Smoky Mountains Cabin Rentals near Cherokee

Private location near the Great Smoky Mountains Park entrance - 6 cabins with 1-2 bedrooms, 1 bath, sleeps up to 6. Satellite TV, WIFI, full kitchen, outdoor grill, private patio, linens and more, all priced at very affordable rates and no extra cleaning fees. On site management, fire pit, horseshoes, badminton,  2 hot tubs. Suitable for a single rental or groups up to 32.  See cabin photos and get more details.

Oconaluftee Indian Village Opens this week in Cherokee NC

May 1      Oconaluftee Indian Village Opens for the Season   The Oconaluftee Indian Village opens for the 2012 season with self guided tours, authentic children's costumes, guided tours, and the Time of War. The Village Re-creates an authentic 18th-century Indian community. Cherokee artisans and guides demonstrate and explain the arts and crafts and the lifestyle and culture of their ancestors. Replicas of Cherokee homes, council house and squareground of the 1750 period.  
 

Get local information on the Cherokee NC Visitor Guide

Maggie Valley hosts Southeastern Mini Truckin' Nationals

April 28 - May 1  - Southeastern Mini Truckin' Nationals Open Car Show with spectators welcome. Hundreds of mini trucks compete for Top 50 with 12 Specialty Awards and Best of Show. Auto and Food Vendors will be available. Held at the Maggie Valley Fair Grounds. Get local information on the Maggie Valley NC Visitor Guide.

Say Goodnight Gracie Presented by The Flat Rock Playhouse

April 18 - May 6   Flat Rock Playhouse presents "Say Goodnight Gracie" This hit Broadway play invites the audience to spend an hilarious, heart-warming evening in the uplifting company of the world’s favorite and funniest centenarian: George Burns, who spanned one hundred years of American entertainment history. This show is a stunning tour de force tribute to one of America’s greatest funnymen.

Evening Performances: Wed Sat: 8:00 PM; Matinees: Wed, Thurs, Sat & Sun: 2:00 PM.  Performed at the Playhouse Downtown, 125 South Main Street, Hendersonville, NC. Get a link for details and  tickets on the Hendersonville NC Visitor Guide.

The Days of Wine & Posies, Foothills Wine Festival, today in Nebo

April 28  11 AM - 5 PM   Winehouse & Greenhouse at South Creek Get your flowers at Banner Greenhouses (they are right across the street) and then join South Creek for the wine. Enjoy"The Days of Wine & Posies". You must be 21 or older to attend this event. 

South Creek Vineyards and Winery is located at 2240 South Creek Road in Nebo NC.

Mountain Thunder Car Show tomorrow in Old Fort

April 28  
NC City:  OLD FORT  
Event:     Mountain Thunder Car Show   Annual Mountain Thunder Car Show in downtown, historic Old Fort. Sponsored by the Route 70 Cruisers, all makes and models of cars, trucks and motorcycles are invited to join the fun, no entrance or admission fees! There will be food, crafts and a "swap meet" area for treasure hunters.  Get details and a link for the Car Show on the NC Events Calendar.

NC Heritage Events this Weekend

April 28      Pioneer Day   - An  annual celebration of mountain heritage in Old Fort NC. The one-day festival features mountain music in the amphitheater, craft demonstrations such as weaving, black smithing and pottery turning, See Hit or Miss engine displays and vendors displaying and selling their wares. This all  day event is held on the Mountain Gateway Museum grounds in downtown Old Fort. A get a link for Pioneer Day on the NC Events Calendar

April 28     Historic Johnson Farm Festival   The Historic Johnson farmhouse and outbuildings located in Hendersonville NC  will be open for touring. There will also be live entertainment, demonstrations, wagon rides, children's activities, farm animals and food.

April 28     Survival Skills Workshop:  Wild Edibles - Series part 2 of 3  at Chimney Rock Park.  Food and water are essential to wilderness survival. Abundant, nutritious edible plants grow in Western North Carolina each season, from berries and flowers to nuts and mushrooms. Be prepared to hike off the beaten path for about two hours identifying and learning about wild edibles.

Then Sheila Dunn, a longtime member of the Asheville Mushroom Club and a Buncombe County Master Gardener, will whet your appetite with a presentation on favorite edible fungi, such as chanterelles, morels and chicken of the woods. Listen closely when she discusses the few poisonous mushrooms that lurk in our hills! Bring a water bottle, wear long pants and bring a rain coat just in case. This is one workshop you won’t want to miss! The Survival Skills Workshop series continues with Shelter-Building on Sat., June 9

Get a link for the Survival Skills Workshop and other local information on the Chimney Rock NC Visitor guide.

Greening Up the Mountains this weekend in Sylva

Date: April 28   Greening up the Mountains   - This annual spring festival, named for the way the “spring green” creeps up the mountainsides, is a celebration of the local economy, sustainability, and traditional heritage crafts.

