by Madison V. Fisler July 11, 2014. The High Country has so many exciting events to offer its community and visitors, especially on summer weekends! 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
To check out this week’s movie trailers and our weekly movie review of Tammy, click here.
Grandfather Mountain Highland Games: The 59th annual Highland Games kicks off this Thursday with thousands of Scots decked out in their finest tartan plaids showcasing and participating in various events that give praise to the rich culture of Scotland. This year, more than 100 clans will be participating in this gathering, and events will include athletic events, dance competitions, bagpipes, parades, music competitions, sheep herding demonstrations, Celtic music, “The Bear” and much, much more. For more information about this event click here.
Scooby-Doo and Shaggy at Tweetsie Railroad: Tweetsie Railroad, North Carolina’s first theme park, is proud to welcome two legendary cartoon characters: Scooby-Doo and Shaggy to the park for the first time on July 11-13. The beloved mystery-solver and man’s best friend will entertain park guests and take photos daily at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. For more information about this event click here.
North Carolina Blackberry Festival: If you’re a fan of all things blackberry, then the 13th annual North Carolina Blackberry Festival is right up your alley. This year, the annual event takes place Friday, July 11 and Saturday, July 12 in downtown Lenoir and promises competitions, contests, parades and of course, the World’s Largest Blackberry Patchwork Cobbler. For more information about this event click here.
MusicFest ‘N Sugar Grove: This year’s lineup for the Doc and Rosa Lee Watson MusicFest ‘n Sugar Grove is once again a tour de force featuring established acts such as Chatham Count Line, a solo Willie Watson (formerly of Old Crow Medicine Show), Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver and Mark Schimick’s Sassagrass Reunion and extremely talented and local “new blood” like Brandon Holder, Trevor McKenzie and Alexa Rose. The festival takes place at the Historic Cove Creek School on Friday and Saturday, July 11 and 12. For more information about this event click here.
Art-Filled Weekend at the Art Cellar Gallery: Another art filled weekend at the Art Cellar Gallery in Banner Elk begins on Friday afternoon. “Two Views” Joseph Cave and Richard Oversmith is the newest exhibition at the gallery and everyone is invited to come celebrate these acclaimed artists at a reception on Friday, July 11 from 4-6 p.m. The exhibition features the artists very distinctive style of capturing pastoral views, waterways and open vistas. For more information about this event click here.
Barn Quilt Tours: Call the Arts Council to reserve your spot for the popular Ashe County Barn Quilts Tours! Mark your calendars for the second weekend June through October. Vans depart at 10:00am from the Ashe Arts Center. You will enjoy the scenic beauty of the mountains, learn about the history of our county and you will see Barn Quilts all along the way. Cost for tour is $15 adults and $10 for children under 12. Reservations are required and special tours can be made available at any time for groups of 8 or more. Mark your July 11 and 12, August 8 and 9, September 12 and 13 and October 10 and 11. Call Ashe County Arts Council at 336-846-2787 for reservations!
Horn in the West: Loved by all ages, “Horn in the West” is performed in the heart of Boone, NC, in Daniel Boone Amphitheatre, one of the most beautiful outdoor theatres in the country. This spectacular outdoor drama tells the story of the earliest of American adventures. “Horn in the West” offers families memorable summer evening entertainment in the High Country
Friday, July 11
Art Crawl: Well, it’s not quite the first Friday, but this Friday is Art Crawl due to the holiday weekend last weekend. On Friday, July 10, downtown Boone will be taken over by the First Friday Art Crawl. Like always, this month’s crawl will feature food, drinks and live music with work and exhibitions from local artists. And as usual, everyone is invited to come out and enjoy some Friday night fun. If you’ve never experienced First Friday Art Crawl, here is your chance to get in on what the locals already know! Head on down to downtown Boone and enjoy a Friday night out on the town. To view this month’s Art Crawl events, click here.
Summer Exhibition Celebration: The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts invites the public to come experience its Summer Exhibition Celebration from 6 to 10 p.m. for the debut of two new exhibits, “TWENTY: Contemporary Art from South Africa” and “South African History Under Apartheid: A Tribute to Nelson Mandela.” The two new exhibits celebrate South Africa’s 20th year as a democracy and seek to examine its history of struggle and its current cultural climate, twenty years after apartheid. Guests will be able to enjoy live music performed by Todd Wright during the exhibitions.
Concerts at the Jones House: The Buck Haggard Band and The Buck Stops Here will perform at the Jones House Cultural and Community Center on Friday starting at 5 p.m. for a free concert featuring classic country and traditional string band roots sounds to the “First Friday” festivities in downtown Boone.
Concert at the Best Cellar: On Friday, July 1, the Best Cellar presents Worthless Son in Laws. The Best Cellar hosts a free outdoor concert each Friday night through the summer, and is located at 203 Sunset Dr. in Blowing Rock. For more information, call 828-295-9703.
Music in the Valle: Valle Crucis Community Park will host Music in the Valle on Friday, July 11 featuring The Sheets Family Band. The concert will take place at Valle Crucis Community Park located at 2892 Broadstone Rd. in Valle Crucis starting at 7 p.m. For more information about this event, call 828-963-9239.
Coffee Talk at BRAHM: Join us for “coffee talk” tomorrow, July 11, at 10 am at the Museum. Jess Wehrmann, owner of Monkee’s of Blowing Rock will be discussing what’s trending for fall fashion! Free and open to the public. Refreshments provided. Don’t miss your chance to register to win a gift certificate to this great boutique!
