Visit Banner Elk

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Visit Banner Elk Official Visitor Guide by Banner Elk Tourism and Town Hall. Our town is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. Home to Lees-McRae College.
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A beloved vacation getaway for cool summers and snowy winters (NC's top ski town).

Great news! The Elk River pedestrian bridge is back at Lees-McRae College. The previous one washed away during Helene fl...
10/22/2026

Great news! The Elk River pedestrian bridge is back at Lees-McRae College. The previous one washed away during Helene flooding. This new bridge is farther down the river, past the May Wildlife Rehab Center on Mill Pond Rd. Included is a new spur trail that connects to the Hemlock Trail that ends at South Campus. From downtown, find a steep, paved walkway behind the Historic Commons area that takes you to a lower parking area and access to the bridge.

Banner Elk’s Trunk or Treat is Halloween, Oct 31, 5-7 PM. Kids and kids are heart invited to enjoy free treats, music an...
10/21/2026

Banner Elk’s Trunk or Treat is Halloween, Oct 31, 5-7 PM. Kids and kids are heart invited to enjoy free treats, music and fun costumes in front of the Historic Banner Elk School (185 Azalea Circle). Individuals and businesses invited to sign up to give candy from your decorated trunk with Nancy at Town Hall. A festive community gathering! These scenes from last year.

Happy 1st Anniversary to Mountain Hugger Co. in the red caboose downtown, featuring gorgeous mountain photography by Jos...
10/21/2026

Happy 1st Anniversary to Mountain Hugger Co. in the red caboose downtown, featuring gorgeous mountain photography by Joseph Nitti, plus a variety of souvenirs including regional art, fun t-shirts, kids stuff, candles and even PJs! Open Thurs-Sun 11-5. 4111 Shawneehaw Ave

Enjoy a few snapshots of Elk River Falls from yesterday's visit. 12 miles from Banner Elk.
10/20/2026

Enjoy a few snapshots of Elk River Falls from yesterday's visit. 12 miles from Banner Elk.

What a fab Woolly Worm Festival! 2027 dates are October 16-17... its 50th year. A big thanks to all the volunteers, vend...
10/18/2026

What a fab Woolly Worm Festival! 2027 dates are October 16-17... its 50th year. A big thanks to all the volunteers, vendors and enthusiast attendees. Our town of 1,000 welcomed 20,000! A few pics from today.
Special thank you to Avery County Chamber of Commerce and Kiwanis of Banner Elk
Today's winning worm Wally officially predicted this winters weather based on his 13 segments:
Week 1: Cold and snowy!
Weeks 2-3: Average temperatures
Week 4: Below-average temps with a chance of light snow or frost.
Weeks 5-12: Eight straight weeks of average temperatures!
Week 13: Below-average temperatures with possible light snow or frost.

Woolly Worm Festival scenes today! Cold and wet morning didn't dampen excitement. Sunny and warmer Sunday, open 9am-4pm....
10/17/2026

Woolly Worm Festival scenes today! Cold and wet morning didn't dampen excitement. Sunny and warmer Sunday, open 9am-4pm.
- Today's winning worm Wally officially predicted this winters weather based on his 13 segments:
Week 1: Cold and snowy!
Weeks 2-3: Average temperatures
Week 4: Below-average temps with a chance of light snow or frost.
Weeks 5-12: Eight straight weeks of average temperatures!
Week 13: Below-average temperatures with possible light snow or frost.

If you are going Sunday:
- Festival fills the green in front of the BE Historic School.
- Woolly Worm races begin 10am with heats of 25 worms. Sunday races are for a $500 prize. Worms available at festival. Be thinking of a fun name!
- Sunday is much less crowded than Saturday if you want to miss the biggest crowds.
- Admission at gate: $10/adult, $5/children 6-12 , free for age 5 and under. Buy at gate (cash or credit card).
- Many non-profits provide parking for donations in downtown lots (usually $10-$20). Remote parking on Lees-McRae South Campus with shuttles ($10/car donation to college ski / snowboard team). Bring cash for parking!

