Blue Ridge Parkway 75 Upcoming Events Events: 2010-12-17T17:14:33Z Copyright (c) 2010, Blue Ridge Parkway 75th Anniversary ExpressionEngine tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:12:17 T. Pennington to Unveil Commemorative Blue Ridge Parkway Print tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2009:events/2.200 2009-10-09T21:04:42Z 2009-10-09T21:04:42Z Penny Lloyd plloyd@roanokecountyva.gov Teresa Pennington has created four drawings in her series of limited edition giclees, prints, and notecards to commemorate the Blue Ridge Parkway’s 75th Anniversary.

The first two works depict Richland Balsam Overlook and Grandfather Mountain Overlook. Her third in the series – a giclee of Courthouse Valley – will be unveiled from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. October 9 at T. Pennington Art Gallery located at 15 N. Main Street in Waynesville, NC. The final drawing in the series will be completed in 2010, during the 75th Anniversary year of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Proceeds from the sale of the commemorative prints by Ms. Pennington will benefit the Parkway’s 75th Anniversary.

]]> BRP75 Opening Weekend – Natural Resource Stewardship Presentation tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2009:events/2.198 2009-11-12T15:01:24Z 2009-11-12T15:01:24Z Penny Lloyd plloyd@roanokecountyva.gov The public is invited to participate in this program that encourages “untold stories” related to natural resource stewardship and national parks. Special guest Nancy Stimson, Chief of Interpretation at Fort Smith National Historic Site in Fort Smith, AR, will present Natural Resource Stewardship – An American Indian Legacy and Model for Our Future.

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Cherokee Middle School

A light reception will begin at 5:00 p.m.; the program will start at 6:00 p.m. There is no charge to participate. All events will take place at the new “green” school campus, 1582 Ravensford Circle, Cherokee, North Carolina.

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Directions to School: From Acquoni Road (which parallels 441), turn right onto Big Cove Road just past the Best Western. Travel approximately 1.5 miles to new school campus on right. Be sure to use the middle school entrance.

]]> BRP75 Opening Weekend – Ceremonial Torch Passing tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2009:events/2.109 2009-11-13T16:00:44Z 2009-11-13T16:00:44Z Penny Lloyd plloyd@roanokecountyva.gov A ceremonial torch passing from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2009, to the Blue Ridge Parkway at the Ravensford Overlook at Milepost 467 at the southern end of the Parkway. The event will also highlight the passage of intergenerational stewardship as well as a performance of the Warriors of AniKituhwa dancers and remarks from both park superintendents and a representative of the Eastern Band of the Cherokees Indians Tribal Council.

Please note: There is no parking on site. Please park at the Cherokee Transit Lot on Highway 441, near the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Shuttles will be provided. In case of inclement weather, event will be relocated to The Gathering Place at Cherokee Central Schools.

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]]> BRP75 Opening Weekend – Guided Cherokee History Tour of the Southern End of the Blue Ridge Parkway tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2009:events/2.204 2009-11-13T18:00:40Z 2009-11-13T18:00:40Z Penny Lloyd plloyd@roanokecountyva.gov Don’t miss this unique opportunity to enjoy a three-hour tour of the Blue Ridge Parkway complete with experienced guides and a boxed lunch! Reservations are required and can be made by calling Museum of the Cherokee Indian at 828.497.3481.
Cost is $20 per person to be paid at time of departure.

Tour originates at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian. Participants will board shuttles with trained Cherokee step-on guides to enjoy an afternoon of Cherokee and Parkway history.

Itinerary for the tour may include stops along the Blue Ridge Parkway at Ravensford, Thomas Divide, and Water Rock Knob for interesting history regarding:

  • Cherokee’s Origin legend and creation of the mountains
  • Will Thomas and Yonaguska
  • Cherokees in the Civil War
  • Origin of strawberries
  • Spirit people in the mountains
  • Trail of Tears, hiding in the mountains
  • and more!

