SUGAR MOUNTAIN OKTOBERFEST CELEBRATION
SATURDAY & SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9-10, 2010
Grab your beer stein, put on your lederhosen and head to Sugar Mountain Resort for the 20th annual Oktoberfest celebration Saturday & Sunday, October 9 & 10, 2010. The weekend is packed with activities from 10:00am until 5:00pm. Admission and parking are free!

Over 40 artisan's and craftspeople open their stands at 10:00am each day. A sampling of this year's vendors include: chair canning, wooden toys, oil paintings, stain glass, handmade furniture, dolls, copper art, ceramics, honey, beeswax candles, bird houses, and much more.

Enjoy the beautiful fall foliage and a panoramic view of the surrounding area from the mile and a half long chairlift ride to Sugar's 5,300 ft peak. Everyone, even mountain bikers are welcome to ride the lift.

The children's activity center, located in the Ski School Play Yard will keep the young ones entertained each day from noon until 4:00pm. A $7 fee per child/per day includes hay rides, a chance to meet Sugar Bear and Sweetie Bear and several Airwalk stations. Cotton candy, popcorn, caramel apples, homemade cookies and drinks are also available in the children's activity center. All ages are welcome to participate.

An Oktoberfest isn't complete without the sounds of an Oom Pah Band. From noon until 4:00pm both Saturday & Sunday the Harbour Towne Fest Band, guarantees to bring the sounds, dances and enthusiasm of Bavaria to Sugar Mountain. The 15 piece band will enthusiastically play the sounds of Germany's Bavaria!

Bavarian cuisine, including Bratwurst, Knackwurst, German Potato Salad, Sauerkraut and pretzels will be available starting at 11:00am both Saturday & Sunday. To help wash it down, an ample supply of authentic Bavarian beverages will be flowing all weekend long. If Bavarian cuisine's not your preference; hot dogs, hambur

Todd New River Festival
Saturday, October 9, 2010

Free Entertainment All Day
with Crafts Food and Fun
and Special
Children’s Activities

Grandfather Mountain Kidfest

A day designed to get kids excited about the nature and culture of the North Carolina Mountains through fun and entertaining activities. Includes guided hikes, games, storytellers, music and fun. Included with park admission.

General admission to the nature park to enjoy 360-degree vistas from the Mile High Swinging Bridge and photograph bears, cougars, otters, eagles and deer in natural surroundings at the wildlife habitats is $15 for adults and $7 for children ages 4-12 with children under 4 free.

2010 Schedule

all day	Naturalist Table by Keith Mastin of Western NC Nature Center in the Nature Museum Lobby will be available throughout the day.
9	Guided hike at the Woods Walk trail with Naturalist Katie Gray.
10-11	Story time and Craft lead by Watauga County Library
11	Birds of the Blue Ridge live demonstration in the Nature Museum Auditorium.
11-2	Face painting at the Fudge Shop
12-2	Nature Crafts at the Nature Museum Lobby
1-3	Storyteller Glen Bollick in the Nature Museum auditorium
3-4	Stationed Habitats staff on hand in Habitat area to answer questions.
3:30	"Quick Frozen Critters" at the Woods Walk trail. A "tag" style game that teaches about the challenges our animal friends must overcome to survive in the woods.

Location : Grandfather Mountain
Contact : 800-468-7325

Autumn at Oz
Oct 2-3, 2010

Walk the Yellow Brick Road and meet your favorite Oz characters, Dorothy, Tin Man, Lion, Scarecrow, Witches and the Wizard. They're all there. Visit Auntie Em's farm and hide from the tornado in the basement. Lot's of fun, food, music, hay rides, memorabilia and more. Tickets are $16.50 in advance and $20.00 at the party. Children 2 years and under are free. A limited number of 7000 tickets will be sold and are available on line. Tickets go on sale July 7.

Buy Tickets Online

Tickets are non-refundable, no exceptions. This event is rain or shine, snow or twisters too.

And here's two great reasons to make it a magical weekend on Beech mountain. Purchase your tickets on line and receive:

10% Discount Coupons for dining and lodging on Beech Mountain, Eastern America's highest town.

