Discover Wilkes: Nature, Music and Regional Festivals

Wilkes combines striking landscapes, music history, and regional festivals into a destination with many different facets. Here, you can combine nature experiences by the water with historic trails, culture, and seasonal events. When choosing a vacation rental or vacation home, it is therefore worthwhile to determine your preferred focus: active days, music and history, or distinctive regional traditions.

Nature Among Granite, Water, and Trails

Stone Mountain State Park is located in Wilkes and Alleghany counties. One of its defining features is a 600-foot-high granite dome designated as a National Natural Landmark. Those interested in distinctive geology and landscapes will find a special starting point here for exploring the area's natural environment.

The 1,475-acre W. Kerr Scott Reservoir opens up additional possibilities for travel planning. Boating, canoeing, kayaking, and swimming are possible there. White-tailed deer, black bears, and cottontail rabbits can be found in the hills around the reservoir. This combination of water and wooded hills can be particularly appealing if you would like to combine different activities during your vacation.

Historic trails also shape Wilkes. The six-mile Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail begins at Bandits Roost Campground. The Overmountain Victory Trail in Wilkesboro follows a historic route from the American Revolutionary War. For an outing with a specific historical connection, the Call Farm Loop offers a different perspective: Described as family-friendly, the trail connects agricultural landscapes with the scenery of the foothills.

Music, History, and Events

Wilkes has a strong musical identity. The Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame presents the music history of the Blue Ridge and the history of musicians from the region. It is part of the Wilkes Heritage Museum in historic downtown Wilkesboro. The Old Wilkes County Courthouse also houses the Wilkes Heritage Museum today. This makes it possible to combine music and local history during a cultural visit.

Numerous artists perform on twelve stages during the four-day MerleFest. Those seeking a musical focus for their trip can take this event format into account when planning their schedule. Another major event is Festa Italiana at Raffaldini Vineyards & Winery. It takes place every year in September during the third week of September and combines wine, food, music, and Italian-influenced culture.

Regional traditions are also on display at the annual Brushy Mountain Apple Festival on the first Saturday in October. There, you can drink apple cider, sample dishes made with apples, and discover handcrafted products such as pottery and baskets. Perry Lowe Orchards offers apples for picking on weekends in September and October. These dates make autumn a clearly identifiable travel season for visitors seeking regional harvests and culinary experiences.

Active Days and Unusual Ideas

For cyclists, Dark Mountain Trail is a national mountain biking trail system with many miles of challenging singletrack. A more leisurely option is the Yadkin River Greenway in Wilkesboro, which is suitable for walking, cycling, and running along riverbanks and wooded trails. In Wilkes County, there is also a local tradition of floating down the Yadkin River in a galvanized metal bathtub. This unusual idea shows that, alongside well-known natural and cultural attractions, Wilkes also offers distinctive local experiences.

North Wilkesboro Speedway is also part of the area's history. The first race took place there on May 18, 1947, on a 5/8-mile dirt oval, before NASCAR was founded. After an extensive restoration, the speedway returned to the NASCAR Cup Series schedule on May 21, 2023, and hosted the NASCAR All-Star Race in Wilkes County.

Which Vacation Focus Suits You?

If you would like to combine water activities and landscapes, you can consider including the reservoir and river in your plans. For a vacation with plenty of activity, options include the Call Farm Loop, the Yadkin River Greenway, and the mountain biking trail system. Those interested in culture can combine music history, the museum, and speedway history, while the autumn dates centered around apples, wine, and regional festivals offer a distinct seasonal focus.

For further orientation in the area, you can also see Wilkesboro. Other destinations to consider are Pitt, Mecklenburg, Currituck County, Onslow County, Catawba, Transylvania County, and Davie County.

For the higher-level travel overview: North Carolina.