Boonerang 2026

FRIDAY - SUNDAY JUNE 19 - 21, 2026 Map, Schedule, Vendor List and more!

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WELCOME TO 2026 Welcome to Boonerang, everyone! To those coming back, we are so glad to see you return in true Boonerang fashion.

To those new to the festival, you are in for a Boone-town treat. This year marks the fifth annual Boonerang Music & Arts Festival, and we have a fabulous weekend in store.

Lots of exciting things have occurred since last year’s festival, including the premiere of a Boonerang documentary (that you can see at the App Theatre festival weekend), the use of a new App (created by our amazing volunteer coordinator, Dona Dowlan, and inspired by her work with the festival), and our Boone’s Got Talent and Boonerang Battle of the Bands events (winners and participants from both will be performing festival weekend). Proceeds from last year’s event funded nearly $20,000 to local non-profits, in addition to supporting local arts educators directly through the Watauga Arts Council and Watauga Education Foundation grant programs.

We have added a roots-music performance space at the Jones House to the Friday night festivities, a local dance group showcase to the Dance Lot at Wild Craft Eatery on Saturday, and are bringing back our Boonerang International celebration on Sunday. Pop-up art exhibitions; improv theatre; square dancing; roving mariachi, at least one parade, and – of course – the silent disco, are all on the schedule, and much, much more. The weekend is packed, and you are in for a treat.

This event could not happen without the incredible support from the Town of Boone; the many sponsors, partners, and non-profits who participate; festival staff and more than 100 volunteers; our incredible Zero Waste team (yay for “trash fairies”); the talented artists, musicians, and creators; the countless hours of prep from countless people; and of course, YOU, the festival-goer.

Mark Freed Town of Boone Director of Cultural Resources 2 • BOONERANG • 2026

What’s Inside Welcome to Boonerang....................................................... Page 2 Boonerang Map................................................................... Page 4 Cover Art Highlight.............................................................. Page 6 A Growing Festival.............................................................. Page 6 Boonerang Doc.................................................................... Page 8 A Sustainable Mission....................................................... Page 10 Supporting the Community.................................................Page 11 Booze at Boonerang........................................................... Page 12 An Evolving Event............................................................... Page 13 Vendor Listing....................................................................Page 14 Band Listing................................................. Page 15, 16, 17 and 20 Stage Schedule............................................................. Page 18-19 Battle of the Bands/Boone’s Got Talent............................ Page 21 Tips from Volunteers................................................... Page 22-23 Silent Disco....................................................................... Page 24 Boonerang International ............................................. Page 24-25 What To Do......................................................................... Page 26 Inclement Weather........................................................... Page 28 Kids Zone........................................................................... Page 29 Other Happenings......................................................... Page 28-29 Festival Parking................................................................ Page 30 Boonerang App................................................................... Page 31 Festival Merch................................................................... Page 31 Top Things To Do................................................................. Page 31 Beyond Boonerang............................................................ Page 35

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Five years in, BOONERANG

KEEPS GETTING BETTER

South Depot and Rivers streets, featured As the 2026 Boonerang Music & Arts performances by Soul Benefactor and the Junaluska Gospel Choir, Chalwa, Festival prepares for its fifth edition, it continues to get better with each passing Town Mountain and Acoustic Syndicate.

The North Depot Stage, located at the year.

Lost Province parking lot at 130 N. Since its premiere in June 2022, the weekend music festival has continued to Depot St., featured the King Bees, Naked grow in both community popularity and Gods and Melissa Reaves, followed by two silent disco sessions. duration.

Several other areas across downtown The first festival began as a Friday Boone offered live community music, night and all-day Saturday event — with with four stages in all, as well as the Kids one small music session that Thursday Zone at the Watauga Public Library, — tied in as one of the many events featuring music from Big Bang Boom. that took place as part of Boone 150, The inaugural festival drew around the town’s Sesquicentennial Celebration 6,000 attendees, with more than 4,000 marking 150 years since Boone was ID checks, Freed said in a June 2022 incorporated. interview. He credited the idea for the “It’s really a homecoming — we hope festival to a collaboration with other everybody will Boonerang,” Mark community music lovers and producers Freed, director of cultural resources of bands with connections to Boone and for the Town of Boone, said at the Watauga County, saying the spark came time. “Everyone who’s spent some time from watching national recording artist in Boone and has gone away loves to Boonerang back and spend some time in Luke Combs perform at App State the previous fall. the High Country, and there’s no better time than the beginning of summer.”

The 2023 edition saw considerable expansion, with the festival becoming During that first year, two stages a three-day event and including a anchored the festival. The South Depot Stage, located near the intersection of celebration of the legendary Doc

BY ZACH COLBURN

PHOTO BY MOSS BRENNAN

The 2022 Boonerang crowd enjoys an afternoon set from Town Mountain.

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PHOTO BY ZACH COLBURN

The main stage during last year’s Boonerang Music & Arts Festival.

Watson at the Appalachian Theatre that Thursday.

Of the 20 musical acts confirmed, all of them, including the Asheville-based Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band, had a connection to Boone.

This edition introduced the Boonerang Story Slam, which allowed interested parties to take the stage at the Appalachian Theatre and share short stories about coming home, with select

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BOONERANG 2026 ART PRINT This year’s Boonerang 2026 art print was created by local artist Allyson Murphy.

She paints colorful, illustrative watercolors that celebrate the High Country. Murphy loves to connect with the Boone community through art by working with local organizations.

For more information on Murphy, visit www.highcountryarts.org/listing/allyson-murphy650b270d33c40.html. “We’re grateful to work with real, living-and-breathing, local artists to come up with designs that so perfectly capture that Boonerang vibe,” Boonerang stated. You can stop by the festival merch store to find artwork printed on T-shirts, posters and stickers courtesy of KindDesigns Printing.

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THANK YOU TO OUR PRESENTING SPONSORS

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A BOONERANG HIMSELF,

local filmmaker documents the festival’s role in Helene recovery

BY ZACH COLBURN When Hurricane Helene struck the High Country in September 2024, Bradley Pearce was living in Wilmington — but his heart was still in Boone. That concern sparked an idea that became a documentary.

Art, music, culture. All three are at the heart of Boone and Boonerang, and they are one of the things that drove Pearce to create “Boonerang: Returning to the High Country.”

A Multimedia Producer at nearby Lees-McRae College, Pearce is a fellow Boonerang himself. He and his wife both attended App State before leaving the area in December 2007. Pearce lived in Wilmington for more than a decade but moved back in 2025 and currently resides in Foscoe.

“When we first heard about there being a festival called ‘Boonerang,’ we thought it was amazing because we had heard that term plenty and had ‘Boonerang-ed’ back up for brief visits for years,” said Pearce.

“We have always been involved in local arts and music scenes wherever we have lived, so that component of the festival

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A new venue, called the “dance lot,” opened and allowed participants to dance with multiple bands performing at the Wild Craft Eatery. Right next to it, in the lot of Boone Bagelry, the inaugural Boonerang International Festival was held, showcasing the creativity and diversity that immigrants bring to the Boone community. The Watauga Democrat called it “the festival within the festival.”

8 • BOONERANG • 2026

was very appealing to us as well. Plain and simple, we felt this festival was designed for us, and it always happens right around our wedding anniversary.”

