Weekly Village Update 1.25.18

Our 20th Year of WinterFest Kicks Off TODAY! Please share the weekend's schedule of events with your staff and help support this event! We also have Facebook events you can share! Printable Schedule Did you know that it's Crystal & Chilly's five year wedding anniversary? Click the image to watch the video from their anniversary trip!

For more information on WinterFest events, please visit: blowingrockwinterfest.com

A "reFreshing" Ribbon Cutting Tuesday, January 30th at 3:30 pm reFresh Your Space Boone Business Park (behind Walgreens) Join us for a Ribbon Cutting celebration with sweet treats and champagne! Register for a chance to win a FREE home staging consultation! If you haven't already RSVP'd, please call Harrison at 828.295.7851 to let us know you'll attend!

We're Getting in Your Business! Introducing a NEW opportunity for our member businesses ... Business Services articles! Do you have a service that is relevant to the times and informative to fellow Chamber members and the community? This is your moment to shine and showcase your knowledge! Please take a moment to review the guidelines, then send us your article(s) for consideration. Business Article Policy

Questions? Contact Loni at 828.295.7851 or loni@blowingrock.com

Secure Your Space in Blowing Rock's #1 MOST REQUESTED Publication! Over 20,000 Distributed! The Blowing Rock Visitor Information Guide & Directory features a comprehensive list of member hotels, attractions, restaurants, shopping, and services. These guides are distributed through all NC Welcome Centers, handed out at trade shows, through our lodging partners, and via the Blowing Rock Visitor Center. We also mail a free visitor's guide to each person that calls the chamber and requests one.  Now that's targeted marketing and good shelf life! This is a great opportunity to promote your business to thousands of visitors.

Ad Deadline is February 9th! Information & Ad Contract

Urge our Representatives to Support The 'Crown of the Blue Ridge' Did you read Charles Hardin's important op-ed in the Watauga Democrat? Here's an excerpt: Businesses and local elected leaders from across our region recognize that the Blue Ridge Parkway is both a treasured resource for residents, and also a catalyst for generating economic growth through tourism. I hope the residents of Blowing Rock, Boone and communities throughout Western North Carolina will echo the call for dedicated funding to restore America’s national parks and contact senators Richard Burr and Thom Tillis, and Rep. Virginia Foxx to urge them to support the National Park Service Legacy Act (S.751/HR 2584).

We encourage you to Read Op-Ed in Watauga Democrat in its entirety, then contact our senators and representatives and ask for their support!

Member Events & News

Mountainaire Inn & Log Cabins Receives TripAdvisor Award! Join us in congratulating Jim & Deborah McDowell of Mountainaire Inn & Log Cabins on being awarded a Travelers’ Choice award from TripAdvisor! This award places them among the top lodging accommodations in the the United States! Winners of categories such as best service, best value, luxury and bargain are chosen based on "remarkable quality, service and value." North Carolina scored ONE overall winner on the US list with Mountainaire Inn and Log Cabins taking the TOP SPOT for the best bargain hotel. Other winners were found in Chicago, Palm Springs, California, and St. Augustine, Florida. Read Article

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Mountain View Sound & Audio Receives Houzz Award Join us in congratulating Ron Weber, Mountain View Sound and Video on being awarded Best of Houzz 2018 - Client Satisfaction! This professional was rated at the highest level for client satisfaction by the Houzz community! Great job, Ron! Houzz Listing

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Job Opening! Are you a passionate, result-oriented Marketing Professional looking to join a great team? VPC Builders is looking for someone like you to lead their company’s marketing efforts! Apply Now!

Ice Skating in the Park Starts TODAY! Thursday - Sunday, January 25th - 28th Memorial Park Thursday 4-8 pm Friday 12-8 pm Sat. 10 am-8 pm Sun. 10 am -2 pm The rink is synthetic, so you can skate even if we have warm weather!

Cost is $10 to skate for one hour, includes skate rental. Tickets sold at the gate. Proceeds from WinterFest benefit local nonprofits.

WinterFashions Show Friday, January 26th at 11 am Meadowbrook Inn Fun, friends & fashion - a great way to enjoy lunch and find out what you need in your closet! Blowing Rock retailers join forces to bring you the finest apparel and accessories. The newest winter and spring fashions will be featured from the area’s top retail stores. Doors open at 11:00 am with a cash bar available. The runway opens at 11:30 am followed by lunch and a drawing for retail gift cards! This is a FUN show! Tickets: $35 (includes lunch!) Purchase Tickets

Coffee Tasting Friday, January 26th at 5 pm Speckled Trout Restaurant & Bottle Shop Jeremy from Hatchet Coffee will be in the Bottle Shop giving samples of Speckled Trout Roast as well as Hatchet’s Cold Brew and Hatchet Coffee Porter by Booneshine.  Stop by for great smells, tastes and to meet some of the Hatchet Coffee team.

