College and Town of Banner Elk unite in celebration
The Town of Banner Elk and Lees-McRae College will celebrate their mutual histories Thursday, Oct. 4 with the Founder’s Day Ceremony and Family Picnic and Concert.
Both events—which are free and open to the public—precede the inauguration of 16th President of Lees-McRae, Dr. Herbert L. King Jr. on Friday, Oct. 5.
The Founder’s Day Ceremony will begin at 4:30 p.m. in Tate-Evans Park in Banner Elk and feature a twin-tree planting and presentation. Co-hosted by both Lees-McRae and the Town of Banner Elk, speakers will include President King, Town Manager Rick Owen and local historian Michael Hardy.
To symbolize their enduring connections, one tree will be planted in Swank Park on the campus of Lees-McRae and another in Tate-Evans Park.
After the Founder’s Day Ceremony, the evening’s festivities will continue during the Family Picnic and Concert.
Starting at 5 p.m.in Tate-Evans Park, the evening will feature live entertainment, food trucks, inflatable games for all ages, and interactive novelties. Attendees are asked to bring a non-perishable food item to be donated to Feeding Avery Families in lieu of admission.
On the main stage, performances from The Harris Brothers, a Lenoir-based Bluegrass band, followed by Nashville-based Mountain Heart will set the scene as several High Country food trucks offer options for all tastes.
Food trucks will include Betty’s Biscuits from Banner Elk, The Cardinal, Egg Roll-In, and All Thai’d Up Ice Cream Rolls & Smoothies from Boone, Carolina Barbeque from Newland, Beech Mountain’s own Beech Mountain Brewing Company, and Banner Elk’s Flat Top Mountain Brewery. Free hot dogs will be available for children 12 and under provided by the Town of Banner Elk.
Attendees can park for free at either the Historic Banner Elk Elementary School or the Town Hall parking lot.
Both Thursday’s and Friday’s events lead into the college’s annual Homecoming weekend from Oct. 5–7. Learn more about Homecoming 2018 here
Learn more about President King’s Inauguration as well as the events leading up to it here
