Nantahala Outdoor Center Offers an Opportunity to Win a Family Rafting of Zip LiningTrip

Win a rafting trip or zip lining for your entire family. Just go to the Nantahala Outdoor Center website and fill out a short survey about your experiences and why your family should win the trip.

Share your personality, quirkiness and unique "style" as you write. NOC be looking for answers that stand out from the crowd. The winning family/s will choose from a free rafting or zip lining trip in 2016. Plus, you'll be interviewed in-person for a chance to be in NOC’s upcoming video showing guests what it means to be a River Family.

Responses must be submitted by Sunday, January 31, 2016 at midnight. A winner will be selected the following week. The winning group will be limited to 10 people and immediate family.

Nantahala Outdoor Center is located at  13077 Highway 19 West in Bryson City, NC

Blowing Rock NC Hosts Annual Winterfest

January 28 - 31, 2016   17th Annual Winterfest   Join the Village of Blowing Rock to celebrate the fun side of winter at this annual family event. 

From the Wine Auction, ice carving and Live Bluegrass, to the Chili Cook-Off, Winter Paws Show, Fashion Show, Kids' Activities and the Polar Plunge in Chetola Lake, there's something for everyone. 

 Get complete local information on our Blowing Rock NC Visitors Guide.

Mountain Spirits for the week of 1-21-16

January 21, 2016 at  Heinzelmannchen Brewery, 545 Mill Street in Sylva NC - Chocolate and Beer Pairing with Baxley's Chocolates.  Enjoy 6 chocolates from Baxley's expertly paired with 6 Heinzelmannchen Beers and Live Music by Henry Wong.  $10 Cash or Check in advance and $15 at the door - $5 of every ticket donated to The Community Table, helping to feed Neighbors in Need.  READ MORE IN THE MOUNTAINEER

January 21, 2016 at Brusin' Ales, 66 Broadway Street in downtown Asheville NC  5 - 7 PM Rogue Ales . Try four of the Rogue Farms Hop Series along with Double Chocolate and Voodoo Donut Mango Astronaut. 

January 22, 2016 from 6 - 9 PM at Maggie B's Wine and Specialty Store, 10 C South Main Street in Weaverville NC:   Friday Night Wine Tastings.

January 22, 2016 at 8 PM - Asheville Brewing Company, 675 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville NC: Sick of Stupid Comedy Tour in the Millroom. Standup Comics Tom Simmons, Steward Huff, and Clifton Cash have joined forces and are touring six Southern cities.  1/22-28 Movies at 675 Merrimon - Hotel Transylvania ; Bridge of Spies; Krampus; U2 in 3D. January 24 at 6:40 PM NFL Football on Sunday - Panthers VS Cardinals. Monday pizza special and Thurdays $10 growlers.

January 22, 2016 from 5 - 7 PM at Hops and Vines, 797 Haywood Rd. Ste 100 in West Asheville NC: FREE Beer Tasting - Lagunitas’ Big Beers.  

The Hairy Eyeball - A roasty, toasty, malty, hangover-halting beer. Especially formulated for when you wake up feelin’ like you need to shave your eyeballs to see the new day. 
Cappuccino Stout Ale -  Brewed with boatloads of roasted coffee in each batch for that extra Krunk… this Mondo Coffee Stout will leave you wondering whether you’re coming or going.
Bitter Oats - This big boozy blonde was brewed with a boatload of oats, giving it a creamy, sweet mouthfeel with a hoppy blast. It’s like a powdered sugar doughnut topped with deliciously bitter, danky resinous hops. Chow down!
 
January 23, 2015 from 3 - 6 PM:  FREE Wine Tasting - New Chilean and Argentinean Values.
Cabernet Sauvignon - Dark ruby in color with a concentrated nose of fresh cherries & plums. On the palette you’ll find soft red currant flavors with hints of pepper, truffle and cassis. 4 months on French & American oak have rounded the wine out nicely. The finish is long and vibrant.
Malbec - Produced from fruit grown in the Las Compuertas section of La Consulta, this is delicious Malbec for a very affordable price. Fresh red plum flavors and a juicy, forward texture suggest balance due to some thoughtful winemaking: fermentation in concrete tanks with a hint of oak influence. 
Alto -  This rich Cabernet Sauvignon has intense flavors of red currant and forest fruits combined with chocolate aromas. The palate is full-­bodied and robust. Ideal with red meats, full flavored pasta dishes, lamb, strong ­flavored cheeses, and dark chocolate.