Pearce first connected with Boonerang during the 2023 festival, shooting photos for fun. He got in touch with the Jones House crew and organizers Mark Freed, Brad Farthing, and Brandon Holder, and it was officially announced that he would start filming and photographing the festival.

But his deeper inspiration came in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

“Upon checking in on the Jones House crew after Helene struck the region, it lit a spark in me to see if there was something I could do from afar. I brought up the idea of documenting the planning of the 2025 festival and the importance it held for a community that had been devastated by a natural disaster,” Pearce said. “The Jones House folks were really into it, so I started creating an outline and tons of plans for production. This led me to bring a small crew of Wilmington production pals to Boone to start interviewing and following around local community members

With all the expansion and additions, an estimated 10,000 people attended that weekend, enjoying seven live music stages and more than 80 vendors.

Expansion remained synonymous with Boonerang in 2024, as the festival kicked off with what has become a fan favorite — Boone’s Got Talent at the Appalachian Theatre — opening four days of Boonerang.

Last year’s Boonerang brought another new feature — Battle of the Bands. The inaugural edition included four showcases prior to the June festival,

The documentary will be screened at the Appalachian Theatre at 11:30 a.m. on June 20.

involved with the festival in many different ways. We received no monetary sponsorship, but the community did come together to feed and house me and my crew while we were here for production.”

Editing the film took many months. A year after production began, they held a viewing at the Appalachian Theatre in February 2025. The documentary will screen again at the Appalachian Theatre at

11:30 a.m. on June 20.

with the winners invited to perform at the festival.

Along with the music and the Boonerang International Festival, the culinary scene continued to be a popular attraction, with numerous food trucks offering food, dessert and drink options.

Now in its fifth year, Boonerang returns June 19-21 with a packed lineup and a schedule that reflects how much the festival has grown since that first weekend in 2022.

This year’s Battle of the Bands took

place across two events, while Boone’s Got Talent took place in February so it wouldn’t get lost in the shuffle of a busy weekend.

The Boonerang International Festival returns Sunday, June 21, closing out the weekend with live music, cultural exhibits and a parade through downtown Boone.

From 6,000 attendees and four stages to more than 10,000 people and a festival that spans days, cultures and generations — Boonerang has become exactly what its name always promised.

“We had an amazing premiere night, and we’re excited to get more eyes on it. It is also submitted to multiple film festivals and we are waiting to hear back from them,” Pearce said.

For more information on the documentary, visit sites.google.com/view/ boonerangfilm.

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THANK YOU TO OUR 2026 BOONERANG SPONSORS!

LUKE COPELAND CPA PC

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BOONERANG’S ‘TRASH FAIRIES’

lead the push for a zero waste festival

BY LORELEI ROBERTS Boonerang Festival-goers may notice fairy-winged volunteers roaming the grounds as part of a growing zero-waste effort, making the festival a model for sustainability in the High Country.

The festival has developed its sustainability practices over the years, partnering with Appalachian State University’s Zero Waste crew to showcase what a sustainably minded community looks like in action.

“Being a part of a community that cares, leading by example as a community and knowing that we can showcase that, it’s probably my favorite part,” App State Sustainability Program Director Jennifer Maxwell said.

The festival will continue its zero-waste effort in collaboration with Appalachian State University’s Zero Waste crew, the Town of Boone, Watauga County, Republic Services and Green for Life.

Maxwell said the collaboration with Boonerang raises residents’ awareness of sustainability and supports the long-term vision of a more streamlined, unified

waste management system across the High Country.

“One of the ways that we can really collaborate is around education and making sure that we’re making it very clear to people how to properly manage their waste here,” Maxwell said. “We have students living on campus, and the recycling might look a little different than when they move into town, and they have curbside, or if they’re out in the county, and they have to use a convenience center.”

GROWING THE SUSTAINABILITY EFFORT Boonerang has continued to grow its sustainability efforts throughout the years. One example using multi-use infinitely recyclable aluminum cups for all festival alcohol pours. Vendors are also encouraged to use recyclable or compostable materials.

Maxwell said they had discussed possibly subsidizing the cost difference for vendors to use only recyclable materials, but said most already use sustainable packaging.

PHOTO BY SEYL PARK COURTESY BOONERANG

For a second year, attendees will see Trash Fairies roaming the festival.

Volunteers will sort through trash, separating it into compost, recycling, and trash. Republic Services handles recycling, while Watauga County handles trash.

App State uses compost in the campus gardens and landscape, at the Sustainable Development Teaching Farm, or donates it to community gardens.

The festival is also expanding its use of alternative energy sources, including solar batteries that power certain speakers, equipment, and point-of-sale stations.

TRASH FAIRIES

PHOTO BY SEYL PARK COURTESY BOONERANG

The trash fairies diverted more than 1,700 lbs. of material out of the waste stream in 2025.

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For a second year, attendees will see Trash Fairies roaming the festival. App State Sustainable Development staff and students create costumes from upcycled and recycled materials, blending art and creative expression into the sustainability initiative.

“We’ve definitely talked about how to bring more art into this initiative, and the Trash Fairies just really went along with that,” Maxwell said. “It was a really cool project for them because they made them out of upcycled materials, and it’s a really great, engaging way to get people to do the right thing.”

Trash Fairies make waste education

engaging by displaying sorted recyclables as a visual representation of the festival’s waste impact.

STATION SETUP The sustainability team maps out the festival grounds and determines the best locations for trash stations, usually near vendors and in high-traffic areas. Stations are set up on Friday and stay in place through Sunday.

Trash Fairies will collect trash throughout the festival and bring it to the sorting station near Jimmy Smith Park, where they will separate it into trash, recycling, and compost.

“The county drops off the dumpster for trash, we set up containers for compost, we also have a roll off there provided

by Republic for the recycling, which is all staged in that little lot next to Jimmy Smith Park, and we set up tables in Jimmy Smith Park,” Maxwell said.

Last year, the group sorted: • 980 lbs. of recycling • 740 lbs. of compost • 1,400 lbs. of trash That adds up to a 55% diversion rate — meaning more than 1,700 lbs. of material was kept out of the waste stream entirely.

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HOW BOONERANG

GIVES BACK TO BOONE Boonerang has become somewhat of a homecoming event as well, which creates a After last year’s festival, Boonerang great opportunity for people to reconnect.” distributed nearly $20,000 to local arts Volunteers help with all aspects of programs and nonprofits — a reflection, Boonerang — staffing information tables, organizers say, of what the festival is really running the Silent Disco, and handling about. cleanup — helping festival-goers enjoy The term Boonerang refers to someone themselves throughout the event. who spends time in Boone, leaves, Dowlan credits much of the festival’s and eventually returns. It inspired the success to Director of Cultural Resources Boonerang Music and Arts Festival, now and Boonerang organizer Mark Freed and in its fifth year, and according to Volunteer his team at the Jones House.

Coordinator Dona Dowlan, it’s the people “I think it’s a huge impact. I think it’s a who make the festival what it is. significant gift to the community. Mark “I don’t think I’ve ever been a part of Freed and his group at the Jones House a project where nearly 200 people come are not volunteering their time per se, out and happily work for free so their but they are working like crazy people; community can enjoy a wonderful threeevery year, the shifts that are not able to day free festival,” said Dowlan. “That gift of be filled always end up being those later time speaks volumes about how important in the evening shifts. Those cleanup shifts the community is to its members. I think after all of it’s done and it’s all over. And

BY ZACH COLBURN

PHOTO COURTESY OF BOONERANG

A 2024 Boonerang volunteer hands out headphones at the Silent Disco.

the people that fall on it are that tiny little team of people at the Jones House year after year,” said Dowlan. “It is a true gift to the community to offer this, and everybody comes, and they enjoy it, and it’s wonderful.”