Three full music stages will feature local bands, children’s performances, and heritage dance, along with the annual Youth Talent Show and more. Storytelling, face painting, an inflatable slide, the recycled materials Superhero Costume Contest, volunteer projects and more.This year’s event also hosts the annual Greening Up the Mountains 5K Run, sponsored by the Jackson County Recreation and Parks Department, and for the first time ever, a cornhole tournament which will raise funds for local charities.


Get a link for Greening up the Mountains and other local events on the Sylva NC Visitor Guide

Trout Fishing Tournament in Cherokee

April 27-29   Cherokee's Summer Kickoff Trout Fishing Tournament offers $10,000 in tagged fish in the rivers on the Cherokee Reservation (excluding the 2.2 miles of catch and release waters) Hundreds of specially tagged fish will be stocked in the Cherokee public fishing waters. When a tagged fish is caught it can be redeemed for cash prizes ranging from $20 to $500 based on the color of the tag. Redemption location and times to be announced.

The fishing tournament is open to all ages and for all legal fishing methods. Registration necessary to redeem cash prize. $11 entry fee - available everywhere Cherokee fishing permits are sold.

Last Minute MerleFest Rental near Boone

Secluded setting nestled in the mountains - 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, sleeps up to 6. Hot tub, covered porch with rockers and swing, wood-burning fireplace, picnic area with campfire ring, gas grill, WIFI. Community trails, trout stream and waterfalls. Between Boone and Wilkesboro.     See cabin photos and confirm availability

MerleFest - One of the Southeast's Favorite Music Festivals

April 26-29  MerleFest 25 on the camous of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro NC.  Celebrate spring and help kick off the festival season at MerleFest 25, considered one of the premier music festivals in the country. The four-day festival features over 90 artists performing on 14 stages, including Doc & Richard Watson, Vince Gill, Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives and the Tedeschi Trucks Band.

In addition to the music performances, there are:The Shoppes of MerleFest - a centrally located shopping village of commercial vendors and official MerleFest memorabilia, plus services such as first aid, lost and found, overnight storage, and internet access. Festival guests can peruse vendor booths, check email and pick up an official MerleFest tee-shirt all in one location.

In the center of The Shoppes at MerleFest there will be  a large grass area for festival-goers to enjoy a snack, visit with friends, or just enjoy the festival atmosphere.

Heritage Crafts -  The Heritage Crafts Tent offers some of the region’s finest  artisans  selling their handicrafts and offering demonstrations to educate MerleFest fans about their craft.  The Craft Tent is located in the center of The Shoppes At MerleFest area.

Food Vendors -  During the four days of MerleFest 2012 Music, Moments, and Memories you'll  need a good meal, snacks and beverages. A variety of options will be offered throughout the festival. In the Watson Stage area there are two large food tents that can satisfy nearly any craving. There are also snack and food options located in The Shoppes at MerleFest and in other convenient locations across the festival grounds. Proceeds from  food and beverage sales benefit local non-profits and WCC Clubs.Get more local information on the Wilkesboro NC Visitor Guide.

Asheville Offers Hunger Games Experiences

The Asheville Chamber of Commerce and the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority have compiled a variety of itineraries for visitors to experience the excitement of the blockbuster movie, Hunger Games. Get up close and personal with the behind the scenes NC mountain settings  that provided the incredible backdrop for the movie.

The stars of the Hunger Games shot the movie scenes during the day and retired to Asheville for great dining and entertainment at night.  You can visit the same Asheville hotspots that Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and other cast and crew members enjoyed.  Get a Hunger Games interactive map online or at the Asheville Chamber of Commerce.

Tours of local mountain  sites include:
- Dupont State Forest,  in which the Falls and wood were the backdrop for the arena scenes
- Craggy Pinnacle, home to the Cornucopia and select Arena scenes. The Pinnacle itself is not open to the public, but the surrounding areas are at Craggy Gardens and Mount Mitchell.

- Coleman Boundary / Big Ivy, the rocky area and creek surrounding it are in the Corner Rock area of the forest surrounded the soundstand-created cave that Katniss and Peeta use for shelter.
- Henry River Mill Village,  an abandoned mill town about an hour east of Asheville which stood in for the Seam areas of District 12. The signs on the sides of the Mellarks' bakery are clearly visible.

Get a link for Asheville's Hunger Games Itinerary HERE

Happy Earth Day: Let's do Lunch - a picninc lunch, that is

Earth Day Celebration at New River State Park - The live music picnic will begin at 11:00 AM with musician Jeff Martin and others and events continue through 6 PM.   Some grilled foods (hotdogs and a vegetarian option) will be served until supplies run out, or bring your own lunch and join the festivities at the riverside picnic area.

Earth Day Events at Chimney Rock State Park - Recycle, reduce, and reuse at the park and home this Earth Day!   REUSE your park map to create a unique tree from RECYCLED materials. Help REDUCE the resources needed to make a free souvenir from Chimney Rock State Park on this Earth Day.

A Park Ranger will discuss items that are collected at the park for recycling and other efforts in the park to reduce resources used. These same earth friendly behaviors are easy to do at home. We will talk about products made from trees and learn which ones we can reuse or recycle. Visitors, especially youth, are encouraged to make a Chimney Rock Earth Day Tree from reused park maps and recycled materials. Meet us at the Old Rock Café riverside deck at 11 AM.

