Labor Day Weekend Event: Mile High Kite Festival on Beech Mountain

August 31 - September 1   Mile High Kite Festival   A family friendly fun event and a wonderful tradition on Beech Mountain as the community welcomes back the Richmond Air Force and Wings Across Carolina Kiting and Okra Society Kiting Clubs. The first 300 kids will get a free kite for the competition. Kites can also be purchased. Two kite clubs are available to demonstrate flying techniques, and will also display their kites.

Get links for visitor information on the Beech Mountain NC Guide.

Labor Day Weekend Festivals: NC Apple Festival in Hendersonville NC

August 30 - September 2  Head for the  NC Apple Festival an annual Labor Day Weekend Event in North Carolina. The Festival features a street fair on Historic Main Street including: entertainment, arts and crafts, apple products, children and youth activities, special exhibits, food and the King Apple Parade on Labor Day.

The NC Apple Festival has been one of Western North Carolina’s Premier Family Festivals for over 60 years. Start your day off with one of the breakfasts and then spend the rest of the day enjoying the excitement of Main Street as well as many other activities across the community.

Get specific hours and schedule of events on the website. Street Fair - Fri-Sun 10:00 AM-8:00 PM from 6th Ave-Caswell St; mini-festival on Mon. 10:00 AM-5:00 PM from 2nd Ave-Caswell St., King Apple Parade on Labor Day at 2:30 PM.

Find links for Hendersonville cabins, rental and inns as well as local visitor information on the Hendersonville NC Guide. 

Labor Day Weekend Event: Waynesville Street Dance and Block Party

August 31   Labor Day Weekend Block Party  Downtown Waynesville comes alive at night. Bring your dancing shoes and a chair and head for Main Street and an evening of live music featuring oldies and goldies, bluegrass, country rock, and more. Children's area, eats and treats, downtown restaurants are open late. Children's activity hour 6-7 PM.

Find more local Labor Day events and visitor information on the Waynesville NC Guide.

Last Minute Labor Day Weekend Cabin Rental

LAST MINUTE CANCELLATION - now available for Labor Day Weekend! 

This Nantahala Cabin is secluded on 40 acres bordered by a trout stream. Easy access minutes to whitewater rafting. Stone gas log fireplace, outdoor grill, large porch with rockers, central heat and air, locally crafted furnishings, full kitchen, washer and dryer, flat screen satellite TV+DVD. Sleep up to 6. FREE WIFI.  $135 night,  $675 week.    See photos, details and availability

WNC Chef Challenge Finals Held in Asheville

August 24   WNC Chef Challenge Finals   The grand finale competition will kick off the WNC Magazine Asheville Wine and Food Festival. Chefs battle for the championship and dinner guests will receive six courses (3 from each team) and will participate in scoring the dishes to determine the winner of the Chef Challenge Semifinals.

Special wines are selected based on the "Secret" ingredient and are available for purchase along with beers and cocktails.

The event will be held  from 2-4 PM and is Free with entry to the Grand Tasting at the Asheville civic Center (U.S. Cellular Center)  87 Haywood Strett in Asheville NC.

Bluegrass Gospel at The Blue RIdge Music Center

August 24 at The Blue Ridge Music Center - Two bluegrass gospel-bands, the Gospel Plowboys and Travis Frye and Blue Mountain, take the stage at the Center.  

Travis Frye and Blue Mountain is a multi-generational bluegrass band that honors the Appalachian roots of the music while adding a modern twist. With members spanning from North Carolina to South Carolina, the band incorporates spirited fiddle and banjo tunes along with modern selections from country, bluegrass, and gospel traditions, as well as original material.
The band has performed on historic radio and television shows such as The Merry-Go-Round in Mount Airy, North Carolina, the Blueridge Backroads in Galax, Virginia, and PBS's Song of the Mountains in Marion, Virginia. They have also had the honor of playing for the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway at Appalachian State University and the Blue Ridge Music Center. Members include Kernersville's Travelin' Travis Frye, host for The Afternoon Show on WPAQ radio, on guitar, Hunter Motts of Spartanburg, SC, on banjo, Henry Mabe of Walnut Cove, NC, on fiddle, Mount Airy's Tim Frye, host of Mountain Morning and Mountain Midday on WPAQ radio, on mandolin, and Renee Martin of Belews Creek, NC on bass.