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]]> BRP75 Opening Weekend – Blue Ridge Parkway 75th Anniversary BENEFIT Concert tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2009:events/2.176 2009-11-14T15:27:20Z 2009-11-14T15:27:20Z Penny Lloyd plloyd@roanokecountyva.gov Be part of a musical tribute to the Blue Ridge Parkway on its 75th Anniversary and celebrate a decision that changed the face of Western North Carolina – the decision in November 1934 to route the Blue Ridge Parkway through Asheville! The concert features award-winning singer/songwriter Nanci Griffith as well as a one-time-only collaboration of The Blue Ridge Bluegrass All-Stars showing their support for the Parkway – renowned musicians Doyle Lawson, Sammy Shelor, Bryan Sutton, Tim Surrett, and Jim Van Cleve. The dramatic and colorful Warriors of AniKituhwa will also perform, and the entire evening will be hosted by Asheville’s own Grammy award-winning musician David Holt.

Learn More About the Artists

Concert tickets are available at the Asheville Civic Center Box Office at 87 Haywood Street, Asheville or at Ticketmaster. Two reserved seating ticket options are available:

  • General seats are $35
  • Patron seats are $75 and offer premium reserved seating and access to the patron reception prior to the event

Ticketmaster and the Civic Center Box Office are the only source for legitimate tickets that will benefit the Parkway’s 75th Anniversary.

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Grand Bohemian Hotel Asheville is the official hotel of the Blue Ridge Parkway’s 75th Anniversary Opening Weekend.

]]> BRP75 Opening Weekend – Parkway History Day at the Folk Art Center tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2009:events/2.201 2009-11-14T16:00:43Z 2009-11-14T16:00:43Z Penny Lloyd plloyd@roanokecountyva.gov Parkway History Day at the Folk Art Center will feature craft and music demonstrations, Parkway organization exhibits, a panel discussion at 10:00 a.m. examining the history and lasting impact of the decision to route the Blue Ridge Parkway through Western North Carolina, and even a 75th Anniversary Celebration Hike.

The routing decision panelists will include the following and will be moderated by Gary Everhardt, Parkway Superintendent from 1977 to 2000.

  • Creating the Parkway Idea – Carlton Abbott of Abbott and Partners Architects in Williamsburg, VA, and Son of Stanley Abbott, the First Chief Architect of the Parkway
  • The Great Route Debate and Saving Asheville Tourism – Dr. Anne Mitchell Whisnant, author of Super-Scenic Motorway: A Blue Ridge Parkway History
  • The Story of the Parkway Routing through the Qualla Boundary to Cherokee – Mr. Ray Kinsland, Executive Director, Cherokee Boys Club
  • The Parkway through The Biltmore Estate and the Great Park Movement – Mr. George Cecil, Chairman, Biltmore Farms, LLC

Craft demonstrations in the Folk Art Center lobby throughout the day will include artisans Marlow Gates demonstrating broom making and Nancy Darrell demonstrating printmaking. Musicians Brooke and George will perform in the auditorium at noon. Light refreshments will be served in the auditorium for people to enjoy before the symposium and during the break.

Join the Kids in Parks program for a guided hike celebrating the Blue Ridge Parkway’s 75th Anniversary at noon and again at 1:00 p.m. On this educational walk, children will discover the cultural, natural, and historic resources that will continue to make the Parkway worth celebrating for another 75 years.

After the break, at 1:00 p.m., join Parkway staff, Parkway partner organization representatives, and other professionals for an informal Protecting the Parkway Idea Interactive Session with brief comments and displays/exhibits examining:

  • The Parkway From PLUMS to GIS
  • The Scenic Experience Project
  • Design Guidelines for Adjacent Lands
  • Role of Parkway support organizations in the future of the Parkway

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The November 13, 1934 edition of the Asheville Citizen said it all!

Fred L. Weede, Manager of the Asheville Chamber of Commerce, was instrumental in stirring up support among North Carolina civic organizations for the North Carolina route. His paper, Battle for the Blue Ridge Parkway, as well as a description of the North Carolina route and the Department of the Interior’s memo to the press regarding the routing decision, are included in this link. Credit: North Carolina Collection, Pack Memorial Public Library, Asheville, North Carolina

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Grand Bohemian Hotel Asheville is the official hotel of the Blue Ridge Parkway’s 75th Anniversary Opening Weekend.

]]> Enchanted Eve tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2009:events/2.148 2009-12-31T15:44:45Z 2009-12-31T15:44:45Z Penny Lloyd plloyd@roanokecountyva.gov Enchanted Eve is a shared cultural celebration that marks the passage of time through art and ritual and offers Roanoke Valley residents and visitors an alcohol-free, child-friendly alternative for New Year’s Eve. Situated in Vinton, the evening offers carriage rides, puppeteers, magicians, fabulous entertainment, and a multitude of craft activities. Those without children can enjoy a casino and NASCAR race car rally. A midnight processional and fireworks display will ring in the New Year.

