Special Events
Plan to enjoy one of our special or daily events during your visit to Grandfather Mountain!
Scroll through the exciting list below to locate the events that interest you, or choose a specific date to see the park happenings on that day.
The vast majority of our events are included with your park admission fee, but some events which require a small fee to participate to ensure you receive expert guidance and knowledge from specially trained individuals. Check the cost section of each Event Listing to confirm whether any additional fees apply.
We look forward to seeing you on the mountain!
Events Search and Views Navigation
September 2019
HawkWatch
All throughout September, guests are invited to join the mountain’s naturalists as they count and celebrate the annual spectacle of the fall raptor migration. Participants can meet daily at Linville Peak, across the Mile High Swinging Bridge, weather permitting.
Find out more »Junior Ranger Day
This is a day of curiosity and fun! Programs throughout the day will be provided specifically for kids, ages 5-12, to explore their environment and experience all that Grandfather Mountain has to offer.
Find out more »49th Annual Girl Scout Day
Girl Scouts are invited to join the park’s naturalists for a fun-filled learning adventure on Grandfather Mountain. All Girl Scouts and troop leaders are admitted free with proof of membership.
Find out more »Creatures of the Night & Bonfire Delight
As night falls on Grandfather Mountain, guests can enjoy rare after-dark tours, fireside tales and a chance to meet the park’s nocturnal residents. Additional cost. Limited to 48 participants. Registration opens Aug. 26. at grandfather.com.
Find out more »October 2019
The Fall Color Ramble
Join Grandfather Mountain's naturalists for a guided walk through the park's most colorful spots, showcasing the splendor of fall color.
Find out more »Fall Color Sketchbook
Designed for enthusiasts with little to no artistic training, this foundation course focuses on creating accurate and beautiful botanical illustrations. Participants will learn basic observation and drawing techniques with pen and pencil and will use colored pencils to apply vibrant color.
Find out more »Beary Scary Halloween
Visit Grandfather Mountain for a day of nature programs about animals considered creepy and crawly! This fun-filled celebration includes an opportunity to create special Halloween enrichments for the animals and then trick-or-treat through the animal habitats area. Plus, children in costume are admitted at half-price.
Find out more »November 2019
All About Elk Educator Workshop
This educator workshop, led by N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission educator Tanya Poole, will focus on elk in North Carolina. A majority of the workshop will be spent learning about the life history and current research on elk, as well as activities that can be incorporated into educational programs.
Find out more »Methods of Teaching Environmental Education
The focus of this 10-hour workshop is to prepare participants from a variety of educational backgrounds and experiences in both the formal and non-formal sectors to use exemplary Environmental Education teaching methods.
Find out more »January 2020
New Year’s Sunrise
There are sunrises, and then there are Grandfather Mountain sunrises. And then there are Grandfather Mountain New Year’s Day sunrises. Ring in an epic New Year on Wednesday, Jan. 1, for the first sunrise of 2020 — atop Grandfather Mountain. This special event will allow guests the rare opportunity to visit Grandfather Mountain outside of regular operating hours. “These events are popular among nature lovers, photographers of all skill levels and anyone hoping to see the Blue Ridge Mountains in…
Find out more »March 2020
Methods of Teaching Environmental Education
The focus of this 10-hour workshop is to prepare participants from a variety of educational backgrounds and experiences in both the formal and non-formal sectors to use exemplary Environmental Education teaching methods.
Find out more »Owl Identification & Behavior on Grandfather Mountain
Owls represent the “night shift” for birds of prey. For most of us, they are known only as mysterious sounds from the woods behind your house or in the background of a movie. During this adult field course led by Steve Dowlan with High Country Audubon, we will attempt to more intimately acquaint ourselves with these mysterious sounds by spending time with a few captive owls, as well as looking for several owl species in their native habitats within the…
Find out more »April 2020
Advanced Birding: Spring Migration
NOTE: Due to safety concerns surrounding the spread of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus), Grandfather Mountain has canceled this event. Have you wondered why some bird species are always easy to identify all of the time, some bird species are easy to identify some of the time, and some bird species seem to be almost impossible to identify all of the time? The answers can be found in the natural history of individual species. Led by Steve Dowlan with High Country Audubon,…
Find out more »May 2020
Sunrise & Landscape Photography on Grandfather Mountain
NOTE: Due to safety concerns surrounding the spread of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus), Grandfather Mountain has canceled this event. Grandfather Mountain offers one of the most picturesque landscapes in the southeast. Join us as we explore the mountain before the gate opens to other visitors. We’ll watch the sun rise over the mountains and play with light in the forest. This course is led by Tommy White, a full-time photographer based in Boone, N.C. Adult Field Courses Grandfather Mountain’s Adult…
Find out more »Spring Sketching on Grandfather Mountain
NOTE: Due to safety concerns surrounding the spread of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus), Grandfather Mountain has canceled this event. The naturalist’s sketchbook is full of sketches of natural objects that bring moments in nature to life! The way you arrange these drawings on a page can boost the storytelling quality of your sketches. In this course led by artist Preston Montague, participants will learn how to tell a story through the arrangement of objects in a sketchbook, as well as basic…
Find out more »