Downtown Boone

Punch Brothers
2026-06-27 19:30 - 22:00 UTC
Punch Brothers, formed by mandolinist Chris Thile in 2006, is known for pushing the boundaries of acoustic music. In addition to Thile, the band currently comprises guitarist Chris Eldridge, bassist Paul Kowert, banjoist Noam Pikelny, and violinist Brittany Haas. Punch Brothers has garnered critical acclaim, including a Grammy for Best Folk Album for All Ashore (2018). The Washington Post applauded them for taking “bluegrass to its next evolutionary stage, drawing equal inspiration from the brain and the heart.”
Most Recently, Punch Brothers have been focused on their new musical variety show, The Energy Curfew Music Hour. Season One is available on all podcast platforms, with season two exclusively out on Audible.
The Unsung Adventures of Punch Brothers, the seventh album from the Grammy-winning band — and its first comprising all instrumental tunes as well as its first with fiddle player Brittany Haas, who joined the quintet in 2023 — is due July 24, 2026, on Nonesuch Records. The album features eight new original compositions by Punch Brothers as well as three traditional songs they arranged.

ARTtalk: “Curating Global Cinema,” Dale Pollock
2026-06-30 16:00 - 17:00 | The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, 423 W. King Street, Boone, N, 28608, United States
Step behind the curtain for a series of intimate conversations with this season’s artists about the passions and processes that shape their work.
Get an insider’s look at how this year’s International Film Series lineup was selected — and why global cinema matters.

Global Film Series: Calle Malaga
2026-06-30 19:30 - 22:00 | Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts
France, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Morocco / Not Rated / Directed by Maryam Touzani / 2025 / Drama, Romance / 116 minutes
An aging Spanish woman in Tangier resists her daughter’s decision to sell her home. Determined to stay, she does everything she can to keep her home and reclaim the belongings of a lifetime. Along the way, she rediscovers love and desire.

Charlotte Symphony Orchestra
2026-07-01 19:30 - 22:00 | Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts
Reflecting on the meaning of home, the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra presents a stirring program on the longing for beloved countrysides and pride of cherished folk music under the baton of Resident Conductor Christopher James Lees. Dvořák’s “New World” Symphony blends elements of the Czech composer’s heritage as he yearns for home with American musical influences in his excitement for a new land. Known for the moving “Simple Gifts” melody, Copland’s Suite from Appalachian Spring offers a contrasting portrayal of a couple trying to establish their homestead in rural America in a work full of spirit and wonder.

15th Annual Rosen-Schaffel Competition
2026-07-02 13:00 - 16:00, 2026-07-02 19:30 - 20:30 | Rosen Concert Hall at Broyhill Music Center, 813 Rivers St, Boone, NC, 28607, United States
The winner of the 15th Annual Rosen-Schaffel Competition for Young and Emerging Artists will perform a full recital of the works they performed during the morning competition.

Summer Exhibition Celebration
2026-07-02 17:00 - 20:00 | The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, 423 W. King Street, Boone, N, 28608, United States
Join us at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts for First Friday as downtown Boone comes alive with creativity, community, and celebration! Explore our captivating galleries featuring contemporary art exhibitions, meet local artists, and enjoy free admission. Whether you’re an art enthusiast or simply looking for an inspiring night out, the Turchin Center is the perfect place to start your First Friday Art Crawl adventure.
Discover art, engage with culture, and connect with the Boone community. 5–8 PM | FREE Admission

Summer Exhibition Celebration
2026-07-02 17:00 - 20:00 | The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, 423 W. King Street, Boone, N, 28608, United States
Engage with visiting artists and fellow arts advocates, enjoy live music and refreshments, and discover the exciting exhibitions showcased across six galleries by local, regional, national and international artists.

