This Weekend in North Carolina....

Another edition of This Weekend in NC is up!  I love this photo (credit:  Cherokee County) it just really captures our state in the month of October & November.  Remember to visit Cherokee one weekend and take in the rich history from the Native Cherokee people and also play around a little in that fabulous casino...

Have you jumped in a pile of leaves yet?  This weekend you should take some time to travel the Blue Ridge Parkway and see the majesty of fall in the trees.  If you have not done this before then you're cutting yourself short on celebrating the beauty of fall.



It may be a good weekend to take in a theatrical production at the renowned North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem.  Students will be presenting "A Bright Room Called Day" this weekend.  This production is based on group of young German intellectuals who question the responsibility of the intelligent in dangerous times.



Maybe you are looking for some Halloween fun?  Perhaps a bit of culture too?  Also in Winston-Salem this weekend at the Hanes Brands Theater the Winston Salem Festival Ballet will be presenting Gary Taylor's Dracula.  This ballet is based on immortal love through the ages.



Kersey Valley, located in Archdale, has an amazing zipline tour but they also have a pretty terrifying Halloween tradition - Spooky Woods.  I was alerted that this event is rated number one nationally by Haunt World Magazine.  It is also ranked nationally by media outlets as one of the Top 13 Haunted Events in America.  If you like to be so scared you cannot sleep for months then you should take advantage of Kersey Valley Spooky Woods this weekend!



If you are looking for a small town festival to attend then head to Claremont Daze.  This event celebrates the small town of Claremont which is located between Statesville and Hickory on I-40.  The band Too Much Sylvia will be playing and there will be a plethora of vendors and food available.



Ghost tours are quite popular around the nation.  Have you ventured to Mt. Airy (aka Mayberry) and made place on their tour?  This weekend is prime time for the Mt. Airy Ghost Tours.  This 90 minute lantern lit tour will introduce you to 13 of the less mortal of Mt. Airy from the past.  You'll never see our Mayberry the same way...



If you are near Arden this weekend then be sure to catch the Western North Carolina Harvest Days celebration.  This event features antique and modern day farming equipment and celebrates the rich history of Western North Carolina agriculture.  There will be over 250 exhibitors on hand for this event!



Not sure about you but I like music and I like a little libation here and there.  How about we all load up and head to the Beats, Burgers, and Brews fest in Chimney Rock Village at the Ole Rock Burger Cafe?  There will be bluegrass, Americana, rock and more.  The restaurant is one of Zagat's Top Rated Must Eat Places from 2014.



Are you in the Wilmington area?  This weekend be sure to go to the Poplar Grove Plantation Halloween Celebration.  This event hails a Zombie 5k, haunted hay ride, costume contest and more!  When you visit their website you will also see that they are having a Haint Blue Ghost Tour & Masquerade for adults.  Be sure to purchase your tickets and get a sitter!

Do you have anything going on in your area you would like to share?  Let me know and I'll make sure it gets on this post for next week!

This Weekend In North Carolina: Fairs, festivals, and football

Labor Day came and Labor Day went and with it went summer.  Well maybe not the real summer but the ideology that we have lots of summer left to enjoy.

Now is the time to embrace all things fair, fall, and fun in North Carolina.  Here's a jam packed listing of some great things going on this upcoming weekend around the state.

Here are some fairs starting this weekend:



Wilson County Fair  This fair caught my attention because they are having tiger encounters and a rock breaking team (say what?)

 Cabarrus County Fair,   Sandscapes, pig races, a magician, and a music stage hosted by The New 103.7 out of Charlotte.



Central Carolina Fair   Is featuring nine big names from the music industry including Parmalee, Doug E. Fresh, and John Waite.  This fair also offers up some great rides and 4H competitive events.



NC Mountain State Fair  This may be enough to pull you in....Sea Lions.  Yes.  In the mountains of North Carolina you can get your sea lion fix. Maybe you're like me and not a fan of seals/sea lions?  If so you can check out the llama exhibit. This fair also celebrates the mountain way of life. It wouldn't be a proper mountain fair without bluegrass, so expect a lot of it.



Cumberland County Fair  Let me just ask this.  When you go to a fair do you expect a roller derby?  Probably not but this fair is offering one up this week.  They are also welcoming James Otto to the entertainment stage.  I've also been told there is plenty of agriculture to celebrate as well.



