Weekend Round Up: Things to Do This Weekend in the High Country; July 19-21

by Madison V. Fisler

July 19, 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, July 19

Avery County July Fine Arts and Mastercraft Festival: This is one art festival you won’t want to miss. With 85 artisans, including some that will only be making appearances at this event, presenting their handcrafted jewelry, pottery, paintings, photographs, textiles, wood (from wood-turned bowls to furniture), stained and blown glass, and other unique mediums for those with
discriminating taste, and art for the whimsical in all of us!

Bikes, Brews ‘n’ Views at Beech Mountain: The third annual Bikes, Brews ‘n’ Views festival at Beech Mountain Resort is expanding into a three-day weekend of events in 2013. The beer festival remains the centerpiece of the activities and takes place on Saturday, July 20, in conjunction with a dual slalom mountain bike competition. However, the weekend’s festivities now begin Friday evening, July 19, with live music at the resort. Furthermore, the resort celebrates the grand opening of its public mountain biking park and its new disc golf course all weekend long. Chairlift access to the public biking trails and the Town of Beech Mountain’s Emerald Outback trails will be available all three days. On Sunday, there will also be other activities such as an inflatable kids village and youth bike rodeo.
The Bikes, Brews ‘n’ Views beer festival was held the past two summers in conjunction with the USA Cycling Mountain Biking Gravity National Championships. Although those USAC national championships will not take place this summer, the resort is holding a dual slalom competition that will be easily accessible for patrons of the beer festival.
Hours for the Saturday beer fest are 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and it will be held on the ice skating rink in the heart of the ski resort’s Alpine Village. New this year is a contest for best beer, which will be judged by the patrons. The winning beer will become the highlighted beer during the 2013-14 ski season at Beech Mountain Resort.

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. 

Friday Night Fish Fry: Fleetwood Community Center is holding a fish fry, Flounder, slaw, baked beans or baked potato, hush puppies, drink and dessert. Friday night July 19th from 4:30 until 8 PM. Adults $10, childs $6.50. Chicken also available. Come on out and support the center.

Music in the Valle: 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!

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.

Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt Date Night: Buy one cup of frozen yogurt and get the second cup free* from 8p.m.-11 p.m.

Saturday, July 20

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. Join PHARMN at the Kids’ Corner for Mini-Markets where kids 12 and under can set up as vendors to sell their original arts and crafts, plants, produce and flowers they have helped grow.

Watauga Habitat Restore Customer Appreciation Day and Hog Roast: Join Watauga County Habitat for Humanity ReStore Saturday, July 20th, for our Customer Appreciation Day! In addition to a 20% DISCOUNT, we will have a hot dog roast for our customers and donors as our way of saying, “THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!”

Beech Mountain’s First Annual Health and Wellness Weekend: Presenting Informative speakers, Fitness classes and a Health and Wellness Fair. Saturday July 20, 10:AM to 5:00 PM. Sunday July 21, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM…… $5 Donation to the Beech Mountain Volunteer Fire Department.

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.

Puss in Boots Outdoor Play: The Master Cat in the tale of “Puss in Boots” will win the hearts of children of all ages. Children’s play on the Horn in the West outdoor stage starts at 10:30 (45 minutes long) each Saturday, July 20 – August 10. Cost of admission is $6. On Saturday, arrive in time to enjoy the adjacent Watauga County Farmers Market before the show! Tickets are available online at www.horninthewest.com and at the box office, 591 Horn in the West Drive, Boone. Call 828-264-2120 for directions and information.

Ensemble Stage Presents: Marmalade Gumdrops: Ensemble Stage’s Saturday Kid’s Theatre Series presents, “Marmalade Gumdrops.” When 10 year old Walter K. Hampton’s mother tells him he needs to “get rid of some toys,” his bedroom comes to life to help him decide what to keep. Led through fun filled antics by Governor Winthrop, his gumdrop popping desk, Libby Bibliophile, his instructive bookcase, Clair Beam, his not too bright lamp, Bedelia Cotter, his yawning bed, and Windsor, his stuffy chair, Wally’s task becomes a circus of imagination. All tickets $5.00.

Sweet Frog’s 2nd Birthday: Help us celebrate our 2nd birthday and enjoy small cup (12 oz, blue) as much as you would like and pay ONLY up to $4!! In order to celebrate this fantastic milestone, we will be offering LOTS of giveaways and doing a $4 Cup Day! Some of the giveaways include T-Shirts, FREE Froyo for a Year, and an iPad mini! That’s right… we will be giving away an iPad mini and FREE Froyo for a Year. Don’t miss out on these awesome opportunities.

Music in the Park: Free Admission – Donations Welcome. Concert in the park in historic downtown Todd.

An Appalachian Summer Festival Presents-Bozz Scaggs: Boz Scaggs is both a musical seeker and a man of sizable talent as a singer, songwriter and guitarist. His explorations in blues and R&B, rock and jazz have produced lasting work and a career that has brought with it acclaim, a loyal following and an enduring respect among musicians.

Sunday, July 21

Music on the Veranda Featuring the Harris Brothers: Join us this Sunday, July 21st for The Harris Brothers! They are a blues mix up band that plays traditional Appalachian Jazz, country, bluegrass, and rock n’ rock!

Vintage Valle Music: An afternoon of “Community music,” performed by local musicians, Amantha Mill, Creekside Grass, Sarah & Mark McGuire. We invite all to join in the closing sing-along jam. Gospel, Bluegrass, Folk, Patriotic, Familiar & Original Tunes. Casual. Indoors. Drop in any time. No “preach’n.” No food. Just neighborly pick’n and grinnin’.

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.

Eastern Festival Orchestra: Led by Maestro Gerard Schwarz, the Eastern Festival Orchestra features some of the most extraordinary orchestral and chamber musicians from around the globe. During their performance at the festival, the orchestra will perform Sibelius’ Night Ride and Sunrise, Grieg’s Piano Concerto in a minor, Danielpour’s A Prayer for Our Time (a commissioned piece made possible through the generosity of Bonnie McElveen-Hunter) and excerpts from Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet. Internationally recognized for his moving performances, innovative programming and extensive catalogue of recording, American conductor Gerard Schwarz serves as Music Director of North Carolina’s Eastern Music Festival and Jack Benaroya Conductor Laureate of the Seattle Symphony. Maestro Schwarz also serves as the festival’s Artistic Partner for Symphonic Programming.