Category: Summer Events

America turns 250 — and Beech Mountain is throwing the ultimate birthday party!

Posted on by Jay Thomas

This Fourth of July weekend, the highest town in the eastern U.S. is pulling out ALL the stops. From a rooftop-worthy Farmers Market to a legendary Hog Roast, a splashy Water Party to a sky-lighting fireworks display — Beech Mountain is THE place to celebrate America’s 250th birthday in style. Best part? Most events are completely FREE! 🙌

Pack the family, grab your kite, and head up the mountain — here’s everything happening:

🥬 Farmers Market 📅 Friday, July 3rd | 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM 📍 Parking lot across from Fred’s ✅ FREE

Kick off the long weekend with fresh local goods, handcrafted products, and mountain charm. A perfect first stop before the festivities heat up!

🍕 Family Fun Night at The Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria 📅 Friday, July 3rd | 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM ✅ FREE

Start the holiday weekend with great food, great vibes, and great company. Fun for the whole family at one of Beech Mountain’s most beloved spots!

🪁 Mile High Kite Festival Redo 📅 Saturday, July 4th | 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM 📍 Field behind The Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria ✅ FREE

Take your kite to new heights — literally! At over 5,500 feet of elevation, this is arguably the best place in the eastern U.S. to fly a kite. Bring the kids and enjoy the cool mountain breeze! 🌬️

💦 July 4th Water Party 📅 Saturday, July 4th | 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM 📍 Sledding Hill ✅ FREE

Cool off the mountain way! Bring a change of clothes — you’re going to need it! 🎉

🎊 Fourth of July Event at The Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria 📅 Saturday, July 4th | 1:00 PM – 10:00 PM ✅ FREE

The party continues all day at Brick Oven! A fantastic home base for your July 4th celebrations.

🐷 55th Annual Hog Roast at Beech Mountain Resort 📅 Saturday, July 4th | 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM 🎟️ Ticketed Event — Get your tickets here: https://bit.ly/4vwA7Kr

A Beech Mountain tradition for 55 years running! The legendary Annual Hog Roast is back and better than ever. Grab your tickets before they’re gone!

🎆 Independence Day Celebration & Fireworks Display at Beech Mountain Resort 📅 Saturday, July 4th | 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM | Fireworks at Dusk ✅ FREE

Cap off an incredible day with Beech Mountain’s spectacular Independence Day Celebration! Watch the fireworks light up the sky from one of the most breathtaking vantage points in all of North Carolina. ✨🇺🇸

We’ll see you on the mountain! 🎇

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead – Beech Summer Concert Series

Posted on by Jay Thomas

🎸🌿 Summer Concert Series is HERE at Beech Mountain Resort! 🌿🎸

Kick off the summer season as we welcome Joe Russo’s Almost Dead to the mountain for the opening night of our Summer Concert Series! 🎵✨

📅 Date: Saturday, June 13
⏰ Doors & Schedule:
🌟 4:30 PM – VIP Doors Open + Food Truck Village
🚪 5:30 PM – General Admission Doors Open + Food Truck Village
🎤 7:00 PM – Main Stage Show Starts

🎟️ Tickets: General Admission available now!

Upgrade to VIP for priority stage-front standing room. Grab your tickets here!

👨‍👩‍👧 All Ages Welcome – Kids 5 & under get in FREE with a paid adult!

🍔 Grab your favorite bites from the Food Truck Village and enjoy a night of incredible live music under the Blue Ridge sky! 🏔️🌙

Don’t miss the show that kicks off an epic summer on the mountain — get your tickets before they’re gone!

Sugar Mountain Summer Concert Series

Posted on by Jay Thomas

🎸🌄 GRILLIN’ & CHILLIN’ IS BACK FOR SUMMER 2026! 🌄🎸

Sugar Mountain’s most beloved summer tradition returns — and it’s going to be an AMAZING season! 🙌 Join us every Wednesday evening at the Golf & Tennis Club House Deck for live music, delicious food, and stunning mountain views all summer long! 🏔️✨

📅 WHEN: Kicks off Memorial Day, May 25 — then every Wednesday, June 3 through September 2, PLUS Labor Day, September 7!

🎵 LIVE MUSIC: 6:00 – 9:00 PM 🍽️ DINNER BUFFET: 5:30 – 8:30 PM 🎟️ ADMISSION: FREE!

🍖 FOOD & DRINKS The Caddyshack Cafe serves up a special dinner buffet each week with wine & beer available! Enjoy your meal on the big deck overlooking the golf course with panoramic mountain views that’ll take your breath away! 😍 Seating is also available inside — and this event is RAIN OR SHINE! ☔☀️

🎶 2026 BAND LINEUP 🎶

🟡 May 25 (Memorial Day) – Pressley Layton Band
🟡 June 3 – Trout
🟡 June 10 – Foscoe 4
🟡 June 17 – DJ Pete
🟡 June 24 – Johnson Brothers
🟡 July 1 – Soul Benefactor
🟡 July 8 – Chasing Phoenix
🟡 July 15 – The Lucky Strikes Orchestra
🟡 July 22 – The Great Levelers
🟡 July 29 – Cornbread Junkies
🟡 August 5 – Collective
🟡 August 12 – Smokin’ Joe Band
🟡 August 19 – DJ Pete
🟡 August 26 – Classic Highway
🟡 September 2 – Kids in America Totally 80’s Tribute Band 🕺
🟡 September 7 (Labor Day) – Tanya & The Roadrunnerz Band

📍 WHERE: Sugar Mountain Golf Club Deck | 1054 Sugar Mountain Drive, Sugar Mountain, NC

🪑 GOOD TO KNOW: ✅ Wear your dancing shoes! ✅ Bring your lawn chair — plenty of room on the grass & parking lot! 🚫 No outside food or drink on the Caddyshack Cafe deck 🐾 Pets must remain in the parking lot or on the grass, on leashes at all times 🚫 No pets on the deck

📲 Stay up to date & get all the details: 👉 SeeSugar.com/summer-concerts 📞 828-898-1025

Band schedule subject to change.

