Rachel Whitfield is an eastern North Carolina native, but when she decided to pursue her dream of becoming a metalsmith and creating handmade jewelry, she knew exactly where to go: Boone, the small mountain town where she’d gone to college.
“Being in such a quiet, beautiful place really allowed me to take my time learning. I would take a little workbench outside and just melt metal and enjoy nature,” Whitfield says. Today, she owns Future Relic Designs on Boone’s King Street. “Everyone is so supportive. The people in Boone make you feel like anything you create will be accepted and they’ll see beauty in it.”
Boone, NC delights visitors year-round with breathtaking vistas, endless outdoor adventure, and the town’s thriving arts, culture, shopping, and culinary scenes.
Most visitors know the Boone area as a place to take in sweeping mountain vistas and stunning fall leaves. But locals will tell you this area is also home to generations of artisans and makers — and just as spring revives the birds and flowers, it brings fresh life to the thriving local arts scene.
Whether you want to explore traditional crafts in a stunning mountain setting or visit art galleries while sipping cocktails around downtown Boone, spring invites you to take in the beauty of the Blue Ridge. Read on for some of our ways to experience the season:
Musicians from around the Blue Ridge bring their talents to Valle Crucis Community Park for Music in the Valle. Photography courtesy of Explore Boone
Think of the Craft Trail like a treasure hunt. Created by the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, the trail is your stop-by-stop guide to local craftspeople and their work. It includes nearly a dozen galleries, museums, and studios across Boone, Blowing Rock, Valle Crucis, and Grandfather Mountain. Find the itinerary here.
You can easily spend several days exploring all the stops, including the Capozzoli Guitar Company in Sugar Grove, where luthier Chris Capozzoli crafts instruments from reclaimed barn wood and railroad ties from the old Tweetsie Railroad. Nearby in Valle Crucis, step into North Carolina history at the original Mast General Store and its neighbor, Rivercross Market. The market sells handmade pottery, woodwork, weaving, painting and stained glass, much of it made by local artists.
When the trail takes you to downtown Boone, stop at the Turchin Center to see the annual Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition. Photos showcasing the High Country’s people and natural beauty are on display until May 2. This year, submissions reflect the competition’s theme of joy.
Bring your own chair or picnic blanket and catch the free concert on the porch at the Jones House Cultural Center, held on Fridays in the summer. Photography courtesy of Explore Boone
Anyone who’s driven through Boone has noticed the iconic Jones House on King Street. This stately Queen Anne-style structure was built in 1908 as the home to Dr. John Walter Jones and his wife, Mattie. Their heirs donated it to the town as a cultural center. Today, it’s a hub for Boone’s arts scene.
In spring, you’ll find indoor concerts on the schedule of events, including a singalong and a mandolin performance. And each month, a new exhibit opens in the house’s Mazie Jones Gallery, a key stop on Boone’s First Friday Art Crawl.
The first Friday of the month showcases the best of Boone’s art scene. From 5 to 8 p.m., downtown transforms into a bustling arts district where galleries, shops, and restaurants put local artists and live musicians in the spotlight. You’ll often find art openings at the Turchin Center, the Mazie Jones Gallery, and Nth Degree Gallery & Studio.
“It’s a beautiful night,” Whitfield says, who hosts First Friday artist demonstrations, markets, and music at her shop. “Everybody comes out, young and old. It gives the opportunity for artists to have people to see and feel and touch their art for the first time.”
To combine mountain views with the arts, there’s no better place than the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park. Located on the Blue Ridge Parkway less than 10 miles from downtown Boone, it sits on 3,500 acres of rolling hills crisscrossed by 25 miles of carriage trails. To take in the fresh air, head for Bass Lake Trail, a scenic .9-mile loop dotted with picnicking spots.
Afterward, head uphill to the historic Moses Cone Manor, built in 1901 as the summer home of textile magnate Moses Cone and his wife, Bertha. Sit in a rocking chair on the mansion’s front porch and enjoy a commanding view of Bass Lake and the mountains beyond it.
“In the spring, it’s not as crowded as in the summer and fall, so it’s like having the estate to yourself,” says Sheri Moretz, a Boone native and historian at Mast General Store. “You sit on the porch and see everything coming back to life.”
Inside, you’ll find the Southern Highlands Craft Guild’s shop stocked with one-of-a-kind items made by more than 800 juried artisans from the Appalachian region. The shop is one of Moretz’s favorite destinations. “The traditional works are stunning. Some of the quilts are just amazing, all hand-quilted, and the stitches are so tiny,” she says. As the weather warms, craft demonstrations are held on the porch.
Located on West King Street, The Appalachian Theatre hosts a variety of programs from concerts and film screenings to stand-up comedians. Photography courtesy of Explore Boone
Boone’s Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts hosts national talent as well as globally renowned performances throughout the year. This summer, An Appalachian Summer Festival brings a range of music, theater, and visual arts programs to the center and Appalachian State University’s other venues. Click here to learn more.
Also in downtown Boone, the historic Appalachian Theatre is a venue for live music, films, comedy, and more. Moretz is part of a local group that worked to bring the former movie theater back to life. “It’s really made an impact downtown and in the overall community,” she says. “There’s not a bad seat in the house.”
Coming up on May 2, mark your calendar for Blowing Rock’s annual Trout Derby, where anglers compete for the best catch. As part of the village’s TroutFest, many local restaurants and stores also host special events throughout the weekend.
According to Moretz, North Carolina’s mountains are rich with art and culture for a reason: “It’s like the mountains embrace you and want to share their beauty with you, so you can share beauty with others.” The beauty, she says, cycles through the seasons.
Ready to embrace it yourself? Click here to plan your spring visit to Boone and see the season’s colors, culture, and events on full display.
A cake first made in Depression-era kitchens using household staples now helps us savor the season, no green thumb necessary.
From woodsmoke to salt air, certain scents carry memory, tradition, and comfort across North Carolina.
Visit a renowned writer’s home, catch a show, and wander Little Rainbow Row with our springtime guide to Flat Rock.
Across the Carolina coast, silvery strands offer texture, shelter, and quiet wonder.
