It’s officially Fall! Yesterday, 9/22/2022, was the first day of Fall and we could not be more excited! We continue to see more color popping up around town, but are still a week or more away from any vibrant color. Most of the trees are still mainly green with some color changing on specific branches.
It’s that time of year! We are beginning to see some pops of Fall color in the higher elevations, and we’ll be following the color changes in Blowing Rock throughout the leaf season. Blowing Rock is an excellent destination for fall color. There are a few reasons why our location is an ideal one with such vibrancy and it all comes down to variety.
Visitors to The Mountain Thread Company in Blowing Rock will often find the owner, Katherine Lile, enthusiastically sharing her crafting knowledge with curious and aspiring crafters. In Zigzag Rope Sewing Projects, available this September, Katherine shares even more of her unique expertise.
Blowing Rock is an excellent place to go on a picnic. Whether you’re looking for a romantic date, a fun lunch with friends, or a family memory, a picnic can be a great option. We’ve compiled a list of picnic locations in and around Blowing Rock that are beautiful and versatile!
We love our Main Street, however, there are some fantastic businesses located all around town that you might have missed simply because they are located off the beaten path. Take note of these eight hidden gems so that you can get the most out of your time in Blowing Rock!
Blowing Rock has many great shops on Main Street, but there are a few stores that are hidden or have secrets that many people do not know about! We’ve compiled a list of shopping secrets that are sure to be useful to new visitors, repeat visitors, or even residents!
Come to Blowing Rock and indulge in a mountain getaway! Take in the natural beauty of the High Country, experience local arts, shopping, and decadent dining options. This itinerary outlines 2.5 days of relaxation and recreation for couples or friends alike.
BRAHM (Blowing Rock Art & History Museum) will host their annual Blowing Rock Plein Air Festival from August 16-20, 2022, concluding in the Wet Paint Sale on August 20, 2022, from 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Be on the lookout August 16-20th and you may notice scores of artists painting outdoors in the fifth annual Blowing Rock Plein Air Festival. “Plein Air” is a French term referring to the practice of painting from life and nature in the great outdoors. BRAHM will once again welcome 120 artists from over fifteen states to draw and paint the area’s many sights and splendors. In addition to watching artists at work over the course of the 5 day festival, BRAHM invites the public to view and shop the Wet Paint Sale on Saturday, August 20th, from 11 AM – 5:00 PM. Tickets are free, but timed entry spots must be reserved online. The sale will be held in BRAHM’s Alexander Community Gallery, located at 159 Ginny Stevens Lane, off Main Street in Blowing Rock. The Wet Paint Sale is a culmination of the artists’ work painting the scenes of the quaint village of Blowing Rock, as well as the stunning Blue Ridge Parkway vistas, lakes, trails, and features. Artists may work in any 2-dimensional medium, with oil painting being the most popular. (Since oil paint often takes days or even weeks to dry to the touch, the still wet paintings are framed and hung for display and sale, hence the Wet Paint Sale name.) Participating artists vary from hobbyists to collected professionals, assuring there will be art available for purchase in a wide price range. Proceeds from the Wet Paint Sale go toward the mission of BRAHM to provide cultural enrichment to the High Country communities by promoting the Arts and Southern Appalachian Heritage & History through educational programs, exhibitions, activities, and permanent collections. Proceeds also benefit BRAHM’s Education Outreach programs. What better way to celebrate the purchase of your new home, remember a vacation destination, or give a gift to be treasured for decades, than to support the arts and artists with the purchase of original creations at the Wet Paint Sale. To learn more about the 2022 Blowing Rock Plein Air Festival and to register for the Wet Paint Sale on August 20th, please visit BlowingRockPleinAir.org or call 828-295-9099. Thanks to the 2022 Blowing Rock Plein Air Festival Sponsors, Blowing Rock Properties Cheap Joes Art Stuff Hemlock Inn Monkee’s of Blowing Rock Patti Turner, Managing Broker, Premier Sotheby’s International Realty Sue Glenn, Broker Associate, Blowing Rock Properties The Blowing Rock Related Posts Sculpture & Art in Blowing Rock Blowing Rock Makers
