The Cascade Highlands

Area Tourism Sites

Alleghany County	Grayson County	Surry County
Carroll County	Smyth County	Wilkes County
City of Galax	Stokes County	Yadkin County

Arts & Crafts (Back To Top)

Yadkin Valley Craft Guild
Craft workshops and retail locations in the Yadkin Valley.

Round the Mountain
A visitor resource for artisans, farms, galleries, craft venues, and other creative points of interest in Southwest Virginia.

Chestnut Creek School of the Arts
Provides classes in visual and performing arts, contemporary craft and traditional music in downtown Galax, VA.

Hungry Mother Arts & Crafts Festival
This juried craft show, held the third week of July at Hungry Mother State Park in Marion, VA, has showcased arts and crafts for more than 30 years. 276.783.2901

Alleghany Arts and Craft
Peruse the handiwork of local artisans of this local arts cooperative next to the courthouse in Sparta, NC 336.372.1776

New River Crafts
Arts, crafts, and artisans displayed on Alleghany County's arts and crafts e-commerce web site.

Foothills Arts Council
Visual and performing arts in Elkin and southwest Surry County.

Surry Arts Council
Featuring Andy Griffith Playhouse programs, annual Mayberry Days, and trip planning services.

Cultural Arts Council of Wilkes
Community arts, educational programs, and exhibits.

Yadkin Arts Council
Enriching the lives of the citizens of Yadkin County through the arts.

Roof Top Crafts
Arts and crafts by natives of North Carolina and Virginia with reasonable prices. Buy online or visit the location in Galax, Virginia.

Stokes County NC
Information about local artists, architectural antiques, organic vegetables and much, much more.

Festivals & Events (Back To Top)

Mountain Heritage Festival
A festival for the craft lover with live music, crafts, food, antique cars and children’s activities. Held the third Saturday in Sept.

Alleghany County Fiddlers’ Convention
This old-time and bluegrass competition attracts a large gathering of musicians and knowledgeable music fans to Sparta, NC, who arrive early for the many jam sessions at the festival. Third Friday and Saturday in July.

Blue Ridge Music Center Summer Concert Series
The Blue Ridge Music Center presents a series of concerts showcasing local‚ regional‚ and nationally known musicians on Saturday evenings (June – Sept.) on the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 213.

Smoke on the Mountain
A blend of barbecue and music is highlighted at this Virginia state barbecue championship and street festival in Galax, VA.

Whitetop Mountain Ramp Festival
Festival featuring the ramp, a type of strongly-flavored wild onion gathered in the highlands of Virginia. This event includes bluegrass and old-time players, crafts, games, mountain dancing and a ramp eating contest. Third Sunday in May.

Mountain Foliage Festival & Grand Privy Races
On the second Saturday in October‚ Independence, VA, commemorates autumn with a parade, arts and crafts, and—best of all—the Grand Privy Race (yes, they race outhouses!).

Chilhowie Apple Festival
Each September, the town of Chilhowie, VA, celebrates the apple with activities including a parade, food and crafts.

Rich Valley Fair and Horse Show
Each last week in July, equestrian lovers bring their best-looking calves, steers and horses for the livestock and horse shows. Other events include the horse and tractor pulling contest, music, carnival, and an ATV rodeo.

Stokes Stomp Festival on the Dan
The Stomp Festival is held in Moratock Park each September on the Dan River in Danbury, NC, where crafters, musicians and vendors gather to celebrate the river and the arts.

Flea Market & Gun Show
Every Labor Day weekend in Hillsville. One of the largest shows of guns, antiques, and collectibles in the Southeastern US.

Galax Leaf & String Festival
Showcasing traditional music, local history, local artisans, and handmade crafts.

MerleFest
The Americana Music Celebration, held the last weekend in April, always features nationally renown performers.

Brushy Mountain Apple Festival
One of the largest one-day arts and crafts festivals in the Southeastern United States. First Saturday in October, North Wilkesboro.

Autumn Leaves Festival
Filled with crafts, live entertainment, great food and even a pageant.

