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Regional Happenings

Winterfest in Blowing Rock; Wilson Center for Nature Discovery at Grandfather Mountain

Winter Life!

Endless Options for Fun this Season

By CML Staff

For many, a High Country winter is most notable for its snow skiing and snowboarding. After all, the area boasts three great ski destinations, including Beech Mountain Resort, Sugar Mountain Resort, and Appalachian Ski Mountain. But wintertime offers countless opportunities for residents and visitors of all ages and interests—both indoors and outdoors. Here we provide a helpful directory of just some of the numerous winter activities available to you and your family. Be sure to check websites and social media for each listing to find addresses, days and hours of operation, costs, age restrictions, advance reservation requirements, post-Helene updates, and other specifics.

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FESTIVALS

Chetola Resort at Blowing Rock’s Festival of Lights in Blowing Rock becomes a Winter Wonderland through January 26, 2025, with over 50,000 dazzling lights around Chetola Lake. Make the drive around the resort and Chetola Lake for a stunning winter lights experience—the warm colors against a cool mountain background make for a view like no other and highlights the natural beauty of the High Country. The displays illuminate at dusk each evening. The festival is a High Country tradition that culminates in Blowing Rock’s Winterfest.

27^th Blowing Rock Winterfest returns to Blowing Rock January 23 – 26, 2025. Jump into winter with the Polar Bear Plunge and Beer Garden. Keep warm with restaurant specials, a Chili Cookoff and family activities at area attractions. Shop till you drop on Main Street while enjoying the Ice Carving demos in Memorial Park. Whether you’re looking for a couple’s getaway or a family friendly weekend, Winterfest has something for everyone!

Additional Holiday Festivities are offered in each of the High Country’s towns. Holiday decorations and twinkling lights are especially magical against a background of snow in the High Country. Check out the parades, along with festive Christmas tree and art exhibits.

Mountain Attractions

Apple Hill Farm in Banner Elk features alpacas, llamas, angora goats, and more! Find joy and connection through the animals and the experience of a real working farm. Take the 60-minute guided tour and leave with a smile on your face and memories to share. Public tours are offered Wednesday-Sunday until January 1, 2025, then Wednesday through Saturday until Memorial Day. Expanded hours are available for private tours. All tours require advance reservation. 

Earth to Sky Park,a venture of Mayland Community College, is an environmental educational park for those interested in learning about the natural world. Located in Burnsville, the Park includes the Bare Dark Sky Observatory for stargazing and more; the Arthur Planetarium, featuring a variety of programming for all ages; and a Children’s Discovery Center. Due to the recent storm, the Park will be closed until January 2025. Once it reopens, there is 24-hour access to the parking area for stargazing.

Grandfather Mountain in Linville features the Mile-High Swinging Bridge. Weather permitting, the swinging bridge is the perfect spot to take in the endless winter vistas and capture the snow capped mountains. Afterwards, head down to the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery, and the animal habitats, where you can see how otter, cougars, elk and eagles stay busy during the winter months!

Hero’s Axe House at Shoppes of Tynecastle in Banner Elk/Seven Devils, is a premier axe throwing venue with unique projected axe throwing targets. Hero’s hosts axe throwing birthday parties, bachelor/bachelorette parties, team-building events, company events, and a variety of other special occasions.

Linville Caverns in Marion are the only show caverns in NC and have a constant year-round temperature of 52 degrees. This is a perfect place to visit on a cold and windy winter day! See the winter hibernation of granddaddy long-legs and unique limestone formations. The caverns are open during the winter on weekends only. Bring a raincoat or a coat with a hood—the cave tends to drip! Due to temporary closures at the Caverns post-Helene, please be sure to check their website for current hours before your visit.

Mountain Cat Off Road Adventures in Blowing Rock is the latest venture by Sky Valley Zip Tours, offering a new way to experience breathtaking landscapes. This exciting addition to the High Country’s adventure scene promises to redefine off-road exploration through exhilarating experiences while keeping environmental impact at a minimum. (Sky Valley’s Zipline adventures reopen in March 2025.)

Mystery Hill in Blowing Rock is a unique blend of indoor and outdoor adventure. Explore the mysterious Natural Gravitational Anomaly, and watch a ball roll upwards and water flow uphill! Have fun with weird science in the hands-on science attraction, the Hall of Mystery, or encase your friends in a giant bubble at Bubblerama. Try your hand at axe or knife throwing and brave the Bull Riding Challenge at Tomahawk Hill.

