Woolly Worm Gazette 2021

Woolly Worm GAZETTE 44TH

2021

ANNUAL

The Official Guide to the Woolly Worm Festival

Inside

• Vendor Map and Listings • Festival Fund Distribution • Training Your Champion Worm • Festival By the Numbers • Wules and Wegulations A Special Publication to

Page 2 • Mountain Times Publications • Woolly Worm Gazette

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

CHARGING AHEAD

‘Chamber Charger’ victorious in pandemic-affected 2020 woolly worm race

BANNER ELK — It was a woolly worm race for the ages, as a small gathering of dedicated wooly worm enthusiasts convened on Holston Presbytery Camp on Saturday, Oct. 17, to take part in the annual racing of the carpeted caterpillars in a competition that come down to a matter of inches.

The annual Woolly Worm Festival is held every year in Banner Elk and sees approximately 20,000 visitors descend on the small mountain town right in the middle of peak leaf viewing season.

The funds from the event benefit the Kiwanis Club of Banner Elk and the Avery Chamber of Commerce in support of community projects across the county.

While the overall festival had to be canceled in 2020 due to the global pandemic, there was no stopping the two athletic arthropods representing the festival’s two primary sponsors, “Kiwanis Kicker” and “Chamber Charger,” as the two racers felt an intense need for speed and would end up clocking in at a blazing-fast time of approximately of five minutes per meter.

PHOTO BY LUKE BARBER

Doug Owen of the Kiwanis Club of Banner Elk utilizes a unique heating technique to warm up the tiny legs of the ‘Kiwanis Kicker’ during the lone woolly worm championship race on Saturday, Oct. 17, at Holston Presbytery Camp.

“We’re high and dry in Banner Elk, North Carolina,” shouted “Mr. Woolly Worm” Roy Krege. “We’re ready to race some woolly worms!”

With those famous words from the woolly worm wizard himself echoing across the mountains, the two racers were placed on their strings by Doug Owen of the Banner Elk Kiwanis Club and Hallie Willis of the Avery Chamber of Commerce. The winning worm received the distinct honor of predicting the winter weather for the upcoming season.

“What’s that thing? It’s a groundhog? Is that what’s it’s called? It doesn’t do anything, it just comes out. The beans in the jar thing? There’s a couple of

people that do the beans in the jar thing. For 43 years we’ve been doing this with 87.2 percent accuracy in winter predictions. This has been studied by students at Lees-McRae. It’s been published. You can find it somewhere on the deep web,” race announcer Adam Binder said.

The Chamber Charger got off to a fast start, quickly turning the competition into a one worm race as it inched from the bottom of the string to the top. The Kiwanis Kicker took a minute to latch itself onto the string, but Owen utilized a nifty heating strategy to warm the stiff joints of the worm and it soon started speeding up the rope.

In the midst of the

excitement, the Chamber Charger appeared to become confused and starting heading in the opposite direction, but upon seeing the Kiwanis Kicker quickly climbing to the top, it turned around and began making its way toward victory.

“The problem is, with a Kiwanis-sponsored worm, they’re always giving to others. So it’s probably looking for someone to help in the community,” Binder said as the worm stalled.

After the Chamber Charger reached to the top of the rope, it was declared the winner, and the intrepid worm whisperer himself, former NC State basketball champion Tommy Burleson, evaluat-

PHOTO COURTESY AVERY COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The woolly worm whisperer himself, Tommy Burleson, conducts the annual reading of the worm, held by champion Hallie Willis with the Avery Chamber of Commerce.

ed the winning worm and deemed it fit for prognosticating the coming winter weather forecast.

The winning worm curator, Halle Willis, said the secret to the worm’s success was a balanced diet.

“We fed him grapes and bananas for breakfast, and he loves lounging around in ferns,” Willis said.

Then, in the moment that everyone was waiting for, Burleson conducted the reading of the worm.

The woolly worm has 13 segments that represent the 13 weeks of winter, with each colored segment

representing the temperature for that particular week.