Fiddlers' Convention in Galax, Virginia
Come to the decades old fiddlers' convention for live music and competitions. You can even camp.

The Yadkin Valley Wine Festival
Held the 3rd Saturday in May at the Elkin Municipal Park in Elkin, North
Carolina. The festival is sponsored by the Yadkin Valley Chamber of
Commerce. The annual festival is free and open to the public, including
families with children.

The Yadkin Valley Grape Festival
Held the third Saturday in October in downtown Yadkinville NC, sponsored by the Yadkin County Chamber of Commerce. The festival showcases Yadkin Valley wines along with entertainment, food, crafts and children's activities.

The Yadkinville Bluegrass Contest & Fiddlers Convention
Held the third Saturday in April in downtown Yadkinville NC. This event
features some of the best in local and regional bluegrass talent from
northwest North Carolina, southwest Virginia, northeast Tennessee, and beyond.

The Yadkin Valley Harvest Festival
A longstanding event in Yadkinville that celebrates the County's harvest and the onset of the fall foliage season. The Festival includes regional food, crafts, an entertainment stage, tractor show, and family fun. The entertainment stage will host local talents including area bands, cloggers, dancers, show choirs and more. There will be a kids area complete with a Petting Zoo, a Down on the Farm area and the Antique Tractor Show.

History & Culture (Back To Top)

Sparta Teapot Museum of Craft and Design
Museum space on Main Street that previews a small worldwide collection of crafts. Open March-Dec.

Carroll County Historical Museum
Located in Hillsville, VA, the museum provides exhibits on local history, native American artifacts, Civil War history along with tours of the Carroll County Courthouse, a scene of the 1912 Hillsville shootout.

Jeff Matthews Memorial Museum
Located in Galax, VA, the site includes cabins from the early 1800s, over 10,000 Native American artifacts, and one of the largest collections of Kodiak bears on display.

1908 Courthouse
This renovated courthouse in Independence, VA, serves as a visitor information center as well as provides information on local artifacts, photographs, maps and features a gift shop with local crafts.

Museum of the Middle Appalachians
Located in Saltville, VA, this museum showcases full-size replicas of Ice Age mammals that roamed the area over 15,000 years ago. View exhibits on local history, Native American artifacts, and Civil War history.

Andy Griffith Museum
The Andy Griffith Playhouse is home to the world’s largest collection of Griffith memorabilia. Nearby is the Andy and Opie TV Land statue.

Wilkes County Heritage Museum
A restored 1902 courthouse, this museum features local NASCAR memorabilia and exhibits on the history of moonshining, Tom Dula “Dooley,” and Daniel Boone.

Blue Ridge National Heritage Area
Historic and cultural preservation in the counties that border the Blue Ridge Parkway.

NC Office of Archives & History
A link to many historic sites, museums, local historic societies, and other resources.

Southwest Virginia Heritage Guide
A guide to heritage sites in the counties of our Region. Prodced by The Blue Ridge Institute & Museum, Ferrum College.

Homegrown and Handmade
Art roads and farm trails of North Carolina's foothills counties.

The Blue Ridge Institute & Museum
Sponsored by Ferrum College, documenting the folkways of the people living in and around the Blue Ridge Mountains. A guide to festivals, museums, cultural and historic trails of the Blue Ridge.

Mount Airy Museum of Regional History
Culture and history from the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Horne Creek Farm
A place to experience everyday farm life in North Carolina's northwestern Piedmont, ca. 1900. Special farm life events throughout the year. A North Carolina Historic Site.

Stokes County NC
Information on the county's history, people, places, and events.

Music & Dance (Back To Top)

Crouse House Pickers
Musicians gather at 6 p.m. every Monday at the Crouse House at Crouse Park, in Sparta, NC, for a weekly bluegrass and old-time jam session.

Grayson County Fiddlers’ Convention
This two-day fiddlers’ convention is held in June and includes music competitions in a variety of styles.

The Lincoln Theatre
Located in Marion, VA, The Lincoln Theatre is one of three existing Mayan revival (art deco) theatres in the country. Audiences can enjoy musicals, plays, storytelling and be part of a live television audience through Song of the Mountains bluegrass concert series.