]]> Music Night at Spencer-Penn Centre tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.209 2010-01-08T21:06:49Z 2010-01-08T21:06:49Z Penny Lloyd plloyd@roanokecountyva.gov Enjoy bluegrass and gospel music at this monthly event.

]]> Blue Ridge Resilience Conference tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.213 2010-01-30T16:27:56Z 2010-01-30T16:27:56Z Penny Lloyd plloyd@roanokecountyva.gov Join the discussion about sustainability in the face of oncoming environmental, climatic, and economic threats and challenges. MountainKeepers organization is reshaping itself into a “network of networks” that can stimulate and further this conversation across various pockets of interest and expertise that bear on these challenges. MountainKeepers pledges to keep these networks connected in order to promote the synergies that come from shared knowledge and collaboration. This is a forum for mutual education of what groups and individuals are already doing to help create a more resilient community.

]]> Music Night at Spencer-Penn Centre tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.214 2010-02-12T19:06:45Z 2010-02-12T19:06:45Z Penny Lloyd plloyd@roanokecountyva.gov Enjoy bluegrass and gospel music at this monthly event.

]]> Dedication of Nina Simone Sculpture tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.386 2010-02-21T19:50:31Z 2010-02-21T19:50:31Z Penny Lloyd plloyd@roanokecountyva.gov A heritage tourism celebration recognizing the unique contributions to the American songbook and to the national struggle for equal rights by local Western North Carolina (WNC) daughter Nina Simone. The event will highlight WNC Blue Ridge culture and traditions among the very broadest range of its citizens, and how that culture and those traditions culminated in the “making” of the internationally acclaimed artist Nina Simone.

]]> 32nd Valle Country Fair tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.401 2010-03-05T13:49:10Z 2010-03-05T13:49:10Z Shawn Rhodes shawn_rhodes@nps.gov The Valle Country Fair is an overgrown church bazaar set in the center of one of the most picturesque valleys in the North Carolina mountains at the peak of the fall color season. The event features 135 craft booths, mountain music, BBQ, Brunswick stew, homemade jams and jellies, freshly pressed apple cider and hot-out-of-the-kettle apple butter.

]]> An Old Virginia Christmas tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.410 2010-03-05T15:05:43Z 2010-03-05T15:05:43Z Shawn Rhodes shawn_rhodes@nps.gov Celebrate a mid-nineteenth century Christmas on the Burroughs piedmont Virginia tobacco plantation. The monument is the birthplace of Booker T. Washington, noted African American educator, orator, author, and advisor to presidents of the United States. Listen to costumed interpreters talk about the plantation and learn the contrasting stories of Christmas celebrations of the slaves and slave owners.

]]> Valdese-Waldensian Trail of Faith Founder’s Festival tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.411 2010-03-05T15:10:31Z 2010-03-05T15:10:31Z Shawn Rhodes shawn_rhodes@nps.gov The Valdese-Waldensian Trail of Faith Founder’s Festival commemorates the original settlers crossing the Atlantic and arriving by train on the Salisbury-Asheville line of the Southern Railway on May 29, 1893. The settlers purchased approximately 10,000 acres of land at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The determined Waldensian immigrants founded the Town of Valdese. The name comes from the Italian word for Waldensians-Valdesi-which was Americanized to Valdese. The Founder’s Festival will walk you back in time where you will find many of the items used by people years ago. See the 115 year-old sawmill still in operation, the first engine type invented in 1705 to see widespread use—the steam engine, see old fashioned farm life demonstrations, old engine displays, games, bocce, scouting displays, and 40+ exhibits such as Henry Ford’s first engine, old tools, water wheel, water pumps, wood saws. Demonstrations of bee honey and broom making, hay baling, weaving, etc. Re-live the history of the Civil War with the reenactments and display booths. Learn the history of the Waldenses. Through much perseverance and faith, God led them here. You will see exact replicas of buildings and monuments as they are in Italy. This is fun and educational for the entire family. The Founder’s Festival will entertain children with activities such as a water slide, inflatables, batting cage, etc. Entertainment provided each evening with popular bluegrass music of the mountains of North Carolina. Enjoy good food and homemade ice cream and homemade lemonade.

