Last Updated on September 25, 2025 9:41 am
Town of Boone, North Carolina— At its September 10, 2025 meeting, the Boone Town
Council adopted a proclamation recognizing the one-year milestone of Hurricane Helene. Later,
at the September 24, 2025 meeting, the Council proclaimed October as Appalachian Heritage
Month, a time to celebrate the unique culture of Appalachia that has helped shape the Town of
Boone. To mark these occasions, the Town of Boone will host two community events: a
candlelight vigil on the Jones House lawn on Sunday, September 28 at 7:30 p.m., and the
inaugural Appalachian Flag Raising on October 3, 2025 at 5:00 p.m., held in conjunction with
the October First Friday Art Crawl.
September 28th, 2025: Hurricane Helene Candlelight Vigil
Hurricane Helene was the largest natural disaster that has ever hit the High Country in modern
history. Rivaling that of the 1940s Flood, the Town of Boone and surrounding area experienced
immense infrastructure damage, the loss of key communications systems, and the loss of
precious lives in the Boone community.
“Hurricane Helene changed Boone forever. It touched every part of our lives and left us facing
the unknown in our day-to-day routines. Last October, alongside our community partners, we
made the difficult choice to pause everything and focus on recovery. At that time, none of us
knew what the future would hold.
One year later, our community has come so far. The progress we’ve made together is a true
testament to Boone’s strength and spirit. To mark this milestone, I invite you to join us at the
Jones House for a candlelight vigil this Sunday. It will be a time to remember what we’ve lost,
honor the Boone we once knew, and continue healing side by side.
Though we’ve made great strides, Hurricane Helene is something we will never forget. I hope
you’ll come, not only to reflect, but also to find comfort in the community we’ve built together.”
stated Mayor Tim Futrelle, Mayor of Boone.
Parking for the candlelight vigil is available in Downtown Boone. No RSVP is required for this
event.
October 3rd, 2025: Appalachian Heritage Flag Raising Event
The Town of Boone will be hosting the inaugural Appalachian Heritage Flag raising at the
Boone Town Hall, located at 567 West King Street. Those who wish to attend are invited to
arrive at 4:30 p.m., when light refreshments will be available. The Appalachian Heritage Flag
will be raised at 5:00 p.m. and will be raised for the month of October.
“Appalachian culture is one of resilience, rich in unique art and music, committed to
environmental stewardship, and, above all, rooted in community. In 2024, the Town of Boone
officially designated October as Appalachian Heritage Month. That same October, Boone and the
surrounding communities were in the midst of recovering from the devastation of Hurricane
Helene. With communication systems down, infrastructure severely damaged, and an uncertain
future ahead, our community faced immense hardship. Yet the true spirit of Appalachia shone
through. Neighbors came together to support one another, and today, just one year later, Boone is
back on its feet.
Raising the Appalachian Flag is not only a celebration of our recovery, but also a tribute to the
strength of our people, the legacy of our ancestors, and the enduring influence of Appalachian
culture on the nation.” stated Dalton George, Mayor Pro-Tem of the Town of Boone.
All community members are invited to attend this momentous occasion. Parking for this event is
located throughout Downtown Boone. No RSVP is required.
Additional Appalachian Heritage Month Events
Throughout October, the Town of Boone will host a variety of free events to celebrate
Appalachian Heritage Month, highlighting the region’s music, arts, and community traditions.
Weekly events at the Jones House include Kids’ Slow Jam on Wednesdays from 4:00–5:00 p.m.,
the Downtown Get Down drum circle from 5:30–7:30 p.m., and Old-Time Jam Sessions on
Thursdays from 7:00–10:00 p.m.
On October 3, during the First Friday Art Crawl, the Jones House will showcase macramé works
by local artists Traci Goodard, Disa Herring, and Kali Mullins. This gallery will be on display
throughout the month of October. On October 5, The Golden Shoals, a folk band from
Tennessee, will lead fiddle and guitar workshops followed by a seated concert at 4:00 p.m.
Admission to all events is free, though space is limited for workshops; attendees can reserve
spots by contacting Brandon Holder at brandon.holder@townofboone.net.
For more information regarding the Candlelight Vigil or the Appalachian Heritage Flag Raising,
please contact Town Hall at (828) 268-6200. For more information regarding Appalachian
Heritage Month programming, please contact the Jones House at (828) 268-6280.
