Halloween Events: Treats on the Streets today

October 31   BRYSON CITY   Downtown Trick or Treat   A fun, safe, unique trick-or-treating experience this Halloween. Everett Street merchants dress up in costumes to hand out candy to the kids. There's even a costume contest for several age groups

October 31   WAYNESVILLE   Treats on the Street   Downtown merchants offer treats to young children, 5-7 PM

Last Call for Photography Contest

Mountains to Sea Tral Photography Contest Sponsored by Great Outdoor Provision Co. in recognition of October's MST Month. Last call to submit your photos of North Carolina's Mountains-to-Sea Trail. DEADLINE - Monday, October 31st at midnight. Win cash prizes, gift cards for outdoor gear, and the chance to have your photos published.  Photos judged by a panel of prominent judges in three categories:
- The View from the Trail
- People on the Trail
- Youth Photographer (17 and under)
Visit Friends of the Mountain-to-Sea Trail's website at: http://www.ncmst.org/get-involved/photo-contest/  for contest details and to submit your photographs.

To see photos already submitted, visit the contest Flickr site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/66217818@N04/

NC Halloween Event: Haunted Museum for Halloween

October 31 come to the  Haunted Museum at 5:30 PM for a Free event for ghosts and goblins of all sizes and ages and special treats for children at the Swannanoa Valley Museum. This is the last event for the season before the Museum closes for the Winter months.

The Swannanoa Valley Museum preserves and interprets the social, cultural and natural history of the Swannanoa Valley, a pathway to Western North Carolina, by developing dynamic programs and engaging exhibitions for the education and enrichment of the community, its children, and future generations. The Museum is located at 223 W State Street in Black Mountain NC.

Get a link for the Haunted Museum and other 

Black Mountain events, Lodging and visitor information HERE.

NC Halloween Events: Live Theatre Classics

October 30   The Legend of Sleepy Hollow   at the Tryon Fine Arts Center. Come and experience The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, a “spooky comedy” produced for Fall Educational Theater Tour with local High School students. The event is free and open to the public.   For more information call 828-859-9355. Get a link for The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and other Tryon NC events, lodging and visitor information HERE.

October 30      "Dracula" by Ensemble Stage  A staged re-creation of the 1938 broadcast from Orson Welles at the Mercury Theatre.  The show is a throw back to the entertainment of the 30's and 40's complete with sound effects recreated live on stage by the actors just like they did in the golden days of radio. Get a link for Dracula and other Blowing Rock NC events, lodging and visitor information HERE.

NC Halloween Event: Beary Scary Halloween, Bonfire Bash and Spooky Stroll on Grandfather Mountain

October 29  10 AM - 3 PM  Beary Scary Halloween at Grandfather Mountain Celebrate Halloween with the creatures of the Grandfather Mountain Animal Habitats. Halloween activities take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and are included with regular admission. Kids in costume will get in at half price. Activities will include storytelling, Halloween-themed crafts, a costume contest, trick or treating in the animal habitats, animal enrichment and the chance to participate in an interactive program titled “Going Batty for Bats.”

 7 PM - 9 PM  Grandfather Mountain Bonfire Bash and Spooky Stroll after dark event features frightening ghost stories told by firelight and guided walks through the pitch-black woods and a spooky cemetery. Admission is $15 per person. Participants must be 12 years of age or older. Space is limited and reservations are required. Phone 828-733-8715.

15 th Annual Old Time Music Competition in Brevard

October 29    Old Time Music Competition   Transylvania County offers some of the best in mountain music when the downtown Brevard hosts the 15th Annual Old Time Music Competition. The competition begins at 10:30 am at the Courthouse Gazebo and ends with the Old Time String Band Competition from 8:00pm-10:00pm.

Musicians can compete in several categories: Junior Fiddle, Folk Song, Lap Dulcimer, Old Time Banjo, Old Time Fiddle, Mandolin, Guitar, and Old Time String Band. Come and support! Come listen. Come play. Come stay all day and honor the music that is so much a part of  mountain heritage.

Get a link for the Old Time Music Competition and other 

Brevard NC events, lodging and visitor information HERE

NC Halloween Events: Haunted Indian Village in Cherokee

Now through October 31 - The Oconaluftee Indian Village in Cherokee NC  is transformed for a week of fright and fun as zombies, ghosts and goblins visit Native America via the Qualla Boundary. Bring your family for a scare at the Haunted Indian Village. Evenings beginning at 7 PM...and IF YOU DARE - walk the haunted trail. If you survive the thrilling exploration of  mysteries and tricks along  the trail, you will be treated to Cherokee storytellers sharing actually Cherokee legends as everyone gathers around the bonfire.

