Earth Day Celebrations and Events in the Mountains

photo courtesy NOC

April 22 - 24, 2016
NC City:  BRYSON CITY
Event:     NOC Spring Fling    This event is NOC's way of welcoming spring to the Southeast. Come out and be a part of World Kayak's Hometown Throwdown, race in the Boater Cross or push your skills on the Nantahala Cascades. Don't forget to check out the season's hottest gear at the NOC's Outfitter's Store, plus, enjoy free live music and local brews at Big Wesser BBQ + Brew.

photo courtesy Chimney Rock State Park

April 23, 2016
NC City:  CHIMNEY ROCK
Event:     Earth Day Celebration at Chimney Rock State Park  Join Chimney Rock State Park rangers, biologists and other environmental educators to learn about the great work being done to protect the beautiful landscape. Booths will be located in Chimney Rock Village behind the Old Rock Café.   

April 23, 2016
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.  

April 23, 2016
NC City:  NEBO
Event:     Folk Rock and Trees for the Earth - Skiffle Creek.   Come to South Creek Winery, give a listen to this great local group and raise a glass to original and cover tunes. Freddy Bradburn, who has released several CDs, including critically acclaimed “Cartoonland,” heads up the trio. Tasting room opens at 11 am with wine tasting for a nominal fee; music begins at 1 PM.  


April 23, 2016
NC City:  SYLVA

photo courtesy mainstreetsylva.org

Event:     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. Annual Greening Up the Mountains 5K Run. It also celebrates the greening of the environment, with information about sustainable living and presentations by environmental groups. It is held on on Main and Mill Streets in historic downtown Sylva from 10 AM to 4 PM.

photo courtesy visitNC.com

 April 23 - 24, 2016
NC City:  MAGGIE VALLEY
Event:     Southeastern Mini Truckin' Nationals   An open car show with spectators welcome. Hundreds of mini trucks will compete. Auto and Food Vendors will be on site. Held on the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds at 3374 Soco Road 

photo courtesy visitNC.com

April 23 - 24, 2016
NC City:  ROBBINSVILLE
Event:     Cheoah River High Flow Weekends   The Cheoah river has many Class IV/IV+ rapids and lots of residual vegetation that require a high skill level to negotiate. With the exception of two or three half-mile or so sections, the Cheoah is unusually continuous with a gradient that is consistently steep for a river its size. The 9+ mile run can be broken into three sections and represents a whitewater experience not often found in the Southeast. Recommended for experienced paddlers only. 




    

What to do this Weekend in the Mountains

Date:      Now- May 26, 2016
NC City:  ASHEVILLE
Event:     Biltmore Blooms    Biltmore's gardens, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, are alive with color as spring arrives. Enjoy special events and the beauty of tulips, azaleas, and countless other flowers during Biltmore Blooms. Guests will be able to step down into the Winter Garden to enjoy a display of exotic orchids intimately, just as George and Edith Vanderbilt's guests might have. Some of the plants will be the same species that were planned for the Biltmore Conservatory in 1894. Outdoors, enjoy a beautiful progression of blooms from tulips to pansies, azaleas, and much more.

Date:      April 8-29, 2016
NC City:  ASHEVILLE
Event:     Interlude  The Media Arts Project (MAP) and Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center (BMCM+AC) announce Interlude, a month-long series of contemporary art events to be held in and around BMCM+AC’s galleries in downtown Asheville. Inspired by Albers’ break from the norm, Interlude is a break with their own tradition and will be held in lieu of {Re}HAPPENING, the annual weekend art event at the former Black Mountain College site at Lake Eden. Interlude is a platform for artists of multiple disciplines to carry out experimental and non-traditional practices emphasized by the scholars of Black Mountain College. The event will activate a variety of spaces in downtown Asheville through music, dance, poetry, video, installation, conversation, and participatory events.

Date:      April 14-17, 2016
NC City:  ASHEVILLE
Event:     WNC Orchid Society Show   The WNC Orchid Society will host its annual show at The North Carolina Arboretum. The popular juried plant show will also feature award-winning orchid vendors, many of whom are nationally recognized growers and hybridizers. Rare and unusual plants, specialty lighting and orchid supplies will be available for purchase. Admission: Free with parking fee admission ($8 per vehicle).

Date:      April 14 - 17, 2016
NC City:  BLOWING ROCK
Event:    Savor Blowing Rock (formerly The Blue Ridge Wine & Food Festival)   Now in its 11th year, this festival celebrates the excitement of spring in the Blue Ridge with the best in cuisine, wine, and beer. Enjoy pairings, dinners, seminars, entertainments, and the Grand Tasting.

Date:      April 15, 2016
NC City:  BRASSTOWN
Event:     Music Events at John C Campbell Folk School:  Archipelago - "Composers Across the Pond"- Collected and Composed Songs of American composer, John Jacob Niles and Welsh composer, Ralph Vaughn Williams. Archipelago is a trio of classically trained musicians who have created a concert based on folk music as appropriate to the the concert's location at the Historic John C. Campbell Folk School, but also because so much of Appalachian folk music came to the mountains through the settlers who moved here long ago from the British Isles. Ralph Vaughn Williams and John Jacob Niles, the two composer/song collectors featured in the program represent that migration of traditional music. 7 PM - FREE admission, but DONATIONS WELCOME.

