33rd Annual Brushy Mountain Apple Festival

As the leaves begin to change colors and the weather gets a little cooler, many people from Wilkes County and surround counties know of one festival that brings in a lot of people to the area. The first Saturday in October is dedicated to the Brushy Mountain Apple Festival which brings in over 100,000 people in the 9 hour span of the festival.  In attendance are over 350 arts and crafts vendors, and 100 food vendors that provides crafts from goat milk soap, silverware chimes, chairs, and other handmade crafts.  There is also four stages set throughout downtown Several non-profit, and civi organizations, as well as church groups were in attendance with a booth.

A lot of visitors enjoying the beautiful weather!

The famous weekend is started off with an "Apple Jam" on Friday night, October 1st, located on the corner of 10th and Main Street.  For those who attend, they get to listen and enjoy bluegrass, country, folk, gospel, and even Appalachian Heritage music that is reflective of the area.  While that was going on, several of the vendors got a head start on setting up their space pretty late on Friday. 

Musicians deciding on a song

Saturday morning came with perfect weather for this event that seemed to draw in crowds from everywhere in North Carolina and surrounding states.  Since the festival is named the Brushy Mountain Apple Festival, it is common to see different varieties and takes on the fruit.  There were apple trucks with apples being sold out of the back of them, there were fried apple pie vendors on every corner, and there were some vendors who made apple butter infront of their customers.  Throughout the festival there was demonstrations of beekeeping, wood carving, chair making, soap making, quilting, spinning & rug making, and even homemade ice cream made by a hit & miss engine.

A potter demonstrating his craft.

There was music everywhere throughout the festival, some booths supported racing that was coming back to the speedway, there was jewelry being sold, raffles being held, almost everything you can imagine at local small town festival.  A petting zoo, a train ride, activities for the children, and even a horse & carriage ride was offered for those who wanted something a little different than walking around, looking at vendor booths.

Local apple growers selling a large variety of apples.

Every year the Wilkes Chamber of Commerce sell the Brushy Mountain Apple Festival T-Shirts, and this year the design for the shirts was so popular that we sold out of them just after noon. What a great weekend for anyone and everyone to attend a tradition festival put on by North Wilkesboro and the Brushy Mountain Ruitan Club.

Ramblin' Rockers Reception & Auction

On Friday, October 1, 2010, months of hard work on the Rocking Chair Fundraiser came to an end at the Ramblin' Rockers Reception and Auction. The evening was filled with people talking and laughing enjoying the night with friends, food, and painted rocking chairs.  Several artists, sponsors, Chamber members, and others filled the building in hopes to support this fundraiser.  Wilkes Art Gallery was gracious enough to allow us to host the event there, as well as the food and beverages being provided. 


A few of the painted chairs

The night started off with a continuation of the silent auction for each of the chairs, up until auctioneer Eddie Barnes took to the microphone to start the live auction.  Overall, at the end of the night, we raised enough money to support the materials we need to promote tourism to the area.

We would like to say Thank You to all of those who helped sell, purchase, paint, transport, and even organize the event! We cannot say Thank You enough!
Watch a brief video on the event:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2--zdOjt3HI

Great food and beverage

Live auction in progress

And the bidding continues!

Wilkes Family Health Center-Ribbon Cutting

The Wilkes Chamber of Commerce would like to Welcome the Wilkes Family Health Center as a new member and a new medical office available.  They have three board certified family practitioners, Dr. Joseph C. Fesperman, Jr., Dr. Glendon Rougeou, and Dr. Mira Boone, who can take care of patients of all ages, from newborn to 100+.  There was many people in attendance who had the opportunity to venture throughout the building.  After the ribbon was cut, there was a special performance by Jean Graf.  Again, we would like to Welcome the Wilkes Family Health Center for join the Chamber family!

Visitors walking through the building

Everyone is excited for the opening!

Jean Graf singing

Kotohira's Japanese Restaurant-Ribbon Cutting

The Wilkes Chamber of Commerce would like to welcome Kotohira's Japanese Restaurant to Wilkesboro and the only way to kick it off right is to have a ribbon cutting! There were a lot of people there to help them open the new restaurant, including several governmental officials like Mayor Inscore and Mayor Johnson, the towns' managers, Ken Noland and Hank Perkins, and County Commissioner Luther Parks.  Also in attendance was several people associated with the Chamber, including Ambassadors, the current board president B Townes, his predecessor Terri Parsons, Chamber President Linda Cheek, and Membership Director Ronda Latterell.  Kotohira's serves freshly prepared sushi, seafood and authentic Japanese entrees daily. Enjoy Japanese beers or saki in their unique dining area. We would like to Thank Kotohira's for becoming a member of the Chamber and allowing us to eat their delicious food. We wish them the best of luck!