October 28 - Illusions & Mind Games  - Mystery, magic and fun comes to the Mountainside Theatre as three of the area’s top illusionists and mentalists will astonish guests with amazing tricks and treats. Beginning at 8:00 PM, it is mind blowing, startling fun for the entire family


October 29  - Cherokee Monster Ball is a Halloween Part full of good old-fashioned fun, but with a twist  as Cherokee celebrates the harvest with a monster bash at the Cherokee Indian Fairgrounds. The Exhibit Hall will be decked out in honor the season. Party-goers will be treated to a live band, costume contest, games and special foods from 8 PM to 11 PM

Get a link for the Haunter Indian Village and more 

Cherokee NC events, lodging and visitor information HERE

NC Halloween Event: Nantahala Resort Spooktacular Weekend

October 27 - 29    Nantahala Resort Spooktacular Weekend   Visit the haunted house maze on the Phoenix deck, take a haunted hay ride, and enjoy games and treats for the kids. Come see the headless horseman, our scary creatures of the Village, Freddie, Jason, Michael Meyers, ghosts, goblins, and ghouls galore.

Get a link for Natahala Resort Spooktacular Weekend and other 

Bryson City NC events, Lodging and visitor information HERE

NC Halloween Event: Hauntober Weekend at Fontana Village Resort

October 28-29  - Hauntober Weekend at Fontana Village Resort   A full weekend of Halloween fun. Friday starts at 10 AM with a Basket class and ends at 7:30pm with a campfire, marshmallow roast and live music. Saturday enjoy yoga, pumpkin carving contests, hayrides, and ghost stories around the fire.  

Fontana Village Resort - offers a range of accommodations: Lodge rooms and suites, cabins. RV & tent camping. Amenities include conference space, WIFI, 2 restaurants, lounge, General Store, gift shops, outfitters, pools, marina, massage and fitness center,  bike shop, horseback riding,  trails.
             Check rates and availability

Mountain Spirits: Wine and Beer this week, Oct 27 - Halloween Tastings!

October 28, 5 PM - 7 PM  Hops and Vines, 797 Haywood Rd, Ste 100 in Asheville NC. Free Halloween Beer Tasting - Come kick off your Halloween weekend early with free beer! Check out three Halloween themed beers this Friday and take home some scarily delicious beers: Rogue Dead Guy Ale, Southern Tier PumKING , Terrapin Pumpkinfest .  October 29, 3 PM - 6 PM Free Wine Tasting: Spooky Halloween Wines - Altos del Cuco, "The Velvet Devil Merlot" by Charles Smith Wines 2009, Bogle Phantom 2008

Oct 28, 4 PM - 7 PM at Table Wine, 1550 Hendersonville Road, Suite 102, AAA Travel Center in Asheville NC. Friday Winedown - Blind Tasting. Explore Pinot Noirs from all over the world, and it will be a great chance for you to learn about the many different styles of wine this grape is capable of producing. October 29, 2-5 PM   Free "Try Before You Buy" tasting featuring 4 great and affordable wines.

Josh picks the wines out Saturday morning, and they're usually new arrivals to the store. This is a casual, drop-in style event - NO CORK DORKS ALLOWED PLEASE! - so don't feel intimidated.  We're here to help you learn about wine and what you like.

October 22 , 4 -8 PM at Falderal Winery, 131 3rd Ave, Hendersonville NC. Trick-or-Treat Tasting - Get your Halloween off to a sweet start with this tasting focusing on the most popular sweet wines. Taste new sweet wine and dry wines that will transition into Thanksgiving. There will also be raw chocolate from Asheville. Cost is $6.00 and costumes are optional but encouraged.  11-5 PM regular Saturday FREE tasting.

Oct 28, 7-10 PM at The Classic Wineseller, 30 church Street, Waynesville NC. Friday Night Live - JJ Bal is back by popular demand performing live on the bandstand or inside if the weather turns cold. You'll want to see this local favorite. Nov 2  from 5:30- to 7:30, WOW - Wine on Wednesday: 5 wines plus hors d'oeurves. $8.00

October 29 at 1-4 PM Asheville Wine Market, 65 Biltmore Ave, Asheville NC. Free WIne Tasting: Join Mike Tiano for an informative tasting of four outstanding, and very affordable, wine selections. Italy and Chile will be the focus of these new arrivals, having arrived just in time for the fall panoply of local foods now available at the markets. Cococcciola, Pinot Grigio, Merlot and Pinot Noir are the players, so come and join us and share our excitement for these lovely selections, hand-picked by the AWM staff!

