Lake Lure Olympiad

July 24-26    8th Annual Lake Lure Olympiad   A sport and community festival featuring dozens of events and activities for people of all athletic abilities. The festival kicks off with a golf tournament, beach BBQ, free water ski show, ice cream sundaes and fireworks show.


For the hardcore athlete, there’s the sprint triathlon, junior Olympiad, Race to the Rock and 10K Dam run. Or challenge yourself to the 3 Races in 3 Days. There’s also a basketball shoot, obstacle course, family games and lenty to do for families, non-athletes and kids.


Get a link for details about the Lake Lure Olympiad and other events on the Lake Lure NC Visitor Guide.

Lawn Mower Races Today in North Wilkesboro

August 11   AMRA Mow Down - Lawn Mower Races    Mow Down is popular with fans of all ages. Suped-up riding lawn mowers from 5 to 18 horsepower motors. Since 2005, during the summer months, Rotarians play host to lawnmower racing.

Sanctioned by the Alleghany Mower Racing Association (AMRA), oval track racing on dirt reminds many of the beginning of stock car racing in Wilkes County and the birth of NASCAR. Crowds have grown from a few hundred to gathering of thousands on several Saturday nights from June through September.

Get more local information on the Wilkesboro NC Visitor Guide.

Blowing Rock Charity Saddlebred Horse Show

June 7-10   Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show - Saddlebred Show. The Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show is one of the oldest horse show events in the country and has been a Blowing Rock tradition since 1923. See the Glitz and Glamour, the Chrome and Polish of the fancy high stepping American Saddlebred.

Find a link for the Horse Show and other local information on the Blowing Rock NC Visitor Guide

Memorial Day Weekend Events: 12th Annual Mountain Sports Festival in Asheville

May 25-27     12th Annual Mountain Sports Festival   Experience Springtime in Asheville, NC at the 2012 Mountain Sports Festival. Bring your family and friends to Carrier Park for the outdoor music & sports event of the year!  Start your summer off with 3 days of outdoor sports, live music and beer.

Get more Asheville information and a link for the Mountain Sports Festival on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

Marion Hosts the 8th Annual Tour De Lure Bike Ride

March  31  8th Annual Tour De Lure Bike Ride Two rides, one for the "hard core" cyclist and one just for fun. 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 after the ride.

Get more local information on the Marion NC Visitor Guide

Southern Conference Basketball Tournament this week in Asheville

March  2-5     Southern Conference Basketball Tournament  Watch your favorite SoCon team on the court this week in Asheville, a city with a special love of B-ball. While you're in Asheville plan extra time for some R&R  at great restaurants, galleries and downtown nightlife.

The Tournament promises to be a great experience for athletes, faculty, students, parents, alumni and all the visiting  fans. Men and Women's games will be played at the Asheville Civic Center and UNC - Asheville Sports Arena.

7th Annual Hickory Nut Olympiad in Lake Lure

August 25 - 28   Hickory Nut Gorge Olympiad   is a 3-day family sports festival. Opening Night events include Lighting of the torch, water ski show, fireworks, family run, food, ice cream and much more at Lake Lure. Events for both hard core athletes and fun-seeking weekend warriors.

Three races in three days include 10K Dam Run, Lake Lure Sprint Triathlon and Race to the Rock. Each race provides gold, silver and bronze medals to winners and a 2011 Commemorative Olympiad T-shirt to the first 100 athletes registered. The Trathlon includes the 500m lake swim, a challenging 16.9 mile bike course and concludes with the 5k run, a steady but reasonable uphill that winds up a beautiful valley paralleling Bald Mountain Golf Courseto finish downhill at the beach at Lake Lure.
Additional events include the Open lake Swim, a Junior Olympiad, Kayak and swim sprints, and Team tournaments for Golf, Pickle Ball, Tennis, Dragon Boat Races, Corn Hole Toss and Horseshoe.

