Art and Craft Events this Weekend in the Mountains

September 19 - 22
NC City: SPINDALE
Event: Celebration of the Arts The Show is held at the at the Foundation Conference & Performing Arts Center at Isothermal Community College. The show is sponsored by the Rutherford County Visual Artists Guild (RCVAG) and supported in part by the NC Arts Council. 2D and 3D artwork in various media including paintings, photography, clay, wood, textiles, glass, metal, and jewelry for recognition, ribbons, and cash awards. In addition to the show, an adjoining gift shop will be selling handcrafted artwork at affordable prices

September 20 - 21
NC City: WEST JEFFERSON
Event: 11th Annual Ashe County Quilt Fair This year's Fair theme is " Quilts in the Attic". Events include the Guild Shoppe and Guild Boutique with quilts for sale, a fund-raiser quilt, vender village, sewing machines through the ages and small quilt silent auction. The Fair is held in Jefferson Station, 20 E Ashe Street in West Jefferson NC. 

September 21
NC City: WEAVERVILLE
Event: Art in Autumn This is the seventh annual Art in Autumn Outdoor Arts and Crafts Festival. Over 100 juried artists and craftspeople, as well as an exciting array of food and live music. The festival brings a lively celebration of community and fine art to the Main Street of the 'Mayberry-esque' town of Weaverville. 

September 21
NC City: SPARTA
Event: 19th Annual Mountain Heritage Festival Craft and food vendors line Main Street in celebration of mountain heritage in craft and music. This year's entertainment features Zephyr Lightning Bolts . With demonstrations of the skills of local ancestors and music that mixes local heritage with modern influences, there is something for everyone. Dancers will be kicking up their heels and the Possum Queen will be crowned.

September 21
NC City: ASHEVILLE
Event: Asheville City Market   Find the the freshest, best-tasting food around plus local artisan products in two locations for your convenience: downtown and South Asheville. Debit and credit cards are accepted. Also enjoy live music, cooking demonstrations and food tastings from local chefs, Kids Corner Market activities, and more.

September 21-22
NC City: ASHEVILLE
Event: Heritage Weekend is a two-day celebration of traditional crafts and music. The 32nd free festival is sponsored by the Southern Highland Craft Guild and features traditional music, dancing and heritage craft demonstrations. A highlight of the weekend is the 32nd Annual World Gee Haw Whimmy Diddle Competition on Saturday, 2:00-3:00 PM. Joe “Colonel Buncombe” Bly will emcee the competition.

Find links for more NC Mountains Weekend Events on the NC Events Calendar.

Asheville Brewgrass Festival an Annual Favorite

September 21, 1 - 7 PM   Brewgrass Festival    40 American breweries gather to showcase more than 120 different beers while live music echoes through the Blue Ridge Mountains. Live entertainment for 2013 includes: 

Johnson’s Crossroad, described by friends and fans as everything from Appalachian Soul” to “Hillbilly Metal.” 
 
The Henhouse Prowlers using traditional bluegrass as a base, and making it their own by providing a show that’s danceable throughout with uptempo drive and bouncing mid-tempo grooves, all while covering contemporary topics in a largely original repertoire. 

The Seldom Scene began as a non-touring bluegrass band back in 1971 in Bethesda, Maryland and today has
become one of the single largest contributors to the progression of bluegrass from the early days of Flatt and Scruggs and Bill Monroe to the more contemporary sounds that they founded.  

Larry Keel and Natural Bridge is described by some reviewers as the most powerful, innovative and all-out exhilarating acoustic flatpicking guitarist performing today

The event takes place at Martin Luther King Jr Park and also features a variety of area food vendors and plenty of water.

Get a link for complete details and ticket purchase on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide. 

Asheville's Final Downtown After Five for the Season

September 20   Downtown After Five    Truth & Salvage Co. and The Blue Rags will be closing out the 25th anniversary season of Downtown After 5. Headliners, Truth & Salvage Co. got their start in Asheville as Scrappy Hamilton in 1999, and recorded their 2013 album, "Pick Me Up" at Echo Mountain Studios.

The Blue Rags have been a local favorite since the late 1990s and helped to put Asheville on the musical map. They have since played with a number of notable acts, while occasionally reuniting for a great show.

Local brews from Highland Brewing Company, Pisgah Brewing, Asheville Brewing Company and French Broad Brewing Company, plus, regional favorites Sierra Nevada and SweetWater Brewing as well as national brands from Budweiser of Asheville and Empire Distributing will be on tap. Wine and water will also be available for purchase.

Find links for more Asheville events, lodging and visitor information on the Asheville NC Guide.

Flock to the Rock in Chimney Rock State Park

Date: September 21 - 22   5th Annual Flock to the Rock on Chimney State Rock Park   (No additional cost with paid Park admission; “Early Bird” Watch is extra) The region’s premier fall migration birding event held at Chimney Rock, a birder’s paradise and official site on the NC Birding Trail. Featuring live Birds of Prey programs with a Red-tailed Hawk and Great Horned Owl, this weekend includes bird walks guided by local experts, workshops ranging from bird photography to hummingbirds and family nature walks. Kids can get in on the fun too, dissecting owl pellets to see what these birds of prey eat.

Chimney Rock State Park is home to 130+ species of birds throughout the year, including warblers, vireos, tanagers, woodpeckers, thrushes, owls and birds of prey, including the Peregrine Falcon. This prime birding weekend coincides with the annual hawk migration when dozens, sometimes hundreds, of hawks can be seen during their flight south.

For optimal bird watching, enjoy a 7:30 AM “Early Bird” Migration Watch on a 2+ hour walk. As a before-hours activity, the cost is $20 for Adults (includes day admission) or $5 for Passholders, call (800) 277-9611 to register.

Get links for lodging and complete visitor information on the Chimney Rock NC Guide.