Held since 1923, the Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show is the longest continuously running outdoor horse show in the United States, a true High Country summer tradition. World-class competition fills the L.M. Tate Showgrounds at the Broyhill Equestrian Preserve, with proceeds supporting local charities.
- June 4–7Saddlebred Division
- July 21–26Hunter/Jumper I
- July 28–August 2Hunter/Jumper II
The Embers Hotel is a proud sponsor, and our downtown location makes an easy base for a show weekend.
Learn more at the Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show page.
A few times each summer and fall, Park Avenue fills with juried artists for one of Blowing Rock’s most beloved traditions. Browse fine art, photography, pottery, jewelry, woodworking, glass, and textiles from talented regional and national makers, all just steps from downtown.
- June 1310:00 AM–4:00 PM
- July 2510:00 AM–4:00 PM
- August 1510:00 AM–4:00 PM
- September 1210:00 AM–4:00 PM
- October 310:00 AM–4:00 PM
Stay at The Embers Hotel and you’re within easy walking distance of the whole show.
Learn more at Art in the Park.
Revolutionary War history comes to life at the Daniel Boone Amphitheater, told through music, firelight, and live battle scenes. Performances run Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 PM all summer long.
A short drive from Blowing Rock, it makes for an easy evening out and a true Appalachian summer tradition. Make The Embers Hotel your base and return to a quiet room when the show wraps.
Learn more at Horn in the West.
Blowing Rock’s Fourth of July parade steps off at 10:00 AM, followed by games, music, and festivities in Memorial Park. It’s the kind of small-town celebration that defines a High Country summer.
At The Embers Hotel, you’re right in the middle of it. Main Street sits just at the bottom of our front steps, so you can take in the parade street-side. For the best seat in the house, book a room with a Main Street view: the Corner Executive King, Corner King Downtown View, and Deluxe King Downtown View all look out over the parade route. Then raise a glass to the day with our special 1776 cocktail.
Learn more at the Blowing Rock 4th of July page.
Spend the day at Tweetsie Railroad, open 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, with rides, shows, and family fun, then stay for the largest fireworks display in the High Country at 9:30 PM.
Pair it with the morning parade downtown for a full Fourth of July, then head back to The Embers Hotel, just minutes away.
Learn more at Tweetsie Railroad.
Bring a lawn chair or a blanket to the Broyhill Park gazebo for free Monday-night concerts, with performances spanning jazz, country, show tunes, and more, beginning at 6:30 PM.
It’s a relaxed way to spend a summer evening downtown. The series runs each Monday from July 6 through August 3, an easy stroll from The Embers Hotel.
Learn more at the Monday Night Concert Series page.
One of the region’s most beloved festivals fills MacRae Meadows at Grandfather Mountain with traditional music, dancing, heavy athletics, clan gatherings, costumes, food, and vendors.
It’s a bucket-list summer event in the High Country, about a half-hour from Blowing Rock. Rooms fill fast during games weekend, so book early and make The Embers Hotel your home base.
Learn more at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games.
Symphony on the Mountain returns with “Celebrating America’s 250th,” featuring the Symphony of the Mountains and special guest Jake Hoot, set against sweeping mountain views.
Gates open at 5:00 PM, with the opening performance at 5:30, the featured performance at 7:30, and a fireworks finale to close the night. It’s a memorable summer evening just minutes from The Embers Hotel.
Learn more at Symphony on the Mountain.
Held at the Blowing Rock Country Club, the BRAHM Gala supports the museum’s exhibitions, educational programming, and free admission. It’s an elegant night out for art and history lovers.
Availability may be limited, so check directly with BRAHM for current details. The Embers Hotel makes a fitting stay for the occasion.
Learn more at the BRAHM Gala page.
Game-day weekends bring energy to the High Country all fall. Appalachian State’s 2026 home schedule at Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone:
- September 5vs. Maine
- September 19vs. Charlotte
- October 10vs. Old Dominion (Homecoming)
- Thursday, October 22vs. James Madison (Family Weekend)
- November 7vs. Georgia State
- November 21vs. ULM (Senior Day)
Boone is a short drive from Blowing Rock, so The Embers Hotel is an easy base for a football weekend. Game weekends sell out, so book ahead.
See the full schedule at App State Athletics.
Centered at the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum, this multi-day festival sends painters into the streets, mountains, and overlooks to capture the area’s scenery, architecture, and Appalachian character.
Watch the work take shape across town and take a piece home. It’s a creative reason to visit as the season begins to turn. Settle in at The Embers Hotel between stops.
Learn more at the Plein Air Festival page.
Tweetsie Railroad transforms for the season with its annual Ghost Train. Enjoy a nighttime ride, haunted houses, trick-or-treating, and Halloween shows.
The park opens at 7:30 PM (7:00 PM starting October 16) on Friday and Saturday nights. Tickets often sell out, so book in advance. The Embers Hotel is just a short drive away, making it an easy return after a night of frights.
Learn more at the Tweetsie Ghost Train page.
Early color appears at the higher elevations in late September, building toward peak across October along the Blue Ridge Parkway and the surrounding mountains. It’s prime time for scenic drives, hikes, and overlooks.
Weekday visits tend to be quieter and easier as leaf-season traffic picks up on weekends. The Embers Hotel is an ideal launch point for a fall-color getaway.
Plan your visit with the Blowing Rock fall guide.
Experience the brilliant autumn foliage up close with short, guided walks led by Grandfather Mountain naturalists. Rambles run daily from 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM, exploring different areas of the mountain to catch the best color.
