Page 17 - Burke County NC 2024

Etta Baker Statue, CoMMA Performing Arts Center

Arts & Entertainment

The Catawba River is named for the Catawba
Native American Tribe which translates to
“the people of the river.”

B urke County is renowned for its arts scene Find your bar stool at 14 breweries that follow Free summer concert series with food/food

and variety of cultural destinations. This
trucks and all-ages fun are becoming the go-to in
the Catawba River across four counties along the
is just a peek into some of the amazing
many towns. To find one in the area, check out:
Catawba Valley Ale Trail. visithickorymetro.com
creativity you will discover in this region:
• Raised a pint yet at the new Hillman Beer? It’s
the scene of live music on weekends, trivia nights, discoverburkecounty.com.
For world-class performances, a visit to CoMMA food trucks, and special events that complement Morganton was home for Etta Baker (1913-2006),
Performing Arts Center brings the Big City stage to their award-winning beers in downtown an American Piedmont blues guitarist and singer
Burke County. This center of performing arts hosts Morganton. hillmanbeer.com whose Southern Appalachian roots music inspired
must-sees, from national tours of Broadway musicals
to big band concerts. The Burke Arts Council downtown gallery was the likes of many musicians, including Bob Dylan.
architecturally renovated and features exhibitions Learn more at the exhibit at CoMMA Perfoming
The fresco titled Sacred Dance and the Muses and artist receptions representing dozens of artists Arts Center.
is on the CoMMA ceiling – a stunning piece of annually. Art classes and workshops in a variety of
work by North Carolina muralist Ben Long, who media are offered. The annual October Oyster Outing For more on arts and entertainment, visit Discover
studied art in Italy and France. The fresco features is their signature fundraiser. We love the seafood, the Burke County in downtown Morganton and check out
the nine muses, Greek goddesses who preside camaraderie – all for the arts! burkearts.org the Membership Directory in this publication.
over the arts and sciences, among other figures of
inspiration. commaonline.org
Myra’s in Valdese hosts a Friday Night Cruise-In
where people show their restored cars while a DJ
plays music of the 1950s and ‘60s (April through
October). carcruisefinder.com

Henry River Mill Village may be familiar to
some as District 12 in the Hunger Games films.
It’s a nationally designated Historic Place, a textile
mill village originally erected in 1905 for cotton
yarn manufacturing. There is an admission fee to
enter, and you can reserve an overnight stay in a
restored mill house, as well as join tours and special
events. henryriver.com
The Catawba Valley is along the Catawba River,
between the foothills of the Blue Ridge and South
Mountains near Morganton. Tour the Catawba Valley
Wine Trail and savor the offerings of five regional
wineries. ncwine.org

burkecountychamber.org Arts & Entertainment 13