Welcome to Wilkesboro, Kotohira Japanese Restaurant!

Ambassador conversing about the decor!

More Ambassadors with the Membership Director

Excited for the food!



Government Officals talking "Politics!"



Reynolds Blue Ridge Business After Hours (9/23/10)

For this month's Business After Hours, Chamber Members and Staff ventured up to the Blue Ridge Parkway to visit Reynolds Blue Ridge, which is a developer that is located, as best as we could put it, on a mountain top.  The venture was driving up towards Boone, then turning on to the Blue Ridge Parkway for quite a drive, then turning on a road when seemed like was taking us back down the mountain.  Up close views of the mountains, the sunset and the beautiful houses that are definitely atleast a million dollars for the land, sure made the trip enjoyable.  When we did arrive, we were amazed at the view the gazebo, which was our shelter, gave to us as we enjoyed a delicious catered meal with fresh fruit, artichoke dip, and even seasoned pork tenderloin.  Throughout the time, two blues musicians by the name of "Pops" and Clyde Ferguson who are from Wilkes County.  We all wined, dined, and had fun spending time together.  Our host, Jim Pitts, also had door prizes for those lucky business cards that were selected won plaid picnic blankets.  Again, we would like to thank Reynolds Blue Ridge for hosting this month's Business After Hours and showing us a great time!

Delicious Food

Enjoying the food and time together

Relaxing on a mountain

Musicians "Pops" and Clyde Ferguson

Dancing the Night Away

Blue Ridge Parkway's 75th Anniversary Celebration Festival (Sept. 10-12, 2010)

On September 11, 2010, we celebrated the Blue Ridge Parkway's 75th Anniversary since the official start of work began 1935 by having storytelling, craft demonstrators, art exhibits, a jamming tent for musicians, "meadow walks," family activities for children of all ages, a community showcase, and more.  This three day event was filled will many sights, sounds, and smells for the visitors to enjoy while being apart of History.  Originally started by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s using private contractors, less than a year later Congress authorized the project, renaming it the Blue Ridge Parkway and putting it in the hands of the National Park Service.  Many of the New Deal public works agencies helped with building the 469 mile piece of the Appalachian Mountains, and it took 52 years to complete. 

The festival started with a formal ceremony at Cumberland Knob around 11am with the opening of the festival also at the Blue Ridge Music Center at 1pm.  People were arriving early to get apart of the festival actions.  The Cumberland Knob Recreation Area Stage offered storytelling the entire day after the formal ceremony that welcomed visitors, sponsors, neighbors, speakers, and honored guests.  The Blue Ridge Music Center Stage offered the visitors music from Park Ranger Tim Francis & Great Big Howdy and Sierra Hull & Highway 111.  BRMC's small auditorium offered the film's "America's Favorite Journey" and "The Blue Ridge Parkway: 75," as well as The Parkway Idea & Construction panel.

As a part of the "Parkway Village," the Wilkes Chamber of Commerce was given a booth to showcase what we have to offer, which included a moonshine still, a painting, some pottery, a information board, and more.

Wilkes County Booth

There were booths from Yancey, Watauga, Alleghany, Haywood, McDowell, Ashe, Surry, and Transylvania Counties (NC), as well as Patrick, Botetourt, Bedford, Roanoke, Carroll, Galax, Floyd, Lynchburg, and Franklin Counties (VA). Also there were booths for Waste Management, Department of Transportation, NC Tourism, VA Tourism, and several representing many divisions from the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Food offered ranged from hot dogs to hamburgers, funnel cakes to apple cobbler, and even fresh bar-ba-que with sweet tea, blueberry smoothies, and other beverages.  The jamming tent roared with bluegrass and folk music with songs telling of the love, nature, and family.  Activites for the children ranged from determining wild animal prints to types of soil and even a junior ranger program for them to earn a badge when they completed their mission.  Two local artist even had art exhibits inside the music center with beautiful paints that reflected snow covered farms, and house renderings.

Jamming Tent

On Saturday, it was an all day event running from 10am to 10pm! The Blue Ridge Music Center stage kicked off the day of celebration with a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony with music to follow throughout the day.  The entire festival was a great enjoyment not only to the members of the Chamber Staff who manned the booth but also the people who visited the locations to take part in this momentus celebration.

Blue Ridge Music Center Stage

Food Options

Family/Kids Activities Tents

North Carolina Tourism Booth

Virginia Tourism Booth

Wilkes Rambling Rockers

Chamber’s “Rocking Chair Art” Fundraiser 

  

“Rocking Chair Art” can be seen throughout Wilkes County.  A tour map highlighting the location of the chairs and each artist is available online at http://www.explorewilkes.com/ and can be picked up at the chamber office on Main Street in North Wilkesboro and at each of the sponsoring locations.  All rocking chairs will be available for purchase at the Wilkes Art Gallery during a silent auction process.  Bidding for the chairs will begin on Thursday, September 9th in chair sponsor locations and final bids will be received on Friday evening, October 1st at a reception to recognize each of the sponsors and participating artists.  Bidders are encouraged to attend this reception. 

