North Carolina Premiere,performances 8pm nightly and 2pm matinees on the weekends.

Conceived and developed by Lynette Barkley & Christopher McGovern Book, original songs and arrangements by Christopher McGovern

Combining original songs and vintage movie musical numbers with dance, this toe-tapping account of the private life of Ginger Rogers celebrates her extraordinary talent. Best known as Fred Astaire's dance partner, Rogers was also an acclaimed actress and singer, and one of the industry's first women to demand equal pay. This brisk-paced show makes it clear why her performance prompted enchanted critics to observe, "She does everything that Fred Astaire does, but backwards and in high heels"

"A Sold out sensation." - Playbill.com

Festival celebrating Boone's namesake featuring a symposium hosted by award-winning author Robert Morgan, Fess Parker wine dinners, music, arts and crafts and more!

Thursday
Open House and Social at Daniel Boone Headquarters, FREE
High Country Press Office, downtown Boone

Friday
Inaugural Symposium with Robert Morgan
ASU campus, $2

Fess Parker Wine Dinners 7pm, Gamekeeper and Casa Rustica Restaurants ($75-85 per person)

Saturday
Daniel Boone Chase Foot Race
8am, Downtown Boone to Howard's Knob, $20

Pioneer Festival at the Horn
12pm to 11pm, $10 advance/$12 at the door
The Waybacks, Larry Keel & Natural Bridge, The Lost Ridge Band and more.

Art lovers of all ages are invited to visit our art gallerys, restaurants and boutiques the 1st Friday of each month. Art in all media and price ranges is available for sale.

A once-a-year event for railroad enthusiasts of all ages!
Focused on the 65-year history of engine #190 the "Yukon Queen," will bare her original 1943 U.S. Army lettering and original whistle.

A weekend pass is required for two full days of Railfan activities.
Adults $46
Age 3-12 $31
Ages 2 and under - Free

This special day is a must for women who need some overdue pampering. A day just for you... time to escape the outside world and relax into this exotic one day vacation! Yoga, Meditation, Swedish Massage, Thai Bodywork, Reiki treatments, Facials, Footbath Therapy, and Aromatherapy. Gourmet lunch along with champagne (or tea) and chocolates in the garden included. Be a queen for the day as you wander through our gardens, gallery and fine arts gift shop while spending the day being totally pampered. 10:00am - 4:00pm. $150 per person

Anticipated the third or fourth week of September, sightings of up to 200 hawks have been seen in the past at the lower end of Linville Gorge Wilderness. There is a new viewing platform at Pinnacle Rocks, just south of the wilderness boundary off the Kistler Memorial Highway, to facilitate viewing of the hawks this fall and for spring viewing of the Peregrine Falcons. Other locations for good viewing are Table Rock and Wiseman's View. For more information, contact the USDA Forest Service, Grandfather District.

On Saturday, September 13, Grandfather Mountain will celebrate Kidfest, a day designed to get kids excited about the nature and culture of the North Carolina Mountains through fun and entertaining activities.

2007 Schedule
9 Guided hike at the Woods Walk trail with Naturalist Jesse Pope.
10-11 Staff on hand in Habitat area to answer questions and lead animal enrichment activities
11 Birds of the Blue Ridge live demonstration in the Nature Museum Auditorium.
11-2 Face painting at the Fudge Shop
12:30-2:30 Storyteller Glen Bollick in the Museum auditorium
1:30 "The Thicket Game" at the Woods Walk trail. A hide-and-go-seek style game that teaches the value of blending in with your surroundings.
3-4 Staff on hand in Habitat area to answer questions and lead animal enrichment activities
3:30 Quick Frozen Critters at the Fudge Shop. A freeze-tag-like game where children pretend to be animals trying to avoid being tagged by predators.

Saturday 10am-5pm
Location: American Legion Grounds in Downtown Blowing Rock
A juried art and craft show featuring 130 artists.
FREE trolley shuttles
Sponsored by the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce

Come hula with your ukulele's for a night of island fun right here in the N.C. mountains! A full 'Hawaiian luau' dinner buffet will transport you to the 'Big Island' without the airfare!! Aloha! 7:00pm - Advanced Reservation only. $50.00 per person. We are located at 313 Mt. Jefferson State Park Road in West Jefferson.

FREE!
Begun in 1987, the Sunday Concert in the Park was immediately recognized by The Governor’s Business Council on the Arts and Humanities for its ability to blend the business community with the arts. The Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce was the first chamber to be recognized by the Governor’s Council. We have made every effort to feature many different types of music in the past and will continue this commitment to diversity and excellence as we move forward.

Returning to the Mariam & Robert Hayes Performing Arts Center after a wildly successful appearance in May of 2007, THE SECOND CITY, Chicago's World Famous Comedy Troupe Returns with a new show titled PratFall of Civilization
Directed by Joseph Jefferson Award nominee Marc Warzecha takes a look at a nation in transition. Parents torn between responsible parenting and rock n' roll roots. The green movement meets keeping up with the Jones'. Functional families finding their place in a world of dysfunction.