]]> “The Mountain In Us” tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.412 2010-03-05T15:14:04Z 2010-03-05T15:14:04Z Shawn Rhodes shawn_rhodes@nps.gov Community Theatre production of original drama about the Gambill Family and their role the history of Ashe County

]]> Gallery Crawl tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.413 2010-03-05T15:18:02Z 2010-03-05T15:18:02Z Shawn Rhodes shawn_rhodes@nps.gov One dozen galleries and craft shops in West Jefferson’s “Arts District” offer new exhibits, artwork, street musicians, and special arts events once a month!

]]> Night of the Spoken Word tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.414 2010-03-05T15:22:19Z 2010-03-05T15:22:19Z Shawn Rhodes shawn_rhodes@nps.gov Readings of prose, poetry, short stories, and plays by local and regional writers

]]> Music Night at Spencer-Penn Centre tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.215 2010-03-12T19:14:16Z 2010-03-12T19:14:16Z Penny Lloyd plloyd@roanokecountyva.gov Enjoy bluegrass and gospel music at this monthly event.

]]> Roanoke’s St. Patrick’s Day and McDonald’s Parade tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.402 2010-03-13T14:17:14Z 2010-03-13T14:17:14Z Shawn Rhodes shawn_rhodes@nps.gov This is one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the Mid-Atlantic region, and it grows larger every year! Be one of the thousands of people who come to enjoy the award-winning McDonald’s St. Patrick’s Day parade. The parade features over 100 entries that range from clowns to dogs to Harleys to llamas, including pipe and drum bands from throughout the region.
There is something for everyone to say the least.

]]> FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway Viewshed Planting Event tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.207 2010-03-20T19:57:58Z 2010-03-20T19:57:58Z Penny Lloyd plloyd@roanokecountyva.gov Save Parkway Views is FRIENDS signature project. There are two tree plantings this year: The spring planting on March 20 at milepost 104.9 north of Roanoke will utilize approximately 500-600 seedlings. The purpose of our plantings is to save Parkway views by creating a barrier between the Parkway and the surrounding urban landscape. The fall viewshed planting location will be determined closer to the planting date.

]]> Harmon Field Heritage Days tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.388 2010-03-25T15:56:08Z 2010-03-25T15:56:08Z Penny Lloyd plloyd@roanokecountyva.gov Harmon Field Heritage Days is held annually on the fourth weekend of March in Tryon, NC, a quaint town nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Step back in history to the mid and late 1800s. Experience life in a Civil War camp. Witness skirmishes between the troops from the North against those of the South. You might even get in on a wedding, court martial, or witness the shooting of a spy. Taste food cooked over the open fire, watch artisans as they share their crafts, or participate in some old-fashioned games. Purchase souvenirs from the 1800 era or get your picture taken in period dress by the photographer. Thursday and Friday are educational days for teachers to bring their students for field trips. On Saturday and Sunday, Heritage Days are open to the general public.

For more information, visit http://serendipityrancher.com/hfheritagedays.htm or call 828.894.3370.

]]> Fairview Ruritan’s Fiddlers’ Convention tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.406 2010-03-27T14:43:13Z 2010-03-27T14:43:13Z Shawn Rhodes shawn_rhodes@nps.gov An evening of Oldtime and Bluegrass Music Competition

]]> Whitetop Mountain Maple Festival tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.349 2010-03-27T17:57:02Z 2010-03-27T17:57:02Z Penny Lloyd plloyd@roanokecountyva.gov Always the last full weekend in March in the Whitetop Community.

Daily Schedule: Pancake meal and Arts and Crafts 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Meal includes pancakes with pure maple syrup, sausage, applesauce, and drink. Adults $6 Children $3.50
Storytelling: 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Faith Lutheran Church near school
Wildflower Slide Show: 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Faith Lutheran Church near school
Whitetop Mountain Tapping Tour: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m..
Bucket and Tubing Methods Shown Tour given each half hour, no charge
Syrup and Candy Sales
Music of the Mountains: Noon to 5 p.m.  Local musicians entertain you.
All proceeds go to Mt. Rogers Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad.

