Sometimes during the winter, you need an excuse or a gentle nudge to pull yourself away from the comfortable couch. We’ve come up with a few events happening in Mast Store communities that may be just the ticket for you.

Hustle on up the mountain for this weekend’s Winterfest in Blowing Rock. As event organizers aptly encourage attendees “Don’t hibernate … celebrate!” This four-day event, January 25-28, has a little something for everybody. Preschoolers can enjoy art projects and story time at the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum; wine aficionados have several opportunities to enjoy their favorite pastime; and music fans can enjoy live jazz and a jam session. Of course, you’ll find a number of opportunities to enjoy wintertime activities like bonfires, ice skating in the Park, and the frosty Polar Plunge at Chetola Lake. For a full list of activities and to book your meals and accommodations, follow this LINK. 

If you could travel back in time and could meet George Washington, our nation’s first president, would you do it? Here’s your opportunity! Nationally-acclaimed historical interpreter Ron Carnegie “is” George Washington at the Winter Chautauqua in Greenville. The name Chautauqua, pronounced “Shuh-TALK-wa,” comes from a lake in Upstate New York where, in 1874, an adult education program for Sunday School teachers was founded. Before radio and television, traveling Chautauqua tents crisscrossed the country providing entertainment and great speakers of the day. The modern Chautauquas have a goal of bringing history to life through engaging and interactive presentations that encourage critical thinking. Get ready for your chance to ask President Washington your questions on February 3-4 at Wade Hampton High School in Greenville (there’s also a benefit dinner on February 2). For more information about the performances and future speakers, click HERE. 

Flowers add beauty and life to your indoor space, especially during the winter. The Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia hosts the South Carolina Orchid Society’s Orchids at Riverbanks on February 9-11. The show will feature hundreds of beautiful blooming orchids that are sure to delight in the midst of our gray winter weather. Enjoy displays and educational classes offered on Saturday and Sunday to help you tend your orchids at home. Orchids at Riverbanks is included with admission to the Zoo and Botanical Gardens. This LINK will provide a little more information. 

Meet the author, researcher, and entrepreneur behind the book that inspired the 2017 movie Hidden Figures. Margot Lee Shetterly introduced us to NASA’s African-American Human Computers whose work made it possible for the United States to successfully enter the Space Race. Her father was among the early black NASA engineers and scientists, and she had direct access to the space agency’s executives and the women featured in the book. Shetterly will be speaking at Wait Chapel on the Wake Forest University campus on Monday, February 5 at 7 p.m. The presentation is a part of Project Wake: Exploring Difference and Embracing Diversity. It is free, but tickets are required; click HERE to register.

This event is a little different than the others we’ve suggested thus far, but only in that it is recurring. If you miss it in the next couple of weeks, you’ll have many more opportunities to participate. Wild Food Adventures in Asheville offers two packages to forage for your meal. The Wild Food Stroll takes place on the property of the Omni Grove Park Inn where you’ll meet at least half a dozen wild edibles. If you stay for dinner, one of the Inn’s amazing chefs will prepare an appetizer from the goodies you found. If you’d like a more intense foraging adventure, try the Foraging Tour. You’ll travel to a secret destination just a short drive from Downtown Asheville where you’ll wander the woods and meadows to find 10-20 wild foods. At the end of the day, you can prepare your own meal using what you’ve found or you can take it to one of five award-winning restaurants to prepare lunch or dinner for you. Both walks are focused on edibles you might find in your own backyard. Most tours take place on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays. Follow this link to LEARN MORE.  

There are many more events in our communities that might coax you out your front door this winter. You might find some of them on our Calendar of Events.