October 28, 6 PM - 8 PM, at Divine Wine, 1011 Tunnel Road East Asheville NC . Friday Wine Tastings - complimentary tastes of special wines and beer, along with an assortment of hors d’oeuvres. Each week we celebrate with a different theme and a few surprises.

October 21, 4 PM - 7 PM LaBouteille, 10 N Trade St, Suite A Tyon NC - Complimentary Wine Tastings every Friday. The last Saturday of each month 3-5 pm is a 10 beers for $10 beer tasting. Bring a dish of food to share.

October 29 RagApple Lassie, 3724 Ragapple Lassie Lane Boonville NC The Storytellers Band, playing jazz especially for the ears and souls of wine lovers. Noon to six.-  PLUS RagApple Lassie is offering an October Tailgate Special on its Rockford Red and Boonville Blanc wines. Buy ten bottles and get two bottles free. Hurry - sale ends October 31st but cases can be mixed! Tailgate Special prices for RagApple Lassie Wine Club members only, is an extra 5% discount.

October 29, 2 PM - 5 PM The Wine Guy, 555 Merimon Ave and 1200 Hendersonville Rd., Asheville NC. FREE Saturday tastings are a great way to sample new favorites in a casual setting. Every week we sample 4 to 6 new wines. Light hors d’ oeuvres will be served and all wines poured will be specially priced.

October 29, 12 PM - 5 PM at Vino Vino Wine Market, 178 Weaverville Rd., Asheville NC. Every Saturday anytime between 12:00 and 5:00pm enjoy a sampling of wines from around the world. A 10% discount on each of the wines we are featuring.

Tasting Rooms:

Biltmore Winery, located on the Biltmore Estate, Asheville NC. Daily tasting and tours with Estate admission. Special events and tastings throughout the year.

Old North State Winery, 308 North Main Street, Mount Airy NC. Hours of operation are: Monday-Wednesday 11am-6pm, Thursday-Saturday 11am-9pm, and Sunday 12pm-6pm. Sample wines and browse the gift shop featuring wine related and gourmet gift items.

RagApple Lassie, 3724 Ragapple Lassie Lane Boonville NC Tours are "on demand" noon to six PM daily. Tastings are available noon to six PM daily and include up to 11 varieties of wine.

Calaboose Cellars, 565 Aquone Road, Andrews NC. Tasting room summer hours: Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from Noon to 5:00. This week check out the "Warden's White".

Daily Tastings at Wedge Brewing Company, 125 B Roberts St. Asheville NC. Micro-brewery regular Tasting room hours: Monday - Thursday 4 PM - 10+ PM; Friday 3 PM - 10+ PM; Saturday and Sunday 2 PM - 10+ PM.

Daily Tastings at Greenman Brewery, 23 Buxton Ave., Asheville NC. The tasting room is open seven days a week at 4 o'clock, or maybe earlier

Asheville Fall Leaf Color Continues

The Buncombe County Tourist Development Authority reports there is still plenty of fall color to se in Asheville and the lower elevations. For more information about Asheville NC and links to lodging, Asheville events and restaurants CLICK HERE.

NC fall Leaf Color Report: 10-26-11

There is still lots of color throughout the NC mountain areas at 3,000 feet and below. To the North in the Wilkes County area color is still developing with the peak anticipated within the next week. The drive along route 421 is "spectacular, with all the colors at their height or close to it", as described in the Fall Color Guy Blog yesterday.
In the Smokies and Nantahala Forest there are still vibrant colors in the Fontana area, Murphy, Andrews and Franklin. There are some bare trees now, but still vivid colors. The first signs of snow have appeared on the mountain tops with layers of color at the bottoms making a dramatic picture. The Great Smoky Mountain National Park report for Oct 24 is, "Upper elevation areas are past peak and leaves are off the trees. Mid-elevation areas are currently at peak or slightly past peak. At low elevation, beautifully colored trees are mixed with trees that are still green."

Get a link for NC Fall color Reports HERE

Get a list of currently available NC Cabin rentals HERE
 

Halloween Greetings from Penland School of Craft

 Trick or Treat? It's mostly treats at Penland this time of year, though you might pick up a few tricks-of-the trade in the studios. Still, we don't mind spooking ourselves with a few stories like the haunting of Horner Hall, the legend of Lucy Morgan's magic loom, or the tale of the headless potter. Join us around the campfire for the second half of fall concentration and beyond... if you dare! (Mwah hah hah hah!) You bring the candy corn and we'll supply the cider. There's no costume required, but you'll want to bring some warm clothes and sturdy shoes, your curiosity, love of learning, and a passion for art and craft. Or, if you're stuck at home holding a bowl of candy for the neighborhood kids and planning your Thanksgiving menu, you can keep in contact through all the usual 21st century spirit media: our website, our blog, our Facebook page, and our Flickr page.