It's a perfect daytime excursion to pair with a scenic drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Learn more at Grandfather Mountain Fall Color Ramble.
Celebrate autumn in the High Country at the 36th annual Sugar Mountain Oktoberfest. The weekend features live Bavarian music, traditional food and drink, local crafts, and scenic lift rides amid peak fall color.
Festivities run from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM both days. Pair the festival with a fall drive through the High Country for an easy day trip from Blowing Rock.
Learn more at Sugar Mountain Oktoberfest.
The 48th annual Valle Country Fair takes over the fields of the Valle Crucis Conference Center with local apple butter, Brunswick stew, handmade crafts, and live mountain music.
Set against one of the most scenic valleys in the region during peak foliage, it is a classic Appalachian autumn experience.
Learn more at the Valle Country Fair page.
For its 49th year, the Woolly Worm Festival brings thousands to nearby Banner Elk to race woolly bear caterpillars. The winning worm earns the honor of predicting the upcoming winter weather.
With more than 100 craft vendors, food, and live entertainment, it’s one of the High Country’s quirkiest fall traditions and an easy day trip from The Embers Hotel.
Learn more at the Woolly Worm Festival page.
Blowing Rock’s Halloween Festival brings free downtown fun, trick-or-treating, and the much-loved Monster March to Memorial Park and the streets of downtown.
It’s a festive, easy outing for families. Stay at The Embers Hotel and you’re right in the middle of it.
Learn more at the Blowing Rock Halloween Festival page.
Winter days are easy to build into a Blowing Rock getaway at Appalachian Ski Mtn, where the 2026–27 season is scheduled to run November 20 through March 14, weather permitting.
Just over three miles from The Embers Hotel, the mountain makes it easy to add skiing, snowboarding, or ice skating to a Blowing Rock stay. Check the day’s slope conditions and reserve ahead when needed.
Learn more at Appalachian Ski Mtn.
Kick off the holiday season in Memorial Park with games, music and caroling, visits with Santa, hot chocolate, and the evening Lighting of the Town.
It all unfolds right on Main Street, just a short stroll from The Embers Hotel, so you can enjoy the celebration and twinkle-lit downtown on foot.
Learn more at the Christmas in the Park page.
Each holiday season, Chetola Resort lights the grounds around Chetola Lake with thousands of festive illuminations, creating an easy evening drive or stroll during a winter stay in Blowing Rock. The display traditionally begins around Thanksgiving and continues into January.
Pair the lights with dinner or drinks in town, then settle back in at The Embers Hotel. Chetola posts seasonal details and special activities as the holidays approach.
Learn more at the Chetola Resort events page.
Tweetsie Railroad transforms into a nostalgic holiday park on select evenings in November and December. Ride the open-air train through immersive light displays, enjoy amusement rides, and visit with Santa (through December 23).
The park is open from 5:00 PM to 9:30 PM on scheduled dates. It’s an ideal family evening out, only minutes from The Embers Hotel.
Learn more at Tweetsie Christmas.
Starting at 10:00 AM, the Blowing Rock Christmas Parade brings the community together for floats, music, and a festive procession through downtown.
The parade passes right by the bottom of our front steps. Guests staying in a Corner Executive King, Corner King Downtown View, or Deluxe King Downtown View have some of the best vantage points in town directly from their rooms.
Learn more at the Blowing Rock Christmas Parade page.
Head to downtown Boone from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM for a holiday edition of First Friday, with artists, musicians, youth makers, seasonal activities, and the Solar Tree Lighting at the Jones House.
The free celebration makes an easy evening outing from Blowing Rock, with plenty of time to browse King Street before returning to The Embers Hotel.
Learn more at Festive First Friday & Solar Tree Lighting.
Banner Elk celebrates the first weekend of December with a town tree lighting, holiday activities, shopping, and a Saturday evening Christmas Parade of Lights. Most festivities are centered within the walkable downtown area.
Make a day of the scenic drive from Blowing Rock, then return to The Embers Hotel for a cozy night downtown. Check the official event page closer to December for the complete weekend schedule.
Learn more at A Small Town Christmas.
Downtown Blowing Rock turns into a town-wide holiday open house from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, with shops staying open late and seasonal activities adding to the glow along Main Street.
From The Embers Hotel, simply step outside and make an evening of strolling, shopping, and taking in the lights without needing to move the car.
Learn more at the Blowing Rock Holiday Stroll page.
Make the most of winter break with late-night skiing at Appalachian Ski Mtn. From December 26 through 31, the slopes stay open through midnight for extra turns under the lights.
After a late run, The Embers Hotel is only a few miles away for an easy return to downtown Blowing Rock.
Learn more at Appalachian Ski Mtn.
Ring in 2027 at Appalachian Ski Mtn with late-night skiing and ice skating, restaurant specials, and a fireworks finale. The slopes stay open until 11:30 PM, giving you plenty of time for one last run before midnight.
After the celebration, The Embers Hotel is just minutes away for an easy return to downtown Blowing Rock.
Learn more at the App Ski New Year’s Eve Extravaganza page.
Blowing Rock WinterFest returns January 28–31 with a full weekend of cold-weather traditions, including the Polar Bear Plunge, Rotary Chilly Chili Challenge, ice carving, special events, and seasonal happenings throughout town.
With many activities centered in and around downtown, The Embers Hotel puts you close to the weekend while giving you a warm place to come back to between events.
Learn more at the Blowing Rock WinterFest page.