Festivals The Banner Elk area is alive with festivals and special events year round,
and all are family oriented. The following is a brief overview of some of the
most popular events in the High Country Area.
Concerts in the Park(July 3-Aug 28) Each Thursday night in
Banner Elk in July and August you can enjoy some great live music at Banner
Elk Park. The Concerts in the Park series has been offering
free live entertainment to the public for the last several years. This is a
great way to spend time with friends and family in downtown Banner Elk while
enjoying some free live entertainment and cool summer evenings.
Fourth Of July Celebration Each year the town of Banner Elk and
the Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce hosts a Fourth of July parade through
downtown. The parades feature live music, cultural performers, local
dignitaries, fire trucks, and more. The parade usually begins at
Lees-McRae College and ends at Tate-Evans Town Park. Following the
parade, you can enjoy some great food, drinks, and games at A Party in the
Park. Local artisans and craftsman are usually on hand selling local
arts and crafts as well.
The
47th Annual Roasting of the Hog and Fireworks Display (Sat. closest
to July 4th and 5th) This annual event is held on Beech Mountain. Volunteer
cook tons of pork for the hungry visitors.
Grandfather Mountain Highland Games and Gathering of Scottish Clans(July 10-13) This is the premier Highland Games in America attended by
thousands of people from the world over. As the name implies…its all about
everything Scottish and features numerous events from marathons to bike
races to music and dancing.
Avery Chamber of Commerce Fine Arts and Mastercrafts
Festival(July 19-20) (Aug. 23-24) A premier juried art festival
featuring fine artisans and their wares. Articles for sale run the gamut
from fairly inexpensive to items in the thousands of dollars. Fine hand
crafted furniture, sculptures, paintings, jewelry, pottery, stained glass,
leather and much more are available.
Avery Arts Council Riverwalk Arts Festival(August 16-17) Located
on the Riverwalk in Newland, North Carolina. This event is sponsored by the
Avery County Arts Council. The Friday Night Street Dance kicks off the two
day event. On Saturday, over 50 artists and crafters offer their wares as
live local music fills the air. There will be a wide variety of food vendors
and even a Children’s Corner to make this a perfect family event.
The Mile High Kite Festival (August 30-31) Beech Mountain plays
host to this annual event as part of their Labor Day Weekend festivities.
Located at 5,506 in elevation, Beech Mountain is the highest incorporated
town east of the Mississippi river and is the coolest place you’ll ever fly
a kite! Two kite clubs will be on hand for demonstrations and instruction to
help people make their own kites. Free kites will be given to the first 150
kids in attendance under the age of 13. Festivities kick off with a street
dance beginning at 7 pm outside the Beech Mountain Town Hall on the night
before the festival.
Avery County Agricultural and Horticultural Fair (September
19-23) Avery county’s annual country fair features everything you would
imagine it would have and much more. Livestock, produce, arts and crafts as
well as Frasir Fir Christmas Trees will be judged and the winners awarded
blue ribbons. Tons of midway rides, live music and food will be available.
Autumn at Oz (Oct. 4-5) Beech Mountain is the location for this
nostalgic event as visitors are invited to celebrate the Wizard of Oz by
strolling down the Yellow Brick road. Visitors will meet Auntie Em, Dorothy
and other Oz friends. Oz related trivia items are for sale at the concession
stand and there are many other activities such as a petting zoo, Oz museum,
mountain music, square dancers and face painting are all part of the fun.
Over the years, the event has also included a few of the original munchkins
from the movies.
30th
Annual Valle Country Fair (Oct. 18) Attended by over 10,000 folks
each year, this has become one of the major events in the High Country. Holy
Cross Episcopal Church originated the event 30 years ago and uses the
proceeds to fund parish outreach ministries.
Held in one of the most beautiful areas of the High Country, historic Valle
Crucis, this festival features a full slate of fun for the entire family.
Juried crafters offer a wide variety of quality products and donate ten
percent of their sales to the event’s charities. Live entertainment such as
cowboys, magicians, live music and cloggers provide a lively atmosphere and
takes place at the Valle Crucis Conference Center on Hwy 194. Food booths are run by local churches and area organizations and there is a
huge selection to choose from. Hours are 9 am until 4 pm.
Wooly Worm Festival(Oct 18 and 19) The town of Banner Elk is the
site of one of the most unusually themed festivals in the United States.
Held each year since 1976 on the third weekend in October is the Wooly Worm
festival. It is truly a gorgeous setting for a ridiculously fun event.
Each year, one thousand or so worms are hand picked by festival visitors to
be entered in the races as they vie for the $1000.00 first prize. Some folks
find their own worms but they can also be purchased at the festival. The
‘race tracks’ are actually 20 vertically hung three foot pieces of string
upon which the worms are placed. Then the fun begins.
Upwards of 25,000 people attend the festival each fall to enjoy the races
and related activities. Dozens of crafters display their wares and food
vendors sell an incredible array of tasty treats. Carnival rides, live music
and even helicopter rides round out the activities of this two day event.
A portion of the proceeds of the festival are used to benefit children’s
charities in Avery County and is sponsored by the Banner Elk Chamber
of Commerce in conjunction with the Kiwanis Club. For more information,
phone 828-898-5605.
Please
click on the
links below
for more
area
information:
Fourth Of July Celebration Each year the town of Banner Elk and
the Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce hosts a Fourth of July parade through
downtown. The parades feature live music, cultural performers, local
dignitaries, fire trucks, and more. The parade usually begins at
Lees-McRae College and ends at Tate-Evans Town Park. Following the
parade, you can enjoy some great food, drinks, and games at A Party in the
Park. Local artisans and craftsman are usually on hand selling local
arts and crafts as well.
30th
Annual Valle Country Fair (Oct. 18) Attended by over 10,000 folks
each year, this has become one of the major events in the High Country. Holy
Cross Episcopal Church originated the event 30 years ago and uses the
proceeds to fund parish outreach ministries. 