NC Halloween Event: NOCberfest - at the Nantahala Outdoor Center Nantahala Campus

October 28-30   NOCberfest   A Halloween celebration at NOC's (Nantahala Outdoor Center)  Nantahala campus.  This big fall weekend includes live music, Bavarian-themed menus, the famous pumpkin pursuit and special sales at NOC.

Join dozens of other costumed rafters in the pursuit of 200 numbered pumpkins into the NantahalaRiver for the Great Pumpkin Pursuit. Compete to collect as many pumpkins as possible for entries into a drawing for prizes, including a $500 gift card to NOC's Outfitter's Store.

For non-paddlers there is a pumpkin decorating contest and a costume contest following the event. NOC will provide the supplies for the pumpkin decorating contest.

Beer and Brats by the River includes food and beer specials at River's End Restaurant. Traditional German cuisine and fall beer specials will be served all weekend long. For the sake of festivity, River's End is offering 20% off any pizza for costumed patrons.

Get details about the NOCerfest and other Bryson City events, lodging and visitor information HERE

Thanksgiving Packages and Getaways: Vacation at a mountain Camp

Remember how much fun you had at camp when you were young? Now you can re-live those good times with grown-up comfort and your own schedule at The Camp, a unique mountain vacation experience located between Hendersonville NC and Bat Cave.

The Camp still has some availability for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. What better way to make a special family memory than to share all there is to do at Camp? The 150 acre gated property offers walking trails, tennis courts, seasonal outdoor swimming pool, a hot tub and fishing ponds. A recreation hall and and gymnasium include ping pong, pool, foosball, board games, basketball, a trampoline and more. There is an outside basketball court and field for soccer, softball, volleyball, tetherball or your favorite game. Wind down the night at the campfire making smores, singing songs or telling stories.


A variety of accommodations are suitable for a special getaway for two, or for weddings, groups and reunions up to 56 people. You may rent one unit or the entire Camp, depending on your needs and current availability. All lodging has been renovated for modern convenience and comfort and includes amenities such as fireplaces, upscale furnishings, state-of-the-art kitchens, WIFI, screened and open patios.

Get details and a link for The Camp and other Hendersonville NC and Bat Cave NC lodging and visitor information.

NC Halloween Events: Halloween Weekend at Asheville's Grove Park Inn

Oct 28-30   Halloween Weekend at the Grove Park Inn - A weekend of fun and treats as we celebrate at our legendary resort. Start your weekend of adventure with caramel-covered apples and the beginning of our of our annual Jack-O-Lantern competition in the Great Hall. Saturday activities include Halloween crafts, story time, face-painting fun, a balloon fairy, and the chance to put on your costume and join the “Trick-or-Treat Parade.” Other weekend events include complimentary chair massages, guided history tours, and live music throughout the resort.
Oct 29   Grove Park Inn Halloween Party A "Spook-tacular" fun time! Dress up in your favorite costume and enjoy crafts, a balloon fairy, games, treats, face painters and more. A great family-fun way to celebrate! Tickets are $10.

Get a link for Halloween at the Grove Park Inn and other Asheville NC events, lodging and visitor information HERE.

Livability.com says Asheville is #1 for Fall Color Tours

The good folks at Livability.com have announced their list for "Top Ten Places Places to Start a Fall Foliage Trip", with Asheville NC in the number one position. Anyone who has visited Asheville this leaf season would agree one hundred percent!

Cities were chosen for the list based on "natural wonderlands, lush forests and scenic mountain sides that burst with color". Additional considerations included quality of life factors such as local culture and attractions, as well as accessibility to scenic drives. Cities who made the list also offered hiking and bike trails and an abundance of opportunities to connect with and experience the beauty of the natural surroundings and fall color.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is the best known scenic drive in western North Carolina, crossing Asheville in 3 places and providing easy access to fall color views from a variety of elevations. There are trails and picnic areas all along the parkway and adjoining routes such as 276 through the Pisgah Forest which are equally scenic.

Livability.com is an online resource of more than 500 of America's best places to live, work, play, explore.

Learn more about Asheville NC and get links to Asheville Lodging, Attractions and visitor information HERE.  For last minute cabin availability throughout the mountains,  CLICK HERE.