The Catawba Science Center in Hickory NC will host outdoor and indoor activities for Earth Day. On the green, there will be displays that include energy efficient vehicles, green homes, solar utilities and much more. Interested people will receive plants in the Arbor Day tree give-away to replace ones lost through storm damage or just to add to their garden.The Bluebird Society and other educational presentations will show how we all can take care of our planet and minimize the impact on natural resources.Inside, the Planetarium will offer programs such as the Planet Earth special, Ice Worlds, and children can dig for and take home real fossils inside the dinosaur exhibit.There is no charge for this special Earth Day event. Parking is limited so late arrivals can park on the street and walk the short distance to the Science Center. 

 

Native American Earth Day Workshop  - April 20-23. Terra Nova Center, Cedar Mountain NC

Earth Day at Beech Mountain - Beginning at 11 AM   Meet at the Town Kite Field -  Events include Trash Pick Up;  Environmental Education Games;   Wildlife Presentation;   Earth Day Cake and Yummy Snacks.  Bring a picnic lunch  and enjoy  Fun for the Whole Family.  FREE Event.

Celebrate Earth Day with a Picnic for the Planet.  You can participate in the Nature Conservancy's Picnic for the Planet:

We think that Picnic for the Planet can be the world's largest picnic celebration – and this year we want to prove it. The Nature Conservancy is attempting to set the record for most people picnicking in 24 hours. Your picnic can be part of the Guinness World Records® attempt! To participate, download the informational packet.

The basic requirements for each picnic attempting the record:

• Each picnic must have at least 25 people
• Each picnic must take place within our 24-hour period: 8 pm EDT on Saturday, 4/21/12 to 8 pm EDT on Sunday, 4/22
• Picnics must be outdoors
• Each picnic must have three people to witness the event, count participants and fill out a couple simple forms
• We will need at least one photo

Ready to dive in? Participating in the record attempt is easy!

1) Plan a picnic! Make sure you will be able to meet the requirements above.
2) Download the informational packet to participate.
3) Gather your documentation and photos, and mail or e-mail them to us by 5/4/12.
4) You're done! Be sure you've provided your e-mail or stay tuned to nature.org to find out if we set the record.

Get more information about EARTH DAY HERE

Annual Smoky Mountains Trout and Heritage Festival and Plot Fest today in Maggie Valley

April 21   23rd Annual Great Smoky Mountain Trout & Heritage Festival The Town of Maggie Valley partners with the Haywood Community College Natural Resources Division and Haywood Waterways to offer: FREE Catch Clinics for kids and FREE Timber Sports Demonstrations by the Forestry Club
The Plot Fest A celebration of WNC heritage and the state dog that originated in Haywood County. Bluegrass & local artisans along with Haywood Community College Natural Resources Division and Haywood Waterways offer: FREE Catch Clinics for kids. FREE Timber Sports Demonstrations offered by the Forestry Club. Held at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds.

Get more local information on the Maggie Valley Visitor Guide

Barbeque Expo In Henderson County

April 21     Henderson County Barbeque Expo A family festival with vendors, BBQ cooking competitions, children's activities, arts & crafts, and entertainment.

The event includes The King BMX Stunt Show with a day of High Flying Fun. Sponsors by Ingles. The King BMX Stunt Show has been featured at a number of State Fairs, pro football half time shows and other large events around the country.

The Circle C Racing Pigs are joing the festivities this year. This attraction is sure to be fun for all ages as pigs and more race for the ultimate prize…. an Oreo cookie.

The event will be held on the grounds of Hendersonville High School,  311 8th Avenue West, Hendersonville, NC

Ashevillle Hosts Earth Day Festival this Weekend

April 21, noon - 10 PM    The 5th annual Asheville Earth Day Festival   returns to downtown Asheville in a new location on Lexington Avenue. Set in the exquisite Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, North Carolina, this FREE family friendly festival features musicians from various genres, eco-friendly speakers, a Kids Village, Eco Village, poetry contest and photo contest.

The Eco Village features 10 of Asheville's leading nonprofit organizations offering the community ways to participate in environmental change. The Kids Village encourages environmental awareness in our youth through  fun activities and entertainment for the entire family. The focus is to teach children how to live "green" by providing tools and ideas to help create healthy habits at home that will remain healthy habits for life. There will also be a drawing station where each child can decorate a small flag to represent Earth Day. The flags  will be on display during the festival and after the festival, all the flags will be combined to create Asheville Earth Day's first flag.

Musicians for this year's festival include Mark Farina Mushroom Jazz, New Orleans Suspects, Floodwood (members of Moe), The Fritz, Underhill Rose and a Leaf in Schools and Streets Performance.

