Annually, there are many events held at various locations throughout Ashe County and these events usually help bring together locals and vacationers to celebrate various aspects of the community. There is nothing quite like spending the day at a country fair or small town festival where you can find out more about a place, browse unique handmade items, and meet and make lifelong friends in the area. On this page, I have included some of the more popular things to do in Ashe County and events that take place in the region and bring many to the area each year. Some of these festivals have been going on for decades and are considered Ashe County traditions while others are just getting started and will continue to grow and get larger with each passing year.
Christmas in July
Residents and visitors to Ashe County love Christmas time and all the things that make the holidays special. That’s why, years ago, the Christmas in July festival was created. Christmas in July takes place in West Jefferson and has become an event with which Ashe County is synonymous. This one-day event takes place downtown and brings live entertainment, crafts, and tons of great foods that all seem to revolve around the idea of Christmas and the holidays. Residents of Ashe County raise money for local charities and celebrate the idea of Christmas during the holidays and at Christmas in July which takes place during the Fourth of July weekend.
Blue Ridge Brutal 100 Bike Race
This amazingly challenging bike race starts and finishes right in front of the Ashe Civic Center and has brought many biking and cycling enthusiasts to our region in years past. Bikers ride approximately 100 miles of terrain through the Blue Ridge Parkway and other secondary roads in Ashe and Alleghany County. This is an August event.
New River Blues Festival
The New River Blues Festival is an annual event that takes place in early September at Jefferson Landing on the New River, a neighborhood in which I list and sell Mountain Property. Internationally acclaimed blues musicians and artists from around the region descend upon the community for a Sunday, one-day-only music event. Visit this year to see performances by some of the best loved blues artists and bands.
Todd New River Festival
The Todd New River Festival is an October weekend event that takes place along the banks of the New River. Residents and visitors to the area join together for live music, children’s crafts, games, and plenty of fellowship. Get together with your neighbors and head over to the Todd New River Festival next October.
Ola Belle Reed Homecoming Festival
Ola Belle Reed was an American folk singer and banjo player that wrote and recorded the famous country song, “High on a Mountain.” Ola Belle Reed was born in Lansing just outside of West Jefferson. Every year, bluegrass and folk artists from around the world gather together just outside of West Jefferson in Lansing to celebrate Ola Belle Reed’s life and music. Many artists and visitors camp when they come to this festival. This event takes place in late October.
Choose n Cut Christmas Tree Season
Ashe County’s Christmas tree industry is a major industry that supports the economy of the area. There are numerous Choose n Cut Christmas Tree farms that dot the county and its borders, and during the time period just after Thanksgiving until a few days before Christmas, visitors from all over the South come to the county to find their Christmas trees. While this event does not have a specific place or time, it generates enough revenue and brings enough visitors to the area to be considered its own event.
Festival of the Frescoes
This tiny mountain fair takes place at the Holy Trinity Church in Glendale Springs each year and features vendors as well as delicious baked goods and foods to celebrate and raise money to keep up with the church and its beautiful frescoes, which adorn the walls inside.
Old Time Bluegrass Fiddlers Convention
The Ashe Fiddler’s Convention takes place the last weekend in July and brings together some of the world’s best bluegrass players. A local event for more than 30 years, the Old Time Fiddlers Convention is in its 39th year and has helped to shape Ashe County’s place in bluegrass music.
These wonderful things to do and events in Ashe County are great times to get out and meet your neighbors or search for Mountain Property. My office is located right in the heart of downtown West Jefferson, where many of these events take place. Stop by for a minute if you are visiting the area and take a moment to browse the North Carolina Mountain Property for sale all around this gorgeous area. Whether you are in the market for a new home, a vacation home, or a place to retire, or use as an investment, I can help you with all of your realty needs.
