We list an event here only after the date is set, and we take it down after that date has passed. Plans still move, so check with the organizer before you build a day around one. Downtown, Mount Jefferson, and the New River are in the West Jefferson guide.
This week
Old Barn Winery October Music & Events
Thu Oct 1, 2026 through Sat Oct 31, 2026, 1–6pm
Old Barn Winery hosts a family-friendly October music lineup, generally 1–6pm, and times vary.
Charlie Baker Endowed Lecture Series
Wed Oct 14, 2026, 7–8:30pm
Author Leslie Jamison gives a free public reading at the Appalachian Theatre in Boone.
Thu Oct 15, 2026, 4–6pm
An open bluegrass jam meets at Watson General Store, with a bar and food truck.
Scarecrows Nightmare Haunted Corn Field
Fri Oct 16, 2026, 7–10pm
A $10 haunted corn field with live actors runs at the Ashe County Corn Maze.
Fri Oct 16, 2026, 7:30pm
The Jeff Little Trio plays an Appalachian piano-led set at Ashe Civic Center, $22.50 for adults and $7.50 for students.
Sat Oct 17, 2026, 8am–1pm
The Ashe County Farmers Market sets up on Backstreet with local farmers and makers.
Ashe County Corn Maze & Pumpkin Festival
Sat Oct 17, 2026, 10am–6pm
A $10 ticket covers the 4-acre corn maze, a tractor ride, face painting, and inflatables.
Sat Oct 17, 2026, 11am–4pm
A small market of farms, artisans, music, and food sets up at Creeper Trail Park in Lansing.
Mount Jefferson State Natural Area 70th Birthday
Sat Oct 17, 2026, 11:30am–2:30pm
Mount Jefferson State Natural Area marks its 70th birthday with a free party, fall crafts, cake, and a guided foliage hike.
West Jefferson Walking Food Tour
Sat Oct 17, 2026, 2–4:15pm
A $65 food and history walking tour of West Jefferson meets at the Caboose on Backstreet.
Sat Oct 17, 2026, 6–8pm
A glow-paint party at High Country Art Center includes the canvas, paint, a beverage, and a T-shirt. Sign up in advance.
Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre, Grab your Torches and Pitchforks
Sat Oct 17, 2026, 6:30–8:30pm
Ashe County Little Theatre stages a murder-mystery dinner at Generations Ashe Senior Center.
Scarecrows Nightmare Haunted Corn Field
Sat Oct 17, 2026, 7–10pm
A $10 haunted corn field with live actors runs at the Ashe County Corn Maze.
Ashe County Corn Maze & Pumpkin Festival
Sun Oct 18, 2026, 10am–6pm
A $10 ticket covers the 4-acre corn maze, a tractor ride, face painting, and inflatables.
Sun Oct 18, 2026, 1–3pm
Park Vista Moto Lodge & Diner serves Sunday brunch with live music on the patio.
2026 Cruise In – Kool Nights and Hot Rods
Sun Oct 18, 2026, 1–4pm
Vintage cars line downtown West Jefferson for the last Cruise In of the season, from 1 to 4pm.
Next week
Old Barn Winery October Music & Events
Thu Oct 1, 2026 through Sat Oct 31, 2026, 1–6pm
Old Barn Winery hosts a family-friendly October music lineup, generally 1–6pm, and times vary.
Scarecrows Nightmare Haunted Corn Field
Fri Oct 23, 2026, 7–10pm
A $10 haunted corn field with live actors runs at the Ashe County Corn Maze.
Fri Oct 23, 2026, 7:30–9pm
A jazz trio and special guests play the Ashe Arts Center, $15 for adults and $7.50 for students.
Sat Oct 24, 2026, 8am–1pm
The Ashe County Farmers Market sets up on Backstreet with local farmers and makers.
Ashe County Corn Maze & Pumpkin Festival
Sat Oct 24, 2026, 10am–6pm
A $10 ticket covers the 4-acre corn maze, a tractor ride, face painting, and inflatables.
Sat Oct 24, 2026, 11am–4pm
A small market of farms, artisans, music, and food sets up at Creeper Trail Park in Lansing.