The festival’s community impact goes beyond volunteer hours.

After the 2025 festival, through its partnership with the Watauga Arts Council, Boonerang distributed $19,663, including $6,000 for the Inspire Educators Fund to support local arts teachers.

“We boosted the Inspire Educators Fund housed at the Arts Council,” Freed told the Boone Town Council after last year’s festival. “It’s housed at the Arts Council, and any of our local public school music, theater, fine arts, or dance instructors can apply for this money through a very easy application.”

An additional nearly $9,000 went to nonprofit partners including the ASU Coaching Club, Back 2 School Fest, Blue Ridge Conservancy, Children’s Council, Daniel Boone Native Gardens, F.A.R.M. Café, Harmony Lanes, Legal Aid of Boone, Southern Appalachian Historical Association, and WAMY. The festival’s reach extends beyond grants. In addition to the community support, Dowlan pointed to the economic boost for downtown Boone businesses, primarily on King Street, that also benefit from the festival.

“With an influx of nearly 10,000 people coming into downtown and buying and spending, there’s an economic improvement for at least a handful of businesses in town,” Dowlan said.

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THE MAGIC BEHIND

BOONERANG

Nearly 200 volunteers and one very busy coordinator

BY LORELEI ROBERTS Boone’s free music and arts festival is celebrating its fifth year, with an increasing need for volunteers to help with the festival as Boonerang’s popularity grows.

The term “boonerang” has been used by the locals to describe a common occurrence: people who spend time in Boone leave but eventually return. The festival showcases musicians and artists with roots throughout the High Country; the weekend-long festival needs volunteers to run smoothly.

Going from a two-day festival to four days and now three, Boonerang has expanded to include afterparties, a whole day for Boonerang International (Sunday), and a zero-waste Sustainability effort led by trash fairies.

What has expanded the most at the festival is the number of volunteers needed to put it together, run it safely for three days, and clean up.

When the Town of Boone held the first Boonerang, Volunteer Coordinator Dona Dowlan said she remembers the numbers clearly.

“We had 67 volunteers then; the same event now needs 187 volunteers,” Dowlan said.

From February to the last day of the festival, Dowlan manages recruitment, organization and support for every volunteer after learning that it takes more volunteers and supervisors to host a festival safely than what they had at the first one.

“It didn’t go perfectly, but it went well enough,” Dowlan said. “That’s how we learned we needed more people throughout the festival.”

In the first year, the volunteer headquarters was in a building next to the courthouse on the lower level, which made it difficult for volunteers to ask for help or a break during the festival. Today, Mountain T imes Publications

PHOTO BY DAVE PARRISH COURTESY BOONERANG

Boonerang volunteers get multiple perks, including an exclusive T-shirt and invitations to pre- and post-festival volunteer events with food, drinks and giveaways.

the headquarters is located in the heart of Downtown, at the Mast General Store.

The store will clear out its merchandise to make space for volunteers to stop in for food, a break, reassignment or simply a moment to regroup.

“That was a huge improvement from year one to subsequent years, just to be closer to the action helped so much,” Dowlan said.

Returning volunteers have become the backbone of the program; their familiarity with the program creates a sense of continuity that no training manual can replicate.

“We have a lot of wonderful returning volunteers that come year after year and help us over and over again, and they are connected in a way to the entire festival.

Their free labor generates revenue for the town and helps to bring the community together,” Dowlan said. “They are instrumental in this event happening, for caring enough to come and give us their time to create a magical experience for a ton of people.

The evolution of Boonerang’s volunteer program is about a community using trial and error to create the foundation that supports the festival each year.

Those interested in volunteering can visit www.boonerangfest.com/volunteer.

2026 • BOONERANG • 13

YOUR GUIDE TO

FESTIVAL VENDORS Don’t forget to bring your wallet as Boonerang’s vendor lineup has many items that are worth taking home. From handthrown ceramics and natural dyes to house plants and homemade candles, local makers and small businesses fill both the

SOUTH DEPOT ARTISTS/MAKERS (FRIDAY & SATURDAY) • Allyson Murphy Art • Boone Barndog • Sweet Carolina Soap • Melissa Schepp Creations • Curated by wild • Earthen.Flame.Designs & Folklore • The Source • Dead Meme Press • Plant Bustique

South and North Depot all weekend long.

The following are the 2026 festival vendors at each location and each day.

To make it even, you can add “Check out www.boonerangfest.com for updated information.

• Kattagast Jewelry • Jess Dixon Designs • Rachael Salmon Photography • NoodleCakes • Gold Dust Creative • Captures by Dezi • Judas Powell Ceramics • Upcycled Everything • Stony Fork Dyes • Brown Paper Bling • Madelyn Foskey Art • Solita Designs

PHOTO BY SEYL PARK COURTESY BOONERANG

There’s something for everyone from the many great Boonerang vendors.

• The Pearled Squirrel • Sugar & Steel • Creative Compulsion • Waning Moon Graphique • Periwinkle Arts • La Monarca Mexican Store • Hammock Ceramic • Zosh Gift Shop • Attagirl Boutique • Davis Dyes • Tree of Life Designs • Old North Candle Co • Mountain Time Creations • Integral Disc Dyes • Old Beech Mountain Farms

FOOD/BEVERAGE (FRIDAY & SATURDAY) • Taqueria La Monarca • The Cardinal Burger Wagon • Homestead Recovery Wheels of Change • Walkin’ Waffles • Ben & Jerry’s • Sober Sojourn • Layers of Love • Lemon Lips Lemonade • Raleigh Popsicle Co

NONPROFITS • EDGE Nonprofit • Mountain True • Carolina Daze Festival

SERVICES Neighborhood-style living featuring comfortable, casual suites at a great value.

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• Info & Water Tent • Boone Drug - First Aid Tent • Watauga Democrat - Festival Guides

NORTH DEPOT ARTISTS/MAKERS (SATURDAY ONLY) • Seed & Sow Design Co / Morning Wool • Clay Town Pottery • Future Relic Designs • River Way Designs • Becca Childress Creative

• GALA Crafts • Willow Hollow Atelier • Designs by Tris • Allen Creative • Sour Bead Co • Adam Dehus Art • Ginny’s Custom Creations • Aru Paper Co • Emma Jayne Embroidery • BeeSymmetry Designs • Indigo Roots Textiles • Talis Jones • Forested way • Food (Friday & Saturday) • Two Dogs On the Run • That’s a Wrap • Island Noodles • Valencia Flavors • Little Wing Ice Cream • Ambrosia Kafe & Dessertery • Nectar of the Vine

NONPROFITS (SATURDAY ONLY) • Watauga Arts Council • Community Mental Health Project Chill tent • Partners Canines! - Dog Water Station • Watauga Humane Society

JONES HOUSE NONPROFITS • Watauga County Heritage Museum • Watauga County Historical Society • Junaluska Heritage Association • Cove Creek Heritage Association • Blue Ridge Fiber Guild • Friends of the Library Food/Beverage (Friday & Saturday) • The DogFather • Boy Scouts - Kettle Corn

KIDS ZONE AT THE WATAUGA LIBRARY (SATURDAY ONLY) • Watauga County Public Library • Ayla the Dream Fairy • Casting Bread • Hope Center • Children’s Playhouse • Foster Connection • Mountain Pathways • Children’s Council • High Country Association of Realtors • Carolina Bird Club • Boy Scouts - Gaga Ball • Little Wing Ice Cream

VINTAGE MARKET AT BOONE BAGELRY (SATURDAY ONLY) • Anna Banana’s • Thrift Smith Vintage Mountain T imes Publications

BOONERANG’S BANDS A great lineup for all kinds of music lovers

BY MOSS BRENNAN For the last five years, organizers have brought great bands with ties to Boone and the surrounding area for the annual Boonerang Music and Arts Festival.

