Author: Jay Thomas

The Recess Park Rat Classic Is Back!

Posted on by Jay Thomas

🏂 THE PARK RAT CLASSIC IS BACK! 🏂

Sunday, March 1st | Beech Mountain Resort

Recess is bringing the Park Rat Classic Snowboard Event back to Beech Mtn and it’s going to be EPIC! 🔥

This isn’t your average contest format — tricks are assigned to specific features and worth set point values. Stick the trick, earn the points. The rider with the most points at the end of the day takes home the crown! 👑

📋 Categories: 🏂 Mens Beginner | Mens Intermediate | Mens Advanced | Women’s Open

💰 Entry Fee: FREE! (Lift ticket or season pass required for mountain access — group rate tickets available for pre-registered riders at Group Sales from 9:00–10:00 a.m.)

⏰ Schedule: 🕙 Practice: 10:30 a.m. 🚀 Event Kicks Off: 11:00 a.m.

⚠️ PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED — no day-of sign-ups! If you haven’t pre-registered, you won’t be able to participate. Don’t miss out!

👉 Register now: https://www.skireg.com/park-rat-classic

📍 Beech Mountain Resort | 1007 Beech Mountain Pkwy, Beech Mountain, NC | 📞 828-387-2011

🙌 Huge thanks to our sponsors: Recess, Public, Vans, Dang, Volcom, Howl & Beech Mountain Resort!

See you on the mountain! 🏔️❄️

Beech Mountain Culinary Class – Pretzels!

Posted on by Jay Thomas

🥨 Pretzel Making Class at Beech Mountain!

Get ready to twist, roll, and bake your way to deliciousness! Join us for a hands-on culinary class where you’ll learn the art of making traditional soft pretzels from scratch — perfectly golden on the outside, warm and chewy on the inside.

📅 Thursday, March 13 | 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM 📍 Fred & Margie Pfohl Buckeye Recreation Center, 1330 Pine Ridge Rd, Beech Mountain, NC 28604 💲 $8 per person | Registration required

This is a great activity for the whole family — come hungry and leave with new skills (and fresh pretzels)!

Sign up today at TownOfBeechMountain.com or call (828) 387-3003 for more info.

Presented by Beech Mountain Parks & Recreation.

Beech Mountain Spirit Night at Come Back Shack

Posted on by Jay Thomas

🍔🎗️ Spirit Night at Come Back Shack — Eat Good, Do Good! 🎗️🍔

Looking for a delicious way to give back while connecting with your community? Join us on Wednesday, March 5th for Beech Mountain Resort’s Spirit Night in support of the Colon Cancer Coalition!

Head to either location of the Come Back Shack any time from 10:30 AM to 9:00 PM — dine in or take out — and 25% of every purchase will be donated directly to the Colon Cancer Coalition to support their life-saving mission.

Bring your friends, bring your appetite, and let’s grub together for a great cause!

📍 Come Back Shack — 1521 Blowing Rock Rd, Boone, NC 28607 📞 (828) 264-2797 🌐 comebackshack.com

Beech Mountain Winter Concert Series with Late Night Special

Posted on by Jay Thomas

🎶 Valentine’s Day Just Got Funky on the Mountain! 🎶

This Saturday, February 14th, skip the candlelit dinner and turn up the volume — Late Night Special is bringing their high-energy Funk Rock sound all the way from Charlotte to the Beech Mountain Brewing Co. Stage!

The Winter Music Series rolls on, and this one’s going to be a party. Whether you’re celebrating with your sweetheart, your crew, or just your love of live music and craft beer, this is the move.

🎤 Late Night Special (Funk Rock | Charlotte, NC) 📅 Saturday, February 14th 🕗 8:00 PM 📍 Beech Mountain Brewing Co. Taproom & Grill 💰 FREE — All ages welcome!

Grab a craft brew, dig into some great food, and let the funk take over. Feeling adventurous? Head downstairs to the Red Baron Room speakeasy before or after the show to keep the good times rolling.

A quick note for families: the vibe shifts to a more adult atmosphere after 9 PM.

From mountain favorites to fresh new acts, the Winter Music Series pairs live music with everything that makes Beech Mountain Brewing Co. the place to be on a winter weekend. Don’t miss it!

Beech Mountain Brewing Co. Winter Music Series — Free & ticketed shows every Friday & Saturday all season long. 🍺🎵

Beech Mountain Summer Concert Series 2026

Posted on by Jay Thomas

The mountains are calling… and they’ve got a killer playlist.