According to the champion Charger, the first four weeks of winter would see snow and below average temperatures, with the average winter temperature being 27°F. The next three bands are dark brown, meaning average normal temperatures for the following three weeks.

A one-week fleck indicates below-average temperatures, with frost and a little snow. Two additional SEE CHARGER ON PAGE 3

Woolly Worm Gazette • Mountain Times Publications • Page 3

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

CHARGER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

dark brown segments suggest average normal temperatures for the next two weeks. Another one-week fleck suggests below average temperatures with frost and minor snow. The last two weeks showed black, meaning snow and below average temperatures.

The famous Woolly Worm Festival, which began in Banner Elk in 1978, is back in its full capacity in 2021, complete with vendors, crafts, food and the racing of about 3,000 total worms.

“We have people from all over the country, all over the world that come to Banner Elk, this small, incredible town in the High Country, in Avery County. We’ve got skiing, mountain biking, the best leaf peeping in the country. It’s a little bit of something for everyone. It’s a wonderful place to live full-time, or to raise a family. We appreciate everybody joining us,” Binder said.

For more information on the Banner Elk Woolly Worm Festival, click to www.woollyworm.com or www.averycounty.com.

PHOTO BY LUKE BARBER

Hallie Willis (right) of the Avery County Chamber of Commerce celebrates after the ‘Chamber Charger’ claims victory in 2020, as Adam Binder (left) announces her as the winner.

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Page 4 • Mountain Times Publications • Woolly Worm Gazette

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

Banner Elk’s Woolly Worm Festival is back and better than ever

BY MARISA MECKE After a scaled-down year due to COVID-19, the Woolly Worm Festival is returning to downtown Banner Elk the third weekend of October. This year’s 44th annual Banner Elk’s Woolly Worm Festival, sponsored by the Banner Elk Kiwanis Club and Avery County Chamber of Commerce, will be 9 a.m.

to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 16, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 17.

Celebrating the renowned woolly worm, a caterpillar which becomes the isabella tiger moth, the festival will feature more than 150 vendors, thousands of visitors, races to see who has the fastest worm as well as a prediction of the winter weather

based on the winning worm’s appearance.

The woolly worm races feature multiple heats in which owners place their worms at the bottom of a string and hope theirs is the first to reach the top.

At the elevated finish line, the champion worm will have its segments read

by Avery County native Tommy Burleson, the 7’2”

Meet the 2021 Woolly Worm Festival Committee

former North Carolina State University basketball player and 1972 Olympic basketball team member.

Aside from winning the grand prize of $1,000, the winning worm also has the distinction of being named the “worm of record” for the year to predict the winter weather for the High Country. The bands of fur on the worm that vary in shading and color between brown and black determine the weather forecast, with each segment corresponding to one of 13 weeks of winter.

The darker the band, the more severe the weather forecast for that week. The champion woolly worm’s markings will be read by Burleson, who will analyze all 13 segments of the woolly worm and announce the prediction.

To race a worm, the cost is $5. Challengers may bring their own woolly worm or buy one at the festival for a small fee.

The fun continues on Sunday, when the winning worm wins a $500 prize. Historically, fewer competitors have entered

the Sunday competitions, increasing a racer’s chance of bringing in some extra holiday cash with their fuzzy insect friend.

To relax from the heat of worm-racing competition, visitors will also find a wide variety of craft vendors, meal options and music throughout the festival grounds.

To learn more about the Woolly Worm Festival, purchase tickets and more, contact the Avery County Chamber of Commerce at (828) 898-5605 or click to www.woollyworm.com

PHOTOS SUBMITTED

Behind the scenes at each Woolly Worm Festival, a hard-working and dedicated committee, made up of Kiwanians and members of the Avery County Chamber of Commerce, works year round to ensure the event’s success. This year’s committee consists of, top row (l to r): Anne Winkelman, Brenda Lyerly and Doug Owen; middle row (l to r): Jim Fitzpatrick, Talia Freeman and Lisa Isley; and bottom row (l to r): Babette McAuliffe, Hallie Willis and Mary Jo Brubaker.

