146 May the Destination Magazine

We tell you where to go! Whether you are a long time resident or new to the area, you’ll find local & regional events, destinations and experiences in the Destination Magazine™ that will give you memories for a lifetime

The Destination Magazine™ is your guide to new destinations and experiences to discover on your own, or outings with friends and family. We hope you will find a new memorable experience every month in the Destination Magazine™.

We know we are on to something!

Lisa

Andy Jay Publishers

Published by: Magic Table Media Group LLC

Business Development: Lisa Jay, Mariah McDowell, Sylvia Dalrymple

Creative: Andy Jay

Contributing Writers: Craig Distl, Leah Hughes, Allison Andrews, Tory Mabe, Ed Phillips, Tara Martin, Lindsey Pegg, Lisa Jay, Katherine Christie, Angela Allen, Cindy Adams, Kristie Darling

Contributing Photographers: Ledgends Gallery, Paul Newton, Lisa Jay, Sam Dean

Cover: Yadkin Valley Wine Festival, Elkin, NC

The list of events in this publication is compiled from various sources dates & times are tentative & subject to change. the Destination Magazine™ is published by Magic Table Media Group LLC 369 Dovefield Drive Summerfield, NC 27358 (704) 706-2365 www.theDestinationMagazine.com ©2023 All rights reserved. Magic Table Media Group LLC, Agents & Advertisers do not necessarily condone any activities or advertisement listed in this magazine. The Publisher and its officers, employees, agents, volunteers, and sponsors are not responsible for any loss or damage which might be associated with patronage of any party named in this publication, and is not responsible for any Act of God such as inclement weather, fire, flood, natural or man-made disaster, etc., that are out of the control of the Publisher, which affect the publishing of this magazine.

Season

kICKOFf

May 26: Ace party band

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June 2: Skate rink jukebox

June 9: the night move band

June 16: the shakedown band

June 23: ljtt

Independence Day

Celebration & Fireworks Display

June 30: The tonez

July 7: fracxured

July 14: southside saints

July 21: chasing phoenix

July 28: smitty & the jumpstarters

Aug. 4: shelby rae moore

WALDENSIAN FESTIVAL

Aug. 11 - MAin Street!

�IR��O��S!

C�� Sh��! B��� G�r���!

Fri. Music: southside station

Aug. 12 - MAin Street!

B��� G�r���! Boc��! 150 V�nd�r�!

A� C���e�i�i��! Mu�i�!

Sat. Music: ryan perry

Aug. 18: stella rising

AUG. 25: the super 60's

SEASON FINALE

Sept. 1: new local

B��n�� H�u�e�! F�o� T�u�k�!

King For The Day

As unique as its history, King, NC, is the perfect small town for a day away to straighten that crown and refill your joy. Named after the small King’s Cabin, where Charles and Francis King lived in the 1830s, King has continued to grow while keeping a sense of community filled with beauty and charm. King is in two counties, as it sits in Southern Stokes County, with sections of the city limits extending south into Forsyth County. It truly is the “Gateway to the Foothills,” located between the Blue Ridge Mountains and 16 miles Northwest of WinstonSalem, NC. Whether driving from Charlotte, Greensboro, or Cary, NC, you are within a few hours’ drive of this inviting small town.

Your first stop is P B Clark’s Family Restaurant for authentic country cooking. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day; if you like coffee, they have a fresh pot for you too.

Next, King Antique Mall is more like a treasure hunt through time. Relax as you enjoy browsing to find your perfect souvenir or a few gifts for family and friends for special occasions.

Want to keep shopping? Add Shannock’s Pawn and the Barn Star Amish Furniture Store to the itinerary, and they are right next door. Or head minutes away to Miss Fitz Consignment & Gifts and Evergreen Consignment & Gifts.

You have an appetite, so decide what your taste buds want for lunch and choose between fantastic restaurants. Foothills Grill and Tap for lunch and cold beer, Little Italy Pizza and Italian Restaurant, or Amigos Mexican Grill.

Head to Robertson Family Farm for picking strawberries in May/June. And get to know your farmers. You may even head home with some fresh farm beef.

A relaxing massage or facial at King’s Cabin Salon & Day Spa is a must to round out your day.

Then, grab a sweet treat and a beverage from Sno Sweet or Wisteria Coffee and walk around King Central Park before heading home from a beautiful day in King, NC.

North Carolina’s Funniest Alpaca Farm Tours, Alpaca Products & Sales

“

Every animal on this farm has a story,” Javi Chavez says with a smile on his face. “We’re here to tell those stories.” Javi and his wife, Val, often have smiles on their faces. When you visit their farm, Serenity at Stony Point Alpacas, then your face, too, will smile. It comes from meeting the thirty-plus whimsical alpacas who live there.

