Alert Top Story Music, festivals among free things to do this weekend in and around McDowell County Billy Chapman Jun 4, 2026 Jun 4, 2026 0 Union Square in downtown Hickory is filled with music fans during a Sails Original Music Series concert. Submitted photo Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Billy Chapman People in McDowell and surrounding counties will have many choices to keep them busy this weekend.kAmq6=@H 2C6 2 76H 7C66 6G6?ED 92AA6?:?8 :? E96 C68:@?]k^Amk9bm}2E:@?2= %C2:=D s2Jk^9bmkAmk6>m'2C:@FD =@42E:@?D 24C@DD E96 2C62[ yF?6 ek^6>mk^AmkAm}2E:@?2= %C2:=D s2J :D 96=5 2??F2==J @? E96 7:CDE $2EFC52J :? yF?6] !6@A=6 2C6 6?4@FC2865 E@ 86E @FE5@@CD 2?5 6IA=@C6 2 ?6H @C 72G@C:E6 EC2:=]k^Am kAm%9:D H66<6?5[ E96 vd %C2:= r@==64E:G6 :D 9@DE:?8 EH@ 6G6?ED 7@C }2E:@?2= %C2:=D s2J :? |4s@H6== r@F?EJ] %96 8C@FA H:== 9@DE 2 C6@A6?:?8 46=63C2E:@? @7 E96 v2E6H2J %C2:=9625 :? ~=5 u@CE @? uC:52J 7C@> c\e A]>] %96 EC2:= H2D 52>2865 5F6 E@ 7=@@5:?8 5FC:?8 wFCC:42?6 w6=6?6]k^Am People are also reading… Old Fort to see 8-cent property tax increase, 10% increase in water and sewer rates Lake James beach day, music highlight free things to around McDowell County area this weekend The Madness holds soft opening of the new Marion restaurant Old Fort man charged with shooting into home, kicking in door McDowell Commissioners OK higher fire tax rates for four departments McDowell County man wins $100,000 in scratch-off prize Opening soon? The Madness, Copper Penny Grill still coming to Marion, owners say Update: Gas leak in Marion Monday morning cleared; road reopened Should McDowell County's sales tax increase? Voters to decide this fall Pedestrian hit by train, killed in downtown Hickory Thursday Mission Ministries Alliance receives award from state health department Marion man gets multiple drug charges after SWAT Team search Marion Juneteenth celebration is this week. Here's the 4-day schedule Adrienne Jones named new McDowell County Emergency Services director What was happening in McDowell County in June 250 years ago? Historian tells us kAm%96 8C@FA H:== 2=D@ 9@DE 2 EC2:= 4=62?FA 6G6?E @7 E96 w:4<@CJ qC2?49 %C2:= 2E E96 rFCE:D rC66< r2>A8C@F?5 7C@> `_ 2]>] E@ a A]>] @? $2EFC52J]k^AmkAmu@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?[ G:D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]8dEC2:=4@==64E:G6]@C8^G@=F?E66CQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmHHH]8dEC2:=4@==64E:G6]@C8^G@=F?E66C]k^2mk^Am kAmr2E2H32 r@F?EJ !2C<D 2?5 #64C62E:@? H:== AC@G:56 2 C2?86C\=65 9:<6 2E #:G6C36?5 !2C< @? $2EFC52J] %96 7C66[ 72>:=J\7C:6?5=J EH@\>:=6 9:<6 H:== 368:? 2E h 2]>] #68:DEC2E:@? :D ?