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Grandfather Mountain is an amazing diversity hotspot for breeding birds in the southern Appalachians with more than 120 species detected during the nesting season. From warblers to hawks to hummingbirds, migration is a wondrous period of the year for birders and nature enthusiasts alike. Taught by Steve Dowlan, a retired natural resource specialist for the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, this course provides the opportunity to visit several locations on the mountain to learn about the diversity of migrants, the timing and mechanics of migration, and hopefully see dozens of species using Grandfather as a staging area on their long flights to Central and South America. Our classroom program will take a deeper dive into the science of migration and some of the technology unlocking the secrets of bird movement. Registration opens online on July 20 at 10 a.m.

Embark on a wild adventure with The Grizzly Forager on the mountain in search of mysterious treasure made by wasps, which explorers of old gathered and made into ink – the same ink that was used to sign the Declaration of Independence! Arthur, Sybbie and their dad, John, will guide you through the process of how to forage for oak galls and turn them into usable ink. The Grizzly Forager is an aspirational social media account with the primary aim of inspiring parents to get outside with their kids via the art of foraging. Arthur, Sybbie, and their mum and dad, John and Christina, create wholesome and visually appealing posts and reels that aim to educate, inspire and encourage kids of all ages to safely experience the outdoors and develop a deep love and connection with nature. Registration opens online on May 22 at 10 a.m.

This is a screening of the listed, Titanic (1997), film. Young love blooms on the immense luxury liner as it sails toward its fate in the North Atlantic. Told in flashback from the perspective of an elderly survivor named Rose, the plot centers on the passions that flare when her jilted fiancé seeks revenge over her affair with a spirited pauper named Jack.

Join us for our free, family-friendly Roots in the Garden concert series celebrating live music and community in the heart of Boone!
MAMA (formerly Mama & The Ruckus) is an Asheville blues and soul band fronted by powerhouse vocalist Melissa McKinney. The group has earned a string of accolades over the past few years, winning the 2025 MerleFest Band Competition (after McKinney took home the same prize as a solo artist in 2024) and, most recently, placing 2nd at the 2026 International Blues Challenge in Memphis.
* Beer, wine, and food available for purchase. Picnics welcome
* Please note, no dogs or glass containers in the Gardens
* Guests are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets for seating
Presented by Barb Linnville, Premier Sotheby’s International Realty
The annual concert series also features visual artists, with their work auctioned off at the end of the evening, and will continue on Thursday evenings throughout the summer: July 16, July 30, and Aug. 20.
Admission is a $5 suggested donation. All proceeds will support the Gardens’ mission to promote the benefits of native plants and healthy ecosystems, and provide a community green space in the heart of the High Country.

This endurance-based run is designed for both seasoned trail runners and those new to the world of ultras, offering an inclusive space to push limits, build community, and experience the beauty of trail running - without the intimidation factor.
Participants will have up to eight hours to complete as many loops as they choose on a 5K trail course at Daniel Stowe Conservancy. Where someone wants to walk a single loop, test themselves for a few hours, or push into ultra territory, this event is about personal challenge and shared experiences rather than speed or competition.

Don't miss this month's SPARK event featuring, Graystone Eye.

SPARK is a STEM career showcase featuring local industries in the Carolina Foothills. Participate in guided activities based on their careers. This event is FREE with the purchase of admission.

Join us for Claudia’s 5K: Call Out for Courage—a powerful event where fun meets purpose, all in support of mental health. Hosted by icuTalks, a Charlotte-based ministry working to break the stigma around mental health and create spaces for healing and hope, this 5K promotes courage, connection, and real change.

Let’s create an unforgettable 5K filled with laughter, connection, and the shared joy of walking and running for something bigger than ourselves.

Don't miss this month's SPARK event featuring, Western Piedmont Council of Governments.

SPARK is a STEM career showcase featuring local industries in the Carolina Foothills. Participate in guided activities based on their careers. This event is FREE with the purchase of admission.

"Every story I tell is true...except for the parts I make up" - Donna Washington

Get ready to take an unforgettable journey with Donna Washington! You might visit the North Wind, hang out with an exasperated turtle, find out why Possum plays dead, or find out why the Sun and Moon live in the sky. Audiences will laugh, play along, and leave with a story or two of their own to share.

Donna Washington is an award-winning internationally known master storyteller, artist-educator, and author who has been performing for audiences of all ages for over thirty-six years. She is renowned for her storytelling for both children and adults from poignant & funny fables about the human condition to relationships stories to spine-tingling tales of terror. She has been featured around the world including Canada, Peru, Ireland, Argentina & Hong Kong.

This event is part of our FamilyStage Series! Wiggles & Giggles are Welcome - this series is made for children, youth and families.

All Seats: $13.00

*Above price includes $3 per ticket facility fee
*Plus 6.75% NC sales tax
*All persons, including infants must have a ticket

Over 13 million people watched JEKI on America's Got Talent as he performed his own unique style of close-up magic. Simon Cowell was left stunned by what he had just witnessed. JEKI won the hearts of a nation. Social media was a buzz..."Love your Laugh" and "Jeki is so cool". Wins come in many forms! Especially when AGT's Twitter feed dubbed him "The Cutest Magician of All Time!"

This event is part of our FamilyStage Series! Wiggles and Giggles are Welcome - This series is made for children, youth, and families.

All Seats: $13.00 plus tax

Let the magic continue immediately after the show! Join JEKI for a youth magic workshop on stage. Spaces limited to 25!