Sugar Creek Mining Company in Banner Elk lets you experience the thrill of prospecting for your very own authentic gemstones. You’re guaranteed to find precious and semi-precious gemstones in every bucket. The expert staff will set you up on the heated flume line and then help you pan for gems and identify them. If desired, expert gem cutters can cut your rough gemstones and set it into a piece of jewelry.

The Blowing Rock in Blowing Rock is an immense cliff 4,000 feet above sea level, overhanging Johns River Gorge 3,000 feet below; it is also North Carolina’s oldest tourist attraction. Enjoy the endless winter views and read the legend. Weather permitting, the attraction is open daily 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., so call ahead during inclement weather.

Tweetsie Railroad in Blowing Rock celebrates the holiday season through Dec. 30 with Tweetsie Christmas, a winter wonderland and a nighttime train ride among thousands of dazzling lights! Enjoy the rides, shops, Santa, and much more. Following the 2024 holiday season, the attraction will reopen again on Saturday, April 5, 2025.

Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster in Banner Elk is the first alpine coaster in the NC mountains. Each cart accommodates one or two people. Once the cart is pulled by a cable to the top, the remainder of the ride is downhill—fed by gravity—on multiple 360-degree loops, with riders using hand brakes to control the speeds, which reach up to 27 miles per hour. Note: the property sustained damage during Hurricane Helene, so please check their website or Instagram feed for important updates.

Ice and Snow

ICE SKATING

While others are skiing or snowboarding on the slopes, you and your children may enjoy ice skating. Sugar Mountain Ski Resort has the added advantage of ice skating located next door to restaurants, retail stores and other amenities. At Appalachian Ski Mountain, families can watch the resort’s Zamboni scrape the ice floor to get the rink ready for skaters!

SLEDDING

Sledding is the easiest and most accessible winter activity for all ages. It can be done almost anywhere there is a hill and public property—an inexpensive plastic sled will do—and snow in the High Country is almost certain throughout the season! The Town of Beech Mountain offers the only municipal sledding hill in the southeast. Designed for kids ages 12 and under, parents or other responsible adults are allowed on sleds with preschoolers. Located across the street from the Visitor Center and behind the Brick Oven Pizzeria, it can be accessed from Bark Park Way, the paved road that runs beside the pizzeria. Two state-of-the-art snow guns ensure a good base and quick coverage when the weather is optimal for snow making. Only plastic sleds may be used—no tubes or sleds with metal runners. Rentals are available at nearby businesses, or purchase your own at Fred’s General Mercantile.

TUBING & ZIPLINING

If snow tubing and ziplining are more your speed and comfort level, you have several great choices in the High Country. All offer sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, plenty of lanes, snow making, plus moving carpet lifts to quickly transport you back to the top. Check out Beech Mountain Resort, Hawksnest in Seven Devils, Sugar Mountain Resort, and Jonas Ridge Snow Tubing, all in the northwest NC mountains.

KIDS’ CAMPS & LESSONS

If you want to expose children to the lifelong sport of downhill skiing or snowboarding, you’re in the right place. While you can learn at any age, kids have the advantage of being flexible, nimble and relatively fearless. Enrolling your child in one of the region’s ski or snowboard camps is a great way to introduce them to a positive and fun first-time experience. Plus, while they’re in camp, you’re freed up to enjoy some adults-only time!

Appalachian Ski Mountain has SKIwee and Cruiser Camp programs designed to teach beginning skiers, ages 4-10, and snowboarders, ages 7-12.

Beech Mountain Resort offers several kids’ camps: Snowboard Learn to Ride for ages 6-12 to learn the basics of snowboarding; Snow Kamp for ages 2-5 to provide a positive and fun first-time experience; and Traxx ski instruction for ages 6-12. Also, Ski & Ride School offers hourly lessons for ages 4 and older and Snowflakes Childcare watches kids, ages 1-5, while adults hit the slope.

Sugar Mountain Ski Resort’s Children’s Snow sports School includes Sugar Bear Ski and Polar Bear Snowboard schools to teach skiing to children, ages 5-10, and snowboarding to children, ages 7-14.

Indoor Climbing & Fitness

When being outside is less than appealing, indoor climbing can be a great alternative. Two facilities in Boone offer superb options. Center 45 Climbing & Fitness has 2,000 square feet of indoor climbing (bouldering) terrain. The walls are all 14 feet at the apex with varied terrain. Every week, talented and creative route setters craft new and exciting climbs. The facility also offers additional weightlifting and general fitness opportunities, along with a climbing-specific training area. Rock Dimensions Tower, next to the Footsloggers store in downtown Boone, stands about 40 feet tall and has more than 4,000 square feet of varying climbing terrain to accommodate both beginners and seasoned veterans. The “Tower to Rock” program combines a tower experience with climbing out on real rock all in a day! Staff belays as well as belay classes and certification opportunities for belaying at the tower are also offered.