Last Minute Getaways for NC Fall Color

It's not too late! Fall leaf color is peaking in many mountain areas and will continue for another 10 days to two weeks. Mid and lower elevations are showing exceptional color this year and there is still time to enjoy it.  The following cabins and vacation rentals are reporting at least 3 consecutive days availability* for the end of October and the first week in November:

Relax in a peaceful setting - 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, sleeps up to 12.   Pets up to 40 pounds allowed. Large deck with gas grill, fireplace, on site pond. $160-$195 night, $975-$1120 week. 
                                  See cabin photos and availability


Newly remodeled vacation cottage - 2 bedrooms, 2 baths sleeps up to 7. Whirlpool tub, gas grill, WIFI. Views of the surrounding mountains.  $200 night, $1000 week.
                              Get cottage and rental details


Vacation rental near downtown Waynesville - 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, sleeps up to 7. 15 min to Cataloochee Ski Area. Deck overlooking the pond and creek and Laurel Ridge Golf Course. Fireplace, Charcoal grill, fire pit, Internet service, Pet Friendly. 5 min to the Parkway. $125 night, $950 week.          Check Availability

Highland Lake Resort cottage rental - 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, sleeps up to 8. Peaceful pasture view, deck with grill, gas log fireplace, WIFI, phone. Free boat usage. Bottle of wine upon arrival. Onsite restaurant, lake, trails, $170 - $280 night, $1092 - $1799 week.     Get details

Quiet cabin by the creek - 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, sleeps 6. Stone patio overlooking the creek, inside hot tub, fireplace, charcoal grill. $170 night, $774 week.                     See cabin photos and availability

Cozy Vacation Cottage with Hot Tub -  2 bedrooms, 2 baths, sleeps 6. Walking distance to Chimney Rock Village shops and restaurants. De-stress in the hot tub. Deck, pool table, gas grill and short range mountain view. $135 night, $810 week.     

                                 Vacation Rentals

Located in between Chimney Rock and Lake lure - 2 cottages and 3 log cabins offer deck, jacuzzi, fully equipped kitchen, AC - immaculate and professionally decorated. $180-$238 night, $795 - $1195 week.
                     Check details and availability


Vacation Cottage near Dupont Forest - 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, sleeps 4. Fireplace, deck, grill, WIFI, guest computer, video games, Gated community including pool, walking trails, lake with canoeing, tennis. $60 - $200 night, $750 - $1000.     

                               Get details and availability

Vacation Rental with WOW views - 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, sleeps up to 8. Three outdoor porches and over 800' of decking to enjoy all the WOW views. Fireplace, Gas grill.  $250 - $300 per night, $1650 per week.
                                 Check availability

Vacation home with waterfall -  4 bedrooms, 2 baths, sleeps 7. Located on 22 acres with creek and trail to waterfall. Restored 1939 country home with wrap-around porch, gas grill, ping pong table, pet friendly. $95 night, $665 week.   Check availability

Contemporary rental cottage with mountain views - 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, sleeps 6. Brand new, contemporary interior with fireplace, Internet and great views. Only 2 miles to the heart of town.  $1530 - $1795 per week.
                             See photos and more information

Contemporary Log Cabin with Views -   4 bedrooms, 3 baths, sleeps 8. TV/game room with foosball, video games. Gas fireplace, large deck with grill, WIFI. Located between Boone and Jefferson.  $145- $175 night, $900 - $960 week.

                                     Get more details

Contemporary Cabin on a mountain ridge - 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, sleeps 6. Gas log fireplace, wrap around deck with grill, firepit, jacuzzi bathtub. Located about 8 miles from Burnsville and Spruce Pine. $175 night, $1150 week.

                            Check availability and details

Mountain Vista Smokies Cabin -  2 bedrooms, 2 baths, sleeps up to 6. Beautiful mountain view, fireplace, deck with charcoal grill, hammock, media center. $100-$120 night, $650 week.
                                    Get availability and details

Find more cabins and vacation rentals with availability on our complete list HERE
* Availability at the time of publication - 

please email the owner or manager to confirm up-to-the-minute available dates

NC Leaf Season Event: First Annual Okltoberfest in Hendersonville

Oct 22 - noon until 6 PM at Southern Appalachian Brewery in Hendersonville NC,   Hendersonville's First Annual Oktoberfest Celebration and Jump Off Rock 10K Race.  Enjoy traditional German fare including brats, sauerkraut, potato salad, "brezels" and, of course,  Oktoberfest Beer. Family fun activities will be available on site for the younger attendees. The "Jump Off Rock 10K Race"will begin the day.

The Oktoberfest is open to the public but a limited number of tickets will be sold for $10 the day of the event. Children under the age of 16 are free.