]]> Mountain Music Rende-Vous tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.405 2010-04-03T14:34:22Z 2010-04-03T14:34:22Z Shawn Rhodes shawn_rhodes@nps.gov Old Time Competition with a French twist. Sponsored by the GCHS French Club, the festival celebrates the traditional mountain rende-vous, which provided trappers and traders with an early spring opportunity for trading, eating, fellowship and to compete for bragging rights. French Canadian & Cajun-style concessions are featured. The event includes arts and crafts demonstartions and sales.

]]> Art Gallery Exhibits tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.409 2010-04-05T15:01:10Z 2010-04-05T15:01:10Z Shawn Rhodes shawn_rhodes@nps.gov The Gallery of the Ashe Arts Center features changing exhibits showcasing the finest in local and regional arts. Exhibits include paintings, photgraphy, sculpture, and craft. Various themes and exhibits throughout the year include the juried art competition and exhibit “Best of the Blue Ridge.”

]]> The Blue Ridge Bike Fest tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.337 2010-04-09T16:25:33Z 2010-04-09T16:25:33Z Penny Lloyd plloyd@roanokecountyva.gov The Blue Ridge Bike Fest is an all-makes motorcycle expo/show/festival celebrating the amazing sights of the Blue Ridge Mountain Range. The event will kick off April 9, 2010 and continue all weekend including the music of Dokken and Great White. The Second Annual Blue Ridge Bike Fest will feature vendors, concerts, stunt demonstrations and we’re just minutes away from one of the best motorcycle rides in America, the Blue Ridge Parkway!  Make your plans now to visit Virginia’s biggest motorcycle event!

]]> N.C. Gold Festival tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.306 2010-04-09T16:32:30Z 2010-04-09T16:32:30Z Penny Lloyd plloyd@roanokecountyva.gov A celebration of the state’s gold heritage with emphasis on the North Carolina Gold Rush with a variety of demonstrations ranging from gold “digging” to assaying to jewelry making. The mining history of Western North Carolina is also featured including gems and gem mining.

]]> Music Night at Spencer-Penn Centre tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.216 2010-04-09T19:19:27Z 2010-04-09T19:19:27Z Penny Lloyd plloyd@roanokecountyva.gov Enjoy bluegrass and gospel music at this monthly event.

]]> Old Time Plowing and Folkways tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.311 2010-04-11T00:53:53Z 2010-04-11T00:53:53Z Penny Lloyd plloyd@roanokecountyva.gov The Cradle of Forestry opens for the 2010 season with a celebration of traditional Blue Ridge culture. Volunteer crafters engage in heritage activities such as spinning, wood carving, and hearth cooking. A local family brings up a team of workhorses and, weather permitting, plows our garden and interacts with visitors, inviting them to learn to plow. The Cradle’s 1915 Climax locomotive is moved out of its winter shelter. The day closes with live traditional music by the garden.

]]> Memories: The Blue Ridge Parkway in Retrospect Juried Art Exhibit tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.226 2010-04-16T20:33:21Z 2010-04-16T20:33:21Z Penny Lloyd plloyd@roanokecountyva.gov Celebrate the grand opening of Chestnut Creek School of the Arts and honor the 75th anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway with a juried exhibit. On Friday, April 16, CCSA will open the gallery at 7 p.m. and present awards for “Memories: The Blue Ridge Parkway in Retrospect” with a juried collection of metaphorical or literal artworks pertaining to the Parkway, not only the scenic beauty, the flora and fauna, but also the people and their craft who have contributed to the arts and cultural heritage of the communities along the Parkway. Regional artists within a 100-mile radius of Galax, VA, are invited to submit entries for acceptance into the show.

]]> Blue Ridge Kite Festival tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.147 2010-04-17T15:40:06Z 2010-04-17T15:40:06Z Penny Lloyd plloyd@roanokecountyva.gov The Blue Ridge Kite Festival is a favorite springtime day of outdoor family fun at Green Hill Park. This event offers free admission, free parking, free children’s t-shirts, and free kites to the first 1,000 children attending with an adult. This annual event also features championship flyers, quad-line kits, kids’ contests, custom-kite exhibits, a caricature artist, arts and crafts vendors, and much more. Attendees can also test their own kites in this wonderful outdoor park that is surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains.

]]> The Virginia Fly Fishing Festival tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.339 2010-04-17T16:44:31Z 2010-04-17T16:44:31Z Penny Lloyd plloyd@roanokecountyva.gov This truly one-of-a-kind event draws novice and experienced fly anglers alike from across the mid-Atlantic. Attendees can expect to hear a variety of lectures on everything from fly fishing for native brook trout to angling for stripers on the Chesapeake Bay from a kayak. There is a strong emphasis on conservation education, with participation from a large variety of conservation-minded groups.

