Festivals

Tons of popular Western North Carolina Festivals take place in the High Country near the century-old Switzerland Inn, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Visitors flock to the region to enjoy events like the North Carolina Gem and Mineral Festival, the Woolly Worm Festival and the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games all of which take place near Little Switzerland NC.

Smaller community gatherings like the Valle Crucis Country Fair, Spruce Pine's Fire on the Mountain Blacksmith Festival, the Mt. Mitchell Crafts Fair in Burnsville and the Riverwalk Arts Festival in Newland NC showcase local artists’ talents and are great spots to hunt for one-of-a-kind handmade treasures. These great Western North Carolina Festivals are a great addition to your next weekend getaway or NC Blue Ridge Mountain Vacation.

Mt. Mitchell Crafts Fair - August 7-8, 2009 Burnsville NC

The 53rd Annual Mt. Mitchell Crafts Fair, August 7-8, is the oldest and largest crafts fair in the Blue Ridge Mountains. For the past several years, the Southern Tourism Society has selected this event as one of the top twenty to attend in the Southeast. The town of Burnsville is located in Yancey County, North Carolina, in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains and is the home of Mt. Mitchell, which is the highest peak east of the Mississippi, rising to an elevation of 6,684 ft. Burnsville is about 20 miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway and 35 miles northeast of Asheville. We are proud to boast that Yancey County is known for more artisans per capita than anywhere else in the country!

Newland NC Riverwalk Arts Festival - August

Each August the Riverwalk Arts Festival takes place along the gorgeous Riverwalk section of Newland NC. Local artists and Appalachian crafters come from all over to display their handmade items and treasures. The weekend is fun for the whole family with live music, food, crafts and as always, original local art.

Woolly Worm Festival - 3rd Weekend in October in Banner Elk NC

Since 1978 visitors have been flocking to the sleepy resort town of Banner Elk to forecast the winter snow season and pay tribute to the woolly worm, a native woolly bug found in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Teams of families, teenagers and kids of all ages compete with their brown and black banded worms to win the coveted spot of the worm that determines the snow season. Tradition says that the black bands represent harsh snow storms and brown bands milder weather. In addition to the worm contests, the Woolly Worm Festival features live music, delicious foods, arts and crafts and plenty of games for the kids. Little Switzerland Inn is the perfect lodging option for your next getaway to the mountains and NC Blue Ridge Mountain Vacation.

Valle Country Fair – 3rd Saturday in October in Valle Crucis NC

Every year the Valle Crucis Country Fair takes place in the heart of Valle Crucis at the Valle Crucis Conference Center. This large bazaar and old time festival is known for its wonderful foods including homemade jellies and jams, pies, Brunswick stew, chili, and barbecue. Vendors come from all around to display their handmade arts and crafts and children love the special games and live music.

Spruce Pine Fire on the Mountain Blacksmith Festival - April in Spruce Pine NC

Each April in Spruce Pine hundreds of blacksmiths, artists and sculptors from across the region come to exhibit their skills and learn from the masters at the Fire on the Mountain Blacksmith Festival. Live demonstrations. Blacksmith art is available for sale.

Grandfather Mountain Highland Games - July at Grandfather Mountain NC

The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games is one of the largest gathering of Scottish clans in the world and is a popular NC Mountain Festival that takes place each year on McCrae Meadows on Grandfather Mountain. Scottish clans and large families come from all around to celebrate their Celtic culture and participate in competitions, concerts and traditional ceremonies. Thousands of visitors descend on Grandfather Mountain each year to enjoy this great festival which features live music, vendors, great foods, camping and all things Scottish. Stay at Switzerland Inn if you are visiting the North Carolina Mountains for the Grandfather Mountain Games. We offer the very best in Blue Ridge NC Mountain Lodging and we are located right off the parkway, just a short distance from Grandfather Mountain. Visit us in July for the Highland Games in North Carolina.

Spruce Pine NC Gem and Mineral Festival - 4th weekend in July

Every year Spruce Pine NC hosts the North Carolina Gem and Mineral Festival which is a large gathering of gemologists, jewelers, gem cutters, and touring visitors. This nationally renowned rock and gem show features hundreds of exhibits and numerous gem demonstrations every year and is a great place for dealers and tourists to find great deals on stones of all kinds. Stay with us at the Little Switzerland Inn, just minutes from Spruce Pine, the next time you visit the NC Blue Ridge Mountains for a great vacation or for the Spruce Pine Gem and Mineral Festival.