventures that you have come to expect every year, and a few that may come as a surprise. 

So make 2014 a year to remember and take in all that you can. We’ve done all of the hard work, just pick a few things that interest you, and maybe a few you never knew about, and get out there to make this year the best one yet. 

January

Jan. 1: New Year’s Day Hike at Grandfather Mountain State Park
Jan. 1: First Day Hike at Elk Knob State Park
Jan. 4: “Owls” at Elk Knob State Park
Jan. 5: Smith Shred for the Cup Rail Jam at Appalachian Ski Mtn.
Jan. 7: Septugenerian Party at Sugar Mountain Resort
Jan. 11: National Winter Trails Day at Sugar Mountain Resort
Jan. 11-12: Winterfest at Beech Mountain Resort
Jan. 12: “Black Bears” at Elk Knob State Park
Jan. 19: Winter Hike at Elk Knob State Park
Jan. 23-26: Blowing Rock WinterFest
Jan. 25: “Science of Snow” at Elk Knob State Park
Jan. 26: Last Day for Chetola’s Festival of Lights
Jan. 31: North River Dance Chicago at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts

February

Feb. 2: Groundhog Day
Feb. 7-23: Olympic Winter Games
Feb. 14: Valentine’s Day Fireworks in Blowing Rock
Feb. 14: Valentine’s Day Fireworks Celebration at Appalachian Ski Mtn
Feb. 17: Appalachian Ski Mtn Family Day
Feb. 17: President’s Day
Feb. 21-23: Totally 80s Retro Ski Weekend at Beech Mountain Resort
Feb. 22: ASAP Business Farming Conference
Feb. 23: Daytona 500
Feb. 25: Orpheus Chamber Orchestra at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts

March

March 4: STOMP at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts
March 4: Mardi Gras
March 9: Richard T. Trundy Memorial Sugar Cup Competition at Sugar Mountain
March 9: Sugar Bear’s Birthday Celebration at Sugar Mountain Resort
March 9: Daylight Savings Time Begins
March 11: Blowing Rock’s 125th Birthday Party
March 16: Easter Egg Hunt at Sugar Mountain Resort
March 20: First Day of Spring
March 22: Meltdown Games at Appalachian Ski Mtn

April

April 3: Montana Repertory Theatre: The Miracle Worker at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts
April 5: Blowing Rock Trout Derby
April 5 & 7: NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship
April 10-13: Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival
April 11: Tweetsie Railroad’s Opening Day
April 11: Kiss Me, Kate at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts
April 12: Easter Egg Festival at Memorial Park in Blowing Rock
April 20: Easter Sunday
April 24-27: MerleFest

May

May 3: Kentucky Derby
May 5: HCPress’s 9th Birthday
May 17: Art in the Park in Blowing Rock
May 11: Mother’s Day
May 26: Memorial Day

June

June 1-16: The Remarkable Rhododendron Ramble
June 5-8: Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show: American Saddlebred Division
June 6-8: Toe River Studio Tour
June 6-15: Day Out with Thomas at Tweetsie Railroad
June 7: New River Canoe Race
June 14: Art in the Park in Blowing Rock
June 15: Father’s Day
June 21-22: Roan Mountain Rhododendron Festival
June 22: 89th Annual Singing on the Mountain

July

July 4-Aug. 3: An Appalachian Summer Festival
July 4: Fourth of July Scenic Lift Rides at Sugar Mountain Resort
July 4: Fireworks Extravaganza at Tweetsie Railroad
July 4-5: West Jefferson Christmas in July Festival
July 5: Cool Summer Nights at Tweetsie Railroad
July 5: Fourth of July Festival and Parade in Downtown Blowing Rock
July 5-28: Tour de France
July 10-13: Grandfather Mountain’s 59th Annual Highland Games
July 11-12: Doc and Rosa Lee Watson Music Festival
July 18: High Country Bead, Gem, Mineral and Jewelry Show
July 19: Arts and Entertainment Editor Madison V. Fisler Gets Married
July 19-20: Fine Art and Mastercraft Festival
July 19-27: K9s in Flight at Tweetsie Railroad
July 22-27: Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show: Hunter & Jumper I
July 25: St. Mary Tour of Homes
July 25: Symphony by the Lake at Chetola Lake
July 29-Aug. 3: Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show: Hunter & Jumper II
July 31-Aug. 3: BRAHM Art & Antiques Weekend

August

Aug. 2: SugarBrew at Sugar Mountain Resort
Aug. 9-10: Riders in the Sky at Tweetsie Railroad
Aug. 10-15: Groovy Nights 6 Variety Show
Aug. 15-17: Fine Art and Mastercraft Festival
Aug. 23: Annual Rotary Charity Auction

September

Sept. 1: Labor Day
Sept. 6-7: Railroad Heritage Weekend at Tweetsie Railroad
Sept. 20: Stick Boy Mayview Madness 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run
Sept. 21: International Day of Peace
Sept. 26-Nov. 1: Tweetsie Ghost Train Festival

October

Oct. 4: Brushy Mountain Apple Festival
Oct. 11-12: Oktoberfest at Sugar Mountain Resort
Oct. 18: Valle Crucis Country Fair
Oct. 28-29: Wooly Worm Festival
Oct. 25: Blowing Rock Halloween Festival
Oct. 25: Beary Scary Halloween at Grandfather Mountain

November

Nov. 2: Daylight Savings Time Ends
Nov. 20: The Great American Smoke-Out
Nov. 27: Thanksgiving Day
Nov. 27: The Gobbler 5K Race
Nov. 28: Christmas in the Park and Lighting of the Town in Blowing Rock
Nov. 29: Holiday Open House at the BRAHM
Nov. 29: Annual Thanksgiving Kiln Opening
Nov. 29: Blowing Rock Christmas Parade

December

Dec. 5-7: Toe River Studio Tour
Dec. 6: Downtown Boone Christmas Parade
Dec. 31: New Year’s Eve Extravaganza at Appalachian Ski Mtn
Dec. 31: New Year’s Eve Celebration at Sugar Mountain Resort
Dec. 31: New Year’s Eve Celebration at Beech Mountain Resort

Ongoing Annual Events

An Appalachian Summer Festival: July 4-Aug. 3
Blowing Rock’s Art in the Park: May 17, June 14, July 19, Aug. 16, Sept. 6 and Oct. 4
Concerts at the Jones House: Every Friday evening from June through September
Monday Night Concert Series: Monday nights in Blowing Rock
Blowing Rock Concerts in the Park: May 18, June 15, July 20, Aug. 17 and Sept. 7
Watauga County Farmers’ Market: Saturdays May through October
First Friday Art Crawl: Downtown Boone, first Friday of every month
Concerts on the Lawn: Friday nights May through October at the Inn at Ragged Gardens
Concerts at the Bayou: Every Wednesday during the summer
Todd’s Music in the Park: Saturdays at Cook Park in Todd

From all of us here at High Country Press, have a safe and happy New Year and a fantastic 2014 to come.