Fiddlin' 5 K Run for the Music Road Race this Weekend in Mars Hill

April 12 -  Fiddlin' 5 K Run for the Music Road Race.  The race, beginning at 9 AM and ending on the beautiful Mars Hill College campus, will benefit the Bascom Lamar Lunsford "Minstrel of Appalachia" Festival and the Junior Appalachian Musicians. 

Sponsored by the Liston B. Ramsey Center for Regional Studies, the Fiddlin' 5k will include live local music performances scattered along the course and, at race end, activities for the whole family on the upper quad of MHC, including a service project with non-profit Sole Hope.

Get a link for the Run and Music Road Race on the Mars Hill NC Visitor Guide. 

Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival this Weekend in Blowing Rock

April 10 - 13   Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival    Enjoy wine tastings, seminars, cooking classes, BRAHM's Cork and Canvas and much more. Look for special Winemaker's Dinners which pair wines with some of the area’s best restaurants fare. Work off all the wine and great food at this year's Chetola Resort Corkscrew 5k run on the 12th. 

Some of the events at the Festival include:
 
Blowing Rock Realty Open House at the SweetGrass Lake House
Blowing Rock Realty will have an open house at the SweetGrass Lake House from 10 to 5 on Saturday April 12th. Come out to enjoy a sampling of local wines and cheeses by the beautiful SweetGrass Lake.

Rowland’s Signorello Wine Dinner
Rowland’s at Westglow has just a few seats remaining for their much anticipated Signorello Wine Dinner! The remaining seats have been reduced to $150 per person (plus tax and gratuity). See details of the event under Wine Dinners and call […]

Blowing Rock Ale House and Brewery
Taste Blowing Rock Ales at TASTE! on Thursday night, the concert Friday night with Jonny Kaplan, and Saturday at the Grand Tasting and at a tent at the Ale House! 

For complete local visitor information see the Blowing Rock NC Guide.

Mountain Spirits: Argentinian Wine Tasting at Maggie B's

April 11,  5:30-8:00 PM at Maggie B's Wine & Specialty Store, 10 C South Main Street in historic downtown Weaverville NC: FREE Argentinian wine tasting.  Sample wines from Bodega Paiman in Argentina.  The winery is brand new to the North Carolina area, and offers some amazing wines.  Come enjoy their Viognier, Tannat, Malbec, and more.

And don't miss Mimosa Mornings on Saturdays - All Day.  There's nothing better than a Mimosa to start your Saturday, or end it, or enjoy with lunch.  Starting this Saturday, Maggie B's will be offering $5 Mimosas all day!

Deal of the Week:  Antique Door Knob Wine Stoppers, "A beautiful way to save your wine."  WAS: $7.99 - THIS WEEK: $4.99. 

RiverLink Announces New FREE APP for Free French Broad River Paddle Trail

Thanks to a generous grant from the NC Adopt-A- Trail program and  contributions from our board of directors, RiverLink is  excited  to release the new  comprehensive French Broad River Paddle Trail  enjoyment map and app -- 13 interactive layers of information to help you identify and locate all the services you will need to enjoy  recreating in the French Broad River watershed.  RiverLink told its design team  to make this a "one stop" application for fun in the  French Broad River watershed - and they did.   It 's just in time for spring and summer so you can plan your trip anywhere in the French Broad watershed.

Map/app layers include: overnight camping, health & wellness,  craft and arts studios, local attractions, lodging,  outfitters, recreation, restaurants, cafes and breweries, river access, river gauge, river hazards and transportation options. The map and app offer all the things you will need to plan your river  trip,  be it a day trip or a longer overnight stay.  The app geo-locates you  wherever you are in the watershed.

The app is now downloadable from iTunes, in the Google Play Store for Android users can get it now at Google play or on the RiverLink website NOW. 

Along with the French Broad River Paddle Trail map and app, you are invited to see, learn and enjoy information at one of the 21 new kiosks we have installed along the watershed that  will inspire you about the flora, fauna, history, people and families who influenced the French Broad watershed.

To have your business included on the app and map - here's what to do: 

Here's the application and process:

Application Process:

1. You will need the latest version of Adobe Reader to fill out the application.  

2. Download the Application from our website at riverlink.org

3. Save the application as a .PDF file on your computer.

4. Fill out the application using Adobe 

5. When finished SAVE your work on computer.

6. Email a live version, or Printed & scanned version, to  WaterResources@riverlink.org,  

Volunteer Opportunities at RiverLink:

RiverLink staff member and Watershed Manger Nancy Hodges has received a full scholarship to "Leave No Trace Leadership Training School."  RiverLink will  host a series of free  training programs this summer  for anyone who wants to learn how to be a sustainable river user  and leave no trace at our free overnight camping sites along the river that require no reservation and are permanently protected by conservation and recreation easements.

For more information about RiverLink or how you can work with our 1,700 volunteers and become involved check out the website at www.riverlink.org or contact information@riverlink.org

Located in Asheville's River Arts District, RiverLink is a regional organization spearheading the economic and environmental revitalization of the French Broad River watershed as a destination where everyone can work, live and play.