May. 9, 2017. Visitors to Valle Crucis Community Park this spring will notice a new structure in the corner of the park behind the Visitors Center. It looks like a wooden chimney on metal legs and is designed to serve as a nest site for some of the park’s chimney swifts.
Sept. 19, 2016. Join Apple Hill Farm in discounted walking tours of the farm for the ‘Alpaca Farm Day’ this Saturday and Sunday. Guests will have the chance to get up close and personal with alpacas, llamas, guardian donkeys, angora goats, horses, and more! By Emily Willis
Sept. 21, 2016.Impressionist oil painter Amos Westmoreland is also a Colorist, and he’s bringing the colors of autumn into Alta Vista Gallery in Valle Crucis with a new show, “All Nature Sings.” The public is invited to meet the artist and hear his story at the show’s opening reception on Saturday, September 24, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Aug. 17, 2016.Get ready to dance at the Apple Barn in Valle Crucis on Saturday, Aug. 20! Whether or not you know how to contra dance, everyone is encouraged and welcomed to come out and have a turn at it, starting with a beginners dancer workshop at 7:30 p.m. and the dancing continues from 8-11 p.m. By Emily Willis
July 21, 2016. As the weekend approaches and you find yourself searching for fun things to do, try checking out one of the High Country’s many free concerts! Several towns and organizations in the area host a weekly summer music series, and these events are perfect for relaxing on a summer evening, socializing with the community and listening to some great live music. See our guide below for details about this weekend’s concerts.
July 7, 2016.With a little time and effort, shoppers can track down treasures during the rummage sale at Holy Cross Episcopal Church, located on Highway 194 in Valle Crucis. The sale begins on Thursday, July 14, and runs until Saturday, July 16. The sale is open each day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and admission is free.
June 27 2016. A new welcome center at the Valle Crucis Community Park housed guests Thursday evening, June 16, for a celebration of its grand opening equip with food, refreshments and an official ribbon cutting ceremony. By Angela Gazzillo
June 22, 2016. The public is invited to Alta Vista Gallery in Valle Crucis to chat with the artist on Saturday, June 25 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Refreshments will be served at the reception and the show will hang through mid July. Sporn’s latest batch of 23 oils are different from her past work. Artwork by Joan Sporn.
Feb. 25, 2016.Want to learn about local bird populations and other wildlife? The National Audubon Society can help you with that! Get involved with the High Country chapter of the society to take advantage of the events and the programs it offers. These mountains have a one-of-a-kind birding experience! By Kaitlan Morehouse
March 10, 2016. Have you ever wanted to check out the breathtaking grounds of the Valle Crucis Conference Center? Here’s your chance. Located on more than 450 acres of wooded mountains and farmland, the campus is centered on the historic Mission School and draws in many large and small groups of guests every year. Its countless programs, safe housing, healthy food, reasonable costs and beautiful grounds make it a great place for retreats and get-togethers, but you’ll have a chance to see it for yourself at the Lenten Labyrinth Walk on Friday, March 18. This one-day retreat will take you on a “modern-day pilgrimage” and teach you how the simple outdoor labyrinth on campus can be used to transform your Lenten experience. The Rev. Rebecca Husband-Maynard of Stacking Stones Ministry, an ordained minister in the Baptist tradition, will lead the labyrinth walk.
Jan. 26, 2016. Want to sample the High Country’s best food on the super cheap? Of course you do! Boone Independent Restaurants announces its 2016 High Country Small Plate Crawl and partnership with Blowing Rock’s Winterfest! The crawl kicks off WinterFest on Wednesday, Jan. 27 and will run through Sunday, Jan. 31.
Jan. 7, 2016. Local residents and conservation advocates John and Faye Cooper recently donated to the Blue Ridge Conservancy more than 20 acres of pristine Valle Crucis farmland, ensuring the property’s future as a valuable part of the community and an educational resource. The Coopers, owners of The Mast General Store, purchased the property in two parcels — the first in the early 1990s and the second almost 10 years later — and knew from the beginning that they needed to protect the land. By Jessica Isaacs.