Mark Your Calendars For Blowing Rock Winterfest, 2012!
Join the Village of Blowing Rock as we celebrate the fun side of winter at the 14th Annual Blowing Rock Winterfest! From the Chili Cook-Off to WinterPaws, from the icy Polar Plunge to WinterFeast, there’s something for all age groups at Blowing Rock Winterfest.
- Shop with Blowing Rock Merchants
- Dine in our cozy restaurants!
- Free Hot Chocolate & Hayrides!
- FREE SNOW!
For more, visit: http://www.blowingrockwinterfest.com!
The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization. For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.
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Blowing Rock’s Christmas in the Park & Lighting of the Town!
November 25th, 2011, Memorial Park, 828-295-5222
In the Gazebo
Hayrides through Blowing Rock ….. 4-9pm
Memorial Park
Airwalks …..2-7pm
Memorial Park
Free Hot Cider and Hot Chocolate ….. 5-9pm
Memorial Park
Caroling in the Park ….. 5-6:30pm
with the “Vagabonds”
Lighting of the Town….. 5:30pm
with Mayor JB Lawrence
Bluegrass Christmas….. 7-9pm
with Diana & Sarvis Ridge
***DON’T FORGET! The Christmas Parade will be held the following day on Saturday, November 26 at 2pm. ***
For more, visit: http://www.blowingrock.com
The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization. For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.
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Turchin Center for the Visual Arts Offers Lectures on Current Exhibitions in November
Appalachian State University’s Turchin Center for the Visual Arts is holding special lectures for two exhibitions that are currently on display through January 2012.
The first lecture on November 3 at 7 p.m. will discuss the artist and the exhibition, Living in the Light: A Retrospective, displaying a compilation of beloved photographer and former chair of the photography program at Appalachian State University, the late John Scarlata’s work.
On November 9, artist Val Lyle will hold a lecture on her current exhibition, Sanctuary, which emphasizes the aspects of life in the Appalachian mountains. Both lectures are free and open to the public. Call 828-262-3017 or visit www.tcva.org for more information.
Living in the Light: A Retrospective- John Scarlata
November 3, 2011
7-9 p.m.
Turchin Center for the Visual Arts Lecture Hall
*Reception to follow in the galleries
Guest lecturers Jay Phyfer (Professor of photography and digital imaging, Virginia Intermont College), Gil Leebrick (Professor Emeritus and former Director of the Wellington B. Gray Gallery, East Carolina University) and Pac McLaurin (Photography Department, Appalachian State University) joined by close friends of John Scarlata will gather for an in-depth conversation about the artists life and his work. Other special guests will include Joe Champagne (Professor of Photography & Digital Imaging Virginia Intermont College), Jackie Leebrick, Ben Garfinkle (Oakland California) and Tom Braswell (Photographer and Interim Gallery Director from Wellington B. Gray Gallery, East Carolina University). A reception will be held in the galleries immediately following the lecture.
Sanctuary- Val Lyle
November 9, 2011
7-8 p.m.
Turchin Center for the Visual Arts Lecture Hall
Join artist, Val Lyle as she discusses her latest work, Sanctuary located in the Mayer Gallery. This exhibition and installation continues the artist’s exploration about what it means to be a human being in Appalachia which is in its eighth incarnation of the exhibition.
Other Upcoming Events at the Turchin Center
First Friday Reception
November 4
Free and Open to the Public
7-9 p.m.
Presented in conjunction with Downtown Boone’s First Friday Art Crawl, the Turchin Center will be open for all visitors to come and celebrate the current exhibitions as well as welcome a new exhibition by painter, Gabriel Lehman celebrating the opening of his solo exhibition My World opening on November 4. Painter and installation artist, Val Lyle, will also be in the gallery to talk to guests about her exhibition Sanctuary.
Healing Arts: Yoga in theMayer Gallery
Saturdays, October 15, November 5 & 19
Turchin Center for the Visual Arts
10:30 a.m.- 11:30 a.m.
