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Weekend Roundup: Things to Do This Weekend in the High Country; Check ‘em Out, Make Plans March 21-23

by Madison V. Fisler

March 21, 2014. On the first official weekend of spring, 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

Check out this week’s movie trailers and our weekly movie review of Mr. Peabody  click here.

Meltdown Games at Appalachian Ski Mtn: Come enjoy Appalachian’s classic end of the winter celebration on Saturday March 22 and Sunday March 23. A full weekend of crazy events you won’t see any other time of the year, with lots of snow, sun, and skin. All events are free with your ski ticket. Take your best shot at tons of prize categories! 

Free Camping and Cleanup Weekend: Help Honey Bear get ready for the season and camp for free! Several projects for all ages including: stream cleaning, grounds pick up, game room set up, and bath house revamp! We’ll have a celebratory bonfire Saturday night for participants. Call to reserve a spot at 828-963-4586.

Social Justice Week: Social Justice Week will be observed at Appalachian State University March 19-28, featuring a Concert for Justice, documentaries on hunger and nuclear weapons, a Rwandan genocide survivor’s story, a night of TED-inspired talks and more. The general public is invited to attend. Those attending are encouraged to bring canned food items to the events to benefit the Hunger and Health Coalition and the Hospitality House of Boone. 

Love’s Labor’s Lost at ASU: The Appalachian State University Department of Theatre and Dance presents Shakespeare’s romantic comedy “Love’s Labor’s Lost” in Valborg Theatre at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19 through Sunday, March 22 with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, March 23. The production is the first event in the High Country Shakespeare Celebration, a regional initiative sponsored by The High Country Theatre League to commemorate the 450th Birthday of the immortal Bard of Avon. Ticket prices start at just $8 for Appalachian students and are $13 for faculty, staff and seniors and $15 for adults. For more information, call the box office at 828-262-3036 or the Schaefer Center Box Office at 828-262-4046. 

Friday, March 21

Free health screening at Bare Essentials Natural Market: Bare Essentials Natural Market will be hosting a health screening on Friday, March 21st from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Please call Bare Essentials as soon as possible to make an appointment 828-262-5592.

Free Tax Assistance at the Public Library: The Watauga County Public Library is proud to participate in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (V.I.T.A.) program. V.I.T.A. is an I.R.S. grant supported initiative which offers free income tax help to people making $52,000 a year or less. All volunteer tax preparers are certified and have received training to prepare basic tax returns.

Kappa Delta’s Pancake Dinner: The sisters of Kappa Delta invite you to the 22nd annual Pancake Dinner. The sorority is raising money for Prevent Child Abuse America and The Children’s Council of Watauga. The event will be held in Central Dining Hall at Appalachian State University on March 21 from 5-9 p.m. Tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the door. The first 50 people in line at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. will receive a free event t-shirt. 

Brazilian Composition Concert: Guitarist Welson Tremura joins Todd Wright and friends March 21 at 8 p.m. for an evening of Brazilian jazz at 8 p.m. at Appalachian State University. The performance in Broyhill Music Center’s Rosen Concert Hall is part of the Hayes School of Music’s Faculty Performance Series. Saxophonist Wright will be joined by Keith McCutchen, piano; Andy Page, guitar; Zack Page, bass; and Rick Dilling on drums for the special event. The program will feature compositions by Wright, Tremura, Antonio Carlos Jobim and others. Wright is director of Jazz Studies in the Hayes School of Music. Tremura is a native of Sao Paulo, Brazil and an associate professor in the School of Music an the Center for Latin American Studies at the University of Florida. An acclaimed guitarist and singer, Tremura maintains an active performance schedule that has included performances and projects in Brazil, the United States, Europe and New Zealand. He is well versed in Brazilian Jazz, classical and vocal music as well as traditional European classical forms. Tremura is the co-director of Jacare Brazil, a Brazilian music ensemble. He has released two recordings and participated in recordings with musicians in Brazil and the United States. 

Nunsense: Beanstalk Community Theatre presents “Nunsense: A Musical Comedy” by Dan Goggin on Friday, March 21 and Saturday, March 22 at Harvest House Performing Arts Center as a dinner theatre, catered by Casa Rustica. Dinner begins at 6 p.m. and the show will begin at 7 p.m.

Who Cooks for You?: Who cooks for you, this is what the Barred owl “asks” when it calls out. Join a ranger to learn about the many neat adaptations the Barred Owl has. These birds of prey are equipped with a lot more gadgets than you would think. During this program you will not only learn what the adaptations are and how they use them, but you will also get to see what a Live Barred Owl looks like, and if we’re lucky we might even get to hear one. To attend please meet at the Boone Fork Parking Area located at mile post 299.9 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. We will begin at 5 p.m.

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. 