Wilkesboro’s Weekly Open Air Market: The Open Air Market is scheduled May through September on a weekly basis. The regular market is open every Friday from 4-8 p.m. The vendor selling are farmers with locally grown fruits, vegetables, plants and local art & craft vendors, baked goods, plus many other vendors. This market will take place in the town owned parking lot across from the 50’s Restaurant and Royall’s Framing on Main Street in downtown Wilkesboro.
Saturday, July 12
Family Day: The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts is hosting Family Day, which is themed around its new exhibit, “TWENTY: Contemporary Art from South Africa.” From 1 to 4 p.m., there will be several arts activities for children that surround the theme of South Africa.
Greensboro Symphony: Matthew Morrison, Emmy, Tony and Golden Globe-nominated singer and actor will be performing alongside the Greensboro Symphony at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts at 8 p.m. Morrison made his Broadway debut in 2002 with productions of Footloose and The Rocky Horror Picture Show and has since risen to acclaim in his role as Link Larkin in the original cast of Hairspray and as Will Schuester in the widely popular Glee. He has also released several albums under Adam Levine’s 222 Records, including the 2013 tribute to Broadway, Where it All Began.
Watauga County Farmers’ Market: Join us for the 40th anniversary season of Watauga County Farmers’ Market! The farmers’ market has been Boone’s Town Square since 1974.
Elk Knob Volunteer Trail Work Day: Warmer weather has finally returned along with the Volunteer Trail Work Days at Elk Knob State Park. Every Saturday beginning April 5 and running through the middle of November (except June 28 and September 13), staff and volunteers will meet at the Summit Trailhead at 9 am and work until approximately 3:30 pm, weather permitting. Tools are provided but volunteers should wear close-toed shoes and bring work gloves, lunch and water. Most of the time will be spent building our new one mile loop trail, the Beech Tree Trail, although we may include some repair work on the Summit Trail. If you would like to be involved in a fulfilling project that will fill you with a well-deserved sense of pride, then join us on Saturdays at Elk Knob State Park. For more information please call 828-297-7261.
Johnson County Farmers’ Market: The main work of the Johnson County Farmers Market is to help strengthen a sustainable local agricultural and food economy. We do this by providing education, engaging in community and economic development, and promoting the availability and benefits of local food and agriculture.
Second Annual Fairy Day: Saturday, July 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. “Fairy Day in the Gardens” is an event featuring activities for children and families. Participants are encouraged to wear fairy costumes and bring a picnic to the Daniel Boone Native Gardens. The Incredible Toy Company will provide bubbles and bubble wands for use during the event as well as offer for sale a selection of low-priced fairy items and accessories. Face painting (for a nominal fee per face) will be available. Balloon twisting by Jason Mowery is available for donations.
4 Paws Country Fair and Music Jamboree: The 2nd annual 4 Paws Country Fair & Music Jamboree will be held on Saturday, July 12, 2014 on the grounds of the Watauga Humane Society to benefit the animals at the Adoption Center. Gates open at 11 am and close at 6 pm. Admission and parking are free, but donations are gladly accepted!
Sunday, July 13
Rosen-Schaeffel Competition: In partnership with the Hayes School of Music, the Rosen-Schaffel Competition for Young and Emerging Artists celebrates its fourth year. During the spring of 2014, a number of contestants submitted recordings of their work to a panel of judges and eight were selected to perform for a live audience at 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 13 where jurors will select three top prize winners and the public will select an Audience Choice Award Winner. The first prize winner will receive an opportunity to perform with famed conductor Gerard Schwarz and the Eastern Festival Orchestra during next season’s An Appalachian Summer Festival.
Michael Reno Harrell at the BRAHM: The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum will host Michael Reno Harrell as part of the Sunday Concert Series on Sunday, July 13. The concert begins at 5:30 p.m. in the atrium of the museum. Tickets are $20 with light refreshments to follow.
Music on the Veranda: On Sunday, July 13, the Green Park Inn’s Music on the Veranda will present The Neighbors starting at 5 p.m. For more information about this event, call 828-414-9230.
Jazz Brunch: On Sunday, July 13, 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.
Alpen Inn Summer Concert: On Sunday, July 13 starting at 5 p.m., Beech Alpen Inn will host the weekly Alpen Inn Summer Concert. The event will be held at the Beech Alpen Inn Pavilion located at 700 Beech Mountain Parkway in Beech Mountain. For more information about this event, call 828-387-2252.
Program at Grandfather Mountain State Park: How often do you tie a knot? If you tie your shoes in the morning you tie an overhand knot and also a bow. There are many knots that we use regularly throughout our day to day routines but may not necessarily know what kind of knot is tied. Join Ranger Sicard to learn a variety of simple knots that can be used for Household fixes, Camping, Outdoor sports, and for tying down items to vehicles (canoes, kayaks, or when moving). Participants will get instructions they can take home with them and will also get to learn to tie the knots in person with the Ranger and provided rope. This will be a 30 minute program held at the park’s office (9872 Hwy105 S.) at 2pm. Please no pets.
Tom Dooley Hike: Did Tom Dooley murder Laurie Foster in the shadow of the Blue Ridge? Join a ranger on Saturday, July 13 at 2:00 p.m. as he dispels myths and stereotypes associated with the legend. Participants will learn about the murder and music of Tom Dooley. Hiking attire to include boots is recommended. Program is weather dependent. Meet at the summit trailhead.