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| Fifth annual Winterfest stirs tourism,
lends hand to charities |
by Dusty Teng
Staff Writer
Experience winter in the High Country this weekend at the
fifth annual Blowing Rock Winterfest. The local attraction
has been ranked by the Southeast Tourism Society as one of
the Top 20 Events in the Southeast for the month of February.
Area merchants began Winterfest in 1999 in an effort to continue
to promote tourism in Watauga County after the holiday season.
“Our mission for Winterfest is to bring people to town
during the typically slow times in late January and early
February and to raise money for non-profit charities,”
event coordinator Robert Miller, Jr. said.
Miller is also the general manager of Blowing Rock Stage
Company, an organization that has been involved in Winterfest
for the past three years. The BRSC will produce “Wintergrass
Live: From Celtic to Country,” a performance featuring
local bluegrass musicians, and a jazz concert called “Winterjazz
Live.”
Proceeds from the two events will benefit the future Blowing
Rock Community Arts Center, which will be the new home of
BRSC in mid-2005.
Other highlights of this year’s Winterfest include
The Polar Plunge, Chili Challenge, Winterfeast, an ice carving
competition and a wine tasting and auction.
The Polar Plunge has consistently been one of Winterfest’s
most popular events. Sponsored plungers raise money for charity
by wearing costumes and jumping into Chetola Lake.
“The Polar Plunge is the most popular of our spectator
events because it’s fun to watch people dress up and
jump into 20-degree water. Last year there were more than
1,000 people at the lake,” Miller said.
Patrons can sample a variety of professional and amateur
chili recipes at the Chili Challenge, another featured event
of Winterfest. Participants enter to receive the “Chili
Challenge Trophy” and cash prizes. The event has drawn
so many people in past years that it had to be moved to a
larger location.
Nine local restaurants participate in the Winterfest Winterfeast
by contributing dishes to a dinner at Meadowbrook Inn. Tickets
for Winterfeast are $20. Early seating tickets can also be
purchased in combination with the Winterjazz concert for
$28.
An ice carving contest sponsored by Ice Sensations also attracts
large crowds. The competition will be held at Memorial Park
in downtown Blowing Rock.
A wine tasting and auction will take place at Meadowbrook
Inn, featuring a wide selection of wines. This event will
also be held in a larger facility, enabling more participants
to join in the tasting and bidding.
In addition to having larger venues for many of the events,
Winterfest coordinators have improved the general layout
of the festival. Visitors will find it easier to get around
this year.
“The uniqueness is that Blowing Rock lends itself to
the festival. [Winterfest] is also unique because we give
the money back right here in town. Charities that benefit
from Winterfest are actually here in Blowing Rock,”
Miller said.
Blowing Rock Winterfest 2004 will take place Feb. 6-8 in
downtown Blowing Rock and Tanger Shoppes on the Parkway.
For more information and a complete schedule of events and
activities, visit www.blowingrockwinterfest.com.
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