The Fred and Margie Pfohl Buckeye Recreation Center in Beech Mountain offers non-members day passes for full access to the facility, including a weight room, regulation-size gym, indoor tennis courts and a soft playroom for kids eight and under. The lobby provides Wi-Fi, cozy seating and an extensive lending library. Fitness classes are offered as well. The recreation center also manages the free canoe and kayak rentals on Buckeye Lake.

Williams YMCA of Avery County has something for everyone! Visitors can get a day pass and access everything the YMCA has to offer, including the indoor swimming pool with water slides and aerobics classes, a wide variety of group exercise classes, the Wellness Center with cardio and strength machines, basketball courts, indoor batting cages, golf simulators, drop-in childcare and more! If you’re staying longer, ask about YMCA membership opportunities. 

Museums, Galleries, Art Trails & Workshops

MUSEUMS

BRAHM (Blowing Rock Art and History Museum) in Blowing Rock promotes the arts and Southern Appalachian heritage and history through educational programs, exhibitions, activities and permanent collections. See Art Remarks in our printed issue for details on BRAHM’s winter programming.

Appalachian State University’s Turchin Center for the Visual Arts in Boone offers free admission to permanent collections and rotating exhibitions. Enjoy guided Gallery Conversations, ARTtalks, and Drop-In Artmaking. Upcoming exhibitions include: “Master Printer: Bill Lagattuta and Friends” through April 5; “The Clothes I Wear” through May 3; “22^nd Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition and Exhibition” through May 3; “38th Rosen Outdoor Sculpture Competition and Exhibition” through May 14; and the “Campus Arts Corridor,” current displays through August 7, 2026.

The NC High Country Fresco Trail throughout the High Country includes more than a dozen frescoes painted in small mountain churches in the 1970s by artist Ben Long, a NC native. Follow the trail to see the following: 1849 St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Fresco, downtown Wilkesboro; Holy Trinity Church Fresco, Glendale Springs; St Mary’s Church Fresco, West Jefferson; and Sloop Chapel, Crossnore.

Beech Mountain History Museum is run by the the Beech Mountain Historical Society and operates seasonally with both permanent and rotating exhibits. The collection includes early life on Beech Mountain; chronicles on its earliest known visitors, the Cherokees; logging, milling and railroads on the mountain; and the Beech Mountain Music exhibit, with a featured area highlighting local storyteller Ray Hicks.

The Museum of Ashe County History, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the historic 1904 Ashe County Courthouse building as a county heritage museum for visitors of all ages. The museum features a number of permanent and revolving exhibits, such as “Mining,” “Virginia Creeper,” and “Moonshine and Music.”

Mystery Hill Museums include the 1903 Dougherty House: Appalachian Heritage Museum and the Native American Artifact Museum in Blowing Rock. The Dougherty House was the first home in the area to have electricity and running water. The home is being restored to its original 1903 condition. Guests can tour the home, which is filled with turn-of-the-century furniture, antiques and memorabilia; you’ll also enjoy the Native American artifacts on display.

The Avery County Historical Museum in Newland is housed in the old county jail and features exhibits on railroads, local Civil War history, and country music stars Lulu Belle and Scotty Wiseman, among many others exhibits. The museum is on the National Register of Historic Places. Due to Helene storm damage in downtown Newland, please call before scheduling a visit.

ART GALLERIES

Artists’ creativity never lets up. Winter can be a great opportunity to see some of the latest creations by local artists before the spring crowds arrive. Workshops and other events are also held throughout the year. Carlton Gallery is one of the foremost fine art galleries in the High Country, exhibiting paintings, glass, sculpture, wood, clay, wearable fiber and jewelry. Crossnore Communities for Children has provided hope and healing for North Carolina’s children in need for more than 100 years. In support of their mission, the Crossnore campus invites the public to several arts and crafts venues, including an Appalachian weaving museum and gallery, Crossnore Weavers, and Crossnore Fine Arts Gallery. Mica Gallery in Bakersville is a cooperative gallery of fine crafts, showcasing the work of its artist members whose creative lives have been nurtured by the energy of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains. The Johnson County Center for the Arts in Mountain City, TN, features numerous artists from the area and offers a “Maker Space” for anyone who is feeling inspired to be creative. The gallery at Jones House in downtown Boone showcases local and regional artists in changing monthly exhibits. Also in Boone, you’ll find Hands Gallery, Blue Ridge ArtSpace, The Pottery Lot, and more. Just east of Banner Elk, peruse the Sally Nooney Gallery, and in downtown Banner Elk check out the Art Cellar Gallery, It’s All About the Art Gallery, and the BE Artists Gallery (open on select weekends and by appointment only through the winter months). If local sculpture is your interest, check out Anvil Arts Studio Sculpture in Linville Falls (by appointment). Over in Ashe County, the Ashe County Arts Council houses a popular gallery with rotating exhibits.