$10 per participant
Inside Exhibitions
Free guided tours by one of Turchins volunteer docents one Saturday a month on the exhibition of their choice.
Visit www.tcva.org for more information.
Fall Workshops
Turchin Center offers a variety of arts workshops for kids, older teens and adults throughout the year. Visit www.tcva.org for more information on how you can register.
The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization. For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.
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Festivals Offer Opportunities To Experience Fall In The NC High Country
The slopes of the North Carolina High Country are turning vibrant shades of red, orange and yellow this month and area festivals offer great ways to enjoy the season. The range of elevations in the area make it a premiere location to watch the leaf change and the mix of small towns provides an eclectic offering of autumnal events.
The Boone Heritage Festival October 8 celebrates Appalachian and Daniel Boone heritage with 18th century living history demonstrations, craft vendors, music jam sessions and storytelling. Located at Hickory Ridge Homestead, the event will feature make-and-take crafts including dipped candles, cornhusk dolls and scarecrows.
The weekend of October 8-9 brings the cry of “yodel lay he ho” to the High Country during the 21st Annual Sugar Mountain Oktoberfest. The event, at Sugar Mountain Resort, mixes Bavarian and Appalachian culture and is a great experience for the whole family.
The Valle Country Fair, October 15 in Valle Crucis, is an overgrown church bazaar set in the center of one of the most picturesque valleys in North Carolina.
That same weekend is when one of the High Country’s most well-known events takes place. The 34th Annual Woolly Worm Festival will be held in Banner Elk October 15-16. Crafts, festival foods and the Woolly Worm caterpillar races predicting the coming winter’s weather make this a must-see event!
The 6th Annual Valle Crucis Punkin Festival will be October 22. The Punkin Festival benefits local organizations and offers Punkin Sack Races, Punkin Bowling, crafts and music.
The Ghost Train Halloween Festival at Tweetsie Railroad is safe, scary fun for the whole family. Gates open at 7:30 p.m. every Friday and Saturday evening in October. Visit the Haunted House, Freaky Forest, 3-D Maze and take a journey on the Ghost Train – if you dare!
Many other events occur throughout the month of October including the Todd New River Festival, art crawls in Boone and West Jefferson, Halloween festivals in Blowing Rock and at Grandfather Mountain, special programming at area state parks and natural areas and opportunities to enjoy bluegrass and mountain music at Crouse Park in Sparta.
For ticket information, times and more information on all High Country events please visit the High Country Host website, www.mountainsofnc.com.
North Carolina’s High Country provides the best vacation experience in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The area includes 100 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway and many popular tourist destinations including Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, Linville, Sparta, West Jefferson and Wilkesboro.
The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization. For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.
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Fall Color Report From ASU!
Howie Neufeld, Ph.D.
Professor of Plant Physiology
Appalachian State University
This has been an interesting week in the mountains. Beginning on Friday, the temperatures dropped, and the winds picked up.
Jesse Pope, chief naturalist up on Grandfather Mountain, reports that on Saturday winds reached 60 mph with gusts up to 74 mph.
Luckily, for most trees, they were still holding on to their leaves quite tightly, so even though some were blown off, most are still there, and if we don’t get more wind storms like that one, they should turn color quite nicely in the next two weeks.
For more info on The High Country of North Carolina, call (800) 438-7500, or visit www.MountainsofNC.com.
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Grandfather Mountain Predicts Stunning Fall Color!
The first hints of autumn are in the air and Grandfather Mountain is preparing for the vibrant colors that are sure to follow. In an effort to help visitors experience all of the beauty that the High Country has to offer, Grandfather Mountain provides many opportunities for guests to learn more about the amazing transformation that overtakes the forest in fall.
“We are seeing lots of color change already for this early in September. The trees are looking healthy with lots of leaves, so I’m very optimistic that this will be a good season,” said Director of Education Jesse Pope. “The peak viewing time in the higher elevations will likely be around the first two weeks in October.”
