By Julie Matthews
The High Country’s musical heritage dates back to its early history with its old-time Appalachian-style music with sounds of fiddles and banjos, and the area’s appreciation for music has a strong presence in its culture today. On any given day music can be heard playing all over with live musical performances a regular occurrence not only on stages around town but also in restaurants, parks, gardens, campsites, front porches and even general stores. From traditional mountain music and bluegrass to ballads, blues, country and every other musical genre, you will hear it all in North Carolina’s High Country.
Here are some highlights of what’s happening in the High Country in 2025.
Music Festivals and Concert Series
The 2025 High Country Jazz Festival, June 13-15, is an event jazz lovers will not want to miss. The 2025 festival will feature Catherine Russell on Friday, June 13; Dizzy Gillespie Big Band on Saturday, June 14; and Noel & Maria on Sunday, June 15. The Appalachian Theatre in partnership with the Boone Sunrise Rotary and Appalachian State University’s Jazz Studies program will present this popular event. AppTheatre.org/HighCountryJazzFestival
Join the community in downtown Boone, June 19-22, for the Boonerang Music & Arts Festival, a free street festival full of incredible performances. The event will also feature an artist market, a silent disco, Boonerang International, breweries, food trucks, a kids zone and more. BoonerangFest.com
Doc & Rosa Lee Watson MusicFest, presented by Cove Creek Preservation & Development, is a long-running music-filled event that honors Grammy award-winning musician Doc Watson and features musicians from all over the nation. This year’s event will be held on July 11 at the Appalachian Theatre in Boone. While the event is traditionally held in Sugar Grove at the Historic Cove Creek School and nearby park, the event will take place at this new location due to rebuilding efforts as a result of Hurricane Helene. DocWatsonMusicFest.org
Experience Antlers & Acorns, The Boone Songwriters Festival, September 10-13, at various venues throughout Downtown Boone. This one-of-a-kind annual gathering celebrates the talents of songwriters and musicians. Listen to amazing music, storytelling and more. Facebook.com/AntlersAndAcornsBoone
Looking ahead to 2026, MerleFest is a bucket list-worthy event that music fans will want to experience. This premier festival draws music artists and fans from all over the nation for a major celebration of all kinds of musical genres. Music legend Doc Watson started the festival in 1988 as a tribute to his son, Eddy Merle Watson, who was also a musician. This huge annual event is held on the Wilkes Community College campus and serves as a major fundraiser for the Wilkes Community College Foundation.
Broadway Meets the Mountains
A variety of high-quality musical theatre performances are held in venues throughout the High Country’s communities. Local colleges Lees-McRae College and Appalachian State University both offer top-notch student theatre.
Marking its 40th season in summer 2025, Lees-McRae Summer Theatre features remarkable performances on their Banner Elk campus. During the 2025 season it will present “Nunsense” on June 1-4, “The Cottage” on June 22-28 and “1940: A New Musical” on July 18-24. The performances will be held on the Lees-McRae College campus in the Broyhill Theatre in Hayes Auditorium. lmc.edu/Community/Summer-Theatre/index.htm
Recognized as one of the “Top 20 Events in the Southeast” by the Southeast Tourism Society, An Appalachian Summer Festival has been entertaining audiences for more than four decades with an impressive lineup of performances including music, theatre, dance and much more. This year’s festival will run from June 28 through July 26. AppSummer.org
Ensemble Stage is a 99-seat professional theater located in the Historic Banner Elk School that showcases a diverse selection of high-quality live performances at affordable prices. Throughout the year, audiences are treated to a variety of shows, from comedies to mysteries and much more, in this downtown Banner Elk cultural gem! EnsembleStage.com
Located in Boone, Horn in the West presents the nation’s oldest Revolutionary War dramas in a beautiful outdoor theatre. In its 73rd season, the Horn in the West offers a unique performing arts experience. Stay tuned for the Horn in the West 2025 season dates. HornInTheWest.com
Concert Series
The High Country is also home to several fun concert series, including:
Music in the Valle (ValleCrucisPark.org)
Music on the Lawn at The Inn at Ragged Gardens (Ragged-Gardens.com)
Concert in the Park: Alair Summer Concert Series (BlowingRock.com)
Want more Events?
CALENDAR: Check out our High Country calendar of events to help plan your activities!
NEWSLETTER: Or sign up for our High Country Destination Newsletter to receive exclusive content for planning your vacation getaway to the North Carolina High Country!