The Beech Mountain Resort 2026 Summer Concert Series lineup just dropped, and it’s absolutely stacked. If you’ve never experienced live music at 5,506 feet, this is your summer to fix that.

Here’s what’s on tap:

Saturday, June 13 — Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (TWO SETS!) Kick off the series with the ultimate Grateful Dead experience. Two full sets of improvisational magic on a mountaintop? Yes please.

Friday, July 17 — Gary Clark Jr. with Goldford “Party on the Mountain” weekend starts here. One of the most electrifying guitarists alive, plus a stacked undercard featuring Buffalo Traffic Jam, The Fretliners, Wells Ferrari, Valley Flower, The Wilson Springs Hotel, and Upstream Rebellion.

Saturday, July 18 — Turnpike Troubadours with Willow Avalon The party keeps rolling with one of the hottest acts in Americana/Red Dirt country. Also performing: Harper O’Neill, Wyatt Ellis, Tobacco Road, Tan & Sober Gentlemen, Blue Cactus, and Time Sawyer.

Saturday, August 8 — Lord Huron with Lucius Close out the summer with Lord Huron’s cinematic indie folk under the mountain sky. Honestly, is there a more perfect pairing than Lord Huron and a mountain sunset?

How to get tickets: Want early access? Text SCS2026 to 1-855-910-7449 to get the presale code Thursday morning — presale starts at 10am ET. General ticket and lodging sales open Friday at 10am ET.

Full details at summerconcert.beechmountainresort.com

See you on the mountain!

Ladies Night on Beech Mountain

Posted on by Jay Thomas

🎿 Girls Just Wanna Have Runs — It’s Ladies Night at Beech Mountain! 🎿

Ladies, the guys had their night — now the mountain is ALL yours! Every Thursday night through March 5th, Beech Mountain Resort is turning up the lights and turning down the prices just for you.

Here’s the deal: Lift tickets are just $23 for the night session — that’s less than a mani-pedi and way more exhilarating. Hit the slopes from 5 PM to 9 PM and own every run.

Whether you’re a seasoned shredder, a graceful glider, or just looking for the ultimate girls’ night out that trades wine bars for snow bars, Thursday nights were made for you.

🗓️ Every Thursday | Now through March 5, 2026 ⏰ 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM 💰 $23 Lift Tickets 📍 Beech Mountain Resort — 1007 S. Beech Mountain Pkwy, Beech Mountain, NC 28604

Round up your crew. Lace up your boots. Leave the drama at the lodge.

🎟️ Get your tickets at beechmountainresort.com/specials or at the ticket booths when you arrive.

See you on the mountain, ladies! ⛷️

Men’s Night on Beech Mountain!

Posted on by Jay Thomas

🎿 Bros, Brews & Black Diamonds — It’s Men’s Night at Beech Mountain! 🎿

Fellas, ditch the couch and hit the slopes! Every Wednesday night through March 4th, Beech Mountain Resort is rolling out the red carpet (well, the white powder) just for the guys.

Here’s the deal: Lift tickets are just $23 for the night session — that’s cheaper than your bar tab and way more fun. Strap on your skis or board and shred under the lights from 5 PM to 9 PM.

Whether you’re carving groomers, sending it off jumps, or just trying not to yard-sale in front of your buddies, Wednesday nights are your night.

🗓️ Every Wednesday | Now through March 4, 2026 ⏰ 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM 💰 $23 Lift Tickets 📍 Beech Mountain Resort — 1007 S. Beech Mountain Pkwy, Beech Mountain, NC 28604

Grab your crew. Grab your gear. Leave the excuses at home.

🎟️ Get your tickets at beechmountainresort.com/specials or at the ticket booths when you arrive.

See you on the mountain! ⛷️

Beech Mountain Christmas Parade

Posted on by Jay Thomas

🎄 THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE BEECH MOUNTAIN AT CHRISTMAS TIME! 🎄

Follow the yellow brick road to the mountaintop for the Beech Mountain Christmas Parade — a magical Oz-inspired holiday celebration the whole family will love!

📅 Tuesday, December 23rd at 4:00 PM 📍 Starting at 403 Beech Mountain Parkway (Public Works)

🎅 THE ROUTE: The parade kicks off at Public Works, heading down Beech Mountain Parkway right past Fred’s General Store, then loops behind Town Hall along Meadowview Road, and cruises back up Bark Park Way before returning to Public Works.