Javi grew up in Lima, and as he tells it, “Even growing up there, I knew nothing about alpacas. Lima is a huge city, and just like New Yorkers who don’t know the first thing about cows except which steak they like, I had not a clue about the care and feeding of alpacas, much less how to breed them or show them. I don’t think I even knew there were champion alpacas to be shown!”

Javi ended up here in North Iredell honestly, by way of Belmont Abbey. He is a 1995 graduate and math major. He then moved to Charlotte, Mooresville, Statesville and now Stony Point. Javi and Val met well before 2008, when they decided to start a construction company, PMA Investments. “For Javi, this entire journey was all about downsizing from Lima, getting further out into the

countryside away from the crowds, and getting back to something we were passionate about.”

Val and Javi totally started from scratch. They didn’t know what they didn’t know. Things like, you can’t keep males and females together or your will have too many alpacas too fast. They need their privacy due to the girls being “induced ovulators,” but they are herd animals, so they don’t like being lonely. “We got our first two males, then realized we needed another, then that became nine, then 13, then 30. We added females into the mix, and we’ve been very selective in purchasing all our animals so that we maintain a very high quality, quantity, and variety of fleece colors and types, as well as offering proven breeding services (male herd sires) for other alpaca owners.

Javi and Val sell alpacas, too… creative financing available. “We can mentor and guide each of our buyers if they need support with their new alpacas. The animal’s wellbeing and full-potential development is the most important thing,” Javi explained, “so we will

We have everything you need in order to have that farm to table freshness and so much more! Fresh produce,, canned items, eggs, meats, sweets, and everything in between.

Local farmers, artisans, makers and specialty vendors join together to bring you the most unique homegrown products and produce.

If you are interested in vending for the Farmers Market, please send an email to the market email: fromtheearthfm@ gmail.com

not sell just one, unless you already have multiple alpacas of the same gender at your farm.”

Can I visit Serenity Alpaca Farm, you ask? Yes, and there are fun reasons to do just that, besides all that smiling.

First, it could be a down-on-thefarm, wind in your hair experience for adults and kids alike. Tour Serenity, and you will fall in love! Your scout troop, 4-H club, your child’s class, the garden club, family, and friends can schedule a hands-on, private tour of this working alpaca farm that will be educational, refreshing, fun, and unique. Your walk around the farm could include a picnic lunch joined by PJ, Pie, and Ketchup, a stroll by the spring-fed creek with the guinea hens, and a saunter through the barns and pens where all the action happens. Perhaps you’d like to schedule a paint & sip party with your girlfriends and, of course, with some alpacas! Unlimited selfies with alpaca photo-bombs!

Alpaca fleece is prized as an extremely soft fiber that’s woven, knitted, crocheted, and felted into clothing and textiles like blankets, ponchos, sweaters, hats, gloves, socks, scarves, goat-soap balls, and artwork. “We send our fleece off to spinners and dyers who clean it, comb and card it, then spin it into yarn for us, and we sell it by the skein or ball,” Val explained. “We pride ourselves on the awardwinning quality of the fleece we produce but we’ve learned that the better quality and texture of the fleece, the more nutrient energy

the animal needs to expend in order to grow it.”

Alpaca fiber is hypoallergenic, unlike lamb’s wool, and fleece comes in 22 natural shades in more than 50 natural colors. Val sells products made from their own alpacas, as well as beautiful, imported, fair-trade alpaca clothing, textiles, and art in her online shop, too, supporting the Peruvian artists’ local communities.

It’s the animals who rule at Serenity. The 30 alpacas are guarded by the family’s stunning Anatolian shepherd dogs, along with Jenna, their eight-year-old pit bull and Pepe, their Norfolk terrier.

Nature is everywhere around you here…the animals are happy to share their world with you.

“Alpacas talk to us by humming and clucking,” Javi said. “They make some specific sounds for breeding or when they are in distress, so we can communicate a bit. We love their gentle, calm nature. This is a labor of love for us, literally and figuratively…it’s hard some days, so it’s especially nice when your co-workers…the creatures we love…are peaceful by nature. It truly resonates with both of us.”

–Kristie Darling

Granville County Is The FEST Place Ever!

Finally, the weather is warming, and the festival season is heating up. Granville County festivals and events are unique and uniquely Carolina in that they are not just for attending, but for engaging with and becoming part of our community. So come join us!

CultureFest – May 13th

Downtown Oxford is the setting for CultureFEST, which showcases the community’s heritage and celebrates the diversity of the community. Music, food, demonstrations and performances highlight African, Hawaiian, Native American, Latin and more cultures all in one day.

