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Weekend Roundup: Exciting Things to Do This Weekend; Check ‘em Out and Make Plans Jan. 23-25

By Madison Fisler Lewis

Jan. 23, 2015. The High Country has so many exciting events to offer its community and visitors. 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.

Weekend-Long Events

Movie Times

Blowing Rock WinterFest: Blowing Rock’s 18th annual WinterFest starts next week, and that means tons of exciting events for the entire family are coming your way. Join the town of Blowing Rock for an extended weekend of spectacular events, including live music, competitions, charity drives and much more. Check out our complete schedule of events here.

High Country Small Plate Crawl: The High Country Small Plate Crawl returns and this year is even better than ever. Over five days, almost twenty local area restaurants will create exclusive menus with small plate items which range from $3-$8 for guests to sample from. These “small plates” are designed to give a taste of what the chef’s at each restaurant are capable of. Take yourself on a self-guided tour of as many participating restaurants as you’d like and perhaps find your new favorite spot; or discover something new about an old favorite. For a complete list of menus click here.

AppHack4: If you are a tech-savvy student and want to strut your stuff in a competition platform, AppHack may be exactly what you are looking for. Starting on Friday, Jan. 23, Appalachian State University will once again host AppHack, a 24-hour competition hosted by Major League Hacking held on the university campus. For more information about this event, click here.

weekend-roundup-things-to-do-this-weekend-in-the-high-country-check-em-out-make-plans-nov-8-nov-10Live Music at Twigs: Twig’s Restaurant in Blowing Rock hosts live music every Friday and Saturday night, from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. featuring great local and regional artists with no cover charge.

Craft Enrichment Registration: For many High Country residents, the Michael R. Patricelli Craft Enrichment Program, offered each year at Appalachian State University, is a welcome outlet for creativity and a great way to learn a new craft or hobby. Serving both students and the community, the Craft Enrichment Program offers participants the use of professional equipment and dedicated instruction to guide them in their pursuits. For more information, click here.

Skiing 101 at Beech Mountain: In conjunction with national Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month, Beech Mountain’s Skiing 101 will be offered again this January. n conjunction with national Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month, Beech Mountain’s Skiing 101 will be offered again this January. For more information about this offer, click here.

Dawn Mathews Exhibit: Art exhibit “The Go-o-o-od Life” featuring artwork by Dawn Mathews will be on display during the first quarter of 2015 at the Caldwell Memorial Hospital Art-in-Healing Gallery, Mulberry Street Entrance. Free. Open 7-days/week 7 a.m.-8 p.m. daily.

Farmers Market Vendor Applications: The beginning of a new year means brand new vendors present at the Watauga County Farmers’ Market this summer, and the market is currently accepting vendor applications for the 2015 Farmers’ Market season. Eligible parties are producers who reside and produce in Watauga County and the adjacent counties. New craft vendor applications are also being accepted this year. For more information click here.

Girl Scout Cookies: Thin mints, Do-Si-Dos, and Peanut Butter Patties will once again grace the palates of High Country cookie lovers starting next week. That’s right, Girl Scout Cookies are on their way, and there are many places around the area to get your sugar fix! To find out where to find your cookies, click here.

Friday, Jan. 23

MLK Commemoration Concert: Melissa Reaves will be turning up the heat on her upcoming “Below Zero” winter tour. The tour will officially kick off in Boone on Jan. 23, when Reaves performs live with the Appalachian State University Gospel Choir and Keith McCutchen as part of the 31st Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration. The concert will start at 8 p.m. at Appalachian State University in Boone at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts in conjunction with An Evening with Julian Bond. The entire event is free and open to the public. For more information click here.

An Evening with Julian Bond: Civil rights activist and professor Julian Bond will speak Jan. 23 for the 31st Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration at Appalachian State University Civil rights activist and professor Julian Bond will speak Jan. 23 for the 31st Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration at Appalachian State University For more information about this event click here

Freakin’ Firkin Friday: On Friday, Jan. 16, Lost Province Brewing Company will host Freakin’ Firkin Friday at Five with the release of a special 12-gallon cask of beer at 5 p.m.

Watauga Community Band Rehearsals: The Watauga Community Band invites anyone with a musical instrument to join us for rehearsals. We meet every Tuesday night from 7:30-9pm in Spencer Rehearsal Hall, (Room 119) in the Broyhill Music Center, on the campus of Appalachian State University. No auditions or fees are required to join, just a love of music. All skill levels are welcome. For more information, visit our website at http://www.wataugaband.org. Come join us for music, friends, and fellowship.

Saturday, Jan. 24

Winter Blues Fest: Don’t let the winter weather get you down. On Saturday, Jan. 24, the Boone Winter Blues Fest will get you warmed up at the Boone Moose Lodge featuring “Most Outstanding Blues Singer 2014″ Johnny Rawls. This “one of a kind event” will bring soul-blues right into the very heart of Boone. “This is not going to be a concert, it’s going to be a party!” said Rob Baskerville of The King Bees. For more information about this event click here.

Bonfire Night at Chetola Resort: This winter, High Country residents will have yet another activity to enjoy on chilly Saturday nights. Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock will be home of Bonfire Nights, a new winter event held at a new bonfire pit on the lawn each Saturday evening from 6-9 p.m.
The Bonfire Nights feature live music, s’mores packets available for purchase for $5 each, an outdoor bar and special winter drink specials. No reservations are required to enjoy bonfire nights and the events are open to the community.

Boone Community Network Local Talent Showcase: On Saturday, Jan. 24, The Boone Community Network will host a local talent showcase fundraiser at The Local on Howard Street in downtown Boone. Held from 9 p.m. until midnight, the talent showcase will serve as an evening of community fun and as a way for the community to learn more about the organization. For more information about this event, click here.

Painting Flowers in Watercolor at the Blue Ridge ArtSpace: If you have admired flower paintings and want to try it, or if you have done floral paintings that you are not satisfied with, this workshop is for you! JoAnn Pippin will demonstrate watercolor techniques, help you figure out paint, paper, and brushes, and offer advice to solve problems you may have encountered.

Amphibians in Winter at Elk Knob State Park: How do these unusual creatures survive the winter? Come learn more about these adaptable beings. This class will be held indoors.

Sunday, Jan. 25

Music on the Veranda: On Sunday, Jan. 25, the Green Park Inn’s Music on the Veranda (Indoors!) will present The Harris Brothers at 5 p.m. For more information about this event, call 828-414-9230.

Sunday Jazz Brunch: On Sunday, Jan. 25, Canyons in Blowing Rock will host the weekly Sunday Jazz Brunch with Todd Wright. Starting at 11 a.m., the event will feature live jazz music at Canyons located at 8960 Valley Blvd. in Blowing Rock. For more information about this event, call 828-295-7661.