Woolly Worm Festival October 17, 2009

What: Woolly Worm Festival
Where: Banner Elk Elementary School- Downtown Banner Elk
When: Saturday October 17 & Sunday October 18
Both days 9am- 5 pm- Saturday 9 am-4 pm- Sunday
Admission: $5.00
Worm Registration: $5.00

For the 30th year the town of Banner Elk has welcomed both old and new friends to the annual Woolly Worm Festival. This family event hosted by the Avery Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis of Avery County welcomes 20,000 people to the community to share and make family memories. Some changes and additions to this year’s festival will be the return of the Woolly Worm Ball being held October 12 at the Beech Mountain Club. The committee hopes this returns as an annual event to kick off festival week. The Woolly Worm Woad Wace will be held on Saturday October 17th starting at 8:00 am. The Chamber will co-host this event with the YMCA of Avery County and the funds raised will be used for a child membership at the YMCA. The race returns to being 10 miles and will begin at the Avery County High School near Newland and end at Lees-McRae College. More information can be found at the Avery Banner Elk Chamber website at www.averycounty.com or by calling the office at 898-5605.

This year festival will host 140 combined food and craft vendors, plus rides and musicians. The festival will have vendors who make worm houses and pins, do face painting and also include artists who do photography, pottery, stained glass and much more. “It’s a great festival, as it has something for everyone,” says Hope Harvey, one of the many volunteers helping to organize the event. The festival still has vendor space available and to get your application contact the chamber office or visit our website at www.averycounty.com click on events and download your application.

Participants wishing to race their worm may register at 9:00 a.m., and shortly there after, races begin. 25 worms are in each heat, “but please come early as races fill up early in the afternoon,” says Events Director for the Chamber Susan Zalewski. Saturday’s winning Woolly Worm holds the esteemed honor of predicting the winter weather season and the Woolly Worm wins prize monies of $1000, which we hope the winning worm shares with its owner. Sunday’s winning Woolly Worm $500.

Come enjoy the camaraderie of the day and cheer on your favorite Woolly. For more information contact The Avery Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce at 800-972-2183 or visit our website at www.averycounty.com.

Official Website: http://www.averycounty.com