Blue Ridge National Heritage Area

10/09/2026

Burnsville, NC isn't merely a place where art is made. It's a pocket of the Blue Ridge Mountains where creativity thrives.

Artists, whether local or from afar, draw inspiration from the surrounding nature. They stay to be part of a larger community, collaborating and supporting one another. There is a story here, and you're invited to be part of it.

Whether you find your way to Burnsville by way of the Blue Ridge Parkway, a hiking trail, or a passion for handcrafted art, you are welcome and encouraged to also be inspired. Plan your visit and explore handcrafted art and traditions along the Blue Ridge Craft Trails with Explore Burnsville .

Continue your journey by clicking the link in our bio.

10/08/2026

The music of the Blue Ridge Mountains blends songs, sounds, and stories from those who came before and those here today. PBS North Carolina shares more in Ten to Try: By Way of the Blue Ridge.

In this segment, we see some folks and places that make our Blue Ridge Music Trails so legendary:

Alleghany JAM
Junior Appalachian Musicians, Inc
Alleghany Jubilee
Alleghany County Chamber of Commerce
Alleghany Arts Council - Sparta, N.C.
Brandon J. Johnson- luthier of BJJ Violins, and Executive Director of The Madison County Arts Council

Thank you, PBS North Carolina and Dogwood Health Trust, for making this program come alive.

09/24/2026

Coming October 3rd to Weaverville! Reems Creek Pottery...
It's the Fall Art & Craft Pop-Up Market!

09/23/2026

IN THE NEWS: Karen Hovis, a fused-glass artist, is exhibiting at the Kennedy-Douglas Center for the Arts (Alabama) through October 29th. Here, she explains how she creates her vibrant objects.
Karen also has pieces included in the Blue Ridge Craft Trails exhibition at the Mars Landing Arts Center (Mars Hill, NC) through the end of this week.

Time to Fuse - Karen Hovis
Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts
Mars Landing Arts Center
Tennessee Valley Living on WAFF 48

09/22/2026

Last Week! It's the last week to see Connecting to Place II: Blue Ridge Craft Trails Invitational. Stop by Mars Landing Arts Center for one last look at this exhibition.

AND, if you go on Thursday, you can also check out the Michael Jefry Stevens Jazz Quartet. Tickets Still Available!

Finally, the gallery's next show is Asheville Printmakers: Pressing Onwards. It runs from October 2 - November 1.

09/20/2026

09/19/2026

The Blue Ridge Music Trails kicks off the Feed and Seed Fall Sessions TONIGHT! Join us at Feed & Seed in Fletcher, NC, for bluegrass band Finkelstein Three. The show starts at 7 pm.

Visit our site to see other upcoming shows in partnership with Feed & Seed and the Jazz Foundation of America.

09/18/2026

Marsha Todd, featured here by Junior Appalachian Musicians, Inc., is one of the many musicians found in our Traditional Artist Directory.
She and other JAM educators will attend the 2026 JAM Sessions Educational Summit in Little Switzerland.
Learn more about the summit and Marsha below! There's a link to her Traditional Artist Directory profile.

🪕 Artist Spotlight: Marsha Todd

Growing up in Mount Airy, North Carolina as the daughter of fiddler Richard Bowman, Marsha Todd has been performing on stage since age nine. Known as the long-time banjo player for the legendary Slate Mountain Ramblers, Marsha developed her own distinct rhythm and right-hand technique across both old-time clawhammer and bluegrass picking. She is also a former Galax Fiddlers’ Convention first-place flatfoot dancer.

📍 Night of The Living Banjo | 2026 JAM Summit

https://www.blueridgeheritage.com/artist/marsha-todd/

09/18/2026

Raising Cane, the Cherokee, and Rivercane premieres Saturday at 7 pm in Blue Ridge Community College's Thomas Auditorium. Visit the Center for Cultural Preservation page to learn more.

The Center for Cultural Preservation (saveculture.org) presents its...

09/15/2026

Follow local anglers into the rivers and streams of Ashe County, where fly-fishing is both a pastime and a tradition. Along some of North Carolina’s most scenic waterways, discover how patience, friendship and a love for the outdoors create lasting connections to the mountains.

Catch this and nine other inspirational stories in PBS North Carolina's Ten to Try: By Way of the Blue Ridge.

A big thank you to Dogwood Health Trust for helping this project come to life.
Ashe County Chamber of Commerce West Jefferson, NC Lansing Y'all

Follow local anglers into the rivers and streams of Ashe County, wh...