Author: William Kradel

MerleFest 2021


Merlefest 2021 is fast approaching, in fact it’s just next week! So what exactly is MerleFest?

MerleFest is a traditional music festival held in Wilkesboro, North Carolina on the Wilkes Community College Campus.

The lineup this year includes singers and bands such as Mavis Staples, LeAnn Rimes, Balsamm Range, The Waybacks, Tony Emmanuel, and many, many more. 

The festival takes place from September 16-19. 1 day tickets cost between $70-$90 depending on the day. The late night jam, which is the musical event that takes place between 10:30-12:30 nightly, costs $45.

Due to the ongoing Covid pandemic, proof of vaccination or proof of a negative Covid test within the last 72 hours is required to attend MerleFest.

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Grandfather Mountain Birdwatching!

In addition to its wonderful scenery and trails, Grandfather Mountain is also home to a large variety of birds to enjoy watching!

Because of the many different microclimates on Grandfather Mountain, over 200 species of birds can be found here! And 100 of those have documented breeding colonies.

One of the surprisingly effective places to watch birds is at the Nature Museum Restaurant. There are many bird feeders outside which the birds enjoy. Some of the birds which can be spotted include Nuthatches, Carolina Chickadees, and Juncos.

For woodland birds, the Profile Trail offers many opportunities to spot species such as Warblers, Louisiana Water Thrushes, and Scarlet Tangers.

On Black Rock Trail, there are plenty of birds which prefer high elevations. Some of these include Kinglets, Hermit Thrushes, and Magnolia Warblers.

A special event in September is the annual southern migration of a variety of raptor species. Throughout the month, visitors can join trained staff to watch the migration and learn more about the passing eagles, peregrine falcons, and more raptor species.

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Music on the Lawn in Blowing Rock

Blowing Rock has always been a place of fun and relaxation throughout the seasons but especially in summer. Starting this Friday evening, at the Ragged Gardens Inn, the Music on the Lawn event begins. 
From 5:30 to 8:30, you can enjoy free outdoor concerts at the Ragged Gardens Inn. A wide range of family friendly music will be featured including classic country, blues, bluegrass and more! There will be drinks and food available to purchase and you can bring your own lawn hair to sit back and relax. 

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Whitewater Adventures in Boone

Spring is almost here which means that while the skiing season is almost over, soon to begin is the whitewater rafting season! And fortunately the Boone area has nearby locations for whitewater rafting for those of all ages.
At Banner Elk, not far from Boone, is High Mountain Expeditions, a white water rafting company who have 30 years of experience with guiding adventurers through the area’s rivers.

The most family friendly river rafting is the Watuga River. The fast moving river is dam controlled so the river is consistent throughout the season.

The course itself is a 3 to 5 hour trip and a deli buffet lunch is provided. Every raft will have a trained guide so it is enjoyable for those even without any rafting experience.

Wilson Creek is a fun river for those who are looking for something fast! Over its 2.5 mile trip, the creek drops 85 feet every mile. Some drops are between 5 and 10 feet. The trip takes 2 to 6 hours and the best time to experience it is in the spring and early summer.

For those who want a truly epic experience, there is the 2 day Nolichucky Rafting Adventure. All meals are provided for beforehand and include many healthy, fresh choices. Travel through the Nolichucky River Gorge is regarded as one of the highest rated whitewater in North America and is considered very unforgettable.

For more information on some of the other rafting adventures you can check out their website https://highmountainexpeditions.com

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Blowing Rock Trout Derby

With spring right around the corner, that also means fishing season is almost upon us! Blowing Rock will have a special fishing derby on Saturday, April 3 to kick it off.

To jumpstart the trout season in April, Blowing Rock will be hosting a catch and release competition in the nearby lakes. The most popular local fishing spots are Price Lake, Bass Lake, Trout Lake, and Middle Fork River. An NC fishing license is required for fishing.

For younger ones and those with disabilities, the small Broyhill Lake in Blowing Rock will be stocked with fish so everyone can enjoy the fishing fun!

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COVID Protocols for Beech Mountain Ski Resort.

It is finally getting cold enough for the ski resorts in the Boone area to finally open! With the pandemic ongoing, all of the resorts are taking extra precautions to ensure everyone is safe and can be comfortable enjoying the slopes.

Beech Mountain makes sure to clean and disinfect all high traffic and touch areas such as restrooms, ticketing, and rental areas using CDC and EPA recommended disinfectants for COVID.

Masks are mandated at all areas outside when interacting with staff, riding, in the loading And unloading areas of the ski lift, and in outdoor areas where social distancing isn’t possible. Masks are mandated at all times inside as well.

All outdoor seating and eating areas have additional separation to ensure social distancing between multiple groups

Hand sanitizers are placed throughout the resort in high traffic areas and sensor faucets are used in all restrooms.

A new paperless system Is used for rentals. You can fill out a paperless paper request and pick up the equipment without any contact with others which also speeds up the process

You can only ride chairlifts with people who you rode with to the resort or ride them alone. This will cause a slight increase in chairlift lines

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