January 17, 2008 issue
Winterfest Turns 10
Annual Blowing Rock Festival Returns January 24 to 27
Story by David Brewer
When the chilly winds blow and the snow begins to fall in the High Country, it takes more than a little effort to drag yourself away from a cozy spot by the fire or particularly effective space heater. But for 10 years, organizers in Blowing Rock have been throwing a four-day party that has drawn both locals and tourists out of their heated rooms and into the quaint village for a weekend of family fun that not only celebrates, but also revolves around the cold mountain weather.
From January 24 to 27, the 10th Annual Winterfest will again take over the town of Blowing Rock as people are invited to sip hot chocolate, witness expert ice carving, warm up by the bonfire nightly, sip fine wine, eat chili, buy raffle tickets, enjoy daily hayrides and otherwise laugh in the face of Old Man Winter.
There’s no better way to start a Winterfest weekend than by sampling cuisine from lots of the town’s best restaurants. At Thursday night’s WinterFeast event at the Green Park Inn, that’s exactly what you will do. With multiple seatings between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m., diners will have a chance to make their way around the room and test the menus of premier Blowing Rock chefs until they’ve had their fill.
Friday’s schedule will allow festivalgoers to ease into the weekend, offering winter movies at the Hayes Center, hayrides around town and free hot chocolate to warm festivalgoers both outside and in. The night will be capped off by Winterfest’s first-ever Blues Bash at the Hayes Center featuring the talents of Chitlin Circuit legend and Georgia native Chick Willis, Big Ron Hunter and The King Bees. The show starts at 7:30 p.m.
From early in the morning until late in the evening, Saturday is Winterfest’s busiest, most action-packed day. The festival’s craziest participants will receive a brisk wake-up call as the Polar Plunge draws thousands to Chetola Lake to witness the festival’s most popular event.
From there, festivalgoers can warm up at Blowing Rock School by sampling the culinary talents of the High Country’s best chili makers at the annual Chili Cook-Off. Both amateurs and professionals will try to tempt the taste buds of all in attendance starting at 11:00 a.m. at Blowing Rock School.
For wine lovers looking to expand their palette, Ciao Bello at the Meadowbrook will again host the annual Wine Tasting at 2:00 p.m. followed by a Wine Auction at 4:00 p.m. Find your favorite wines and stick around long enough to take a bottle or two (or three) home.
There will be plenty of action in downtown’s centrally located Memorial Park, including activities for children at the Parks and Recreation Center, a cool ice carving competition and hot bonfire at dusk.
For acoustic music lovers, the Hayes Performing Arts Center will be the place to be on Saturday night as former New Grass Revival member and MerleFest favorite John Cowan and his band take the stage for a hot night of inspired progressive acoustic and bluegrass music. The show starts at 7:30 p.m.
Round out the wonderful weekend early Sunday morning by enjoying a hearty stack of pancakes at the annual Winterfest Pancake Breakfast at the Blowing Rock School cafeteria. Proceeds will benefit the Blowing Rock Fire and Rescue Department.
For a look at all that Winterfest has to offer, click to www.blowingrockwinterfest.org or call Charles Hardin at the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce at 828-295-7851.
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