Over twenty years, Blowing Rock WinterFest celebrates all things winter. The annual weekend event that takes place every January features a polar bear plunge in Chetola Lake, ice-carvings, chili cook-off, wine tastings, auctions, and other activities. The main highlights of the festival also include a WinterFest beer garden and a fashion show.
The beautiful town of Blowing Rock is nestled on Blue Ridge Parkway at an elevation of 3,566 ft (1,086 m). With ice sculptures put on display in front of many downtown businesses and with holiday lights twinkling on the streets, the town looks like a real winter wonderland. More masterpieces made of ice can be seen during Ice Carving Demos that are held in the Memorial Park from Thursday through Sunday.
More than 15 eateries gather under one roof during the restaurant showcase at Chetola Resort. This is one of the most popular events of the festival, along with the Saturday Polar Bear Plunge, where anyone can put on a costume and become the “Golden Plunger”. On Sunday, the Blowing Rock School Gym hosts the WinterPaws Dog Show. This is a fun event where pets compete in categories like Best Dog Trick, Cutest Dog, and more.
