MAY
Art on the Greene
May 27-28, 10-5
Four times each summer, the green at the Historic Banner Elk School comes to life with Art on the Greene, featuring quality, hand-made arts and crafts from select regional and national artisans. The number of artists exhibiting at each show ranges from 40 to 60. They represent a variety of media, such as metal, glass, ceramics, wood, watercolor, acrylics and oil.
JUNE
2023 Toe River Spring Studio Tour
June 2–4
This driving tour through Mitchell and Yancey Counties will take visitors along the meandering Toe River, across its many bridges, around barns, acres of fields, and miles of forests all while visiting the talented studio artists and participating galleries.
2nd Annual Avery County Summer Fest
June 10-11, 9-5
Avery Community Center at Heritage Park, 661 Vale Road
Arts, crafts, and approved specialty/gourmet items. All vendors participating will be by invitation only through a juried process.
High Country Jazz Festival
June 9-11, 2023 in various beautiful venues in both Boone and Blowing Rock.
2nd Annual Spruce Pine Alien Festival
June 10, starts at 9AM, Downtown Spruce Pine on Oak Avenue
Streets will be lined with over 125 UFO and alien-related Artists & Craft Vendors featuring unique Space/Sun/Moons/Stars/Alien/Celestial and Paranormal gifts. Best Alien Costume Contest! Experience the town and the “Out of this World” Alien Decorations.
Boonerang Music and Arts Festival
June 15-17
Downtown Boone comes alive with performances stages for music, an arts and crafts vendor market, a beer garden, food trucks, a kid zone, and silent disco in the evenings. Too many activities to list here!
76th Rhododendron Festival
June 17-18
Held in Roan Mountain State Park, located at the foot of Roan Mountain and features over 100 craft vendors, food, and a variety of traditional music, plus an array of old-time folkway demonstrations.
An Appalachian Summer Festival
June 24-July 30, at Appalachian State University
An Appalachian Summer Festival is a multi- and inter-disciplinary arts festival presenting and producing programs in music, theater, dance, film, and visual arts. It is in its 39th year in 2023. Musical Artists this year include: Darius Rucker, Leslie Odom Jr., Keb’ Mo’ with special guest Allison Russell, John Oates, Lea Salonga, Garrick Ohlsson (piano), Apollo’s Fire: The Road to Dublin, Calidore String Quartet, Strings for Peace, Eastern Festival Orchestra with Gil Shaham (violin).
JULY
Art on the Greene
July 1-2
The green at the Historic Banner Elk School comes to life with Art on the Greene, featuring quality, hand-made arts and crafts from select regional and national artisans.
Grandfather Mountain Highland Games
July 6-9
Founded in 1956, the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games and Gathering of the Scottish Clans are considered America’s grandest Scottish-themed games.
Avery Fine Arts Festival & Master Crafts
July 14-16
Friday: 1PM– 5PM, Saturday: 10AM – 5PM, Sunday: 10AM – 4PM, Sugar Mountain Resort
The juried festivals feature an eclectic gathering of unique hand-crafted wares from fine artists and master crafts artisans. Fine art examples are photography, paintings, jewelry , sculpture, pottery, weaving, glass art, wood crafts, wood furniture, specialty candles, body care & soaps and many more. The Avery Fine Art & Master Crafts Festival benefits the Avery County Chamber of Commerce.
AUGUST
NC Mineral and Gem Festival
August 3-6
Thursday-Saturday 10am-6 pm and Sunday 12:30-5:00 pm 97 Pinebridge Ave., Spruce Pine
This festival is one of the oldest gem shows in the country (established 1959) and draws visitors from around the world to purchase jewelry, precious stones, and crystals from an impressive array of dealers. Merchandise to fit every budget. Choose from four days of shopping and exhibits or register to tour a local mine and dig for treasure. Admission $5.
Art on the Greene
August 5-6
The green at the Historic Banner Elk School comes to life with Art on the Greene, featuring quality, hand-made arts and crafts from select regional and national artisans.
Avery Fine Arts Festival & Master Crafts
August 11-13
Friday: 1PM– 5PM, Saturday: 10AM – 5PM, Sunday: 10AM – 4PM, Sugar Mountain Resort
The juried festivals feature an eclectic gathering of unique hand-crafted wares from fine artists and master crafts artisans. Fine art examples are photography, paintings, jewelry, sculpture, pottery, weaving, glass art, wood crafts, wood furniture, specialty candles, body care & soaps and many more. The Avery Fine Art & Master Crafts Festival benefits the Avery County Chamber of Commerce.
16th Annual High Country Beer Fest
August 26, 2-7
748 Roby Greene Rd, Boone
This fundraising event (general admission $50) allows you to sample craft beverages from over 20 unique breweries, listen to live music, and eat delicious food.
SEPTEMBER
Art on the Greene
September 2-3
The green at the Historic Banner Elk School comes to life with Art on the Greene, featuring quality, hand-made arts and crafts from select regional and national artisans.
Antlers & Acorns: The Boone Songwriters Festival
September 4-9
Last year featured 40 singer/songwriters in bars, restaurants, cafes and theaters throughout Boone.
This is a chance to sit and listen to the ones who pen the songs we love and be among the first to hear what’s coming from these artists. Show times and prices vary.
OCTOBER
October 7
Spruce Pine BBQ & Bluegrass Festival
Riverside Park in downtown Spruce Pine
BBQ & Bluegrass brings together some of the best-known local and regional musicians, storytellers, and dancers, along with a selection of great BBQ. Enjoy two days of bluegrass, country, folk, and Americana in Spruce Pine’s scenic Riverside Park. Admission $5.
Spruce Pine Potters Market
October 14–15, 10-5
Cross Street Building Spruce Pine
A unique event showcasing the region’s talent in ceramics, the show represents a wide range of aesthetic and stylistic interpretations, from functional to sculptural pieces.
Woolly Worm Festival
October 21-22, 9-5 Saturday, 9-4 Sunday
Downtown Banner Elk
Since 1978, this quirky, world-famous festival has been used to predict the upcoming winter weather for the North Carolina High Country. In addition to the famous wooly worm race, the festival also includes craft vendors, food, live entertainment and rides.