Wilkes Chamber of Commerce’s “Wilkes Rambling Rockers,” a fundraiser for the implementation of the new county tourism brand, Exhale…you’re in wilkes, features the work of local artist completing scenes and themes of Wilkes County on rocking chairs.  This fundraiser has three leading sponsors, Tim Harrold’s Empire Chrysler Dodge Jeep, Tar Heel Oil Company and Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse, who are  receiving assistance with artists and the silent auction from the Wilkes Art Gallery.  Each chair has a contributing business or organization sponsor.  These sponsors are:  Addison Properties, Inc.; BB&T Wilkesboro; Betty’s Breads and Pastries; Brushy Mountain Bee Farm, Inc.; Brushy Mountain Ruritan Club; Cassie Stone Photography/Black Tie Affair; David’s Car Care; DonLin Counseling Services; Edward Jones Investments/Sydney Collins: Hampton Inn – Wilkesboro; Hardee’s of Wilkesboro; Holiday Inn Express; J. Martin Productions/Frog Hollar Cabin; KEY Training and Technology; Leatherwood Mountains; SouthEast Commercial Real Estate Group; Talia’s Espresso; The Walker Center/MerleFest; Town of North Wilkesboro; Town of Ronda; Town of Wilkesboro; Wilkes County Board of Education; Wilkes Family YMCA; Wilkes Hardware Co.; Wilkes Heritage Museum; Wilkes Telecommunications; Window World of the Foothills; and Yadkin Valley Motor Company.

Featured artists volunteering their talent, time and imagination include: Donna Absher; Brian Barker and the WCC Graphic Arts Class; John Brame; Cindy Breden; Edith Carter; Lily and Emily Church; Kaila Minton Church; Steven Church; Carolina Finley; Beth Horrell; Linda Joines, Cheryl Kilby; Lea and Renee; Jane Maddocks; Pam McLean, North Wilkes High School Arts 3 Class; Michelle Parsons; Hannah Raines; Randy Reeves; Mary Frances Richardson; Martha Simmons; Lindsey Sutphin; Seth Tharpe;  Stoney Triplett; Laura Whitley; Wilkes Art Gallery Art Instructors; and Norma Jean Wood.

Proceeds from the fundraising campaign will be directed to the chamber in support of the brand campaign which includes programs of awareness, education and advocacy.  As part of the awareness initiative, a new brand website has been created http://www.explorewilkes.com/, the new print collerateral is in progress, and a marketing/advertising plan in place. 

New Members of August 2010!

For the month of August, the Wilkes Chamber of Commerce would like to introduce ten businesses that have joined:


Amalfi's Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria
1919-G Hwy 421
Wilkesboro, NC 28697
336.838.3188
Tony Costagliola

Brushy Mountain Cafe
9858 N. Hwy 16
Millers Creek, NC 28651
336.667.4870
Todd Swofford

Elks Events, LLC
North Wilkesboro Elks Club
100 Finley Avenue
North Wilkesboro, NC 28659
336.838.8591
Todd Swofford

Go Fitness
5301 Boone Trail
Millers Creek, NC 28659
336.667.4444
James Sparks

J.R. Priester's Clothiers
903 Main Street
North Wilkesboro, NC 28659
336.838.2531
Jim Priester

Kotohira Japanese Restaurant
1206 River Street
Wilkesboro, NC 28697
336.667.0150
Vinh Nguyen

Liberty Tax Service
1717 Winkler Street
Wilkesboro, NC 28697
336.838.2722
Shawn Jenkins

North Wilkesboro Presbyterian Church
804 E Street
North Wilkesboro, NC 28659
336.667.1288

Patton Insurance Agency, Inc.
600 West Main Street
Wilkesboro, NC 28697
336.667.2836
Andy Patton

Red Rider Media, LLC
159 Cactus Lane
Wilkesboro, NC 28697
336.262.7302
Shaun Cardwell

We would like to "Welcome" these businesses for joining the Chamber.  If you have a business that would like to join, please call 336.838.8662 for more information.

Hampton Inn Business After Hours (8/19/10)

It's time for some FUN in the SUN!

As the summer of 2010 rolls in to a close, the August Business After Hours was themed to be a dedication to the heat by having a Summer Block Party!  Hampton Inn was gracious enough to host the event both inside and outside since the weather was indecisive. There was hours of entertainment from games, delicious food from the "cook-out," and lots of fun.

