High Country Events

July 2012

Independence Day in the High Country…

Downtown Boone July 4^th Parade & Fireworks

Wednesday, July 4^th

11am

The parade begins at Horn in the West Drive, goes down King Street and to the Poplar Grove Extension.
After the parade, the Jones House Community Center will have watermelon and cake starting at noon, and the celebration continues in Clawson Burnley Park, where music with D.J. Carl and a fireworks show begin at 7 p.m. The fireworks will be lit at “dark-thirty,” or 30 minutes after it gets dark, according to flyer for the event.

Tweetsie’s Fireworks Extravaganza

Wednesday, July 4th

After the train rides and regularly scheduled activities at Tweetsie Railroad come to a close this Wednesday, the celebration begins.
Tweetsie will remain open until 9 p.m., with its July 4th Fireworks Extravaganza, beginning at 9:30 p.m., lighting up the Blue Ridge sky for everyone to see.
In addition, Tweetsie Railroad will hold a buffet chicken and barbecue dinner with sides. Ticket prices for the dinner are $14.95 for adults, $9.95 for kids ages 3 to 12 and free for kids younger than 2. Parking for the fireworks show is $5 per vehicle.

Arrive early for the best parking!!!

Independence Day in Banner Elk

Wednesday, July 4^th

Banner Elk’s traditional Fourth of July parade will kick off at 11 a.m. at the Lees-McRae College library on campus. The parade will continue through downtown Banner Elk.
The parade and the following “Party in the Park” at Tate Evans Park are both free and open to everyone. At the “Party in the Park,” a used book sale, rubber duck races, games for children of all ages, food and crafts will be available.

What’s Going on at Horn in the West…

Horn in the West Outdoor Drama

June 15^th – August 11^th

Ask the Boone KOA Staff about Discounted Tickets!!

Loved by young and old, the Horn in the West drama is located in the heart of Boone, North Carolina in one of the most beautiful outdoor theatres in the country. This adventure, from our nation's heritage, has offered thrilling outdoor entertainment to generations of Americans since it premiered in 1952.

Burning of the Effigy of King George

Wednesday, July 4^th

6:30-7:30pm

Come spend the Fourth of July with Hickory Ridge Living History Museum and celebrate our nation's independence in the style typical of the 1780’s and '90’s in North Carolina. The Declaration of Independence will be read aloud and members of the audience will have an opportunity to participate in the reading. The audience will also hear a eulogy for King George III while his effigy is burned. Those in attendance will toast with apple cider, reminiscent of the Toasts of Halifax in 1789.

Watauga County Farmer’s Market

Saturdays, 8am – 12pm

The market has so many things to love: fresh and nutritious local foods, beautiful handmade crafts, face-to-face interactions with the farmers who grow your food, scrumptious breads, jams, jellies, and cheeses made by community members, meat and eggs from local farmers, and of course the friendly social atmosphere of "Boone's Town Square."

Hickory Ridge Living Homestead

Saturdays, 9am – 2pm

Staffed with interpreters in period clothing, the 18th century homestead gives visitors a glimpse into the past and a feeling for the daily lives of early mountain settlers including how they lived, and what constituted a 'typical' mountain homestead. The museum also provides insight into the self sufficiency of our forefathers by showing the routines and skills they possessed such as hearthside cooking, weaving, making candles, spinning, blacksmithing, etc.

Tweetsie Railroad Special Events

Bob the Builder

July 13^th – 15^th

Join the Can-Do Crew when Bob the Builder comes to Tweetsie Railroad for a singing, dancing, building extravaganza!

K9s in Flight

July 21^st – 29^th

Celebrate the ‘dog days of summer’ with Tweetsie Railroad and K-9s in Flight Frisbee Dogs.

Audiences of all ages will be entertained for nine thrilling days by this action packed team of dogs in acrobatic freestyle routines performing live at Tweetsie. This is an event the entire family will enjoy.

