Categories

Community Happenings April 30, 2026

Published on May 6th, 2026

Protects | Preserves | Informs | Engages | Unites


April 30, 2026

Greetings from BRCA 28605!  Here are this week's happenings:


Art In The Park

Art in the Park returns May 16th from 10:00 am until 4 PM in downtown Blowing Rock.


Kentucky Derby May 2nd

The 152nd Kentucky Derby is scheduled for this Saturday May 2nd.  Post time is 6:57 PM EST.  This year’s race will be the 12th race of the day with a purse of $5 Million.  There are 20 horses in this year's race as of today.  Mint Julips for everyone!


Music on the Lawn

Returns to the lawn at The Inn at Ragged Garden starting Friday May 8th


Blowing Rock Thursday Market

This event begins May 14th and will be held each Thursday. The event includes mountain made items, produce, pottery, and much more.  The event will be held at 132 Park Avenue in Blowing Rock.

 

Trout Derby Saturday May 2nd

 

Trout Fest and Trout Derby will be held this Saturday.  You can view fill details by clicking on this link: https://thespeckledtroutoutfitters.com/pages/events

BRCA Annual Priorities Survey 2026

The annual survey will begin on May 4th.  Because of our massive audience growth on social media, we have decided rather than sending post cards we would promote our survey on Facebook with the BRCA page and the Blowing Rock Community Page.  This will give us maximum exposure to the largest audience.


Reminder: New Stop Sign on Green Hill Rd.


A new stop sign has been approved by DOT to go at the intersection of Green Hill Road and Wonderland Drive.  This will transition this intersection into a "three-way stop."  Signage has been posted along those streets to prepare drivers for the coming change.

 

2026 Community Clean-up Day

 

Join us for the 2026 Blowing Rock Community Clean Up Day!

 

  • Date: May 6, 2026
  • Time: 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
  • Join fellow community members for a morning of giving back and helping keep Blowing Rock beautiful.
  • Volunteers will work together to pick up litter and spruce up areas around town.
  • Supplies provided — just bring comfortable shoes and a willingness to help!

 

A great opportunity to enjoy the outdoors, meet neighbors, and make a positive impact in our community!

 


Yonni's Clubhouse Opens @ Grandfather Mt.

Yonni's Clubhouse officially opened next to the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery on April 4! The new hands-on science and conservation education center, geared toward children ages 5 to 12, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

To make the opening official and celebrate the donors and foundations that supported the project, we held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday, April 18. Stewart and Martha Gray, Grandfather donors who made a major gift to support the center, have a passion for both the mountain and for exploring science museums with their grandchildren. Their donation supported the construction of the center, envisioning it as an immersive offering for kids to learn about conservation and the natural world around them. Thank you, Stewart and Martha!

Interactive exhibits are focused on pollinators, climate, weather and ecosystems. Some highlights are a seek-and-find forest mural, glass exhibit habitats for educational animals such as snakes and Cope’s gray treefrogs, a full-scale tree model, a drawing nook and a microscope station.

Outside, there is an ADA-accessible nature trail connecting the facility’s covered deck and new pollinator and sensory gardens with interactive exhibits and interpretive signage that reinforce and expand upon the indoor exhibits’ concepts.

Discover more about the new space and share your photos and videos with us.

 

Legislative Update from WUNC

Key 2026 Property Tax Proposals:

  • Constitutional Tax Cap: The committee advanced a proposal for a state constitutional amendment that would require the General Assembly to establish a levy limit on local property taxes, aimed at slowing rate increases, as discussed on WUNC and WRAL.
  • Closing Tax Loophole: Legislators are targeting a loophole allowing for-profit developers to claim nonprofit "affordable housing" tax exemptions. The new legislation, detailed in NC Newsline and Carolina Journal, would tighten eligibility and require full reapplication for exemptions.
  • Homestead Exclusion Increase: Proposed changes in the 2025-2026 session aim to increase the homestead exclusion for seniors or disabled residents to the greater of  (TBD) or of the appraised value, notes the UNC School of Government.
  • Impact: If approved, the measures could significantly limit local municipal revenue options and alter revenue streams for public services. 

 

Thank You!

On behalf of all of us at BRCA we sincerely appreciate your financial support and your ongoing engagement.  Thank you for following us.  We also want to welcome our new members and viewers; we welcome you to BRCA.  Have a great weekend.  If you are not a member of BRCA please consider joining for a little as $100 annually.  Have a great weekend!
 
Tom Barrett
VP & Executive Committee Member

 

BRCA: We are about all of Blowing Rock

 

 

0