With a full schedule of great music, it may be hard to pick and choose who you want to see. Check out the information below on each band, and also visit a curated Spotify playlist with a few songs from nearly every band. Check the playlist out at tinyurl.com/4u2w58f9.

The following are the bands scheduled to play at the main stages:

BANDS DENIM & PLAID Denim & Plaid is an on-the-rise band of fresh, young faces playing a high-energy and hard-driving style of bluegrass. Don’t

be fooled by this band’s youth – each member is a talented instrumentalist in their own right, and they have collectively racked up numerous awards on the competition circuit. While staying true to the traditional roots of bluegrass, Denim & Plaid offers a fresh yet wholesome take on the genre, offering a glimpse of a thriving future for bluegrass music.

DULCI Over the better part of two decades, Dulci Ellenberger (or simply Dulci) has become a fixture – better, a phenomenon – in the Western NC music scene. She has been a part of several popular regional bands – Holy Ghost Tent Revival, Fwuit, and Dr. Dog, to name a few – but she’s no mere musical journeywoman. She is a persistent and positive force to be reckoned with as an artist and musician. Dulci brings feel-

PHOTO BY LUKE BARBER

Melissa Reaves is returning to the 2026 Boonerang Music and Arts Festival.

good music at its finest. With a just-right blend of pop, folk, and soul, she plays a mix of thoughtful originals and dressedup covers that elicit a response from her audience.

ECO SPACESHIP Winner of the round 2 Boonerang Battle

of the Bands, Eco Spaceship has a distinct funk edge that promises to be a perfect fit for the festival stage.

ELORA DASH While she was a student at App State,

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Songbird Cabin

Elora Dash played her first show right here in Boone – that was almost eight years ago, when the magic started. In a couple of short years, she made her mark on this town, showcasing her soulful vocals – a blend of powerhouse notes, effortless runs, dreamy melodies, and even the occasional elusive whistle note.

Elora Dash is lighting up the music scene in the NC Triangle (and even touring internationally), backed by a high-caliber group of musicians with their eclectic neo-soul and R&B sound.

FERN HILL Made up of sisters Arwen and Lorien Cockman, Fern Hill performs a heartfelt blend of Appalachian, Celtic, and Western sounds. The band was the first round winner of the Boonerang Battle of the Bands.

FIRESIDE COLLECTIVE

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Hopkins Kinlaw, joined by a diverse cast of skilled musicians, have created a sound that is worthy of the grandest symphony arena or a packed theater, but equally suited to a quaint lounge or a front porch pickin’ session. Or better yet, a Friday night festival atmosphere on the Jones House lawn. This group is certainly no stranger to the Jones House or Boone, with frequent shows in the area over the years and even past members of The Current that call Boone home.

HAYLEY KING TRIO At the age of 7, Hayley King picked up the violin, and by the time she was 10 had transitioned to the fiddle – a choice we’re sure glad she made. Since that time, Hayley has earned accolades at regional competitions, graduated with a full ride from Morehead State University’s music program, become a skilled multiinstrumentalist, and released a debut album of original songs.

JACOOZY

At the forefront of a 2020s jam band Hailing from just across the Blue Ridge revival in the area, Jacoozy paid their Mountains, Fireside Collective has been dues in the App State house show scene making waves for more than a decade with before becoming key players in the local their genre-bending blend of bluegrass, music scene. Fast forward five years, and folk, and rock. Known for their dynamic Jacoozy has moved up the bill at venues live shows, they seamlessly weave together and festivals, with a full schedule of gigs heartfelt lyrics, driving rhythms, and across the U.S., from the Midwest to the improvisational jams that keep audiences Great Plains and beyond. Jacoozy has the locked in from start to finish. right combo of funk, jazz, and alternative HANK, PATTIE & THE CURRENT jams that are tailor-made for a downtown The pair of Hank Smith and Pattie mountain music festival.

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JAY BROWN An Appalachian native, Jay Brown has immersed himself in the region’s musical heritage. Combine that with his experience studying in West Africa and years of performances as a solo artist and with local bands, and you’ve got an eclectic blend of traditional influences and expressions. And one area where Jay Brown has carved out a niche for himself is in live piano accompaniment to silent movies.

JEREMIAH’S REVOLVING ORCHESTRA Always something different, always something fresh, always something spectacular, Jeremiah’s Revolving Orchestra promises to be a Boonerang sensation. Pulling in a rotating cast of talented local musicians, the band’s namesake, Jeremiah Brown, puts on a oneof-a-kind show with every performance.

JUNALUSKA GOSPEL CHOIR You would be hard-pressed to name a group more of a Boone institution than the Junaluska Gospel Choir, which traces its origins back over a century to 1918 and is based at the Boone Mennonite Church, up on the hill overlooking downtown. Regionally renowned for their impassioned performances in the Black and old-time gospel traditions, the choir is a multicultural, multigenerational ensemble of singers joined by some of the best local gospel, soul, and R&B musicians.

KALETA & SUPER YAMBA BAND The band’s frontman, Kaleta, is a Benin-born, Nigerian-raised, and New York-proven singer and guitarist who draws upon a wealth of West African and American music traditions – from Yoruba jùjú to 1960s and 70s R&B and funk. It is musical fusion made in heaven. The equally talented Super Yamba Band is made up of dynamic instrumentalists who come together to create a multi-layered sound of keys, percussion, brass, and bass – with Kaleta showing off his chops on guitar and throwing in some James Brown caliber vocals. It’s no wonder Kaleta & Super Yamba Band have become a favorite at venues and festivals across the U.S.

LAZYBIRDS There aren’t many bands in Boone that have been actively playing since a year that begins with 19. But the Lazybirds Mountain T imes Publications

have stood the test of time, as high school bandmates Jay Brown and James T. Browne have kept together a band of excellent local musicians across four different decades now.

LEOPARD LOUNGE An expectation held in the band’s simple but apt slogan: vintage vibes, much leopard, very swank. With honey-sweet harmonies, deep grooves, and plenty of animal print to go around, this band has all the right elements for a legendary festival performance. Frontwoman Kat Chaffin (Kattagast Music) is a resilient and hardworking musician, artist, and creative catalyst who exemplifies the so-called High Country hustle, and she surrounds herself with some of the area’s most skilled and swankiest musicians.

compositions. Audiences appreciate the bass grooves, jammy vibes, and robust horn section.

MARIACHI PERLA TAPATIA DE NOEMI SILVESTRE A band that will roam throughout the festival on Saturday, Mariachi Perla Tapatia de Noemí Silvestre is a musical ensemble based in Charlotte, NC, specializing in traditional Mexican mariachi music performances. With a focus on authenticity and cultural preservation, the group offers live entertainment for a variety of events and occasions, bringing the vibrant spirit of Mexico to audiences in the area.

