High Country Festivals and Their Origins
Festivals bring the High Country’s rich cultural heritage to life, from bluegrass rhythms and ballad stories from centuries past, to elegant dancing at Mountain Dance & Folk Festival.
Experience some local folklore by participating in the Woolly Worm Festival of Banner Elk! It is said that one fuzzy caterpillar can predict an impending winter season!
Doc Watson Day
Doc Watson was a musical legend during his lifetime and continues to live on through his seven Grammy wins for folk and bluegrass recordings. Additionally, he served as an advocate for traditional Appalachian music while inspiring musicians across genres; becoming known as “the father of modern bluegrass”.
At The Jones House in downtown Boone, an annual celebration of Watson’s life and music takes place. This gives local musicians who either played alongside him or are inspired by him the opportunity to show their talents, while providing budding young musicians the chance to learn some of his techniques that made his work so unforgettable.
Doc Watson lost his sight when still young but this didn’t stop his pursuit of music – learning closely to listen for sounds from family and neighbors, then becoming adept at creating original compositions using rhythms and cadences from traditional Appalachian music to compose his own works.
Singer, guitarist and fiddle player who could quickly adapt to new trends in popular music. An accomplished storyteller with an amusing sense of humor who often used references from current events.
Ralph Rinzler first discovered Doc Watson while traveling across western North Carolina documenting old-time music in informal sessions with various musicians. These sessions would become two early Folkways albums: Old Time Music at Clarence Ashley’s and Old Time Music in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Part 2. These recordings would cement Doc Watson as one of America’s foremost artists of his generation.
Doc Watson would perform at community gatherings with his brother Linny in a duet style that borrowed elements from both Carter Family thumb-lead style and Delmore Brothers alternating picking technique. At one such gathering he met fiddle player Gaither Carlton; after meeting once more regularly they began playing together as a duo.
Their partnership would give birth to modern country and bluegrass music genres. They performed at venues all across the United States, such as Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry. As pioneers of these newer forms of expression, blending traditional Appalachian with progressive forms, their collaborations created links between older styles such as folk revivalism and commercialism – forging connections between older styles while forging commercial ones as well.
Autumn at Oz
After being closed for 10 years, the World’s Largest Wizard of Oz Park returns every September in Beech Mountain for three weekends only. Visitors will step into Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion’s story of traveling along Yellow Brick Road towards Emerald City accompanied by live performances, arts & crafts vendors as well as food vendors. Its location atop Beech Mountain at an elevation of 5,506 feet is easily accessible through shuttle or chair lift from Beech Mountain Ski Resort parking area.
Visitors to the park will meet all their favorite movie characters including Scarecrow, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, Glinda the Good Witch Professor Marvel Auntie Em Uncle Henry & more! Embark on an immersive theatrical journey into Gale Kansas Farm before experiencing tornado-strewn Gale Kansas farm land before following real Yellow Brick Road towards Emerald City!
Grandfather Mountain’s Highland Games bring an essence of Scotland right here to the High Country every year, offering guests an opportunity to witness traditional Scottish heavy athletics, track and field competitions and even Highland wrestling! Additionally, cultural events are hosted during this weekend, such as kilt walks and ceilidhs.
One of Colorado’s more eccentric festivals takes place every year in Nederland: Frozen Dead Guy Days commemorate the body of a Norwegian immigrant whose body was cryogenically preserved after death and returned home, including coffin races, hearse parades and even lookalike contests for Frozen Dead Guy look-alikes.
This year marks the 68th edition of Grandfather Mountain’s annual Highland Games Festival and guests can experience this unforgettable spectacle through Thursday, July 11 to Sunday, July 14. Experience traditional Scottish athletic competitions as well as cultural and social activities during this unforgettable experience!
Farmers’ Markets
Farmers’ markets are permanent locations where multiple farmers come together at regular intervals to sell their own produce (Jett & Hendrickson, 2006). Customers can buy directly from the source whether it be produce, meat, eggs, bread or honey – no middlemen required! Some markets may have specific rules related to distance from farms to markets or pesticide use that might be important to some shoppers.
The High Country boasts a rich musical tradition and performances can often be found on stages, parks and gardens as well as restaurants, campsites and front porches throughout its borders. Offering everything from traditional mountain music and bluegrass ballads to rock and country tunes – there is truly something for everyone here!
As well as concerts and festivals, the High Country offers a selection of local breweries. Boone’s annual High Country Beer Fest celebrates this sector with over 150 craft beers available for tasting as well as seminars on brewing techniques.
Experience the High Country like never before by attending its many events and festivals! Summer months offer especially rich opportunities, from family-friendly activities to food and beverage festivals.
A Night in the Country, held annually in late July in Yerington, Nevada is an all-out cowboy-themed hoedown featuring modern country stars. Attractions for guests can include extreme bull riding, mud volleyball and tournament of campions featuring games like cornhole and beer Pong along with an exhilarating nightlife scene.
Pinecones & Pages Literary Festival in Boone brings books to life through actors who portray characters straight out of the pages and musicians who accompany readings. There are also workshops on writing novels as well as book signings by authors at this festival.
Country Jam
North Carolina’s High Country culture celebrates family and traditions through music. Thus it comes as no surprise that music and food festivals bring people together for tunes, drinks and multiday fun throughout the region – from big city events to more intimate celebrations, these festivals highlight everything great that’s going on here in the mountains.
There is something for everyone at these musical festivals – be it country, bluegrass, folk rock or funk music!
Telluride Bluegrass Festival offers bluegrass enthusiasts the chance to dance along to fiddles and banjoes at this four-day festival held each June, drawing crowds in their thousands to a concert area nestled amid trees and mountains. Experience traditional as well as modern artists that add their own distinctive flavor such as Punch Brothers.
If country music is your thing, look no further than Country Jam music festival. This three-day event brings together country’s biggest names as well as meet and greets, surprise acoustic performances, ticketed concerts and more to give attendees the full range of country sounds.
The Country Jam Ranch is a 240-acre farm and venue that hosts concerts, special events and various activities throughout the year. Recently, its owners, the Eau Claire Event District, completed construction of two special event centers dubbed “The Crescent” and “High Country,” which will allow business growth during off-season periods as well as accommodate more campers at festival time.
Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering and Western Music Rendezvous provides an intimate music experience. As one of the second-oldest gatherings of its kind, this annual festival takes place in Lewistown, Montana and boasts over 100 cowboy poets as well as Western musicians performing. You’ll also enjoy a welcome BBQ.
If you’re visiting the High Country for the first time, festivals offer an ideal way to experience its rich culture and traditions. Be sure to grab a free High Country Visitor Guide for more details on events in Boone, Banner Elk, and beyond!