Mountain Spirits: Wine and Beer this week, Oct 19

October 25, 6:30 PM  The Purple Onion, 16 Main Street in Saluda NC.  A Rhone wine tasting with seven wine selections from the northern and southern Rhone valley will be offered along with foods typical of the region's cuisine but featuring ingredients from some of our favorite local farms. The wines to be tasting are not only exceptionally good values but pair easily with a variety of foods which makes them a great choice for the approaching holiday season. The price for the tasting is $45 and includes a taste of seven wines and several hors d'oeuvres and small plates chosen to pair well with the wines. Reservations can be made by calling the Purple Onion at 828-749-1179, Visa and Mastercard accepted. Call early, seating is limited.

October 21,  5 Pm - 7 PM Hops and Vines, 797 Haywood Rd, Ste 100 in Asheville NC.   Stoudt's Brewing Company   On a brief hiatus from Hops & Vines, Stoudt's beer is now back in stock and fresher than ever. Come rediscover theses well crafted, balanced beers out of Adamstown PA.   October 22, 3 PM - 6 PM Free Wine Tasting:  Italian Influenced California Wine, Brutocao, Il Cuore - Il Cuore Rosso Classico 2007, Brutocao Chardonnay 2009, Brutocao Zinfandel 2007.

Oct 21, 4 PM - 7 PM at Table Wine, 1550 Hendersonville Road, Suite 102, AAA Travel Center in Asheville NC. Friday Winedown -  Explore highly rated wines that are available at great prices - that means most of the wines are $15 or less, a a couple higher priced wines. 8 wines and light palate cleansers - $5 per person...........Free for Grape Nuts.  October 26, 7 PM - 9 PM - All California Wine Dinner.A great batch of wines from up and coming family owned and operated wineries, the all ready mentioned beef stew and corn chowder, arugula salad and bread. Several spaces left. $30 per person, $24 for Grape Nuts.

October 22, 3 PM - 8 PM at Appalachian Vintner, 2-B Huntsman Place in Asheville NC -  Mike Tiano, managing partner at the Haw River Wine Man. Mike, along with owner Jim Stock import some of the greatest Italian wines we’ve ever tasted. Because the Haw River Wine Man works directly with these small growers their pricing structure is just about absurd, amazing values from every corner of the Italian peninsula.

October 22 , 11 AM -  5 PM at Falderal Winery, 131 3rd Ave, Hendersonville NC.  Claddagh Inn Wine Tasting -  A free tasting held at the historic Claddagh Inn in Hendersonville including some of the newest varietals.

Oct 22, 7-10 PM at The Classic Wineseller, 30 church Street, Waynesville NC. Saturfay Night Special - Marshall Ballow performs live on the bandstand or inside if the weather turns cold. You'll want to see this local favorite. Oct 26 from 5:30- to 7:30, WOW - Wine on Wednesday:  5 wines plus hors d'oeurves. $8.00

October 22  at 1-4 PM  Asheville Wine Market, 65 Biltmore Ave, Asheville NC.  An informative tasting of four outstanding, and very affordable, French wine selections. The extremely versatile selection of red and white grape varieties, to include Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc will make for a very complex tasting

October 21, 6 PM - 8 PM, at Divine Wine, 1011 Tunnel Road East Asheville NC . Friday Wine Tastings - complimentary tastes of special wines and beer, along with an assortment of hors d’oeuvres. Each week we celebrate with a different theme and a few surprises.


October 21, 4 PM - 7 PM LaBouteille, 10 N Trade St, Suite A Tyon NC - Complimentary Wine Tastings every Friday. The last Saturday of each month 3-5 pm is a 10 beers for $10 beer tasting. Bring a dish of food to share.

October 22  RagApple Lassie, 3724 Ragapple Lassie Lane Boonville NC -   Bill Mann and his magic saxophones will be back for your tasting and listening pleasure, PLUS RagApple Lassie is offering an October Tailgate Special on its Rockford Red and Boonville Blanc wines. Buy ten bottles and get two bottles free. Hurry - sale ends October 31st but cases can be mixed! Tailgate Special prices for RagApple Lassie Wine Club members only, is an extra 5% discount.

October 22,  2 PM - 5 PM  The Wine Guy, 555 Merimon Ave and 1200 Hendersonville Rd., Asheville NC. FREE Saturday tastings are a great way to sample new favorites in a casual setting. Every week we sample 4 to 6 new wines. Light hors d’ oeuvres will be served and all wines poured will be specially priced.


October 22,   12 PM - 5 PM at  Vino Vino Wine Market, 178 Weaverville Rd., Asheville NC. Every Saturday anytime between 12:00 and 5:00pm enjoy a sampling of wines from around the world. A 10% discount on each of the wines we are featuring.