FILE PHOTO

The annual Banner Elk Woolly Worm Festival draws thousands of people to Banner Elk for the weekend from all over the region. This image was captured from a ladder truck courtesy of Banner Elk Volunteer Fire and Rescue in 2019.

Woolly Worm Gazette • Mountain Times Publications • Page 5

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

Woolly worms endure rigorous extweme twaining to become the best apex. Today, it is rumored that military specialists have adopted most of the techniques utilized by the Move over stock car woolly worms for their racing as the most extreme own training practices. race of the year takes place The woolly worm, faster in Banner Elk. than hairless or un-woolly For such a magnanimous worms, needs to prepare sporting event there must for the race by focusing exist some very intense on a few vital training preparation. Woolly Worm methods. First is stretchtraining has for years been ing. Each one of the 13 considered as one of the segments must be loosmost rigorous training ened up and have the most regimen in all of sports. flexibility possible. The Made famous in the days more limber your woolly of antiquity, the ancient worm is, the more efficient Greeks would train their its movements can be. worms by placing them Proceed with extreme cauat the bottom of Mount tion when stretching your Olympus with the chalworm, however. Although lenge of climbing to the they may have intense

BY NEAL FALVEY

NEAL.FALVEY@ AVERYJOURNAL.COM

training, but they are frail and delicate creatures.

Next is hair preparation. It is a known fact that a woolly worm will travel faster if it has good self esteem. So brush and slick that thick woolly hair back, and then bring it a mirror. The woolly worm should be given ample opportunity to optimize its look and take a multitude of selfies, possibly some professional Hollywood headshots as well. Once the worm has had time to admire itself, it is ready for the next step in the process.

A worm must have established a proper food schedule for several days FILE PHOTO

SEE BEST ON PAGE 6

A woolly worm limbers up its segments prior to a race.

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Page 6 • Mountain Times Publications • Woolly Worm Gazette

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

BEST CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

FILE PHOTO

A woolly worm works at increasing leg strength and speed as it crests the fingertip of an owner/trainer.

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before the event. A healthy diet of herbaceous plants, dandelions, clovers and steakhouse appetizers should work wonders for your athletically gifted larvae.

After diet comes strength training. The woolly worm has been known to carry a staggering 0.000000001 pounds. Get your worm into a workout routine in a gymnasium to get it shredded and ready. When the strength training has been completed, you may or may not want to get a personal trainer, depending on your worm’s natural genetic composition.

The final step in the world famous woolly worm training is the most important: speed conditioning. Preparing the worm for the rigors of climbing by maximizing its speed potential can make all the difference between second place and winning the top prize (and the thousand bucks that goes with it!).

One legend of training involves taking your worm and tying a piece of floss around the ninth segment of its body.

Attached to that piece of floss is a paperclip. You may carefully include additional paper clips if necessary, if the woolly friend responds positively and shows speed improvement. This helps the worm build strength on its many legs. The worm pulling the paper clip, some say, could be the equivalent of a standard human being pulling a tractor.

Building leg strength is vital to total speed. Remember the woolly worm has more than two legs, so make sure to train each and every one.

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FILE PHOTO

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Woolly Worm Festival aficionado Jason DeWitt, along with Merryweather the Woolly Worm, catches the eye of onlookers at the 2018 Banner Elk Fourth of July Parade.

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Woolly Worm Gazette • Mountain Times Publications • Page 7

Banner Elk Woolly Worm Festival By the Numbers

BY MARISA MECKE Visitors to the Woolly Worm Festival may be keeping up with the woolly worm race statistics, but here are a few other numbers to guide guests during the festival.

1 — The number of woolly worms which will predict the winter weather for the High Country.

20,000 — The estimated number of visitors who will gather in Banner Elk throughout the festival weekend.

6 — Six dollar entry fee for adults to enjoy the funfilled festival.

25 — Number of woolly worms which can compete in each heat of the race.

4 — The admission price in dollars for children ages 6 to 12.

1,000 — Dollars in cold, hard cash the race winner will receive on Saturday.

