On Thursday, September 21, 2023 the Downtown Hickory Art Crawl brings artists, art demonstrations and music to Downtown Hickory.

Artists will be displaying their creations in a four easy walkable city blocks. There will be pottery, paintings, woodworking, photography and much, much more. Please remember the art work is for sale!

The Kick-Off Party begins at 5:00 pm at Full Circle Arts, located at 42B Third Street NW. The works of Full Circle Arts members are highlighted. Maps of the Art Crawl route and the participants will be available. Make sure to pick one up so you do not miss out on any of the artists. The Art Crawl ends at 8:00 pm.

Check out the games, rides, fantastic foods, and more will be featured at the Hickory American Legion Fair from August 30, 2023 through September 4, 2023.

There will be live music every night.  Also check out the ride specials everyday.

Admission to the fair will be $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 7 to 12. Children 6 and younger are admitted free.

Opening Night Special: Admission is just $5 for Ages 7+. Ages 0-6 are Free.
Seniors and service veterans will be admitted for $5 starting at 5 p.m. on Sept. 1.

Visit their website for schedules and pricing.

https://hickoryfair.com/fair-2023/

Mark Allen (NMLS #2351873) an experienced mortgage professional licensed in North Carolina and Colorado has joined Ownership Mortgage as an Executive Loan Officer.

“I am so thrilled to be able to learn, grow, and build relationships with all of my clients and REALTOR® partners. At Ownership Mortgage we pride ourselves on speed, service, rates, and relationships and it matches my beliefs in this industry perfectly.

I pride myself on building a relationship with each one of my borrowers from the initial consultation to the pre-approval, and all the way to the closing table. My goal is for you to feel comfortable and truly understand the process step by step. Having an amazing team with me from the Agent, Processor, Closing Attorney, and everyone else supporting the loan, is a big part of making this happen for the client.

I promise you that I will do everything I can to get you the best mortgage solution for your situation and going above and beyond is the norm. Ownership Mortgage is always there for their clients, and I can tell you we all work together to get you to closing”

Mark lives in North Carolina with his wife, 2 children, and their 2 dogs. They moved to NC a little over a year ago and look forward to raising their family here and enjoying the growth that is happening in this part of the state.

Mark is based in the Hickory/Charlotte NC area and can be reached at
980-447-9909 or Mark@OwnershipMortgage.com

Ownership Mortgage (NMLS: 1907331)
3001 Brighton Blvd, Ste 732
Denver, CO 80216

Alexander County will host an Independence Celebration on Saturday, July 15, with the second installment of the Summer Concert Series followed by a fireworks display. Mock of Ages – The Ultimate Def Leppard Tribute will perform at 6:30 p.m. on the Rotary Performance Stage at Alexander County Courthouse Park, with pyrotechnics at Alexander Central High School at approximately 9:45 p.m.

Following the concert, Alexander County will host a patriotic fireworks display at 9:45 p.m. at ACHS near Cougar Stadium. The best locations to view the fireworks will be in parking areas at the high school, county administration, board of education, senior center, and other nearby lots.

The concert and fireworks are free and open to the public, courtesy of Alexander County Government. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy the show. Food trucks will be on-site for the concert. No dogs, coolers, or tents are allowed. All park rules and regulations apply.

Alexander County Courthouse Park is located at 101 West Main Avenue in Taylorsville.

Learn more at https://alexandercountync.gov/concerts.

Friday July 14th and Saturday July 15th

The North Carolina Blackberry Festival is a celebration of blackberries, cobbler, and fun! Held in Lenoir, North Carolina, the festival offers tons of family-friendly events.

There’s free music, kid’s activities, and a blackberry-eating contest. They have the Little Miss Blackberry Pageant and delicious blackberry cobbler for sale, while it lasts! You can find all sorts of tasty festival food and shop from hundreds of vendors. They even have a Blackberry Cobbler Parade! So, come get your fill of fun and blackberries during the North Carolina Black Berry Festival!

Hosted by the Downtown Lenoir Development Alliance in partnership with Downtown Lenoir, the festival is in its twentieth year.

The 2-day festival brings in upwards of 25,000 people from all over the state and is one of North Carolinas premiere streets festivals.

CLICK for the festival schedule >> NCblackberryfestival.com/festival-info/live-music

Information and Photo Credit:
https://www.ncblackberryfestival.com/

Ronshad Shabazz is a Raleigh, North Carolina native with black and gold blood as an Appalachian State graduate. In 2019, Shabazz graduated with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and numerous App State basketball records. As one of the best players to have played there, Shabazz had the opportunity to pursue a professional career. Initially landing him on an NBA development roster he took his talents to Russia and eventually Finland.

While in these places he decided to pursue entrepreneur studies resulting in a love for real estate. Most days leading up to the career change time was spent researching investment strategies and systems to ensure success. Becoming a REALTOR has always been a thought but starting the New Year it felt like the best time to search for an opportunity with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Foothills. The qualities that made Shabazz successful as an athlete will be the same qualities applied to real estate on a day to day basis; perseverance, consistency, dedication, and reliability, to just name a few.

