2026 Guide to Summer Concerts and Music Festivals in the NC High Country

If there's one thing the NC High Country does well in the summer — besides the weather — it's live music. From the streets of downtown Boone to the mountaintop stages of Beech Mountain, the towns of Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, Beech Mountain, West Jefferson, Valle Crucis, Seven Devils, and Todd fill up all summer with outdoor concerts, music festivals, brewery sessions, and winery performances.

This is your complete guide to every regular and weekly live music event in the High Country for 2026.

Summer Music Series

2026 Season Concert Series | West Jefferson

Features a lineup of national, regional, and local musicians performing throughout the season at Saloon Studios Live in West Jefferson, North Carolina. The series combines returning fan favorites with new artists, offering a diverse range of live music.

In addition to scheduled concerts, Saloon Studios Live hosts Karaoke and Open Mic Night every fourth Thursday of the month beginning June 25. Guests are invited to showcase their talents or enjoy performances from fellow music enthusiasts. Located at 313 Old West Road, West Jefferson.

Backstreet Concert Series | West Jefferson

A popular summer music event held on Friday evenings at BackStreet Park in downtown West Jefferson, North Carolina. Features a lineup of regional bluegrass, old-time string bands, and country music performers, attracting both locals and visitors throughout the summer.

Free and open to the public, guests can bring lawn chairs or enjoy the park's picnic seating while listening to live music.

Beech Mountain Resort Summer Concert Series | Beech Mountain

A seasonal outdoor music event held in Beech Mountain, North Carolina, at Beech Mountain Resort. The 2026 series features a multi-genre lineup of national headlining artists performing on the resort’s outdoor main stage in a mountainside setting.

The series offers a high-elevation live music experience combining national touring acts, food vendors, and scenic mountain views. Concerts begin at 7:00 PM, with gates opening earlier for guests to enjoy the on-site Food Truck Village. VIP ticket holders are admitted at 4:30 PM, while general admission entry begins at 5:30 PM.

Beech Mountain Resort Summer Concert Series, photo by David Simchock

Blowing Rock’s Concert in the Park Series | Blowing Rock

An annual collection of free outdoor performances held at the Rotary Gazebo in Memorial Park in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. Scheduled on Sundays following Art in the Park events, the series features live music across a variety of genres in a relaxed community setting.

Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets and gather at Memorial Park on Main Street to enjoy the performances.

Concerts on the Lawn | Beech Mountain

A free summer music series held every Sunday evening from 5 PM - 8 PM at the lawn behind the Top of the Beech Hotel on Beech Mountain, North Carolina. The event features live music in a scenic mountain setting and offers a relaxing way to spend a summer evening in the High Country.

Guests are welcome to bring their own chairs, though limited seating is available on-site. Food and beverages can be purchased during the event, and outside food and drinks are not permitted. Leashed pets are welcome. Located at 606 Beech Mountain Parkway.

Courthouse Concert Series | Jefferson

A free live music event hosted by the Museum of Ashe County History in Jefferson, North Carolina. Held in the museum’s historic 1904 courtroom at 301 E. Main Street, the series offers an intimate setting to enjoy live performances while experiencing one of Ashe County’s most notable historic landmarks.

Open to the public, the concert series combines local culture, music, and history in the heart of downtown Jefferson.

Blowing Rock’s Concert in the Park Series

Family Fun Night | Beech Mountain

A free, family-friendly summer event held every Friday night from June through mid-August at The Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria. The weekly gathering features live music from 5:30 PM to 8:45 PM, a bounce house for children from 4:00 PM to 7:30 PM, and outdoor movies beginning at 8:45 PM. Food and beverages are available for purchase inside the pizzeria, and all activities are weather-dependent.

The venue also hosts additional live music throughout the week, featuring rotating local artists during the summer season. Every Thursday and Sunday, guests can enjoy performances by pianist Andrew Cotts. Located at 402 Beech Mountain Parkway, Beech Mountain, NC.

Jones House Summer Concert Series | Boone

A weekly music event in downtown Boone, running from June through August. Held on the Jones House lawn, the free concert series showcases talented local and regional musicians across a variety of genres, including bluegrass, old-time, jazz, folk, and singer-songwriter performances.

Concerts begin at 5:30 PM and are held rain or shine. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets to enjoy an evening of live music in the heart of Boone. Alcoholic beverages are permitted for guests of legal drinking age.

Live Music at 5506 | Beech Mountain

A weekly summer concert series held every Saturday from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM at Beech Mountain Resort in Beech Mountain, North Carolina. The event offers live outdoor music set against sweeping panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.

