Friends of the Blue Ridge High Country Chapter

10/15/2026

Our Virginia specialty plates raised $260,000 last year which will be going directly into projects helping Blue Ridge Mountain communities in Virginia. Our deepest gratitude to all who have contributed by purchasing our plates! [https://www.facebook.com/friendsBRP]

10/13/2026

Join a park ranger for some pumpkin carving at Grandfather Mountain State Park today 1-3pm. While the event (and pumpkins!) are free, advanced registration is required. [https://events.dncr.nc.gov/event/pumpkin-carving-6981]

10/12/2026

Black bear activity also increases at this time of year in the mountains as they scavenge for calorie-rich food. Be sure to give them some space if you happen to cross paths. Here are some bear facts from the NC Wildlife Federation [https://ncwf.org/blog/black-bear]

While black bears are not inherently dangerous and rarely aggressive toward people, they can inspire fear, anxiety, and even fascination in people who encounter them. Bear sightings throughout the state

10/12/2026

Deer collisions rise dramatically this time of year due to increased movement during the overlap of mating and hunting seasons, and at a time when there is a decrease in daylight hours. Be careful out there while enjoying those autumn colors!

10/11/2026

Here is a more modern fun fact about music and trees. Do you know what grenadilla is? It's another name for African blackwood which is used to make high-end woodwind instruments like the clarinet, flute, and oboe. Speaking of clarinets, App State is offering a clarinet recitial on Tue, Oct 13, 6-7pm. It's free and open to the public. If you go, see if you can imagine how humans might have discovered making music from hollow tree parts and how those discoveries evolved over time to give us the sounds we hear today.
[https://calendar.appstate.edu/event/clarinet-studio-recital]

10/11/2026

Here is a fun puzzle about music and trees. What woodwind instrument was brought to the Blue Ridge mountains and served as a lead instrument in mountain music, predating the typical string instruments we hear today? How about woodwinds played here before Europeans arrived?

10/10/2026

Thank you Mustard Seed for helping us rescue another garden in Boone! [https://www.mustardseedblowingrock.com]

10/03/2026

To help increase accessibilty to the arts, the Appalachian Theatre is offering transportation grants to help get High Country students to their shows in Boone. More information [https://www.apptheatre.org/field-trips]

09/25/2026

Would you like to learn how easy and fun it is to make a pieced pole? Join us for one or more free workshops starting Oct 1st at the Watauga Arts Center. Space is limited and pre-registration is required:

Join us at the Watauga Arts Council for a free introductory mosaic workshop on creating Pieced Poles of the Blue Ridge!

09/06/2026

We're getting ready to launch the Pieced Poles of the Blue Ridge project and need a couple of volunteers for our display at the Buskers Festival in Boone on Saturday, Sep 12th. If interested, visit our High Country chapter web page and click on the link for the Pieced Pole Interest Form [https://blueridgefriends.org/chapters/hc]