July 2012 Events in the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area

July 1

July 3

  • July 4th Celebration, Courthouse Square Robbinsville, NC, starting July 3rd and continuing through July 4th. Come to Robbinsville for a fun fourth of July weekend full of fun activities. For more information visit, www.grahamcounty.net.

July 4

  • 4th of July Parade, the Town of Banner Elk, July 4, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. The parade route begins at Lees McCrae College and ends at Tate Evans Park in Banner Elk, N.C.Interested parade participants must pre-register for the parade by June 22, 2012.To register, visit the Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce office at 100 West Main Street, Banner Elk or call Parade Committee Chair, JoAnn McMurray at (828) 898-5717.
  • Land of the Free, Home of the White Squirrel, 2012 Fourth of July Celebration, 20th Annual Fine Arts and Crafts Showcase Downtown Brevard,Family. Friends. Food. Fireworks. The four key components to any good Independence Day Party will be in abundance on the streets of Brevard this 4th of July, along with lots of great live music and over forty-five artists and craftspeople showing their works. For more information visit, http://brevardnc.org/july-4th-celebration/.
  • Rutherfordton’s First Time Ever July 4th Festival Set during the Town’s 225th Anniversary, Downtown Rutherforton, NC starting at 12:00 noon until about 10:00PM. The day will begin with a parade, there will be lots of fun activities and games throughout the day, and will end with a fabulous display of fireworks staring at 9:30PM. For additional information see www.rutherfordtown.com and click on July 4th or call 828-287-2071.

July 5

  • Woodsy Owl's Curiosity Club, Cradle of Forestry in America, Pisgah National Forest, NC. Runs through August 2nd. Summer nature series for children ages 4-7 years olf. Each day a variety of outdoor oriented activities explores a forest related theme to engage young children in the natural world around them. $4 per child for each program. $2.50 for accompanying adults. Thursdays 10:30Am to 12PM. Reservations are requested and can be made by calling 828-877-3130.
  • 57th Annual Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. Runs through July 8. Over 100 Scottish clans and societies sponsor this celebration of Scottish dance, music, and athletics on MacRae Meadows at the base of Grandfather Mountain in Linville, NC.
  • Thursday Jam: Old-Time Music Heritage Hall, EARLE Theatre, 142 N Main Street, Mount Airy, NC. 7 - 8:30 pm. Year round, free. Surry Arts Council, 336-786-7998.
  • Bluegrass Music Jam every Thursday night at The Marion Depot, Marion. 7 pm.
  • Live music at Zuma's, Main Street, Downtown Marshall. 828-649-1647.
  • Buck Haggard, Banner Elk Chamber’s 2012 Summer Concerts, in the Town of Banner Elk’s Tate-Evans Park at 6:30. Come out and enjoy this free concert of a classic country band.
  • Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce's THIRD 2012ummer Concert in the Park Featuring The Buck Haggard Band, Concert starts at 6:30 pm at the Tate-Evans Town Park stage behind Bank of America on Highway 194. Bring your chairs or blankets and coolers. The Buck Haggard Band's music covers lots of old favorites and keeps country music lovers on their feet regardless of where the band is playing.