Old-Time Jam at the Jones House
2026-07-02 19:00 - 22:00, 2026-07-09 19:00 - 22:00, 2026-07-16 19:00 - 22:00, 2026-07-23 19:00 - 22:00
Every Thursday evening from 7-10 PM, join local and visiting musicians at the Jones House for an old-time jam session. Bring your banjo, fiddle, guitar, mandolin – or whatever old-time acoustic instrument you have – and spend a few hours playing along with fellow musicians of all skill levels and backgrounds. On warm evenings, circle up on the Jones House lawn and porch; on cooler evenings, move the things indoors to the parlor and galleries. Guests and visitors are welcome to observe and enjoy the music but are asked to be respectful of the musicians. After catching up and choosing a key the music will begin, with the last call for tunes coming around 9:45.
Jams are not held on holidays and may be canceled on days of inclement weather. Call the Jones House with any questions.

The Art of Walking
2026-07-03 15:00 - 18:00 | The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, 423 W. King Street, Boone, N, 28608, United States
The Art of Walking
Boone Greenway and Kennedy Trail
First Fridays, 3:00-4:30pm

A 3-mile loop with an art theme to complement the First Friday Art Crawl in Boone on the first Friday of each month. No experience with art or writing is needed although a love for walking in nature sure comes in handy. During the walks, we’ll find a place to sit for a few minutes to draw or write about what we’re experiencing so bring your favorite tools to capture the moments. Journaling is totally optional and there is no need to share with others. This is an incredibly beautiful greenway. The Kennedy Trail has a natural surface complete with roots, rocks and hills. After the hike, the group can reconvene at the Turchin Center for the Arts at 5:00pm to enjoy the First Fridays Art Crawl in downtown Boone. The walking event is free but registration is suggested so we know you’re coming. Contact Jae at BlueRidgeFriend@gmail.com

An Evening of Comedy and Magic with Lyndy Phillips
2026-07-03 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-07-10 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-07-17 19:00 - 20:30 | Mysterium Escape Adventure, 737 W. King Street, Boone, NC, 28607, United States
The Carolina Comedy Magic Parlor delivers an intimate and unforgettable evening of magic and laughter, with limited seating. Step into a cozy parlor-style theater where every seat is the best seat in the house. Featuring magician Lyndy Phillips, you’ll be amazed by his masterful sleight of hand and delighted by his witty, clean humor—creating an immersive experience that blends comedy and wonder.

Merz Trio
2026-07-07 19:30 - 22:30 | Rosen Concert Hall at Broyhill Music Center, 813 Rivers St, Boone, NC, 28607, United States
Hailed as “entrancing” (BBC Music Magazine) and “artists in the deepest sense of the word” (CutCommon), Merz Trio, winners of the Naumburg, Concert Artists Guild, Fischoff and Chesapeake Competitions, and recipients of a Salon de Virtuosi Career Grant, have been lauded for their “stunning virtuosity… fresh and surprising interpretations” (Reading Eagle), and “perfection of intonation and ensemble” (Hudson Review). Merz Trio are passionately committed to reshaping the narrative of classical music through vibrantly dynamic programming and wide-ranging interdisciplinary collaboration. Their narrative programming style juxtaposes classical standards, new music, and their own arrangements of familiar and forgotten works, fluidly interwoven and guided with speaking from the Trio’s members.

Gladys Knight
2026-07-08 19:00 - 22:00 | Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts
The great ones endure, and Gladys Knight has long been one of the greatest. Very few singers over the last 60 years have matched her unassailable artistry. This seven-time GRAMMY Award winner has enjoyed #1 hits in Pop, Gospel, R&B, and Adult Contemporary, and has triumphed in film, television, and live performance.
All told, Knight has recorded more than 38 albums over the years, including four solo albums: Good Woman (1991); Just for You (1994); the inspirational Many Different Roads (1999); and At Last (2001).

ARTtalk: “40 Years of Public Art,” Hank Foreman
2026-07-09 16:00 - 17:00 | The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, 423 W. King Street, Boone, N, 28608, United States
Step behind the curtain for a series of intimate conversations with this season’s artists about the passions and processes that shape their work.
A retrospective on the Rosen family’s vision for sculpture at App State and the lasting impact of four decades of the Rosen Sculpture Competition.