MARTHA SPENCER & THE WONDERLAND BAND The band’s frontwoman, Martha Spencer,

LIAM PURCELL & CANE MILL ROAD comes from a musical legacy steeped

A band born right here in the Blue Ridge, they have broken ground in the Americana music scene with a bluegrass sound that honors traditional roots, while also pushing the progressive boundaries of the genre. Frontman Liam Purcell is a Boonie through and through, born in Deep Gap just down the road from Doc Watson. Over the past several years, Purcell has graduated from Berklee, spent a stint living and recording in Nashville, cleaned up on the competition circuit (including a trifecta instrumental sweep at Rockygrass), and toured nationally.

in tradition, and from an early age she absorbed this culture, learning to play just about any stringed mountain instrument.

Authentically Appalachian, Martha Spencer and the Wonderland Country Band is a third-generation family band that plays a blend of mountain music, including old-

time, bluegrass, and country.

MARVELOUS FUNKSHUN Blending a just-right mix of funk, rock, and blues, Marvelous Funkshun is

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LUA FLORA Lua Flora is one of those bands that makes music that you can’t help but enjoy, firmly in the lane of American folk, but infusing fresh energy with Caribbean and West African rhythms. And frontman Evan Button is one of those people that you can’t help but like – an App State alum who got his start here in Boone, with a knack for writing thoughtful and optimistic songs that connect at a soul level.

MAGENTA SUNSHINE An Asheville-based band with members who have ties to Appalachian State, Magenta Sunshine is made up of a versatile crew of talented Western NC musicians.

A just-right juxtaposition of classical and contemporary, low-key and highoctane, roots and world music, Magenta Sunshine draws upon elements of rock, jazz, and funk to create innovative original 2026 • BOONERANG • 17

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D CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17 a venue and festival favorite. From bigname venues close to home like Ziggy’s in Greensboro and The Millennium Center to iconic stages like The Howlin’ Wolf in New Orleans and the Charleston Pour House in South Carolina, Marvelous Funkshun has established itself as a forefront funk band in the region.

MELISSA REAVES Embodying the definition of what the Boonerang effect is all about, Melissa Reaves is a true Boonie that currently takes up residence in another mountain town of Bisbee, AZ, but always finds a way to return to the hometown of her heart. What can be said about this Boone celebrity that truly captures her sound, her energy, and her persona? Terms like “avant-garde,” “deconstructionist,” and “spontaneous” are thrown out often, but none of them truly says enough.

MR. ZEN Mr. Zen is a local children’s musician known for his interactive performances in the High Country. He’ll bring fun and engaging music to the Boonerang Kids Zone.

original compositions. With a heavy dose of Jamaican music styles, blended with ska, dancehall, gospel, and roots, Rocksteady@8 is a fusion band in every sense.

SALLY ANNE MORGAN Sally Anne Morgan was born and raised in a rich Appalachian folk tradition. A true artist and naturalist, she draws on the simple elegance of nature to create compositions that honor traditional techniques while borrowing from a more modern, improvisational approach.

Morgan’s songs feel profoundly organic – like the soundtrack of springtime in the Blue Ridge.

SAM FRIBUSH ORGAN TRIO Born in the NC Triad, Sam Fribush took to music at a young age, exploring a variety of instruments. His education led him to Boston, his passion took him to New Orleans, and his heart (and perhaps a pandemic) brought him back to his home in NC. Sam Fribush Organ Trio blends jazz, funk, and blues – a fresh take on a vintage sound that feels quintessentially North Carolina.

SUPATIGHT

Formed in Durham, Supatight spent a number of its formative years in Boone in the early 2010s before moving to ORQUESTA K’CHE Asheville. Boone continues to be a special North Carolina’s premier Latin place for this band, and they still have a dance band, Orquesta K’Che, brings an loyal following here in the High Country. unmatched energy to the stage, playing Beloved venues like Boone Saloon, The Cumbia, Merengue, Bolero, Salsa, and Local, and the late Murphy’s have been more. This 12-piece band includes a robust familiar downtown stomping grounds horn and percussion section and is made for these guys. Since those days, their up of some of the region’s most talented sound has evolved to encompass musical musicians, with representation from Puerto influences that include reggae, jazz, and Rico, Venezuela, Cuba, and Costa Rica. soul – while still firmly rooted in funk.

Audiences will appreciate original tunes and REDBUD a smattering of funkified covers of popular Staying true to their motto, “If ya ain’t pickin’ ya ain’t living,” Redbud sticks to their favorites. roots playing traditional bluegrass tunes, THE REVELERS but with a driving, high-energy punch. It’s Cajun music on the streets of downtown the kind of bluegrass music that bridges Boone – that’s what we’re talking the generational gap, appealing to the about with The Revelers! Blending in a traditional stalwarts, while also drawing in mix of Louisiana Acadian influences, younger audiences. including zydeco, Creole, blues, and Swamp Pop, The Revelers are a six-piece ROCKSTEADY@8 collaborative supergroup of talented multiTracing its origins back to an opportune instrumentalists. opening set for legendary group Toots and the Maytals, Rocksteady@8 has been TOUBAB KREWE performing as a collective since 1999.

Over the course of two decades, Over the next decade, the band made Toubab Krewe has established itself as an a name for itself with its reggae-tinged institution in the regional music scene.

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Blending American and West African music traditions, the band has a distinct worldwisened sound. And let’s just point out that this will definitely be the first time that the Kora makes an appearance as an instrument at Boonerang.

WHITETOP MOUNTAIN BAND A family-based band that has been performing continuously since 1975, the Whitetop Mountain Band has a loyal following at festivals, competitions, and square dances across the region (and even internationally!). This is mountain music at its best – a little bit bluegrass, a little bit gospel, a little bit honky tonk, a little bit blues, and a whole lot of energy. Made up of some world-class multi-instrumentalists and torchbearers of Appalachian music, the Whitetop Mountain Band never disappoints.

singer-songwriters at the Appalachian Theatre. Feature songwriters are: Sarah Deshields, Amanda Opelt, Noan Partly, Erin Williams Banks, Cayla Fralick and Elizabeth McCorvey.

WOKE COUNTY SPEEDWAY Music made in the South by people from the South – that’s what Woke County Speedway is all about. Describing themselves as “Carolinian to a fault” and “alt-country insolvent,” WoCo has a boisterous punk-laced Southern swagger to their music.

YOUR FRIENDS

An improvisational jam band influenced by psych-rock, groove, and funk, Your Friends is based right here in Boone. The music is like chilling with your friends, the energy is immaculate, and the atmosphere WOMEN’S SONGWRITERS SHOWCASE is a mood. All the right elements are there.

The East Boone Listening Room creates Really, their mountain photo shoot with spaces for connecting and cultivating woven ponchos, whimsical hats, and community in Boone through music and wooden walking staffs tells you everything songwriting. For Boonerang, they will present a free showcase featuring six women you need to know.