Grandfather Mountain Special Events

57^th Annual Grandfather Mountain Highland Games

July 12^th – 15^th

The opening ceremonies begin at dusk with a torchlight ceremony, where representatives of each of the 80 clans and 15 societies announce their family’s participation in the gathering. This “raising of the clans” proclaims that they have once again come together to celebrate their heritage.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday are filled with competition in heavy-weight Scottish athletic events; highland dancing competition; bagpipe band parades; piping, drumming and harp competitions; sheep herding demonstrations by Scottish border collies; and concerts featuring a wide variety of Celtic music.

No parking on the mountain. Shuttles are available to McRae Meadows.

Grandfather Mountain Campout

July 17^th – 29^th

July 17th – 29th

This summer at Grandfather Mountain brings a brand new event, offering participants unique and new opportunities on the Mountain. During this campout, guests can spend up to three days and two nights camping in MacRae Meadows between organized events all over the Mountain.  Grandfather’s education and interpretive staff will be present in the camp area to assist novice campers, answer questions and even offer campfire treats and activities.  The campsite will be safe, cater to all levels of camping experience and welcomes families, couples, and solo adventurers throughout this weekend of wonder.

The Arts…

Art Crawl

Friday, July 6^th

6:30-8pm

Downtown Boone

Each month the Downtown Boone Development Association (DBDA) hosts the Art Crawl which happens every First Friday.

West Jefferson Gallery Crawl

Friday, July 13^th

5-8pm

Stroll the streets of a historic mountain town, enjoy the cool mountain breeze while listening to the comforting sounds of street musicians and "popping" in and out of West Jefferson's many galleries. Open House in more than 15 art galleries and studios.

Art in the Park

Saturday, July 14^th

Blowing Rock

10am – 5pm

Art in the Park was created in 1962 by a handful of area artists and craftspeople to showcase local talent. Now, Art in the Park is host to 90 artisans at each show. Some of the best local and regional artists and craftspeople showcase their handcrafted jewelry, pottery, fiber, glass, photography, painting and more.

Christmas in July

Saturday, July 7^th

West Jefferson, NC

9am – 7pm

Christmas in July is a one full-day, and Friday night free-admission event featuring the very best in traditional mountain music and handmade crafts from throughout the Northwest Mountains
of North Carolina. Nowhere else will you find such an excellent array of food, fun and festivities for the entire family than at Christmas in July! 

Fine Art & Master Craft Festival

July 20^th – 22^nd

The 21st Anniversary Fine Art and Master Craft Festival welcomes visitors and artists to the quaint one red light town of Banner Elk, located in the majestic mountains of Western North Carolina.

Singers, Pickers, and Concert Series in the High Country…

An Appalachian Summer Festival in Boone

July 7^th – Creedence Clearwater Revisited

July 13^th – Carolina Ballet

July 25^th – Chicago with the Doobie Brothers

Mountain Home Music Series in Blowing Rock

July 4^th - Bluegrass & Brass, MHM Bluegrass Boys

July 8^th - Celtic Fiddle & Dance: The April Verch Band

July 22^nd – Building a Barn: A Community Gathering

Jones House in Downtown Boone

July 6^th – Keith Ward (5:00) The Worthless Son-In-Laws (5:30) & Possum Jenkins (7:30)

July 13^th – Fox Kinsman & The Forget-Me-Nots & Todd Wright and Friends

July 20^th – The Lazybirds & Melissa Reaves

July 27^th – The Dollar Brothers & Carolina Crossing

Music is Tate-Evans Park in Banner Elk

July 5^th - Buck Haggard (Classic Country)

July 12^th - Dashboard Blue (R&B, Rock and Timeless Dance Grooves)

July 19^th - Jeff Luckadoo & Southern Wave (Country)

July 26^th - Mad Dog Johnson with Don Vallarta (Pop, Rock and Dance)

MusicFest ‘n Sugar Grove

July 13^th – 14^th

Historic Cove Creek School in Sugar Grove

The Carolina Chocolate Drops, The Carter Brothers, The Krüger Brothers, Carolina Crossing, Snyder Family, Slice of Bluegrass, Dashboard Hula Boys, Cockman Family, Amantha Mill, The Blue Ribbon Boys, The New River Boys, Forget Me Nots, Elkville String Band, and more!

See you soon!