Tasting Rooms:

Biltmore Winery, located on the Biltmore Estate, Asheville NC.  Daily tasting and tours with Estate admission. Special events and tastings throughout the year. Enter Biltmore's Wine Sweepstakes ( until Sept 30, 2011) - for a chance to win a prize pack of NC Biltmore wines and wine accessories worth $200*

Old North State Winery, 308 North Main Street, Mount Airy NC. Hours of operation are: Monday-Wednesday 11am-6pm, Thursday-Saturday 11am-9pm, and Sunday 12pm-6pm. Sample  wines and browse the gift shop featuring wine related and gourmet gift items.

RagApple Lassie, 3724 Ragapple Lassie Lane Boonville NC   Tours are "on demand" noon to six PM daily. Tastings are available noon to six PM daily and include up to 11 varieties of wine.

Calaboose Cellars, 565 Aquone Road, Andrews NC. Tasting room summer hours: Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from Noon to 5:00. This week check out the "Warden's White".

Daily Tastings at Wedge Brewing Company, 125 B Roberts St. Asheville NC. Micro-brewery regular Tasting room hours: Monday - Thursday 4 PM - 10+ PM; Friday 3 PM - 10+ PM; Saturday and Sunday 2 PM - 10+ PM.

Daily Tastings at Greenman Brewery, 23 Buxton Ave., Asheville NC.  The tasting room is open seven days a week at 4 o'clock, or maybe earlier

NC fall Leaf Color Report: 10-19-11

October 19, 2011:  NC Fall Color in the High Country: Mid and lower elevations are peaking.Between Highway 421 and Grandfather, there are still great views of fall color from the frequent overlooks. Get a link forColor updates and information HERE

 Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Driving the Parkway from Maggie Valley into the Smokies should provide good views of the leaves. Views of the colors at lower elevations are still very good. Most leaves have fallen at the highest elevations. At mid elevations color is slightly past peak while at lower elevations there are beautifully colored trees are mixed with trees that are still green  Get a link for Park updates and information HERE.


In Asheville NC  peak color is beginning now with dogwoods, Virginia creeper, sourwoods and maples showing vibrant color, including a lot of trees that are yellow (magnolias, birches, hickories, striped maple).  This year there are plenty of bright reds mixed in with the yellows and oranges.

Highlands NC / Cashiers area - the upcoming week should be peak week with the colors “stunningly beautiful” right now.  The maples, especially red maple, are a vibrant red, and have never been as colorful as this year! They are highlighted by bright yellow buckeyes, birches, multi-colored sassafras, while sourwoods and sumacs accentuate those hues with their deep reds. Burning bush (Euonymus alatus) is providing vivid red accents in peoples’ yards and along roads.

In the Franklin NC area,  the hills are beginnning to turn with peak anticipated in the next two weeks. Green is now dotted with color and daily bursts of red and yellow are occurring.

Overall: Colors are progressing downslope, heading towards Wilkesboro, Morganton, Hendersonville and Brevard, Franklin, and Murphy. So if you’re planning drives in the next two weeks to see the colors, be aware that you’ll be seeing them from the overlooks of the Parkway, but not on the Parkway itself.

There is still plenty of availability in NC cabins and vacation rentals to enjoy  the beauty of the fal color in the mountains. CLICK HERE for a list.

NC Ghost Tours: Candle Light Ghost Tours in WIlkesboro

October 21 - 22   Candle Light Ghost Tours  An evening of tales, mystery and haunts. Learn about the ghosts that haunt the old buildings of downtown Wilkesboro. Visit a cemetery where Civil War Soldiers are buried, stand in the jail cell where Tom Dooley spent his last days and listen to the stories of the haunted Smithey Hotel. Tours start at 7:30pm.

Get details and a link for the Candle Light Ghost Tours and other Wilkesboro NC events, Lodging and visitor information.

NC Fall Leaf Season Event: Lake Eden Arts Festival (LEAF) this Weekend

October 20-23   Lake Eden Arts Festival ( LEAF) A weekend celebration of world folk arts: music concerts, dancing, handcrafts, healing arts, poetry, kidventures and workshops. Beautiful mountain camp setting with lakes and camping.

Get a link for the Lake Eden Arts Festival and other Black Mountain NC events, lodging and visitor information HERE.

