September 2012 Events in the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area

September 1

  • Leatherwood's Labor Day Blues, Leatherwood Mountains, Ferguson, NC. We’ve got the 4 B’s…blues, bluegrass, bbq and bonfire. Join us for the Poker Run and make it an all day affair! 6pm ‘til.  336-973-5044.
  • 42nd Annual Smoky Mountain Folk Festival, finest traditional music and dance of the Southern Appalachian Region. Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center, NC.
  • 67th North Carolina Apple Festival, Downtown Hendersonville.  Runs through September 3. Street fair features more than 150 vendors and continuous entertainment daily from 10 am to 10 pm.The event culminates with the King Apple Parade on Labor Day. 828-697-4557.
  • Noises Off,  Flat Rock Playhouse, Flat Rock, NC. Runs through Sept.9. Called “the funniest farce ever written.
  • The Marvelous Wonderettes – Celebrating the greatest hits of the 50's and 60's. Flat Rock Playhouse Downtown Theater, Hendersonville, NC. Runs through Sept 9.
  • 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, . Surry Arts Council. 336-786-7998.
  • Old-Time Dance with the Slate Mountain Ramblers: 7-8:30 pm, Old-Time Music Heritage Hall,  EARLE Theatre, 142 N Main Street, Mount Airy, NC. Year round, $5 for adults, children 12 & under 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.
  • Wicked Plants The Exhibit, The N.C. Arboretum in the Baker Exhibit Center, opens May 5th and runs through September 3rd from 9am to 5pm with free admission. The exhibit is based on Stewart’s book Wicked Plants: The Weed that Killed Lincoln’s Mother and other Botanical Atrocities. Parking will be $8 per personal vehical. For more information call (828) 665-2492 or visit www.ncarboretum.org.

September 6

  • 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.

September 7

  • 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.
  • NC Mountain State Fair,WNC Agricultural Center, Fletcher. Runs through September 16. The third largest fair in North Carolina celebrates the heritage of the Blue Ridge Mountains, including agriculture, music, crafts, art, food, entertainment, display of livestock, competitions, & midway amusement rides. 828-687-1414.
  • Old Fort Mountain Music. 7 pm; Rockett Building, Main Street in downtown Old Fort. 888-233-6111.

September 8

  • 9th Annual Grandfather Mountain Kidfest, Grandfather Mountain, Linville, NC. Guided hikes, games, storytellers, music, and fun designed to get kids excited about the nature and culture of the NC Mountains. Included with park admission. ($18/adult and $8/child ages 4-12). 800-468-7325.
  • 27th Annual Sculpture Celebration, Caldwell Arts Council, T.H. Broyhill Walking Park, Lenior, NC. Sculpture Celebration brings over 70 sculptors with over 200 sculptures from all over the eastern U.S. to compete for cash prizes totaling over $10,000. Sculpture Celebration is Free to visitors; sculptors pay to compete. 9AM-4PM. 828-754-2486.
  • 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. 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.

September 13

  • Almost, Maine – A whimsical approach to the joys and perils of romance. Flat Rock Playhouse, Flat Rock, NC. Runs through Sept. 23.
  • 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.

September 14

  • 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.
  • Southeastern Tribes Festival, Cherokee Indian Fair Grounds, Cherokee, NC. Runs through September 15. This annual celebration brings together people from the Cherokee, Creek, Chickasaw, Seminole and Choctaw tribes to present traditional tribal dance, storytelling, perfomances, craft demonstrations, primitive skills encampments, constests, games, and traditional foods. This year's special guests include twenty-five historical trades people from Colonial Williamsburg demonstrating the traditions of colonial America, along with their Fife and Drum Corps.
  • Old Fort Mountain Music. 7:00pm; Rockett Building, Main Street in downtown Old Fort. 888-233-6111.

September 15

  • 42nd Annual American Girl Scout Day, Grandfather Mountain, Linville, NC. All Girl Scouts and troop leaders are admitted free with proof of membership.  Discount admission for family members.  Nature programs will be offered throughout the day. 828-468-7325.
  • Between the Tackles, Parkway Playhouse, Burnsville, NC. Runs through September 29th. The comedy is about three men in their early 40s who are fans of a perennially bad football team. The story focuses on their friendship during the course of a rare winning season, and how their friendships are tested and celebrated during one glorious autumn of football. A Tickets for adults range from $15-$20 per show, while tickets for children 17 and under are $12. (828) 682-4285.
  • 32nd Annual Heritage Weekend, Folk Art Center on Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville. Runs through Sept. 16. A two-day celebration of traditional craft, music and storytelling featuring the World Gee Haw Whimmy Diddle Competition at 2:00pm on Saturday. Saturday, 10 am - 4 pm; Sunday 12 - 5 pm.
  • 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. Surry Arts Council. 336-786-7998.
  • 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.
  • 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.

September 19

  • Starting a Spinning Mill in the 21st Century, Julie Jensen. Textile Study Group, HandMade in America, 5:30 pm.  Join this group and explore information and history of various forms of textiles. jjetson@handmadeinamerica.org or call 828-252-0121, ext 304.
  • Music on the Rock Concert Series: A Tribute to The Jersey Boys - Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Flat Rock Playhouse, FLat Rock, NC. Runs through Sept. 23.

September 20

  • 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.

September 21

  • 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.
  • Old Fort Mountain Music. 7 pm; Rockett Building, Main Street in downtown Old Fort. 888-233-6111.

September 22

  • Yadkin Valley Pumpkin Festival, The Great Pumpkin Commonwealth, Downtown Elkin, NC. One of only 70 nationally sanctioned weigh off stations for The Great Pumpkin Commonwealth. The GPC works vigorously to improve weigh-off site standards in fairness of competition while promoting family values.
  • Mayberry Days, annual celebration of the fictional town of "Mayberry," home of the Andy Griffith Show.  Runs through September 25. Three days of fun based on this popular TV series. Call the Surry Arts Council at (336) 786-7998.
  • Fall Farm Tour, sponsored by Appalachian Sustainable Agricultural Project.  Meat and dairy farmers, fall veggies, figer farms and apple orchards will be open for visitors to discover the way good food is grown in WNC.
  • 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. 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.

September 26

  • Music on the Rock Concert Series: A Tribute to The Jersey Boys - Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Flat Rock Playhouse, FLat Rock, NC. Runs through Sept. 30.

September 27

  • 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.

September 28

  • 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.
  • Old Fort Mountain Music. 7 pm; Rockett Building, Main Street in downtown Old Fort. 888-233-6111.

September 29

See October Events