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Weekend Roundup: Things to Do This Memorial Day Weekend; Check ‘em Out, Make Plans May 30-June 1

by Madison V. Fisler

May 30, 2014. The High Country has so many exciting events to offer its community and visitors, especially on Memorial Day Weekend! 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

Check out this week’s movie trailers and our weekly movie review of X-Men: Days of Future Past, click here.

Boone Bike Rally: The Boone Bike Rally is back! On May 30-31, the summer Boone Bike Rally will take place at the High Country Fairgrounds. Just like last year, this spring’s rally will feature live music, biker games, competitions, showcases and much more! Live music will be provided by Throw Down Jones, The JJL Band, Problem Child, Shook Lane and DICE. For more information about this event click here. 

Shriners Summer Ceremonial: The WNC Shriners are making what has become an annual pilgrimage to Blowing Rock, bringing their Summer Ceremonial and attendant parade to the town May 30-June 1. On Saturday, May 31, the traditional Shriners Parade will take place along Main Street starting at 2 p.m. This will be the fifth time in the past six years that the Shriners have held their Summer Ceremonial in Blowing Rock. For more information about this event click here

Nature Photography Weekend: Learn from top nature photographers and photograph nature at its best on Grandfather Mountain May 30-June 1. Presentations are planned in the evenings while participants photograph spectacular scenery and native animals during the day. Enter your best shots from the weekend into an informal contest with winners announced on Sunday. Online registration opens April 1. Event fee includes 3-day park admission, Saturday evening meal and entry to all presentations. Family members and guests can enter the mountain at a discounted rate. 

Friday, May 30

Violin Recital: Maura Shawn Scalin of Vilas will be giving a free violin recital at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 30 at the Rosen Recital Hall of the Broyhill Music Center located at 813 Rivers Street on the campus of Appalachian State University. The recital will include works by Bach, Bruch and Kreisler, as well as traditional and original compositions. She will be playing with Allison Gagnon, head of the collaborative piano department at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Maura Shawn has been playing violin since the age of three and currently studies violin with Lucy Chapman at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. Her previous teachers have included Nan Stricklen of Banner Elk, Nancy Bargerstock of ASU and Sarah Johnson on UNCSA. Maura Shawn has won several concerto competitions in the state and has appeared as a soloist with the Charlotte Youth Symphony and the Asheville Symphony. In 2012, Maura Shawn was selected to be concert master of the NC All-State Honors Orchestra and last spring, her String Quartet at UNCSA was one of 12 groups to be selected for the semi-final round of the Fischoff International Chamber Music competition

Wilkesboro’s Weekly Open Air Market: The Open Air Market is scheduled May 2 through September 19, 2014 on a weekly basis. The regular market is open every Friday from 4:00-8:00 pm. 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.

Lions Club Dance: Friday Night Chilhowie Lions Club Dance – For a great time, fellowship and clean family fun, come listen and/or dance to the music of a different band every Friday night.

Saturday, May 31

Boone Paint Out: On Saturday, May 31, Art Mart is hosting its first Boone Paint Out. This is a free event open to the public, and artists of all ages are encouraged to come out and participate. In addition, prizes will be given out to artists who submit their work to be judged in competition. For more information about this event click here.

Emergency Fest: Get ready for some serious fun as Emergency Fest takes place Saturday, May 31, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Raley Parking Lot on the campus of Appalachian State University. Sponsored by the Watauga County Firefighters Association, Emergency Fest will feature the presence of vehicles and personnel from all of the emergency-service organizations in the county. For more information about this event click here.  

Cut-a-Thon Fundraiser: Haircut 101 is sponsoring a Cut-a-Thon hosted by Appalachian Mountain Brewery on May 31 at 3 p.m. to benefit local community member Lindsey Bennett who is battling cancer. A minimum $20 donation purchases a haircut by a talented stylist and a raffle drawing for a variety of prizes donated by local businesses. Delicious food served by Appalachian Mountain Brewery’s new food truck and a local DJ will be provided. For more information about this event click here

Lawnmower Race: The Rotary Club of North Wilkesboro will host the first lawnmower race of the season on Saturday, May 31 at Worth Evan Tomlinson Rotary Park in North Wilkesboro. The event is a fundraiser for the club. The Rotary Fairgrounds is located beside West Park off of D Street in North Wilkesboro. Gates open at 1 p.m. Inspection is from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Practice begins at 4:30 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. Admission is $7 with children five and under admitted free. This is a Rednecks and Rebels Mower Racing Association event. Food vendors will be on site. For more information, call Mike Staley at 336-902-7052.

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.

Ashe County Farmers’ Market: We will have everything from fresh produce and meats to plants and crafts all under one roof! The market is located on Backstreet in West Jefferson.

Hickory Ridge Living History Museum: Hickory Ridge Living History Museum, located on the grounds of “Horn in the West,” is an eighteenth-century living history museum highlighting the daily lives of our mountain ancestors. See live demonstrations of a various pioneer skills, such as hearthside cooking, flintlock rifle, blacksmithing, spinning and weaving, etc. Open Saturday mornings, May – October (during Farmers Market on site), and evenings before “Horn in the West.”

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.

Animals of Elk Knob: A Park Ranger will be at the start of the Summit Trail sharing information about animals that live at Elk Knob. There will be skins to touch and taxidermied animals to view. This is an informal program which will be canceled in the event of rain.

Sunday, June 1

The Remarkable Rhododendron Ramble: The vivid fuchsia blooms o the Catawba rhododendron are beginning to emerge at Grandfather Mountain in Linville, revealing a spectacular annual show sure to impress even the most seasoned observer. To showcase and describe the beauty and significance of the plant, Grandfather Mountain will host the Remarkable Rhododendron Ramble from June 1-16. For more information about this event click here

Alpen Inn Summer Concerts: The Beech Alpen Summer Concert Series showcases the best in local music with breathtaking views! Featured bands perform a variety of music including Classic Rock-n-Roll, Beach, Motown, Soul, Country/Bluegrass, Swing, Jazz and Blues. Concerts take place on the lawn of the Beech Alpen Inn Pavilion every Sunday 5-9 Memorial Day thru Labor Day. Seating is provided or bring your own chair/blanket. Special lawn menu is available from the Alpen Inn Restaurant. Concerts are free and open to the public. Pets on leashes are welcome. Please – no outside food or coolers.