Founded in Chicago in 1959, The Second City has become the premier training ground for the comedy world’s best and brightest. Their alumni list reads like a who’s who of American comedy, as it includes: Mike Nichols, Elaine May, Alan Arkin, Joan Rivers, Robert Klein, Peter Boyle, Harold Ramis, John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, George Wendt, Martin Short, John Candy, Bonnie Hunt, Tim Meadows, Chris Farley, Mike Myers, Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Horatio Sanz, Ryan Stiles and countless others.

Grandfather Mountain adopted the Girl Scouts in 1971, inviting the girls to visit the mountain each September to learn more about nature and the Blue Ridge mountains. The Scouts returned the gesture by adopting Grandfather’s late mascot, Mildred the Bear, as an honorary Girl Scout and presenting her with a series of pins to mark her many years with the organization.

On Girl Scout Day, all Girl Scouts and their troop leaders are admitted to Grandfather Mountain free with proof of membership. Families traveling with scouts may ask for discount admission rates.

2007 Schedule
10:00 Guided nature walk at the Woods Walk trail at Picnic area.
11:00 Habitat Staff on hand to answer questions and lead animal enrichment activities
1:00 Owl Encounter beside the Fudge Shop
2:00 Nature near Swinging Bridge – Explore the ecosystem around the Bridge and learn about the history of the Bridge. Meet at the foot of the stone steps in the Top parking area.
3:30 Black Rock Interpretive Hike. Meet at the head of the Black Rock Trail located at the Hikers Parking Lot three turns below the Swinging Bridge parking area.

Come enjoy bluegrass music, kids activities, home cookin' and handmade crafts.

Local Blowing Rock artist, Jose Fumero, will conduct several sessions focusing on techniques used in creating his famous fiber weavings as well as work by other artists. The discussion will be held on the sun porch of the Moses Cone Manor and is sponsored by Parkway Craft Center. (The sun porch is the area used to film a portion of the movie “The Green Mile”.) The discussion will center on a unique process Jose has developed called woven fiber mosaics.

Each date listed below will have morning and afternoon sessions per day; 10-12 am and 1-3 pm, and are free to the public. Because of the personal interaction and space available, each session will be limited to eight attendees. The following dates are available:

•May 10
•May 31
•July 14 and 16
•August 10
•September 20, 21
•October 10

Registration is required to allow for proper planning. To register, please call Parkway Craft Center at 828-295-7938 or e-mail at parkwaycraft@bellsouth.net.

Join us for a special celebration of all things Italian. $10 admission fee includes wine and food tasting and more!

Live Music from Cle Thompson & Joe Cea
Italian Food Available for Purchase
Gelato from Cafe Gelato
And Much, Much More Italian Food and Fun
For more information, contact us at 336.835.9463 or email info@raffaldini.com.

Tickets: TBA
Time: TBA
The star of tv sitcom's Alice recalls her roots in the theater (originating Sondheim's "The Boy From..." in The Mad Show) and her early cabaret trials and tribulations in some less-than-glamorous boites. Lavin's varied musical choices range from Gershwin to Maltby & Shire; Dave Frishberg to Trishia Yearwood, and the musical relationship with pal Billy Stritch at the piano only adds to the party atmosphere this hostess-with-the-mostess exudes.

Monthly Wine Dinner featuring Indian cuisine, paired with Banner Elk Winery Wines.
Time and Menu TBA
For more information, www.bannerelkwinery.com or call for reservations 828-260-1790 or 828-260-9090

with Tom Eshelman
• Monday, Sept 22, 2008
• 10 AM - 3 PM
• $35, includes lunch
Have you heard about labyrinths and thought you wanted to know more? Well now is your chance! In this day long retreat you will learn about the fascinating history of this ancient tool of
walking meditation and prayer as you spend the day walking our indoor and outdoor labyrinths.
Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes and bring a journal. There will be lots of handouts and plenty of time for questions.

Back by Popular Demand

The Richmond Ballet is considered one of the most innovative and impressive regional dance troupes in the country, and was "highly recommended" by The New York Times on the occasion of their 2005 New York debut at The Joyce Theater. Artistic Director Stoner Winslett has designed a wide-ranging repertory for the company of classical and contemporary dance that stand the test of time - works from such renowned choreographers as George Balanchine, Agnes de Mille and John Butler. Her philosophy is well-represented in the Richmond Ballet's American Masterpieces of Dance, a program featuring the works of famed choreographers and dance icons who dared to be different and forever revolutionized the art form.

The Richmond Ballet was founded in 1957 by local dance enthusiasts as a performance outlet for students in local dance programs. It existed for more than 20 years as a small, civic company until 1975 when the School of Richmond Ballet was created. In 1980, Ms. Stoner Winslett became the founding artistic director. She continues to lead and manage the organization 25 years later. In 1984, Richmond Ballet became the first professional Ballet company in Virginia and was designated the State Ballet of Virginia in 1990 by then Governor Wilder.

Enjoy great savings at the Hickory Furniture Mart where you will find 100 factory outlets, stores and galleries featuring 1000 manufacturers of fine furniture, accessories, beddings, rugs and more.

Located within an hours drive of the High Country