The event combines teaching fly fishing with free wine tastings from eight of Virginia’s best wineries.

Half of all monies received from sponsors, vendors, ticket sales, and raffles are used to cover the cost of next year’s festival, with the remainder earmarked for conservation work on the South River to return it to a pristine cold water fishery and create the first trophy brook trout stream in Virginia.

]]> Parade of the Arts tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.313 2010-04-18T01:09:32Z 2010-04-18T01:09:32Z Penny Lloyd plloyd@roanokecountyva.gov Celebrate the grand opening of Chestnut Creek School of the Arts (CCSA) and honor the 75th Anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway with an old-fashioned parade, which will kick off the second day of the Parade of the Arts Festival. It includes invited grand marshals, floats, marching bands, jugglers, a Horse-of-a-Different-Color, mimes, artists, and musicians.

The Grand Gallery exhibit, “Memories; the Blue Ridge Parkway in Retrospect,” will be open to the public. The Grand Hall Gallery will be open with a special exhibit, “Minds Wide Open,” in honor of Blue Ridge Plateau’s departed, talented women artists who set the pace for today’s contemporary artists.

City Gallery Fine Art will host an open art show in the Gazebo Park on North Main Street from noon to 5 p.m. This exhibit is open for all ages, all mediums, for sale or not for sale.

Grayson Street Stage will have free performances from 1 to 5 p.m. that include but are not limited to black gospel, American vocal classics, bluegrass and old time, jazz; an origami class instructed en masse; an en masse flatfoot class; and a performance of American classic dance. Special children’s activities will be available as well.

Throughout the day, local churches will provide reasonably priced specialized treats from the Crooked Road Cookbook, A Taste of the Crooked Road.

The closing ceremonies at 4:30 p.m. will include a Christo-ish fabric draping of the newly remodeled school and cake for all, a sculptural rendition of the building.

Top your day off and rest your feet at the Crooked Road Musicians Show at the Rex Theater beginning at 5 p.m. ($5 admission).

]]> Memories: The Blue Ridge Parkway in Retrospect Juried Art Exhibit tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.210 2010-04-19T21:28:52Z 2010-04-19T21:28:52Z Penny Lloyd plloyd@roanokecountyva.gov Celebrate the grand opening of Chestnut Creek School of the Arts and honor the 75th anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway with a juried exhibit. On Friday, April 16, CCSA will open the gallery at 7 p.m. and present awards for “Memories: The Blue Ridge Parkway in Retrospect” with a juried collection of metaphorical or literal artworks pertaining to the Parkway, not only the scenic beauty, the flora and fauna, but also the people and their craft who have contributed to the arts and cultural heritage of the communities along the Parkway. Regional artists within a 100-mile radius of Galax, VA, are invited to submit entries for acceptance into the show.

]]> 55th Annual Vinton Dogwood Festival tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.154 2010-04-21T17:30:25Z 2010-04-21T17:30:25Z Penny Lloyd plloyd@roanokecountyva.gov The Vinton Dogwood Festival is Americana at its best. The festival kicks off spring for Vinton and the Roanoke Valley. A crowd favorite is the parade during the afternoon. Other activities include an antique car show featuring over 100 vehicles, a large craft show, distance run, children’s activity area. Three entertainment stages showcase music and dance during the day and evening. The 2010 festival and parade will highlight the 75th Anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The festival location is only three to five minutes from the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway.

]]> Blue Ridge Parkway 75 Symposium – Part I, Boone, NC tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.128 2010-04-22T13:58:37Z 2010-04-22T13:58:37Z Penny Lloyd plloyd@roanokecountyva.gov Imagining the Blue Ridge Parkway for the 21st Century

Imagining the Blue Ridge Parkway for the 21st Century is a two-part conference and conversation about the past and future of this national treasure on the occasion of its 75th anniversary.

The Appalachian State University (Part I) and Virginia Tech (Part II) sessions of Imagining the Blue Ridge Parkway will be linked in terms of content, themes, some participants, and mutual relevance. Both conferences will stand alone, however, and registrants and participants may come to one or both.