Straight No Chaser Beach Bash
2026-07-10 19:30 - 22:00 | Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts
If the phrase “male a cappella group” conjures up an image of students in blue blazers, ties, and khakis singing traditional college songs on ivied campuses… think again. Straight No Chaser (SNC) are neither strait-laced nor straight-faced, but neither are they vaudeville-style kitsch. They have emerged as a phenomenon with a massive fanbase and a long list of accomplishments including 2 RIAA Gold Certified albums, over 1.5 million concert tickets sold, over 1 billion streams on Pandora, and over 2 million albums sold worldwide. Straight No Chaser is the real deal, the captivating sound of nine unadulterated human voices coming together to make extraordinary music that is moving people in a fundamental sense… and with a sense of humor.

40th Annual Outdoor Rosen Sculpture Walk
2026-07-11 10:00 - 17:00 | Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts
Now in its 40th year at Appalachian State University, the Martin and Doris Rosen Outdoor Sculpture Competition and Exhibition celebrates An Appalachian Summer Festival tradition! The Rosen Sculpture Walk will kick off at 10am at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts. After a brief welcome, juror Sam Spiczka will lead guests on a guided tour of the 10 sculptures installed along Rivers Street. The group will then return to the Schaefer Center for the announcement of this year’s award winners, a complimentary lunch, and time to chat with friends about your favorite pieces.
Guests are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing and shoes, as the walking and standing portion lasts approximately 45–60 minutes. Water stations will be available along the route.
If weather prevents an outdoor tour, the sculpture walk will be presented indoors at the Schaefer Center with a slide presentation.

WindSync: Peter and the Wolf
2026-07-12 14:00 - 15:00 | Rosen Concert Hall at Broyhill Music Center, 813 Rivers St, Boone, NC, 28607, United States
WindSync performs a family-friendly show that brings classical music to life with an unforgettable cast of characters. Complete with costumes and choreography, this engaging performance introduces the five wind instruments of the orchestra and concludes with an exciting retelling of Peter and the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev. Peter, the wolf, and their friends the duck, the cat, and the little bird will make a live appearance!
Young audience members are invited to come dressed as your favorite Peter and the Wolf character — a brave bird, a sneaky cat, a waddling duck, or even the mighty wolf — and help bring the story to life!

WindSync
2026-07-12 19:30 - 22:00 | Rosen Concert Hall at Broyhill Music Center, 813 Rivers St, Boone, NC, 28607, United States
Over nearly two decades of performing, WindSync has proven itself “a major force in the American chamber music landscape” (Arts and Culture Texas), leaping from prizewinning Concert Artists Guild and Fischoff performances to the stages of Carnegie Hall, the Library of Congress, Metropolitan Museum of Art and more. Breaking the “fourth wall” between performers and audience, WindSync’s dynamic performance style incorporates memorization and storytelling to showcase the expressive range of the flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn and bassoon.
The quintet brings Boone a summery set of classical music with an American accent, inflected with folk, jazz and minimalism. Also featured is Mozart’s Serenade in C minor, a dramatic masterpiece of classical music.

Global Film Series: Sentimental Value
2026-07-14 19:30 - 22:00 | Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts
An intimate exploration of family, memories, and the reconciliatory power of art.
Sisters Nora (Renate Reinsve) and Agnes (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas) reunite with their estranged father, the charismatic Gustav (Stellan Skarsgård), a once-renowned director who offers stage actress Nora a role in what he hopes will be his comeback film. When Nora turns it down, she soon discovers he has given her part to an eager young Hollywood star (Elle Fanning). Suddenly, the two sisters must navigate their complicated relationship with their father — and deal with an American star dropped right into the middle of their complex family dynamics.

