Countdown to 2010

Celebrate the New Year in the High Country

Story by Anna Oakes

Multi-instrumentalist Al Coffey will perform at Glidewell’s in Blowing Rock as part of the restaurant’s New Year’s Eve party.

The Lost Ridge Band and Big Daddy Love will play the New Year’s Eve party at Murphy’s.

Naked Gods will bring a night of multimedia fun to Boone Saloon for New Year’s Eve.

A new decade begins at 12:00 a.m. on Friday, January 1—make sure you’ve got your champagne flute in hand at one of the High Country’s many New Year’s Eve parties.

NYE Party for Kids at Buckeye Rec
Not to be completely left out of the revelry that is typically reserved for adults, kids can enjoy a special New Year’s Eve Party at the Buckeye Recreation Center in Beech Mountain from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event will feature dinner and a bounce house. For more info, call 828-387-3003.

Banner Elk Café
The Banner Elk Café, located at 324 Shawneehaw Avenue, will feature live music for New Year’s Eve. For more info, call 828-898-4040.

Boone Saloon
Boone rockers Naked Gods and their loyal following will be at Boone Saloon on the night of Thursday, December 31, and the Gods have planned a special multimedia performance to usher in the new decade. DJ smallwonder will perform before and after the Naked Gods show. The cover will be $5. For more info, call 828-264-1811.

Canyons
Performing at Canyons in Blowing Rock will be Conover-based blues, Southern rock and jam band Matter of Fact. The $10 cover includes a midnight champagne toast. For more info, call 828-295-7661.

Crestwood
If you want to be dancing the final hours of 2009 away, head to Crestwood in Blowing Rock, where four-piece band Soul Benefactor will crank out the best soul, funk, blues and rock tunes from the ‘60s and ‘70s. Soul Benefactor will start playing at 10:00 p.m., and a $15 cover includes a champagne toast. Crestwood also has accommodation and dinner packages starting at $350. For more info and/or reservations, call 828-963-6646.

Geno’s
Sing your heart out at Geno’s, located at High Country Inn on Highway 105 in Boone, at a karaoke night with Jerry Parker. For more info, call 828-264-1000.

Glidewell’s
Glidewell’s in Blowing Rock will throw a New Year’s Eve Party that includes a five-course dinner, champagne toast, entertainment and party favors. Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Al Coffey of Roanoke, Va., will perform. Coffey performs on guitar, fiddle, harmonica, flute, saxophone, mandolin, bass, percussion and trumpet. Dinner starts at 7:00 p.m., and the music begins at 9:00 p.m. The cost is $60 with wine and $45 without wine. Reservations are required. For more info, call 828-295-9683.

Meadowbrook Inn
The Meadowbrook Inn in Blowing Rock will serve a five-course New Year’s Eve meal with seatings from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. A DJ will play soft and fun music for dancing beginning at 10:30 p.m. Watch the ball drop on the big-screen TVs. The dinner price is $39 and includes a champagne toast. For more info and/or reservations, call 828-295-4300.

Murphy’s
Two of the area’s best Americana and bluegrass bands join forces to get your feet moving and carry you into the New Year at Murphy’s. The Lost Ridge Band and Big Daddy Love will perform beginning at 10:00 p.m. Tickets are $7 in advance. For more info, call 828-264-5117.

Pepper’s
Pepper’s, located in the Shadowline shopping center in Boone, will host a New Year’s Eve celebration with live music by Boone-based acoustic rock band Union County and a midnight champagne toast. No cover. For more info, call 828-262-1250.

Twigs
Brother Dave will perform on New Year’s Eve at Twigs in Blowing Rock beginning at 9:45 p.m. For more info, call 828-295-5050.

Zuzda
Acoustic rocker Brent Cates will play in the upstairs lounge at Zuzda in Banner Elk beginning around 6:30 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. For more info, call 828-898-4166.