The Gospel Plowboys are a bluegrass-gospel group that is dedicated to spreading the gospel through their music. Based out of Safe Harbor Baptist Church, in Salisbury, NC, Pastor Rick Perry has been a guiding mentor since the very conception of the group. The Gospel Plowboys include: David Murph on mandolin, vocals, John Goodson - banjo, Michael Jenkins - guitar, vocals, David Brown - guitar, vocals and Andrew Brown - bass, guitar, vocals.  The band's musicianship and three or four-part harmonies singing stand out but it is their conviction and sincerity that really shines through during their gospel performances.


The Bluegrass Gospel concert starts at 7 PM on Saturday. Gates open at 5:30 PM and tickets are $10 with Children 12 and under free. All ticket sales support the daily free programs and non-profit traditional music concert series. Advance tickets are available at the Blue Ridge Music Center, Barrs Fiddle Shop, the Galax Visitor Center, online or by calling (276) 236-5309 x112.

The Blue Ridge Music Center has mainstage concerts through September 15th in the outdoor amphitheater at the foot of beautiful Fisher Peak. Check the website for a schedule. Also enjoy free Mid Day Mountain Music 12-4 PM daily and the free Roots of American Music museum open 10 AM-5 PM daily.

Concerts are made possible with the support of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation and National Park Service. The Blue Ridge Music Center is located at milepost 213 on the Blue Ridge Parkway only 10 miles from Galax, Virginia and 20 miles from Mount Airy, North Carolina. Music Center hours: 10 AM-5 PM everyday. Bring a picnic, folding chairs, your friends and the whole family! No alcohol or pets. Smokehouse BBQ available on concert nights. 

Nantahala Outdoor Center GalasportUSA Canoe Club Challenge

August  17    GalasportUSA Canoe Club Challenge at NOC Come by yourself, with your club, or with a couple of friends. The Canoe Club Challenge is open to everyone, and you'll have so much fun, you won't even notice all the new skills you're learning. Enjoy a challenging course set on un-intimidating whitewater and a fun, social atmosphere

Classic Car and Motorcycle Rides and Rumbles this Weekend in the Mountains

August 17
NC City: FOREST CITY
Event: Hot Nights, Cool Rides More than 350 classic cars, trucks and motorcycles line downtown, drawing both engine enthusiasts and the curious. The events includes food, dancing, and music. One of the largest car, truck and motorcycle shows in the Southeast, Forest City's 22nd annual "Hot Nights, Cool Rides" event attracts thousands of spectators and hundreds of dynamite vehicles.

The eclectic display of antique and modern vehicles, combined with the authentic, 1930s buildings of Forest City's Main Street, leaves people feeling like the decades have collided. The event runs from 11 AM. - 9 PM. and features live music, vendors, prizes and more. Registration is $25 per vehicle and the event is free for spectators

Get links for what to do in the NC mountain events on the NC Events Calendar. 

August 17-19
NC City: FRANKLIN
Event: Smoky Mountain Rumble Motorcycle Rally Live entertainment, a treasure hunt, guided rides and plenty of vendors with great gear. The Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin will host two evening concerts in conjunction with the event. 

Get local visitor information on the Franklin NC Guide.  

Last Week for Mini Dramas at Oconaluftee Indian Village

August 12 -17   Both of the mini-dramas at the village—Time of War and Dragging Canoe—will have their final performances this week. Don't miss your chance to see Cherokee history come alive at Oconaluftee Indian Village.  Time of War will be performed on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and Dragging Canoe Series will take place on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Dragging Canoe Series: 

It is the year 1779, and a dark time for the Cherokee. The actions of white colonists have driven them away from much of their ancestral homelands, and losses through warfare and sickness have taken their toll. Many Cherokee have retreated from the affairs of the white men, seeking to ensure their own survival.

Not content with this way of living, the great warrior Dragging Canoe has split from those who wish to stop fighting. He, along with other Cherokee leaders and members of other tribes in the area, have formed a new group of natives who continue to campaign against the whites. These warriors make their homes along the river that will give them their new name – the Chickamauga.