Smokin' Joe will be playing at Tunes at the Trout, Thursday, January 25th. Visit Website

Polar Plunge Saturday, January 27th Plunger Check-In 9 am / Jumping Begins at 10 am The Lake at Chetola Resort Agonize with your favorite “Plunger”, most in costume, while enjoying the antics and one liners of Emcee John Carter, WBTV news anchor! Judges will award the famous “Golden Plunger” award to the best costume. Participants begin jumping at 10 am, but get there early for good viewing!  Learn More

Plungers: Day-of registration and check-in begins at 9 am (pre-registration online is encouraged). Plungers gather in the indoor pool area at 9:30 am for a safety speech, then the party starts with the annual march to Chetola Lake.

WinterFest at BRAHM Saturday, January 27th, 10 am - 5 pm Blowing Rock Art & History Museum Free admission all day to the museum, afternoon children's craft, hands-on ice carving, and two sessions of Cork & Canvas! WinterFest 2018 is sure to offer activities to art-lovers of all ages.  Cork & Canvas 10 am -12 pm & 4 pm - 6 pm (fee & pre-registration required) Arctic Art at BRrrrrrAHM 1 pm - 2 pm Hands-On Ice Carving 10:30 am - 2 pm

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Chili Challenge Saturday, January 27th, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm Blowing Rock School Gym Taste chili from different non-profit organizations and "vote" for your favorite with your dollar in their tip jar! All proceeds go directly to the charities! LIVE music from "The Lucky Ones" Tickets sold at the door. $8 adults (12 and up), $5 kids (5 and up). Under 5, free! Learn More

Proceeds benefit area nonprofits!

2nd Annual Beer Garden Saturday, January 27th, Noon - 4 pm The Inn at Ragged Gardens (on the lawn)   Local and regional breweries and distilleries will be sampling their “Hops and Barley Pops” under a tent on the lawn, along with small bites like fire-roasted brats and warm pretzels. Outside the tent you can compete in Snowball Cornhole and Tipsy Tower. All attendees receive a commemorative WinterFest pint glass, while supplies last. Tickets: $30 Purchase Tickets

* Must be 21 or older with picture ID to sample beer. Learn More

Wine Tasting & Auction Saturday, January 27th, 3 pm - 6 pm The Green Park Inn Satiate your palate with a tasting of excellent wines and other beverages! Tasting begins at 3 pm; auction immediately follows at 5 pm. Register for the auction as special wines will be only one of the many types of items on the bidding block, including trips, festival tickets, glass wear, and much more! Tickets: $30 Purchase Tickets

* Must be 21 or older with picture ID. Learn More

WinterPaws Dog Show Sunday, January 28th at 1 pm Blowing Rock School Show off your four-legged best friend or just come to see the cutest dogs around in the WinterPaws Dog Show! Proceeds benefit the ongoing work of Watauga Humane Society, our local non-profit serving the needs of approximately 2,000 abandoned animals each year. Tickets sold at the door. $5 per adult, children free. Participant entry fee: $5 per category.

Want to enter your dog? Information & Registration

2018 Point-In-Time Count Wednesday, January 31st The Point-in-Time Count, coordinated by the Northwest Continuum of Care, is the annual documentation of the extent of homelessness in our region. “The Point-in-Time Count is an opportunity for us to share what we see in our community as well as the trends of what goes unseen. When this information is gathered from various service providers such as law enforcement and schools, it gives us more of an overview of the need in our area,” states Hospitality House executive director, Tina Krause. Read More

National Park Service 2018 Regional Trails Workshop Wednesday & Thursday, March 21st & 22nd Courtyard Inn, Boone In commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the National Trails System Act, the theme of the program will be based on trail development from conception through construction. Various speakers will address topics such as the economics of trail tourism, easements and grant opportunities, sustainable trail design and construction, and volunteer workforce development. We have also contracted with a consultant to provide a half-day seminar on fundraising and board development to help our nonprofit partners. We will host a field-based trail maintenance session along the Mountains-to-Sea State Trail. This session will offer participants an opportunity to get "hands-on" experience with typical trail maintenance tasks.

Please RSVP via email by March 1st. Limited to 65 people. Please also indicate if you will participate in the trail maintenance portion so we can be sure to bring enough tools. See Workshop Agenda

Please visit our website calendar for more events!

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Chamber Events, Information & Meetings

Blowing Rock WinterFest: Thursday - Sunday, January 25th - 28th, Downtown Blowing Rock Ribbon Cutting: Tuesday, January 30th at 3:30 pm, reFresh Your Space, Boone Tourism & Economic Development Committee Meeting: Tuesday, February 6th at 10 am Resource Development Committee Meeting: Monday, February 12th at 4 pm Chamber Awards Luncheon: Tuesday, February 13th at 11:30 am, Green Park Inn Community Development Committee Meeting: Tuesday, February 13th at 4 pm All meetings are held in the Chamber Boardroom unless otherwise noted.