Honeybee Collapse Lecture: Biodynamic farmer and beekeeper, Gunther Hauk, will be speaking on the honeybee colony collapse crisis on March 21st at 7pm at the Watauga County Agricultural Conference Center. This event is free, but donations are encouraged to help with event expenses. This event is hosted by Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture.

Saturday, March 22

Heritage Hall News: Heritage Hall Theater, located in Mountain City, Tenn. has already begun its 2014 season of theater, music and more, and looks forward to continuing with spectacular entertainment at affordable prices for the community. Next up, Appalachian State University graduate student Amanda Gentile will perform on violin with a string ensemble on Saturday, March 22. For more information, click here

Humane Society Event: A “Treasure Trove of Vintage Values” sale will be held Saturday, March 22, from 1-5 PM, at Watauga Humane Society’s Adoption Center. Choose from hundreds of lovely keepsakes and collectibles such as chandeliers, pottery, china, Depression glass, Franklin Mint plates, and treasures from the Far East. Don’t dare miss it! March 22 from 1-5 PM at Watauga Humane Society on Paws Way in Boone!

Friends of High Country General Membership Meeting: There will be a general membership meeting for members of the Friends of the High Country State Parks at Elk Knob State Park on Saturday, March 22 at 10 a.m. There will be a brief update on the activities of the Friends of High Country State Parks with a special guided hike for members following the meeting. Bring your own snacks, lunch and water. Don’t miss this special event.

Nunsense: Beanstalk Community Theatre presents “Nunsense: A Musical Comedy” by Dan Goggin on Friday, March 21 and Saturday, March 22 at Harvest House Performing Arts Center as a dinner theatre, catered by Casa Rustica. Dinner begins at 6 p.m. and the show will begin at 7 p.m.

Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser: The High Country Chapter of Military Officers Association, in conjunction with Applebee’s on Blowing Rock Road, will sponsor a pancake breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on March 22. Funds will support local and overseas military personnel. The all-you-can-eat breakfast includes pancakes, sausage and drink for a donation of $7. All profits benefit ASU’s ROTC, the Watauga High School and Avery High School JROTC programs and the Blue Star Mothers of the High Country.

Composting Lecture: Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture will feature biodynamic farmer and beekeeper, Gunther Hauk, on March 22. He will offer a lecture on biodynamics through composting beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the Watauga County Agricultural Conference Center and an on-farm demonstration at 1 p.m. at the Grain Farm in Zionville. The event is free, but donations are encouraged to assist with event expenses.

Great Friend to Families Awards: GFTF honors “Helping Hearts” and “Helping Hands” who have touched the lives of High Country Families at a luncheon featuring Sheri Lynch of Charlotte’s the LINK. The overall winner wins a piece of local art and $500 to donate to the nonprofit of his or her choice. Nomination forms available at The Children’s Playhouse and at goplayhouse.org. Nominations are due March 4. Tickets are $20 ($15 tax-deductible) and go on sale March 6.

Free Family Day at the BRAHM: Free family day! Celebrate the first day of spring! Learn about springtime and planting in Appalachia. Kids’ activities, crafts, refreshments, and old-time music! For all ages!

Sunday, March 23

Appalachian Philharmonia Orchestra: Composer and conductor Thomas Sleeper will lead the Appalachian Philharmonia Orchestra in a performance of two of his works March 23 at 2 p.m. in the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts at Appalachian State University. Admission is free. The orchestra will perform Sleeper’s “Lullaby for Chelsea Rose” and will premiere his “Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra” with trumpeter James Stokes from the Hayes School of Music. It also will perform “Symphony No. 4 in G Major” by Gustav Mahler, with soprano Allison Deters, a senior music performance major at Appalachian. Sleeper’s compositions have been called hauntingly mysterious, richly lyrical and possessing soaring melodies by music critics. He has written six operas, 13 concerti, three symphonies, four orchestral song cycles, works for chorus with orchestra, three string quartets, numerous other vocal and instrumental chamber works and music for film. Sleeper is director of orchestral activities and conductor of the Frost Symphony Orchestra and Opera Theater and Music and director of the Florida Youth Orchestra in Miami.

Nature Hike at Elk Knob State Park: Come out for a beautiful nature hike and learn about the natural history of the area. Hiking attire to include boots is recommended. Program is weather dependent.

Program at Grandfather Mountain State Park: Fire is one of the cornerstones of human civilization that many of us take for granted in today’s modern lifestyle. Could you build a fire if necessary? Join a Park Ranger at Grandfather Mountain State Park to learn techniques on fire building and emergency fire starting for camping, heating or survival. Participants will learn about fuel sources, alternative fire starters and some of the science behind fire. This program will last approximately one hour. Meet on the North (left) side of the Lowes Foods shopping center. Please contact the park office if you have further questions. 828-963-9522.