By David Rogers. January 24, 2012. BLOWING ROCK. -- Winter weather -- including snow on Sunday -- is in the forecast for Winterfest weekend. It is sure to make a full lineup of events and activities just that much more fun for the whole family!

Here is a lineup of what's in store for area visitors and residents alike.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26

• "Shop 'Til You Drop" -- All day at the Tanger Outlet Center, Blowing Rock
• Winterfeast, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm.  It is a "Taste of Blowing Rock", enabling ticket holders to sample an array of culinary delights from Timberlake's Restaurant (Chetola), Rowland's (Westglow Resort & Spa), The Table at Crestwood, The Gamekeeper, The Best Cellar, Sixpence, Canyons, Foggy Rock, The Green Park Inn, Bistro Roca, Woodlands BBQ, Meadowbrook Inn, Kojay's and Ooh La'La' Cupcakes. Advance tickets ($25 each) available at the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce (828-295-7851) and at Chetola Resort.  Tickets may be purchased at the door, depending on availability @ $30 each. Seatings at 5:30 pm, 6:30 pm, 7:30 pm.
• Winter Ales Craft Beer Tasting, Foggy Rock Restaurant. Call 295-7851 for details.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27

• "Shop 'Til You Drop" -- All day at the Tanger Outlet Center, Blowing Rock
• FREE HOT CHOCOLATE -- 3:00 pm, Downtown
• Blowing Rock School PTO Spaghetti Dinner & Bingo, $5 spaghetti dinner and $1 bingo cards. @ the School cafeteria and gymnasium
• Dusk Bonfire (weather permitting), Memorial Park (downtown), hosted by Blowing Rock Boy Scouts. Roast your own marshmallows and s'mores! (supplies provided)
• Appalachian Ski Mountain -- "Winterfest Special": 5 pm until midnight, special pricing on ski and snowboard lessons. Reservations required.
• Winter Blues Concert -- 7:30 pm, Hayes Performing Arts Center. Tickets: $20. Big Ron Hunter, Beverly "Guitar" Watkins, and the King Bees. Tickets online at the Hayes Center (828-295-9627) or the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce (828-295-7851)

SATURDAY, JANUARY 28

• "Shop 'Til You Drop" -- All day at the Tanger Outlet Center, Blowing Rock
• Raffle & Silent Auction -- 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.  Purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win prizes of your choice, including trips, hotel packages, ski packages and equipment, restaurants, and more! AND the Silent Auction.  All proceeds benefit Mountain Alliance, a program to promote leadership and being outdoors among youth. @ Blowing Rock School Cafeteria.
• Polar Plunge -- 10:00 am.  It costs just $25 to take the plunge! To benefit the High Country's award-winning international non-profit, Wine to Water, fearless "plungers" jump into Chetola Lake, sponsored by Chetola Mountain Resort & Spa. Even Wine to Water founder and president Doc Hendley will take the plunge, with all proceeds going to help provide clean drinking water for a village in Ethiopia.
• Children's Activities -- 10:00 am to 4:00 pm -- Face painting, dancing, snowflake decorating. American Legion Hall, behind Memorial Park.
• Cross Country Ski & Snow Equipment Exhibition -- 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Co-presented by Blowing Rock Realty and Sweetgrass, on the grounds of Sweetgrass.  Go six miles south on U.S. 221.  Games, prizes, a snowdog building contest, hot chocolate and cookies. 828-255-9861 for details and directions
• FREE HOT CHOCOLATE -- 10:00 am, Downtown Blowing Rock
• Isabella Propeller and the Magic Beanie -- 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, American Legion Building, Blowing Rock.  Children's book author and Blowing Rock resident Jonathan Graves will do a special reading and book signing of this delightful new book, a Children's Classics approved book. Set in the village of Blowing Rock, Isabella sets out on a wonderful flying adventure with her dog, Mullaby, and a flying companion, Red Tail.
• 
• Chili Cookoff Challenge -- 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. CASI-sponsored chili cookoff event is sure to make your tastebuds go "WOW!" Blowing Rock School Gymnasium.  Tickets available at the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce or at the door.
• Ice Carving Demonstration -- 12:00 nooon. U.S. Army Special Forces Ice Carving Team shows you how it is done! FREE! @ Memorial Park
• Winterfest Wine Tasting & Auction -- 2:00 pm. @ the Green Park Inn, featuring a wide selection of local, regional, and international wines. Tickets available at Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce or online.
• Snowflake Parade -- 3:00 pm.  Calling ALL kids! Decorate snowflakes at the Parks & Recreation Center, then dance down Main Street
• "Minute to Win It" Game Show -- 3:30 pm. Produced by Ensemble Stage, this is loads of fun!  Blowing Rock School Auditorium. Call 828-919-6196.
• Wine Auction -- 4:00 pm. Join the big crowd at the Green Park Inn. One of Winterfest's most popular events!
• Dusk Bonfire (weather permitting). Memorial Park
• Concert: John Cowan Band -- 7:30 pm, @ Hayes Performing Arts Center. Tickets: $26.  828-295-9627 or through the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce (828-295-7851).

SUNDAY, JANUARY 29

• Pancake Breakfast -- 8:00 am to 11:00 am.  @ Blowing Rock School Cafeteria.  Hosted by Knight's on Main. Proceeds go to Blowing Rock Fire & Rescue. Tickets available at the door.
• "Shop 'Til You Drop" -- All day at the Tanger Outlet Center, Blowing Rock
• FREE HOT CHOCOLATE -- Downtown Blowing Rock
• Snowman Building Contest -- 9:30 am registration @ Appalachian Ski Mountain. Click here for details.
• "Winter Paws" Dog Show -- Registration at 1:00 pm, the show starts at 1:30 pm.  @ Blowing Rock School Gymnasium. Co-Sponsored by the Watauga County Humane Society.

Comments: