The Diverse Cultural Landscape of the High Country, NC

From Doc To Bach:

The Diverse Cultural Landscape of the High Country

From banjos to violins, dosie-does to pirouettes, local storytellers to Neil Simon plays, and hand-thrown pottery to towering steel sculpture, the High Country offers a unique blend of traditional and modern culture.

Bluegrass, gospel and traditional music provide the perfect soundtrack for the mountains. Festivals like the Old Timey & Bluegrass Fiddler’s Convention in Sparta feature the best in bluegrass, gospel or traditional music. Joe Shannon’s Mountain Home Music offers performances from Celtic to bluegrass to traditional Americana music at various venues throughout the year. Fun family places including High Country Round-up and Mountain Music Jamboree offer live music with square dancing for hours of entertainment.

While celebrating its heritage through mountain music, the High Country also offers a diverse array of other types of music and dance. During the month of July, Grandfather Mountain Highland Games features traditional Scottish music and dance while ASU’s An Appalachian Summer Festival features world-renowned instrumentalists, vocalists, orchestral and chamber music, jazz, ballet, contemporary dance and more. ASU’s Performing Arts Series as well as Lees-McRae College’s Performing Arts and Summer Theatre, Ashe Civic Center and Wilkes Community College all feature diverse concerts, dance and theatrical performances throughout the year.

The history of the High Country and heritage of its ancestors is preserved in the oral traditions of storytelling. This lost art form is found at Altapass Orchard in Little Switzerland where a storyteller rides along with you on a hayride to tell you about the role the Orchard played in the Revolutionary War.

Another way that the High Country’s history is told is through theatrical performances. Horn in the West, an outdoor drama that runs from mid-June to mid-August portrays the role that Daniel Boone played in the Revolutionary War and the settlement of the area. Similarly, Tom Dooley: A Wilkes County Legend is the story of the infamous Tom Dula (called Dooley in the famous ballad), and the story that inspired the ballad. Tom Dooley is performed by the Wilkes Playmakers at Benton Hall in North Wilkesboro during the month of July.

Visually, the High Country itself is a work of art. Set against this lovely backdrop, over a thousand resident artists use the mountains to inspire their hands to create works of art. While many of them practice traditional crafts including pottery and weaving, still others are creating modern masterpieces in large scale outdoor abstract sculpture or in oils and acrylics on canvas.

The High Country offers many opportunities to view the wares of local crafters. From the Southern Highland Craft Guild’s shop at the Parkway Craft Center to downtown West Jefferson which contains over 15 studios and galleries, there are many great places to view works and also see artists creating. Traditions Pottery, J&S Beaumont Pottery and Crossnore Weavers all offer a great glimpse at artists at work in their studio in addition to onsite galleries. Many times during the year, High Country festivals feature crafts displays and artists doing demonstrations. Mitchell County’s Studio Tour each spring and fall offers visitors the opportunity to go from studio to studio meeting artists and watching them work.

The High Country is located around Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk and West Jefferson in the six northwestern counties of North Carolina. Best known for attractions including Grandfather Mountain, Tweetsie Railroad and the Blue Ridge Parkway, the High Country is also a popular spot for shopping, skiing, outdoor activities and performing arts. For more information, call the High Country Host at 800-438-7500 or visit www.mountainsofnc.com.