Find more Asheville NC Events and Festivals on the Asheville Visitors Guide

Old Forts' Classic Car Cruise-in this Saturday

April 21 -  The  Classic Car Cruise-in   is held the 3rd Saturday of every month. Bring your car, truck or motorcycle to downtown Old Fort from 3-5 PM. This is a FREE event sponsored by Route 70 Cruisers. For more information, call 828-442-5135

Wilkesboro Open Air Market Opens for the 2012 Season

April 20   Wilkesboro Open Air Market  -   Historic Downtown Wilkesboro's popular Open Air Market events series returns in 2012 starting on April 20 and continues the through August.  Events will feature downtown merchants, food vendors, local wineries, musicians, regional farms and produce, arts and crafts, demonstrators, as well as non-profit and civic organizations.

Each Third Friday Open Air Market will be themed with live music, children's activities, contests, and more. The Regular Friday markets will happen every Friday and will feature the freshest produce and handmade crafts of the surrounding area

Get a link for the WIlkesboro Open Air Market and other local events on the Wilkesboro NC Visitor Guide

Motorcycle Rally in Cherokee This Week

April 19-22   2012 Cherokee Thunder Motorcycle Rally Live music, games, prizes, contests, tattoos, a swap meet, burn out pit, bike show and much, much more. Just $25 will get you in for the entire weekend. Enjoy Foghat and Artimus Pyle. Held at the Acquoni Expo Center

This year's events include:
- Swap Meet and Vender Booths
- Benefit Ride
- Barrel Race and Burn-outs
- Bike Wash
- Daisy Duke, Tatoo and Ugliest Bike Contests
- An Elvis Tribute
- Benefit Ride
- and more

Evening live music performers: The Hoss band, DICE,  Craig Wayne Boyd, Chatter Box, SwampDaWamp and Foghat

Get  a link for The Motorcycle Rallyc and omplete local information on the Cherokee Visitor Guide.

  

Hunger Games Fan Tours in Brevard

When The Hunger Games movie opened on March 23 Brevard NC was pleased to be in the spotlight.  With many of the scenes in the  Hunger Games shot  in DuPont State Fores,  Brevard area businesses and community organizations are offering visitors a chance to get "up close and personal" with the behind the scenes action of the popular movie with locally sponsored Hunger Games Tours. . Get a link for the Brevard Hunger Games Tours HERE

Leigh Trapp with The Marketing Trapp and Tammy Hopkins, Film Liaison and Transylvania Community Arts Council Director for Brevard and Transylvania County have put together Hunger Games Fan Tours which will feature the filming locations used by The Hunger Games movie in DuPont State Recreational Forest."
Day Trips: Explore DuPont State Recreational Forest and discover the locations used in the movie. Master fundamental survival skills like orienteering, camo-face painting, and shelter building needed to excel in the Hunger Games. Lunch will be provided in Hunger Games style. Shuttle service, DuPont State Recreational Forest permit and guides are  provided.  Ages: Tours are best suited for children 10 yrs + accompanied by an adult, family tour groups are welcome. Any child under the at the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.   Parking/Orientation Location: Comporium Parking Lot Main Street across from the Brevard/Transylvania Chamber of Commerce (190 East Main Street, Brevard, NC 28712)   Pre-registration required.   Cost $79 per person   May 26, May 27, July 14, July 15, Aug. 11, Aug. 12 More dates will be added soon for the spring, summer and fall. 

Weekend Trips:    Start your Hunger Games Fan Tours’ Adventure Weekend on Friday by gathering at Earthshine Mountain Lodge for an incredible evening. You’ll be part of the lottery and get separated into your own District. You’ll then join other Tributes for a welcoming banquet – Hunger Games style.

Saturday you’ll be dropped on location in DuPont State Recreational Forest, where you’ll discover clues that will lead you to the filming location sites used in the movie. Your Sponsor will be on hand to assist you – and to teach you survival skills along the way. You’ll then reconvene at Earthshine Mountain Lodge for lunch. The afternoon will be filled with survival classes that you’ll need to participate in the Hunger Games Simulation: archery, sling shot training, fire building, orienteering, shelter building, and camo-face painting. In the evening you’ll have another Hunger Games dinner sponsored by the Capital – and you’ll night zip-line and see what it’s like to be in the tree tops at night like Katniss and Rue.  Sunday – you’ll convene for your Hunger Games Simulation. See if you and your district have what it takes to win the Hunger Games. Our Hunger Games Simulation will be timed trials of the skills you’ve learned over the weekend.

Ages:  Tours are best suited for children 10 yrs + accompanied by an adult. We welcome family tour groups. Any child under the at the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Night zip-lining requires participants to be 10 yrs +.

Your Hunger Games Weekend includes: three days and two nights stay at Earthshine Mountain Lodge, 6 Hunger Games meals, Hunger Games snacks, guides, all Hunger Games skill training, Night Zip Lining and your Hunger Games Simulation. Shuttle service to and from the Asheville Regional Airport is included.

Cost: $389 per person. Note: There is a $2 ticketing process fee from Ticketleap, our ticket service. April 27 – 29, June 8 – 10, June 22 – 24, July 27 – 29, August 24-26, September 21 – 23

Assault on the Carolinas Today in Brevard

April 14 The 13th Annual Assault on the Carolinas  starts and ends in downtown Brevard. Last year there were more than 750 riders, and 1,000 riders are already registered for this year.  Many of the downtown businesses will be offering discounts to riders and families.