July 6

  • Concerts on the Creek Summer Music Series: Johnny Webb Band, Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, Sylva, NC. Bridge Park Pavilion beside Scott Creek. 7:30-9:30PM. This event is FREE. (800)-962-1911.
  • Pickin' Up the Pace, Lake Toxaway Community Center, Lake Toxaway, NC. A short ride out of Brevard and a suggested eight dollar donation buys you dinner, music, dancing and a part of a cultural tradition that dates back almost as far as the old mountain ballad the fiddler loves to play. Dinner: 6-7 PM/Music: 7-10 PM. 828-966-4060.
  • Music On Main Street concert series, Visitors Information Center, Downtown Hendersonville, NC. 7 - 9 pm. Free. Bring a chair. No Pets. Alcoholic beverages or coolers allowed. Seating area opens after 5:30 pm. Early admission is prohibited. Series Sponsored by Burger King & Firehouse Subs. 800-828-4244 or 828-693-9708.
  • Old Fort Mountain Music. 7 pm; Rockett Building, Main Street in downtown Old Fort. 888-233-6111.
  • Valdese Free Summer Concert Series featuring Strictly Clean & Decent, Wells Fargo Parking Lot, Valdese, NC, 7PM. For more information about this Celtic, Swing, and Folk band visit http://strictlycleananddecent.com/. For more information about Valdese, NC visit, www.visitvaldese.com.
  • First Friday Art Walk, Murphy, NC from 5PM to 8PM. Art demonstrations, music, food and a great time. Over 20 participating merchants will be open late just for you ! The yellow flags will be flying again at participating shops, galleries, and restaurants. For more information visit http://www.murphyconnections.com/forum/topics/murphy-art-walk-first-friday-summer-2012-downtown-murphy-nc.
  • Rattlesnake Lodge Hike of the Week, starting at 10AM. "Summer Holidays at Rattlesnake Lodge". Join Parkway rangers for an easy to moderate, 3-mile roundtrip hike to the ruins of historic Rattlesnake Lodge. Learn how the Ambler family from Asheville celebrated summer holidays. Follow the Parkway north to Bull Gap (MP 375.6), turn left at the Vance Birthplace/Weaverville sign, turn right onto Ox Creek Road, and look for a small parking area and access to the trail on the right. Bring water and wear good walking shoes. Call 828-298-5330, ext. 304, for details.

July 7

  • Fourth of July (on the 7th) Fun at Leatherwood, Leatherwood Mountains, Ferguson, NC. We’ve planned a day of games, activities, and celebration! Highlight your summer, come and play. 4pm-7pm. Leatherwood POA Supper …bring a dish to share. 336-973-5044.
  • The Steel Wheels, Appalachian Evening Concert Series, Stecoah Valley Center for the Arts, Robbinsville, NC. The Steel Wheels are truly an Americana band, rooted in musical styles that explore the territories between blues and bluegrass, old-time sing-alongs and foot-stompin’ fiddle tunes. Artists perform on stage in our 300 seat air-conditioned auditorium every Saturday evening June 30 - August 25, 2012. All performances start at 7:30 pm. Tickets available starting April 1. Enjoy an Appalachian Dinner prior to the show. The dinners are served family style at two seatings — 5:30 and 6:30 pm in the Stecoah dining room. 828-479-3364.
  • 46th Annual Shindig on the Green .Pack Square Park, downtown Asheville, NC. A spontaneous celebration of traditional and old-time string bands, bluegrass, ballad singers, big circle mountain dancers and cloggers on summer Saturday evenings. Stage show and informal jam sessions. Free. (828)258-6101 x345.
  • Saturday Jam: EARLE Theatre, 142 N Main Street, Mount Airy, NC. 9 - 11 am. Year round. Surry Arts Council, 336-786-7998.
  • Merry-Go-Round: EARLE Theatre, 142 N Main Street, Mount Airy, NC. 11 am -1:30 pm. WPAQ hosts the second longest running live radio broadcast in the nation, different guests each week. Year round, free. Surry Arts Council. 336-786-7998.
  • Davidson's Fort Historic Park, Old Fort. Open to the public Saturdays from 10 am -4 pm. A replica is being constructed of the original Revolutionary War-era fort built in 1776. .
  • Saluda Mountain Jamboree. Live music and dancing, Saluda, NC. , 828-749-3676.
  • 49th Annual Coon Dog Day Festival, Saluda, N.C. For more information visit, http://www.saluda.com/index.html.
  • Summer Music in Flat Rock, featuring Tom Fisch, the concert will be held in Flat Rock on Little Rainbow Row’s back deck from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. This is a free outdoor concert that will be lots of fun, so out come out to Flat Rock for a great time!
  • Dynamite Day, Emerald Village 331 McKinney Mine Rd., Little Switzerland, NC, 9AM to 6PM. Come enjoy lots of fun activities like a treasure hunt, hikes, live music and mine tours. For more information, call 828-765-6463 or visit, www.emeraldvillage.com.

