Summer’s right around the corner and the Western North Carolina mountain region is busy in preparation. Festivals abound in the area, attracting vacationers, residents and wannabes to leisurely meander from venue to venue, enjoying the fine weather, culture, and down-home friendliness that Western North Carolina (WNC) is so well known for.
This year’s WNC opportunities include the Blue Ridge BBQ and Music Festival to be held at Harmon Field in Tryon, NC June 11th-12th. At the heart of the event is the Main Stage showcasing a variety of music — everything from blues, bluegass, folk and funk to zydeco. The Foothills Craft Fair provides an opportunity to stroll the Pacolet River and peruse a variety of local artist’s wares, and the heart and soul of the festival – the cookoff – features BBQ aficionados vying for the Governor’s Trophy. 
An Appalachian Summer Festival will be held at Appalachian State University in Boone initiating May 27th with a silent auction and concluding July 30th with Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys performing. Amy Sedaris, the Eastern Philharmonic Orchestra, Patti LuPone, Janis Ian and Karla Bonoff, the Golden Dragon Acrobats, The “Wild & Scenic” Film Festival and Blood, Sweat & Tears with Chuck Negron are also on the playbill.
Down south a-ways, a free pre-concert lecture will be held on Friday, June 25th at 6:30 pm to launch the Brevard Music Festival. The Brevard Music Center presents over 80 concerts throughout the seven-week festival, which showcases the Institutes’ three orchestras accompanied by world-class visiting artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Joshua Bell and Midori. Opening Night this year will feature Frederica von Stade and conductor Keith Lockhart. Brevard’s renowned summer festival attracts tens of thousands of listeners each and every year.
And of course it wouldn’t be summer without Bele Chere, Asheville’s 30-year-long salute to summertime. This three-day street festival will be held July 23-25, 2010 in Asheville’s historic downtown and has grown to attract 300,000 to 350,000 people over the three-day period to enjoy live music, arts, crafts and food. The festival also hosts the largest road race west of Charlotte. The 5K race registered more than 1,400 runners in 2009 and expectations are for over 1,600 runners to toe the line for the 31st race this year. One dollar from every entry will go to the Asheville Track Club’s Shoe Fund, which provides running shoes to disadvantaged students in Asheville and Buncombe County. An additional dollar will be donated to the Association for Retarded Citizens. Taken from an ancient Scottish dialect, the term “Bele Chere” means “beautiful living,” an apt appellation for this host city.
Private communities also offer summertime opportunities, providing a variety of stay and play getaways. One fine example is Vista Developers’ VIP Weekends in which prospective buyers are invited to familiarize themselves with Vista’s portfolio of mountain communities. Community specialists will tailor a detailed tour of your choice to Vista at Bill’s Mountain, Vista at Blacksmith Run, Vista at Blacksmith Mountain, or Vista at The Riverbank. All VIP weekends include two nights’ lodging in a townhome at Vista at Bill’s Mountain near Lake Lure, and recreational opportunities are available including golf, tennis, horseback riding, fishing, and kayaking.
