Category: Concerts and Events

Blowing Rock Trout Derby April 6th

This Saturday, April 6, is going to be the 44th annual Blowing Rock Trout Derby in the Boone area!

The Trout Derby has been celebrating the opening of trout season for 4 decades  in Blowing Rock and there are plenty of activities and competitions of all ages!

The picnic shelter at Robbins Pool, 173 Lakeside Dr. Blowing Rock, NC 28605 is the Official Derby Headquarters this year. Favorite nearby fishing spots are Price Lake, Bass Lake, and the Middle Fork Road.

The Classic Tournament starts at sunrise and ends at 4pm. All trout caught in public Watauga County bodies of water are eligible for measuring. No pre registration or entry fees are required.

The Catch and Release starts at 7 am and does require registering at the Official Headquarters. All participants will be given a measuring tape and must take a timestamped photo of their catch in order for it to be judged. All photos must be submitted by 4pm. 

For children 11 and under and those who have limited mobility, there is a special tournament at the local small lake, Lake Mayview, in Blowing Rock itself which will be stocked with trout so everyone can enjoy fishing.

For kids there also will be an art contest with prizes. There also will be free t-shirts for kids at the headquarters.

The Derby is a great time for all and definitely worth a day visiting!

William Kradel Leave a comment on Blowing Rock Trout Derby April 6th Blowing Rock, Boone, Concerts and Events, Festival, Fishing, Hiking, Hiking, Outdoor Fun

Sugar Mountain Music Events in January

A nice bonus of visiting Sugar Mountain on Saturdays for the multitude of winter activities there is the live music in the afternoon.

During January, there is a different band each Saturday from 4-6pm. On January 13 it is the Glen Harlow and North Folk band who play a mix of acoustic bluegrass, country, and traditional music. 

On the 20th is the Joe Randolph Band. They play retro blues, rockabilly, soul, surf, and swing music.

For the 27th is the Classic Highway band from here in Boone, NC. They play classic rock and souls music from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. As well as country and blues. 

William Kradel Leave a comment on Sugar Mountain Music Events in January Banner Elk, Blowing Rock, Boone, Concerts and Events, Hiking, Outdoor Fun, Skiing, Winter Activities

100 Years of Doc Watson in Boone August 18 and 19

This weekend in Boone, starting August 18, is very special as they will be celebrating 100 years of Doc Watson.

Doc Watson had a residence in nearby Deep Gap and made frequent visits to Boone. To honor the legendary 7 time Grammy winner the town has hosted an annual Doc Watson Day Concert.

On August 18, starting at 5:30 PM at the Jones House in Boone, there will be a concert by many local musicians and bands such as Laura Boosinger and The Mustard Cutters.

Admission is free and downtown parking meters are free after 5. You do need to bring your own lawn chairs and blankets.

On Saturday, August 19, the events start at 11 AM with a lecture entitled “Deciphering Doc Watson” which includes a blend of music, film, and family anecdotes. Later that evening at 7:30 is a concert with a blue-grass band, the Appalachian Road Show.

William Kradel Leave a comment on 100 Years of Doc Watson in Boone August 18 and 19 Banner Elk, Blowing Rock, Boone, Concerts and Events, Festival, Outdoor Fun, Tours

Tail of the Dragon in Western Carolina

Located in Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee, the eponymous Tail of the Dragon is considered one of the country’s foremost motorcycle and sports car touring roads by many.

Covering an 11 mile stretch of US 129 in the Smoky Mountains, it is a very exciting road to drive with many curves as its name may suggest. 318 curves in 11 miles. While you can enjoy the Dragon at any time, there are many events throughout the year as well to plan around.

June 17 is the Dragon Rally, a major sports car rally where you can enjoy looking at all the many exotic cars from all over the world as they converge on this 11 mile road.

June 30-July 2 is the Thunder in the Smokies Rally. It is the oldest and largest motorcycle rally in the Smoky Mountains! It is open to all ages and offers a wide variety of shows and bikes to enjoy in addition to the Dragon to ride on.

William Kradel Leave a comment on Tail of the Dragon in Western Carolina Concerts and Events, Festival, Outdoor Fun, Tours

Tweetsie Railroad, Fun for All

One of the most popular activities for families to enjoy in the Boone area is the Tweetsie Railroad park! In addition to train rides, it features many different special events throughout the year.

The Tweetsie Railroad has 2 different historic steam engines which you can ride on. Engine No. 12 is a narrow gauge locomotive and was built in 1917.  It is the last surviving steam locomotive of the East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad. It used to run service from Johnson City, Tennessee to Boone. It ran from 1919 to 1940.

 Engine No. 190 is also a narrow gauge locomotive and was built in 1943. Built by the Alaska’s White Pass & Yukon Railway company, it linked the port of Skagway, Alaska, with Whitehorse, the capital of Yukon. It ran through the 1960s.

One of the special events coming to the Tweetsie Railroad is a K-9 tricks show where rescue dogs will be performing tricks with frisbees. The event runs from July 22-24 and 27-30.

All of this and more can be found at the Tweetsie Railroad in Boone.

William Kradel Leave a comment on Tweetsie Railroad, Fun for All Blowing Rock, Boone, Concerts and Events, Festival, Outdoor Fun

Highland Games on Grandfather Mountain

This July 6-9 is the return of one of the most popular events in the Boone area: the annual Scottish Highland Games! So what are some of the exciting events going on throughout the events going on during the week?

Throughout the week, there will be many games and other athletic activities. These include the caber toss, hammer throw, archery competitions, track and field, and also Highland Dance competitions.

There will be a very wide variety of music during the celebrations as well. Throughout each of the days, music ranging from Rock, Bluegrass, and Celtic music. There also will be multiple music competitions during the week you can watch. For instance, there are Piping, Fiddle, and Celtic Harp tournaments.

Other activities you can find during the event include many Scottish arts and crafts going on for those of all ages. There are also various children’s activities. There’s also whiskey tasting. This and much more can be found at the Highland Games from July 6-9 at Grandfather Mountain.

William Kradel Leave a comment on Highland Games on Grandfather Mountain Banner Elk, Blowing Rock, Boone, Concerts and Events, Festival, Outdoor Fun