July 8

July 9

July 10

  • Music on the Rock Concert Series: Surfin’ USA – The Greatest Hits of The Beach Boys. Flat Rock Playhouse, FLat Rock, NC. Runs through July 12.

July 12

  • 57th Annual Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, Grandfather Mountain, Linville, NC. Runs through July 15th. Over one hundred Scottish clans and societies sponsor this celebration of Scottish dance, music, and athletics. Tickets. 828-733-1333.
  • Woodsy Owl's Curiosity Club, Cradle of Forestry in America, Pisgah National Forest, NC. Runs through August 2nd. Summer nature series for children ages 4-7 years olf. Each day a variety of outdoor oriented activities explores a forest related theme to engage young children in the natural world around them. $4 per child for each program. $2.50 for accompanying adults. Thursdays 10:30Am to 12PM. Reservations are requested and can be made by calling 828-877-3130.
  • Thursday Jam: Old-Time Music Heritage Hall, EARLE Theatre, 142 N Main Street, Mount Airy, NC. 7 - 8:30 pm. Year round, free. Surry Arts Council, 336-786-7998.
  • Bluegrass Music Jam every Thursday night at The Marion Depot, Marion. 7 pm. .
  • Live music at Zuma's, Main Street, Downtown Marshall. 828-649-1647.
  • Dashboard Blue, Banner Elk Chamber’s 2012 Summer Concerts, in the Town of Banner Elk’s Tate-Evans Park at 6:30. Come out and enjoy this free concert of a R&B, Rock, and Timeless Grooves band.

July 13

  • Concerts on the Creek Summer Music Series: Empty Pockets, Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, Sylva, NC. Bridge Park Pavilion beside Scott Creek. 7:30-9:30PM. This event is FREE. (800)-962-1911.
  • Pickin' Up the Pace, Lake Toxaway Community Center, Lake Toxaway, NC. A short ride out of Brevard and a suggested eight dollar donation buys you dinner, music, dancing and a part of a cultural tradition that dates back almost as far as the old mountain ballad the fiddler loves to play. Dinner: 6-7 PM/Music: 7-10 PM. 828-966-4060.
  • 8th Annual Festival of Native Peoples, Cherokee Indian Fair Grounds, Cherokee, NC. Runs through July 14. Members of indigenous tribes from across North and South America captivate audiences with their traditional and contemporary dance, song and celebration. 800-438-1601.
  • Music On Main Street concert series, Visitors Information Center, Downtown Hendersonville, NC. 7 - 9 pm. Free. Bring a chair. No Pets. Alcoholic beverages or coolers allowed. Seating area opens after 5:30 pm. Early admission is prohibited. Series Sponsored by Burger King & Firehouse Subs. 800-828-4244 or 828-693-9708.
  • Old Fort Mountain Music. 7 pm; Rockett Building, Main Street in downtown Old Fort. 888-233-6111.
  • Valdese Free Summer Concert Series featuring Jon Shain Trio, Wells Fargo Parking Lot, Valdese, NC, 7PM. For more information about this Blues, Bluegrass, Swing & Ragtime band visit http://www.jonshain.com/. For more information about Valdese, North Carolina visit, www.visitvaldese.com
  • Blue Ridge Parkway Hike of the Week, 10 am every Friday through the summer. Put for more information, call the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center, 828-289-5330, ext. 304 for details.
  • 68 Artists, $2000 and a Flute, at the Yadkin Cultural Arts Center in downtown Yadkinville, beginning at 5:30 pm.This event is free and open to the public. Yadkin Cultural Arts Center is located at 226 E. Main St., Yadkinville. For more information visit, www.yadkinarts.org.
  • Jason Crabb concert, Smokey Mtn Center for Performing Arts, 7:30pm (Bryson City) For more information visit, http://www.greatmountainmusic.com/eventdetail.asp?t=i&m=7&d=13&y=2012&evt=1

