This is the easiest night out of your stay. Every Friday through the summer, Valle Crucis Community Park hosts free live music on the lawn beside the Watauga River, with bluegrass, old-time and Americana bands from around the High Country. The 2026 season ran from June 5 to September 4, starting at 6pm.
Bring a picnic and something to sit on, and spread out on the grass while the kids play. Folding chairs are waiting in the front closet at the house. Entry is free, with a suggested donation of $5 a person or $10 a family, which helps keep the park running. It’s a nonprofit that relies on donations for most of its budget.
The park itself is worth a visit any time of year. It covers 28 acres along the river, with a walking path, playgrounds, a basketball court and two covered picnic shelters. Look for the wooden bear on a stump at the driveway, next to the Mast Store Annex, and take the gravel road slowly.
