Event Calendar
Plan to enjoy one of our special events during your visit to Grandfather Mountain! The vast majority are included with your park admission fee, but some events which require a small fee to ensure you receive expert guidance from specially trained individuals. Check the cost section of each Event Listing to confirm whether any additional fees apply.
In addition to the special events in the calendar below, check out our Daily Programs (April-October) and “behind the scenes” Experiences (weekends April-October). Also see an overview of our biggest annual events each year and updates on our popular Grandfather Glows Firefly Tours.
Events
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Animal Enrichment Day
Grandfather Mountain 2050 Blowing Rock Highway, Linville, NC, United StatesOn Animal Enrichment Day, guests will see firsthand how Grandfather Mountain cares for its resident animals. Visitors can enjoy watching demonstrations, talk directly with keepers and participate in family-oriented games and crafts. Included with admission.
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Educator Workshop: WILD About Bears
Grandfather Mountain 2050 Blowing Rock Highway, Linville, NC, United StatesNOTE: This Educator Workshop is intended specifically for educators — not the general public. This workshop is open to individuals studying for the NC Environmental Education Certification or those needing […]
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Grandfather by Night: Twilight Hike
Grandfather Mountain 2050 Blowing Rock Highway, Linville, NC, United StatesThis event is SOLD OUT. To be placed on the waiting list, please email judi@grandfather.com with your name, phone number, the name and date of this event and the number of tickets […]
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Sunrise at the Swinging Bridge
Grandfather Mountain 2050 Blowing Rock Highway, Linville, NC, United StatesBack by popular demand, Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, is offering a sunrise experience in 2026. This special event, titled “Sunrise at […]
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Adult Field Course: Exploring Natural Communities of Grandfather Mountain
Grandfather Mountain 2050 Blowing Rock Highway, Linville, NC, United StatesJoin us for an in-depth exploration of the natural community types found on Grandfather Mountain. In this class, you'll learn to recognize distinct habitats by studying their characteristic flora, fauna […]
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Adult Field Course: Fungi in the Cloud Forest
Grandfather Mountain 2050 Blowing Rock Highway, Linville, NC, United StatesThis event is SOLD OUT. To be placed on the waiting list, please email judi@grandfather.com with your name, phone number and the number of tickets you are interested in reserving. The southern Appalachians […]
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Grandfather by Night: Twilight Hike
This event is SOLD OUT. To be placed on the waiting list, please email judi@grandfather.com with your name, phone number and the number of tickets you are interested in reserving. Explore the mountain after hours with […]
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Junior Naturalist Day
Grandfather Mountain 2050 Blowing Rock Highway, Linville, NC, United StatesGrandfather Mountain’s Junior Ranger Program is now the Junior Naturalist Program — a new program for our new Conservation Campus! Activities throughout the day will be provided specifically for children ages 5-12 to explore their environment and experience all that Grandfather has to offer.
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Adult Field Course: Appalachian Woodcraft
Grandfather Mountain 2050 Blowing Rock Highway, Linville, NC, United StatesThe hardy settlers who made these mountains home were resourceful and made what they needed from what was at hand, and what was at hand was wood. We will examine […]
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Grandfather by Night: Naturalist Program
Grandfather Mountain 2050 Blowing Rock Highway, Linville, NC, United StatesExplore the mountain after hours with your own personal guides during our Grandfather by Night series! You’ll discover some of the park’s nighttime wonders, watch a stunning sunset (weather permitting) […]
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Grandfather Presents: Buddy Huffaker and Stan Temple
Grandfather Mountain 2050 Blowing Rock Highway, Linville, NC, United StatesBuddy Huffaker joined the Aldo Leopold Foundation in 1996 as a seasonal intern and has served as Executive Director since 1999. During his tenure, the foundation has grown into a […]
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Grandfather by Night: Twilight Hike
Grandfather Mountain 2050 Blowing Rock Highway, Linville, NC, United StatesExplore the mountain after hours with your own personal guides during our Grandfather by Night series! You’ll discover some of the park’s nighttime wonders, watch a stunning sunset (weather permitting) […]
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Mindfulness and Well-being Series: Nature and Forest Therapy at Grandfather Mountain
Join Mattie Decker, a certified forest therapy guide, for a relaxing 2 to 2.5-hour stroll through the forest at Grandfather Mountain. Through a series of invitations, you will have the […]
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Educator Workshop: BEETLES
Grandfather Mountain 2050 Blowing Rock Highway, Linville, NC, United StatesNOTE: This Educator Workshop is intended specifically for educators — not the general public. BEETLES (Better Environmental Education, Teaching, Learning and Expertise Sharing) provides learning resources devoted to improving the quality of outdoor science education for field instructors, leaders and classroom teachers.
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Hawk Watch
Grandfather Mountain 2050 Blowing Rock Highway, Linville, NC, United StatesAll throughout September, guests are invited to join the mountain’s naturalists as they count and celebrate the annual spectacle of fall raptor migration.