What to do in the Mountains This Weekend: Festivals and Special Events

Date:      September 9 - 10, 2016
NC City:  LANSING - near WEST JEFFERSON
Event:     Greater L.A. Festival    An annual event featuring live gospel and folk music and  great down-home food. The Festival  also welcomes  children of all ages, offering hayrides, face painting and  inflatable attractions.  

Date:      September 9 - 11, 2016
NC City:  MAGGIE VALLEY
Event:     Thunder in the Smokies Fall Rally   Come ride the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Enjoy Tour Rides, Music Concerts, Bike Builders, Bike Games, Bike Show, Prizes, Vendors and much more during our three day rally! All bikes and ages welcomed.


Date:      September 9 - 11, 2016
NC City:  ASHEVILLE
Event:     Annual Goombay Festival   “Goombay Festival represents an opportunity to highlight the African American experience and the YMI’s role in crafting that experience. It continues to promote the historical legacy of the “Founding Fathers” to promote the entrepreneurial spirit of African Americans in Asheville, NC.” — Stephanie Swepson-Twitty, Board Chair of the YMI. Enjoy 3 days of music arts and community. 

Date:      September 9 - 11, 2016
NC City:  BREVARD
Event:     Annual Mountain Song Festival   held in the beautiful covered, open-air auditorium by the lake at Brevard Music Center. This foot-stomping, banjo-picking celebration of bluegrass and newgrass music will feature Steep Canyon Rangers, Ricky Skaggs, Del McCoury Band, The Milk Carton Kids, Larry Keel Experience, Shannon Whitworth, Red Wine, Sarah Siskind and Sarah Siskind. The event supports the Boys and Girls Club of Transylvania County and has become a premier southeastern festival drawing 5000 music lovers annually.

Date:      September 9 - 18, 2016
NC City:  FLETCHER (Asheville suburb)
Event:     North Carolina Mountain State Fair  Held at the WNC Agricultural Center, this is the third largest fair in North Carolina, and it celebrates the heritage of the Blue Ridge Mountains, including agriculture, music, crafts, art, food, entertainment, display of livestock, competitions, and midway amusement rides.

Date:      September 10 - 11, 2016
NC City:  CHIMNEY ROCK
Event:     Grandparents Day Special  at Chimney Rock State Park.  Grandparents love spending time with the grandkids. What better way to spend time together than at Chimney Rock? When you purchase one regularly-priced adult admission, receive one youth admission free. Download coupon at the website and present at the Ticket Plaza.

Date:      September 10, 2016
NC City:  LENOIR
Event:     31st Annual Sculpture Celebration   This Annual Sculpture Celebration features a Blue Jeans Preview Party Friday evening and a competition Saturday featuring sculptors from several states east of the Mississippi River. The Celebration will be open to the public 9 AM-4 PM and judging occurs all day with awards announced about 3:30 PM.

Date:      September 10, 2016
NC City:  ASHEVILLE
Event:     Annual West Asheville Garden Stroll   This year’s Stroll will be in the general area of Vance School, extending down Sulphur Springs Road to Malvern Hills Park and Sand Hill Road to the Hominy Creek Greenway. The Kickoff ceremony will be at Vance School at 10:30 and Stroll from 11- 4 PM.

photo courtesy Grandfather Mountain

Date:      September 10, 2016
NC City:  LINVILLE
Event:     KidFest at Grandfather Mountain   A day designed to get kids excited about the nature and culture of the North Carolina Mountains through fun and entertaining activities. Guided hikes, games, storytellers, music and fun. The events are free with park admission.

      



 

Mountain Music: Live Concerts this Weekend

Date:      August 21, 2015
NC City:  SYLVA 
Events:   Concerts on the Creek -   Mangas Colorado Live concerts held every Friday night between Memorial Day Weekend and Labor Day. The free outdoor performances take place at the Bridge Park Pavilion beside Scott Creek in downtown Sylva on Fridays from 7:30-9:30 PM. All shows are family-friendly, drawing diverse audiences comprised of locals and visitors alike.

Date:      August 21, 2015
NC City:  CASHIERS 
Event:     Groovin' On The Green   This concert features " The Freeway Revival. "  ( rock).  Live summer music concert with great music in a stunning venue in the beautiful weather. The summer concert series is held on Friday at 6:30 pm at the Village Commons. (Frank Allen Road – Next to the Post Office). FREE event, but tips appreciated. 

Date:      August 21, 2015
NC City:  ASHEVILLE
Event:     The Biltmore Concert Series:  Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers and Blues Traveler    Enjoy performances by award-winning artists at Biltmore with stunning views of Biltmore House and the Blue Ridge Mountains, offering a perfect place to see a show under the stars.

Date:      August 21, 2015
NC City:  ASHEVILLE
Event:     Downtown After Five   Free live music entertainment in downtown Asheville.  The celebration is every third Friday, May through September, with the goal of encouraging locals and visitors to enjoy downtown Asheville and support local businesses and entertainers.  The event is located on North Lexington Avenue (between Hiawassee and the I-240 overpass). Food and beer vendors will be available.

Date:      August 21,  August 22, 2015
NC City:  CHEROKEE
Event:    Music on the River   Enjoy open-air musical performances by the river Friday and Saturday evenings in downtown Cherokee. Performances include rock n’ roll, blues, jazz, gospel and country, and are staged near local eateries, shopping, and downtown water features with room to dance along.   Friday night: Alfred Lossiah , Saturday night: AM Superstars . 

Date:      August 22, 2015
NC City:  ROBBINSVILLE
Event:     An Appalachian Evening - The Henhouse Prowlers    This annual summer concert series offers an ever-changing schedule of bluegrass, folk and old-time mountain music by award-winning artists — quality entertainment for the entire family. Rich in cultural heritage, An Appalachian Evening continues to be a favorite with locals and visitors alike. All concerts at 7:30 pm in the air-conditioned Lynn L. Shields Auditorium.

Date:      August 22, 2015
NC City:  ASHEVILLE
Event:    Shindig on the Green   Held outdoors at Pack Square Park in the heart of downtown Asheville, this FREE event  was voted the #1 Local Outdoor Concert in the Mountain Xpress "Best of WNC" survey for four years. Bring your instruments, your lawn chair or blanket, family and friends and join the fun eight summer Saturdays. Performances include Long-standing house band The Stoney Creek Boys Bluegrass and Old-Time String Bands, Big Circle Mountain Dancers, Clog Dancers, Smooth Dancers, Ballad Singers and Storytellers. If you love old time Mountain music and Bluegrass this is the place to be.

Date:      August 23, 2015
NC City:  MAGGIE VALLEY
Event:     Maggie Valley Concert Series   Live outdoor concert by the Haywood Community Band. Bring a blanket or a chair, picnic supper and enjoy the beautiful Maggie Valley sunset. Free and open to the public. Held each 3rd Sunday from May through October at 6:30 PM.

  

Grassy Creek Mineral and Gem Show Begins Today in Spruce Pine NC

July 30 - August 2, 2015    The Annual Grassy Creek Mineral and Gem Show   This popular event features 60 dealers from all over the world with gem stones, mineral specimens, fossils, jewelry, beads and lots more. If it is made of stone, you should be able to find it here. 

There will be a BBQ and more great food on Saturday, a fundraiser for the  the Parkway Fire and Rescue and new equipment. Come help out the fire department. 

The Show is open 10 AM to 6 PM daily at 12966 South Hwy 226 in Spruce Pine, NC. Admission and parking are FREE.