Date:      April 16, 2016
NC City:  ASHEVILLE
Event:    The Asheville City Open Air Market   will be open on Saturdays 8 AM - 1 PM, April - December at the Public Works Building, 161 S. Charlotte Street in downtown Asheville NC and on Wednesdays at Town Square Blvd in Biltmore Park Town Square .  Find the the freshest, best-tasting food around and local artisan products in two locations for your convenience, downtown and South Asheville.EBT, credit, and debit cards are accepted. Additional activities include live music, cooking demonstrations and food tastings from local chefs. 

Date:      April 16, 2016
NC City:  CHIMNEY ROCK
Event:     Naturalist Niche: Spring Wildflower Walk at Chimney Rock State Park   Grab your cameras and field guides for this informative, moderate hike with a Park naturalist to find blooming beauties like trillium, mountain laurel, flame azaleas and more unique species. Location of hike may vary depending on where the most flowers are blooming. Dress appropriately for the weather, wear comfortable hiking shoes and bring water.  Limited to 15; advance registration required.  

Date:      April 16, 2016
NC City:  OLD FORT
Event:    3rd Saturday Classic Car Cruise-In  Held in downtown, historic Old Fort (at the Hardees on Catawba). 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.  

Date:      April 17  - 21, 2016
NC City:  FONTANA DAM
Event:    Spring Hike Week   Whether you are a returning Spring Hike Week participant, or  this is your first time at the Village,  you will  have a wonderful time enjoying Fontana Village Resort. Enjoy guided hikes and educational programs, plus there are many scheduled activities that will be available in which you may participate.  

    Find more NC Mountains Events and Festivals 

on the NC Events Calendar

 

Save $10 on Tweetsie Railroad Season Passes

Pre-season discount on Golden Rail Season Passes 

 

Buy your season pass tickets before Tweetsie opens for the 2016 season and SAVE. $95 for adults ( $105 after April 10) and $65 for kids, 3-12 years ($75 after April 10). Regular Admission tickets: Adults $44 • Kids (3-12) $28 • Kids 2 and under FREE.

What you get with a Golden Rail Season Pass:

• A Full Season of Park Visits. Enjoy all the rides, live shows, the Deer Park, and all the other activities in the park.
• Admission to all our seasonal daytime Special Events, including the July 4th Fireworks Extravaganza with FREE PARKING!
• One ride with Thomas The Tank Engine™. Be sure to reserve your train ride time in advance ... at no additional charge!
• One Admission to this year's Ghost Train® Halloween Festival the night of your choice. Be sure and order your tickets in advance ... at no additional charge! 

Your 2016 season pass also saves at these other NC attractions:

• Grandfather Mountain: $2 off regular admission rates for adults and $1 off for Children (ages 4-12) through 2016, with a valid Golden Rail Season Pass. Not valid with any other offers. .
• Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park: $2 off Adults, and $1 off Youth (ages 5-15) on regular-priced admission for up to six people. Valid thru 2016.
• Biltmore Estate: Pass holders from Tweetsie Railroad can save $10 off gate price for adult daytime visits, on up to 4 tickets, when your valid Tweetsie Golden Rail Season Pass is presented at Biltmore's Reception and Ticketing Sales Center. Youth ages 10-16 are half the adult price, and kids 9 and under are free with a paying adult. Valid during the 2016 calendar year. Daytime prices vary seasonally and are subject to availability.
• Mast General Store: 20% OFF Entire Regularly-Priced Mast Store Branded Purchase. Cannot be combined with other offers orto purchase gift cards. Not valid on Mast Store employee purchases. In-stock items only. Valid thru 12/31/2016.
  Mast Store socks may be purchased using either the 20% OFF discount or Buy 3, Get the 4th Pair Free, but not both offers.
• Tanger Shoppes on the Parkway: Present your Golden Rail Season Pass in the Tanger Outlet Center Blowing Rock Office to receive a FREE Coupon Book worth hundreds of dollars in additional outlet savings.  Expires December 31, 2016.
• Great Smoky Mountains Railroad: $5.00 off for up to 4 tickets; adults, child or infant.  Any combination, any class of seating.  Valid ONLY on regular diesel/steam excursions in the 2016 calendar season, subject to blackout dates.  Cannot be combined with any other coupon or offer.  Not valid during the month of October or on any licensed special event train.

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. Open daily April - October with special events offered. 

Some of season 2016 special events include:

 

See the entire list of 2016 special events HERE

Tweetsie Railroad is located in Blowing Rock NC

Mountain Spirits: Ole North State Winery Wine Pairing Dinner

 

Stick around after dinner for live music by Minks Miracle Medicine at 8PM Old North State Winery, 308 N Main Street, Mount Airy NC

Mountain Spirits: Asheville's Urban Orchard Bottle Release & Tasting at Appalachian Vintner

Urban Orchards at Appalachian Vintner

April 5, 2016 from 5 PM - 7:30 PM at Appalachian Vintner, 745 Biltmore Avenue Suite 121 in Asheville NC:    Asheville's Urban Orchard Bottle Release and Tasting.  Urban orchards FIRST bottled Cider, Cidre Nu release and tasting. Cidre Nu in 750 mL bottles. Cider Nu is mildly phenolic and lightly effervescent. A nod to Spanish-style ciders. Don't miss this special tasting.

More from Appalachian Vintner -

Every Sunday and Monday its $1 off full pours of draft beer DAY. 20 taps pouring the best craft beer available.

Come visit Sundays, now open 12 PM-6 PM. Shop and explore Appalachian Vintner now open 7 days a week.

And don't forget - Private and custom event hosting is available with and 80 foot bar, seating for 40+ with a standing room capacity for 200+, couches, 20 tap lines, wines by the glass and more.