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Grandfather Mountain’s annual Animal Birthday Party to be held June 10

6/4/2026

 
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LINVILLE, N.C. – Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, will throw its annual birthday bash for all resident animals on Wednesday, June 10 — and you’re invited! Included with park admission, the celebration will feature games, contests, crafts and surprises.
 
The park’s habitat staff is preparing a fun-filled afternoon for guests with programs to celebrate its furry and feathered inhabitants as they mark another trip around the sun. Millie the Bear, the mountain’s mascot, will also make special appearances throughout the day.
 
“We are especially excited for Animal Birthday Party this year, as our staff has put twists on some of the classic elements of the event,” said Christie Tipton, animal habitats curator for the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation. “Celebrating our resident animals during one of the most beautiful times of the year is always well worth a visit to the mountain.”
 
As seen last year at a few special events, the Conservation Through Colors table is returning. This table offers a special opportunity to contribute to a larger conservation effort. During the celebration, animal paintings will be on sale for half price at the table. Animal paintings are unique prints created by the mountain’s resident animals. Paintings feature bear paws, otter paws, scale patterns and other designs that the animals paint. Habitat staff assists the animals in creating their one-of-a-kind paintings.
 
All proceeds from the animal painting sales at the Conservation Through Colors table will go to the Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that focuses on protecting and improving species numbers, diversity and habitats. Grandfather Mountain is within the bounds of one of the organization’s priority conservation areas, so this conservation cause is especially relevant. When guests purchase an animal painting, they may spin a prize wheel for a chance to win mountain-themed gifts.
 
Activities will kick off at 11 a.m. and continue until 3:30 p.m. The full schedule is below.
 
Animal Birthday Party Schedule:
11 a.m. – 12 p.m. | A Walk in the Woods game — Learn about nature through an interactive game. (in front of the Wilson Center)
 
11 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Conservation Through Colors table — Half-price animal paintings will be sold, with proceeds supporting the Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy. (Classroom in the Clouds)
 
11 a.m. – 2:15 p.m. | Test Your Animal Knowledge Contest — contest drawing at 2:15 (Classroom in the Clouds)
 
11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Make a birthday card for the animals. (Classroom in the Clouds)
 
11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Games — Come play some fun animal games. (Classroom in the Clouds)
 
1 – 1:30 p.m. | Animal Encounter — Come meet a few of our resident animals, including snakes and a groundhog. (Classroom in the Clouds)
 
1 – 1:30 p.m. | Bear Painting Tour — Join our habitat staff to see an animal painting created live. This experience is $10 per person and can be purchased at the Conservation Through Colors table in Classroom in the Clouds. Guests will not be able to take a painting made on this tour home with them, but paintings will be sold at the Conservation Through Colors table.
 
1 – 2 p.m. | Birthday Critter Corner — Meet a few of our smaller animals. (Classroom in the Clouds)
 
1 – 2 p.m. | Free birthday cake (Classroom in the Clouds)
 
1:30 – 2 p.m. | Decorate Birthday Presents — Come help make birthday enrichments for the animals. (outside the Wilson Center)
 
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. | Animal Olympics game (in front of the Wilson Center)
 
2:15 p.m. | Contest Drawing — Winners will be announced at the Classroom in the Clouds. Contest winners get the rare opportunity to go behind the scenes to visit the animal they were knowledgeable about. Winners are allowed to take family members with them. Participants must be present to win.
 
2:45 p.m. | Animal Birthday Party Parade — Follow our staff to the elk, then otter, then cougar and then bear overlooks to watch the special birthday enrichments be given.
 
Those interested in treating the animals to birthday presents can do so by choosing a gift from the mountain’s animal enrichment wish list featuring appropriate toys and supplies. Donors can purchase an item online and have it delivered straight to Grandfather Mountain for the animals’ immediate enjoyment. To learn more about the habitat animals’ wish list, visit www.grandfather.com/animal-enrichment-wishlist.
 
New this year, guests who bring an item from the enrichment wish list to the Animal Birthday Party will receive a voucher for a free cookie from Mildred’s Grill.
 
