Day Trips: Chill out at Blowing Rock’s WinterFest

Oh, come on, you big baby. How can you complain about our winter weather in the Carolinas? It’s so cold in northern Minnesota that folks there have to kick a hole in the air just to get outside.

That won’t be the case in Blowing Rock next weekend: People in swim suits will be able to walk to Lake Chetola for a quick dip. And they will.

The Polar Plunge is one of the main events of WinterFest – the annual celebration of High Country winter – Jan. 28-31.

The 18th incarnation of the festival brings back crowd-tested favorites and adds new activities.

The opening day WinterFeast dining event – fare from 18 restaurants offered at Chetola Resort – may already be a sellout (call 828-295-7851), but the after-party at Twigs features live music and no cover charge.

Friday brings a women's winter/spring fashion show luncheon at Meadowbrook Inn, a five-hour bonfire in Memorial Park that begins at dusk, a family skiing night at Appalachian Ski Mountain (reservations required) and “Cork and Canvas,” a painting-class-with-wine event at Blowing Rock Art and History Museum ($40; preregistration required).

Highlights that Saturday include free hayrides, free admission to the art/history museum, a midday chili cookoff, an afternoon wine/beer/spirits tasting and auction ($30) and an evening bonfire at Chetola Resort.

Also hot that night but at Memorial Park: Dave Albin of Firewalk Productions will walk barefoot on hot coals.

The trio of big events that day? For the Polar Plunge, staged at Chetola Resort from 10 a.m. to noon, hardy (foolhardy?) participants jump into a large hole cut through the ice on Lake Chetola.

New this year is the Southeast Regional Invitational Collegiate Ice Carving Competition, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Park. In addition to seeing students competing, you’ll be able to see a pro at work – Travis Dale, one of only five certified master ice carvers in the country. Dale and his wife, Martha, live in Charlotte and are owners of Artisan Ice Sculptures. Their website notes that Travis has earned 22 gold medals in various carving competitions.

Selfie alert: As of noon Friday, you can see approximately 20 of Travis Dale’s creations displayed outside local businesses. Get an Ice Stroll map at the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce.

Saturday’s third major draw, the WinterFest Snowflake Parade down Main Street, gets an upgrade this year. What was previously a kids’ procession will include the Appalachian State Mountaineers football team, celebrating its December victory over Ohio University at the second-ever Camelia Bowl. The parade starts at 3 p.m., and other ASU teams and the marching band also will be there.

Sunday wraps up with the 1:30 p.m. WinterPaws Dog Show at the Blowing Rock Elementary School gym. Preregister your pooch in one of six categories in this fundraiser, or just come for the four-legged fun.

Indoor events include a Small Plate Crawl at independent Blowing Rock restaurants (all four days). Also, the town’s boutiques and specialty gift stores will be open throughout the festival.

P.S.: There’s no rush to make a decision on taking the Polar Plunge. The registration line opens at 9 a.m. next Saturday.

This story was originally published January 22, 2016 at 1:00 AM with the headline "Day Trips: Chill out at Blowing Rock’s WinterFest."