2 — Days of the festival, and opportunities to win a grand prize of $1,000 (Sat.) or $500 (Sun.).

150 — the estimated number of craft and food vendors who will be selling and serving their goods.

0 — Price for children under 5 years of age to enter the festival.

13 — Sections on a woolly worm which predict 13 weeks of winter weather.

44 — This year marks the 44th annual Woolly Worm Festival.

(828) 898-5605 — For more information regarding the Woolly Worm FestiFILE PHOTO val, call this number, or click to www.woollyworm. The first heat of a previous Woolly Worm Festival on an early Saturday morning. These two woolly worms, belonging to Michelle Griffin (left) and Stephanie Hartsell (right), were eager to stretch their legs. com.

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Page 8 • Mountain Times Publications • Woolly Worm Gazette

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

Woolly Worm Festival Vendor List Booth # Vendors 81 2nd Time Around 134 A Berg Design 50, 51 Adoughable 90, 91 Americamanta 12 Angelia Fine Art 10 Appalachian Shed 94 Arnold’s Metal Crafts 54 Artistic Designs 88 Artwork by Morgan 3 Avery County Democratic Party 96, 97 Avery Farms 23 Avery Knifeworks N/A Banner Elk Elementary 5 Banner Elk Seventh Day Adventist Church 27 Barrier Island Organics 146 Bearabows 1 Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Western NC 41 Big Bry Pottery 106 Bill Lyons / Larry Clark 107 Black Pug Pottery 71 Blondie & Curly’s Corner 65 Bloomin’ Plates 73 Blowing Rock Creations, LLC

75, 76 Bounty Hunter Hats 136 Brown’s Creek Herbs 43 Bull City Treasures 144 Calvin Bennett Photography 108 Carolina Lavender Farm 58 Celebration Soaps & Body Care 32 Cheryl Foiles Designs 56 Costanza Wears 72 Copper Creek Designs 77 Creative Escape Art & Design 7 Crossnore Weavers & Gallery 111, 112 D&M Creative Designs 31 Darlene’s Sewing Garden 145 Datil Sensation 86, 87 Dogwood Creek Studio 140 Downing Designs 52, 53 Elder Apples 2 Encouraging the Nations 16 Engel & Volkers Banner Elk 122 Fake-a-Face Painting 44 Fire Fly Recycled

Glass 84 Firefly Cove Creations N/A Flexflying, Inc. 129 Flo Totes 40 Free Reign Farm LLC 117 Granny’s Glass Works 93 Handcrafted Polymer Clay 156 Handmade by Red 89 Hector’s Creek Farm 127 Henry Farms Broken China 100 Herbal Inspirations 4 High Country Breast Cancer 59 Historic Trade 119, 120 Holston Mountain Hat Project 126 Horse Creek Leather Works 114 House of Morgan Pewter 118 HuMa Design 62, 63, 64 In The Potter’s Hand 124 iPhotoBirds 57 Jeri’s Jewels 110 Jewelry Designs by Heidi Cline 137 John Diaz Leather 155 Justgenna designs 6 Knights of Columbus

42 Lasting Treasures 18, 19 Leather Link LLC 141 Linda Brown 109 Linda Flynn Art 21 Lonon Pottery 11 Lutherock Camp & Retreat Center 135 Mama Bear’s Baby Beads 130 Mark and Amy Woodturning 98, 99 McNeill’s Pottery 55 Menya’s 68, 69 Mermaids-n-Jewelry 92 Michael Kaal Photography N/A Mini Golf 148 Moonshine Ceramics 46, 47 Mountain Breeze Pottery 151 Mountain Life Crafts 115, 116 Mountain Momma Organics 125 My Mountain Flower 149 Naad Naturals 121 Nicholson Ridge 20 Nomadic Graphics 152 Old Sarges Jerky 123 Pardue Pottery 143 Petronella’s Designs 101 Pinnacle Creations