(Click Here to see list of participating businesses)

Discount Coupons to scenic Grandfather Mountain.

Ski Beech Resort will offer scenic lift rides from Land of Oz to Ski Resort and back to Oz for $10.00.

The weather at Oz can be rather blustery after a tornado so bring a jacket, umbrella, sweatshirt just in case.
Oz is not handicap or large stroller friendly.

Tour sessions are Saturday and Sunday from 10 to 12, 12 to 2 and 2 to 4. Both days are broken down into 3 sessions to accommodate our visitors. It does not mean that you can spend only 2 hours in Oz. The sessions indicate the date and hours you can load on a bus or hay ride to the Autumn at Oz Party. Both days events are the same.

If you are unable to buy tickets on line they may be purchased, pending availability, from the Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce by mail or by visiting the chamber office prior to the event date. Groups of 15 or more may purchase group tickets (Sunday Only) at $13.50 each. Contact the chamber office at 800-468-5506 for special mailing instructions and group tickets.

No credit card sales will be accepted Oct 2-3 (event dates) or by the Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce. Cash and Checks only. Visitors are strongly encouraged to purchase tickets on line to assure your choice of day and session.

This is the official information for the Autumn at Oz Party. We are not responsible for any other published information.

You may visit www.raysweather.com for current weather conditions.

Visit www.emeraldmtn.com for driving directions and the history of the Land of Oz.

At the center of Alleghany County is the small-town of Sparta which is home to the Mountain Heritage Festival. The Festival will be held on Saturday, September 18th. There will be hundreds of food and craft vendors on-hand to participate in this local festival. There will be live music and entertainment for all to enjoy. Heritage demonstrations and dances take place throughout the day. People will line the street for the celebration of mountain life. This event is located in downtown Sparta on Main Street. The small-town charm is well represented in this mountain community of Sparta and is evident in the Mountain Heritage Festival.

For more information please call the Alleghany Chamber of Commerce and Visitors’ Center at (800) 372-5473 or click on www.Sparta-NC.com/heritage

Blue Ridge Brutal 100

August 14, 2010

The Blue Ridge Brutal 100 is this Saturday, August 14. The ride tours two northwest North Carolina counties: Ashe and Alleghany and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Participants have three ride options: 50 mile, 75 mile and 100 mile. The ride is fully supported by SAG wagons and rest stops with water and snacks. Ham radio communication , fire and rescue squads support the ride. . A hot meal, t-shirt and chip timing is included.The starting time will be 8:00 am. Rider packets may be picked up Friday afternoon from 4-6 pm or Saturday morning from 6:15-7:45 am. Chips will be distributed Saturday morning from 6:15-7:45 am. Riders must have a number (numbers will be in packet) to receive a chip.

No better place to be than on the New River in the hot summer!

Head to River Girl Fishing in Todd




At the headwaters of this ancient river, we have a gentle stretch of water that families of all ages can appreciate. The river through Todd very rarely gets over a Class I rapid making, and it is wonderful for first-time kayakers. The kayaks we use are not whitewater kayaks that are meant to roll in waves; they are recreational kayaks, meant for less than Class II rivers. They have the most comfortable seats you can find in a kayak — and they’re made right here in North Carolina, too! We have single kayaks, tandem kayaks and canoes available, and we keep them very clean for every trip that goes out. Rest assured that you will not receive a life jacket that has years of ‘body perfume’ instilled in it, either. We take pride in the condition of all our gear — to make sure you have the most comfortable and unforgettable adventure on the river possible. We hope to see you soon!

Just for fun, here’s a little info about the New River: The South Fork of the New River starts in Blowing Rock, meanders its way through Boone and Todd, flows north into Virginia, comes back into North Carolina and then back into Virginia two more times before finally deciding to stay in Virginia. From there, it continues on to West Virginia, where it meets with the Kanawha River which turns into the Ohio River, which meets with the Mississippi River, which empties into the Gulf of Mexico … whew!

www.rivergirlfishing.com