The Woolly Worm Forecast for Winter 2008

Time for yet another amazing prediction from this year's Woolly Worm Wace Winner! Kelly the Woolly Worm is this year's winner and after hours of analyzing, the Woolly Worm scientists have announced Kelly's forecast for the upcoming winter:

"The first four weeks will be cold and snowy, followed by three weeks of seasonably cold weather. Expect the final six weeks of winter to be snowy and cold, with severe cold in week 11."

How accurate is the woolly worm forecast? Well, according to woollyworm.com, woolly worms that win the Banner Elk Woolly Worm Wace have been completely or mostly correct in their predictions about 85 percent of the time over the last 30 years. Kinda makes you want to replace your local weatherman with a worm doesn't it?

The Valle Country Fair

Many people have heard of Banner Elk’s Woolly Worm Festival. But have you heard of the Valle Country Fair, located just seven miles away in Valle Crucis?

The Valle Country Fair is an overgrown church bazaar set in the center of one of the most picturesque valleys in the North Carolina Mountains at the peak of the fall color season. The fair was started by a small church as a small fundraiser and it has now grown into an annual happening that attracts thousands. The fair raised more than $45,000 for local charities in 2006. All monies raised go to fund High Country organizations which serve people in need.

At the fair, you will find 135 juried fine art & crafts booths, freshly pressed apple cider, hot-out-of-the-kettle apple butter, homemade jams & jellies, Brunswick stew, chili, and barbecue.

The fair will be held on the third Saturday in October (October 18, 2008) at the Valle Crucis Conference Center on Highway 194. Admission is free, although there is a $5 fee for parking.

The proceeds from the 2008 fair will benefit the Watauga Humane Society, the Western Youth Network, the Hunger & Health Coalition, the Watauga Basic Skills, Hospice/Palliative Care of Avery County, Community Care Clinic, W. A. M. Y. Community Action, the Hospitality House, and Caregiver's Haven.So come out and join us at the Valle Country Fair! And don’t forget to call A and W Mountain Rentals for all your vacation rental needs!! (828) 898-9188

Daniel Boone Days

Come Celebrate Boone in Boone on September 4th, 5th and 6th in BOONE, NC! The word is out, people are starting to take notice, historians are readying their presentations, wine is being shipped, Daniel Boone caps have arrived, World Record Academy judges have been notified, the bands have signed their contracts, fiddlers are starting to practice, runners are training, area businesses and organizations are jumping on board and the ideas are snowballing.

What is it? It’s Daniel Boone Days—Boone’s new annual festival planned for Thursday, Friday and Saturday, September 4, 5 and 6, at various locations around Boone. Organized by High Country Press and Mountain Fountain Productions, Daniel Boone Days addresses the need for a unifying celebration for the Town of Boone—a celebration that highlights the town’s namesake.

The American pioneer and hunter whose frontier exploits made him one of the first folk heroes of the United States had a soft spot in his heart for the mountains that surround present-day Boone. He appreciated the abundance that fills these hills, and, legend has it, he frequented a hunting cabin near Howard’s Knob during his early life. The area where Boone hunted is the area we now know as the Town of Boone. And what better way to honor the town’s namesake than with a festival celebrating his life and legacy?

The festival kicks off on Thursday, September 4th, with a Daniel Boone Days Open House and Social at the High Country Press office at 130 N. Depot Street in Boone from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. There, visitors will enjoy a exhibit on Daniel Boone from the Appalachian Cultural Museum, a native bird exhibit, a Daniel Boone Hotel exhibit, a display of coonskin caps to be used for a world record, an exhibit on the Daniel Boone Native Gardens, an information kiosk with the Daniel Boone Days schedule and a ticket outlet for the festival’s many events.

On Friday, September 5th, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Appalachian State University’s Valborg Theater, the Daniel Boone Days Symposium takes place, featuring bestselling author and historian Robert Morgan—author of Gap Creek and Boone: A Biography—who will talk about everything Boone with regional experts. Morgan’s book Boone: A Biography is the Together We Read book for this summer and fall. Together We Read is western North Carolina’s regionwide reading and discussion program for bookstores, libraries and schools in 21 western North Carolina counties. Tickets for the inaugural Daniel Boone Symposium are $2.