The Assault on the Carolinas is the annual fundraiser for the Pisgah Forest Rotary Club and offers a 100k, 60k, and 40k rides. The 100k goes through North Carolina and South Carolina mountains and valleys. Fully supported ride with 4 well stocked rest stops, and a challenging 6 mile climb up Ceasar's Head. The 60 and 40k go through the river valleys of Scenic Transylvania County.

Tweetsie Railroad Opens for the Season Today

April 13   Tweetsie Railroad    opens for the 2012 Season All aboard for NC's oldest theme park and another season of wild-west fun & excitement.

Tweetsie Railroad, North Carolina's first theme park, takes a trip back into the days of the Old West. Hop aboard the train for an unforgettable three-mile journey through the scenic mountains. Even in today's high-tech world, there's still a place for old-fashioned fun.

Tweetsie Railroad is a unique attraction that allows children and families to explore their imaginations and a whole lot more.

Be a cowboy, Indian or an engineer and take a ride on historic steam locomotive, Number 12, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Park includes a "Western" Main Street complete with hoosegow and Palace shows.

Watuaga Democrat photo

The County Fair rides let you spin and soar on boats and planes and more. At Miner's Mountain try your hand at gem mining or panning for gold. Pet the animals at Deer Park or play on the playground and get your face painted. And don't miss the fun at the arcade and shooting gallery.
Tweetsie Railroad is pen daily April - October with special events offered.

Get more local information on the Blowing Rock Visitor Guide.

Mountain Spirits: Wine and Beer this week,4-12-12

April 11-15    Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival  Enjoy wine tastings, seminars, cooking classes, wine makers' dinner and much more. New this year is the Grillin' and Chillin' event. The Grand Tasting event is downtown and special guest this year is Teresa Guidice!  Hosted by Blowing Rock NC.  

April 13 5 - 7 PM   Hops and Vines, 797 Haywood Rd, Ste 100 in Asheville NC.  FREE beer tasting:  New Belgium Brewing Ft. Collins, CO - a tasting of seasonal beers as well as some old favorites. Now available in some 16 oz cans, coming in fresher and better tasting than ever, especially the Fat Tire Amber.  Shift Pale Lager NEW - From work to play, from bottle to can, from bold and heavy to refreshing and sessionable; Shift salutes the shift in occasion, package and beer. So, go ahead and get your Shift beer, you’ve earned it! 4pack 16oz Cans $8.99   Dig spring Ale - Sorachi Ace hops provides a fresh Spring zing with incredible lemon aroma.  Nelson Sauvin is next in line with bursts of passion fruit, mango and peach. 6pk Bottles $8.99   Fat Tire Amber - New Belgium's flagship beer marks a turning point in the young electrical engineer's home brewing.. 4pk 16oz Cans $8.99.   April 14 , 3-6 PM - FREE Wine Tasting: Great Organic Italian Wines.Tenuta Sant'Antonio Scaia Bianco 2010 - a delicious white blend of Garganega and Chardonna;   Coltibuono Cetamura Chianti 2010- This wine was conceived with the intention of creating a young, pleasant wine, perfect for everyday consumption;  Poliziano Rosso De Montepulciano 2009- Poliziano ranks among the top producers of Vino di Montepulciano, one of Tuscany's most illustrious red wines.

April 13  , starts at 6 PM,  Classic Wine Cellar, 20 Church Street, Waynesville NC - Friday Night Live.  Jeff Jablomski  - a seasoned performer with rock, folk  and Southern Rock bands for 45 years. Hi original music includes socially relevant topics punctuated with distinct vocals and exception guitar rifts.  Angelino's  small plate meun and flatbreads will be available.

April 13, 4-7 PM at Table Wine, 1550 Hendersonville Road, Suite 102, Asheville NC -  Friday 545 -  Is it Cheap or is it Expensive? Test your senses  to determine whether a wine's price is relevant to your personal preference.  Sample a total of six wines including 2 Chardonnays, 2 Malbecs and 2 Cabernet Sauvignons. In each flight, one of the wines will retail for $7 to $12 and the other will retail for $15 to $20. Your job will be to rate each wine on a scale of 1 to 10 and to see whether you can determine each wine's price range. 5 per person, free for Grape Nuts.    April 14, 2-5 PM - Wine Tasting - free to the public and the tasting always features four deliciously affordable wines from various wine producing countries and regions. This week, check out some great new arrivals to the store and all of the wines retail for $15 or less.


April 14, noon to 6 PM, RagApple Lassie Vineyards, 3724 RagApple Lassie Lane,  Boonville  NC - Saturday Music Salons are back and will continue through the end of the year.  Grey Matter, a musical duo, will open the 2012 Salon Season.  The Back Door Cafe will be open  from noon to 4 PM to feed all hungry tummies.  To quote one customer:  "the sandwiches are divine!" And of course, RagApple Lassie wines will be available for tasting.


April 13  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.