Access to the venue is available only via a scenic chairlift ride serving as the only required cost for entry, which also provides guests with a unique mountain-top experience. Once at the summit, visitors can enjoy live performances, a full bar, and dining options featuring wood-fired Mexican cuisine. Located at 1007 Beech Mountain Parkway.

Jones House Summer Concerts Series

Music on the Lawn at The Inn at Ragged Gardens | Blowing Rock

A free weekly summer concert series held in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. Running every Friday from May through September, the event features a rotating lineup of live bands performing from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Guests are encouraged to arrive early and bring lawn chairs to secure seating. A cash bar and lawn menu are available on-site during performances.

Each week also highlights a featured nonprofit organization, offering an opportunity for community awareness and engagement. Pets, coolers, and outside food or beverages are not permitted. Located at 203 Sunset Drive, Blowing Rock.

Music in the Valle | Valle Crucis

A summer concert series held at Valle Crucis Community Park in Valle Crucis, North Carolina, running every Friday through September 4, 2026. The event features live performances from local and regional musicians, offering a relaxed outdoor music experience from 6 PM until dusk.

The event is supported through visitor donations, with a suggested parking contribution of $5 to $10. Music in the Valle offers a community-focused atmosphere that highlights regional talent in one of the High Country’s most historic settings.

Roots in the Garden | Boone

A free, family-friendly summer concert series held at Daniel Boone Native Gardens in Boone, North Carolina, featuring live music in a natural garden setting every Thursday evening at 5:30 PM. Guests are welcome to bring picnics, with all beverages required to be served in plastic or aluminum containers. Food trucks, a beer tent, and additional vendors are available on-site. Each concert also features visual artists, with artwork auctioned at the end of the evening to support the gardens.

Proceeds and donations directly benefit the Daniel Boone Native Gardens’ mission to promote native plants, healthy ecosystems, and public green space in the High Country. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets. Dogs are not permitted within the gardens during events.

Music in the Valle

Seven Devils Music on the Lawn | Seven Devils

Held at The Park at Seven Devils, North Carolina. Taking place every other Friday, the event brings together live music, local food trucks, and a welcoming community atmosphere in the heart of the High Country.

Guests are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets and enjoy an evening of outdoor entertainment. Brown bagging alcohol is permitted, and food is provided by the Tourism Development Authority at no cost. Attendees may also make cash or check donations to support the Seven Devils Fire Department.

Todd Summer Music Series | Todd

A seasonal outdoor concert series held at Cook Memorial Park in downtown Todd, North Carolina. The 2026 lineup features six scheduled performances, bringing live music to the heart of the community throughout the summer season.

Guests are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets for seating, while well-behaved dogs on leashes are welcome at the park. Food is available for purchase, including grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers, chips, and cookies.

Summer Concerts in the Park | Banner Elk

Each Thursday, well-known local and regional bands perform live shows at Robbins Amphitheater at Tate-Evans Park in Banner Elk, North Carolina. The fun dance music from Southern rock to '70s, '80s, soul, country and funk is appropriate for all ages.

There is no charge for admission, and attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or a blanket to enjoy the music under the evening stars. Food, beer and wine vendors set up on site. Small picnic coolers are allowed, and beverages should be in plastic cups.

Tunes on Tap | Boone

A lively summer music series hosted by Booneshine Brewing Company in Boone, North Carolina. Held every Friday from June through September at 7 PM, the event takes place in the brewery’s outdoor beer garden and features live performances from local bands.

The series offers a casual, family-friendly, and dog-friendly atmosphere where guests can bring lawn chairs, enjoy craft beers, and experience a rotating lineup of regional musicians. Food and beverages are available on-site. Located at 465 Industrial Park Dr, Boone, NC.

Summer Concerts in the Park, Banner Elk, NC

Live Music at Restaurants, Wineries & Breweries

Appalachian Mountain Brewery | Boone

Regularly hosts live music, events, and community gather nights. Boone Taproom & Kitchen, the original location in Boone, North Carolina regularly features live folk, country, rock, and bluegrass music on its spacious deck and yard. Located at 163 Boone Creek Dr.

Bluegrass Jam Sessions Series | West Jefferson

A recurring community music event held at Watson General Store in West Jefferson, North Carolina. Taking place on the first and third Thursday of each month from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, the gathering welcomes bluegrass musicians of all skill levels to join the jam circle.

Guests can enjoy live bluegrass music in a relaxed setting while taking advantage of the diner’s full bar service and local food truck offerings.

