Plein Air Festival

Blowing Rock Art & History Museum 159 Ginny Stevens Lane, Blowing Rock, NC, United States

The Blowing Rock Plein Air Festival is a four-day, open enrollment plein air painting event. It takes place in the beautiful mountainous area surrounding the town of Blowing Rock in western North Carolina, from Tuesday, August 19th, to Saturday, August 23rd, 2025. 

Grandfather by Night – Twilight Hike

Grandfather by Night – Twilight Hike

Grandfather Mountain 2050 Blowing Rock Highway, Linville, NC

The Twilight Hike version will include a hike after sunset to discuss and look for the creatures that are more active after the sun goes down. The group will explore a unique forest ecosystem from top to bottom in search of salamanders, owls, flying squirrels, fireflies and any other creatures they might come across.

$50

Railroad Heritage Weekend

Tweetsie Railroad 300 Tweetsie Railroad Lane, Blowing Rock, NC, United States

Celebrate the golden age of steam locomotives behind Tweetsie's historic narrow-gauge, steam locomotives. Special attractions for rail fans...

Author Visit: Leigh Ann Henion

Blowing Rock Community Library 1022 Main St., Blowing Rock, NC, United States

New York Times best selling nature writer and Boone resident, Leigh Ann Henion, shares her latest book, Night Magic. Books will be available for purchase and signing. 

FREE

Hawk Watch

Grandfather Mountain 2050 Blowing Rock Highway, Linville, NC

All throughout September, guests are invited to join the mountain’s naturalists as they count and celebrate the annual spectacle of fall raptor migration.

Included with Admission

Down the Path: A Shared Journey of Horticulture Excess

Blowing Rock Art & History Museum 159 Ginny Stevens Lane, Blowing Rock, NC, United States

Today we talk with two plant geeks that met in a garden. Both are now Directors of two prominent public gardens in North Carolina. Adrienne Roethling is the Director for Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden in Kernersville, NC. Jon Roethling is the Director Reynolda Gardens of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC.

$8

54th Annual Girl Scout Day

Grandfather Mountain 2050 Blowing Rock Highway, Linville, NC

Girl Scouts are invited to join the Grandfather Mountain's naturalists for a fun-filled learning adventure. Plus, all Girl Scouts and troop leaders are admitted free with proof of membership (all or part of a uniform or a troop roster with the leader’s name on it), and family members will receive discounted admission ($1 off child admission and $2 off adult admission).

Summer Rock Hound Tour

This tour is through the wild part of Appalachian Caverns, through areas that most do not get to see, open to all ages, but there is an area where you will be in deep water. Be ready to get wet and muddy. This is a learning trip, collecting stones from the ground surface only. 

$40.00

Revisiting the “Brown Decades”: Tonalism and the American South

Blowing Rock Art & History Museum 159 Ginny Stevens Lane, Blowing Rock, NC, United States

Following the American Civil War, American artists quieted their paintings, embracing blurred contours, muted palettes, and introspective atmospheres. Often considered the moody counterpoint to Impressionism’s vibrant and light-filled canvases, Tonalism offered a harmonious space for respite and reflection in a rapidly changing world.

$8.00

Raku Pottery Demonstration

Moses Cone Manor Blowing Rock, NC, United States

John Turner will demonstrate Raku pottery techniques. This demonstration will be held on the front porch of the the Moses Cone Manor from 10am-4pm. Visitors are encouraged to watch and ask questions while the demonstrators work and talk about their creative process!

Free

“More Magnificent than Imagination”: Camp Catawba as Muse

Blowing Rock Art & History Museum 159 Ginny Stevens Lane, Blowing Rock, NC, United States

She will share the poetry and music created by Lachmann and Tucker that reflect their passion for Catawba, and the ways in which they constructed an artistic community within that place that nurtured the creativity of the campers.  

$8.00

Listening Day

Blowing Rock Art & History Museum 159 Ginny Stevens Lane, Blowing Rock, NC, United States

On September 27, 2024 Hurricane Helene changed the High Country forever. In remembrance of that we are hosting a community listening day for people to share their experiences of Hurricane Helene and its aftermath.

Registration Requested