👀 BEST VIEWING SPOTS: Grab your hot cocoa and stake out a spot at Town Hall, the Public Parking Lot, the Brick Oven Parking Lot, or right in front of Fred’s General Store for a front-row view of all the holiday fun!

🍪 AFTER THE PARADE: Head over to Santa’s Workshop at Town Hall for cookies and cocoa with Santa himself! Don’t miss your chance for some one-on-one time with the big guy before Christmas Eve!

📞 Call 828-387-3003 for more info.

Bundle up, grab the kids, and click your heels all the way to Beech Mountain — because there truly is no place like it at Christmas time! ❤️💚

Banner Elk Small Town Christmas Event

Posted on by Jay Thomas

🎄 Small Town Christmas Weekend in Banner Elk! 🎄

December 5–7, 2025 | Downtown Banner Elk & Nearby Locations

Get ready for the most wonderful weekend of the year! Banner Elk is rolling out the tinsel, firing up the hot cocoa, and welcoming Santa himself for three days of holiday magic.

Friday night kicks things off with the Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Corner on Main (6:30 PM), followed by “A Banner Elk Christmas” variety show at Ensemble Stage.

Saturday is the BIG day — and it is absolutely packed:

  • Start your morning with Breakfast with Santa at Lees-McRae College (8:30 AM) or lace up for the 5K Reindeer Run
  • Browse the Christmas Market at the Corner on Main, shop local crafters, and grab treats from Williams Deli
  • Little ones can enjoy Storytime with Santa & a Fire Truck Tour, ornament making, bookmark crafts, and open play hosted by Playful Hearts Yoga
  • Warm up with hot toddies by the fire pits at The Village, hot chocolate at Stonewalls, or fresh-squeezed lemonade from Banner Elk Bevs
  • Bring your furry friends for Pet Pictures with Santa at My Best Friend’s Barkery (1–3 PM)
  • Get creative with cookie decorating, snowman yard ornaments, and Christmas tree weaving
  • Cap it all off with the spectacular Parade of Lights at 6 PM down Main Street, followed by the Christmas Celebration at the Historic Banner Elk School with lights, caroling, cocoa, and Santa until 9 PM!

Sunday wraps up the weekend with an afternoon performance of “A Banner Elk Christmas” at 2 PM.

🦌 Don’t forget — the Reindeer Scavenger Hunt at Mountain Emporium runs all weekend long, and kids can drop letters in Santa’s Mailbox at the Chamber Welcome Center!

Want to be part of the parade? Register your float, vehicle, bike, ATV — or even your llama — for a chance to win the Edgar Award of Excellence!

For more info or to get involved, email BannerElkChamber@gmail.com.

See you in Banner Elk — where Christmas feels like it’s supposed to! 🎅✨

Holidays on Beech Mountain

Posted on by Jay Thomas

🎄 The Holidays Are Coming to Beech Mountain! 🎄

Mark your calendars, because three holly jolly, can’t-miss events are almost here!

⛷️ Opening Day — Beech Mountain Ski Resort

Saturday, November 29th | 9:00 AM

The mountain is calling! Beech Mountain Ski Resort kicks off the 2025 season on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Grab your gear, round up the crew, and be there when the lifts start spinning. Whether you’re carving fresh corduroy or making your very first turns, there’s no better way to ring in the winter season.

Passes required for entry.

🎁 Beech Mountain Holiday Market

Saturday, November 29th | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Presented by Beech Mountain Parks and Recreation

After you hit the slopes (or before!), stroll through the Beech Mountain Holiday Market for an afternoon of local vendors, handcrafted gifts, festive treats, and all the holiday charm a mountain town can deliver. It’s the perfect place to check names off your shopping list or simply soak in the season.

FREE admission!

🎅 Beech Mountain Christmas Parade & Santa’s Workshop

Tuesday, December 23rd | 4:00 – 6:00 PM

Get ready for the main event! The Christmas Parade rolls through Beech Mountain just two days before Christmas. The parade begins at Beech Mountain Parkway in front of Fred’s, winds behind Town Hall on Meadowview Road, and loops back up Bark Park Way to Public Works.

Best viewing spots:

  • Town Hall
  • Public Parking Lot
  • Brick Oven Parking Lot
  • Fred’s General Store

Stick around after the parade for Santa’s Workshop — because no holiday celebration is complete without a visit from the big guy himself!

FREE admission!

🗓️ Plan Your Merry Time on Beech

From opening day powder to Christmas Eve magic, Beech Mountain is the place to be this holiday season. Start planning your visit now!

👉 Visit Beech Mountain for all the details.

See you on the mountain! 🏔️