  In addition to our scenic mountains and adventure on the New River, festivals and events make Alleghany County and Sparta, North Carolina, a special place to be. The following list of weekly activities and annual events provide an overview for the area. Check our Calendar of Events for details on these activities as well as the many smaller programs in the area. If you still have questions, do not hesitate to email or call at 800-372-5473 or 336-372-5473. The Crouse House Pickers gather at Crouse Park at 6 p.m. on Mondays for their weekly free jam (two blocks behind and north of the Courthouse in the center of Sparta, NC). Their home is in the Crouse House at the Park’s center, but on warm evenings they spill onto the porch or onto the Crouse Park stage. Musicians have been gathering for this weekly event for more than two decades and no two evenings find the exact same mix of players. If you pick a guitar or can make a fiddle sing, you are invited to sit in.
Tuesdays, beginning at 7 p.m., and Saturdays, at 8 p.m., the Alleghany Jubilee, on Sparta’s Main Street across from the Courthouse, offers the finest in traditional mountain music that will keep your toe tapping or lure you onto the dance floor. Admission is a whopping $4. 336-372-4591
May through November motorcycle riders turn out to tour the Blue Ridge Parkway and the back roads of the area and they always seem to find the music and good food in the Motorcycle Capital of North Carolina at mile post 248 in Laurel Springs. Just 14 miles south of Sparta on NC 18, everyone enjoys the hospitality and entertainment in Laurel Spring at Stations Inn and Freeborne’s Eatery and Lodge.
Alleghany County is the home of the Alleghany Mower Racing Association which kicks off its season of Lawn Mower Racing at the Alleghany County Fairgrounds in May. Drivers earn points at AMRA sanctioned races in Sparta, Galax and North Wilkesboro, culminating in the season’s final race the week of the Alleghany County Fair. Check the Calendar of Events for local competition.
June Jamboree features special activities planned by Sparta merchants between Memorial Day and the Fourth of July weekend. Check the Calendar of Events for activities during this time.
The Parade celebrating the Fourth of July winds south along Sparta’s Main Street beginning at 2 p.m., the Saturday before July 4th. On July 4th, a giant tailgating party in the Alleghany High School parking lot features music and food and is capped off by a fireworks show at dusk.
Musicians flock to the County Fairgrounds Friday and Saturday of the third weekend in July for the Alleghany Fiddlers Convention to compete in musical and dance performances that celebrate traditional mountain music. Camping available. See their website for details.
The fourth weekend in July has a little something for every member of the family. Friday and Saturday the Alleghany Quilters’ Guild displays the best work of their members at the Black Building at the County Fairgrounds. Admission is free and you get to vote for the Peoples’ Choice Award. Concurrently at Crouse Park, the Blue Ridge Mountain Fair unfolds with a variety of local and area artists, entertainment and food. Saturday in the NAPCO manufacturing parking lot, the VFW Vehicle Show displays some of the finest rolling stock in three states. We call it our weekend triple play. Check the Calendar of Events for details.
 The second Saturday in August, the Blue Ridge Parkway recalls the heritage of the pioneers of the area with the Brinegar Days Celebration. Brinegar Cabin at milepost 238, is the restored homestead of Martin and Carolyn Brinegar. Demonstrations and educational activities highlight mountain life as it was a century ago.
August is County Fair time featuring agricultural competition and displays, carnival rides, culminating with the closing Lawn Mower Race of the season and fireworks finale. Check the Calendar of Events for exact dates and times.
The Mountain Heritage Festival spreads along Sparta’s Main Street the third Saturday in September. Some 100 food and craft vendors and demonstrators, live musical entertainment and traditional mountain dance are capped off with the annual Possum Queen competition and crowning.
The first Sunday in October, the Thistle Meadow Wine Festival hosts vintners and crafts people from the area. Enjoy an afternoon of sampling new wine and browsing hand-made items. A $5 admission includes a complimentary wine glass that is yours to keep.
In October everyone wants to know when is the best time to view the color of the Fall Leaf Season. While every year is a bit different, October 15-22 is usually a good time to visit. For an attempt at a more accurate forecast, call 800-372-5473 or 336-372-5473 and we will do our best to read the tree leaves.
 November begins the countdown to Christmas in the Mountains. The first of our choose and cut Christmas Tree farms open in early November. By Thanksgiving, the nip in the air and the many cars with trees tied to their roofs mean Christmas can’t be far behind. The Saturday after Thanksgiving, the big Christmas Parade winds down Sparta’s Main Street, beginning at 2 p.m. The following first Saturday in December the Christmas Craft Fair is held at the Black Building at the County Fairgrounds. For an evening of traditional inspiration, the community Singing Christmas Tree performs at 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday of that weekend at First Baptist Church (336-372-8446). Check the Calendar of Events for event details. Go to Sparta-NC.com/choose for a list of choose and cut farms, their holiday schedule and a map and directions for each farm.
For precise times and details on smaller events, check the Calendar of Events. Email or call 800-372-5473 or 336-372-5473 with your questions. Many events are located at the County Fairgrounds which is 1.5 miles north of Sparta on US 21 and at Crouse Park, located at the corner of NC 18 North and Grayson Street, two blocks behind the Courthouse in the center of town.
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