Exhibition: Daingerfield & The Tonalist Instinct

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

Daingerfield & The Tonalist Instinct explores the development of Tonalism, a distinctly American artistic movement responding to early modernist impulses in painting. Emerging in the latter half of the 19th century, Tonalism was characterized by subtle color harmonies, soft atmospheric effects, and contemplative, mood-driven scenes. Often emphasizing twilight or dawn landscapes, tonalist works evoke introspective, serene, or even ominous atmospheres, prioritizing mood and emotional resonance over detailed realism.

Free Entry

Exhibition: The Shape of Color – Understanding Color Theory in BRAHM’s Collection

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

This exhibition explores key milestones in the history of color theory through seven case studies, each centered on a single work of art from BRAHM’s Permanent Collection. Alongside these works, diagrams and historical models illustrate how color has been classified, studied, and understood over time. By examining these varied approaches, The Shape of Color invites us to consider the ways in which color influences our perception, emotions, and the visual world around us.

Free Entry

Exhibition: Mary Lou Higgins – Sibylline Faces

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

This exhibiton presents a selection of ceramic works and drawings by MaryLou Higgins (1926–2012), an artist active in North Carolina throughout her prolific career. Best known for her illustrative approach to ceramics, Higgins worked across multiple media, creating a body of work defined by intricate draftsmanship and a focus on the female figure.

Free Entry

Exhibition: Arlee Mains – A Life in Watauga

This intimate installation of ten “memory paintings” by Arlee Mains (1935–2019) offers a vivid and affectionate portrait of early 20th-century life in the mountains of western North Carolina. A lifelong resident of Watauga County and a self-taught artist, Mains drew upon family stories, personal recollections, and regional traditions to create painted scenes of everyday Appalachian life.

Free Entry

Exhibition: Andrea Keys Connell- Pattern Mapping

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

At the heart of Andréa Keys Connell’s work is a question: how can the things we make help us hold time, memory, and care? Her ceramic sculptures—often fragmented, patterned, and emotionally charged—explore what it means to endure, to remember, and to repair.

Free Entry

Artists in Residence: Claire Earwood & Skip Sickler

Edgewood Cottage 115 Ginny Stevens Ln., Blowing Rock, NC, United States

This free art show allows people to browse art from local artists, meet the artist, and purchase art directly from the artisan. Artists are often glad to talk about their process and answer questions. Different artists will be featured each week from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekends.

Free Entry

Women’s Beginner Backpack

Speckled Trout Outfitters 916 Main St. Suite 100, Blowing Rock, NC, United States

Disconnect from the business of daily life and settle into the presence, peace and quiet of nature on a weekend trip that will leave you feeling rejuvenated and inspired. You will learn all you need to know - from water filtration to what not to wipe with- and be provided with all necessary gear to safely, successfully, and joyfully backpack.

$600

Art in the Park

Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce 132 Park Ave, Blowing Rock NC, NC, United States

Art in the Park hosts some of the best local and regional artists! Craftspeople showcase their handcrafted jewelry, pottery, fiber, glass, photography, painting and more in this juried show.

Free Entry

Children’s Story Time at Blowing Rock Community Library

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

Children Ages 2-8 and their parents are welcome to join us for stories, rhymes and fun! This event is free and open to the public. 

Free

Riders in the Sky

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

Round up the family for a weekend of unforgettable Western entertainment! Riders In The Sky—Grammy winners and “America’s Favorite Cowboys”—will take the stage at Tweetsie Railroad on August 16 & 17, with performances at 12 PM and 3 PM each day.

Dan Tyminski Band

Appalachian Theatre of the High Country 559 West King Street, Boone, NC, United States

Tyminski’s voice famously accompanies George Clooney’s performance of the Stanley Brothers’ Classic song, “I’m A Man of Constant Sorrow,” in the film, Oh Brother, Where Art Thou and his vocal collaboration with Swedish DJ Avicii on the song “Hey, Brother” was a global smash, having been streamed over 1 billion times to date.

$31 – $38

Summer Rock Hound Tour

Hunt for treasure with the professionals at McCoy Minerals! Last year, people found emerald, citrine, mandarin quartz, moonstone, peridot, and more. There is a creek on the property that people get into to look for stones, so come ready to get wet and muddy; a change of clothing is recommended.

$40.00