Grandfather Mountain has ideal conditions for leaf looking due to a wide range in elevation, which allows visitors to see the changing leaves over a greater number of weeks. On the weekends of October 8-9 and October 15-16 Grandfather’s Interpretive Rangers and Naturalists will offer “The Colors of Grandfather” guided walks at 1 p.m. These hikes will lead guests through woodlands populated by many different species of hardwoods, provide an opportunity to learn more about the phenomenon of leaf change, and answer questions about Grandfather’s unique ecosystem.
Grandfather is a great destination for leaf looking, not only because its high peaks are a good vantage point for looking out across the color on the hillsides below, but because the mountain hosts such a tremendous variety of plant life.
In addition to the planned programming inside the park in October, fresh fall color photos are posted daily throughout the month on the Mountain’s website, Facebook page and Twitter account. These postings include up-to-date reports on leaf looking conditions, helpful tips for visiting the area in fall and the best routes for finding the brightest trees.
Grandfather Mountain is a globally recognized nature preserve famous for its 360-degree vistas, native wildlife habitats and Mile High Swinging Bridge. The attraction is located on US Highway 221, two miles north of Linville, NC, and one mile south of the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 305.
The Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation established to preserve Grandfather Mountain, operate the nature park in the public interest and participate in educational research activities. For more information phone 800-468-7325 or plan a trip at www.grandfather.com
For more info on The High Country of North Carolina, call (800) 438-7500, or visit www.MountainsofNC.com.
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Tweetsie’s “Ghost Train” Begins September 30th!
For more info on The High Country of North Carolina, call (800) 438-7500, or visit www.MountainsofNC.com.
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2011 RailFan Weekend at Tweetsie Railroad!
For more information, visit http://tweetsie.com!
For more info on The High Country of North Carolina, call (800) 438-7500, or visit www.MountainsofNC.com.
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Mountain Home Music in Blowing Rock this Saturday!
Mountain Home Music
Date: August 20, 2011
http://www.mountainhomemusic.com
A Quilter’s Show-A Quilter’s Song
Quilt Show & Dinner at the Meadowbrook Inn – Saturday, August 20th
Concert at the Blowing Rock School Auditorium – Saturday, August 20th
5:00 Quilt Show: Quilters Reva Roark Steward and Noelle Rosenfeld are quilting masters. Prior to the 8:00 concert, they will display some of their quilts at the Meadowbrook Inn. Arrive early (around 5:00) to browse and for a preconcert dinner prepared by the Meadowbrook Inn. Mountain Home Music will provide background music.
One of Reva Roark Steward’s quilts will be raffled off and proceeds will be donated to MHM.
“To see their quilts,” said Joe Shannon, “is like listening to Doc Watson play the guitar and David Johnson playing the fiddle. You know you’re in the presence of something special.”
8:00 Concert: The Sheets Family, from the Sugar Grove community in Watauga County, plays old-time mountain music, which is fiddle and banjo, ballads and hymns, dancing and yodeling. Performances include the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the National Folklife Festival, and the Library of Congress.
For more info on The High Country of North Carolina, call (800) 438-7500, or visit www.MountainsofNC.com.
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Mystery Hill – Over 50 Years of Family Entertainment
Each year, for over 50 years, guests come from all over the world and the United States to visit Mystery Hill. They are all compelled to come for various reasons; “My mother came here as a child,” “I remember coming here with my Grandfather,” “I drove by this place and just had to come and see what the mystery really was,” “I just can’t get this place out of my mind.”
No matter what the reason, they come back time and time again, bringing relatives and friends to experience the mystery of our “crooked house.” People do remember the remarkable defiance of gravity, where you can see a ball roll uphill, and where folks are pulled from an upright position to an uncanny standing angle of nearly 45°.
This strange phenomenon has been amusing and puzzling visitors to Mystery Hill for generations. Since there is a variety of things to see and do, no one leaves disappointed. Mystery is a family oriented “edutainment” center that offers fun for children ages 2 to 102. We welcome you to join us at any time of the year.
For more, visit http://mysteryhill-nc.com
For more info on The High Country of North Carolina, call (800) 438-7500, or visit www.MountainsofNC.com.
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