24 Potting for Fun 157 Reflections of Nature 9 Roan Mountain Honey 60, 61 Robin Goodwin 131 Rosehip Lane 13 Samaritan’s Purse 28, 29 Santa’s Bag 15 Savell Studio 132 ‘Scapes Inc 113 Silly Willy Caricatures 103, 104 Silver & Stones Jewelry 85 Silver Muse 153, 154 Smith Enterprise 105 Spiral Dyes 37, 38 Stanleys Produce and Bakery 102 Stonegate Candle Creations 133 Tarle Art 49 The Nut House 82 The Pretty Paws Cause 138, 139 The Tarpestry Co. 74 Thornes, Roses & Puppy Noses 150 Tom Breckenridge Paintings 66, 67 Too Stinkin’ Cute 142 Trip & Peggy’s Cajun Seasoning

83 True Honey Teas 78, 79, 80 Turtle Old Man Jewelry 48 Two Green Thumbs & More 147 Two Sweet Sisters 45 Ulikai Designs 30 United Healthcare 26 Wendy’s Jewels by Design 128 West End Wreaths 95 Whimsy Children’s Toys 35, 36 Whiskey in a Week 22 White Rose Creation Company 39 Whitson Crafts 70 Woolly Worm and Stuff 25 Worley’s Best 17 Zah Crystal Files K Alf’s Kettle Korn J Appalachian High Country Concessions F Asia Fusion R Auntie Ruth’s Doughnuts A Banner Elk Shirt Company E Cut & Cured Q Famous Brick Oven Pizza

A historic look back at the annual Woolly Worm Festival

FILE PHOTO

North Carolina Governor Jim Martin examines his woolly worm before entering the race while he attended the 1988 Banner Elk Woolly Worm Festival.

FILE PHOTO

Roy ‘Mr. Woolly Worm’ Krege announced his retirement at the conclusion of the 2016 Banner Elk Woolly Worm Festival. Krege is pictured with event organizers Melynda Pepple, Mary Jo Brubaker, Kathy Boone and Adam Binder.

Woolly Worm Gazette • Mountain Times Publications • Page 9

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

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Page 10 • Mountain Times Publications • Woolly Worm Gazette

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

FILE PHOTO

FILE PHOTO

Competitors prepare to place their worms on the string to begin a race at the annual Woolly Worm Festival. The festival proceeds are split between the Banner Elk Kiwanis Club and Avery Chamber of Commerce to provide resources and support area organizations and businesses.

Teacher Heather Covey cheering as her worm is about to become the champion of the teacher round in 2019 woolly worm races at Newland Elementary School. Kiwanis Club of Banner Elk, one of the main beneficiaries of the festival, gives classroom grants to county teachers.

Festival gives back to the local community

BY NEAL FALVEY NEAL.FALVEY@AVERY JOURNAL.COM For such a miniscule worm, it sure makes an impression on Avery County.

With exceptional fun and excitement for families, the annual Banner Elk Woolly Worm Festival is also a

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preeminent fundraising event for two specific High Country groups.

The Banner Elk Kiwanis Club and the Avery County Chamber of Commerce utilize all of the proceeds accrued, minus expenses, to support community projects that will in turn aid local families and children.

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The annual event doesn’t simply recycle money within the local community, but it also brings in proceeds from visitors that are from out of the county and out of state, making the festival an event of great reach and impact as an essential piece to the fundraising puzzle. Having an event of this magnitude in the county provides a great resource for local businesses, vendors, nonprofits and governmental organizations.

The Banner Elk Woolly Worm Festival does not exclusively serve the town of Banner Elk, as surrounding townships, communities and neighborhoods throughout Avery County

PHOTO BY MATT DEBNAM

In addition to charitable organizations, funds from the Woolly Worm Festival also help support local scouting troops in their endeavors, like the area Boy Scouts.

are eligible to reap the benefits of not only a financially viable event, but a source of family fun and fellowship.

According to previous years, earnings are distributed proportionately.

The Kiwanis Club will ultimately award grants for

noble efforts. The Chamber of Commerce, with its allotment of funds, continues to pour resources back into the community to help maintain and grow local businesses.