WELCOME BACK TO BOONE Luke Copeland CPA PC is a proud sponsor of Boonerang

Call us now to schedule an appointment:

(828) 2 264-0883 4-0883 Mountain T imes Publications

HIGH COUNTRY TALENT takes

center stage in run-up to Boonerang

• First Place - Tucker Conner • Runner-Up - Michael Gee Every summer for the last five years, Boonerang has brought its music and arts • Runner-Up - Deep Shallow Band festival to downtown Boone in mid-June • Audience Choice - Keith Ward — but the event is more than just that Boonerang’s Battle of the Bands shared summer weekend. While the main festival a similar competitive spirit, though it is a great time, two events held earlier in unfolded over two separate events rather the year are also part of Boonerang. than one night.

The Battle of the Bands and Boone’s Got The first, which took place in March, Talent events are part of Boonerang, but featured roots music and the second, they don’t take place in the summer. which took place in April, focused on Taking place in early February this year, electric acts.

Boone’s Got Talent featured various acts, More than 40 bands submitted their showcasing the talent in Boone and the music for a chance to take part in the High Country. In the past, it was part of event, and a panel narrowed it down to the opening to the Boonerang Music and eight.

Arts Festival, but it would get lost in the “One thing that we try to take into shuffle of the busy weekend. account with this competition is if the Boonerang Director Mark Freed said bands are trying to get themselves out there were many reasons they moved the there and trying to book gigs and making event from the main Boonerang weekend a real effort,” Freed said. “They all have to February. different levels of websites or social media “One of those reasons was that we were presences, even if some are not terribly hopeful to be able to draw some more strong yet, but they’re still working attention to the competition from the towards it and shooting for where they’re students at Appalachian State University hoping to go. What we like about each of these bands is that they’re all working and even students in the local public towards that goal. They’re not playing schools, and give them the opportunity music like it is a Thursday night card to participate, considering that both are on vacation in June,” Freed said. “Looking game, you know? They’re not just getting together to just shoot the bull and have back at last year, the first year I carved some social time. When it comes to bands out the time and went to the Boone’s Got that are trying to do something with their Talent event, and I was feeling stressed about all of the things that were happening music, that’s inspiring for us at Boonerang because we hope to see musicians like this outside of the theater during Boonerang weekend, because it was the day before the on the stages of our festival.” festival started. I was only able to stay for The winning bands received a $500 cash the first 30 minutes, and I didn’t even get prize and a performance slot at the main to see all the performances, and I thought, festival.

‘Why don’t we find a way to put more At the March event, His & Hers, Blue attention on to this show?’”

Ridge Betty, Midlife Trip, and Fern Hill In February, 20 acts competed for cash battled it out in four 30-minute sets. Fern prizes, including $500 for the top prize, Hill took the crown and will perform at two $250 runners-up awards, and a $250 Boonerang’s BACR stage on Saturday at prize for the audience favorite. Performers noon. were judged by creativity, stage presence, At the April event, Aboveground, Eco technical skill, audience engagement and Spaceship, Pleasantly Wild and The Great overall impression.

Levelers battled it out, with Eco Spaceship The winners this year were: taking home the crown. Eco Spaceship

BY MOSS BRENNAN

Mountain T imes Publications

PHOTO BY BRADLEY PEARCE COURTESY BOONERANG

Eco Spaceship will perform on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the BACR stage after winning the second Boonerang Battle of the Bands event.

will perform on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the BACR stage.

For the full stage schedule, visit www. boonerangfest.com/schedule.

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Tips from the people who know

BOONERANG BEST

BY MOSS BRENNAN With events running from Friday afternoon through Sunday, there’s plenty to take in. Whether you’re a first-timer trying to figure out where to start or a longtime attendee looking to make the most of the weekend, Boonerang’s ambassadors and volunteers have some advice.

What would you tell someone who has never been to Boonerang?

JUDITH PHOENIX: I would tell someone how much fun it is to be surrounded with beautiful, sunny weather, happy people, great music, all kinds of food, and of course beer, and High Country artists.

JOHN CARNAHAN: Funny because I have had that conversation frequently with pending visitors and friends! I tell them that you can’t beat the mellow and friendly atmosphere, the stellar music, events, people, and overall simply fantastic time. Whether you like to kick back and listen or get down and dance, it’s all there.

All musical styles are included, and there is definitely something for everyone. It is a unique atmosphere catering to families and music lovers alike.

SALI GILL JOHNSON: Pack light. You’ll likely want to buy a few things, but include a rain poncho just to make sure it doesn’t rain, or to sit on. Being a refillable water bottle/hydrate, wear sunscreen, hat (or buy one!) and comfortable shoes. Bring cash. Venmo/etc for the fabulous and diverse vendors, and be sure to visit the

festival merch store! Leave your sweet dog at home if possible; they really don’t enjoy crowds and walking around on asphalt as much as you think they do. Boone is a small college town and all the stages and activities are within just a few blocks.

There are also several local restaurants, the library, theatre, and other indoor sites to rest and recharge. There is a special kids zone, multicultural events, and it’s all family friendly. Check out the Jones House/Town of Boone for information on parking.

BETH LYONS: There’s a huge variety of music, it’s not going to be “too crowded” and if you’re willing to walk a few blocks, there’s parking available!

What’s your favorite part of Boonerang?

PHOENIX: My favorite part is walking the streets, seeing friends, often whom I haven’t seen for a while, meeting new people, and soaking up the atmosphere.

CARNAHAN: My favorite part of Boonerang is having the opportunity to be an integral and appreciated part of it all through volunteering. I work to set up my summer travel around it because it is so much fun. It is the best volunteer experience I have ever had (and I’ve worked MerleFest - but no dis on that wonderful event!). Getting to be in the mix while the bands are setting up (I like to work stage) is a lot of fun, and ALL the volunteers are great. As a musician, I love the opportunity to meet so many other players from all over the region

L s A IT IG e D o D

PHOTO COURTESY BOONERANG

Being a volunteer at Boonerang is a great time, according to current longtime volunteers.

and outside. It is great to see the manner in which the artists are appreciated and treated by the festival as well. Lastly, the festival itself goes above and beyond in its exemplary support of its volunteers. That was my first inkling that this festival was something different than others - it is truly the best!

JOHNSON: All of it. The people, the music, the crafts and the overall vibe. It’s JOHNSON: Boone is a special place with often a reunion of sorts with the bands and lots of creative and cool people, just enjoy attendees, and it’s free to attend. yourself!

LYONS: It’s friendly, laid back and there’s LYONS: Bring sunscreen and an a huge variety of music. umbrella.

What is your No. 1 tip for festival Is there any part of Boonerang you attendees? feel is underrated or not talked about as PHOENIX: Be a volunteer for just 4 hours much? and get all kinds of extra perks. It is easy and multiple tasks (are) needed.

PHOENIX: Maybe the surrounding

MARKETING

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CARNAHAN: Wear comfortable shoes, and bring sunscreen - hopefully you’ll need it! Also, bring a chair if so inclined (or reclined!), and expect to be wowed.

There is truly some genre of music for everyone throughout the days, and the multiple stages located throughout downtown are accommodating to entirely different performances - it is truly unique.

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atmosphere of the feeling of community and well-being.

CARNAHAN: I am not sure what is out there about the festival, but I think that the appreciation shown to the volunteers by the staff exceeds all expectations. From the initial volunteer reception and training to the ongoing support and food service provided throughout the festival, it is a wonderful experience. To that end, the volunteers themselves are incredible and friendly, becoming a sort of extended family you bond with for a few days each year.

LYONS: There’s something for everyone of all ages Are there any tips you would like first-time, or even longtime, festival attendees to know from a volunteer perspective?

