Banner Elk
Christmas Trees, Mountains and Woolly Worms
Each winter, folks from all around the Southeast come to “choose and cut” their very own Christmas tree. Farms across the High Country, many in Banner Elk, provide hayrides, entertainment and hot beverages for families as they seek out the perfect tree. The locally grown Fraser Firs, known as the “Cadillac of Christmas Trees,” are famous for their perfect holiday smell and soft, lasting needles.
While skiing at the neighboring Beech Mountain and Sugar Mountain is the main attraction in the winter, there are loads of outdoor activities in and around Banner Elk year-round. The area is particularly popular among cycling enthusiasts because of the many trails ideal for mountain biking. In fact, Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk has won the National Championship for cycling several times.
Lees-McRae College is a century-old institution in the heart of Banner Elk that provides a great cultural resource for the small town. The school’s popular summer theater program has been offering visitors and locals top-notch productions for more than 20 years.
Banner Elk is also famous for its rather eccentric festival held each fall, the Woolly Worm Festival. Since 1978, the town has celebrated the coming of the snow season in October by racing woolly worms in a number of races and heats. The winner of the race is the worm that determines the severity of the next few weeks of winter—they judge based on the color of the worm’s 13 segments.
Of course, one of the High Country’s most beloved natural landmarks, Grandfather Mountain, is just down the road from Banner Elk in Linville. Grandfather Mountain has dozens of hiking trails, a mile-high swinging bridge, wildlife habitats and a conservation museum. Be sure to check out the view from the top—it is the highest peak in the Blue Ridge Mountain chain.
Banner Elk Listings
Foscoe Fishing Company and Outfitters
8857 NC Hwy. 105 S, Boone
828-963-6556
www.foscoefishing.com
Grandfather Mountain
Linville, NC
Near Linville Caverns
www.Grandfather.com
Lees McRae
Banner Elk, NC
800-280-3562
www.lmc.edu
Linville Caverns
Between Linville and Marion, NC
4 Miles South of Blue Ridge Parkway
800-419-0540
www.linvillecaverns.com