High Country Fall Things to Do Bucket List 2023
Looking for a list of ways to celebrate fall only in the NC High Country? We have it here! See if you can complete all the items on the bucket list for Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, Beech Mountain, Sugar Mountain, West Jefferson, Wilkesboro and Sparta:

GO APPLE PICKING

• Perry Lowe Orchard (near Wilkesboro) will take you on a hayride to the best apple picking spots
• The Orchard at Altapass (Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 328, near Linville) also has a u-pick orchard and hosts live music on weekends
• *Prefer hard cider? Visit Molly Chomper Hard Cidery in beautiful Lansing (near West Jefferson)
  
  

 JUMP IN THE LEAVES

• Price Park Picnic Area (Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 297, near Blowing Rock) is the perfect location to make a leaf pile!  Don't forget to bring a rake and a picnic to enjoy. *Tip: head over after 11 so the leaves have time to dry
  
  

  VISIT A CORN MAZE & PUMPKIN PATCH

• New River Corn Maze (in Boone) features over a mile of confusing trails to navigate and a pumpkin patch
• Ashe County Corn Maze (near West Jefferson) features a 4-acre maze and u-pick pumpkins
• Harvest Farm Corn Maze (in Valle Crucis) takes you on a hayride to the start of the maze for extra fun!
  
  

 DO SOME LEAF-LOOKIN’

• Drive Country backroads- Stop by the High Country regional visitor center for a paper map 
• Barn Quilt Trails- A perfect way to explore the country landscape and take some scenic pictures
• Blue Ridge Parkway- any section will have amazing leaf-looker views!
• Canoe the New- see the leaves from the water!
• Zip through the Trees- see the leaves from the inside and the top of the tree canopy
• Take a State Park Hike- Elk Knob, Grandfather Mountain, Mount Jefferson and Stone Mountain state parks offer great trails

  EAT TOO MUCH CANDY

• Mast General Store Candy Barrel (in Boone or Mast General Store Annex in Valle Crucis) has all the retro favorites
• Ashe County Cheese Kandy Korner (in West Jefferson) has old fashioned candy and fudge
• Kilwins (in Blowing Rock) has homemade fudge, candies and ice cream
• Sweet Smiles (in Wilkesboro) has jars of candy and lots of ice cream
  
  

  WATCH THE HAWK MIGRATION

• Mahogany Rock (Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 235) is a great overlook with a steady wind current
• Grandfather Mountain hosts a Hawk Watch, with educational staff on hand, every September-October

  TAKE A SCENIC LIFT RIDE

• Sugar Mountain Resort hosts scenic lift rides October 6-8 & 14-15.

2023 FALL FESTIVALS
View a full list of Events HERE

September 3
BEECH MOUNTAIN ANNUAL MILE HIGH KITE FESTIVAL
Kite club demonstrations, free kites to the 1st 200 kids. beechmtn.com

SOLD OUT!!
AUTUMN AT OZ
Skip down the yellow brick road and meet your favorite characters from the classic story. 

September 16
MOUNTAIN HERITAGE FESTIVAL
Enjoy live music, food vendors and arts & crafts booths. Click HERE

September 9-10
ART IN THE PARK WEEKEND
Art show featuring 90 artists Saturday. Free concert in the park Sunday. blowingrock.com

September 15-16
WEST JEFFERSON OLDE TIME ANTIQUES FAIR
Outdoor antique vendors, live music & food vendors.  Visitwestjefferson.org

September 23
ART ON THE MOUNTAIN
Fine arts & crafts, demos, food & more! ashecountyarts.org

September 3
TODD NEW RIVER BLUES FESTIVAL
Enjoy live music, storytelling, arts & crafts, a checkers playoff, special children's activities and much more! Click HERE

October 7
BRUSHY MOUNTAIN APPLE FESTIVAL
One of the largest one-day festivals in the southeast! Music, dancing, arts & crafts, food & apples. applefestival.net

October 14-15
OKTOBERFEST
Festive Bavarian atmosphere at Sugar Mountain Resort with music, kids fun center & German beer. Free.  SeeSugar.com

October 21
VALLE COUNTRY FAIR
Juried fine art & crafts booths, music & food. vallecountryfair.org

October 21-22
44TH ANNUAL WOOLLY WORM FESTIVAL
Woolly Worm wace, crafts, food & kids activities. woollyworm.com

November 12- December 23
CHOOSE & CUT CHRISTMAS TREE SEASON
Find the perfect Christmas tree and enjoy amenities such as hot cocoa, hayrides & more! highcountryholiday.com

For more fall fun, join the Fall Lovers League of the High Country Facebook group HERE!