April 14, 3 PM - 7 PM at  Appalachian Vintner, 745 Biltmore Avenue Suite 121 • Asheville, NC.  Asheville's "Best" Wine Tasting: Bodega Amalia & the wines of CARLOS BASSO.   Viña Ventisquero Queulat Gran Reserva Chardonnay- 100% Chardonnay from a sustainably farmed single vineyard in Chile's Casablanca Valley;   Bodegas Amalia Carlos Basso Dos Fincas Chardonnay- 100% Chardonnay from Los Arboles, Tunuyán, Mendoza, Argentina at 1150 meters (3.700 ft) above sea level;   Bodegas Amalia Viña Amalia Malbec Reserva- 100% single vineyard Malbec.

April 14,   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. A local distributor will pour a few new wines from their portfolio. No reservations required and there will be special pricing on the wines sampled. 

April 14, 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. Closed for the winter - re-open March 22, 2012Tasting room summer hours: Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from Noon to 5:00. This week check out the "Warden's White".

South Creek Vineyard and Winery, 2240 South Creek Road, Nebo, NC

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

Flat Rock Playhouse Music on the Rock Series Celebrates the Music of Elton John

 April 12-14   Music on the Rock Series: Rocket Man - A Celebration of Elton John The 10 concert 2012 series produced by The Flat Rock Theatre offers a celebration of music form country to pop to Sinatra.

Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival Starts Today in Blowing Rock

Holly Soukup 2012 winner

 April 11-15   Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival   Enjoy wine tastings, seminars, cooking classes, wine makers' dinner and much more. New this year is the Grillin' and Chillin' event. The Grand Tasting event is downtown and special guest this year is Teresa Guidice!

This year's events include:
April 11   Fire on the Rocks Chef's Challenge:  Experience the best culinary show you've ever tasted!  The Chef's Challenge is a battle between the area's best-known chefs. Diners judged the preliminary events and now at the finals too! Dine on 6 amazing courses at the finale. Finale dinner will be held at Crippen's Restaurant. Reservations are required. 828.295.3487.

April 12,  6 PM  Uncork The Festival:  A Taste of Ethiopia and South Africa, A Benefit for Wine to Water at Crestwood Resort and Spa.  Take a tour of Ethiopian and South African  with  sights and flavors, using the expertise of area businesses Climbing the Walls, Events by Elizabeth Ashley, The Gamekeeper, The Table at Crestwood and Wine to Water in a sublime collaboration of floral design, decor, food and wine. The atmosphere of Crestwood will be transformed  with the colors, tastes and aromas of these culturally distinct regions. Palates will come alive with the rich and bold flavors of an array of tapas-style food and complimentary tastings of 6 different wines, and senses will be heightened as guests journey through these two countries without leaving the High Country. Guests will be greeted with a complimentary Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival souvenir wine glass. Music by Scott Smith will complete the evening's festivities.

April 12-13  Wine Seminars and Cooking Classes:  An easy, laid-back atmosphere make these festival favorites. Ttwo days of seminars and classes this year offer you  more options and times. Held across town in several different locations, a class is always close by. Topics include Wine and Chocolate, Wine and Cheese, Wine and food/Spices, Hidden Treasures/ Best Values, Pasta and Wine, Cooking to chocolate and more.

April12-14   Wine Makers' and Vintner's Dinners:  Area restaurants team up with  wineries to create Vintners' Dinners.  Prix Fixe menus will showcase the best pairings the chef and vintner have to offer.  Nine restaurants participate.

April 13   Grillin' and Chillin': New this year, The Blue Ridge Mountain Club offers a true taste of North Carolina. North Carolina is famous for its barbeque, and here  you can get it in the most authentic way.  A whole hog pig pickin', barbequed chicken and all the fixins, including banana pudding.  And to go with this fabulous meal, enjoy a selection of North Carolina wines, North Carolina craft-made beers and music by some of the area's best artists. Your ticket price will include tastings of the North Carolina wines and craft beers. Full glasses and bottles of wine will be available for purchase from the vendors.

April 14, 2-6 PM - The Grand Tasting:    The Grand Tasting is the centerpiece of the Blue Ridge Wine & Food Festival. Located in the heart of Downtown Blowing Rock under the main tent.  The tasting showcases an assortment of wines from North Carolina wineries as well as from vineyards around the globe. Find new favorites among international, domestic and NC vintages.  

April 14, 7 PM  VIP Charity Wine Gala:  The Gala celebrates the Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival in style. Area wine lovers, foodies and dignitaries alike will gather at the elegant Broyhill Furniture Showroom for an entertainment-packed evening including a performance by the North Carolina Shakespeare Festival and music by Old Gold Jazz Trio of the Wake Forest University School of Music.

Additional Festival Events include: Bartenders' Brawl, Barrels of Fun, Flights and Bites, Cork and Canvas at the BRAHM, Coffee Cupping Sessions, Sunday Champagne Brunches and a variety of Musical performances.

Get a link for the Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival and other Blowing Rock Information HERE.