Animal lovers can also contribute through the mountain’s Adopt-an-Animal Program. Honorary adopters receive a photo of their animal, certificate of adoption, informational sheet about their animal’s life and more. Adoptions can be made in-person at Grandfather or online at www.grandfather.com/adopt.
 
To learn more about this year’s Animal Birthday Party at Grandfather Mountain, visit www.grandfather.com/event/animal-birthday-party.
 
The nonprofit Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation strives to inspire conservation of the natural world through education, exploration and example. For more information, visit www.grandfather.com.

December on Grandfather Mountain

11/27/2025

 
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The holiday season is officially underway at Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation.

​While the first snowflakes usually fall, we have plenty of mild days for walks across the Mile High Swinging Bridge or for a winter hike. Our wildlife habitat residents are active, especially on warmer days. On cold and wet days, find plenty of things to explore inside the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery.
Additionally, our gift shops at the Wilson Center and Top Shop offer many local and handmade goods that can make for great presents that give back!


Read more about our holiday offerings.


Those looking for unique gifts for loved ones that will also help support the foundation have plenty of options to choose from this year.


 
Get your shopping done and feel good knowing your gifts are giving in more ways than one.

HOLIDAY SHOPPING IDEAS
 
Adopt an Animal
Looking for a gift that’s warm and fuzzy? While Grandfather Mountain’s resident animals are not for sale, the Adopt-an-Animal Program is the next best thing.
 
The program allows participants to symbolically adopt any of Grandfather Mountain’s furry or feathered residents, including black bears, river otters, cougars, bald eagles, elk and Sally the Corn Snake.
 
By adopting an animal, individually or on behalf of a loved one, the recipient will receive a special gift package. Gifts vary, depending on the donation level, and can include photographs, plush toys, paintings created by your adopted animal, day passes and more.
 
Visit www.grandfather.com/adopt to learn more.
 
Behind-the-Scenes Tours
Treat your favorite animal lover to an up-close and personal experience with Grandfather’s resident animals.
 
Hosted by Grandfather’s knowledgeable and experienced keepers, Behind-the-Scenes Tours show guests where the park’s resident animals sleep overnight while sharing the ins and outs of what it takes to care for the animals year-round. Behind-the-Scenes Tours are offered April through October and can be booked in advance.
 
To give a Behind-the-Scenes Tour as a gift, please call the Wilson Center Gift Shop at 828-733-1059 and purchase over the phone. The gift recipient will be responsible for contacting the habitat staff and scheduling their tour. Please note, a gift of a tour or experience does not include park admission. That will need to be purchased separately or covered by a Bridge Club membership.
 
Visit www.grandfather.com/experiences/animal-habitats-vip-tours for additional information.
 
Paint With a Bear
This one-of-a-kind activity will lead to lifelong memories. Watch one of the resident bears playfully create a painting by walking through nontoxic paint, in an assortment of colors chosen by the group, and onto sheets of paper for each participant to take home. Paint With a Bear is available Saturdays and Sundays at 11:30 a.m., April through October.
 
Those wanting to give this experience as a gift should call the Wilson Center Gift Shop at 828-733-1059 to purchase over the phone. The gift recipient will be responsible for contacting the habitat staff and scheduling their tour. Please note, a gift of a tour or experience does not include park admission. That will need to be purchased separately or covered by a Bridge Club membership.
 
For more information, visit www.grandfather.com/paint-with-bear.
 
Meet-the-Bears Tours
With Grandfather’s Meet-the-Bears Tours, go behind the scenes to meet some of the mountain’s resident black bears and learn all about them, including their names, daily routines, care, histories and more. This offering is available weekends, at 11 a.m., April through October.
 
To give a Meet-the-Bears Tour as a gift, please call the Wilson Center Gift Shop at 828-733-1059 and purchase over the phone. The gift recipient will be responsible for contacting the habitat staff and scheduling their tour. Please note, a gift of a tour or experience does not include park admission. That will need to be purchased separately or covered by a Bridge Club membership.
 
