Top Story Spotlight Lake James beach day, music highlight free things to around McDowell County area this weekend Billy Chapman Jun 11, 2026 Jun 11, 2026 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save A family day at Lake James State Park and music highlight the happenings around the McDowell County area this weekend. k9am|4s@H6== r@F?EJk^9amk9bmu2>:=J 52J 2E {2<6 y2>6D $E2E6 !2C<k^9bmkAm|2C:@?[ yF?6 `bk^AmkAm%96 q2C67@@E q23J u@F?52E:@? 2?5 r6?EC@ &?:5@ {2E:?@ p>6C:42?@ H:== 9@DE 2 7C66 72>:=J 36249 52J 2E {2<6 y2>6D $E2E6 !2C<]k^Am kAm%96 6G6?E H:== 92G6 2 D2?542DE=6 4@>A6E:E:@?[ >FD:4 2?5 “5:?@D2FC 5:8]” p 7C66 9@E 5@8 =F?49 H:== 36 AC@G:565]k^Am People are also reading… Camping World property in Marion sold to Christian mission organization Update: 1 injured in I-40 wreck in McDowell County; truck veered off road Meat processing plant in Marion to expand, create new jobs Crash temporarily shut down lanes of I-40 in McDowell County Monday night Man pleads guilty of distributing 156 pounds of meth in Burke, McDowell counties The Madness holds soft opening of the new Marion restaurant McDowell County woman charged after children in her care test positive for narcotics McDowell County welding student gets scholarship after turning hurrricane hardship into service How a Marine veteran bought a new home without paying a dollar in upfront closing costs What's in a name? Mr. Bob’s Do-Nuts' Apple Ugly pastry has new name, same taste Christmas in July? Marion's Historic Carson House to host Christmas Market this weekend Town of Old Fort buys property for new town hall, purchase paid for with FEMA funds Barefoot Baby Foundation to host free ‘Pirate Invasion’ at McDowell Rec Center pool About 3,500 lose power in McDowell County; cooling station open Thursday evening Bryce Young's momentum gives Carolina Panthers reason for optimism in 2026 kAm%96 6G6?E H:== CF? 7C@> `_ 2]>] E@ c A]>]k^AmkAmu@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?[ G:D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^32C67@@E323J7@F?52E:@?]@C8Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm32C67@@E323J7@F?52E:@?]@C8k^2m]k^Amk9amr2E2H32 r@F?EJk^9amk9bmsF=4:k^9bm kAmw:4<@CJ[ yF?6 `ak^AmkAmsF=4:[ 2 A@A D:?86C 2?5 D@?8HC:E6C 7C@> }@CE9 r2C@=:?2[ 2?5 96C 32?5 H:== C6EFC? E@ w:4<@CJ 2D A2CE @7 E96 4:EJ’D $2:=D ~C:8:?2= |FD:4 $6C:6D] x? 2 AC6DD C6=62D6[ E96 4:EJ 56D4C:365 sF=4:’D >FD:4 2D 2? FA362E D@F?5 E92E 4@>3:?6D H:E9 pAA2=249:2? DE@CJE6==:?8]k^Am kAmsF=4: H:== A6C7@C> 5@H?E@H? 2E &?:@? $BF2C6] |FD:4 H:== 368:? 2E f A]>] !6@A=6 2EE6?5:?8 E96 6G6?E 2C6 6?4@FC2865 E@ 3C:?8 E96:C @H? 492:CD @C 3=2?<6ED]k^AmkAmu@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?[ G:D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^9:4<@CJ?4]8@G^D2:=D>FD:4Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm9:4<@CJ?4]8@G^D2:=D>FD:4k^2m]k^Am Union Square in downtown Hickory is filled with music fans during a Sails Original Music Series concert. Submitted photo k9bmq:<6 #@56@k^9bmkAmr@?@G6C[ yF?6 `bk^AmkAm%96 4:EJ @7 r@?@G6C H:== 9@=5 2 3:<6 C@56@ @? $2EFC52J 7C@> `_ 2]>] E@ a A]>]E@ AC@>@E6 3:4J4=6 D276EJ]k^Am kAm!6@A=6 2EE6?5:?8 E96 6G6?E H:== 42? 7:?5 @FE E96:C AC@A6C 96=>6E D:K6[ =62C? 23@FE 3:4J4=6 D276EJ 2?5 A2CE:4:A2E6 :? 2? @3DE24=6 4@FCD6]k^AmkAm%96 6G6?E H:== 36 96=5 2E r@?