TROUTACULAR! FESTIVAL June 5th

A river runs through it! The beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, these ancient rivers, a gorgeous June day, and fishing for rainbow trout – does it get any better than this? What a great way to spend truly quality time with kids or grandkids while they learn another part of our mountain lifestyle! Both Bakersville and Spruce Pine are 2 of a handful of small Appalachian towns given the designation of “Mountain Heritage Trout Water City.” They both have rivers close to or running directly through their towns (Bakersville – the Cane River; Spruce Pine – the South Toe River). Date: Saturday, June 5, 2010
Time: 6am – 3:00pm
Location: Riverside Park in Spruce Pine, Creek Walk in Bakersville
Competitions and Prizes, Exhibits, Arts and Crafts, Activities
FREE HATS for the first 75 KIDS!!
FREE LUNCH for all registered fishermen! [food & beverages will be available for purchase by non-registered visitors]
You can call 828-765-9033 to confirm events for the Troutacular Trout Festival.

The 64th NC Rhododendron Festival - June 18th and 19th

This festival celebrates the blooming of the world's largest display of naturally blooming rhododendron, high atop Roan Mountain. Friday's festivities include the first round of competition in both divisions of the NC Rhododendron Festival Pageant, beginning at 7:00pm at Bowman Middle School.
Friday also features an old-fashioned square dance with a live bluegrass band. Beginning at 8:00pm, the town of Bakersville blocks off Main Street and dances to music by The Wisemans. Saturday's activities include a family-friendly street fair with arts, crafts and food vendors, a classic car show, helicopter rides, tours of Roan Mountain, a 10K run, live entertainment on the Creekwalk and a ducky derby. Saturday evening features the second round of competition and crowning of the 2011 NC Rhododendron Queens beginning at 7:00pm at Bowman Middle School. The festival concludes with a final round of square dancing and live music on Main Street, starting at 8:00pm. For more information, visit www.bakersville.com
or contact Bob Hensley at bobhensley@ccvn.comor 828-688-3541.

HISTORIC PARKWAY PLAYHOUSE OPENS FOR SUMMER 2010 – JUNE 4TH

North Carolina’s oldest, continually operating summer theater, the Parkway Playhouse, opens for the 2010 season - its 64th - on June 4th with a North Carolina Premier of Leaving Iowa.

If you have not attended a performance at this North Carolina historical theater, you are in for a real treat – even those of you from our nation’s largest cities. There is INCREDIBLE talent here – both in acting and staging all-time favorites and state and world premiers. Our local high school, Mountain Heritage High School, has garnered many well-deserved state awards for their acclaimed drama department – and this professional theater company is the genesis of that talent and training.

Leaving Iowa will be entertaining and funny, but you simply will not want to miss the world premier, The Ballad of Tom Dooley, on August 13-22. Get your tickets early. The legend behind this play - and the Kingston Trio hit song of the same title - originates right here in our area of North Carolina. While every production is a surprise and delight, whatever emanates from heart and home in the Appalachian Mountains will be especially memorable. Just ask any of the multi-generational local families to tell you their oral history of Tom, and then go enjoy the Parkway Playhouse’s interpretation of this local folk story.

For background to the legend of Tom Dooley: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Dula
For tickets and schedule of the Parkway Playhouse: http://www.parkwayplayhouse.com/

2010 TOE RIVER STUDIO TOUR (JUNE 11-13)

***THE PREMIER OPEN STUDIO TOUR IN THE COUNTRY***

This is it! If you love beautiful, scenic drives in the mountains during the prettiest time of the year, you are going to really like this. If you love and appreciate art, you are going to likely rank it as one of your all-time favorite events. Combine the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains with the most artists - per capita - in America, add in the world-renowned Penland School of Crafts, stir in not just a few nationally and internationally acclaimed artists, Smithsonian exhibitors, North Carolina “Living Treasures” (designation by the Museum of World Cultures) and up-and-coming avant-garde artists, and you have the recipe for a day or weekend of enjoying some of the best and most unique talent in America surrounded by some of this nation's most celebrated scenic areas and drives. AND IT’S FREE!

If you would rather have someone else handle the tour for you, then sign up for a tour with ARTISTREE. Jane and Robin will make this even more memorable and fun for a nominal cost.

This is the perfect time to combine one of our top events of the year with a tour of The Cove at Celo Mountain. Let us arrange accommodations for you at our special rates. (Plan your trip soon as reservations will be booked at all surrounding lodging establishments!) There will be a delicious, down-home complimentary BBQ dinner being prepared on the premises for our guests near the entrance at Greeter’s Park. Call us at 866-378-4769 to handle all of the particulars for you.

For more information on the TRAC Studio tour and map guides for self-directed tours: http://www.toeriverarts.org/studiotour.shtml

For group or private, specialized tours: ARTISTREE www.artistreenc.com

For a tour of The Cove at Celo Mountain, to book overnight accommodations, and reserve a space at the complimentary BBQ dinner:
www.celoliving.com or 866-378-4769

EN PLEIN AIR – MAY 22nd - BURNSVILLE, NC HISTORIC TOWN SQUARE

Winner of the The Monet Award 12X12 O/P

The Toe River Arts Council (TRAC) is presenting its 4th Annual Paint Out, modeled on the en plein air experience, a French expression that means “in the open air,” particularly used to describe the act of painting outdoors.

Add the historic town square of Burnsville, the legendary Nu Wray Inn, more artists –per capita – in Yancey and Mitchell Counties than anywhere else in America, and the vernal palette of wild dogwood, azalea, forsythia, pear and plum trees, ad infinitum, and you have the makings of a perfect spring day in a beautiful town nestled in a valley of the Blue Ridge Mountains.


Come out and stroll Main Street as you enjoy our gorgeous spring weather in the Blue Ridge and watch our nationally and internationally acclaimed artists as they paint while sitting on park benches, on balconies, in the town square, at outdoor eateries, and along the street.

All artists will return to the TRAC Gallery on Main Street by 5:00 p.m. and frame their artwork to prepare for the juried awards and selections. At 6:30 there will be a reception open to the public for an exhibition of the day’s work. The artwork will be displayed May 22 – June 5th, with many of the paintings available for sale.

Many mediums will be represented: oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastels, charcoal, graphite - even collage. The perfect day, the perfect gift or memento, the perfect place to be on a memorable day in May!

For more information: http://www.toeriverarts.org/