Time of War Series: 

It is the year 1779, and a dark time for the Cherokee. The actions of white colonists have driven them away from much of their ancestral homelands, and losses through warfare and sickness have taken their toll. Many Cherokee have retreated from the affairs of the white men, seeking to ensure their own survival.

Not content with this way of living, the great warrior Dragging Canoe has split from those who wish to stop fighting. He, along with other Cherokee leaders and members of other tribes in the area, have formed a new group of natives who continue to campaign against the whites. These warriors make their homes along the river that will give them their new name – the Chickamauga.

Get a link for Oconaluftee Indian Village, local lodging and visitor information on the Cherokee NC Guide.

NC Bluegrass Festival this Weekend

August 15-17   39th Annual NC State Bluegrass Festival   Featuring Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys, Rhonda Vincent & the Rage, The Primitive Quartet, Bobby Osborne & the Rocky Top X-press, Rye Holler Boys, The Troubadours and dozens more.

Tickets are available at the gate or in advance by calling 706-864-7203. The event is held "rain or shine" with performances under covered pavilion. The cafe will be serving breakfast and lunch, with hot food and other concessions also available. Bring your lawn chairs - no alcohol, smoking or pets in the performance area.

The Festival is held at Tom Johnson's Camping Center, 1885 US 70 West in Marion NC. Get a link for the NC Bluegrass Festival and other local events and visitor information on the Marion NC Guide.

Hendersonville Street Dance

August 12   Street Dances   Hendersonville's Street Dances have been a tradition for 92 years. The Street Dances features mountain heritage music and dance on Monday evening during the summer. Bring a chair and sit back, relax and enjoy mountain heritage music and dancing from 7:00-9:00PM. Seating area opens after 5:30.

Get complete local visitor information on the Hendersonville NC Guide.

Farmers Market and Backstreet Events in West Jefferson Today

August 10   Ashe County Farmers Market and Backstreet in West Jefferson   The best homegrown, homemade and handmade items in the High Country. Open every Saturday from 8:00 AM until 2:00 PM October. Backstreet events begin at noon and continue until 6 PM with live music and events. Rain locations: the Farmer's Market or the Ashe Arts Center.

Learn more about West Jefferson NC lodging, events and attractions on the West Jefferson NC Visitor Guide. 

North Carolina State BBQ Championship this Weekend in Franklin

August 9 - 10  Come on out to Franklin for the Mountain High BBQ and Music Festival  This is an official North Carolina State BBQ Championship with $11,000 in cash and awards. Dozens of Pro Teams will be completing from all over the Southeast including Bald Hawg BBQ, Big Bad Wolf BBQ, Big on the Pig, Bub-Ba-Qand many more. Backyard Teams will also be smoking and stoking with participants such as, Backyard Porkers, Big Boys BBQ, Boobies BBQ, Burningtowns Best and others.

In addition to the best BBQ in the state the weekend includes a music festival and Car Show. This two-day event features authentic, mouth-watering BBQ, live entertainment, an exciting car show, a cornhole tournament, local crafters and the tastin’ tent. 


Clint Black performs at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts on Friday night at 7:30 PM.  Receive a free pass into the BBQ Festival when you purchase a ticket.  Clint Black, has long been heralded as one of country music's brightest stars. The singer-songwriter has written, recorded and released more than one hundred songs, a benchmark in any artist's career.

Admission at the gate is: Adults $5 for one day and $8 for both days. Children 12 and under are free. Hours are Friday 11 AM - 8 PM and Saturday 10 AM - 6 PM. The event is held at the Wayne Proffitt Agricultural Center,  1436 Georgia Road in Franklin NC.
 

Black Mountain Hosts Annual Sourwood Festival

August 9 - 11   36th Annual Sourwood Festival   Great music and lots of fun for all ages fills downtown Black Mountain NC. Held each year in August, it's a time for good food, good fun and good friends. Music, dancing, arts & crafts, super food, kid's rides and games, face painting and more in a no alcohol environment make it a perfect event for the entire family.

Get a link for the Sourwood Festival and complete local visitor information on the Black Mountain NC Guide. 
 