CARNAHAN: Review the schedule and make a good plan to catch the music that you want to see. There

is so much and it definitely takes a little effort - it’s a good problem! To that end, include acts you have never seen before - you could be very surprised. The caliber of the talent is remarkable, and I have been ‘wowed’ repeatedly. When I first volunteered, I was relatively new to the area (moved from Alaska in 2019), so nearly all of the performers were new to me. The first year I volunteered, I told my wife how incredible the music was, and that it was the best festival I had been to, the most fun I’ve had, and planned to always work it in the future. So far, so good! This will be my fourth consecutive year?

JOHNSON: The staff and volunteers are the core of Boonerang, and they are just a great group of people.

LYONS: Boonerang has so many offerings while keeping the best small town feel — this makes it really special and easy to attend and enjoy

PHOTO COURTESY BOONERANG

Volunteers help make the festival run smoothly.

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BOONERANG

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL

brings world cultures to Boone on June 21

BY LORELEI ROBERTS The Boonerang International Festival returns June 21, bringing live music, cultural exhibits, and a parade celebrating the diversity of the High Country.

described last year’s parade as “a truly unifying and soul-stirring moment.”

The international festival will take place on Sunday, June 21, from noon to 7 p.m., in the parking lot next to Lost Province, at the intersection of North Depot and Queen Street.

“It’s such a beautiful testimonial to how welcoming and loving this community is.

Having a child that was born here, raised by immigrant parents, and now serves the community in that capacity and is the marshal for the festival, I think it’s just a full circle,” Q’Pasa Appalachia Co-Founder Yolanda Adams said.

Admission to the event is free and will kick off at noon with the Boonerang International Parade of Nations, grand marshaled by Boone Police Department Officer Carlos Escobar. Organizers

Those who represent a country outside of the United States are invited to participate in the Parade of Nations. Visit PHOTO BY SEYL PARK COURTESY BOONERANG form.jotform.com/250834100073040 to fill The Parade of Nations will take place at noon on June 21 to kick off the Boonerang International out the interest form.

Festival.

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PHOTO COURTESY BOONERANG PHOTO COURTESY BOONERANG

Cultural tables will be set up throughout the festival to display information, artifacts, and items from different countries. Adams said it will create a “travel around the world” experience for attendees.

“It gives a sense of belonging that, even though I’m away from my country, this town still has adopted me as one of their own and is allowing me to still express my roots and culture,” Adams said. “I think that’s the beauty of it.”

The festival highlights different cultures through exhibits and booths, but the focal point is the music and dance.

Worldwide. The band showcases rock, African traditions, and jam sensibilities and incorporates different folk cultures, drawing inspiration from where they tour and who they interact with.

Orquesta K’Che will return to the festival for a second year, closing out the evening at 5 p.m. before a piñata finale.

The 12-piece band based out of the NC Triangle is composed of members representing the USA, Venezuela, Cuba, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico. The dance band plays a diverse mix of Cumbia, Merengue, Bolero, Salsa and Latin Jazz.

Throughout the musical performances, dances will be performed Three bands will take the international by Highland Dance Step Troupe, Las Rosas y El Clavel, Colombianitas Dance stage, starting with Rocksteady@8 at and Latin Dance Boone.

1 p.m. The band has been performing since 1999, blending Jamaican music The Boonerang International Festival styles, ska, dancehall, gospel, and roots is presented in conjunction with Q’Pasa to create original compositions.

Appalachia and Immigrant Connection of the High Country.

Toubab Krewe will follow at 3 p.m.

The band has been called “a new standard for fusions of rock n’ roll and West African music” by Afropop Mountain T imes Publications

late night

For more information on the International Festival, visit www. boonerangfest.com/international.

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BEYOND THE MUSIC

Your guide to everything Boonerang has to offer The music is the main draw at Boonerang — but festival-goers who only pay attention to the stages are missing half the fun.

While the first two days of the three-day festival are focused on the shows, Saturday adds an extra layer as the free downtown street festival becomes a full-fledged event with something for everyone.

SHOPS, CRAFTS AND NONPROFITS

can also stop in at Anna Banana’s or Thrift Smith Vintage.

In addition to the various gifts from vendors, several nonprofits — including EDGE Nonprofit, Mountain True and Carolina Daze Festival — will have tents set up, with members on hand to discuss what they do. Several others, such as Friends of the Library and Watauga County Historical Society, will also be on hand near the Jones House.

Vendors at the heart of the festival offer one-of-a-kind handmade items and creative goods — whether it’s a piece of pottery from Hammock Ceramic or a creative sticker, water bottle, or doormat from Zosh Gift Shop.

The Watauga Humane Society will be there on Saturday, along with Partners Canines! Dog Water Station for dog owners.

Shoppers looking for vintage clothing

There’s plenty of food and drink to go

FOOD AND DRINK

Fast Internet.

Local L ocal Service.

Serrv vice.

Speeds S peeds up up to to 2 Gig Gig*!

PHOTO BY ZACH COLBURN

Hollis Goose, of Sober Sojourn, makes a mocktail for a customer during last summer’s Boonerang.

around, with something for almost every taste and palate — whether it’s a taco from Taqueria La Monarca or a hamburger from The Cardinal Burger Wagon. For those wanting a break from the music and the heat, Fizz Ed, right near one of the main stages, offers a full sit-down meal option.

Over near the Jones House, the DogFather will be serving hot dogs, and the Boy Scouts will be making kettle corn.

KIDS ZONE AND ACTIVITIES For younger festival-goers, the Kids Zone at Watauga County Public Library is a fun stop on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with activities, crafts, music, games, magic, bubbles, and ice cream from Little Wing Ice Cream.

For older kids and adults, there’s dancing, face painting, sidewalk chalk, and Boonerang whiteboards scattered around For dessert, choose from a cold treat from Raleigh Popsicle Company, ice cream the festival for messages and doodles. from Ben & Jerry’s, or a frozen treat from Thrill-seekers of all ages can also try Little Wing Ice Cream. scaling the climbing wall just outside Those looking for non-alcoholic options Rock Dimensions on Depot Street — one can grab a mocktail from Sober Sojourn or of the more unexpected highlights of the a fresh cup from Lemon Lips Lemonade. weekend.

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26 • BOONERANG • 2026

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Little Wing Ice Cream will be on hand, serving frozen treats, at the Kids Zone at Watauga County Public Library during the Saturday portion of Boonerang.

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AUGUST 14-15, 2026 DOWNTOWN BOONE, NC

Boone, NC

June 5 through august 28 free concerts on fridays

Free Friday Concert at the Jones House

at 5:30 PM

Ticketed Saturday Concert at the Appalachian Theatre

Full Schedule Available at

LEARN MORE AT

www.joneshouse.org

WWW.JONESHOUSE.ORG

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2026 • BOONERANG • 27

Shop. Dine. Play. All in one Boone stop.

Visit us at

THE BOONE MALL PHOTO COURTESY BOONERANG

Midlife Trip will play at Southend Brewing on June 20 from 2 to 5 p.m.

SHOPPING, DINING, ARCADE AND MORE

OTHER HAPPENINGS Boonerang weekend doesn’t start and end at the festival gates. All around Boone, local venues and community spaces are getting in on the fun with concerts, yoga, dancing and more. Here’s a look at what’s happening Thursday through Saturday.

Bath & Body Works®

THURSDAY, JUNE 18: • Lily’s Snack Bar will host its annual Doomerang event on June 18, 19 and 20.