@G6C r:EJ !2C<[ be` u:7E9 pG6?F6 $t]k^Am k9amqFC<6 r@F?EJk^9amk9bmr@>:?8 &A qC2DDk^9bmkAm|@C82?E@?[ yF?6 `ak^AmkAm%9:D 32?5[ 56D4C:365 2D J249E C@4< 2?5 D@F=[ H:== A6C7@C> :? 5@H?E@H? |@C82?E@? uC:52J ?:89E 2D A2CE @7 E96 4:EJ’D %vxu DF>>6C 4@?46CE D6C:6D]k^Am kAm|FD:4 H:== 368:? 2E f A]>] !6@A=6 2EE6?5:?8 2C6 6?4@FC2865 E@ 3C:?8 2 3=2?<6E @C =2H? 492:C] u@@5 G6?5@CD H:== 36 @? D:E6 DE2CE:?8 2E e A]>]k^Am A crowd gathers at a TGIF concert in Morganton in 2024. Morganton News Herald file k9bm$J?4C@E@?:4 $H28k^9bmkAm'2=56D6[ yF?6 `ak^AmkAmr=2DD:4 C@4< 32?5 $J?4C@E@?:4 $H28 H:== A6C7@C> 2E %6>A=6 u:6=5 369:?5 %96 #@4< $49@@= 2E A2CE @7 '2=56D6’D u2>:=J uC:52J }:89ED DF>>6C 4@?46CE D6C:6D]k^AmkAmu@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?[ G:D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^G:D:EG2=56D6]4@>^6G6?ED^72>:=J\7C:52J\?:89ED\77?Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmG:D:EG2=56D6]4@>^6G6?ED^72>:=J\7C:52J\?:89ED\77?k^2m]k^Am k9amxC656== r@F?EJk^9amk9bmr2C@=:?2 s6E@FC 2?5 |28?@=:2 u:C6k^9bmkAm%C@FE>2?[ yF?6 `ak^AmkAmq=F68C2DD 32?5D r2C@=:?2 s6E@FC 2?5 |28?@=:2 u:C6 H:== A6C7@C> 2E %C@FE>2? t$r !2C<[ bbg }] pG6][ 2D A2CE @7 !:65>@?E w62=E9r2C6’D !2CEJ :? E96 !2C<]k^AmkAmu@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?[ G:D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^EC@FE>2??4]8@GQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmEC@FE>2??4]8@Gk^2m]k^Am A file photo shows the Paddy’s Creek beach access at Lake James State Park. News Herald file photo k9am k^9am 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 Christmas in July? Marion's Historic Carson House to host Christmas Market this weekend The Christmas in July Market will feature face painting for kids and photos with Santa’s elf, since Santa is on vacation in July. Barefoot Baby Foundation to host free ‘Pirate Invasion’ at McDowell Rec Center pool The family-friendly event is designed to create lasting memories while providing free community recreation for local children and families. Here's the schedule for Old Fort's Independence Day celebrations this week Events are scheduled for Friday and Saturday. Library Corner: Here’s what is happening at McDowell County libraries in July Here is a list of what is happening at the McDowell County Public Library in July. McDowell County Public Library celebrates record summer reading with July events This year's program has reached its highest level of participation in many years.
Christmas in July? Marion's Historic Carson House to host Christmas Market this weekend The Christmas in July Market will feature face painting for kids and photos with Santa’s elf, since Santa is on vacation in July.
Barefoot Baby Foundation to host free ‘Pirate Invasion’ at McDowell Rec Center pool The family-friendly event is designed to create lasting memories while providing free community recreation for local children and families.
Here's the schedule for Old Fort's Independence Day celebrations this week Events are scheduled for Friday and Saturday.
Library Corner: Here’s what is happening at McDowell County libraries in July Here is a list of what is happening at the McDowell County Public Library in July.
McDowell County Public Library celebrates record summer reading with July events This year's program has reached its highest level of participation in many years.