ART TRAILS & WORKSHOPS

Many other galleries and crafts venues are open through the winter season, and some offer hands-on opportunities to create art. One of the best resources for finding listings and details of all art venues in the region is the Blue Ridge Craft Trails website: blueridgeheritage.com/blue-ridge-craft-trails. You can also visit our local Arts Councils’ websites, including Ashe County Arts Council, Watauga Arts Council, Toe River Arts, the Cultural Arts Council of Wilkes, and the Johnson County Center for the Arts in Mountain City, TN.

Let’s Be Artsy! in Boone unleashes your creative side. The talented team of instructors guides you step by step through the session’s featured painting. All painting supplies and artist instructions are provided. No art experience is needed. You can even take a fun, introductory belly dancing class, too!

Reading & Educational Programming

Winter is the perfect time to cozy up with a book. The Appalachian Regional Library System is known for its wonderful collections, librarians and special programming throughout the year. Visit the Ashe County Public Library in West Jefferson, the Watauga County Library in downtown Boone, and the Wilkes County Library in North Wilkesboro. The Avery-Mitchell-Yancey Regional Library System also offers modern and cozy facilities, knowledgeable staff, and a variety of amenities, with branches in Newland (Morrison Public Library), Bakersville, Burnsville and Spruce Pine. 

In downtown Banner Elk, be sure to visit the Banner Elk Book Exchange where you can “Bring a Book, Take a Book” (or jigsaw puzzle) throughout the year. The Book Exchange continues to add to their special regional collection—books written by regional authors or about regional subjects.

The Children’s Playhouse in Boone provides children from birth to age eight with an enriching, educational play environment while at the same time offering their parents and caregivers friendly support in the important job of raising children.

Music, Live and Indoors

Check out the many restaurants, breweries and wineries mentioned throughout this issue to find live music, from jazz to traditional mountain jams, all season long. Also, check out this issue’s Cultural Calendar for winter and early spring concert performances.

The Blue Ridge Music Trails website is your guide to the traditional music of the North Carolina mountains and foothills. You’ll find a complete listing of events, including listening and playing opportunities, at blueridgemusicnc.com.

Plan Now to Attend Merlefest 2025! The annual MerleFest will be held April 24-27—it is considered one of the premier music festivals in the country, serving as an annual homecoming for musicians and music fans. Held on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, MerleFest has 12 stages of “Traditional Plus” music and so much more.

Theatre

When the weather turns blustery and cold, a matinee or night at the theatre may be in order. Check out the offerings around the region, such as the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country, several groups at Appalachian State University (Department of Dance, Hayes School of Music, and the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts); Ashe County Little Theatre in West Jefferson; Barter Theatre in Abingdon, VA; BeanStalk Community Theatre and Blue Ridge Community Theatre in Boone; CoMMA in Morganton; Ensemble Stage and Lees-McRae College performances in Banner Elk; and the Walker Center in Wilkesboro, among many others. See this edition of CML’s Cultural Calendar for a complete listing of upcoming productions and contact information for each theatre.

If the “Big Screen” is more your style, check out one of our area’s restored historic theaters showing both new movies and classics—you’ll step back in time when you visit the Parkway Theater in Ashe County, and the Appalachian Theatre in Boone. Just down the mountain from the High Country in Morganton (Burke County) is the Marquee Cinemas Mimosa 7 multiplex movie theater, which began showing movies in the 1940s. Today, through years of restoration and new construction, it is a seven-screen, first-run downtown movie theater.

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Have an event for us to consider listing in a future issue of CML? Email your press release to CML’s Managing Editor at [email protected].

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Many other events will take place here in the High Country throughout the season. Some of the best resources for event listings and schedule changes are our local Chambers of Commerce and Tourism Development Associations. Be sure to visit the following websites before planning your visit to take advantage of all that our region has to offer.

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