October 14-16 CHEROKEE Big Rigs Antique Truck Show Big rigs and antique trucks rumble into Cherokee October 14-16 for the 6th Annual Big Rigs and Antique Trucks Show, where truck enthusiasts of all types gather to show off their custom and original truck restorations, trade stories and ideas, compete for prizes and raise money for The Hope Chest for Women, which provides educational resources and limited financial assistance to women in Western North Carolina with breast and gynecologic cancer. Get a link for this event and other Cherokee NC events, lodging and information HERE.
October 4 - 16 MAGGIE VALLEY 3rd Annual "Vairs in the Valley Corvair Car/Truck Show featuring all models and years (1960 - 1969) of one of the most unique vehicles ever built by Chevrolet. The show is sponsored by North Carolina Mountain Corvair Club and the North Carolina Chapter of the Corvair Society of America (CORSA). Friday night 50th Birthday celebration for the 1962 Convertible, Monza Spyder and Fitch Sprint. Saturday People's Choice Car show, Corvair Valve Cover Races, Corvair Games and Door prize drawings. Open to the public. 50/50 Raffle Tickets. Sunday morning's Scenic Drive on the Parkway is a parade of Corvairs. Get a link for this and other Maggie Valley NC events, lodging and information HERE.
October 16 OLD FORT Classic Car Show Bring your car, truck, or motorcycle. Downtown Old Fort, 1-5 p.m.; free. Sponsored by Route 70 Cruisers. For more information, call 828-442-5135 or visit route70cruisers.com.
October 12, 2011: NC Fall Color has reached peak on Grandfather Mountain and at the highest elevations in the High Country. The upcoming weekend should see peaks in other areas with broad color continuing throughout the end of October and perhaps November in the lowest elevations.
"This year has been a real guessing game with respect to how brilliant and intense the colors will be, but based on the drive I took on Saturday, I’d say this year’s colors rank 9 on a scale of 10, where 10 is the best it can be. So, if you want to see some great fall foliage, this is the year to do it!" said Howie Neufeld, Ph.D. and "The Fall Color Guy" - also Professor of Plant Physiology at Appalachian State University in Boone NC.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Many areas at mid to upper elevation are approaching peak. A few areas, such as along Clingmans Dome Road, are now a bit past peak. Along Newfound Gap Road and other roadways in the park, sourwoods, dogwoods, Virginia creeper, and maples are deep red. At lower elevation, color is developing, but many trees are still green. Fall wildflowers, especially goldenrods and asters, are blooming. The bright fruits on trees such as dogwoods and shrubs such as hearts-a-bustin are eye-catching now. Get a link for Park updates and information HERE.
In Asheville NC color is still building with dogwoods, Virginia creeper, sourwoods and maples starting to turn, but up on the Blue Ridge Parkway toward Pisgah, there is much more color, including a lot of trees that turn yellow (magnolias, birches, hickories, striped maple). This year there are plenty of bright reds mixed in with the yellows and oranges, making for a very vibrant color scene. Leaves on the Parkway around Asheville should peak this coming weekend.
Highlands NC color is spectacular with still a fair bit of green, but healthy doses of bright oranges, reds, and yellows mixed in. Birches, red maples, dogwoods, buckeyes, and sassafras are all lovely! Virginia Creepers are highlighting bare rock faces and numerous tree trunks with their deep red leaves. At lower elevations in the area colors are still moving toward their peak.
In the Franklin NC area, the hills are still mostly green, but are turning color rapidly, especially high up. However, oaks and many hickories aren't turning much yet, which means most hillslopes are still mostly green with some spots and strips of color.
There is still plenty of availability in NC cabins and vacation rentals to enjoy the beauty of the fal color in the mountains. CLICK HERE for a list.
October 15 Wooly Worm Woad Wace A 5 mile footrace that takes place on the Saturday morning the week of the Woolly Worm Festival (the race is the third weekend in October). This 5 mile race takes a cross country/road race journey through the back roads and beautiful landscape of Avery County. This is a challenging and fun race because of the terrain.
October 15 - 16 The Wooly Worm Festival Named and revolving around the reverence for the legendary winter weather forecaster of the High Country, the Woolly Worm Festival is held on the grounds of the historic Banner Elk School. Events include woolly worm races, arts, crafts, food, music, and dance, this event provides loads of fun for the entire family.
October 14 - 16 Harvest Festival A wide variety of fall-themed events including an old-fashioned bonfire and a visit from Civil War era soldiers on patrol from their nearby camp; a 5K run and a "One Mile Fun Run", mountain music and dancing feet, hit and miss engines, antique tractors and the corn-grinding exhibit, local artists offer their handmade crafts and foods for sale and demonstrations.
Vendors also offer BBQ, hot dogs, hamburgers, Indian tacos, ice cream and drinks. The Country Fair features competition and exhibits of jams, jellies, pies, cakes, quilts, needlework and much more. There's even flat foot dance instruction and bed turning of antique quilts. Saturday night Balsam Range performs on the grand old stage and on Sunday there is free gospel singing in the afternoon beginning at 2:30 pm featuring local groups.
Get a link for this event and other Robbinsville events, lodging and visitor information HERE.
