High Country Labor Day Getaway

Celebrate the unofficial "end of summer" in the NC Mountains!  We have plenty of outdoor activities and events happening Labor Day weekend.  Need a place to stay?  View our listings HERE or call us for our personal recommendations and last minute deals at 828-264-1299. Here is our list of top picks:

LONG WEEKEND ACTIVITY IDEAS

• Small Town Day Trips
  View our webpage featuring day trips to some of our favorite small mountain towns HERE
  
  
• Canoe the New River
  Take advantage of the last long days of summer and hit the river!  View the local wildlife, pick some wildflowers or cool off with a dip in the fresh mountain water.  View a list of outfitters HERE
  
  
• Visit a Waterfall
  From roadside waterfalls to 3 mile destination hikes, we have a waterfall for you to visit!  View a list of area waterfalls HERE
  
  
• Have a Picnic
  Nothing says summer like a picnic!  Check out our list of Top 5 Picnic spots (and remember to pick up some treats at the farmers market) HERE

LABOR DAY WEEK(END) EVENTS

• ARTISAN MARKET
  September 1-2, 10am-5pm, Shoppes on the Parkway, Blowing Rock
  Featuring 20 local artisans from all over the region with pottery, woodworking, hand-crafted jewelry and more! Take a piece of the beautiful High Country home with you.

  MOSES CONE MANOR TOURS
  September 1-3, Moses Cone Manor, Blue Ridge Parkway, Blowing Rock
  Tours are ranger-led and structured for the time indicated below. Open houses are self-guided and self-paced. A ranger will be inside answering questions. Friday: Tour: 10:30-11:30, Open House: 1:30-4:00 Saturday: Tour: 10:30-11:15 and 11:30-12:15, Open House: 1:30-4:00 Sunday: Tour: 10:30-12:00 and 2:00-3:30  We recommend calling to reserve a spot on a tour due to limited space. You can do that up to 24 hours in advance. Call 828-295-3782.

  BEECH MOUNTAIN FARMERS MARKET
  September 1, 2-6pm, Public Parking Lot, Beech Mountain
  Fresh organic produce, honey, baked goods, plants,microgreens, gourmet dog treats and farm raised beef are just a few of the local products available for purchase.

  FIRST FRIDAY
  September 1, 5-8pm, Downtown Boone
  Check out the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts on King Street, as well as the Mazie Jones Gallery in the Jones House Community Center. Art exhibits and wine tastings are in various downtown shops and restaurants.

  LIVE: CHARLIE ELLIS
  September 1-2, 6-9pm, Green Park Inn, Blowing Rock
  Free concerts every Friday and Saturday night with local jazz musician Charlie Ellis! Enjoy the music in the lobby and sitting rooms of the beautifully restored Green Park Inn.  The Divide Tavern open to the public.

  BACKSTREET CONCERT
  September 1, 5:30pm, Backstreet Park, Downtown West Jefferson
  Listen to old time mountain music with Cabin Creek

  WILKESBORO FARMERS MARKET
  September 2, 7:30-1pm, Yadkin Valley Marketplace, Downtown North Wilkesboro
  Offering locally grown produce, meats, eggs, dairy, baked goods, canned goods, crafts and handmade items.

  ASHE COUNTY FARMERS MARKET
  September 2, 8-1pm, 108 Backstreet, Downtown West Jefferson
  Ashe County Farmers Market opens for the season on Saturday, April 8th.

  WATAUGA COUNTY FARMERS MARKET
  September 2, 10-1pm, Horn in the West, Boone
  Up to 65 vendors offer quality locally farmed produce and plants, as well as locally made crafts and edibles. Regular cooking demos and live music, as well as a children's corner. 

  ART ON THE GREENE
  September 2-3, 10-5pm, Historic Banner Elk School
  Craft vendors represent a variety of media, such as metal, glass, ceramics, wood, watercolor, acrylics and oil. Attendees can find everything from hand-crafted furniture to a one-of-a-kind piece of art made in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

  APPSTATE MOUNTAINEERS FOOTBALL
  September 2, 3:30pm, Kidd Brewer Stadium, Boone
  Appstate Mountaineers Football vs Garner Webb Home Game- Boone NC

  LIVE MUSIC AT THE ORCHARD
  September 2-3, 2pm, Orchard at Altapass, Spruce Pine
  Enjoy free live old time and traditional bluegrass on the weekends at the outdoor pavilion.

  MUSIC ON MAIN
  September 2, 5-9pm, Downtown Sparta
  Live Music starts at 5pm on Main Street! Appalachian Roadshow takes the stage at 7pm. Children's activities in Dilly Dally Alley from 5pm to 7pm. TNT BBQ available starting at 5pm.  About Appalachian Roadshow: The award-winning acoustic outfit is on a mission to illuminate the history, challenges, and rewards of life in that storied region and celebrate the spirit of the Appalachian people who call it home. 

  BLACK LIGHT MINE TOUR
  September 2, 9pm, Emerald Village, Little Switzerland
  Black light is the common name for ultraviolet light, which is invisible to humans. Discover a hidden world of beauty at night in the Bon Ami Mine, one of the few places in the world where you can see this rare phenomenon. Extensive deposits of Hyalite Opal and other rare minerals respond with fantastic colors. This special guided tour lasts about 45 minutes. Bring your camera for some awesome photos!

  MILE HIGH KITE FESTIVAL
  September 3, 10-4pm, Kite Field, Beech Mountain
  Two recognized kite clubs, one from Charlotte, N.C. and one from Richmond, Va., will be on hand to demonstrate flying techniques, staff kite clinics and help folks build their own kites. Free kites will be given to the first 150 children under the age of 13. Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce Prizes are given to novice flyers for the biggest kite flown, the most original handmade kite flown, the kite to fly the highest, and whatever other categories the organizers can dream up.