This can be a dull time of year in the High Country – stuck in the house with too much television and too many video games; housework staring you in the face; tired of the same old routine. Well, this year take the time to appreciate your area through the eyes of a visitor. Don’t hibernate… Celebrate – at Blowing Rock Winterfest - Fun for the whole family.
One of the best reasons to come out to Blowing Rock and enjoy the activities next weekend is that many of these events are to support local charities. In fact, you even have the opportunity to support a charity of your choosing by participating in the Polar Plunge into Chetola Lake, on Saturday, January 30th at 10:00am. This event is free and one of the most heavily attended of Winterfest, and for good reason – all kinds of folks come out and dress up in wacky costumes to jump into the icy waters of the lake for charity. Emceed by the charismatic Tracy Brown, everyone who attends will be laughing so hard they won’t notice the cold! Interested in supporting your favorite charity? The charity that raises the most money will receive a $250 bonus prize, and there is no minimum to the amount of sponsorship a Plunger can bring per jump. Plus, if you wear the most outlandish outfit, you may receive the high honor of the “Golden Plunger” award! Check out the sign-up forms at www.BlowingRockWinterfest.com. Cinnamon Rolls, Hot Chocolate and other goodies will be available for purchase.
Right after the Polar Plunge, head over to the Blowing Rock School Gymnasium for the Chili Challenge, happening from 11:00am-2:30pm on Saturday, January 30th. This CASI-sponsored event is a “real” chili cook-off, with chili cooks from all over the place, local restaurant chefs, and amateur chili cooks. Providing some toe-tapping tunes are Upright & Breathin’ – a local Boone favorite. Are you the best chili cook in town? Sign up to participate! Just love to eat it? Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. Proceeds go to charity. Keep reading for a chance to win a family 4 pack of tickets to the Chili Challenge!
Once your belly is full of chili, you don’t have to go far for the next family fun extravaganza… Ensemble Stage Company is putting on a super-fun version of the old “Match Game,” which will be a roaring good time for the whole family. 
The excitement begins at 4:00 pm on Saturday, January 30th and tickets are available online at EnsembleStage.com or by calling 828.406.2884. The Ensemble Stage Company has been kind enough to also donate a family 4 pack of tickets to the Match Game to one luck MomSquad winner!
Sunday morning, the 31st of January, come out to support Blowing Rock Fire and Rescue’s local efforts at the Pancake Breakfast, hosted by Knights on Main. The Pancake Breakfast will be in the Blowing Rock School Cafeteria from 8:00am-11:00am.
There are even more things to do at Blowing Rock Winterfest for the whole family, like FREE hayrides and kids’ events; The Winter Paws Dog Show, 
benefiting the Watauga Humane Society ; Ice Carving Competitions; a Caricature Artist; and much more.
Plus – if you’re ready for some time out of the house without the kids, come out and try WinterFeast on Thursday, the 28th, where Blowing Rock’s finest restaurants provide a delicious meal to support local charities, the Charity Wine Tasting and Auction on Saturday the 30th which will support Wine To Water this year, or the raucous, fun “Grown-ups” Game Show presented by Ensemble Stage Company – the “Not So Newlywed Game,” on Saturday, January the 30th. You can even sign up to participate in the panel of contestants and win exciting prizes here.
Learn more about Blowing Rock Winterfest at www.BlowingRockWinterfest.com or by calling the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce at 828.295.7851. Tickets to events are available on the website or at the Chamber of Commerce, but…
If you’d like to win Family 4 packs of tickets to the Chili Challenge, and the Match Game, follow the directions below:
See you at Blowing Rock Winterfest!
Amy
To enter to win the tickets, leave a comment below on this post, saying what your favorite event at Winterfest would be. Click here for a listing of all events
Leave a separate comment for an EXTRA ENTRY if you:
- Are a Mom Squad Subscriber (Click here for daily updates, or enter your email address in the top right for Weekly Email Newsletter)
- Are a Mom Squad Facebook Fan (click here to become a fan)
- Follow @HCMomSquad on Twitter
- Follow @BlowingRock1 (Chetola Resort) on Twitter
- Are a Chetola Resort Facebook Fan (Click here to become a fan)
- Are a WInterfest Blowing Rock Facebook Fan (Click here to become a fan)
- Are a Ensemble Stage Facebook Fan (Click here to become a fan)
- Post this link on your Facebook Profile
Contest is open through Wednesday, January 27 for High Country residents and visitors 18 or older. Winner will be notified by email and on our Winners Page.
I think the Newlywed Game is going to be a blast!
My family likes making ‘smores at the bonfire and watching the ice carvers.
mmmmm…chili. The Chili Cook Off is the best!
My husband is very excited about the Chili Cook Off! It will be our first year going, but next year he wants to enter!
I’m an Ensemble Stage facebook fan1
I’m an Ensemble Stage facebook fan!
Can’t wait for ice sculptures, pancakes and soup at the library in BR!
I’m a mom squad facebook fan too
Chili Challenge, most definitely
subscriber
MomSquad FB fan
Ensemble Stage FB fan
Winterfest FB fan
The Match game looks like it would be fun!
With the expected weather and since this is my last winter in the area, I would love to see the Polar Plunge for the first time as well as experience the other activities.