Asheville hosts the World's Only Film Festival Exclusively for Action Films

April 12-15    ActionFest 2012 The world's only film festival devoted exclusively to action films. ActionFest celebrates the genre by showcasing the latest and the best in action cinema from all over the world for four wild days at The Carolina Asheville, 1640 Hendersonville Road in Asheville NC..
The festival will open with the Regional Premiere of Solomon Kane, and close with the highly anticipated Cannes selection, Wu Xia. Honorees will be legendary stuntman Mickey Gilbert with the Lifetime Achievement Award, MMA pioneer and Haywire star Gina Carano with the “Chick” Norris Best Female Action Star Award, and J.J. Perry with the ActionFest Fight Choreographer of the Year Award.

Get a link for Action Fest and other Asheville events on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

WNC Chefs Challenge for 4-10-12

April 10   WNC Chefs Challenge  Red STAG Grill vs. Sunburst Trout Company Food and sport combine for the ultimate food fight. The Challenge brings together 14 leading chefs from the region and one secret ingredient in weekly battles each Tuesday from March 20 - May 22.

Diners enjoy six plated culinary creations (three from each team) that incorporate the secret ingredient and score each dish. The votes from the audience and a panel of professional chefs, journalists, and culinary experts are tallied. A winner is announced at the end of the night and continues to the next round of competition.

Get a link for the Chefs Challenge and other NC Events and Festivals HERE

Enjoy Easter with your Friends

Easter Sunday Brunch Buffets in the Mountains

Easter Brunch at the Lake Lure Inn and Spa
Easter Sunday Brunch at Larkins
Green Park Inn- Buffet brunch
Rowland's at Westglow Easter Brunch
Table at Crestwood Brunch Buffet
The Inn on Biltmore Easter Sunday Brunch
Easter Grand Buffet, The Grove Park Inn (BRDR)
Easter Brunch, The Grove Park Inn (SST)
Easter Brunch, The Grove Park Inn (HOR)
Madison's Easter Brunch, Old Edwards Inn

8th Annual Tour De Lure Bike Ride Today in Marion

April 7      8th Annual Tour De Lure Bike Ride  Two rides one for the "hard core" cyclist and a fun ride begin at 9 AM.  The Dewey Hughes Memorial Ride is a challenging one, beginning at Marion's YMCA traveling through rolling farmlands, up Stone Mountain, around Lake Lure, through Chimney Rock and returning to Marion for a total of 67 miles.

The Fun Ride begins at the same time and place (same fees), but takes you on an exciting 25 mile course through rolling hillsides and farmlands. Applications available online or at the Corpening YMCA in Marion. Free Spaghetti meal for participants after the ride.

Easter Weekend Events: 4th Annual Grovewood Easter Egg Hunt

April 7    4th Annual Grovewood Easter Egg Hunt  This year’s hunt will benefit MANNA Packs for Kids, a nonprofit organization that reaches out to at-risk elementary school children in Western North Carolina.  The hunt begins promptly at 11AM in Grovewood's sculpture garden. Arrive a few minutes early and BYOB (bring your own basket) for your goodies.

Children ages 2-9 may participate with cookies and lemonade provided. The Easter Bunny will be stopping by for photo ops so don't forget your camera.

Get a link for the Grovewood Egg Hunt and other Asheville NC events and Attraction on the Asheville Visitor Guide

Mountain Spirits: Wine and Beer this week, 4-5-12

April 6, 5 - 7 PM   Hops and Vines, 797 Haywood Rd, Ste 100 in Asheville NC. FREE beer tasting: Bear Republic  Come sample these tasty beers from Bear Republic:  Racer 5 - This hoppy American IPA is a full bodied beer brewed American pale and crystalmalts, and heavily hopped with Chinook, Cascade, Columbus and Centennial. 7%;   Hop Rod Rye - A high gravity IPA brewed with 18% rye malt. Hop Rod Rye has a floral hop aroma and subtle caramel notes with a slightly earthy and spicy rye character;  8% Peter Brown Tribute Ale -is malty American Brown Ale, brewed with molasses, brown sugar, and hopped with Cascade and Centennial.   April 7 , 3-6 PM - FREE Wine Tasting: Line 39 Wines.   Line 39 Sauvignon Blanc - Lake County, which lies just north of Napa is emerging as a great grape growing region;  Line 39 Cabernet Sauvignon- Line 39 refers to the latitude along which many of the great wine regions in the world are found;  Line 39 Petite Sirah- This velvety full bodied red wine has dark cherry notes with a touch of oak and a long elegant finish.

April 6  , starts at 6 PM,  Classic Wine Cellar, 20 Church Street, Waynesville NC - Friday Night Live.  Maggie and The Romantics will entertain. Full tapas, flatbreads and cheese menu will be available.