10/17/2026

Racing Woolly Worms today! Winner predicts our winter weather. Only 41 degrees at noon today, so we are getting a preview. Sunny and warmer Sunday. Woolly Worm Festival continues until 5pm today and 9-4 Sunday.
- Festival fills the green in front of the BE Historic School
- Woolly Worm races begin 10am with heats of 25 worms. Winning worm Saturday earns honor of predicting winter weather and a $1,000 prize. Sunday races are for a $500 prize. Worms available at festival. Be thinking of a fun name!
- Sunday is much less crowded than Saturday if you want to miss the biggest crowds.
- Admission at gate: $10/adult, $5/children 6-12 , free for age 5 and under. Buy at gate (cash or credit card) or buy online in advance: woollyworm.com
- Many non-profits provide parking for donations in downtown lots (usually $10-$20). Remote parking on Lees-McRae South Campus with shuttles ($10/car donation to college ski / snowboard team).

UPDATE: WE HAVE A WINNER!
Today's winning worm Wally officially predicted this winters weather based on his 13 segments:
Week 1: Cold and snowy!
Weeks 2–3: Average temperatures
Week 4: Below-average temps with a chance of light snow or frost.
Weeks 5–12: Eight straight weeks of average temperatures! Wally's calling for a pretty mild stretch.
Week 13: Below-average temperatures with possible light snow or frost.

Valle Country Fair scenes today! Damp and chilly morning made hot c***r even better. Plenty of art / crafts, paired with...
10/17/2026

Valle Country Fair scenes today! Damp and chilly morning made hot c***r even better. Plenty of art / crafts, paired with harvest flavors of Brunswick Stew, barbecue, and homemade apple butter, jams, c***r, pies and more that pops up one day a year in a pasture. Today (Oct 17th) until 4pm. Just 6 miles from Banner Elk. Free admission, $10/car for parking. The Fair raises funds for local human service organizations, giving more than $1.4 million in the past 47 years. Presented by Holy Cross Episcopal Church, 122 Skiles Way, Banner Elk. Thanks to so many volunteers to make this happen!

Woolly Worm Fest setup today. Heads up: Winter preview Saturday with high temp of 43! Bring your jacket. Remember to bri...
10/16/2026

Woolly Worm Fest setup today. Heads up: Winter preview Saturday with high temp of 43! Bring your jacket. Remember to bring cash for parking donations. THANKS to the hundreds of volunteers working to make it happen. Thanks also to organizers Avery Chamber of Commerce & Kiwanis Club.
See details & tips below.
- Hours: Sat Oct 17, 9am-5pm & Sun Oct 18, 9am-4pm
- Festival fills the green in front of the BE Historic School
- Woolly Worm races begin 10am with heats of 25 worms. Winning worm Saturday earns honor of predicting winter weather and a $1,000 prize. Sunday races are for a $500 prize. Worms available at festival. Be thinking of a fun name!
- Sunday is much less crowded than Saturday if you want to miss the biggest crowds.
- Admission at gate: $10/adult, $5/children 6-12 , free for age 5 and under. Buy at gate (cash or credit card) or buy online in advance: woollyworm.com
- Many non-profits provide parking for donations in downtown lots (usually $10-$20). Remote parking on Lees-McRae South Campus with shuttles ($10/car donation to college ski / snowboard team).
- Yes, expect traffic back-ups! Please be patient as our town of 1,000 welcomes 20,000 people. Valle Country Fair in nearby Valle Crucis is also Saturday, so it’s our busiest traffic day all year.
- No pets (too crowded with humans)
- New: Pre-festival Chili Cook-off on Fri, Oct 16, 4-6pm (behind Barkery), with 12 restaurants competing. Tasting donations benefit the Avery Humane Society.
- All proceeds are given back to the community to enhance our schools and support children’s programs.
- For more info about Valle Country Fair: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19Vk6Cc7fe/

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200 Park Avenue
Banner Elk, NC
28604

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