July 14

  • Winged Creatures of the Night Twilight Tour, Cradle of Forestry in America, Pisgah National Forest, NC. Moths, bats, owls-these are just some of the animals active at night when many of us are settled in our shelters. This wheelchair accessible program during a magical time focuses on noctural life in the woods and begins in the Cradle's outdoor amphitheatre. $6 for adults and $3 for youth, and America the Beautiful Senior Pass holders. 7:30PM to 9:30PM. 828-877-3130.
  • The Boxcars, Appalachian Evening Concert Series, Stecoah Valley Center for the Arts, Robbinsville, NC. Adam Steffey, Ron Stewart, John R. Bowman, Keith Garrett and Harold Nixon make up what will surely soon be one of the top headliners in bluegrass and beyond. Artists perform on stage in our 300 seat air-conditioned auditorium every Saturday evening June 30 - August 25, 2012. All performances start at 7:30 pm. Tickets available starting April 1. Enjoy an Appalachian Dinner prior to the show. The dinners are served family style at two seatings — 5:30 and 6:30 pm in the Stecoah dining room. 828-479-3364.
  • 46th Annual Shindig on the Green. Pack Square Park, downtown Asheville, NC. A spontaneous celebration of traditional and old-time string bands, bluegrass, ballad singers, big circle mountain dancers and cloggers on summer Saturday evenings. Stage show and informal jam sessions. Free. o(828)258-6101 x345.
  • Saturday Jam: EARLE Theatre, 142 N Main Street, Mount Airy, NC. 9 - 11 am. Year round. Surry Arts Council, 336-786-7998.
  • Merry-Go-Round: EARLE Theatre, 142 N Main Street, Mount Airy, NC. 11 am -1:30 pm. WPAQ hosts the second longest running live radio broadcast in the nation, different guests each week. Year round, free. Surry Arts Council. 336-786-7998.
  • Davidson's Fort Historic Park,Old Fort. Open to the public Saturdays from 10 am - 4 pm. A replica is being constructed of the original Revolutionary War-era fort built in 1776.
  • Saluda Mountain Jamboree. Live music and dancing, Saluda, NC. 828-749-3676.

July 15

  • Mary and Bob Cox: Songcatchers Music Series, Cradle of Forestry in America, Pisgah National Forest, NC. Now in its ninth year, showcases acoustic music with roots in the Southern Appalachians and the muscians who nuture the tradition of passing this heritage on to others. Local muscians are often on site at 3PM to jam before the concert, which begins with a warm up at 4PM. $6 for ages 16 and up, $3 for youth 15 and under and American the Beautiful pass holders. Picnics are welcome. 828-877-3130.

July 18

July 19

  • Woodsy Owl's Curiosity Club, Cradle of Forestry in America, Pisgah National Forest, NC. Runs through August 2nd. Summer nature series for children ages 4-7 years olf. Each day a variety of outdoor oriented activities explores a forest related theme to engage young children in the natural world around them. $4 per child for each program. $2.50 for accompanying adults. Thursdays 10:30Am to 12PM. Reservations are requested and can be made by calling 828-877-3130.
  • 64th Annual Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands, Asheville Civic Center. Runs through July 20. The fair showcases the rich diversity of original crafts created by members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, a non-profit organization with over 900 members throughout the mountain region.
  • Thursday Jam: Old-Time Music Heritage Hall, EARLE Theatre, 142 N Main Street, Mount Airy, NC. 7 - 8:30 pm. Year round, free. Surry Arts Council, 336-786-7998.
  • Bluegrass Music Jam every Thursday night at The Marion Depot, Marion. 7 pm.
  • Live music at Zuma's, Main Street, Downtown Marshall. 828-649-1647.
  • Jeff Luckadoo and Southern Wave, Banner Elk Chamber’s 2012 Summer Concerts, in the Town of Banner Elk’s Tate-Evans Park at 6:30. Come out and enjoy this free concert of a great country band.
  • Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands, US Cellular Center, starting July 19th and continuing until July 22nd from 10am - 6pm wtih $8 admission (Asheville). For more information visit http://www.southernhighlandguild.org/pages/guild-shops/craft-fair-of-the-southern-highlands.php
  • There’s a ‘Hole’ Lot Going on Out There After Hours Hike, from 7PM -8:30PM, Join Parkway Rangers for an easy evening stroll on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail near Asheville to learn more about animals that make their homes in underground burrows, rock crevices, or tree cavities. Meet at Craven Gap (MP 377.4), about 5 miles north of the Folk Art Center. Registration is required. Call (828)298-5330, ext 304 for more information and to reserve your spot.

