Grandfather Presents: Jeremy Wade

This event is SOLD OUT, and the waiting lists for “VIP Reception” and “Presentation” tickets are both full.

As a child in England, Jeremy Wade was obsessed with fishing. However, as he grew up, the rivers seemed more crowded with fishermen and the catches less mythical, and Wade’s dream faded. A chance discovery in his 20s of a magazine article about a fish in India, the mahseer, a giant golden-scaled carp that lives in thunderous rocky rivers, rekindled his passion. He dusted down his fishing rods and set off with £200 in his pocket to follow his dreams. Decades later, the rest, as they say, is history.

Wade was the presenter of the worldwide hit television series, “River Monsters.” His book of the same name (Orion, 2012) delivers a sometimes jaw-dropping blend of adventure, natural history, legend and detective work. It reads like a hunt for the Loch Ness Monster, but it’s all true! His book “How to Think Like a Fish” (W&N, 2019) teaches the reader how to improve their own fishing skills. Sparse on the details of technique, it is about the simple, fundamental principles – a mindset for success. It’s part science, part art and part elusive something else.

“We are excited to kick off this year’s Grandfather Presents speaker series with Jeremy Wade,” said Landis Taylor, vice president of marketing and communications for the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation. “He’s, of course, known for his adventures to some of the most remote corners of the world to find some of the most unique species of fish, and he’ll couple those stories with a call to action. Throughout his lifetime, he’s witnessed the changes happening to the planet’s water ecosystems and the importance of, and connection between, water quality and the health and well-being of humans.”

Wade’s program will be presented in the style of a “fireside chat” for a more casual feel, with a moderator asking questions and directing the conversation. There will also be time for members of the audience to ask questions.

The moderator for this event will be Elizabeth Biser, Secretary of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality. As DEQ Secretary, she oversees the state agency whose mission is to protect North Carolina’s environment and natural resources. The organization has offices from the mountains to the coast and administers regulatory and public assistance programs aimed at protecting the quality of North Carolina’s air, water and land, its coastal resources and marine fisheries, and the public’s health.

Copies of Wade’s books, “River Monsters” and “How to Think Like a Fish,” will be on sale at Grandfather Mountain’s Wilson Center gift shop prior to the event and on June 27 during Grandfather Presents, as supplies last. A summer reading list for the speaker series is coming soon!

Grandfather Presents Schedule

• 8 a.m. for June, July and August events, 9 a.m. for September event | Grandfather Mountain opens for the day, and “VIP Reception” ticket holders are allowed access to the park. New this year, your event ticket will be scanned at one of our ticket booths at the entrance gate.
• 4:45 p.m. | “Presentation” ticket holders are allowed to enter the park and are welcome to explore the Conservation Campus (Wilson Center, Mildred the Bear Environmental Habitats and more) prior to the speaker presentation. New this year, your event ticket will be scanned at one of our ticket booths at the entrance gate.
• 4:45 – 5:45 p.m. | Check-in for all event attendees near the front entrance of the Wilson Center (to receive your wristband for the event)
• 5 – 5:30 p.m. | “VIP” Reception in the Wilson Center (“VIP Reception” ticket holders only)
• 5:45 – 6:45 p.m. | Speaker presentation in the Classroom in the Clouds
• 6:45 – 7:30 p.m. | Meet-and-greet/book signing with speaker
• 7:45 p.m. | Park should be clear of all Grandfather Presents guests.

Grandfather Presents Tickets
Two tiers of ticket access are offered for Grandfather Presents events. 

“VIP Reception” tickets include a VIP reception with the guest speaker that features heavy hors d’oeuvres, in addition to the program and the “meet-and-greet/book-signing” session after the event. Admission to the park for the day is also included.

• $60 “VIP Reception” Adult
• $51 “VIP Reception” Bridge Club Member

(limited quantity available)

“Presentation” tickets are a more cost-effective option and include only the speaker’s program and the “meet-and-greet/book-signing” session after the event.

• $25 “Presentation” Adult
• $20 “Presentation” Bridge Club Member
• Children under 12 are admitted free with a paying adult (maximum of four free children per purchase).

Refunds/Cancellations
Full refunds will be given to individuals who reach out to us at least five days before the event. This allows time for individuals on the waiting list to make accommodations to attend the event. To cancel your registration, please call 828-733-2013 Monday – Friday between 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Fill your summer with learning and exploration: See our “Grandfather Presents” Reading List. 

Learn more about our 2024 Grandfather Presents speaker series.