Cedar Creek Gallery National Teapot Show – May 20th

through September 10th

The teapot show, which takes place every three years is nationally recognized for its gathering of high-quality craftsmanship. It will feature teapots crafted using a vast range of materials, including glass, metal, pottery, wood, fiber, and mixed media. Teapots can be any shape or form and are either functional or decorative.

Butner Summer Festival – June 2nd & 3rd

The weekend in June is reserved to celebrate the beginning of Summer in the Town of Butner. Friday night includes live music and your dancing shoes. Saturday’s events include day-long live entertainment on two stages, BBQ chicken cookoff contest, lots of food and craft vendors, kiddie activities and rides, tractor show, and a car show that can’t be beat! Don’t miss this celebration of food, fellowship, and fun.

Bee Jubilee Festival & Food Truck Rodeo – June 24th

This celebration of North Carolina pollinators, makers, crafters, and growers is perfect for the whole family. The day will include speakers, demonstrations, pollinator, Ag and Environment Vendors & Education, local arts & crafts, bee products & supplies, produce & plants, animals, food, fun and more.

For more information on the Spring festivals visit visitgranvillenc.com.

Yadkin Valley Wine Festival

Its that time of year again, when the Yadkin Valley Wine Festival once again fi lls Elkin Municipal Park with wines made in the Yadkin Valley, live music, great food and a good time, Saturday, May 20th.

Bring your blankets and chairs and spend the day relaxing on the lawn while sampling wine from 16 Yadkin Valley wineries.

This year marks the 20th Yadkin Valley Wine Festival. The event is designed to showcase the awardwinning wine produced in the Yadkin Valley AVA, draw visitors to the area, and encourage return visits to experience all our area has to offer.

Kids in America, an 80’s band plays from 11:30am • 1:30pm then Too Much Sylvia, a beach band from 2:00pm-5:00pm. The dance area near the stage is always a happening spot. Food vendors will be on hand serving a variety of festival favorites.

New this year is our “Food and Wine Experience”. Join Certified Sommelier Jeremy Stamps and Executive Chef Tim Thompson with a food and wine experience at this year’s Yadkin Valley Wine Festival. We will be pairing some of Yadkin Valley’s best wines with delicious

bites. Learn the basics of wine & food pairing, history and information of each winery, & a chance to taste reserve wines not served elsewhere at the festival. There are six experiences for your choosing, just visit our website for more details.

The event offers two perks of convenience. The first is a wine check service for those who purchase bottles and prefer not to carry them around all day. The second perk is $10 shuttle service all afternoon to/from hotels in the Elkin/Jonesville area.

Cycling enthusiasts start the day by riding the Tour de Vino, which offers five rides ranging from 30 to 100 miles and includes complimentary admission to the wine festival.

Yadkin Valley Wine Festival hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $32 in advance and $40 at the gate. Active duty and retired military can purchase day-of tickets for $32. Parking is $10 which benefits our local rescue squad.

For a list of participating wineries or to purchase tickets, go to www.YVWF. com or call (336) 526-1111. To browse Yadkin Valley lodging options, visit www. YadkinValleyNC.com

New Nosh in Hickory?

Hickory has NEW restaurants coming to it’s renovated downtown. With a uniquely local vibe each of these restaurants bring fresh flavors to our City Walk & social district. Follow us on social media to learn more about brand new openings, events and more! Plan your trip to Hickory today!

Taste Full Beans Coffee · Tea · Cafe

FOURK Restaurant

4th Annual Trail Days In Elkin, NC

As you have already read about our 4th Annual Trail Days in last month’s publication, let us share with you a few more details to ensure you mark this event on your calendar.

June 1-4, 2023

Thursday thru Sunday

As in years past, this four day event includes opportunities for you to:

•Hike new and existing trails: walking, paddling, running, and by horseback• Both guided and self-guided.

•Listen and enjoy fifteen (15) musicians/bands throughout the four days.

•View movies and recent documentaries on our MST (Mountain-to-Sea Trail), EVTA (Elkin Valley Trails Association), and our River Trails.

•Shop at our Heritage Welcome Center and Vendor Village for Trails related accessories.

•Learn and Explore at our NEW Kids Neighborhood on Main Street • hikes and fun events for Children of all ages. Co-sponsored by RootsEd from Raleigh and AppState Academy in Elkin.

•Celebrate the opening and ribbon -cutting of our NEW Friendship, NC trail. State and Local Dignitaries, along with many MST Completes from around NC

will be attending and speaking at this special event!

•Eat of course from plenty of Food Trucks, the Chatham Health sponsored dinner and breakfast, as well as many existing and NEW restaurants.