ARTtalk: “Innovation in Motion,” Jillian Davis, Co-Associate Artistic Director
2026-07-15 16:00 - 17:00 | The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, 423 W. King Street, Boone, N, 28608, United States
Step behind the curtain for a series of intimate conversations with this season’s artists about the passions and processes that shape their work.
Go behind the scenes to discover how Complexions Contemporary Ballet has transformed ballet through creativity and fearless artistry.

Complexions Contemporary Ballet
2026-07-16 19:30 - 22:00 | Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts
Complexions Contemporary Ballet explodes onto the stage with boundary-breaking artistry under visionaries Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson. Raw athleticism meets sleek precision, where 16 powerful dancers command the stage with fierce grace and technical brilliance that’ll leave you breathless. The first act features a mixed repertory that spans Complexions’ 31 years as a company, followed by act two, LOVE ROCKS — set to the electric, guitar-driven anthems of Grammy legend Lenny Kravitz. Feel the energy in a vibrant celebration of love, diversity, and everything that makes us human.

Darren Criss
2026-07-18 19:30 - 22:00 | Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts
Since bursting onto the pop-culture landscape over a decade ago in Fox’s hit TV show Glee, Emmy and Golden Globe winner Darren Criss has embodied the kind of kaleidoscopic artistry that’s entirely uninhibited by form or genre. For this concert, Darren will be performing well-known songs featured throughout his wildly eclectic career as both a songwriter and performer, including those from Glee, Starkid and the Broadway shows he’s starred in.
Criss is currently starring in the Tony Award-winning Broadway hit Maybe Happy Ending, directed by Michael Arden. Now playing at the Belasco Theatre, the production opened to rave reviews and earned him the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor.

The Other Mozart
2026-07-19 14:00 - 17:00 | Valborg Theatre, 480 Howard St,, Boone, NC, 28608, United States
The Other Mozart is an award-winning, Drama Desk nominated play telling the true, forgotten story of Nannerl Mozart, the genius sister of Amadeus — a prodigy, keyboard virtuoso and composer, who performed throughout Europe with her brother to equal acclaim, but her work and her story faded away, lost to history.
Set in a stunning 18-foot dress, this production by playwright Sylvia Milo ushers you into a world of opulence and delight – obscured by restriction and prejudice. The music score brings Nannerl’s musical imagination to life using clavichords, music boxes, teacups, and fluttering fans. Inspired by the Mozart family’s hilarious and heartbreaking letters, this other Mozart at last tells her story.

Global Film Series: Sirat
2026-07-21 19:30 - 22:00 | Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts
Searching for his missing daughter, a father (Sergi López) and his son travel to a remote rave in Morocco’s mountains where she disappeared months earlier. As they descend into a world of endless music and burning wilderness, the journey forces them to confront their own limits.

Rick Springfield
2026-07-23 19:30 - 22:00 | Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts
Over the past four decades, Rick Springfield has worn many hats as an entertainer and performer. The creator of some of the finest power-pop of the ’80s, a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter-musician who has sold 25 million albums and scored 17 U.S. Top 40 hits, including “Jessie’s Girl,” “Don’t Talk to Strangers,” “An Affair of the Heart,” “I’ve Done Everything for You,” “Love Somebody,” and “Human Touch.” He’s an accomplished actor who has starred opposite Meryl Streep in the feature film Ricki and the Flash, gave a chameleonic performance as the creepy Dr. Irving Pitlor in HBO’s prestige drama True Detective, earned great reviews for his portrayal of Lucifer on the CW hit Supernatural and most recently played the insane Pastor Charles on FX’s worldwide hit series American Horror Story. An author as well, both his candid 2010 memoir Late, Late at Night (which Rolling Stone named one of the 25 greatest rock memoirs of all time) and his 2014 comedic novel Magnificent Vibration earned rave reviews and spots on the New York Times Best Sellers’ list. In 2014, Springfield was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located around the corner from the first apartment he lived in when he first arrived in the U.S. from Australia in 1971. Springfield’s Sirius-XM radio show, Working Class DJ, is a huge hit and airs weekly on ’80s on 8. His new album, Automatic, is his first album of all new original material in five years.
