Each time the annual WinterFest Polar Plunge rolls around, the wacky costumes are always a big highlight. The most elaborate or ridiculous just might get awarded the Golden Plunger. At the 2019 edition of Blowing Rock WinterFest, on Thursday, January 24 through Sunday, January 27, everyone is invited to enjoy more friendly competition at the […]

The 19th Annual Blue Ridge Conservancy 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run takes place here on Saturday, September 22. The event, formerly known as the Mayview Madness 5K, still traverses the Mayview neighborhood in Blowing Rock. The 5K run, sponsored by Stick Boy Bread Company, starts at 8:00 a.m. adjacent to the American Legion Hall and […]

Edited September 13: Please note that due to the impending threat of Hurricane Florence and concern for safety, the 2018 Blowing Rock Music Festival has been RESCHEDULED for SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7th. The Blowing Rock Music Festival once again welcomes a variety of artists to the event stage at the Blowing Rock Attraction in Blowing Rock, […]

After celebrating its 30th anniversary last year, the Symphony by the Lake at Chetola Resort begins a fourth decade of summer centerpiece events in 2018. This year’s Symphony by the Lake will take place Friday, July 27th. The theme, Colors of the Mountains, will be reflected in the musical selections as well as the décor […]

For the second year in a row, readers of USA TODAY have voted Blowing Rock one of its 10 Best…this time in the category of Small Towns for Adventure. In 2017, Blowing Rock was third on the list of Best Southern Small Towns and this year it finished eighth in the nationwide adventure competition.  Other […]

“Kiss The Camel” Challenge Adds Intrigue to the Membership Drive The WNC Oasis Shriners are bringing their Spring Ceremonial, induction of new members and parade to the town on Friday, June 1 and Saturday, June 2. The Shriners Parade will take place along Main Street starting at 2 p.m. on Saturday. “We’re excited to have […]

There are many places you can go to shop, dine, enjoy music and the arts, and experience lively events and attractions. Similarly, there are places where you can commune quietly with nature, hike, fish, zipline, rock climb, canoe or horseback ride. But there are very few places where you can do all of that within […]

In its 56th year, Blowing Rock’s Art in the Park is renewing its commitment to the highest quality of offerings, variety and diversity of artistic media. The monthly Saturday event, which runs from May through October, returns for a third year to Park Avenue, close to Main Street and downtown Blowing Rock’s unique shops and […]

Savor Blowing Rock will take place Thursday, May 3 through Sunday, May 6 this year. Organizers say that moving the four-day event from its previous April slot ensures the transition to spring-like weather in the High Country is complete. “This year, Savor will offer a very interactive experience for guests. Events will offer the opportunity […]

One thousand Americans selected and polled by travel booking web site Expedia have rated Blowing Rock one of the 25 best small towns in the country. Expedia reviewed the feedback and pinpointed the most frequently mentioned favorite towns to visit. Blowing Rock ranked 16 of the 25 towns, which included Cape Cod, Lake Tahoe and […]

TripAdvisor, which calls itself the world’s largest travel site, recently named Blowing Rock’s Mountainaire Inn and Log Cabins #1 in its list of 25 Best Bargain Hotels in the U.S., and ranked it #4 in the world in the same category in its 2018 Travelers’ Choice awards. Only two properties in the U.S. were in […]

The Polar Plunge into Chetola Lake will be the frozen centerpiece of the 20th annual WinterFest in Blowing Rock, which begins on Thursday, January 25. The Plunge will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 27. Joan Hearn will be the Polar Plunge Queen, and her husband, Dick, who recently passed away, will be […]

  The 20th edition of WinterFest heats up the High Country town from Thursday, January 25 through Sunday, January 28. Daily events include WinterFeast (with a dessert after party) on Thursday; the WinterFashion show at lunchtime on Friday; the Polar Plunge, Chili Challenge, Wine Tasting and Auction, ice carving demonstrations, and kids’ activities on Saturday; […]

If you visit Blowing Rock between Thanksgiving and New Years, you’ll find great natural beauty, a Norman Rockwell-esque downtown decorated and lighted for the season, unique shops and restaurants, and numerous holiday-themed events filling the calendar. And if you’re lucky enough to be in Blowing Rock on Thanksgiving day, you’ll find several restaurants and eateries […]

Nature’s Autumn Display is Within Easy Distance of Main Street The professional fall color prognosticators are predicting an average season upcoming in Western North Carolina. But there’s nothing average about fall color in, around and within short travel distance of Blowing Rock. The elevation differences and biodiversity on display nearby offer viewing experiences that make […]