For all the details on our June 1-4 events, please visit our website: NCTrailDays.com/ Schedule/ 2023. You can access the times and descriptions of all of our events by day: Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Some events require registration as participation is limited...so don’t delay and REGISTER NOW.

In addition: you will notice when you sign onto the Website the 3-Day Weekend Giveaway that you can register for. We will be announcing the winner in May • so don’t delay!

This lucky person will be winning:

• 3 night stay at the Fairfield Inn in Elkin

• Gift certificates to shops, eateries, vineyards and much more

• Tickets to Reevestock Music Festival

Little Guatemala Cultural Hub

Morganton, North Carolina has a sizable Guatemalan community but until recently they blended in with the general latinx population. It wasn’t until Christian and Erica Ramazinni formed Little Guatemala coffee shop and restaurant that the rich culture that has been hiding in Burke County for generations started getting showcased.

Starting off as just a coffee cart that would come to community events, now Little Guatemala is a cultural hub featuring Guatemalan street food, chocolate made from single source Guatemalan cocoa, crafts and clothes made by Guatemalan people and an indoor soccer facility. They roast their coffee beans in-house that are sourced directly from Guatemala, creating a fantastic scent that sets the tone as soon as you walk in the building. At the counter you can proceed to order great specialty coffee drinks or brewed coffee that will excite the taste buds with its flavor notes and acidity that derive from the elevation and climate where the coffee is grown in the mountains of Guatemala.

When the Ramazinnis dreamed up Little Guatemala the two words that inspired them were Community and Education and those pillars are evident in everything that they do as a business. Everyone that works for Little Guatemala is bi-lingual in order for them to interact with both the American customers that visit and members of the latinx community. They also seek to educate non-Guatemalans through cultural events, summer camps for children and by introducing them to Guatemalan products through their restaurant and market area. Little Guatemala also hosts events for Guatemalan Independence Day featuring marimba music by local musicians and other activities.

Little Guatemala is open Monday through Saturday starting at 7am. They serve breakfast and lunch daily as well as coffee all day. For more information visit their website at https://littleguatemala. com/.

For more information about things to do in Burke County, visit www. discoverburkecounty.com.

The North Carolina Brewers And Music Festival Is BACK For 2023!!

May 12th-13th, 2023 acelebration of great music, North Carolina, and its craft brewing traditions, NCBMF will delight you with eleven bands over two days and as many NC brewers who can be here on Saturday, serving free tastings of their finest brews for over three hours, all in the confines of one of the most beautiful and historic properties in Mecklenburg County!

With your Tasting Ticket, you will be given admission to the show, a program guide / schedule, exclusive tasting glass and the right to try as many beers as you would like, for free, during the three + hour tasting session. That’s a lot of time and a lot of beer, we encourage you to pace yourself, try new flavors and varieties, meet new people and find new favorites!

Historic Rural Hill has plenty of parking spaces available; just follow the signs as you approach the festival from Neck Road. Parking is FREE. We strongly recommend all participants to have a designated driver with them. There is no charge to leave your vehicle overnight with us. Camping is another great option to consider!

NCBMF will be on May 12th and 13th at Historic Rural Hill, a non-profit historic site and farm located 20 minutes from downtown Charlotte in Huntersville NC. This event is rain-or-shine and will not be rescheduled.

For more information on events please visit www.ruralhill.net.

Historic Rural Hill 4431 Neck Rd, Huntersville,NC 704 875 3113

Randy Marion Honda Salisbury

20th Annual Piedmont Pottery Festival

The City of Eden will host the 20th Annual Piedmont Pottery Festival on Saturday, June 3, 2023 from 9 am until 3 pm at the First Presbyterian Church located at 582 Southwood Drive in Eden, NC. This event is long standing and has always featured the finest in handcrafted pottery from across North Carolina and southern Virginia.

Potters travel from Greensboro, Julian, Troy, Brown Summit, Bostic, Mount Airy, Rutherfordton, Seagrove, Thomasville, Forest City, Lynchburg, VA, Eagle Springs, Mocksville, Reidsville, Oak Ridge, Ramseur, Dry Fork, VA., Sanford, Kernersville, and others.

Our visitors come from all over North Carolina and Virginia as well. In 2022 40 different cities were represented by our visitors that range from 700 to 800 people.

Make plans now to join us on June 3 here in beautiful Eden, NC. Handmade pottery makes a perfect gift for all occasions!

We can’t wait to see what our potters have been creating!! It should be spectacular!!

For More information contact: Cindy Adams at 336-612-8049 or cadams@edennc.us or go to ExploreEdenNC.com