Biltmore Hosts Disney Radio and Teen Beach Movie Beach Party

August 10, 4:30 - 6:30   Biltmore Hosts Teen Beach Movie Beach Party   Held at Antler Hill Village the event will feature interactive biker and surfer themed entertainment, including the opportunity for kids to make their own biker or surfer props and get their photo taken as characters of "Teen Beach Movie."

The Radio Disney AM 1480 Road Crew will help host the activities and games, provide fun "Teen Beach Movie" prizes and play the hottest music from the movie and kids' favorite artists.

Find a link for the Teen Beach Movie Beach Party at Biltmore on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide. 

Get Discounts on Biltmore Tickets HERE.

Riders in the Sky at Tweetsie Railroad

August 10 - 11   Riders in the Sky Perform at Tweetsie Railroad   Come hear America's Favorite Cowboys and grammy award-winning singers. The shows are included in the Park admission but seating is on a first come basis. Showtimes at noon and 3 PM.

Get links for local visitor information and Tweetsie Railroad on the Blowing Rock NC Guide.

Chimney Rock State Park Hosts Wild Mushroom Walks

August 9   Wild Mushroom Walks in Chimney Rock State Park   Mushrooms can be found popping up all over Chimney Rock in the summer and early fall, especially after rainfall. Enjoy a casual Friday hike seeking a variety of fascinating fungi along the Four Seasons or Great Woodland Adventure trail. Meet by Grady's Animal Discovery Den in the Meadows - limited to 20 participants, first come basis.

Chimney Rock State Park is named for a 500 million-year-old giant granite monolith overlooking Hickory Nut Gorge. Visitors are awed by the breathtaking view that spreads 1200 vertical feet beneath them and 75 miles across the Carolinas. The now state owned park encompasses 1,000 acres offers the best of the mountains in one place with spectacular 75-mile views, hiking trails for all ages, a 404-foot waterfall, a variety of special events and much more.  A variety of nature programs and guided hikes are offered throughout the year.

Get complete local visitor information on the Chimney Rock NC Guide

 

Kick up Your Heels at the Hendersonville Street Dance

August 5   Street Dances   Hendersonville's Street Dances have been a tradition for 92 years. The Street Dances feature mountain heritage music and dance on Monday evenings during the summer. Bring a chair and sit back, relax and enjoy mountain heritage music and dancing from 7:00-9:00 PM. Seating area opens after 5:30.

Learn more about local lodging and visitor information on the Hendersonville NC Guide. 

Multisport Festival at Lake Logan

August 3 - 4   Lake Logan Multisport Festival    This multisport event has become one of the most popular race weekends in the Southeast. It attracts elite and regular triathletes from across the U.S. for the international distance triathlon on Saturday and the sprint triathlon and aquathon (swim/run) on Sunday. The cool mountain

Lake Logan is located in Canton, just west of Asheville.

Children's Trout Derby Today in Cherokee

August 3   11th Annual Talking Trees Children's Trout Derby    FREE fishing event for children ages 3 to 11. Enjoy free music, food, prizes, and fun. There is a 5 Trout Limit per registered child. Free bait & tackle are provided while supplies last or bring your own bait & tackle but no Treble Hooks are allowed.

Children and Parents should wear water-friendly shoes and shorts and bring towels, snacks for the family, a cooler for fish and portable chairs. 

Get complete local visitor information on the Cherokee NC Guide.  
 

Flat Rock Playhouse Downtown presents “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)”

August 1-18    Flat Rock Playhouse Downtown presents “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)”   Whether you know you love or think you loathe Shakespeare, this play is for you. “Complete Works” brings to life one of comedy’s most essential impulses: the adolescent urge to take a baseball bat to the culturally revered.

Charlie Flynn-McIver, Scott Treadway and Damian Duke Domingue take you on an irreverent yet surprisingly comprehensive romp through all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays (plus a sonnet or two). You’ll be treated to a mix of pratfalls, puns, willful misreadings of names and dialogue, clunky female impersonations, clean-cut bawdiness, and broad burlesque.The Flat Rock Playhouse in Downtown Hendersonville is a venue for the Flat Rock Playhouse with live performances of staged productions and music revues. The Playhouse is located at 125 South Main Street in historic downtown Hendersonville NC.

Get complete local visitor information on the Hendersonville NC Guide.