North Carolina Blackberry Festival to Sweeten the Foothills
Those of us who live in the mountain towns in North Carolina know how fortunate we are to call this region home. The perks are never-ending, due in part to an incredible community spirit showcased in many of the Lenoir NC events, bringing people together to celebrate throughout the seasons of the year.
The North Carolina Blackberry Festival is one such event, sponsored by the Caldwell County Chamber of Commerce, and there’s no wondering why this celebration has gained such momentum over the past sixteen years. This summer beginning Thursday, July 6th, and continuing with festivities all weekend long, residents and visitors, will once again come together for a delicious, nutritious and joy-packed occasion.
Schedule of Events:
Thursday, July 6, 2017--“An Evening of Everything Blackberry”
6pm – 9 pm-an Evening with Blackberry-themed dishes, Blackberry-infused drinks, and Blackberry attire.
This festival in North Carolina kick-off takes place on Main Street in historic downtown Lenoir and is a ticketed event, showcasing our fabulous restaurants, breweries and distilleries. Of course the main attraction—the blackberry! Be sure to eat heartily and vote on your favorites.
Friday, July 7, 2017–“Pre-heat Party & Downtown Extravaganza”
- 6pm–10pm–Black”Beer”y Garden Featuring Local Breweries and Craft Beers
- 6pm–10pm–Live Music on the Downtown Main Stage
- 6pm–Blackberry Princess Pageant Preliminaries
- 7pm–Front Porch Pickin’ Competition
- 7pm— Blackberry Recipe Contests
- 9pm— Glow Run 5K & Fun RunSaturday, July 8, 2017 –Vendors, Food, Children’s Activities and Blackberries all day!
- 10am–Live Music at Stage 1
- 10am–NC Blackberry Princess Pageant Finals at Stage 3
- 10:30am–Live Music at Stage 2
- 10:30am–Blackberry Festival Blood Drive
- 11am–Live Music at Stage 3
- 11:15am–The Blackberry Eating Games (Youth & Adult)
- 12pm–Presentation of Colors Ceremony
- 12:15pm–Colossal Cobbler Parade
- 12:30pm–Live Music at Stage 2
- 12:30pm–World’s Largest Patchwork of Cobbler
- 1:15pm to 3:30pm–Live Music on all Stages
- 3:30pm–Front Porch Pickin’ Winners at Stage
Many of you have already tasted the sweet produce from Lineberger Farms, perhaps while attending one of our Lenoir NC events, but for those of you who haven’t, there will be farm-fresh blackberries available, along with other blackberry delights, as well as arts and crafts. Many food vendors and local restaurants will be open too. If you have a competitive spirit, enter the blackberry recipe contests for both kids and adults and make sure blackberries are part of your ingredients!
To accompany all the great food is a musical line up on three stages as well as busking throughout the downtown. Be sure to see the phenomenal line up beginning at 10am with The King Bees, Shelby Rae Moore, Scupper’s Sagacious Squeezebox feat. Long John Shivers, Melissa Reaves, Banana Da Terra—Jimmie Griffith, and Bob Sinclair and the Big Deals. And the amazing foot-stomping Front Porch Pickin’ Competition is a popular event where you can showcase your talent before an attentive audience and even have the opportunity to win some cash!
There has been a strong agricultural heartbeat for the generations who’ve lived in and around the mountain towns in North Carolina, and for this reason we all care a great deal about preserving the way our state grows, delivers and enjoys eating our incredible food.
The blackberry festival in North Carolina, fast approaching, is one incredible way to celebrate and support locally-grown food. There was a 94 percent decline in the growing of tobacco in our state from 1992-2007, and with that decline, there was a concerted effort to protect and preserve our region’s farms and farmers.
Anyone who lives in the mountain towns in North Carolina, knows how much we value and enjoy our healthy environment. We owe a great deal of our health to being able to eat fresh, local produce and food which is bountiful in our restaurants, our homes and our schools. More farms mean cleaner air, a healthier environment, and food we can see first-hand being harvested. Did you realize that North Carolina is packed with more farmers’ markets and organic farms than any state in the Southeast? What’s even better, our home-grown food tastes fabulous.
Life at The Coves means being able to incorporate healthy eating and fitness into our everyday routines–whether we’re growing our own veggies in our community garden, or visiting the farmer’s market to prepare a family feast. We are nestled in the perfect location so residents can slip outside for a day of fresh air and recreation, and still be close to amazing Lenoir NC events.
Be sure to visit The Coves Mountain River Club’s booth at the blackberry festival in North Carolina to learn about the sweet place you’ll want to build your dream mountain home.
If you’re exploring the area for the first time, ask for our 70 page complimentary Western North Carolina Visitor’s Guide which provides more information about living in the foothills.
Exploring the area for the first time?
Let us know & ask for our 70 page Complimentary Magazine.