Dexter Coakley served as the keynote speaker Friday at the 2023 Legends Gala, where he was one of eight individuals recognized as a legend. Addressing the large crowd, he broke down his keys to success as:

S — Self-discipline
U — Unwavering commitment
C ­— Continuously learning
C ­— Clarity of purpose
E — Endurance and perseverance
S — Strong work ethic
S — Surrounding yourself with positive people

“App State, this is family,” said Coakley, whose son, Zahn, is a freshman newcomer on App State’s football team. “This place nurtured me. This place has molded me. This place has allowed me an opportunity to go be successful in life, to get drafted by the Dallas Cowboys, to play 10 years in the NFL, to have a successful post-NFL career. It all came from Appalachian State. It came because I gave my all to Appalachian State. That success didn’t come easy, and that success didn’t come by myself. I’ve never claimed, you’ve never heard and you’ll never hear that I did it by myself. It was a family, and this is family.”

“I am who I am because of Appalachian State.”

In addition to Coakley, the other legends honored Friday were Jane Albright (Basketball), Donna Breitenstein (Tennis), Jane Cline Jakubik (Soccer), Zachary Hollis (Track & Field/Cross Country), Ronshad Shabazz (Basketball), Danielle Thorpe (Track & Field) and Austin Trotman (Wrestling).

Charley Belcher emceed the annual event, and Director of Athletics Doug Gillin welcomed the crowd gathered in the Grandview Ballroom of the North End Zone facility. A surprise fireworks show lighting up the sky beyond the south end zone of Kidd Brewer Stadium provided entertainment following a live auction that included contributions that will increase scholarship support for App State student-athletes.

One theme for the night was a dress code that invited guests to wear their favorite App State-themed sneakers to go with their cocktail attire.

“It really is a family here,” Gillin said. “Everything great in life starts with relationships. You build your relationships in recruiting. You build your relationships with events like this.

“You see, as people come in, everybody’s got a big smile on their face. It’s just a really special event.”

Credit >
https://appstatesports.com/news/2023/6/28/athletics-2023-legends-gala-recap.aspx

Friday June 30th at 7pm Hickory Crawdads vs Greensboro Grasshoppers

Hoedown Throwdown
Yee haw! It’s a country-style hoedown with the Crawdads! The night will be filled with festive music. Dancing is optional.

Friday Fireworks
Stick around after the game for a booming firework show! | Presented By Pepsi, Big Dawg 92.1

Saturday July 1st at 7pm Hickory Crawdads vs Greensboro Grasshoppers

Beach Shirt Giveaway
Make sure to arrive early to the ballpark, the first 1,000 fans will receive a Crawdads beach shirt! | Presented By Black Tie Transportation, WHKY 1290 AM & 102.3 FM | First 1,000 Fans

Beach Day
Who doesn’t love a good beach day? We sure do so grab some sunscreen and catch some waves over to the ballpark for a beach themed evening. Dress for the occasion and get a $6 ticket!

Sunday July 2nd at 6:30pm Hickory Crawdads vs Greensboro Grasshoppers

Independence Day Extravaganza
Get your tickets early for our most popular night of the year! We’ll be celebrating Independence Day with our longest fireworks show of the year! | Presented By Mumy Financial, Kicks 103.3

For more information visit

https://www.milb.com/hickory

photo credit: Hickory Crawdads

Valdese celebrates Independence Day alongside the vibrant Valdese Summer Concert Series on Friday June 30th. The event promises an exciting lineup of activities and entertainment.

The highlight of the celebration is the annual fireworks display, which takes place on the football field behind the Old Rock School. Widely recognized as one of the region’s most spectacular shows, the Town of Valdese sponsors this event, featuring a dazzling array of lights bursting at a lower altitude. Prepare to be captivated by the mesmerizing swirls and explosions that will elicit countless “oohs” and “aahs” from the crowd.

To accommodate the Classic & Antique Car Cruise In, Main Street will be closed at 5 pm. Car enthusiasts can revel in the beauty of these vintage vehicles as they fill the downtown area. Participants are required to adhere to the guidelines outlined in the Cruise In Rules & Map, which can be downloaded for reference.

For those seeking thrills and delectable treats, amusement rides for all ages will be available, accompanied by an array of fantastic food options. Indulge in mouthwatering delights from Dig’n Dogs, Village Inn Pizza, Pelican’s Snoballs, 4 Fosters Slushies, and Frostie’s Ice Cream Express. Additionally, Waldensian Style Wines will be pouring all night, and you can cool down with a refreshing Brenda’s Peach Bellini.

Here is the schedule of events:

5pm: Main Street Closes
5:30pm: Car Show Begins
6:45pm: Opening Announcements
7pm: Live Band Performance by THE TONEZ

Dusk: Fireworks Display (Launched from behind the Old Rock School)

Please note that pets are not permitted at this event, except for service animals. Outside alcohol and coolers are strictly prohibited. Alcoholic beverages must be consumed within the designated areas.

Parking for the event is available at the Faet Street Parking Lot, Bobo Street Parking Lot, Italy Street Parking Lot, Town Hall Parking Lot, and secondary streets. Handicap parking is conveniently located on Rodoret Street near the Dry Cleaners. Restrooms can be found at the Faet Street Parking Lot, Old Rock School Front Parking Lot, and the Town Parking Lot near the Main Stage.

photo credits: VisitValdese.com and Pixabay.com

Life comes at you fast and sometimes it is time for a change. If you have ever thought about buying or selling a home, one of our expert agents can help.

For Buyers we will take the time needed to find you the right home and guide you through the process from beginning to the end.

For Sellers we will help you get your home ready for sale offering staging tips. If your home needs some renovations  we can help you find contractors to help you get your home ready and through our RealVitalize program you might actually be able to get the work done before listing it and not have to pay till closing.
 

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