More information is available at www.grandfather.com/experiences/meet-the-bears.
 
Animal Wish List
Make the season merry and bright for the creatures that call Grandfather home by treating them to gift items and enrichment treats.
 
To see what the animals want this holiday season, visit www.grandfather.com/animal-enrichment-wishlist.
 
Fudge
Think the views are sweet? Try Grandfather Mountain’s fudge.
 
The park offers homemade fudge, available in year-round favorites chocolate, peanut butter and tiger butter. Best of all, it’s only a phone call away.
 
To place an order for pickup or shipment, call 828-733-1058.
 
Season Passes
For a gift that keeps on giving, shoppers can purchase an annual membership to Grandfather Mountain’s Bridge Club.
 
Bridge Club membership offers free admission to Grandfather Mountain for a year, exclusive discounts on and off the mountain, a Bridge Club car decal and more. Group passes are also available.
 
To learn more, visit www.grandfather.com/bridge-club.
 
Donate
Grandfather Mountain is owned and operated by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, a nonprofit organization with a mission to inspire conservation of the natural world through education, exploration and example.
 
The park’s funding is entirely derived from admission, souvenir sales, food and beverage sales and donations, 100% of which go right back into the mountain, ensuring its pristine beauty is preserved for generations to come.
 
Charitable giving also benefits the park’s many educational programs and initiatives.
 
Those hoping to contribute in their or someone else’s name may do so by visiting www.grandfather.com/donate, which allows them to sponsor a particular project or donate to a cause of their choosing.
 
PURCHASING A GIFT WHILE ON THE MOUNTAIN?
 
Gift Shops
Located in the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery and the Top Shop, Grandfather Mountain’s gift shops carry a variety of artisan crafts and goods, as well as signature Grandfather Mountain souvenirs, from apparel to drinkware and all things in between.
 
One of the most popular items is truly unique to the mountain – animal paintings, as in artwork painted by Grandfather Mountain’s habitat animals.
 
If you’re looking to support small businesses, our gift shops offer many goods created by local vendors:
  • Jewelry by Don Haywood Jewelry (Boone, N.C.)
  • Hand-carved trees by Fall Creek Woods (Todd, N.C.)
  • Face carvings by Bill Lyons (Hampton, T.N.)
  • Hand-painted ornaments by Corn Husk Shoppe (Asheville, N.C.)
  • Laser-cut wood and porcelain ornaments by MJC Woodworking (Mocksville, N.C.)
  • Laser-cut wood slab art salvaged from Hurricane Helene by Scribe Werks (Newland, N.C.)
  • Honey products by Whole Hive Honey (Boone, N.C.)
  • Jams, jellies and honey by The Dutch Kettle (Hamptonville, N.C.)
  • Soaps by Foothills Soap Company (Marion, N.C.), Mercy Springs Farm (Vilas, N.C.) and Highland Croft (Elk Park, N.C.).
 
Choose and Cut and Save
Grandfather Mountain’s official tree will be on display Nov. 21, and guests are welcome to bring their own to enjoy a festive discount on park admission during the holiday season. Yes – you read that right, bring your own tree!
 
As a gesture of support to local Christmas tree farmers, anyone who arrives at the mountain with a tree atop their vehicle or a receipt from a local tree farm will receive $2 off each adult admission and $1 off each child admission.
 
This offer is valid when booking a visit online at www.grandfather.com (choose the discount pricing) or when buying tickets in person, if available.
 
Winter Hours
Grandfather Mountain is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day in winter, weather permitting, with the exception of Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Ticket sales end at 3:30 p.m., and trails close at 4 p.m. Please note, the park will close early Dec. 16 for a staff event and on Christmas Eve. On those two days, the park will be open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the last entry at 2:30 p.m. and trails closing at 3 p.m.
 
Guests are encouraged to book their visit online at www.grandfather.com. With the exception of this year’s choose-and-cut Christmas tree promotion, discounts and coupons are valid only when booking online.
 