April 6, 4-7 PM at Table Wine, 1550 Hendersonville Road, Suite 102, Asheville NC - 545 Friday Winedown - A Vinous Tour Of Italy:  Garofoli Guelfo Verde - This sparkling wine hails from Central Italy, Les Marches to be exact, just east of Tuscany. ; Cantina Frentana Cococciola - This is one of the best co-operatives of Abruzzo, and this is one exotic little white wine; Cantina Sant Evasio Gavi - We now head north on our journey of obscure Italian varietals to the village of Gavi, in Italy's Piemonte zone; Tenuta Canale Sangiovese di Toscana - No, this grape isn't obscure, but no Italian wine tasting would be complete without at least one Sangiovese; Vecchia Torre Salice Salentino - A blend of Negroamaro and Malvasia Nera, this rustic red is packed with ripe berry fruit, spices, licorice and earth; Paitin Nebbiolo d'Alba "Ca Vieja" - This family run estate got its start in 1796, and they're still going really strong; Morisfarms Monteregio di Massa Marittima - This wine comes from Tuscany's western coast and from one of the finest producers in the region.  $5 per person, FREE for Grape Nuts.   April 7, 2-5 PM - Saturday Winedown: Vino Mondo wines - Kevin and Tripti Simback, owners of Vino Mondo Distributors will pour samples from their portfolio. Sartarelli Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico - This is one of the premiere Verdicchio producers in all of Italy; Forstreiter Gruner Veltliner "Kogl Krems" - Simply put, this is one of the best Gruner Veltliners your money can by; Cooper Mountain Pinot Gris Reserve - Cooper Mountain is a small, family owned and operated winery in Oregon's Willamette Valley; Cooper Hill Pinot Noir - It's really hard to find organic, Willamette Valley estate Pinot Noir for less than $20, but Tripti and Kevin have managed to do just that; Cavalli-Tenuta Degli "Le Redini" - The Wine Advocate reviewed this wine at 91 points. $5 per person, FREE for Grape Nuts.

April 6  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.
April 7, 3 PM - 7 PM at  Appalachian Vintner, 745 Biltmore Avenue Suite 121 • Asheville, NC.  Asheville's "Best" WIne Tasting: Bill O'Friel and The wines of Cape Classics representing some of the finest values in South Africa..  Indaba Chardonnay- 100% Chardonnay from the Western Cape of South Africa. “Indaba” is the traditional Zulu forum for sharing ideas; Mulderbosch Chenin Blanc Steen op Hout- 100% Chenin Blanc from environmentally responsible vineyards in the Western Cape.; Mulderbosch Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé- Inland Coast, South Africa. Hand harvested from 10-20 year old bush Cabernet vines and crushed directly into stainless steel tanks.; Indaba Shiraz- This fresh, juicy Shiraz flaunts lively flavors of ripe blackberry, blueberry and dark chocolate, with hints of white pepper, licorice and spice; Rustenberg John X Merriman- 47% Cab, 39% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot, 4% Cab Franc, 3% Malbec from one of South Africa’s oldest and most distinguished wine farms, with a viticultural history dating back to 1682.

April 7,   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. A local distributor will pour a few new wines from their portfolio. No reservations required and there will be special pricing on the wines sampled. 

April 7, 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. Closed for the winter - re-open March 22, 2012Tasting room summer hours: Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from Noon to 5:00. This week check out the "Warden's White".

South Creek Vineyard and Winery, 2240 South Creek Road, Nebo, NC

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

Easter Events: Asheville's Easter on the Green

 April 7   Easter on the Green  in downtown Asheville NC. A family-friendly celebration of Easter traditions including a large scale Easter egg hunt for kids, races, games and creative activities in the Earth Fare tent. Various downtown businesses have added a little fun to the egg hunt by providing gift certificates and freebies that will be placed in eggs. Kids can meet the Easter Bunny and pose for family photographs. There will also be kid-friendly music and entertainment. FREE event.

Get a link for this Easter event and more Asheville
information on the Asheville Visitor Guide

Easter Events: Annual Dillsboro Easter Hat Parade

April 7    Annual Dillsboro Easter Hat Parade - Arrive at 10 am to make a hat, or bring your own pre-made version. Registration starts at 11AM. The parade starts from Dillsboro Town Hall at 2:00 PM. Open to all ladies, gentlemen, children and dogs.

Grab your hat and join in the fun during Dillsboro’s delightfully unpretentious annual Easter Hat Parade! Enter the ugliest, biggest or best hat contest, with plenty of prizes. Antique cars lead the parade. Meet the Easter Bunny. Get a link for the Easter Parade and other Dillsboro NC events HERE

Appalachian Trail Bridge Festival this Weekend in Bryson City

April 6-7   Appalachian Trail Bridge Festival    Enjoy trail-steeped speakers sharing their experiences, a vendor village staffed by industry representatives, skills clinics, as well as some great product giveaways and door prizes and live music nightly. The event is held annually at the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC)

The Appalachian Trail crosses the Nantahala along NOC's Founder's Bridge,  at  Wesser Campus - a popular spot for hikers to rest up for the challenging climb ahead.  Jennifer Pharr Davis, current record-holder for fastest through hike of the Trail, will be one of the event presenters.

In addition to speakers, this year's schedule includes some must-take Wilderness Survival skills clinics, an edible plants hike with a local botanist and certified outdoor leader, and an exciting packraft demo and head-to-head race from Alpacka Rafts on the Nantahala River.

Get a link for the Festival and other Bryson City events on the
Bryson City NC Visitor Guide