At both sessions, participants from many academic disciplines; partnership organizations; local, state, and federal government agencies; natural and cultural resource organizations; Parkway communities; and other constituencies will share new research and engage in conversations that will outline a vision for the Blue Ridge Parkway for its next 75 years and beyond.

Part I: Appalachian State University, Boone, NC Conference Program, Registration, and Housing April 22-24, 2010

Part I of the conference, to be held at Appalachian State University, will have a more academic focus, featuring presentation and discussion of serious Parkway-related research from many disciplines in the sciences, social sciences, and humanities. Inquiries about Part I can be made to Dr. Neva Specht, University Liaison to the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Department of History at Appalachian State. Her contact information is on the left. Find more information in the preliminary Conference Program. To sign up, follow the conference registration link below:

› Conference Registration - Deadline April 9


Conference Housing

Make your housing arrangements now! Blocks of rooms have been set aside at Fairfield Inn & Suites. Please contact the hotel directly to make your overnight arrangements. A credit card will be required to reserve your room.  Additional hotel information can be found at: http://visitboonenc.com/. A conference shuttle service will be available from the hotel to ASU campus Friday and Saturday mornings.

Fairfield Inn & Suites  *** Deadline March 24 ***
2060 Blowing Rock Rd.
Boone, NC 28607
828.268.0677

25 Rooms have been blocked.
Rates: Thursday, April 22, 2010 - $63.75 + 12.75% tax and Friday, April 23, 2010 - $99.00 + 12.75% tax.


› Part II Conference Information

]]> Brevard’s 4th Friday Gallery Walks tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.100 2010-04-23T14:00:31Z 2010-04-23T14:00:31Z Penny Lloyd plloyd@roanokecountyva.gov Every 4th Friday from April to November and the third Friday in December enjoy an evening stroll in downtown Brevard as you experience visiting 10 art galleries featuring local and regional artists, 16 animal sculptures, and 5 murals as well as art stores, retail stores, and restaurants that are open until 9 p.m. A brochure for the gallery walks can be found at any of the participating galleries or at the Brevard Chamber of Commerce. For more information call TC Arts Council at 828.884.2787 or go to http://www.artsofbrevard.org and click on Art Tours. 

The Gallery Walks are a great way to showcase the Arts & Culture of Transylvania County. Brevard is surrounded by National Forests and we are blessed to live in a beautiful natural environment and a lot of our artwork is made from natural resources and photography and paintings reflect the natural beauty of the area. Hours are from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

]]> Fire on the Mountain Blacksmith Festival tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.41 2010-04-24T19:05:51Z 2010-04-24T19:05:51Z Penny Lloyd plloyd@roanokecountyva.gov Seventy five years ago when the Blue Ridge Parkway was being completed, two of Daniel Boone’s direct decendants were in Spruce Pine operating a blacksmith forge.  Bea Hensley, who worked with the Boones, still operates a forge just off the Parkway at Milepost 331.  Each year on the last Saturday in April, Spruce Pine Main Street sponsors the Fire on the Mountain Blacksmith Festival in downtown Spruce Pine, which is located only five miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Dozens of blacksmiths line the street and demonstrate their metalworking techniques with many selling their outstanding art work to visitors at the festival.  The Toe River Arts Council on Oak Avenue hosts a blacksmith art exhibit the month leading up to the festival, exhibiting the highest quality blacksmith art.  Hours for the Fire on the Mountain are 10AM-4PM and admission is free.  Come watch demonstrations, try your hand at blacksmithing and enjoy an area that is a blacksmith nexus just off the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 331. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

]]> Blue Ridge Marathon tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.211 2010-04-24T20:51:32Z 2010-04-24T20:51:32Z Penny Lloyd plloyd@roanokecountyva.gov The inaugural Blue Ridge Marathon will help celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Local runners have crafted one of the most difficult and beautiful marathons on the east coast. The full marathon course includes 3,076 feet of total elevation gain and 6,140 feet of total elevation change. It is limited to a maximum of 400 runners, while the half marathon is limited to 600. The uphill portions will test each runner’s strength and endurance while the equally challenging downhill sections are sure to weed out those who are unprepared. The breathtaking views and stunning Blue Ridge Mountain scenery are sure to offer some reprieve to runners as they persevere to the finish line! 

Not only does the course include beautiful mountain scenery, it also offers an iconic START and FINISH in front of two well-known and historic locations in downtown Roanoke: The Taubman Museum of Art and the historic Hotel Roanoke.