@E C6BF:C65]k^Am Free maps show all types of activities and resources at Riverbend Park in Catawba County. ROBERT C. REED, RECORD FILE k9am|4s@H6== r@F?EJk^9amk9bm%C2:=D 2?5 %C2:?D u6DE:G2=k^9bm kAmk6>m~=5 u@CE[ yF?6 c\ek^6>mk^AmkAm%96 7@FCE9 2??F2= %C2:=D 2?5 %C2:?D 76DE:G2= H:== C6EFC? E@ ~=5 u@CE E9:D H66<6?5]k^Am kAm%96 76DE:G2= 9:89=:89ED ~=5 u@CE’D =@4@>@E:G6 9:DE@CJ 2?5 6?4@FC286D G:D:E@CD E@ DFAA@CE =@42= 3FD:?6DD6D]k^AmkAm!=2??65 6G6?ED @G6C E96 76DE:G2=’D E9C66 52JD :?4=F56 E2=<D H:E9 =@42= 6IA6CED[ 2 D42G6?86C 9F?E[ 6I6C4:D6 4=2DD6D[ =:G6 >FD:4 2?5 9:<6D]k^AmkAm%@ =62C? >@C6 23@FE E96 %C2:=D 2?5 %C2:?D u6DE:G2= 2?5 D66 2 D4965F=6 @7 6G6?ED[ G:D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^@=57@CE76DE]4@>Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm@=57@CE76DE]4@>k^2m]k^Am k9bm}]r] v@=5 u6DE:G2=k^9bm kAmk6>myF?6 d\e[ |2C:@?k^6>mk^AmkAm%96 7:CDE 8@=5 CFD9 :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 92AA6?65 :? }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 :? E96 =2E6 `f__D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 }]r] v@=5 u@F?52E:@?] %9:D H66<6?5[ 2 76DE:G2= 46=63C2E:?8 8@=5 H:== 36 96=5 :? |2C:@?]k^AmkAm%96 aa?5 2??F2= }]r] v@=5 u6DE:G2= H:== 36 96=5 2E {F4<J $EC:<6 v@=5 2?5 v6> |:?6[ ad` {F4<J $EC:<6 sC:G6 :? |2C:@?] %96 76DE:G2= H:== CF? 7C@> a\h A]>] @? yF?6 d 2?5 h 2]>] E@ e A]>] @? yF?6 e]k^Am kAm':D:E@CD E@ E96 76DE:G2= H:== 36 23=6 E@ A2? 7@C 8@=5[ 962C =:G6 >FD:4 2?5 D9@A 7C@> 2 G2C:6EJ @7 G6?5@CD]k^Am kAmp5>:DD:@? 2?5 A2C<:?8 7@C E96 76DE:G2= 2C6 7C66]k^Am In this photo from 2011, Lucas Matteson of Hendersonville pans for gold and gems at the N.C. Gold Festival in Marion. File photo k9bm{:G6C>FD9 u6DE:G2=k^9bmkAmk6>myF?6 e[ |2C:@?k^6>mk^AmkAm%96 `gE9 2??F2= {:G6C>FD9 u6DE:G2= H:== 36 96=5 :? 5@H?E@H? |2C:@? @? yF?6 e 7C@> d\h A]>]k^AmkAmu@@5 G6?5@CD H:== D6CG6 =:G6C>FD9[ 2 A@C< AC@5F4E >256 7C@> 2 G2C:6EJ @7 A:8 A2CED[ =:G6C>FD9\:?DA:C65 5:D96D 2?5 @E96C 76DE:G2=\A@AF=2C 7@@5D]k^Am kAmu6DE:G2= 2EE6?566D 42? 2=D@ A2CE:4:A2E6 :? 2 9@8 42==:?8 2?5 A:8 DBF62=:?8 4@?E6DE] %96 r2CD@? w@FD6 *@FE9 $EC:?8 2?5 (:C68C2DD 32?5D H:== AC@G:56 =:G6 >FD:4]k^Am kAm%@ =62C? >@C6[ G:D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^72463@@<]4@>^6G6?ED^`_aa_bcbfbcehabdQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm72463@@<]4@>^6G6?ED^`_aa_bcbfbcehabdk^2m]k^Amk9amr2E2H32 r@F?EJk^9amk9bm%J=6C #2>D6J %C:@k^9bm kAmk6>myF?6 d[ w:4<@CJk^6>mk^Am kAm%J=6C #2>D6J[ 7@C>6C=J 2 >6>36C @7 E96 C@4< 32?5 q2?5 @7 w@CD6D[ H:== 3C:?8 9:D 7@=< >FD:4 D@F?5 E@ 5@H?E@H? w:4<@CJ @? uC:52J 2D A2CE @7 E96 4:EJ’D $2:=D ~C:8:?2= |FD:4 $6C:6D]k^AmkAm|FD:4 368:?D 2E f A]>]k^Am kAmu@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?[ G:D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]9:4<@CJ?4]8@G^$2:=D|FD:4Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm9:4<@CJ?4]8@G^D2:=D>FD:4k^2m]k^Am k9bmyFC2DD:4 !2C< EC:G:2 7@C E66?Dk^9bmkAmk6>myF?6 e[ r@?