Annual Festivals & Events in Spruce Pine, NC

Located approximately one hour north of Asheville, Spruce Pine, North Carolina, is a dynamic community of fantastic people thriving amid a small-town atmosphere. Events and festivals are one of Spruce Pine’s charms, appreciated by residents and visitors to the town. Explore several of the best festivals Spruce Pine offers throughout the year.

Toe River Arts Studio Tours

Dedicated to showcasing the work of North Carolina’s Mitchell and Yancey County artists, the Toe River Arts Studio Tour enables visitors to meet renowned North Carolina artists.

Held twice a year during the spring and fall, Toe River Arts Studio Tours promotes the arts while inviting guests to discover art that enriches the community. As Studio Tour participants travel over bridges, around barns, and through miles of forests in Mitchell and Yancey County, they’ll meet the artists in their workshops and learn more about the inspiration behind their craft. Along with the Studio Tour, participating artists will exhibit their work in the Toe River Arts Gallery, 269 Oak Ave. in Spruce Pine.

The 2023 Spring Studio Tour runs from Friday, June 2 to Sunday, June 4, and the Fall Studio Tour will be held from Friday, Nov. 10 to Sunday, Nov. 12. More information about the studio tours is available on the Toe River Arts website.

Spruce Pine Alien Festival

Whether you’re fascinated by aliens or want an out-of-this-world experience on your next journey through North Carolina, the annual Spruce Pine Alien Festival is one summer event you’ll want to attend. Downtown Spruce Pine’s Oak Avenue will be the hub for more than 150 vendors displaying and selling alien-themed and space-related arts and crafts items. You likely won’t find this volume of handmade merchandise and gifts featuring extraterrestrials and UFOs anywhere else.

The festival also includes a conference and expo featuring nationally renowned speakers presenting topics on alien encounters and sightings. This year’s headline speaker is Mike Bara, the “Ancient Aliens” History Channel TV series star. Adults and children can also participate in an alien costume contest with opportunities to win cash prizes.

The one-day festival takes place on Saturday, June 10. General admission to the festival is free, but tickets are required for the speaker conference.

North Carolina Mineral and Gem Festival

Since the early 1950s, Spruce Pine has hosted the annual North Carolina Mineral and Gem Festival. Mineral and gem enthusiasts worldwide have visited Spruce Pine to browse and purchase the most beautiful jewelry, gemstones, minerals, beads, crystals, and more. During the event, guests can meet gem and minerals dealers offering the most exquisite jewelry that features precious gemstones.

In addition to attending the festival, guests can explore a mine and try their luck digging for treasures at Pine Mountain Mine, one of the largest operating mines in North America. Gemstones and minerals you could find here include quartz, feldspar, mica, and garnet. Ticket information for the mine tour is available online.

The four-day event, held in early August, will take place this year from Thursday, Aug. 3 to Sunday, Aug. 6, at the Three Peaks Enrichment Center, 97 Pinebridge Ave. in Spruce Pine. Admission is $5 for adults or $10 for an all-week bracelet. Children 10 and younger are free.

Barbecue and Bluegrass

Witness some of the best-known local and regional musicians, storytellers, and dancers as you enjoy a selection of fabulous barbecue. Hosted by the Rotary Club of Spruce Pine, this dynamic festival of bluegrass, country, folk, and Americana  music takes place within Riverside Park, across the North Toe River from Downtown Spruce Pine.

Browse and shop the various crafts and creations from multiple on-site arts and crafts vendors, enjoy children’s activities, and sample some of the tastiest food from the best barbecue masters in North Carolina.

This year’s festival will take place on Saturday, Oct. 7. Admission is $5 per person, but children 12 and younger are free.

Hilloween: Spruce Pine Night Festival

Discover the history and culture of Mitchell County’s mountain community during the annual Hilloween event. Hilloween, a nonprofit organization, presents weekend-long programs for residents and visitors. With a mix of scary and educational events, Hilloween offers plenty of autumnal fun.

Spruce Pine will participate in Hilloween by holding its festivities in October at Riverside Park, 503 E. Tappan St. Several activities and programs that were a part of last year’s festival include the following:

• An opening ceremony and a free concert to kick off the festival.
• A lantern float for children on the Toe River.
• Ashton Woody and William Ritter delivering spine-tingling tales at the park’s amphitheater.

Look for more information about the festival program, handmade Halloween costume contest, scavenger hunt, and home and yard decorating contest as they are announced on the Hilloween website.

Light Up Spruce Pine Christmas Marketplace

Image by __drz__ is licensed with Unsplash License

After its inaugural season in 2022, the Light Up Spruce Pine Christmas Marketplace promises to deliver plenty of holiday cheer for residents and visitors to Spruce Pine in December. Spruce Pine community member Lynn Holler developed the event, created to resemble a German Christmas market, with support from the Mitchell County Chamber of Commerce. The celebration included carriage rides, food trucks, carolers, several hundred strands of holiday lights, shop window displays, and pop-up shops offering holiday gifts for sale.

The Mitchell News-Journal reported that Holler hopes to grow the Light Up Spruce Pine Christmas Marketplace with more volunteer, business, and community support as it expands to a month-long celebration. Follow the event’s Facebook page  for program updates for the Christmas 2023 season.

As you’ve discovered, Spruce Pine is an attractive destination offering plenty to do in each season of the year. What did you think about our events roundup? Do you have a favorite Spruce Pine festival that we should include here? Write to us, and let us know. Our Spruce Pine Chevrolet team always appreciates hearing from our customers and friends about the best things to see and do in our community.