There is a new exhibit at the Blue Ridge Music Center. 

Grand Opening of the
ROOTS OF AMERICAN MUSIC Exhibition

After more than 20 years of planning, this new, permanent interactive exhibition will open with a free, 3-day celebration on Memorial Day weekend. A public ribbon cutting ceremony on May 27, 2011 will be followed by two days of free concerts, jam sessions and other festivities!

Read more  at BlueRidgeMusicCenter.org

There is also a concert

This year’s Leaf & String Festival will be June 10^th &11^th of 2011! 

For nine years, during the second weekend in June, the Galax Leaf & String Festival has served to highlight the best our region has to offer.  Originally created as a traditional music event, the Galax Leaf & String Festival, like our community, has continued to evolve into a showcase for all the things we take pride in, our music, our art, and our region – a great place to live and work.

http://www.visitgalax.com/gfvirginia_bluegrass.html

Another event on the river close to New River Lodge in neighboring Fries, VA.

Check it out!!!!! 

May 2, 2009
9:00am–9:00pm

Join us as we celebrate our musical heritage at the First Annual Fries Spring Festival Honoring the legendary singer Henry Whitter. Enjoy a full day of music, food, shopping and fun along the banks of the beautiful New River! Admission is FREE!

If you would like to attend this event, the lodge is available. Call 276-237-8077 to make reservations.

The Lodge is available for the Matthews Farm Heritage Day:

May 21 and May 22
9 AM – 5 PM

A catered lunch will be provided both days and is included in tuition. In this intensive two-day workshop Brad will introduce you to the art and craft of harvesting, splitting and shaping green wood into useful and beautiful everyday objects. Whether you want to roof a barn, make a basket, build a chair, weave a seat, or make handles for your tools, you’ll learn to split white oak shingles and strips, harvest hickory bark for chair seating, and split various hard-woods for handles and chair parts. Brad will also give you steam bending demonstrations and a comprehensive lecture on the care and sharpening of tools and inspire you with the rich history behind this ancient craft.

New River Lodge is close to the Matthew Farm Museum!!!  Call 276-237-8077 to make reservations for the whole family.