The Kiwanis Club has averaged, over the last few

years, a distribution rate of approximately $60,000, illustrating the kind of effect that a small creature and area festival can have in helping to make the area such a special place of giving and community support.

Woolly Worm Gazette • Mountain Times Publications • Page 11

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

Behind the scenes: Banner Elk Garden Club decorations abound at Woolly Worm Festival “None of our decorating would be possible without the men that are a part of the Banner Elk Garden Club, with their Attendees of the Banner Elk smiling faces, willingness to Woolly Worm Festival can find help and strength. They’re the different performances, events backbone of the garden club,” and vendors around every corner said Jeni Davis, president of the of downtown Banner Elk, but Banner Elk Garden Club. “Their what they do not see is the hustle muscles and their strength are and bustle that happens before important. We can barely lift the festival opens its gates. up those heavy old barn doors, For the last decade, DC Smith, It’s a lot of hard work to get it as well as Chester Puckett, Bob all together and then take it all Hughes, Tommy Joe Ward and down.” friends of Smith have gathered up The garden club takes pride corn fodder, red winter berries, in its work and looks forward antique barn doors, pumpkins, all year to decorating the stage. gourds, mums and other fall The materials for the entertaindecorations to help decorate the ment stage decoration are locally performance stage as part of the sourced by the garden club.

Banner Elk Garden Club.

According to Davis, the Smith

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farm usually has corn fodder, and Ward also has a farm that provides materials. Banner Elk Garden Club members’ friends from all around the community help bring together the beautiful scenery of the Woolly Worm Festival by helping source the items to decorate the stage.

The ladies of the garden club play an important role as well, Davis said. The Banner Elk Garden Club began decorating the stage around 2011 when one of its founding members, Benita Smith, was asked by the Banner Elk Kiwanis Club to decorate the stage. Smith invited the entire club and has made it an annual tradition for the group to bring color and life to the Woolly Worm Festival.

PHOTO COURTESY JENNI DAVIS

The performance stage, decorated with mums, corn fodder and other seasonal adornments, hosts live music and performances throughout the festival.

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Page 12 • Mountain Times Publications • Woolly Worm Gazette

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

What is a woolly worm — A moth metamorphosis

BY MARISA MECKE The fuzzy friend many High Country residents see crawling along the sidewalk or in a pile of leaf litter has a larger story to tell beneath its furry exterior.

Woolly worms, also known as woolly bears, are the caterpillars of the isabella tiger moth which lives all throughout the southeastern region of the U.S. While they are popular for their fuzzy appearance, this insect has many fascinating habits and abilities that make it a unique insect.

Renowned for its 13 sections which predict winter weather, Appalachian State University entomologist Clare Scott Chialvo said that each section of the woolly worm also tells about the future shape of the tiger moth. Although the caterpillar goes through complete metamorphosis, changing its anatomy entirely, each section of the woolly worm corresponds to a section that can be identified on the moth.

During this time of year, woolly worms who have not already formed a chrysalis to become its fully winged self in spring are preparing to survive the cold winter, “wandering,” according to Chialvo. To “overwinter,” these caterpillars finish eating all they can and then slow down their metabolism, similar to hibernation.

Most spectacularly, though, is that they use a special enzyme that acts like antifreeze to keep them from freezing to death over the winter.

The woolly worm’s impressive abilities do not stop there. They have a va-

FILE PHOTO

Mary Jo Brubaker, William Burrow, Shawn Stricklen, Bobby Savel, Merryweather The Woolly Worm, Jason DeWitt, Melynda Pepple, Leslee Brown, Tommy Burleson, Daniel Binder and Brittany Love posing after Brown’s worm ‘Wild Worm Will’ claimed the top prize at the 2019 Banner Elk Woolly Worm Festival.

riety of ways to avoid being eaten, such as having lots of hair that mimics poisonous caterpillars as well as dining on plants with toxins meant to dissuade insects from eating them. After dining on plants with toxins, woolly worms keep that toxin in their body and Chialvo said predators like birds will get an upset stomach and avoid eating the woolly worm again in the future.