July 20

  • Concerts on the Creek Summer Music Series: The Elderly Brothers, Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, Sylva, NC. Bridge Park Pavilion beside Scott Creek. 7:30-9:30PM. This event is FREE. (800)-962-1911.
  • Pickin' Up the Pace, Lake Toxaway Community Center, Lake Toxaway, NC. A short ride out of Brevard and a suggested eight dollar donation buys you dinner, music, dancing and a part of a cultural tradition that dates back almost as far as the old mountain ballad the fiddler loves to play. Dinner: 6-7 PM/Music: 7-10 PM. 828-966-4060.
  • Music On Main Street concert series, Visitors Information Center, Downtown Hendersonville, NC. 7 - 9 pm. Free. Bring a chair. No Pets. Alcoholic beverages or coolers allowed. Seating area opens after 5:30 pm. Early admission is prohibited. Series Sponsored by Burger King & Firehouse Subs. 800-828-4244 or 828-693-9708.
  • Old Fort Mountain Music. 7 pm; Rockett Building, Main Street in downtown Old Fort. 888-233-6111.
  • Valdese Free Summer Concert Series featuring Mark Perrou & Friends, Wells Fargo Parking Lot, Valdese, NC, 7PM. For more information about Valdese, North Carolina visit, www.visitvaldese.com.
  • Out of the Fryingpan, Into the Fire, Blue Ridge Parkway Hike of the Week, starting at 10 AM, Join Parkway Rangers for an easy to moderate, 1.5- mile roundtrip hike to the Fryingpan Tower. We’ll look for summer wildflowers on the way up and learn more about the history of the tower and the life of a fire lookout at the top. Climb the stairs for stunning 360° views! Meet at the Fryingpan Trail pullout at MP 409.6, 1 mile south of the Pisgah Inn. Park at the gravel Forest Service Road, but don’t block the gate. Bring water, wear good walking shoes, and be prepared for changeable weather. Call (828) 298-,5330, ext. 304, for details.