The 18th Annual Stick Boy Mayview Madness 5k and 1-Mile Fun Run takes place here on Saturday, September 30, The 5k run starts at 8:30 a.m. adjacent to the American Legion Hall and finishes in front of Bistro Roca restaurant, where post-race snacks will be provided and awards presented.  The 1-Mile Fun Run presented by […]

Restaurant reservation service OpenTable recently named The Restaurant at Gideon Ridge one of its 100 Most Scenic in America. The restaurant made the list for the first time this year and is one of six named in North Carolina. The state had the second most in the nation, behind only California. The list of 100 […]

The musically-eclectic Blowing Rock Music Fest returns for a fourth year to the Blowing Rock Attraction in Blowing Rock on Saturday, September 16. Kristyl Harris, the Music Fest coordinator, said, “This year’s Fest features a bunch of new regional talent, with performers that create some great fresh sounds while sticking to the roots of Appalachia. I’m really excited about Abby […]

The readers of Travel+Leisure magazine have voted Westglow Resort & Spa here the number one destination spa in the United States. In the category, magazine readers rated properties on their accommodations and facilities, treatments, service, food, and overall value, and Westglow came out on top in the numerical rankings. Other top ten destination spas are in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Arizona, […]

The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum (BRAHM) presents its 11th annual Blowing Rock Art & Antiques Show Friday, July 28 through Sunday, July 30. The show, which was started in 2006, has grown to be the Museum’s largest event, bringing in dealers from all over the region. Lee Carol Giduz, BRHAM Director said, “This is a […]

Blowing Rock recently added another accolade to its already impressive kudos list, when readers of USA TODAY voted the Town to the newspaper’s Ten Best list of Southern Small Towns. Travel experts picked a list of 20 small towns from which to choose and readers voted Blowing Rock third. Of all the candidates and winners, Blowing Rock is sure […]

Roey’s Quilts and The Mountain Thread Company invite you to join them in celebrating the launch of the Blowing Rock Quilt Cooperative – a local network of fiber artisans with a goal to promote fresh approaches to traditional quilt artistry.  Join them at a free launch party and at the Made in the Mountains Quilt […]

Blowing Rock recently added another accolade to its already impressive kudos list, when readers of USA TODAY voted the Town to the newspaper’s 2017 Ten Best list of Southern Small Towns. Travel experts picked a list of 20 small towns from which to choose and readers voted Blowing Rock third. “We’re honored to be recognized by the travel […]

For 55 years, Art in the Park has graced a monthly Saturday from May through October in North Carolina’s Prettiest Small Town. The festival is in its second year on Park Avenue, an ideal location that intersects the town’s Main Street, allowing easy access to all of downtown Blowing Rock’s unique shops and restaurants. 2017 […]

SAVOR Blowing Rock returns to North Carolina’s Prettiest Small Town from Thursday, April 20 through Sunday, April 23. The2017 edition of SAVOR Blowing Rock includes an expanded range of seminars and events that feature regional culture, music, craft beers from local breweries and across the state, beverage tastings and dinners that showcase the town’s culinary artistry. […]

The 38th Annual Blowing Rock Trout Derby will take place in and around North Carolina’s Prettiest Small Town on Saturday, April 1, from sunrise to 4:00 p.m.  No entry fees are required and no pre-registration is necessary. There is plenty of free parking available only a short distance from Broyhill Lake, which will be stocked […]

The 19th edition of WinterFest in Blowing Rock, from Thursday, January 26 through Sunday, January 29, will include more events and activities than ever before, from daytime to dusk and beyond. And, as always, it’s about contrast. On the warm side, chili cook-offs, carousing canines at the WinterPaws dog show, comfort food, and the inner […]

Charlie Ellis has been bringing the gift of jazz to Blowing Rock for decades. From venues like the Jazz Parlor to P.B. Scotts, and now at the historic Green Park Inn, performances by Mr. Ellis and the Charlie Ellis Trio are always memorable. Ellis is a great solo performer, though many have experienced his work […]

Tired of Christmas Shopping Online Or At the Mall? Think About Choosing From Among Blowing Rock’s Favorite Things There’s nothing quite like the twinkle and warmth of North Carolina’s Prettiest Small Town when it’s decked out for Christmas, and with Blowing Rock’s Favorite Things festive promotion now underway, you can get virtually everything for under […]

Seasonal Celebrations Ongoing in North Carolina’s Prettiest Small Town  There’s a lot going on in Blowing Rock, North Carolina’s Prettiest Small Town, between Thanksgiving and Christmas: It’s a fun, festive and family-friendly holiday destination. The Norman Rockwell-esque downtown sparkles with thousands of holiday lights, eclectic shops emit a welcoming glow and visitors smile warmly in […]