January 23, 2016 from 3 - 7 PM at Appalachian Vintner, Free Wine Tasting with the purchase of $10 or more.

January 22, 2016 at  Shelton Vineyards, 286 Cabernet Lane in Dobson NC: Regular tastings, but no scheduled special events.

January 22, 2016  7 PM at  Classic Wine Cellar, 20 Church Street, Waynesville NC - Dulci Ellenberger live with Guitar, Vocals, Americana, Pop, Originals   
January 23, 2016 at 7 PM - Joe Cruz with piano and vocals performing music of the Beatles, Elton John, James Taylor, Simon and Garfunkel.
 
Wine on Wednesdays - stop by every Wednesday from 4 PM to 8 PM to enjoy unique varietals, regional tastings and more. Free tastings with the purchase of $15 of food or $16 per person.

 

January 22, 2016 from 4 - 7 PM at Table Wine, 1550 Hendersonville Road, Suite 102, Asheville NC - Free Wine Tasting  featuring a trio of “Big Red Wines” – If you like full, rich, tooth staining wines, you might want to stop by this Friday for our free wine tasting. You hear the term “big” thrown around a lot in the wine world, but what does it actually mean. It means wines with deeper colors, richer and darker fruit sets, and structure in the form of tannin and acidity. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the wines are going to be so dry that you have to have them with food, but bigger wines do often like to be served with some type of fat and/or protein. Join us to taste, learn and save on some of our favorite bigger, richer red wines that won’t break the bank and save up to 20% off on all of the tasting wines.

January 23, 2016 from 2 PM - 5 PM: Try Three For Free Wine Tasting featuring some easy drinking Mediterranean wines – The vine has been cultivated for centuries in countries that border the Mediterranean. The warm and sunny climate of the Mediterranean provides perfect conditions for the cultivation of a number of grapes, and the resulting wines tend to share some similarities. These are bold, spicy, herb accented wines that mimic the flavors of the surrounding landscape, and they represent some of the best wine values in the world. We’ll focus on Mediterranean wines of Southern France and Italy for this tasting and you are invited to stop by, taste, learn and save up to 20% off on some of the favorites.

January 22, 2016 from  4 - 6 PM at  LaBouteille, 10 N Trade St, Suite A Tyon NC - Complimentary Wine Tastings  every Friday.   Every Saturday 12 -7 pm complimentary informal  beer tasting.

January 22, 2016 from 6 PM - 8 PM at Brushy Mountain Winery, 125 West Main Street in Elkin NC - Live Performance by Guitarist Brent Lawrence.
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January 23, 2016 - Smoking  Joe Randolph performs live from 6 to 8 PM. Randolph, a Guitarist/singer/songwriter, is most known for his vintage sounding Retro Blues,Rockabilly, Instrumental Surf and Jazz.

 
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. Tasting room open seven days a week. Reservations are recommended for tastings and tours.  Sample wines and browse the gift shop featuring wine related and gourmet gift items. Thursdays live music at 8 PM. 

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: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from Noon to 8:00. 

Carolina Heritage Vineyard and Winery,  170 Heritage Vines Way in Elkin NC - Open to the public for Tours and Tastings on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 PM to 6 PM and at other times by appointment – call (336) 366-3301 to schedule a time.

Elkin Creek Winery, 318 Elkin Creek Mill Road in Elkin NC,  Open for tastings Thursday through Sunday, 11 AM - 5 PM and other times by appointment. 

Grassy Creek Vineyard and Winery, Tasting Room Drive off of Klondike Road, 235 Chatham Cottage Circle, State Road, NC -  Tasting Room open Wednesday through Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sundays open 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. June through September: Saturdays open 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

McRitchie Winery and Ciderworks,   315 Thurmond PO Road in Thurmond NC - Tasting Room Hours: Wednesday - Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM, Sunday 1 PM to 5 PM.

Round Peak Vineyard,   765 Round Peak Church Road in Mount Airy NC - Tasting Room Open Daily: Sun–Thurs 12 pm–5 pm;  Fri 12 pm–8 pm;  Sat 11 am–6 pm (and until Sunset Jun–Aug); By appt. other times. The Tasting Room is also a cozy place to host your private event. With space for 20-40 people depending on seating, and the ability to cater any type of food or appetizers desired, we can create the atmosphere you'd like. Available any time except the normal business hours that the Tasting Room is open.
 