Doors open at 8 p.m. with music starting at 9 p.m. Get tickets at tinyurl.com/ yxwaztsz. The event is 21+.

• Roots in the Garden Concert with MAMA – 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. – FREE – at Daniel Boone Native Gardens. All ages.

Visit www.danielboonenativegardens.org/ music for more.

• Niko Moon with openers Adam Church Band and Midlife Trip – Appalachian State University Holmes Convocation Center at. 7 p.m. (doors at 6 p.m.). All ages. Tickets available at appstatesports.evenue.net/event/SE26/ MOON

1180 BLOWING ROCK ROAD BooneMall.Com

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• Klee Liles at FizzEd (6- to 9 p.m.), followed by karaoke (9 p.m. to midnight)

FRIDAY, JUNE 19: • Jerry’s Dead at Boone Saloon. Music

starts at 9:30 p.m. $5 at the door. 21+ • Midlife Trip at The Office (formerly ODB), from 7 to 9:30 p.m.

• Timothy Chandler Hicks & the Charlottans at SouthEnd Brewing – 7 to 10 p.m.

• Open mic night at FizzEd (10 p.m. to midnight)

SATURDAY, JUNE 20: • Reggae Flow Yoga with Ahimsa – 9:30 a.m. – Neighborhood Yoga – FREE • Marshall Daniels hand pan performance in Neighborhood Yoga - 11 a.m. to noon. FREE • Mixed Level Flow Yoga with Linda – noon – Neighborhood Yoga - FREE • Boone Saloon Boonerang After Party with Healyside Trio, Bradley Turner Trio, and Uh, Erik. Music starts at 9 p.m. $5 at the door. 21+ • Midlife Trip (2 to 5 p.m.) and Professor Twang (6 to 9 p.m.) at SouthEnd Brewing.

• Latin Dance night at FizzEd, starts at 8 p.m. FREE instruction. Dancing until midnight.

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TOP 10 THINGS

to take in while at Boonerang

BY MOSS BRENNAN

The following is a quick rundown of some of the top 10 things you don’t want to miss at this year’s Boonerang Music and Arts Festival.

1. BOONERANG DOCUMENTARY SCREENING Start your Saturday with a documentary on Boonerang at 11:30 a.m. at the Appalachian Theatre. The first event of Saturday is a screening of a feature-length documentary exploring how and why people return to Boone, particularly for the namesake celebration, Boonerang Music & Arts Festival, which brings people back to the high country every summer. It will also feature a discussion with director Bradley Pearce.

2. BOONERANG INTERNATIONAL Boonerang International is a beautiful display of unity and love, celebrating the diverse backgrounds and cultures that make

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our community vibrant. The final of Boonerang takes place on Sunday, June 21, at the intersection of North Depot and Queen Street.

The Parade of Nations, a truly unifying and soul-stirring moment, takes place at noon. The Boonerang International Festival is presented in conjunction with Q’Pasa Appalachia and Immigrant Connection of the High Country.

3. SILENT DISCO Let loose at the North Depot Stage both Friday and Saturday nights at the festival during the Silent Disco. Get down and boogie with DJ takeovers from Girls, Gays, and Theys Rave, Peak Positive and Disco Diet.

4. MUSIC ROUND-UP Try to check out at least one (or more) bands at each festival stage between Friday and Sunday! Make sure to visit the Town of Boone Stage at South Depot, Jones House Stage presented by Allen Wealth Management, Mast General Store Stage at North Depot, Mast General Store Stage at North Depot, BACR Stage presented by White Fence Farm and the Appalachian Theatre.

5. FESTIVAL MERCH Make sure to check out the awesome Boonerang merchandise at the Mast General

Store Annex on North Depot Street. Make sure to grab a festival shirt featuring Allyson Murphy’s artwork, available on T-shirts, posters, and stickers courtesy of KindDesigns Printing.

6. WOMEN’S SONGWRITERS SHOWCASE The East Boone Listening Room creates spaces for connecting and cultivating community in Boone through music and songwriting. For Boonerang, they will present a free showcase featuring six women singersongwriters: Cayla Fralick, Elizabeth McCorvey, Amanda Opelt, Sarah DeShields, Noan Partly and Erin Williams Banks. Take a break from the hustle and bustle, enjoy the cozy vibes of the historic theatre, and appreciate some quality music and songwriting from these talented women.

7. LOCAL DANCE GROUP SHOWCASE Check out the Dance Lot at Wild Craft Eatery on Saturday, starting at 2 p.m., for a local dance group showcase. Watch as local dancers from Sole Impact Studios, Las Rosas y El Clavel, Colombianitas Dance, Boone Dance Trove, High Country Step Dance Troupe, and High Country Highland Dance School perform their skills.

8. APPALACHIAN THEATRE June days can get hot in Boone, and there’s no better place to cool down while still enjoying the

festival than by visiting the Appalachian Theatre.

On Saturday, the theatre will have multiple events: Boonerang Documentary Screening and Discussion Panel, Silent Film with Live Piano

by Jay Brown, Women’s Songwriters Showcase, Morganton Improv, Lazybirds and Melissa Reaves. Check out www.boonerangfest.com/ schedule for the full schedule.

9. LOCAL BREWS Boonerang is proud to work with local breweries, wineries, and cideries for drinks at the festival, so make sure to stop by and grab a brew from Appalachian Mountain Brewery and Cidery, Booneshine Brewing Company, Lost Province Brewing Co, SouthEnd Brewing Boone, Mill Camp Wines & Ciders, Goofy Foot Taproom Boone, Parallel Brewing Co., and New River Brewing.

10. VENDORS APLENTY Make sure to have a budget when you head out to Boonerang, as you’ll want to buy a lot of things. The festival features a great lineup of vendors showcasing local art and just about anything you can think of. If you’re with someone who likes to impulse buy, good luck!

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Your High Country checklist

BY MOSS BRENNAN

While you are “booneranging” back for the summer music and arts festival, make sure to explore the High Country while you’re in town. Here’s a handy checklist to help you make the most out of your Boonerang visit.

GO ON AN ADVENTURE Boone and the High Country as a whole offer outdoor enthusiasts a great many opportunities to have fun and go on an adventure. While you’re in town for Boonerang, go take a hike! With many hiking trails and greenways within 10 to 20 minutes drive from Boone, you can have many choices. Take in scenic views on nearby Grandfather Mountain or find a short hike off of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

EAT LOCAL Downtown Boone has many great restaurants available for whatever you are feeling. If you need to take a break from the heat, stop in one of the many local restaurants around town. Staying before and after Boonerang? Venture further out from downtown and try some of the newer restaurants that have opened up since the last time you were here.

COOL OFF What’s summer without going and cooling off in a river? While you’re up here, visit one of the many tubing services and take a float on the New River. Don’t want to float but still want the serenity the river has to offer? Check out many of the local outfitters and see what they have to offer as far as fishing guide services.

TAKE THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED Watauga’s backroads are half the adventure. Wind through Historic Valle Crucis, stop at the original Mast General Store, or explore the small communities tucked into the hollers. You never know what hidden gem — a roadside farm

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The park will be the terminus of the Northern Peaks State Trail that will connect Boone and West Jefferson.

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CHECK OUT SOME ART While the Boonerang Music & Arts Festival features some of the best High Country art in one place, make sure to

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