July 21

  • Franklin Folk Festival, Folk Heritage Association of Macon County, Franklin, NC. The festival features more than 100 living exhibits and demonstrations to allow visitors to experience what mountain life was like way back when. Activities get underway at 9:00AM and admission and parking for the event are FREE! 800-932-5294.
  • The Kruger Brothers, Appalachian Evening Concert Series, Stecoah Valley Center for the Arts, Robbinsville, NC. Swiss brothers Uwe Kruger on guitar, and Jens Kruger on banjo, team up with bassist Joel Landsberg. The Kruger Brothers personify the spirit of exploration and innovation that forms the core of the American musical tradition. Artists perform on stage in our 300 seat air-conditioned auditorium every Saturday evening June 30 - August 25, 2012. All performances start at 7:30 pm. Tickets available starting April 1. Enjoy an Appalachian Dinner prior to the show. The dinners are served family style at two seatings — 5:30 and 6:30 pm in the Stecoah dining room. 828-479-3364.
  • 46th Annual Shindig on the Green. Pack Square Park, downtown Asheville, NC. A spontaneous celebration of traditional and old-time string bands, bluegrass, ballad singers, big circle mountain dancers and cloggers on summer Saturday evenings. Stage show and informal jam sessions. Free. o(828)258-6101 x345.
  • Saturday Jam: EARLE Theatre, 142 N Main Street, Mount Airy, NC. 9 - 11 am. Year round. Surry Arts Council, 336-786-7998.
  • Merry-Go-Round: EARLE Theatre, 142 N Main Street, Mount Airy, NC. 11 am -1:30 pm. WPAQ hosts the second longest running live radio broadcast in the nation, different guests each week. Year round, free. Surry Arts Council. 336-786-7998.
  • Davidson's Fort Historic Park, Old Fort. Open to the public Saturdays from 10 am -4 pm. A replica is being constructed of the original Revolutionary War-era fort built in 1776.
  • Saluda Mountain Jamboree. Live music and dancing, Saluda, NC. 828-749-3676.
  • Voice of the Blue Ridge: Every 3rd Saturday, 7:30 - 9 pm, EARLE Theatre, 142 N Main Street, Mount Airy, NC. Carolina Travelers host an evening of Bluegrass/Old-Time Music with a different guest band each month. Year round, $7 for adults, children 12 & under free. Surry Arts Council, 336-786-7998.
  • International Festival Day, Waynesville, NC, from 10 AM to 5 PM. Downtown Waynesville will be teeming with over one hundred artists, craftsmen, and international guests selling a wide range of art and craft. For more information visit, http://www.haywoodarts.org/international-festivalday-2011.html, or call 828-452-0593.
  • Brews and views Plus Mountain Bike Nationals, The second annual Brews & Views Festival is being held in conjunction with the three- day USA Cycling Mountain Bike Gravity National Championships. Attendees can sample from more than 40 craft brews, enjoy music from three bands, and watch top professional and amateur mountain bikers compete for national titles. For more information about start times and tickets call (800) 468-5506 or visit, www.BeechMtn.com.

July 22

July 26

  • Woodsy Owl's Curiosity Club, Cradle of Forestry in America, Pisgah National Forest, NC. Runs through August 2nd. Summer nature series for children ages 4-7 years olf. Each day a variety of outdoor oriented activities explores a forest related theme to engage young children in the natural world around them. $4 per child for each program. $2.50 for accompanying adults. Thursdays 10:30Am to 12PM. Reservations are requested and can be made by calling 828-877-3130.
  • Thursday Jam: Old-Time Music Heritage Hall, EARLE Theatre, 142 N Main Street, Mount Airy, NC. 7 - 8:30 pm. Year round, free. Surry Arts Council, 336-786-7998.
  • Bluegrass Music Jam every Thursday night at The Marion Depot, Marion. 7 pm. www.mcdowellnc.org.
  • Live music at Zuma's, Main Street, Downtown Marshall. 828-649-1647.
  • Mad Dog Johnson with Don Vallarta, Banner Elk Chamber’s 2012 Summer Concerts, in the Town of Banner Elk’s Tate-Evans Park at 6:30. Come out and enjoy this free concert of a pop, rock, and dance band.
  • Pollination Domination, Blue Ridge Parkway Family Night, Join rangers at the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center (MP 384) from 7:00-8:30 pm for a night of family fun and education. Almost all of the world’s flowering plants need to be pollinated in order to survive. Come learn more about our local pollinators, play a pollination game, and bring home your very own pollinator! Registration is required. Call (828)298-5330, ext 304 for more information and to reserve your spot.