Shelton Vineyards, 286 Cabernet Lane in Dobson NC. Regular tour and tasting is offered daily departing every half hour. This includes a guided tour of the 33,000 square-foot winery with an overview of the winemaking process, a tasting of five wines, and a souvenir wine glass. $5 per person.  Retail hours are Monday-Saturday 10 AN.-6 PM., and Sunday 12 PM - 6 PM (Daylight Savings Time); Monday-Saturday 10 AM-5 PM and Sunday 12 PM-5 PM (Standard Time). Tours and tastings are offered daily. The winery is open every day of the year except New Year's Day, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. A variety of additional special tours are available - reservations are required, see the website for details.

South Creek Vineyard and Winery, 2240 South Creek Road, Nebo, NC  Open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 11 AM to 5 PM, Sundays from 1 PM to 5 PM through the year until January 1st. Tastings include the glass & are $6, $7 or $10 depending on the wines you choose. Music events are rain or shine and provided to South Creek Customers at no admission fee, unless it is a stated ticketed event.

Wedge Brewing Company, 125 B Roberts St. in the River Arts District, Asheville NC. Micro-brewery regular Hours: Monday to Thursday 4:00 PM till 10:00 PM, Friday 3:00 PM till 10:00 PM. Live music on select dates and outdoor cinema. 

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

Slightly Askew Winery, 913 North Bridge Street in  Elkin NC - Hours of operation: Thursday - Friday 1 PM - 6 PM; Saturday 12 PM - 6 PM; Sunday 1 PM - 5 PM

Stoney Knoll Vineyards, 1143 Stony Knoll Road in Dobson NC -  Tasting Room Hours: Regular hours March through December - Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM; Winter hours in January and February - Fridays 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM and Saturdays 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM. Wine tasting: $7.00, Wine by the glass: $5.00. 10% Case Discount on Regular Prices (includes free wine tasting and glass)

Other Wineries and Vineyards:

Olde Mill Winery and Vineyards,  2742 Simpson Mill Road in Mount Airy NC

Annual Martin Luther King Jr Peace March and Rally in Asheville NC

January 18, 2016     Annual Peace March and Rally  celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day will take place beginning at St. James AME Church at Martin Luther King Boulevard and Hildebrand Street and continuing to City-County Plaza in Pack Square Park. 

There will be a Candlelight Service at 6:00 PM at Nazareth First Baptist Church. All the days events are FREE and open to the public. 

Big Band and Swing Dance Weekend at the Omni Grove Park Inn

January 16 - 17, 2016   Omni Grove Park Inn Events:  Big Band and Swing Dance Weekend    An annual weekend of great Big Band and Swing Dance music. This is a "don't miss" weekend for those who treasure the Big Band era of music and dance. 

Event activities for package holders include dance instruction, an exclusive afternoon tea dance, and two nights full of amazing performances. Big Band all-stars include Russ Wilson’s Art Deco Review and the legendary Tommy Dorsey Orchestra.

The Omni Grove Park Inn is an historic mountain inn and spa located at 290 Macon Avenue in Asheville NC

 

Beech Mountain Holds Annual Winterfest Beer Festival This Weekend

January 9, 2016   2016 WinterFest Beer Festival   Over a dozen featured breweries and cider makers will be presenting over fifty varieties of brews.  Winterfest is the perfect time to expand your beer and cider knowledge. The NC Beer Guys, Carolina Glenn and Dave, will be on hand to answer any of your North Carolina beer questions. Doors open at 3 PM and the event lasts through 7 PM. 

 

Sample a variety of craft beers and enjoy music from Acoustic Syndicate. The participating breweries were hand selected to best represent the beer of North Carolina. Breweries from all over Western North Carolina will join with over 50 varieties to choose fromThe event is held at 1007 Beech Mountain Parkway Beech Mountain NC.

The Best of our State this Weekend at The Omni Grove Park Inn

January 8 -10, 2016    Omni Grove Park Inn Events:  The Best of Our State    Celebrate North Carolina with

Our State as the magazine “comes to life” with music, history, humor, storytelling, art, and food at The Omni Grove Park Inn. 

The Best of Our State is a lively weekend of learning and luxury designed to rejuvenate the senses to begin the new year. You will also be able to shop for North Carolina specialty food, crafts, and other unique items in our bustling North Carolina Marketplace. Meet the artists, sample delicious dishes, and learn about new places to visit from our travel destination exhibitors.

The Omni Grove Park Inn offers a renowned spa, scenic golf course,  sports complex with pool, tennis, racquetball and training. There are onsite restaurants, a lounge, bars and more. A large variety of rooms and suites are available with varying stages of updates,  some with original Inn antiques.  The Omni Grove Park Inn is located at 290 Macon Avenue in Asheville NC.