Once they become moths, the isabella tiger moth avoids being eaten by one of its main predators, the bat,

by making a clicking sound that mimics the clicks bats use as echolocation. The clicks, Chialvo said, act as a defense.

The orange moth with black spots is not as impressive as some of its more colorful cousins, Chialvo said, but nevertheless they are fascinating insects. As the woolly worms prepare to endure the harsh winter, the High Country community can celebrate them at the Woolly Worm Festival before they hunker down until spring.

FILE PHOTO

A look at some woolly worms in a purpose-built corral. The woolly worms are part of the metamorphosis process as it eventually becomes an isabella tiger moth.

Woolly Worm Gazette • Mountain Times Publications • Page 13

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

Woolly Worm Wules and Wegulations

BY NEAL FALVEY NEAL.FALVEY@AVERY JOURNAL.COM Like all other invertebrate-based weather predicting races, there are strict rules and regulations that must be adhered to while participating in the historic event.

To begin, everything has a price, and for the Woolly Worm entrance fee it is $6 for adults, $4 for kids up to 12 and free for kids under age of 5.

In order to be considered for the speedy trials one can train and must register an official, purebred Woolly Worm.

Sorry, but no earthworms, tapeworms, inchworms, bloodworms, ringworms, gummy worms or other imposters are allowed to compete.

An official worm is black and brown and contains 13 segments. Empirically verified woolly worms may only be considered.

No genetic enhancements are allowed, nor are any outside competitive advantages, such as slick and aerodynamic running shoes, are allowed to be used, either.

You may acquire your own woolly worm, or you may purchase one of the available onsite worms (all sales final, no returns).

The first worm to reach the top wins in each heat.

Competitors and worm enthusiasts may not touch the worm or any part of the ‘race track.’ Competitors may cheer, sing, yell, motivate, clap and even

FILE PHOTO

Kids of all ages enjoy the friendly competition of the annual Woolly Worm Festival.

FILE PHOTO

Merryweather the Woolly Worm is an expert who knows the rules and regulations for the racing of woolly brethren at the annual Banner Elk Woolly Worm Festival.

eat worm-like spaghetti (if one think the latter helps) for motivation, however, if they so choose.

Worm racers should register early for the events because there are only a limited amount of spots available. A maximum of 25 worms compete in each heat. The number of heats, or individual groupings, are determined by the number of racers who wish to compete in the event. At the beginning of each heat, worms are placed at the bottom of a vertical string on the race board. When the starting signal is given, worm

handlers are permitted to release their worms. The worm that is first to reach to finish line at the top of the string will be declared the winner, as determined by the official race judges.

The string that the worms will be racing on is designed to resemble the milkweed that caterpillars are accustomed to handling. The regulation string has been utilized by the event ever since founder Jim Morton witnessed two woolly worms climb a stalk of milkweed in their natural environment more than four decades ago.

Page 14 • Mountain Times Publications • Woolly Worm Gazette

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

Woolly Worm Festival part of area landscape for more than four decades

BY NEAL FALVEY NEAL.FALVEY@AVERY JOURNAL.COM The Woolly Worm Festival, a prideful passion of Banner Elk, is scheduled for its 44th annual event. Not only is the festival enjoyed by the community and visitors alike, but also boasts a rich history of tradition and culture. The fall festival can be likened to Groundhog Day due to its animal-based meteorological prognosis.

The festival began in 1978, has secured roots in the Avery County community and put itself onto the FILE PHOTO national stage with growing The Woolly Worm Festival is an event wholly unique to Banner Elk. popularity. Founder of the festival Jim Morton came to the area 1973 and cultivated ple, if eight segments are warm pavement to enjoying entertainment at the venue. the idea of the event by way brown and the remaining wooded areas to lounging in Despite the muted event in of his interest in the local five segments are black then a neighborhood lawn.