May 2026 Events in The High Country

Posted on by Jay Thomas

🌸 Happy Month of May from the NC High Country! 🏔️

Spring is in full swing and we’ve got ALL the events to keep you busy this month! Here are our Top 5 May Events you won’t want to miss:

1️⃣ 🥧 NC Fried Apple Pie Festival – May 2 | Sparta
2️⃣ 🎨 Art in the Park – May 16 | Blowing Rock
3️⃣ 🪁 Mile High Kite Festival – May 23 | Beech Mountain
4️⃣ 🚚 Food Truck Festival – May 23 | Sugar Mountain
5️⃣ 🌺 Rhododendron Ramble – May 23–31 | Grandfather Mountain

Whether you’re craving fried apple pie, soaking in stunning art, flying kites at 5,500 ft, chowing down at a food truck festival, or exploring blooming rhododendrons — the High Country has something for EVERYONE this May! 🦋✨

👉 Find more events & plan your visit: https://highcountryhost.com/events/all

Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster Is Back!

Posted on by Jay Thomas

🎉 IT’S BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER! 🎉

The Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster just got a MAJOR glow-up — brand new sleds, upgraded software, enhanced safety features, and a fresh facelift on the building, tracks, and parking! 🛷⛰️✨

And to celebrate? We’re kicking off MAY MADNESS 🤩

🗓️ $50 UNLIMITED RIDES on weekdays all month long — yes, you read that right!

🕙 Hours: 📅 Sun–Thurs: 10AM–6PM 📅 Fri–Sat: 10AM–7PM

🎟️ Regular Pricing: 👤 Adult (14+): $18 single | $40 for 3 rides 🧒 Youth (7–13): $14 single | $32 for 3 rides 👶 Child (3–6): $7 single | $15 for 3 rides

📌 A registered check-in time is required — walk-ins are welcome but spots aren’t guaranteed, so plan ahead! Tickets available onsite.

Come feel the rush this May! 🌿💨 Tag a friend you’re bringing along for the ride 👇

🔗 www.wildernessrunalpinecoaster.com

High Country Farmers Market Coming to Beech Mountain

Posted on by Jay Thomas

🌱✨ Fresh Finds Are Coming to the High Country! ✨🌱

The 2026 High Country Farmers Market season is blooming, and two of our favorite local markets are just around the corner! Here’s what’s happening near Banner Elk and Beech Mountain this spring and summer:

🍇 Avery County Farmers Market
📍 Banner Elk
🗓️ Opening Day: April 23, 2026
📅 Every Thursday | May – October
⏰ 4:30–7pm

🌸 Beech Mountain Farmers Market
📍 Beech Mountain
🗓️ Opening Day: June 5, 2026
📅 1st Fridays | June – October
⏰ 2–6pm

Whether you’re stocking up on fresh produce, supporting local vendors, or just soaking in that mountain atmosphere, these markets are the perfect way to enjoy the season! 🥕🫐🍅🌻

🔗 Find the full High Country Farmers Market schedule and more events at mountainsofnc.com

Spring 2026 Attraction Reopening Schedule

Posted on by Jay Thomas

Spring is coming to the High Country! 🌿⛷️

Winter isn’t done with us yet — but here’s what’s just around the corner.

❄️➡️🌸 One season ends, another adventure begins! As snow tubing wraps up on Beech Mountain, the NC High Country is gearing up for an incredible spring season — and there is SO much to look forward to! 🙌
 
Here’s a peek at what’s reopening near you:

🔁 LATE MARCH
🪢 Hawksnest Zipline — opens as soon as snow tubing ends! First zip of the season? Yes please.
 
🌸 APRIL HIGHLIGHTS
🌿 April 1 — Sky Valley Zip Tours (daily) + Willow Valley Golf Course (daily) + Real Gem Mining at Emerald Village
🚂 April 4 — Price Lake Boat Rentals (weekends) + Tweetsie Railroad (weekends through June 1)
🎨 April 15 — Parkway Craft Center (Wed–Sun through May 1)
🛶 April 25 — Zaloo’s Canoes (Saturdays through May 23)
 
🌿 MID-MAY
🧗 Wilderness Run Adventure Course + Beech Mountain Adventure Tower
🍎 Orchard at Altapass (May 9)
🌊 Wahoo’s Adventures (May 15)
🏔️ High Mountain Expeditions (May 16)
🚣 Hawksnest Rafting
 
☀️ LATE MAY & BEYOND
🧲 High Gravity Adventures Aerial Adventure Park (May 22)
🏕️ Price Lake & Doughton Park Campgrounds open May 22 — first come, reserve online!
🍩 Appalachian Tubing Co (May 30) Plan your spring getaway at MountainsofNC.com
🗺️ — the High Country is ready for you!
 
Who’s already planning their first trip?

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!

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! ❤️💚