Page 17 - Burke County NC

Morganton Mural

Burke County

Arts & Culture

The Best of Times in the Heart of the North Carolina Foothills

isit area growers and makers at the Trails of Culture Dignity of Work
Morganton Farmers Market May-October Benjamin F. Long IV Fresco Trail
for locally grown fresh produce, baked The 12 life-size frescoes by world-famous artist and North Memorial
Vgoods, organic meat and eggs, handicrafts Carolina native, Benjamin F. Long, IV are the focus of a Festivals
and more, all from local farms and artists. The Saturday trail across eight counties leading you to the interiors Summer
Market is 8am-12pm at 300 Beach St.; the Wednesday of churches and public buildings adorned with the
Market is 10am-2pm at 111 N. Green St. paintings – like the one on the CoMMA ceiling. • TGIF Concert Series – (Fridays May-July except
morgantonfest.org/farmers-market blueridgeheritage.com/destinations/ week of July 4) 12 free concerts in Downtown
Morganton on the Historic Courthouse Square.
Henry River Mill Village may be familiar to some as blue-ridge-frescoes morgantonfest.org/tgif-concert-series
District 12 in the Hunger Games films. It’s a nationally Tour the Catawba Valley Wine Trail and savor the • Town of Rutherford College Founders Day
designated Historic Place, a textile mill village originally offerings of regional wineries. (June) – Incorporated 1977, the town celebrates
erected in 1905. There is an admission fee. ncwine.org/wineries/mountains with food, games, live music and a cook-off.
henryriver.com
The family-owned Linville Falls Winery, open daily, is off rutherfordcollegenc.us
CoMMA Performing Arts Center hosts national tours mile marker #317 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Meander • Waldensian Festival (August) The Town of
of Broadway musicals to big band concerts. The fresco to the vineyard and to a viewing platform in the woods. Valdese commemorates the Waldensian people who
titled Sacred Dance and the Muses is on the CoMMA On a clear day one can see Mt. Mitchell, Table Rock, founded Valdese in 1893. visitvaldese.com
ceiling, featuring the nine muses, Greek goddesses and Hawksbill. Check ahead for seasonal live music • Ohana Mud Run (August) – offers a challenging,
who preside over the arts and sciences. Thursdays-Sundays. linvillefallswinery.com muddy obstacle course with giant sprinklers, slides,
commaonline.org Find your bar stool at 14 breweries across four counties rope crawls, and big mud hills as teams compete to
Myra’s in Valdese hosts a Friday Night Cruise-In for along the Catawba Valley Ale Trail. the finish line. ohanamudrun.com
showing restored vintage cars; a DJ plays music of the visithickorymetro.com Fall
1950s and ‘60s (April-October). • Raise a pint at Hillman Beer, Fonta Flora Brewery, • Guate Fest (September) Two-day festival of
Facebook @Myra’s Friday Night Cruise In. and Sidetracked Brewery. It’s the scene of live Guatemalan culture, food, music, soccer, crafts, and
music on weekends, trivia nights, food trucks, and
The Burke Arts Council’s downtown gallery, renovated special events that complement their award-winning more. littleguatemala.com
last year, features exhibitions and artist receptions beers in downtown Morganton. • Morganton Festival (September) Two-day
representing dozens of artists annually. Art classes and festival with two music stages, rides, games, food,
workshops are offered. burkearts.org Toner’s Irish Pub in Morganton opened its kitchen entertainment, and nearly a mile of arts and crafts.
and taps June 2024. Raise a cheer with a Kilkenny vendorsmorgantonfest.org
Enjoy the outdoor drama “From this Day Forward” by Irish Cream Ale or a Guinness! Facebook @Toner’s
the Old Colony Players Community Theatre at the Irish Pub (Note: not on the ale trail, but new in town!) • Halloween Spooktacular (October) Trick-or-Treat
Fred B. Cranford Amphitheatre from mid-July to mid- at downtown businesses. Costume contest, inflatable
August. This drama tells the story of the Waldensians, a fun, and free games & activities on the Historic Burke
people from the Cottian Alps in Northern Italy, founders County Courthouse lawn.
of the Town of Valdese who fled religious persecutions. Winter Holidays
oldcolonyplayers.com • Memorial Tree Lighting Ceremony (November)
Bluegrass at The Rock (October 2024-February 2025) Donate $1 for lights in honor of and in memory of
at The Old Rock School is renowned for its outstanding Morganton was home to Etta Baker loved ones lit on the courthouse square tree the
bluegrass concerts in the 500-seat auditorium. (1913-2006), an American Piedmont blues Saturday evening after Thanksgiving.
visitvaldese.com/events/concerts-at-the-rock guitarist and singer whose Southern morgantonfest.org/memorial-tree-lighting
Appalachian roots music inspired the likes • Winter Carnival (weekend after Thanksgiving)
For more arts and entertainment, visit Burke Chamber of many musicians, including Bob Dylan. Christmas lights, carriage rides, and more fun!
of Commerce and check out the Membership Directory Learn more at the exhibit at CoMMA. discoverburkecounty.com/burke-events
in this publication.

burkecountychamber.org Arts and Culture 13