Surry County Ag Fair  It is the 68th year of the Surry County Agriculture Fair.  This fair is true southern fair tradition with a midway packed with rides, food only found at the fair, and blue ribbon agriculture to view.  Enjoy this fair through the 19th.

Here are some other events happening around the state:



Cowboy Up Festival  Friday night is Jackpot Cutting, Saturday morning is Ranch Sorting and Trail Challenge. About 4 p.m. we will have a horse tack auction and drill team demo, 6:00 p.m. will begin entertainment until. Sunday morning at 9 a.m. we will have Cowboy Church and at 10:00 a.m. we will begin barrel race exhibitions and race begins at noon.



Bars & Bites South End Food Food Tour  This kicks off as a Happy Hour Theme event.  Tour and taste the eclectic dining that is South End.  This event is $55 and includes a very diverse tour and history of the dining section of this area of Charlotte.  If you are a non drinker then do not think this event isn't for you.  There are options at nearly every stop for those of you who do not partake in alcohol!



Radical Reels Tour Head to the National Whitewater Center on Friday for an adrenaline pumping film with the backdrop being the rapids of the NWC.  This event is free and family friendly.  You should just go to the NWC because there is so much to do and this film is just icing on the cake!



Asheville Goombay Festival - Goombay is a Western African term for rhythm or drum.  This festival celebrates the diversity of the African diaspora.  National attention is turned to this Asheville event that is free for any and all who want to attend.



NC Gourd Festival  Well this shocks me but doesn't shock me all at the same time.  If you aren't familiar with what a gourd is then...look at the picture.  I grew up around gourds - people made them into bird houses and painted things on them as decor.  If you're a gourd guru then head to Raleigh this weekend.



Hopscotch Music Festival  If you head to that Gourd Festival then you should swing by this festival.  The music lineup is sick.  From country crooners like Dwight Yoakam to the post punk music movement and then to orchestra with modern flair; this event is a huge deal.  It covers a few days and is totally worth your attention.



Bull Durham Blues Festival Music is big this weekend in the triangle.  Durham is hosting a multi day blues event with names like Norman Connors and Pat :Mother Blues: Cohen.  I was told Saturday's event is FREE!  Enjoy the smooth sounds of the blues as the summer sets.


17 Days in Greensboro  The Greensboro Arts Council is offering fabulous arts based events for 17 days in September.  Some of these events are varied medium art, music, writing, theater, and more.  

Are you ready for some football?



NCSU Wolfpack takes on Eastern Kentucky this weekend at Carter Finley 6pm is kick off!  The Wolfpack won last weekend against Troy.  East Kentucky seam rolled Valaparaiso last weekend.

Tar Heel Football will be at home this weekend as they host the NC A&T Aggies.  On September 3rd the Tar Heels were pecked by the mighty Gamecocks of South Carolina.  It was a fight though because the Tar Heels coulda rocked and shocked them.  (This coming from a Wolfpack fan, guys.)  NC A&T is coming to visit Carolina after a winning opener against Shaw.  Wait topple doesn't really do justice to what A&T did to Shaw....the final was like 61-7.  

ECU Pirates kick some booty (get it?) against the Florida Gators.  East won their opener against Townsend.  The Gators had some New Mexico State Aggies for dinner last Saturday.  Let's see if the Pirates can hold strong and bring another tally in the W column in Gainesville.

Duke is used to being a basketball powerhouse and rumors are flying that they are really working on that football department.   This past weekend Duke opened with a win against Tulane.  This weekend they'll host NC Central who also won their opener this past weekend.

Wake Forest started their season with a W against Elon.  This weekend they'll take on Syracuse on their home turf.  Syracuse dehorned the Rhode Island Rams this past weekend.  How will they fare against the Demon Deacons?

Appalachian won their season opener against a team I have never heard of...sorry.  This week they will head down to Death Valley to take on those charming Clemson Tigers.  Last weekend the Tigers slaughtered the Terriers of Wofford.

Charlotte still a rookie football team they are making their way.  Charlotte opened up the 2015 season with a win against Georgia State in Atlanta.  This weekend they will take on Presbyterian at home.  Presby lost last weekend.

Worth mentioning because they're so close:

SC Gamecocks will be taking on the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday at 7:30.

And that professional team in Charlotte?



The Panthers will take on the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday for their season opener.  Um....will this be a recap of Hallmark's Kitten Bowl or will some football be played?