Appalachian Mountain Brewery

Live music at Lost Province Brewing Co. | Boone

Proud to support local and regional musicians. Live music is only happening at the Downtown Boone brewery and restaurant every Friday and Saturday night from 6 PM - 9 PM, showcasing local and regional artists with roots or ties to North Carolina and Appalachia.

The series highlighted a variety of genres, including Americana, bluegrass, folk, jam bands, jazz, and more. Located at 130 North Depot Street, Boone, NC.

Live Music at Mill Camp | Boone

Hosts regular live music performances, food trucks, and local market days. This family-owned winery and cidery is open Thursday through Monday from 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Located at 1584 Tom Jackson Rd, Boone, North Carolina.

Live Funk Jams at Lost Province Co.

Live Music at The Beacon | Boone

Enjoy dinner, drinks, and live music at the Beacon every week on Tuesday and Thursday, from 6 PM - 8 PM. Located at 125 Graduate Lane, Boone, NC.

Monday Piano Bar Evenings | Boone

Features Piano Bar Evenings every Monday from 6 PM - 9 PM with Tyler Dellaperute at FizzEd, 260 Howard St, Boone, North Carolina.

The Beacon, Boone

Music in the Vineyard | Banner Elk

A live music series held at Grandfather Vineyard & Winery in Banner Elk, North Carolina. The outdoor events feature local acoustic, bluegrass, and rock performances in a scenic riverside setting.

Guests can enjoy wine, cider, and tasting flights while listening to live music. Outside alcohol is not permitted, but visitors may bring their own picnic or purchase food from on-site food trucks.

Town Tavern Blowing Rock Live Music | Blowing Rock

Hosts free live music events throughout the summer in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, featuring performances every Friday night along with additional afternoon and evening sets.

Early and afternoon shows are typically held on the High Country’s largest outdoor dining patio, while late-night performances move inside the main sports bar. The lineup features a rotating mix of regional artists, creating a casual live music experience paired with food and drinks in a downtown setting.

Grandfather Vineyard and Winery

Upcoming Music Festivals and Events

5th High Country Jazz Festival | June 10-14

An annual music event on June 10-14 held at the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country in Boone, North Carolina, along with various local venues and dining spots.

The event features a diverse lineup of jazz artists, including award-winning headliners and emerging talent. Programming spans classic swing, smooth contemporary jazz, and modern improvisational styles, offering a wide range of live performances throughout the festival.

ASU Jazz Under the Marquee | June 13

A beloved, free outdoor concert in Boone, North Carolina. It features talented student musicians from Appalachian State University’s (ASU) renowned jazz program performing in the courtyard setting beneath the historic Appalachian Theatre on June 13. Admission is free.

Boonerang Music and Arts Festival | June 19-21

A free, multi-day festival held every third weekend of June in downtown Boone, North Carolina. The event runs from June 19-21 and showcases musicians and artists with ties to Boone who return home to perform across multiple stages.

Festival venues include street stages on South Depot and North Depot Streets, the Jones House lawn stage, and indoor performances at the Appalachian Theatre on King Street. The event also features local food, craft beer, and a vendor market offering handmade goods, artwork, crafts, and more.

Additional activities include a kids zone, dance lot, international festival elements, silent discos, and a tie-dye workshop. Each festival area offers designated craft beer stations from local breweries, along with participation from local nonprofits and community vendors.

An Appalachian Summer | June 27 - August 1

A multidisciplinary arts and performance series hosted on the campus of Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. The program features an extensive lineup of music, dance, theatre, visual arts, and film events across multiple campus venues from June 27 to August 1.

The series showcases a wide range of genres, including country-rock, pop-rock, Americana, a cappella, R&B, Broadway, and classical performances, along with dance, film screenings, and visual arts presentations.

Symphony on the Mountain | July 17

A signature summer concert event on July 17, held at Appalachian Ski Mountain in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. The outdoor performance combines live symphonic music with panoramic Blue Ridge Mountain views, creating one of the High Country’s most anticipated cultural events.

Guests are welcome to bring chairs, blankets, soft-sided coolers, picnic meals, and beverages. Beer, wine, specialty mocktails, water, and limited grab-and-go food options are available for purchase on-site. Shuttle service is provided from downtown Blowing Rock parking areas for added convenience.

To ensure an enjoyable experience for all attendees, items that may obstruct views, including umbrellas, tall chairs, tables, grills, and open flames, are not permitted. Pets are also prohibited. The event is held Rain or Shine.

Whether you're here for a weekend, a season, or a lifetime, the music is just one more reason to love the NC High Country.

Tell us your favorite summer music event, and while you're here, take a look at our latest High Country real estate listings. You might just find the perfect place to enjoy next summer's soundtrack from your own mountain home.