🏔️ Featured Winter Festivals
Blowing Rock WinterFest (Watauga County)
Dates: January 22–25, 2026
Location: Various locations including Memorial Park (173 Main St, Blowing Rock, NC 28605) and Chetola Resort (185 Chetola Lake Dr, Blowing Rock, NC 28605).
Highlights: Professional ice carving in the park and the famous Polar Bear Plunge at Chetola Lake.
Haywood Ice Fest Weekend (Haywood County)
Dates: January 29 – February 1, 2026
Locations: * HART Theatre: 250 Pigeon St, Waynesville, NC 28786 (Cool Jazz Concert, Jan 29).
Main Street Waynesville: Downtown Waynesville, NC 28786 (Ice Block Party, Jan 30).
Maggie Valley Festival Grounds: 3374 Soco Rd, Maggie Valley, NC 28751 (Ice Extravaganza, Jan 31).
🎰 Cherokee: Big Stage Spotlight
Harrah’s Cherokee Resort Event Center
Address: 777 Casino Dr, Cherokee, NC 28719
Grand Funk Railroad: Saturday, Jan 10 at 7:30 PM.
Larry the Cable Guy: Saturday, Jan 17 at 7:30 PM.
Mike Epps: Saturday, Jan 31 at 7:30 PM.
Legends of the Smokies Gymnastics: Jan 30 – Feb 1 at the Cherokee Convention Center (attached to the resort).
🎸 Boone: The High Country Scene
Appalachian Theatre of the High Country
Address: 559 W King St, Boone, NC 28607
Events: Django Reinhardt Birthday Celebration with The Page Brothers on Jan 23 at 7:30 PM.
Boone Saloon
Address: 489 W King St, Boone, NC 28607
Events: The Psycodelics (Jan 16) and The Constellations + The Weasels (Jan 23) at 9:00 PM.
🍻 Franklin: Sip, Stroll, and Socialize
Downtown Franklin Social District
Address: Main Street and surrounding downtown area, Franklin, NC 28734
Event: Sip & Stroll, Saturday, Jan 10 (12:00 PM – 5:00 PM). Enjoy the town's social district where you can walk between shops with a beverage.
Brews and Cues
Address: 32 Palmer St Cir, Franklin, NC 28734
Event: Live music by Switchback on Saturday, Jan 24 at 8:00 PM.
🍎 Asheville & Surrounding Areas
The Orange Peel
Address: 101 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
Event: Atmosphere: "Winter Carnival Tour" on Jan 17.
Wicked Weed Funkatorium
Address: 147 Coxe Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
Event: Asheville Mardi Gras 12th Night Party on Jan 6.
Boojum Brewing Co.
Address: 50 N Main St, Waynesville, NC 28786
Event: Weekly Trivia and Open Mic every Thursday at 7:00 PM.
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