On Friday night, it’s time to taste the wines of television’s original Daniel Boone at the Fess Parker Wine Dinners at The Gamekeeper Restaurant and Casa Rustica. Both dinners start at 7:00 p.m. and seating is limited, so interested parties are urged to get tickets as soon as possible. Patrons have their choice to wine and dine in a log cabin at Casa Rustica or eat wild game entrees similar to what Daniel Boone would have eaten at Gamekeeper Restaurant. Both dinners include three courses and multiple glasses of Fess Parker wine. The dinner at Casa Rustica costs $65 per person, and the dinner at Gamekeeper Restaurant costs $85.

On Saturday, September 6th, at 8:00 a.m., brave runners will follow in the footsteps of Daniel Boone as they climb and descend Howard’s Knob during the Daniel Boone Chase Foot Race. The race begins in downtown Boone, takes a lap around a city block, ascends the mountain and then returns back to the start. Three winners will be crowned—one for the first to complete the lap around the block, one for the first runner to reach the summit and one for the first person to finish. Do you have what it takes to beat Daniel Boone? Entry into the race is $20 and includes a t-shirt.

In the middle of the day, Boone will make history as festival-goers attempt to set a new World Record Academy Record for the “Largest Gathering of People Dressed Like Daniel Boone.” The hats are for sale at Mast General Store in Boone, as well as at Daniel Boone Headquarters, located at 130 North Depot Street in Boone from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the caps will go to the Watauga Education Foundation. The caps cost $10.

Daniel Boone Days comes to a close on Saturday with the inaugural Pioneer Festival at the Horn—a music and cultural festival at Horn in the West from noon to 11:00 p.m. An event for all ages, the Pioneer Festival at the Horn features arts and crafts vendors, a square dance, storytelling, the Watauga Arts Council’s fiddlers’ competition, the Daniel Boone Look-Alike Contest, living history and live music from Boone’s Ottava Rima, Boone’s Lost Ridge Band, Virginia’s Larry Keel & Natural Bridge and MerleFest standouts The Waybacks. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door; children under the age of 12 are $5.

Come celebrate Daniel Boone in the heart of Boone and find out why Daniel Boone had it right, paving the way for all of us to discover what the pioneer originally found. For more information, visit www.danielboonedays.com.

The Woolly Worm Festival in Banner Elk!!!

We all know that groundhogs are supposed to predict the coming of spring with their “shadowy” forecast. But did you know that there is another animal that can predict the severity of winter? That’s right, the Woolly Worm (also known as the Woolly Bear caterpillar) has long been lauded by mountain folk as a forecaster of the coming winter. While scientists dispute the idea that a caterpillar can accurately predict the weather, no one disputes that the Banner Elk Woolly Worm Festivals predictions have an 85% accuracy rate.
The Wooly Bear caterpillar has 13 brown and black segments, which the late Charles Von Canon explained to the small crowd that huddled together in the sub-freezing temperatures at the first Woolly Worm Festival correspond to the 13 weeks of winter. The lighter brown a segment is, the milder that week of winter will be. The darker black a segment is, the colder and snowier the corresponding week will be.
While the accuracy of the worm’s predictions are amazing, for the most part the festival is about having fun! So since 1978, the residents of the village nestled between the Carolina's two largest ski resorts have celebrated the coming of the snow season with a Woolly Worm Festival. They set aside the third weekend in October (October 18-19, 2008) to determine which one worm will have the honor of predicting the severity of the coming winter; and they make that worm earn the honor by winning heat after heat of hard-fought races - up a three-foot length of string.
First, no person is more likely to have a winning worm than any other person. There is no home-field advantage, no preferred age for the person who sets the worm on the string (although worms raced by children do seem to win a bit more frequently).
Second, selecting names for the Woolly Worms is a delightful way to learn how amazingly creative your friends and family members can be. Consider these clever monikers: Merryweather, Patsy Climb and Dale Wormhardt.
Finally, there is no other experience in life that can produce the absurd euphoria that comes from cheering for a caterpillar to climb a string. It is so indisputably ridiculous that it is completely liberating!
And the $1,000 first prize that accompanies the prestige of having your worm used to pronounce the official winter forecast doesn't hurt either.
The Woolly Worm races begin around 10 a.m. Each heat consists of 20 worms and races continue all day until the grand final around 4 p.m. The winning worm on Saturday is declared the official winter forecasting agent. The Sunday worm races are for prestige, fun and small prizes.
In addition to the Woolly Worm Races, the festival features crafts, food vendors, live entertainment and much more. Last year's festival attracted an estimated 20,000 fans, 140 vendors and around 1,000 race entrants.
The Woolly Worm Festival is sponsored by the Avery Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis Club of Banner Elk and a portion of the proceeds go to support children's charities throughout the county.