August 28    5th Annual Race to the Rock   Take the challenge - the 5th Annual Race to the Rock, part of the 7th Annual Hickory Nut Gorge Olympiad in Chimney Rock and Lake Lure, NC. The Park's winding entrance road averages a 7% grade uphill climb for the 5K run and the end of the 25-mile bike race, but the views from the finish line are well worth the effort! This is the ONLY TIME you can run or bike up to Chimney Rock. Medals for top finishers are awarded in all age groups. Registration is $35 in advance online or $40 walk-up.

Off-Road Assault on Mt. Mitchell today

July 24    Off-Road Assault on Mt. Mitchell  The assault is a 63-mile mostly off-road bicycle route with 11,000 ft. of accumulated climbing. The route begins and ends in Old Fort NC climbing to the Blue Ridge Parkway and on to Mt. Mitchell. Entry fee/cash prizes.  Registration is now closed for participants, but observers are welcome.

Father's Day Brunch or Beach in Lake Lure

June 19 Treat Dad to a LAVISH Sunday Brunch at The Veranda Restaurant located just inside The 1927 Lake Lure Inn & Spa. The Inn is famous for its Sunday Brunch featuring breakfast items, entrees, sides, salads, appetizers, fresh-baked breads and desserts. Brunch is served every Sunday from 10:30am until 2:30pm and also features a Bloody Mary Bar from 12:00pm until 2:30pm.  The 1927 Lake Lure Inn and Spa is located at 2771 Memorial Highway in Lake Lure| NC.

If the Beach is more Dad's style,  spend the day at The Beach at Lake Lure and relax under the sun, float on the water, build sand castles with your children, or picnic with friends and family. Enjoy a day of simple pleasures on the Beach at Lake Lure. For a soaking good time visit the water park, a place which can bring out the kid in all of us with soaking games, a water slid, and the water wars. Admission to the water park is included in the admission price of the beach.
Adults - $8
Seniors - $7
Children (4-12) - $6
Children under 4 - no charge when accompanied by an adult. Open seven days a week from 10:00am until 6:00pm (weather permitting).

Kayaking competition in Bryson CIty

April 15 - 17 NOC Dagger/Freestyle Shootout & Demo Days The Southeast's biggest freestyle kayaking competition, held at the site of the 2013 ICF Freestyle World Championships and the best preseason gear sale to boot.  This year the event is part of the national USAFK Points Series

The weekend events include NOC's perennial spring festival, Demo Days, where 60+ boats will be available for free test-paddling on the Nantahala. Manufacturer representatives will be on hand to answer questions about the year's hottest gear, and bargains will be available for paddlers looking to upgrade.

Bryson CIty Bicycle offers FREE Classes

FREE and open to the public, Bryson City Bicycle  (BCB) offers a monthly education class to teach different aspects of bicycle maintenance, repair, and adventure.  Classes are held on the first Tuesday of each month from April through October from 6:30 - 7:30pm.  Snacks provided.  Attendees receive a 10% discount on any purchase the night of the event.

Warrior Drive 5 Foot-Race/Walk at Harmon Field

May 22, 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM, Harmon Field, 1 Harmon Field Rd., Tryon North Carolina. The Warrior Drive 5.  Runners and walkers of all abilities are welcome at this family-friendly event, a return of the popular race last held in the 1980s. The 5-mile run/walk, plus 1-mile fun run, begins at picturesque Harmon Field, then follows a course that offers both gorgeous views of Warrior Mountain as well as the soothing sounds of the Pacolet River.

Blowing Rock Trout Derby

April 3-4, Broyhill Park, Blowing Rock North Carolina.  Trout Derby  6AM - 5PM Saturday, Noon -  4PM Sunday. No pre-registration necessary. Public waters only, no ponds. Fishing at Mayview Lake (Broyhill Park) for children 11 and under and persons with disabilities. Fish weighed and measured at American Legion Building on Park Avenue. Trophies & prizes awarded 4:30PM Sunday. Free

Mountain Bike Race at Fontana

January 30   Fontana Village Resort  North Carolina.   The Icycle 2010  The Icycle Mountain Bike event returns to Fontana this winter. Sponsored by J&W Events, this mid-winter race brings enthusiasts together for a daytime cross-country race and the famous night time downhill. Even the spectators get in on this one with the Chili Dinner and After Party.