KingFest
Held the in fist Saturday in October in King Center Park in King, NC, this event is devoted to regional music. Activities include crafts, youth activities, bike race, fishing tournament and a classic car show.

WPAQ’s Saturday Morning Merry-Go-Round
Every Saturday morning‚ radio station WPAQ broadcasts a two-hour live concert of bluegrass and old-time music from inside the downtown Mount Airy Cinema Theater.

The Cooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail
Listing major venues for traditional music.

Blue Ridge Music Trails
A traveler's guide to live traditional music and dance along the Blue Ridge.

Carolina Music Ways
Music history and events in Northwest North Carolina.

The Blue Ridge Music Center
Outdoor traditional music events, indoor interpretive center celebrating an important strand of American musical culture.

MerleFest
The Americana Music Celebration hosted by Doc Watson which annually includes nationally renowned musicians.

Fiddlers' Convention in Galax, Virginia
Come to the decades old fiddlers' convention for live music and competitions. You can even camp.

The Yadkinville Bluegrass Contest & Fiddlers Convention
Held the third Saturday in April in downtown Yadkinville NC. This event features some of the best in local and regional bluegrass talent from northwest North Carolina, southwest Virginia, northeast Tennessee, and beyond.

Outdoor Recreation (Back To Top)

New River State Park
The New River, the centerpiece of this 1,500-acre state park, is believed to be the second oldest river in the world. Outdoor enthusiasts can absorb the scenery, birding, trout streams, camping, picnicking and fishing.

Hungry Mother State Park
This 2,200-acre area features a lake with a sandy beach, boating, fishing pier, campgrounds, cabins, restaurant, lodges, hiking, and biking.

The Appalachian Trail
Sections of The Appalachian Trail cross the region with spectacular views, high summits and vivid floral displays.

Stone Mountain State Park
An impressive 600-foot granite dome emerges from this park with fly-fishing, hiking, camping, rock climbing, and picnicking opportunities.

Kerr Scott Dam & Reservoir
The U.S. Army Crops of Engineers operates this flood-controlled dam. The lake and surrounding property cover 3,754 acres used for camping, hunting, fishing, swimming, boating, picnicking, hiking, mountain biking, scenic overlooks, and wildlife viewing.

Dark Mountain Trails
7.5 miles of steep, tight and fast mountain bike trails with good flow and a lot of variety.

Hanging Rock State Park
Sheer cliffs of bare rock, cascading waterfalls, and views of the piedmont plateau can be found at this 7,000-acre state park. Hanging Rock offers cabin rentals, hiking, camping, swimming, boating, and rock climbing.

Dan River Trail
Canoeist, rafters and tubers can follow the Dan River at various public access points. Rentals and guided trips are available from local outfitters.

Pilot Mountain
Rising 1,400 feet above sea level, this towering peak is the most recognizable feature in Pilot Mountain State Park. Activities include birding, camping, canoeing, fishing, picnicking and rock climbing.

Sauratown Trails
Over 35 miles of equestrian and hiking trails connect Pilot Mountain State Park to Hanging Rock State Park.

The Blue Ridge Parkway Association
A guide to planning your vacation when traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Mount Rogers National Recreation Area
Cabins, camping, fishing, hunting, horseback trails, mountain biking, scenic drives, and wildlife areas.

Virginia Creeper Trail
Virginia's premiere mountain biking experience, with bike rentals, shuttle services, food, lodging, shops. Also, hiking, and horseback riding.

Grayson Highlands State Park
Adjacent to the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. Camping, wild trout stream fishing, nature hikes, horse riding trails.

New River Trail State Park
Paralleling the New River, with camping, boating, fishing, river tubing opportunities.

NC Division of Parks and Recreation
A guide to outdoor recreation in our Region, with web pages for Hanging Rock, New River, Pilot Mountain, and Stone Mountain State Parks.

Wineries & Vineyards (Back To Top)

Virginia Wines
Wineries in Southwestern Virginia

North Carolina Wines