Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Unicoi Apple Festival scheduled Oct. 1-2
The 44th annual Unicoi County Apple Festival will be held on October 1-2. The two day festival will feature live music, 4-mile race, miss apple festival pageant, cooking contest, apple dumpling contest, arts and crafts, kid’s rides and activities, 350 vendors, delicious apples, beverages, festival food, and more.
The festival is a celebration and presentation of the unique heritage, foods, crafts and culture of the southern Appalachian region.
Exhibitor will showcase over 350 arts and crafts vendors from around the country featuring painting, photography, wood-turning, sculpture, metal crafts, jewelry, blown glass, Three entertainment stages featuring live music perfectly complement the arts and crafts atmosphere, A large children’s area complete with rides and activities, A wide array of tournaments are featured including the NFS 4-Mile Race, Farm Bureau Tennis Tournament, Erwin Record Photography Contest, Chamber of Commerce Cooking Contest and Apple Dumpling Contest and much more.

Storytelling Festival Oct. 1 and 2
Jonesborough’s annual storytelling will be virtual this year, and will be presented Oct. 1 and 2.
Viewers can experience world-class storytelling from the comfort of their home. There will be 20 plus hours of storytelling over the festival weekend with continued viewing access for 14 days following the final show.
Featured storytellers include Sheila Arnold, who does historic character presentation; Adam Booth, who blends storytelling with traditional folklore and music; Geraldine Buckles, who makes people laugh and think with her personal stories; Regi Carpenter, an award-winning performer; Donald David, who grew up surrounded by a family of storytellers; Guy Davis, an author, teacher, and a Broadway and film and television actor; Carmen Deedy, a children’s book author; Elizabeth Ellis, who grew up in the Appalachian mountains hear stories from her minister grandfather; and Diane Ferlatte of Louisiana, who from her grandparent’s porch heard lots of stories and learned all about storytelling.
Other featured storytellers include Heather Forest, Josh Goforth, Nestor Gomez, Bill Hartley, Michael Reno Harrell, Delores Hydock, Andy Offut Erwin, Kevin Kling, Mark Lamb, Bill Lepp, Tim Lowry, Mara Menzies, Connie Regan Blak, and a host of other tellers.
Ticket prices and more information about the festival and tellers can be obtained by going to www.storytellingcenter.net/festival/main/.

Girl Scouts host Meet and Greet event
The Girl Scouts of the Southern Appalachians will host a meet and greet event Thursday, Oct. 7, at 1100 Woodland Ave., Johnson City.
The event will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. and will welcome Sandi Black, Regional Director, at the Girl Scout Leadership Center of Appalachian Highlands and Camp Wildwood.
Light refreshments will be served.

JC Symphony opens season Oct. 9
The Johnson City Symphony Orchestra will open its season Oct. 9 with “Heroic Journeys” at 7:30 p.m. at Seeger Hall, Milligan University.
Since its creation in 1969, the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra has grown from its original 28 members to a 70 piece full orchestra. The JCSO has performed under nine conductors. The present conduct is Rob Seebacher, who has served in that position since 2008.
In “Heroic Journeys” enjoy pieces by Rimsky-Korsakov, Still, and Elgar. The concert features renowned cellist, Wesley Baldwin.
Other concerts by the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra through 2021 include “Enlightened Energy” on Nov. 13 at Seeger Chapel and “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” Saturday, Dec. 13, at Seeger Chapel, also. To renew season tickets or purchase individual tickets, call the office at 926-8742.

Woolly Worm Festival scheduled Oct.16-17
The Annual Woolly Worm Festival takes place the third weekend in October in downtown Banner Elk, N.C. This festival is annually attended by an estimated 20,000 guests. The Woolly Worm Festival is one of the High Country’s largest and most unique festivals.
Up to 1,000 worm racers vie for the top position and the honor of having their worm predict the upcoming winter weather at the festival’s famous woolly worm races. The winning worm on Saturday takes away a whopping $1,000 and on Sunday, $500. Worm races are limited so be sure to come early and register your worm.
In addition to the worm races, there is delicious food, over 150 craft vendors, great music all weekend, trampoline & inflatable rides, fall foliage and beautiful mountain views. Shop for woolly worm memorabilia, souvenir shirts, and hand-crafted items that will become family heirlooms. There will be something for everyone!
The Festival is sponsored by Banner Elk Kiwanis and the Avery County Chamber of Commerce and all proceeds are given back to the community to enhance our schools, children’s programs, and to promote business and tourism in Avery County.
Admission is $6.00 for Adults, $4.00 for Children 6-12, Free for 5 and under.

Christmas is coming at Barter Theatre
 Barter Theatre has announced its winter holiday season, which includes A Christmas Story, The Twelve Dates of Christmas, and Jingle All the Way. A Christmas Story will be showing indoors at Gilliam stage from November 18th to December 29th, while the other two productions will be shown at the Moonlite Drive-In for the entirety of their respective runs. The Twelve Dates of Christmas will run from November 26th to December 23rd, and Jingle All the Way will be performed by the Barter Players from December 3rd to the 23rd. 
A Christmas Story follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker and his quest for the Holy Grail of Christmas gifts—an Official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot Range Model air rifle— while he seems to be rebuffed at every turn! Jingle All the Way also follows the journey of an underestimated protagonist, Jangle the Elf, who is the twin brother of Santa’s #1 helper at the North Pole; Will he be able to prove himself and save Christmas all at the same time? The Twelve Dates of Christmas is a raucous one-woman show, which turns the classic Christmas show experience on its head! After all, how can one be in a holly jolly mood after catching their fiance kissing someone else on live television during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade?
Producing Artistic Director of Barter Theatre, Katy Brown, is thrilled to be bringing Christmas back to the Gilliam Stage, as well as sharing shows at the Moonlite Drive-In. “We are very excited to offer both viewing experiences for our patrons. It’s such a magical time of year for so many people, and we’re proud to be a part of our community’s cherished traditions. There’s nothing like Barter at Christmas!”
Patrons can purchase tickets for Barter’s Christmas season, which began on September 22nd, as well as find out more information about safety measures being put into place, by visiting Barter’s website: www.ba