During times of inclement weather, the park may close early or delay opening until all roads and paths can be cleared of snow and ice. As such, those planning a trip are encouraged to call the Entrance Gate at 828-733-4337 or check the website before visiting to learn about the day’s conditions and opening status.
 
Learn more about the holiday season at Grandfather Mountain at www.grandfather.com/holiday-season.
 
The nonprofit Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation strives to inspire conservation of the natural world through education, exploration and example. For more information, visit www.grandfather.com.
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Thanksgiving Meals in Banner Elk

11/20/2025

 
The holidays are full of fun, food, family...and sometimes stress!

If you're worried about planning your Thanksgiving meal this year, let our Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce members make it easy! Whether you want to serve a pre-cooked meal at your home, are searching for a location to host your family that includes catering, or want to eat at a restaurant, our members have you covered! 

Williams Deli | Catered Meal
Deadline to order 11/22/25

From your main course to sides and desserts, you can order as much or as little as you need to make your holiday meal perfect! Williams Deli will also be offering a Christmas Menu!

View the Menus Here. 
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​The Barn at Cornerstone & Stonewalls Catering

Let Stonewalls and the Barn at Cornerstone take all the Hassle out of your Holidays! They are partnering together to offer everything you need for a festive gathering, from beautiful decor to tasty meals.
828-898-5550
[email protected]
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Sorrento's | Thanksgiving Day Meal

Spend Thanksgiving at Sorrento's. A beautifully curated holiday menu will be served from 3pm to 10 pm. 
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Bayou Banner Elk | Thanksgiving Meal

If your kind of Thanksgiving is good food, good people, and a laid back atmosphere… Bayou’s the spot! Think slow smoked brisket, char grilled oysters, mac-n-cheese, sweet tater tots, and pecan pie to finish.

Holiday hours: Breakfast 8–12, Lunch/Dinner 12–8. Come hungry!
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My Best Friend's Barkery | Thanksgiving Meals for your Pup
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8288985625
[email protected]
​
176 Shawneehaw Ave,
Banner Elk, NC 28604

Best of Broadway Too @ BE Presbyterian Church

8/8/2025

 
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This hit event returns! Join Banner Elk Presbyterian Church for this fun 90-minute concert, featuring love songs from our favorite musicals. This performance features singers from the Lees-McRae Summer Theater and the Banner Elk Presbyterian Choir. 

Admission is free, but donations are encouraged. 100% of the donations benefit the Banner Elk Presbyterian Church Preschool. 
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August at Grandfather Mountain

8/6/2025

 

School may be starting back up soon, but fun is still in session at Grandfather Mountain!

Beat the heat and learn something new at one of their many educational events. 

Aug. 2: Educator Workshop: WILD About Elk
Aug. 7: Grandfather Presents: Jeff Corwin
Aug. 8: Grandfather by Night: Twilight Hike
Aug. 9: Junior Naturalist Day
Aug. 15: Grandfather by Night: Naturalist Program
Aug. 22: Mindfulness and Well-being Series: Exploring Forest Bathing with Creative Experiences
Aug. 22: Grandfather by Night: Twilight Hike
Aug. 23-24: SOLO Wilderness First Aid Course
​Aug. 29: Grandfather by Night: Twilight Hike

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August Music at The Village of Banner Elk

8/6/2025

 

These concerts take place on the stage in the plaza between Sorrento's and Bayou!

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August Music at Banner Elk Cafe

8/6/2025

 
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Grandfather Mountain’s annual Junior Naturalist Day to take place Aug. 9

7/22/2025

 
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LINVILLE, N.C. – Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, will host its annual Junior Naturalist Day on Saturday, Aug. 9. Activities, included with admission, will be provided specifically for children ages 5 to 12 — though all ages are welcome — to explore their environment and experience all that Grandfather has to offer.

Programming takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature birding with a naturalist, nature journaling, looking for lichen and more.