@G6Ck^6>mk^AmkAmx7 J@F 92G6 2 E66?286C H9@ <?@HD 2 =@E 23@FE 5:?@D2FCD[ E96J >2J H2?E E@ 2EE6?5 E9:D 6G6?E 2E E96 r@?@G6C 3C2?49 @7 E96 r2E2H32 r@F?EJ {:3C2CJ[ =@42E65 2E c_b r@?@G6C $E2E:@? $t] %C:G:2 H:== 368:? 2E `` 2]>] %66?D H:== 92G6 E96 492?46 E@ H:? 5:?@D2FC\E96>65 AC:K6D]k^Amk9amqFC<6 r@F?EJk^9am k9bm~FE5@@C 4@?46CED :? qFC<6 r@F?EJk^9bmkAmk6>myF?6 d[ |@C82?E@? 2?5 '2=56D6k^6>mk^AmkAm%F2E92 s62[ 56D4C:365 2D 2 AC@8C6DD:G6 r6=E:4 2?5 pAA2=249:2? C@4< 32?5[ H:== A6C7@C> :? 5@H?E@H? |@C82?E@? @? uC:52J 2E f A]>]k^Am kAms:CEJ vC2DD $@F= H:== 3C:?8 E96:C 3=F68C2DD[ C@4< 2?5 4@F?ECJ 24E E@ %6>A=6 u:6=5 :? '2=56D6 @? uC:52J] |FD:4 368:?D 2E f A]>]k^Am k9amxC656== r@F?EJk^9amk9bm$:=< vC@@G6 U2>Aj x?D@>?:24Dk^9bm kAmk6>myF?6 d[ $E2E6DG:==6k^6>mk^AmkAm$:=< vC@@G6 U2>Aj x?D@>?:24D H:== A=2J 2 G2C:6EJ @7 >FD:4 7C@> E96 `hd_D E@ 4FCC6?E J62CD 2D A2CE @7 !:65>@?E w62=E942C6’D uC:52J p7E6C u:G6 6G6?E :? 5@H?E@H? $E2E6DG:==6]k^AmkAm|FD:4 368:?D 2E dib_]k^Am kAmu@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?[ G:D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^DE2E6DG:==6?4]4@>^4@??64E:@?D^ab`bh\7C:52J\27E6C\d\DF>>6C\4@?46CE\D6C:6DQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmDE2E6DG:==6?4]4@>^4@??64E:@?D^ab`bh\7C:52J\27E6C\d\DF>>6C\4@?46CE\D6C:6Dk^2m]k^Am Billy Chapman is a reporter with the Hickory Daily Record.wchapman@hickoryrecord.com 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Lake James beach day, music highlight free things to around McDowell County area this weekend The Barefoot Baby Foundation and Centro Unido Latin America will host a free family beach day at Lake James State Park. Marion Juneteenth celebration is this week. Here's the 4-day schedule “Juneteenth reminds us that freedom and community go hand in hand. When we come together to celebrate, learn, and uplift one another, we stren… See schedule, events at 2026 N.C. 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Marion Juneteenth celebration is this week. Here's the 4-day schedule “Juneteenth reminds us that freedom and community go hand in hand. When we come together to celebrate, learn, and uplift one another, we stren…
See schedule, events at 2026 N.C. Gold Festival, coin show this weekend in McDowell County During the festival, there will be a variety of vendors such as gold dealers, gold mining equipment dealers, gemstone-themed vendors, hand cra…
Trails, Trains and Travelin’ McCourys: Festival is multifaceted celebration of outdoors, music The fourth annual Trails & Trains Festival welcomes outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy the trails, waterfalls and natural surroundings of Old Fo…
Need something to do? See events scheduled for McDowell County this week See what's happening in McDowell County.