Magic Workshop: $10 plus tax (in addition to show ticket)

*Above prices include $3 per ticket facility fee
*Plus 6.75% NC sales tax
*All persons, including infants must have a ticket

Wendy and her brothers love to play make-believe in their nursery. Then one night, a young boy named Peter Pan flies in through the window and whisks them away to Neverland filled with Lost Boys, pirates, and a man-eating crocodile. Brought to life with six quick-changing actors, the Barter Players make this an adventure you will never forget!

This event is part of our FamilyStage Series! Wiggles and Giggles are Welcome - this series is made for children, youth, and families.

All Seats: $13.00 plus tax

*Above price includes $3 per ticket facility fee
*Plus 6.75% NC sales tax
*All persons, including infants must have a ticket

A young orphan named Billy discovers magic in a stolen hat, and when he places it on a snowman's head, that snowman comes to life! Can Frosty help Billy find his real family in time for Christmas? Join them on a thrilling quest through New York City as they discover the real magic of the Season is Love.

About the Barter Players: With over 30 years of touring experience, The Barter Players perform world-class theatre for young audiences all around the United States. Because of our fierce theatricality and no-holds-barred acting, we have a following among both children and adults alike. The child in all of us deserved wild adventure, incredible story, and the excitement of live theatre.

This event is part of our FamilyStage Series: Wiggles and Giggles are Welcome - this series is made for children, youth, and families!

2 Performances: 2pm & 7pm
All seats: $13.00 plus tax

*Above price includes $3 per ticket facility fee
*Plus 6.75% NC sales tax
*All persons, including infants must have a ticket

This Make A-Wish Central & Western NC event unites golf enthusiasts from across the region at TPC Piper Glen Golf Club for an 18-hole tournament, on-course competitions, and awards post golf event. Whether you want to participate solo or in a group, or sponsor the event, there are many customizable opportunities for you or your company. We would love to chat to discuss details. Every dollar raised supports local, life-changing wishes! More info at Make-A-Wish Central and Western North Carolina - Fairways of Hope 2025

"Cherokee Family, Tribe, and History"
Chief Lamar Nelson of the Eastern Cherokee, Southern Iroquois & United Tribes (ECSIUT) Tribal CEO and Tribal Archaeologist, and Vice Chief Dr. Jody Noe, Tribal Medicine Woman

This lecture will focus on three subjects with Chief Nelson describing his family history, and the ECSIUT from the earliest beginnings through the present day. Dr. Jody Noe will focus on the Cherokee people from precontact through the early years of colonialism.

Presented in person and virtually. To attend via Zoom, register via this link: https://bit.ly/4sjS10X

The WNC Sculpture Center’s Third Saturday Family Workshop series invites families to gather once a month for hands-on, creative experiences that blend art-making, learning, and quality time together. Held every third Saturday, each workshop features a different accessible, family-friendly project—ranging from sculpture and printmaking to mixed‑media creations—designed to encourage collaboration across generations. Led by knowledgeable staff and artists, the workshops often include opportunities to explore the sculpture park, helping participants connect creativity with place. The series emphasizes creativity, shared experiences, and making meaningful keepsakes, making it a welcoming entry point for families to engage with the arts together.

Iron Light is the Western North Carolina Sculpture Center’s signature cast‑iron sculpture residency and public arts gathering, combining intensive artist collaboration with hands‑on community engagement. Held annually, Iron Light brings visiting and resident sculptors together on site for mold‑making, iron pour preparation, fabrication, and installation, culminating in a dramatic public iron pour where visitors can watch molten iron transformed into sculpture in real time. Community participation is central to the event, with opportunities for the public to engage alongside artists through demonstrations, iron tile and mold activities, and artist talks. The event atmosphere is celebratory and inclusive, featuring live music, food trucks, and family‑friendly programming, making Iron Light both an artistic spectacle and a social gathering that connects people to the creative process through fire, metal, and shared experience. The event is free and open to the public.

Event Schedule:
12pm-4pm: Community scratch block mold workshop - create your own cast iron artwork to be poured during the event ($75 per mold)
4pm: Live music and food trucks begin
5pm-8pm: Live iron pour demonstration

The WNC Sculpture Gallery will host an Artist Talk with Bill Stronach on Friday, June 27, 2026, at 5:00 PM, offering visitors an opportunity to hear directly from the longtime Lenoir artist about his exhibition on view from March 14 through June 27, 2026. Known for his thoughtful and technically skilled work in wood and metal, Stronach draws on decades of experience as both an artist and educator, exploring the challenges and character of natural materials through sculptural form. During the talk, Stronach will discuss his creative process, influences, and the evolution of his practice, providing insight into how craftsmanship, material honesty, and problem‑solving shape his work. The event will take place at the WNC Sculpture Gallery, located at 4612 Patterson School Drive in Lenoir, and is open to the public.

Read more at: https://www.thepaper.media/culture_community/bill-stronach-exhibits-work-in-wood-metal-at-the-western-nc-sculpture-center-gallery/article_0da021fa-8b0a-4a91-a608-4b330ef991e2.html

An evening presentation of Carnatic Flute and vocal jugalbandhi by Vid. Shashank S. and Vid. Abhishek Raghuram.

In 1905 New York, Esther, a gifted Black seamstress, sews intimate apparel for everyone from society women to prostitutes. Longing for love, she begins exchanging letters with George, a Caribbean man who soon proposes—sight unseen. Yet, her heart is drawn to a kind Hasidic shopkeeper. When George arrives, Esther must face a future she never anticipated.

An unforgettable journey of enduring love and triumph over adversity, The Color Purple is a landmark musical from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker. This epic story follows Celie, a young African American woman who courageously navigates a life marked by abuse and discrimination to discover the strength to break free and find her own voice. The Grammy-winning score of jazz, gospel, ragtime and blues promises to fill your heart and awaken your soul.