North Wilkesboro
Around North Wilkesboro
Photo: Indy beetle · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · North Carolina · 66k people
North Wilkesboro
Locals say Wilkes County · “Moonshine Capital”
Where the Blue Ridge meets the backroads
Forest greenGold
Welcome to Wilkes County, where the mountains meet the Yadkin and the sound of banjos drifts through the hollers. Grab a sonker, kick back, and let the slow pace of the foothills ease you in.
Clubs for North Wilkesboro
No clubs for North Wilkesboro yet.
The room
One room for everyone around North Wilkesboro. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around North Wilkesboro. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- North Wilkesboro Speedway Historic NASCAR track revived for modern races.
- Stone Mountain State Park Granite dome, waterfalls, and hiking, partly in Wilkes County.
- Wilkes Community College Hosts MerleFest and offers local education.
- Wilkes Heritage Museum Local history in the old Wilkes County Jail.
- W. Kerr Scott Reservoir Large lake for boating, fishing, and camping.
- Downtown North Wilkesboro Small-town main street with shops and eateries.
- Outdoors Hike Stone Mountain
- Outdoors Boat on W. Kerr Scott Lake
- With kids Visit the North Wilkesboro Speedway museum
- With kids Swim and picnic at W. Kerr Scott Lake
- Evenings Live bluegrass at local venues
- Evenings Speedway events and watch parties
- Locals love Bluegrass jam sessions
- Locals love Farm stands
Through the year
- MerleFest April Huge Americana and bluegrass festival at Wilkes Community College.
- NASCAR race weekends at North Wilkesboro Speedway May and September Historic track hosts Cup and All-Star races again.
- Brushy Mountain Apple Festival October Downtown North Wilkesboro fills with crafts, food, and apples.
- Wilkes County Fair September Livestock, rides, and local exhibits at the fairgrounds.
- Wilkes Art & Craft Show November Juried show featuring regional mountain crafts.
Humid subtropical with mountain influences—hot summers, mild winters, and plenty of rain. Best: Spring and fall are perfect—mild days, cool nights.
Talk like a local
- “Holler”
- A valley or hollow between hills.
- “Mountain music”
- Bluegrass or old-time mountain music.
Getaways
- Boone and the High Country Mountain town with Appalachian State, hiking, and cool air.
- Hickory Larger city with museums, craft beer, and furniture outlets.
- Mount Airy Mayberry-inspired downtown and the Andy Griffith Museum.
- Winston-Salem Arts, food, and the historic Old Salem district.
Local flavour
Rooting for Appalachian State Mountaineers (NCAA), Carolina Panthers (NFL), Carolina Hurricanes (NHL)
Eat and drink
- Vinegar-based barbecue Eastern NC style, often pork
- Sonker A regional fruit dessert similar to cobbler
- Moonshine Historically significant, now legal distilleries
Where people go
- Moonshine stills Historic and modern distilleries, often in hidden coves
- Apple orchards Wilkes County is known for apples
- Small-town main streets Quaint downtowns with local shops and diners
- Bluegrass venues Local music halls and jam sessions
Heritage and traditions
Wilkes County is proud of its deep Appalachian heritage, from its moonshine-running past and NASCAR roots to its bluegrass music and apple orchards, all wrapped in a close-knit small-town spirit.
This time of year in North Wilkesboro
- Apple picking September-October Families visit orchards in the Brushy Mountains.
- NASCAR race weekends Spring and fall The speedway roars back to life with races.
- Leaf peeping October Fall colors draw visitors to the mountains.
- Wilkes County Heritage Festival Fall Celebrates local history with living history demonstrations and crafts.
Say it like a local: “fixin' to” — about to
Festivals
- First Friday Gallery Crawl Monthly Downtown Wilkesboro galleries open late on the first Friday of each month.
- Easter Sunrise Service Spring Community sunrise service at a local church or outdoor setting.
- Summer Concert Series Summer Free outdoor concerts on the courthouse square during summer.
- Wilkes County Heritage Festival Fall Celebrates local history with living history demonstrations and crafts.
- Brushy Mountain Bluegrass Festival Summer Bluegrass bands from the region perform over a weekend.
- Wilkes County Farmers Market Summer Weekly market with local produce, baked goods, and crafts.
Landmarks with a story
- Wilkes County Courthouse Built in 1902, the courthouse anchors the Wilkesboro square.
- St. Paul's Episcopal Church Historic church in Wilkesboro dating to the 1800s.
- Old Wilkes Jail Part of the Wilkes Heritage Museum, this jail once held Tom Dooley.
- The Liberty Theater A restored 1930s theater in North Wilkesboro.
- Fort Hamby A Civil War-era fortification site in the county.
Food traditions
- Apple butter making A fall tradition where families cook down apples into a sweet spread.
- Fried apple pies A treat from local orchards, often sold at festivals and farm stands.
- Sweet tea The essential Southern beverage, served at every meal.
- Chow-chow A relish made from green tomatoes and cabbage, often served with beans or barbecue.
- Country ham A salty, cured ham that's a holiday staple.
Music and arts
- Bluegrass and old-time music The region is a hotspot for traditional Appalachian string bands.
- Clogging A percussive dance style performed at festivals and community events.
- Moonshine still craftsmanship The art of building copper stills, now a heritage craft.
- Folk pottery Some local potters carry on Appalachian traditions.
A little history
- 1777 Wilkes County established in 1777
- 1920s Moonshine era during Prohibition
- 1950s-60s Junior Johnson's racing career
- early 1900s Apple industry growth
- 1988 MerleFest founded in 1988
- Game day NASCAR race weekends
- Game day Friday night high school football
- Outdoors Hike Stone Mountain
- Outdoors Boat on W. Kerr Scott Lake
- With kids Apple picking at local orchards
- With kids Visiting the North Wilkesboro Speedway museum
Locals speak a Southern Appalachian dialect with a relaxed drawl, using terms like 'y'all' and 'fixin'. The name 'Wilkes' is pronounced like 'Wilks'.
Only here
- Moonshine Capital of the World - Wilkes County claims this title due to its historic moonshine production.
- The sonker - a unique fruit cobbler-like dessert found only here.
- North Wilkesboro Speedway - one of NASCAR's earliest tracks, hosting races since 1947.
- Brushy Mountain Apple Festival - one of the largest one-day festivals in North Carolina, held in North Wilkesboro.
New here? A few tips
- Try the local barbecue and a sonker dessert.
- Learn to pronounce 'Wilkes' as 'Wilks'.
- Be prepared for NASCAR race traffic on race weekends.
- Enjoy the small-town pace and friendly neighbors.
- Explore the mountains and lakes for outdoor recreation.
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Nearby
Every areaHigh CountryNorth CarolinaHigh in the Blue Ridge, where the New River runs clear.BooneNorth CarolinaHigh country air, mountain town heart.HickoryNorth CarolinaWhere the mountains meet the furniture craft.GalaxVirginiaWhere the mountains sing old-time tunes.Mount AiryNorth CarolinaWhere Mayberry lives on, with a touch of granite.Mountain CityTennesseeHigh country charm and mountain air.Winston-SalemNorth CarolinaWhere history and innovation share a sweet tooth.MarionNorth CarolinaWhere the mountains meet the river
North Wilkesboro, NC. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.