For more information, click here.

Specials and Discounts on Mountain Vacation Rentals!

Here at A and W Mountain Rentals, we are always trying to provide our customers with the best of everything…including prices. Because of the recent downturn in the economy, we have come up with some new discounts to show you how much we appreciate your business!

Gas Allowance Discount
Due to the increase in gas prices this year, we are currently running a special promotion to help offset the cost of gas. Each property has a gas allowance discount listed on its individual page. To view these discounts, simply click on the property you are interested in and read the information listed under the rent totals. This discount was originally scheduled to end 10/01/08, but we have extended it till 12/12/08.

Military Discount
We are now offering a military discount to our wonderful tenants who serve our country. We here at A and W Mountain Rentals & Realty, Inc. want to thank our military men and women for the service that they do for all of us. Please consider this discount a small thank you to all of you because we could never thank you enough.
YOU MUST ASK FOR THE MILITARY DISCOUNT WHEN BOOKING YOUR RENTAL UNIT. You must provide us with a copy of a valid military ID in the name that is listed on the contract to receive the discount.

Returning Tenants Discount
We want to reward those tenants who choose to stay with us multiple times. If you are a returning guest (and your name was listed on a prior contract), you will receive a $25.00 discount (this is in addition to the gas allowance discount if your arrival is 12/12/08 or before). We hope that you like us enough to come back again and again.

So call us here at A and W Mountain Rentals to find the perfect mountain home for your vacation needs!! 828.898.9188 For more information see our Specials and Discounts page at http://www.aandwrentals.com/specials.asp

What’s going on in August!!

There are all kinds of fun and entertaining things to do in the high country this August!!! Here are just a few events going on during the first half of the month:

Lees-McRae Summer Theatre – Oklahoma.
Friday, 8/1 - Thursday, 8/7 - 7 to 7:30 pm Hummingbird Theatre, Lees-McRae College, Banner Elk, NCRodgers & Hammerstein’s first collaboration remains, in many ways, their most innovative, having set the standards and established the rules of musical theatre still being followed today. OKLAHOMA! tells of fun, love and romance in the lives of the families living in the Oklahoma territory at the turn of the century. Although the road to true love never runs smooth, with two headstrong romantics holding the reins, love’s journey is as bumpy as a surrey ride down a country road. That they will succeed in making a new life together there is no doubt, and that this new life will begin in a brand-new state provides the ultimate climax to the triumphant OKLAHOMA! Call 828-898-8709 for details.

Crafts on the Green
Saturday, 8/2, 9 am - 4 pmFred's General Mercantile, Beech MountainOver 60 vendors of fine crafts assemble to display and sell their wares on the green near Fred's pavilion. For additional information, call Fred's Mercantile at (828) 387-4838.
"Music at St. John's"
Sunday, 8/3, 5 pmSt. John's ChurchThe remainder of the series will feature more of North Carolina's special musical treasures: On August 3, Summer Wind, the renowned solo oboist Alicia Chapman of the ASU faculty who will surprise the audience with the choice of her guest musicians. The Music at St. John's events are 'family friendly' with opportunities for member of the audience to meet and interact with artists. Consider bringing a picnic to enjoy on the church grounds following the concert! Please note that pets are not allowed on the property during these events. A minimum donation of $10 is requested for each adult; children under 12 year may attend free of charge.
Directions to St. John's Church, Valle Crucis:
From Linville: take 105 north 12.3 miles to stoplight at Watauga River bridge. Turn left onto Broadstone Rd. Go 4.2 miles to intersection of 194 and Mast Gap rd. Turn left onto Mast Gap Road. Go .4 miles and turn left on Herb Thomas Road. Go 1.5 miles to St. John's Church on the right.
From Boone: Take Hwy 105 south from 105/321 intersection in Boone. Go 4.8 miles to stoplight at Watauga River Bridge. Turn right onto Broadstone Road and go 4.2 miles to intersection of 194 and Mast Gap rd. Turn left onto Mast Gap Road. Go .4 miles and turn left on Herb Thomas Road. Go 1.5 miles to St. John's Church on the right.
From Mast General Store in Valle Crucis: Go 1.3 miles on Hwy 194. From Mast General Store to Mast Gap Road on left. Turn left and go .4 miles to Herb Thomas Road on left. Turn left and go 1.5 miles to St. John's Church on the right. Call 828-963-4609 for details.