The Hampton Inn provided games of all sorts to keep attendees busy with a wind tunnel full of prizes, a super-sized Wii, and several other games that required skill to win.  Those who won or accomplished the goal won a raffle ticket for prizes like Starbucks, iTunes, and gas gift cards.  A real treat for everyone was a dunking booth set up outside with the general manager as the "volunteer."  She was gracious to be dunked about a dozen times.

For the food, the hotel provided almost everything that is at a normal "cook-out" to feed all of the people including hot dogs, hamburgers, corndogs, chips, drinks, cookies, and even cake for those who stuck around long enough.  Just imagine it as an picnic indoors with air conditioning!

Also at the event was the launch of the new tourism website Explorewilkes.com by the Wilkes Chamber of Commerce.  This is the result of a new brand put in place to help promote tourism to the area and business to local companies.

Everyone who attended had a great time! The food was great, the games were fun and entertaining, as well as many familiar faces that brought the laughs. As the summer ends, the Business After Hours will continue throughout the rest of the year, so keep you eye out for when the next one is!

Silver Spur Saloon Business After Hours (7/22/10)

Ride 'Em Cowboy!
For the July Business After Hours, Silver Spur Saloon hosted the event in Love Valley, NC! The town is known for being the Cowboy Capital of the area, but on this day the Wilkes Chamber of Commerce invaded to bring a little bit of city to the country.  Bob and Judy Adams, owners of Silver Spur, were gracious to open their little "saloon" to us, providing the visitors with food and drinks. 

The "Chamber Chicks" started getting into the western mood as soon as they started their journey towards the little town.  You won't know you are getting closer until you turn onto a dirt road and you see more horses than people.  Mind you that the Business After Hours events always happens on a Thursday of each month, it felt like a ghost town.  As soon as we stepped out of the car, we were immediately thrown into an Old Westen movies, with our Membership Director pretending to walk like she has been riding a horse for hours.  The town was modelled after the Old West towns in the Hollywood classics everyone has come to love, including town rules and ordinances that apply to keeping the small main street untouched by the 21st century.  We admired the Miss Kitty's Hotel (idolized after the Miss Kitty of Gunsmoke), browsed the General Store stocked with unique local crafts, and walked down the street filled with dirt and dust.  Walking into the Silver Spur Saloon highlighted the start of the event when we pushed our way through the old western swinging saloon doors.  The saloon was divided into three sections: the restaurant with dance floor, a smaller NASCAR room with a pool table, and then finally the outdoor bar with chicken wire.  We made sure we explored almost every inch of the place, taking in the sights and sounds.

A cowboy and Bob talking about horses!

As we listened, laughed, and enjoyed great time together, a "posse" of cowboy hat and chap-wearing Cowpoke came walking into the Saloon ready to "wet their whistle." It didn't really hit those who came to the event that the only way these people arrived was either by cars or by...HORSES! And there they were lined up, tied to the hitching posts that lined the street, nine beautifully, big horses just waiting for a rider to get on.  The few of us who went outside to see these remarkable animals that we rarely see in the city and asked questions to the riders/owners.  We then went inside and settled down for a little food as Judy brought the founder's wife, Ellenora Barker for storytelling and advise. This is the woman who backed her man on his dreams of becoming a cowboy and creating a christian town. She reminded us to never stop dreaming because one day they will come true.  Soon afterwards, Judy and Bob's son walked in and offered if anyone of us would like to ride a horse.  When you are offered a chance to ride, you hardly turn it down.  So we all were assisted onto a horse, a few that had more experience were sent on their way to explore the area while others were assisted to ride up and down main street.  It is amazing how riding several trips up the small main street could be so entertaining! 

Judy and Ellenora

As the day was winding down but the humidity wasn't, we had to say our thank yous and goodbyes to the people of Love Valley and  to Bob & Judy for their hospitality and allowing us to come enjoy the Old West brought to life.  The great news is that they have asked to host again next year! And the only way to end this post is to sing...

"Happy trails to you, until we meet again.

Happy trails to you, keep smilin' until then.

Who cares about the clouds when we're together?
Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather.
Happy trails to you, 'till we meet again."

The Chamber Chicks Ride Again!

The Wilkes Chamber of Commerce

“PROMOTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND STRIVING TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL WILKES COUNTY CITIZENS.”

“Your business connection to profit and growth”

Wilkes Chamber of Commerce, established in July 1946, is a non-profit membership organization.  The Chamber celebrates sixty-three years of encouraging and promoting business opportunity and growth within Wilkes County.  Wilkes Chamber of Commerce has over 30 years of US Chamber of Commerce affiliation as well as the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce, the CACCE and the ACCE  and the Wilkes Chamber was awarded a 3-Star rating in 2006.  This prestigious honor was earned through the Chamber’s program development, membership recruitment and retention, and governance. 
www.wilkesnc.org