Updated By Chris Murphy / Image from the Woolly Worm Festival
Don’t Miss the Annual Woolly Worm Festival
Each changing season brings new scenery to the High Country. From fall to winter, you may wonder how harsh this cold weather season will be. Will it be comfortable enough for skiing and snowboarding, or weather that’s better for staying inside? While many turn to groundhogs to tell how long winter will be, the High Country has a different tradition.
About the Woolly Worm Festival
Every third weekend in October, since 1978, thousands come to Banner Elk for the annual Woolly Worm Festival. This world-famous festival is used to predict how harsh the winter season will be in the High Country.
A woolly worm is a woolly bear caterpillar. Legend has it that the 13 bands on a woolly worm represent the 13 weeks of winter. Black bands predict a cold snowy week, while brown represent a mild week. This year, on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 19-20, 2024, visit Banner Elk and find out what the woolly worm’s colors will predict this year.
Woolly Worm Festival Activities
In addition to the winter forecast prediction, the Woolly Worm Festival will host about 175 craft vendors, as well as food, live entertainment and rides.
Woolly Worm Races
The highlight of the Woolly Worm Festival is the prediction. To figure out which worm will predict the forecast, the Woolly Worm Festival holds a race on Saturday. The winning worm will receive a $$$ prize and will hold the coveted position at the festival. There is also a race on Sunday.
Woolly Worm Festival Tickets
Tickets for the Woolly Worm Festival are sold daily. A two-day combo ticket can also be purchased.
Daily tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 6–12. Children 0-5 are free. Click here to purchase tickets.
More Information about the Woolly Worm Festival
This year’s Woolly Worm Festival will take place at the Historic Banner Elk Elementary School.
For more information about the Woolly Worm Festival, visit WoollyWorm.com
More to Do in Banner Elk
Visiting Banner Elk for the Woolly Worm Festival? Here are some other things to check out in the area.
Click here to read more about Banner Elk.
Banner Elk is a hub of outdoor activities. From ziplining and to fishing, there’s so much to do when you aren’t at the festival. Nearby Foscoe Fishing Company and Outfitters is a full-service fly shop in Boone that offers fly fishing on the area’s rivers.
Click here to read more about outdoor activities in Banner Elk.
After the festival, treat yourself to a meal at the Stonewalls Restaurant. Stonewalls is known for serving high-end seafood, prime rib, gourmet steaks, fine wines and more from their Banner Elk location.
Be sure to also take some time to view the changing autumn leaves. There are several locations in Banner Elk to take in these vibrant, colorful hues.
Click here to read about where to view the fall colors in Banner Elk.
