Banner Elk Downtown Get Down Oct. 25

Already being affectionately referred to as "the festivus for the rest of us," the inaugural Banner Elk Downtown Get Down is being organized citizens of Banner Elk banding together to help a community member in need, while bringing some great music and fun to the High Country.

What started as discussions about the best way to assist a friend who must undergo a kidney transplant has grown into what they hope will be an annual music festival for the locals. On Sunday, Oct. 25, everyone in the High Country is invited to the Banner Elk Town Park for the "Downtown Get Down," featuring the music of Big Daddy Love, Melissa Reaves, Dark Side of the Boone, The Lucky Strikes and The Whip Daddies. Many of the area's finest restaurants are donating food for the festival and some of the area's local rock star chefs, led by Jarad Blackley, will be preparing it that day.

"There has been an outpouring of generosity toward all aspects of putting on this benefit concert," event organizer Lynne Lear said. "We are batting a thousand on donations for the silent auction and the food and drink - everyone we have asked to donate has done so, and gladly. I am overwhelmed by the generosity of our friends and neighbors."

Donating food for the event are Artisinal Restaurant, The Bayou Smokehouse, Stonewalls, Sorrento's, Bellas, Pappy's and The Hearthstone Tavern & Grille. The silent auction will include items from Beech Mountain, Sugar Mountain, Ski Country Sports, Pepper's, Crippen's Country Inn and Restaurant, Makoto's, The Best Cellar at the Inn at Ragged Garden, Peabody's Wine and Beer Merchants, Finders Keepers, Savory Thymes, Erick's Cheese and Wine, The Louisiana Purchase, The Best Western Mountain Lodge, The 1906 Pine Crest Inn, Dereka's Sugar Mountain Accommodations, and Elk River Country Club.

"We are a tourist area, and everyone here works very hard through the leaf season, so this is a great way for us to let our hair down toward the end of it - see all of our friends and shake a little booty," Lear said. Anne Bolyea, another of the event's organizers, added, "Helping one of our own is what our community is all about. And showing everyone a really good time while we help just makes it that much better."

The festivities will begin at 1 p.m. and continue on until dark, or maybe a little later (the event is planned to run until 6 p.m. but if the weather's nice and all is well, the party may continue till 10 p.m.). There will be face painting and other activities for the kiddies, as well as a playground already available. The organizers ask that attendees not bring coolers, as the music is free and the money being raised will come solely from the sale of food, drink, T-shirts and the silent auction. Beer and wine will be available for those over 21 years of age, and identification is required.

In case of rain, the Get Down will be held at the Best Western Mountain Lodge, located at 1615 Tynecastle Highway in Banner Elk.

Sponsors include The Louisiana Purchase, Fred's Mercantile, Christopher's Wine & Cheese, The Inn at Crestwood, The Lounge at Crestwood, Almost Rodeo Drive, Guilded Age Antiques, Bella's and The Country Gourmet.

To donate to the silent auction or to volunteer, contact Anne Bolyea at (828) 265-7591or Lynne Lear at (423) 794-8825. To donate food or to volunteer with the cooking, contact Jarad Blackley at (828) 260--5248.