About the Event: Often described as the “pinnacle of the summer season” here in Blowing Rock, the Symphony by the Lake is a must hear event! The Symphony is celebrating its 35th season this year, solidifying its place as a summer tradition. Set against the lake at Chetola Resort and the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, the atmosphere is truly special. Featuring the Symphony of the Mountains, the 2022 event theme is “Movie Soundtracks.” The selections will cover 80 years of movie music. From Beauty and the Beast to Wagner, the selection is sure to delight all audiences. See the full program here. The music concludes around 9:30 PM and is followed by a fabulous firework display that lasts approximately 10 minutes. Enjoy an evening of picnics, music, beautiful scenery, and festive fireworks at Symphony by the Lake. Essential details: Symphony by the Lake is on Friday, July 22nd. The gates open at 5:30 PM, performance begins at 7:30 PM. $65.00 for General Admission, $125.00 for Audiophile Seating, and $10.00 for a Parking Pass. Children 2 and under are no charge. Tickets are available online. Pick up your tickets at the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce, 132 Park Ave. Blowing Rock, NC 28605. They will be available from 9AM – 5PM Monday – Saturday until July 22. Tickets will also be available for pick up at the gate at 5:30 PM on the day of the performance. A $10.00 parking pass is available for purchase and allows guests to park at the Chetola Resort. Tanger Outlets has first come/first serve parking. A shuttle for handicapped or disabled people is running from the Food Lion parking lot. (This shuttle will not start return runs until after the fireworks.) Packing a picnic is allowed! There is a limited cash bar available with some fun specialty drinks or bring a favorite beer or wine to enjoy. Want to get food onsite? Grab a boxed picnic dinner from Chetola- get them quick before they sell out. Consider having dinner on Chetola’s patio or arbor for fantastic views and food! Reservations are needed. Click here to see pricing and menu options. There will be Restroom Trailers with stalls and running water for public use in the parking lot of the Timberlake Restaurant. Here are our top 5 tips for attending the Symphony by the Lake at Chetola! Get your tickets early. This year tickets are limited! Park at Shoppes on the Parkway and enter the Symphony event via the back gate (on the Rack Room Shoes side of the outlet center). Arrive early to get a good spot! Like to spread out? To avoid the crowd, consider sitting around the perimeter of the lake. The symphony performers may not be visible, but they can still be heard and space is much more plentiful. Bring layers or blankets to keep warm after sunset. The event will continue if it rains, so check the local weather forecast so you are prepared with rain gear if needed!
The first concert of the series is held on July 6, 2026 and runs through August 3, 2026. The concerts are located at 173 Lakeside Dr. Blowing Rock, NC 28605 and are set up in the gazebo at Broyhill Park. They begin at 6:30 pm, run approximately one to two hours, and are free and open to the public. Performances will cover a little bit of everything from jazz, to country, to show tunes. Attendees will want to bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating comfort. 2026 Concert Line Up! July 6 – Scarlet Lemonade BandJuly 13 – Steve SensenigJuly 20 – 3 Toe Possum July 27 – Carmen TateAug. 3 – Surefire Please note that the lineup is subject to change. How it began The Monday Night Concert Series is steeped in local history. It begins with the Farm House Inn and Restaurant, a Blowing Rock staple from the 1950’s until 1997. Blowing Rock has many amazing restaurants, but The Farm House Inn stands out in people’s memory. They were known for their food, view, and talented, singing, waitstaff. Guests would have a meal and be serenaded by some of the best singers in the area. The owners, EJ and Shirley “Shirl” Blackwell are remembered fondly by their former staff, and Shirl is credited with supporting and inspiring the young performers. Performers at the Farm House Inn and Restaurant would sing solos and put on larger scale productions such as Godspell. The restaurant often served up to 700 people a night! Many longtime Blowing Rock residents and visitors remember The Farm House Inn and their experiences there warmly. Monday Night Concert Series Amy Marie Young Escalante is a previous performer at The Farm House and a creator of The Monday Night Concert Series. She began the series with the help of EJ and Shirl Blackwell continuing the Farm House’s mission to support and showcase rising, local talent while sharing a variety of music with residents and visitors of Blowing Rock. First called “The Farm House Live,” the now Monday Night Concert Series is embarking on its 24th season this summer. Last year Blowing Rock Parks & Recreation took over the management of Monday Night Concert Series and tries to book familiar artists. Photographs courtesy of Amy Marie Productions