Ongoing Events

The Carolina Mountains: Photography of Margaret Morley presented by the North Carolina Museum of History and the Mountain Gateway Museum & Heritage Center. Photographs feature an intimate look at everyday life in western North Carolina around the turn of the 20th century. Exhibited photographs displayed at Mountain Gateway Museum, Old Fort Train Station, Museum & Visitor’s Center, the Marion Davis Branch of McDowell County Public Library and Catawba Vale Coffee Cafe all located in Old Fort. For more information, call the McDowell County Tourism Authority, 888-233-6111 or 828-668-4282.

Bluegrass Music Jam every Thursday. Open to all musicians, no scheduled performers. Outdoors bring chairs or blankets (the music moves indoors for inclement weather). Free; 7-9pm, Marion Depot, Marion. For more information, call 828-652-2215 or visit www.downtownmarion.org.

Old Fort Mountain Music. Every Friday evening for more than a decade, folks have gathered to hear and play bluegrass and traditional mountain music. Nobody’s paid, everyone’s welcome and coffee and sodas are still just a quarter! All musicians are encouraged to join in the fun. Planning to visit? Don’t forget to bring your instruments with you! Friday evenings; 7:00pm; Rockett Building, Main Street in downtown Old Fort; for more information call 1-888-233-6111.

Davidson’s Fort Historic Park - Old Fort is open to the public each Saturday between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. The organization is in the process of creating a replica of the original, Revolutionary War-era fort built there in the town in 1776. The public is welcome to observe the workers, bring a chair and your camera! Project information, funding needs and more may be found on their website at www.davidsonsfort.com.

Tracks Music. Great dance music for everyone. New and old Country, Beach, old-time Rock and Roll, Blues, Cloggin’, Broom dances and more. Open every Friday and Saturday night 7:30-11pm. Admission: $6. Free (with paid admission) Line Dance lessons Saturdays only 6-7pm. Bacon Drive, Old Fort. For more information, call 828-460-8852.

Various other locations in the county offer free music on the weekends, use the links to the right for more specific musicians, times and locations.