July 27

  • Concerts on the Creek Summer Music Series: Dashboard Blue, Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, Sylva, NC. Bridge Park Pavilion beside Scott Creek. 7:30-9:30PM. This event is FREE. (800)-962-1911.
  • Pickin' Up the Pace, Lake Toxaway Community Center, Lake Toxaway, NC. A short ride out of Brevard and a suggested eight dollar donation buys you dinner, music, dancing and a part of a cultural tradition that dates back almost as far as the old mountain ballad the fiddler loves to play. Dinner: 6-7 PM/Music: 7-10 PM. 828-966-4060.
  • The Grandfather Campout, Grandfather Mountain in Linville, NC. Runs through July 29th. A special opportunity to camp in MacRae Meadows and take part in day and night activities led by Grandfather's naturalists and interpretive rangers. Additional cost. Registration begins May 1. Additional cost. Call 828-733-4326 for details.
  • Music On Main Street concert series, Visitors Information Center, Downtown Hendersonville, NC. 7 - 9 pm. Free. Bring a chair. No Pets. Alcoholic beverages or coolers allowed. Seating area opens after 5:30 pm. Early admission is prohibited. Series Sponsored by Burger King & Firehouse Subs. 800-828-4244 or 828-693-9708.
  • Old Fort Mountain Music. 7 pm; Rockett Building, Main Street in downtown Old Fort. 888-233-6111.
  • Valdese Free Summer Concert Series featuring Band of Brothers, Wells Fargo Parking Lot, Valdese, NC, 7PM. For more information about this variety band visit http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.352553291433606.82487.187217104633893&type=3#!/pages/Band-of-BrothersFDM/147041805349822?sk=app_2405167945.
  • Up on Big Butt, Blue Ridge Parkway Hike of the Week, Join Parkway Rangers at 10 am for an easy to moderate, 3.2- mile roundtrip hike on the Big Butt Trail to the top of Point Misery. Though directly off the Parkway, come see why this trail more closely resembles a deep woods forest than a forest edge ecosystem. Meet at the Walker Knob Overlook at MP 359. Bring water, wear good walking shoes, and be prepared for changeable weather. Call (828) 298-5330, ext. 304, for details.

July 28

  • Big River, Parkway Playhouse, Burnsville, NC. Runs through August 11th. The Tony-award winning adaptation of Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn, featuring music by country legend Roger Williams. "I don't think this story ever gets old," Gall said. "It's a fantastic adaptation of one of the greatest American stories." Tickets for adults range from $15-$20 per show, while tickets for children 17 and under are $12. (828) 682-4285.
  • Train History Day, Cradle of Forestry in America, Pisgah National Forest, NC. Come and learn about the 1914 Climax logging locomotive on display at the Cradle of Forestry and how it and other old logging trains wound their way through the forest coves of western North Carolina. $5 for ages 16 and up, free for youth and America the Beautiful and Golden Age pass holders. 9AM to 5PM. 828-877-3130.
  • Song of the Mountain, Appalachian Evening Concert Series, Stecoah Valley Center for the Arts, Robbinsville, NC. Song of the Mountains, also known as The VW Boys, show is a unique blend of talent consisting of music, magic and comedy, a complete variety show. Artists perform on stage in our 300 seat air-conditioned auditorium every Saturday evening June 30 - August 25, 2012. All performances start at 7:30 pm. Tickets available starting April 1. Enjoy an Appalachian Dinner prior to the show. The dinners are served family style at two seatings — 5:30 and 6:30 pm in the Stecoah dining room. 828-479-3364.
  • Saturday Jam: EARLE Theatre, 142 N Main Street, Mount Airy, NC. 9 - 11 am. Year round. Surry Arts Council, 336-786-7998.
  • Merry-Go-Round: EARLE Theatre, 142 N Main Street, Mount Airy, NC. 11 am -1:30 pm. WPAQ hosts the second longest running live radio broadcast in the nation, different guests each week. Year round, free. Surry Arts Council. 336-786-7998.
  • Davidson's Fort Historic Park, Old Fort. Open to the public Saturdays from 10 am -4 pm. A replica is being constructed of the original Revolutionary War-era fort built in 1776.
  • Saluda Mountain Jamboree. Live music and dancing, Saluda, NC. 828-749-3676.

July 29

See August Events