2020 due to the global panwoolly worm folklore. there would be eight weeks Every worm’s segmentdemic, this year’s event is Legend has it that the 13 of a milder average winter ed contours cannot be the bigger and better than ever, segments of the worm corweather and five weeks of correct worm for prognosas the tiny mountain town respond with the 13 weeks harsh winter weather in the tication, and this is where of Banner Elk will increase of the winter season. Much High Country, with those Morton came up with the tenfold with the advent of like the aforementioned weeks depending on the idea that only the best and the festival that truly draws groundhog, the woolly location of the segments on fastest worm would be the a crowd. worm is thought to indicate the winning woolly worm. one true oracle.

If the major league race weather. This is based on One of the more compelEver since the inception and the prodigious festival the color and quantity of ling facets of the lore is not of the event, visitors from were not enough, there is segments in accordance the accuracy of the worm as near and far have gathalso an astonishing twist to with the lore. much as which worm would ered in Banner Elk for the the entire event. The woolly Black segments represent be the forecaster. There are exciting, certified-family worm, fabled creature of harsh weather, while brown countless woolly worms event, participating by the High Country, isn’t even segments represent more available within sight in racing worms and enjoying a worm at all, but rather, a mild weather. For examthe area, from tanning on the great food, vendors and transfiguring caterpillar just Our 6th generation family farm makes farm-fresh cheese on site from our own happy dairy cows.

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FILE PHOTO

William Burrow examines the champion worm before it predicts the winter weather at the 2019 Banner Elk Woolly Worm Festival. The woolly worm’s predictive power is a long-standing piece of local folklore.

itching to become a swooping Isabella Tiger Moth.

A genuine cold weather survivor, the Woolly Worm will almost freeze solid in the winter during hibernation. Its body produces a chemical (cryoprotectant) that acts as an anti-freezing agent that protects their body tissue from being damaged.

After the larvae cocoons and endures the winter that it just predicted, it arises from slumber as the newly gestated Tiger Moth.

Much more popular and celebrated as a worm, the moth spends its remaining earthly time pestering

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A fact about the worms that may surprise folks is that they are soothed by music. Racers can motivate their race partners by playing or singing some nice tunes to get the little guys going. A nice power ballad or some old-time jazz should get the party moving and the worms grooving.

Entering its 44th year, the Banner Elk Woolly Worm Festival is held each third weekend in the month of October. Races will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sunday.

Banner Elk Location 3980 NC 105 South, Banner Elk, NC 28604

Newland Location 461 Pineola St, Newland, NC 28657

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Woolly Worm Gazette • Mountain Times Publications • Page 15

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

A historic look back at the annual Banner Elk Woolly Worm Festival COMPILED BY JAMIE SHELL EDITOR@AVERYJOURNAL. COM BANNER ELK — Although a full-fledged festival could not be held in 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Banner Elk Woolly Worm Festival has been a staple of the fall season in Avery County for more than four decades.

Since its inception in 1978, the festival has drawn hundreds of thousands of visitors to the High Country, as well as countless dollars to benefit local nonprofit groups and civic organizations.

When the event could not be held last year, the staff of The AJT searched the newspaper annals for images from Woolly Worm Festivals past, highlighting the joy and entertainment that the event represents and provides on an annual basis.

The 2021 Banner Elk Woolly Worm Festival returns to downtown Banner Elk on the third weekend in October, this year from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 16, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 17.

FILE PHOTO

The 1987 Woolly Worm Festival offered a grand prize of $500 and more than 4,000 people attended the event.

FILE PHOTO

Six-year-old Michael Holland with his woolly worm named ‘Lance’ was the grand prize winner at the 2003 festival.

FILE PHOTO

Roy Krege and Jim Morton were recognized for 40 years of service to the Woolly Worm Festival in 2017 during a meeting of the Banner Elk Kiwanis Club. Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation Executive Director Jesse Pope is pictured here with Krege, accepting a framed festival poster on behalf of the Morton family.

FILE PHOTO

‘Mr. Woolly Worm’ Roy Krege presents the $1,000 top prize to main-event winner Rebecca Perree, who poses with her winning worm named ‘Twinkle Toes’ at the 2015 Banner Elk Woolly Worm Festival.

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Page 16 • Mountain Times Publications • Woolly Worm Gazette

Wednesday, October 13, 2021