Net proceeds from this race will go to FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway. FRIENDS works tirelessly to protect, preserve, and enhance the Blue Ridge Parkway – a national treasure!

]]> 6th Annual Shine to Wine Festival tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.206 2010-04-24T21:31:17Z 2010-04-24T21:31:17Z Penny Lloyd plloyd@roanokecountyva.gov The 6th Annual Shine to Wine Festival will feature 15 area wineries, live entertainment, and local and regional artists. Along with showcasing North Wilkesboro, Wilkes County, and the burgeoning wine indsustry in our area, this event will feature the 3rd Annual Culinary Chef Challenge, where regional chefs representing surrounding restaurants will compete for the titles of Best Chef, Most Creative, and People’s Choice. These chefs will display their cooking and presentation talents for a jury of judges and critics. 

At the end of the festival, all glass bottles and cardboard will be taken to be recycled. Historic Downtown North Wilkesboro and the Town of North Wilkesboro are committed to reducing our carbon footprint.

]]> Pioneer Day at Mountain Gateway Museum tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.326 2010-04-25T02:25:07Z 2010-04-25T02:25:07Z Penny Lloyd plloyd@roanokecountyva.gov Don’t miss this annual celebration of mountain heritage. The one-day festival features mountain music in the amphitheater, craft demonstrations such as weaving, blacksmithing, and pottery turning, and vendors displaying and selling their wares.

]]> “Motoring the Blue Ridge Parkway” Exhibit Grand Opening tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.228 2010-04-30T20:20:46Z 2010-04-30T20:20:46Z Penny Lloyd plloyd@roanokecountyva.gov On April 30, 2010, Wheels Through Time (WTT) Transportation Museum opens a year-long exhibit entitled Motoring the Blue Ridge Parkway. The exhibit will showcase elements of Parkway history, including construction of the 469-mile roadway, its evolving role as the most visited of our national scenic motorways, and its importance as an international destination and gateway to the communities bordering its route. The exhibit will include historical photographs and documents and many of the period WTT machines driven and ridden on the Parkway over the past 75 years.

The exhibit’s goal is to demonstrate the natural linkage of the Blue Ridge Parkway with WTT, one of America’s premier transportation museums. WTT’s goal is demonstration of its 300+ motorcycles and automobiles – components of America’s 100-year love affair with transportation – joined with three underlying goals for the 75th celebration: joint celebration of Parkway history, demonstration of support for the Parkway, and a public vision of a sustained Parkway future. This combination – offered in Maggie Valley, the southern anchor of the Parkway – will please regular visitors to the museum and offer a unique educational experience to all the parkway visitors.

WTT is honored to partner with the Blue Ridge Parkway 75th Celebration. Our exhibit, Motoring the Blue Ridge Parkway, offers the opportunity to demonstrate the dramatic history and importance of this national heritage motorway, the vehicles that have traveled it, and our visions of committed support for a vibrant Parkway future.

]]> Rhododendron Show tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.44 2010-05-01T13:16:44Z 2010-05-01T13:16:44Z Penny Lloyd plloyd@roanokecountyva.gov The American Rhododendron Society’s Southeastern Chapter will host its annual show at The North Carolina Arboretum. Hundreds of blooms will be displayed at the Education Center during the show, including many favorite mountain plants. Azaleas as well as spring and summer blooming rhododendrons are among the most popular. Trail Walks to the National Native Azalea Repository will be offered. Free with parking fee ($6 per personal motor vehicle).

]]> Spring on the Blue Ridge Parkway Exhibit tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.334 2010-05-01T15:37:30Z 2010-05-01T15:37:30Z Penny Lloyd plloyd@roanokecountyva.gov As May ushers in its vibrant colors, local artists are inspired to grab their easels, cameras, clay, and more to capture the beauty of spring on the parkway.

]]> Spring Festival Honoring Henry Whitter tag:blueridgeparkway75.org,2010:events/2.42 2010-05-01T19:41:00Z 2010-05-01T19:41:00Z Penny Lloyd plloyd@roanokecountyva.gov Join us as we celebrate our musical heritage at the Second Annual Fries Spring Festival Honoring the legendary singer Henry Whitter. Enjoy a full day of music, food, shopping, and fun along the banks of the beautiful New River!

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