West Jefferson Walking Food Tour
Sat Oct 24, 2026, 2–4:15pm
A $65 food and history walking tour of West Jefferson meets at the Caboose on Backstreet.
Sat Oct 24, 2026, 3:30–6pm
A free community writers' gathering opens with music at 3:30pm, with readings from 4pm, and the public is welcome.
Courthouse Concert Series: Wayne Henderson and Herb Key
Sat Oct 24, 2026, 7–9pm
Wayne Henderson and Herb Key play a free public concert at the Museum of Ashe County History in the old courthouse.
Scarecrows Nightmare Haunted Corn Field
Sat Oct 24, 2026, 7–10pm
A $10 haunted corn field with live actors runs at the Ashe County Corn Maze.
Ashe County Corn Maze & Pumpkin Festival
Sun Oct 25, 2026, 10am–6pm
A $10 ticket covers the 4-acre corn maze, a tractor ride, face painting, and inflatables.
Sun Oct 25, 2026, 12–6pm
Drop in for fall crafts at $15 each, for all ages. Arrive by 4pm to start a project.
Sun Oct 25, 2026, 12–6pm
High Country Art Center runs the same drop-in craft day at The Ole Burley Market, $15 per craft, and anyone under 18 comes with an adult.
Sun Oct 25, 2026, 1–3pm
Park Vista Moto Lodge & Diner serves Sunday brunch with live music on the patio.
Sun Oct 25, 2026, 3:30–5pm
Park Vista's monthly bourbon tasting pours a themed flight for about $50 a person.
Woolly Worm Festival and Valle Country Fair
Two mountain traditions. One weekend. Your own hot tub waiting when you get back.
Woolly Worm Festival, Banner Elk
Saturday, Oct 17, 2026, 9 AM–5 PM, and Sunday, Oct 18, 9 AM–4 PM
On the green at Historic Banner Elk Elementary School, 185 Azalea Circle, Banner Elk, NC 28604
About 70 minutes by car from the cabins without traffic. Allow more on festival weekend.
This is the 49th Woolly Worm Festival. Mountain lore says the 13 segments of a woolly worm stand for the 13 weeks of winter. Black bands mean cold, snowy weeks. Brown bands mean milder ones. Saturday's winning worm gives the official winter forecast.
Race your own worm. Register at the festival as soon as you arrive, because races are limited. Heats start around 10 AM and run all day, up to the grand final around 4 PM. Sunday races are for fun, bragging rights and small prizes.
Between heats, browse 150+ vendors selling crafts, food, local art and souvenirs. There's live entertainment and children's activities, too.
Parking: Lots around town fill first come, first served, and local non-profits run some overflow lots. Remote parking with a shuttle is planned with Lees-McRae College. Check woollyworm.com for details.
Valle Country Fair, Valle Crucis
Saturday, Oct 17, 2026, 9 AM–4 PM. Rain or shine.
In the fields across from Holy Cross Church on NC 194: 122 Skiles Way, Banner Elk, NC 28604
About an hour by car from the cabins without traffic. Allow more that weekend.
A one-day country fair that Holy Cross Episcopal Church and the Valle Crucis Conference Center have run since 1979. All proceeds go to neighbors in need.
Browse 120+ booths of juried, handmade crafts. Eat apple butter, BBQ, Brunswick stew, chili and fresh-pressed apple cider. Catch bluegrass, gospel, cloggers and Appalachian storytellers on two stages.
Parking: Park in the field next door. It opens at daylight, and parking supports the fair's charities.
Plan your Saturday
Both events fall on Saturday, Oct 17, about 5 miles apart on NC 194. Allow extra drive time. Want both without the rush? Do the fair on Saturday and the Woolly Worm Festival on Sunday. (The winter-forecast worm is picked on Saturday.)
Come home to the mountainside
High Peak is four A-frames on one mountainside, just above downtown West Jefferson. Each has its own XL hot tub, a full kitchen, a walk-in spa shower, an electric fireplace and its own EV charger. Cozy sleeps 4. Farm, West Jefferson and Nature sleep 6 each. Together, they sleep 22.
Spend the day out. Come back, fire up your gas grill and sink into your hot tub.
See the cabins · Plan a group stay
Questions? Email wren@thehighpeak.com, or see the Contact page.