In honor of the mountain’s upcoming “Hawk Watch” event during the month of September, there will be a Junior Hawk Watch program near the Mile High Swinging Bridge in the afternoon. Grandfather is one of more than 300 Hawk Watch sites officially designated by the Hawk Migration Association of North America.
Grandfather Mountain’s Junior Naturalist Program offers an experience that caters to curious young explorers at the park’s Wilson Center for Nature Discovery and Conservation Campus — which will be expanded in fall 2025 through the opening of Yonni’s Clubhouse, a space designed to combine learning and fun via indoor and outdoor, hands-on, education opportunities.


Read More

Avery County Humane Society Fundraiser 2025

7/21/2025

 
Save the Date: Thursday, August 28, 2025

Join the Avery Humane Society for an enchanting evening and their 2025 FurRaiser - There's No Place like a Furever Home!

Location: 
The Venue at Boulder Creek
1001 Beech Mountain Parkway
Beech Mountain, North Carolina 28604
United States

Date & Time: 
Thursday, 08/28/2025

5:30pm EDT - 9:00pm EDT

Price: 
$150 - $5,000
​

​
Get Tickets/Donate
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Completion of road project opens 12-mile corridor on the Blue Ridge Parkway between Blowing Rock and Linville Falls, North Carolina

7/21/2025

 
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Slope and road repairs completed at milepost 306.8 near Beacon Heights, NC following Hurricane Helene damage.
NPS Photo 

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BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY, NC/VA – On Monday, July 21, 2025, Blue Ridge Parkway officials opened a section of the 469-mile historic route in North Carolina from milepost 305.2, near Beacon Heights and U.S. 221, to milepost 317.5, just south Linville Falls also at U.S. 221. The opening of this road section, closed since Hurricane Helene due to a landslide and large amounts of debris, is the first of multiple openings expected in the coming weeks and months as the Parkway’s first round of recovery repair projects nears completion. Due to remaining damage in the area of today’s opening, Linville Falls spur road, campground, picnic area, and visitor center remain closed. 
 
As a result of Hurricane Helene, the Parkway identified at least 57 landslides of varying complexity across nearly 200 miles in North Carolina. Work to restore road access, repair road damage, and stabilize slide areas began in the fall of 2024, and is planned in three phases, as outlined:  
 
  • PHASE 1 – This initial round of projects, including today’s opening, addresses 12 repairs in eight geographic areas. Once complete, across the summer and into the fall of 2025, over 48 miles of the Parkway will be restored for public use in various locations across western North Carolina. 
  • PHASE 2 – Projects included in this phase will repair 21 landslide areas primarily between milepost 318.2 and 323.4, in the area south of Linville Falls. Contracting is currently underway for projects included in this phase, and work is expected to be complete by fall of 2026. 
  • PHASE 3 – Planning is underway for this phase, which addresses repairs to over 23 sites primarily between milepost 336.7 and 351.9, in the area between Little Switzerland and the Mount Mitchell.  
 
This phased system provides both public access to newly opened areas as soon as possible, and access to previously unreachable areas by contractors. Parkway construction activity is complex and highly technical, including factors such as remoteness, challenging terrain, and reduced construction seasons due to ice and winter weather at higher elevations. 
 
For safety reasons, the park asks that people continue to be patient and respect remaining closures. Multiple seen and unseen hazards exist in closed areas, and crews and heavy equipment at work make areas unsafe. Visitors should also be aware that trail assessments are also still underway, and caution should be exercised as hikers may encounter hazards on trails such as landslides, tree debris, and washed-out sections or bridges.   
 
Visitors should plan carefully for any trip along the Parkway and consult the park’s website for a wide variety of planning tools. The park’s website provides extensive information, including current road status, multiple regional maps, and other helpful information, about the park’s recovery process at go.nps.gov/Helene. 
Slope and road repairs completed at milepost 306.8 near Beacon Heights, NC following Hurricane Helene damage. NPS Photo 
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100 West Main Street
​Banner Elk, NC 28604
​View our Visitor's Map.

Mailing Address

​P.O. Box 1872
​Banner Elk, NC 28604
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​828-898-8395

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Saturday 10:00am - 1:00 pm
Sunday Closed

*Hours subject to change based upon volunteer availability.​
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