North Carolina Blackberry Festival Returns This Weekend

Blackberry lovers unite. This weekend Lenior will host the North Carolina Blackberry Festival. 2024 marks the 21st year of the annual festival which will be held Friday and Saturday (July 12 and 13) in Downtown Lenoir.

According to the Downtown Lenior Development Alliance, "the North Carolina Blackberry Festival is a celebration of blackberries, cobbler, and fun!" There are of course blackberries galore but also lots of family-friendly fun to be had.

There is live music, vendors to shop, kids activities, and festival foods. And the highlight (in my outsider's opinion) a blackberry-eating contest. You won't find me participating but I fully support this activity!

And don't miss the Blackberry Cobbler Parade which will end with the world's largest blackberry cobbler and samples. There is a 5K Glow in the Dark run Friday night as well as a kid's foam party!

Friday July 12th 5-9pm

Saturday July 13th 9am-7pm

See the full events schedule here.

Are you looking for a fun, laid-back summer getaway? Perhaps just for a long weekend? Then look no further than right here in North Carolina. There is no shortage of adorable small towns in North Carolina (which we already knew!).

But we love seeing places in our state get recognized for how incredible they are. And Southern Living recently gave us just that. They released a list of "The 15 Most Adorable Small Towns For A Summer Getaway". And of the the 15 small towns included 4 of them were right here in the great state of North Carolina.

While there are fantastic towns all across the state, 3 of the 4 highlighted in this article are in the mountains. Maybe not the first place you'd think to visit this time of year. But less crowded than the beach and who couldn't use a break from the insanely hot temperatures we are currently experiencing?

So what makes a small town classified as "adorable"? According to Southern Living, it's a few things. Here's what they had to say:

"To be a truly adorable small town, several boxes must be checked. A walkable and charming main street or downtown are requirements. An old-fashioned ice cream parlor or candy shop is a nice touch. And finally, excellent community and friendly locals are a must."

So keep reading to see which 4 adorable small towns in North Carolina Southern Living thinks you should visit this summer! I've also included one from South Carolina and Georgia close enough for a quick getaway as well.

Read the full article from Southern Living here.

Who doesn't love this college town on the Blue Ridge Parkway? Boone is filled with everything adrenaline lovers could ask for combined with numerous opportunities to relax in a gorgeous setting. Plus it averages some of the coolest temperatures across the state. Yes please! Learn more about what to do in Boone and the surrounding area here.

While I've never personally visited I've heard wonderful things about Black Mountain. The town is a short 25 minute drive from Asheville and is home to a lively downtown filled with much of what Southern Living classifies as adorable. This includes art galleries, shops, and quaint restaurants all at an elevation of 2,405 feet. Learn more about visiting Black Mountain here. 

You can't have an "adorable small towns" list without featuring Mayberry or Mt. Airy as it's officially known. And while there is plenty of "Mayberry" to see and do there is also a lot of Mt. Airy to love and explore. You'll find the town in the upper part of the Yadkin Valley near the NC/Virginia state line. It's a wonderful place to enjoy some local wine, listen to live bluegrass music, and simply slow down. Learn more about visiting Mt. Airy here.

As you can see in the video above Brevard is known as "the Land of Waterfalls". The area is home to 250 waterfalls on 100,000 acres of public lands made of the Pisgah National Forest, DuPont State Forest, Gorges State Park, and Headwaters State Forest. In addition to unbeatable natural beauty, there is also a thriving live music scene in the town as well as can't-miss restaurants and breweries. Learn more about visiting Brevard here.

Beaufort is located on South Carolina's Port Royal Island. The second oldest town in South Carolina is known for its incredible Antebellum mansions and architecture. Visitors love the live oaks covered in Spanish moss that line the Beaufort Historic District. This coastal town truly embodies the idea of "Southern Charm". Learn more about visiting Beaufort here.

Nestled in the mountains of North Georgia is the charming town of Ellijay known as the Apple Capital of Georgia. The town is home to Appalachian Mountain trails, the Cartecay River, and of course lots of apple farms. Dine at boutique local restaurants that are known for farm-to-table cuisine. Learn more about visiting Ellijay here.