Calendar of Annual Area Events

JANUARY

Blowing Rock’s Winterfest
Blowing Rock: Held the fourth weekend in January each year. A winter celebration featuring a chili cook-off, wine auction, dog sledding, live stage performances, polar plunge and more. 800-295-7851 or www.blowingrockwinterfest.com

APRIL

MerleFest
Wilkesboro: Held the fourth weekend in April each year. Festival in celebration of the music of the late Merle Watson and his father, Doc Watson. An extraordinary talent roster offering a mix of traditional and contemporary roots music. 800-343-7857www.merlefest.org

MAY

Art in the Park
Blowing Rock: Held one Saturday per month May through October (call for exact dates). A series of six juried art and fine handcraft shows with 120 exhibitors in each show. A wide variety of art forms. 800-295-7851 or www.blowingrock.com

JUNE

Art in the Park
Blowing Rock: Held one Saturday per month May through October (call for exact dates). A series of six juried art and fine handcraft shows with 120 exhibitors in each show. A wide variety of art forms. 800-295-7851 or www.blowingrock.com

Horn in the West
Boone: Performances run mid-June through mid-August. The nation’s third oldest outdoor drama telling the story of the Revolutionary War in western NC. Nightly at 8:00 PM (except Mondays). 828-264-2120 www.boonenc.org/saha

Annual Singing on the Mountain
Linville: Fourth Sunday of June each year. All-day gospel sing, church bazaar and dinner-on-the- grounds held at the base of Grandfather Mountain. Features a nationally-known speaker and top groups. Free admission. 800-468-7325 www.grandfather.com

JULY

Art in the Park
Blowing Rock: Held one Saturday per month May through October (call for exact dates). A series of six juried art and fine handcraft shows with 120 exhibitors in each show. A wide variety of art forms. 800-295-7851 orwww.blowingrock.com

Horn in the West
Boone: Performances run mid-June through mid-August. The nation’s third oldest outdoor drama telling the story of the Revolutionary War in western NC. Nightly at 8:00 PM (except Mondays). 828-264-2120 www.boonenc.org/saha

An Appalachian Summer Festival
Boone: Entire month of July each year. ASU’s annual summer arts celebration, featuring an exciting mix of music, dance, theatre and visual arts. Named ont of the “Top Ten Events in the Southeast” by the Southeastern Tourism Society. 800-841-ARTS or www.appsummer.org

Christmas in July
West Jefferson: First weekend in July each year. Three days of wonderful food, crafts and entertain- ment. Something for everyone--including Santa! 336-246-5855 www.christmasinjuly.net

Tweetsie Railroad’s July 4th Extravaganza
Blowing Rock: July 4th (call for exact date--sometimes is moved to weekend). Annual Independence day celebration featuring a fantastic fireworks display. 800-526-5740 www.tweetsie.com

Grandfather Mountain Highland Games
Linville: Second full weekend of each July. A Highland celebration of Celtic culture and competition featuring the largest Scottish clan gathering in the world. 828-733-1333 www.gmhg.org

Tom Dooley: A Wilkes County Legend
North Wilkesboro: mid-July through first of August. Dramatization of the murder of Laura Foster and hanging of Tom Dula for the crime. Special events each weekend. Performed by the Wilkes Playmakers. 336-838-7529 www.wilkesplaymakers.com

Summer Sunday Sunset Concerts
Beech Mountain: mid-July through first Saturday in August (call to verify). Sunday evening live music outside at Fred’s General Mercantile Gazebo. 828-387-4383 www.fredsgeneral.com

Arts & Master Crafts Show
Banner Elk: Third weekend in July and third weekend in August each year. Featuring some of the finest artists and craftspeople from the Southeast. Purchase current work or place custom orders. 800-972-2183 www.banner-elk.com

AUGUST

Art in the Park
Blowing Rock: Held one Saturday per month May through October (call for exact dates). A series of six juried art and fine handcraft shows with 120 exhibitors in each show. A wide variety of art forms. 800-295-7851 or www.blowingrock.com

Mineral & Gem Festival
Spruce Pine: Usually first weekend in August - call to check. Fine jewelry, minerals and gems presented by dealers from around the world with exhibits, displays and entertainment.
800-227-2912 www.mitchell-county.com

Crafts on the Green
Beech Mountain: Usually first Saturday in August. All-day market featureing many of the area’s finest crafters, music and food. Held at Fred’s Gazebo. 828-387-4383 www.fredsgeneral.com

Arts & Master Crafts Show
Banner Elk: Third weekend in July and third weekend in August each year. Featuring some of the finest artists and craftspeople from the Southeast. 800-972-2183 www.banner-elk.com

SEPTEMBER

Art in the Park
Blowing Rock: Held one Saturday per month May through October (call for exact dates). A series of six juried art and fine handcraft shows with 120 exhibitors in each show. A wide variety of art forms. 800-295-7851 or www.blowingrock.com

Performing Arts Series at ASU
Boone-ASU: Performances from September through April. World-renowned musicians, dance companies and theatre troupes comprise this diverse performance series. Call for exact dates, times and rates. 800-841-2787www.oca.appstate.edu

Overmountain Victory Celebration
Spruce Pine: Usually second wknd. in September. Spruce Pine is transformed into Revolutionary Era military camps with reenactments, activities and more. 800-227-3912
www.mitchell-county.com

OCTOBER

Art in the Park
Blowing Rock: Held one Saturday per month May through October (call for exact dates). A series of six juried art and fine handcraft shows with 120 exhibitors in each show. A wide variety of art forms. 800-295-7851 or www.blowingrock.com

Tweetsie Railroad’s Halloween Festival
Blowing Rock: Evenings in October (call for exact dates) Safe, scary fun featuring the Ghost Train, Halloween shows, amusement park rides, trick-or-treating and a haunted house.
800-526-5740 or www.tweetsie.com

Woolly Worm Festival
Banner Elk: Third weekend in October The Woolly Worm Woad Wace on Friday kicks off this fun-filled family weekend. Woolly Worm Races (to predict the winter weather), crafts, food and entertainment. 800-972-2183 www.banner-elk.com

Valle Crucis Country Fair
Valle Crucis: Third weekend in October Featuring arts, crafts, music and other traditional mountain treats.

NOVEMBER

Choose & Cut
All over High Country: Late Nov. thru Christmas Begin a new family tradition by visiting a Christmas tree farm in the mountains and selecting a REAL tree. Many places offer hot cocoa, music, bonfires & will ship your tree to you. 828-262-5826 www.ncchristmastrees.com

DECEMBER

New Year’s Eve Celebrations
Night skiing, torchlight parades, fireworks and much more. Appalachian Ski Mtn: 800-322-2373
www.appskimtn.com and Ski Sugar 800-SUGARMT www.skisugar.com