Annual Barn Dance
Saturday, 8/16Beech MountainCall 828-387-9283 for details.

Grandfather Mountain Camera Clinic
Saturday, 8/16 - Sunday, 8/17, Saturday afternoon through Sunday morningGrandfather MountainTop professionals from the world of news photography gather to share on the hot topics in photojournalism. Free. Seating is limited, so pre-registration is required. Online registration starts July 15. Call 800-468-7325 for details.

Guided Hike on Beech Mountain
Tuesday, 8/19, 8:45amFalls TrailAll guests, residents and neighbors are invited to hike the trail less traveled. Free. Appropriate clothing and footwear are required. Please leave your pets at home as they may disturb wildlife along the trails. For additional information contact the Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce. Meet at Fred's General Mercantile or the trailhead at 8:45 on the day of the hike. Call 828-387-9283 for details.

17th Annual fine Arts and Master Crafts Festival
Saturday, 8/23 - Sunday, 8/24Banner Elk Elementary SchoolInternationally and nationally known artists gather for this unique one-a-kind handcrafted juried festival. Call 1-800-972-2183 for details.

Mile High Kite Festival at Beech Mountain
Saturday, 8/30 - Sunday, 8/31, 10 a.m.Across from Town HallA great tradition with lots of color and fun activities for kids of all ages. This is a free event sponsored by the members of the Beech Mtn Chamber of Commerce. Kites can be purchased at the event or bring your own. Be sure to bring your kite making supplies. Free kites Saturday and Sunday for the 1st 100 children. Kite building and decorating clinics are presented for the children as well. Two kite clubs are available to demonstrate flying techniques and also display their kites. The festival begins at 10 AM. Free Parking. Call (828) 387-9283 for details.

New River Blues Festival
Sunday, 8/31, 1- 7 pmJefferson Landing, Jefferson NCInternationally Acclaimed Artists in Paradise! The fabulously scenic setting on The New River at Jefferson Landing plays host to a world-class Festival... THE NEW RIVER BLUES FESTIVAL! Bring lawn chairs, blankets, umbrellas. No coolers on lawn please. Great food, soft drinks, beer and wine available! Tickets at Gate the Day of the Show $12.00 Headlining The Fest; Johnny Rawls • Wallace Coleman • Shrimp City Slim • Miss Wanda Johnson • The King Bees • Tampa Blue

Sugar Mountain Charlift Rides
Saturdays and Sundays 10 am- 5:30 pmSugar MountainEnjoy a breathtaking 45 minute roundtrip lift-ride at Sugar Mountain. $10 for a one-time ride, $22 for an all-day ticket. Kids 4 and under ride free with an adult. Call 828-898-4521 for details

Summer Concerts in the Park
Thursdays - 6:30 pmBanner Elk ParkConcerts start at 6 pm at the stage behind Bank of America on Highway 194. Bring your chairs or blankets and coolers. Food will also be available for purchase at the concert. Raffle tickets can be purchased for prizes as well as for the 50/50 split of the "pot."

Fred's Summer Sunday Concert
Sundays All DayBeech MountainCall 828-387-9283 for details.

Grandfather Mountain Highland Games

That’s right! The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games have come once again! This year Games will run from Thursday, July 10th through Sunday, July 13th. This will be the 52nd year of the Highland Games and there are many events scheduled for this year. Some of the events include: the Torchlight Ceremony, The Bear (a five-mile footrace up Grandfather Mountain), the Grizzly Bike Race, Celtic Music Jam Concert, a Ceilidh (a traditional Gaelic social dance), a Scottish Worship Service, the Parade of Tartans, a Scottish Fiddling Competition, the Atlantic International Highland Dance Championship Competition, as well as competitions for athletic events, sheep herding, kilted miles, children’s events, Scottish country dancing, Scottish harps, Tugs-of-War and more! Come join us at Grandfather Mountain and don’t forget to contact A and W Mountain Rentals & Realty for your vacation rental needs! 828-898-9188