Grandfather Mountain Highland Games

Grandfather Mountain Highland Games Celebrates 58 Years

July 11-14, 2013 will begin the annual Grandfather Mountain Highland Games at MacRae Meadows in Linville, North Carolina. Hosting hundreds of Scottish Clans, the games offer authentic food, piping, drumming, Scottish country dance, competitive games and opportunities to discover your Scottish heritage.

Below is a list of the Schedule of Events:

Thursday, July 11

Picnic, Torchlight Ceremony & Sheep Herding

4:30pm begins the Picnic in MacRae Meadows - Concessions will be provided, but you can also bring your own goodies to enjoy. Scottish entertainment will be provided, along with a Sheep herding demonstration.

7pm - The Bear: Assault on Grandfather will begin. Over 800 runners will participate in this 5 mile foot race to the summit of Grandfather Mountain.

Torchlight Ceremony will announce each clan to the beginning of the games.

Friday, July 12

7:30am The Grizzly Bike Race

9am - MacRae Meadows opens for daily events

7pm-11pm - The Celtic Music Jam Concert

8pm-12am - The Scottish Country Dance Gala 

Saturday, July 13

7am- Mountain Marathon begins

7:30 - MacRae Meadows opens

7pm - Celtic Rock Concert begins at MacRae Meadows

Sunday, July 14

8am - MacRae Meadows opens

9am- Scottish Worship Service

Games, presentations and events will continue until closing at 4pm

http://www.gmhg.org/events.htm

The Blue Ridge Brass and the Montreat Scottish Pipes and Drums Perform a...

Changes for the 4th of July

Rain Postpones July 4th Events

The rain put a damper on several area July 4th events throughout the High Country. Several activities have been rescheduled for the upcoming weekend. Below are a list of activities rescheduled currently.

Newland Centennial Celebration featuring The Tams and fireworks

Friday, July 5, concert at The Riverside Park 6pm-9pm

Crossnore Fireworks - Saturday, July 6

Bethel Blast Fireworks - Sunday, July 7 9:30pm

Cranberry Fireworks - Sunday, July 7

Celebrate the 4th with Foscoe Rentals

Celebrate the 4th with Foscoe Rentals

Looking for something fun and exciting to do this holiday weekend? Come visit the High Country for fun, festivities, fireworks and food! 

Local Events Include:

~July 4th~

Boone's Annual 4th of July Parade - 11am in the downtown area

Banner Elk Parade - 11am with Duck Race to follow at Tate-Evans Park

Crossnore Parade - 3pm / Frog Jumping Contest 5pm / Street dance

Boone Festivities - 7pm Clawson-Burnley Park

~Fireworks~

Beginning around 9pm, local communities offer beautiful firework displays throughout the area. Participating areas are...

Boone

Tweetsie Railroad - parking $5 per car

Crossonore

Elk River

Linville Ridge

Grandfather Golf and Country Club

~July 5~

The 440th Army Reserve Band Concert in Blowing Rock Memorial Park - 3pm

Newland Fireworks Show

~July 6~

Newland Parade - 11am

Town of Seven Devils Safetyfest - Craft Fair 10am / BBQ Dinner 11am

Blowing Rock Independence Day Celebration - All Day

Parade beginning at 2pm

Fireworks 9:30pm

Minneapolis Parade - 1pm

Beech Mountain - 47th Annual Roasting of the Hog - 6pm

The Band Perry - ASU Kidd Brewer Stadium (gates open at 6:30pm)

~July 7~

Blowing Rock Park Dance - 1pm at Memorial Park

Appalachian State Named to Top 10 Athletic Facilities

Great news for Appalachian State University, named one of the nations top ten athletic facilities. Recognized for offering some of the greatest training terrains on the East Coast, ASU holds it's own with Clemson and Ohio State Universities! 

For complete details: http://dailyinfographic.com/top-ten-athletic-facilities-infographic

High Country Fun!

Looking for something fun to do with the family? Visit the High Country for cool mountain temperatures and unique experiences and memories. The North Carolina High Country offers a variety of family friendly activites to participate in. 

Grandfather Mountain

Grandfather Mountain and the Mile High Swinging Bridge offers the Blue Ridge's highest peaks with hiking, natural wildlife and picnicking. Visit the museum, fudge and gift shop for snacks and souvieneers.

www.grandfather.com

Mystery Hill

Mystery Hill is a wonderful indoor attraction which explores science, optical illusions and hands-on entertainment. 

www.mysteryhill-nc.com

Mast General Store

Mast General Store was established in 1883 and is registered through the National Registry of Historical Places. Mast offers a wide variety of merchandise, as well as, The Candy Barrel, with all the sweets you can imagine! 

www.mastgeneralstore.com

Tweetsie Railroad

Tweetsie Railroad is North Carolina's mountain theme park. Located in between Boone and Blowing Rock, Tweetsie offers rides on a historic narrow-gauge steam locomotive, County Fair Rides, a petting zoo, chairlift, and wonderful food and entertainment. Spend the day with family and friends making memories that will last a lifetime.

www.tweetsie.com

Linville Caverns

Come see the inside of a mountain. Half hour guided tours offer views of natural limestone caverns with stalactite and stalagmite formations and an underground stream. Wear a jacket, it gets chilly with a year round temperature of 52 degrees!

www.linvillecaverns.com

Appalachian State University and Lees McRae College Commencement

Commencement ceremonies are planned for this weekend at both Appalachian State and Lees McRae College. Ceremonies for Appalachian will begin May 10, with events continuing through Sunday, May 12. Lees McRae will hold commencement on Saturday, May 11, beginning at 11am on Tate Lawn, depending on weather conditions.

Best Wishes and Congratulations to all of our High Country Graduates!