Ashe High Country Realty
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Merlefest Lodging for 2012

  • Merlefest Lodging for 2012

Merlefest is an Annual Event, Make your reservation early

The 2012 MerleFest will begin this year on Thursday, April 26, through Sunday, April 29. The location is Wilkes Community College, North Wilkesboro, NC. Make your reservations online at our website.

MerleFest is an annual event in the High Country, and is scheduled to begin the last week in April of each year. Take an extra day and spend time in the charming small town of West Jefferson.

In 1985, a tragic tractor accident cut short the life of the talented and legendary guitarist Eddie Merle Watson at the age of 36.

Several years later, his father, the equally talented and legendary musician Doc Watson, was approached by Wilkes Community College to help host a fundraiser for its innovative "Eddy Merle Watson Garden of the Senses" which has been designed and planted so that everyone regardless of their visual ability may enjoy it.

Thus founded in 1988 as a tribute to the memory of Eddy Merle Watson and to celebrate traditional mountain music in its many forms, the annual MerleFest has been a huge and increasingly popular event over the years. Crossing both generations and genres, MerleFest artfully blends the very best of acoustic, Americana, bluegrass, blues, jazz, folk, Cajun and songwriter music into a format dubbed "traditional-plus"

The Merlefest is much more than just Music

At the Merlefest, you can watch some of the area's finest craft artisans demonstrate their talent at the Heritage Crafts Tent, and the shoppes at the Merlefest offer a fine selection of food and craft vendors, official memorabilia and much more. There is a huge grass area for festival-goers to enjoy a snack, visit with friends or just enjoy the festive atmosphere.

Individuals can step right up to compete in one of the three amazing Merlefest contests:

• The Merle Watson Bluegrass Banjo Championship

• The Doc Watson Guitar Championship

• The Chris Austin Songwriting Contest

The winners will be given fabulous prizes. Other activities to be enjoyed at the Merelfest 2011 includes: Midnight Jam, Nature Walks, Songwriters Coffee-Houses, Youth Showcases, The Little Pickers Area, Open Mic Sessions, Raffle and Silent Auction - and, the Pickin Place.

We hope you have fun at the MerleFest.

Ashe High Country Vacations, LLCM
Ashe County Real Estate, Inc.

We are located in the charming mountain town of West Jefferson, NC. Our offices are located in the 'arts district' downtown - West Jefferson.Merlefest is an Annual Event, make your reservations early.

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