NC Fall Leaf Event: The Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands

October 20 - 23   Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands   One of the largest and most notable craft fairs in the southeast, held twice annually at the Asheville Civic Auditorium.  Enjoy exhibitors, demonstrations and entertainment. 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.
This year's demonstrations include:

Asheville Bookworks:  Variety of bookmaking techniques including a letter press.
Charlie Patricolo:  An interactive demonstration of cloth doll making with a variety of dolls in various stages.
Dede Styles and Cassie Dickson:  natural dyeing and spinning.  Dede Styles of Swannanoa, NC and Cassie Dickson of Sylva, NC will demonstrate their traditional craft outside the Civic Center.
Gary Clontz:  Raku Pottery.  Gary will demonstrate all aspects of raku firing outside the Civic Center, from glazing the pot to firing it.  Raku is a ceramic firing process which uses fire and smoke to create unique patterns and designs.

Live mountain music will be performed all three days beginning at  11 AM.

Get a link for the
Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands
and other Asheville NC events, lodging and visitor information HERE.

The Flat Rock Playhouse Presents Kings of Country Music on the Rock Concert

October 16 - 31     Flat Rock Playhouse Music on the Rock  Kings of Country.   Summer Music on the Rock Concerts offer audiences a variety of music of well-known artists performed by exceptional singers and musicians.

Veteran performers Eric Anthony and Ryan Dunn bring you some of the greatest country songs ever recorded. This powerhouse of a show features hits from Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash, Keith Urban and many more. Fans of great country music won't want to miss this limited engagement event.

Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story, a live music extravaganza continues on the Main Stage through October 30.

Get a link for the event and other  
Flat Rock NC events, lodging and information HERE

The Blue Ridge Music Center Final Scheduled Performance

October 23 - This performance will mark the end of the 2011 musical programming at the Blue Ridge Music Center. Informal Mid-Day Mountain Music Jams will continue from noon to 4 p.m. daily until the end of the month before the music center closes for the winter.
Ballads & Songs of the Blue Ridge.  Traditional singers from North Carolina and Virginia will converge at the Blue Ridge Music Center for a special, free, performance-talk: Ballads and Songs of the Blue Ridge. It will be the last heritage event of the 2011 season.

Come Go Home With Me, a collection of short stories drawn from life in Madison County, and My Old True Love, a novel of love and family in Civil War-era Madison County. In 1997, Sheila Kay Adams won the North Carolina Society of Historians' Clark Cox Historical Fiction Award, and received the North Carolina Folklore Society's Brown-Hudson Award for outstanding contributions to the folklore of her home state.

  

Robert Lynn "Bobby" McMillon, a North Carolina Folk Heritage Award recipient, was heir to numerous strands of Appalachian culture. From his father's family in Cocke County, Tennessee, he learned Primitive Baptist hymns and traditional stories and ballads. From his mother's people in Yancy and Mitchell Counties, North Carolina, he heard "booger tales, haint tales," and legends. Because these songs and tales have deep roots in his own family and experience, Bobby has a passion for them and for sharing them. "Eventually, I began to realize," he says "that if I didn't perform the songs I was learning, most of the repertories of the people I learned from would be lost because they didn't have family members of their own to hand them down to." His greatest gift is his rare ability to convey to listeners a feeling for the world from which the stories come.

Musical duo, Martha Spencer and Jackson Cunningham, are known as the Whitetop Mountaineers. They both live in Whitetop, Virginia, in the highest mountains in Virginia and have been steeped in traditional music from a very early age. They are known internationally for their fine instrumental playing and beautiful duet singing. Martha has composed many moving songs about the Blue Ridge. Jackson is a well known as a luthier, (instrument maker), of the region. Both musicians also sing and perform with the Whitetop Mountain Band - one of the most popular stringbands in Virginia. The Whitetop Mountaineers have recorded two CDs: "Home on the Mountain" (2008) and "Go Away with Me: Songs from Virginia's Hills and Hollers"(2010). This is the first time that Martha Spencer, Jackson Cunningham, Sheila Kay Adams and Bobby McMillon have appeared on stage together and it sure to be an event not to miss.

Seating opens at 1:45pm. Free admission. Phone (276) 236-5309 x112 to reserve seating. Those with reserved seats must show up 15 minutes prior to the start of each event. At start-time remaining seats are given to drop-in visitors.  All October Heritage Events are free thanks to support from Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway and the National Council for the Traditional Arts.

Let's Do Lunch - Bryson City Chilli Cookoff Today

October 15   21st Annual Bryson City Chili Cookoff   What's better than enjoying some chili on a crisp October Saturday? For $5 sample chili from some of the best cooks in the area in 3 categories: red, white and veggie. It's a festive event with entertainment, decorated booths and costumed cooks. Cast a vote for your favorite chili to win the People's Choice Award. Get a link for the Chilli Cookoff and other Bryson City NC events, lodging and information HERE.