2025 Calendar of Events

Every Second Tues. 4:15 p.m. | Book Discussion Group  

Every Third Mon. 6-8:30 p.m. | Bluegrass Country Music Jam 

Every Third Tuesday 3:15-4:45 (with noted exceptions) | Explorers' Club, ages 7-11 

Last Thursday each Month (with noted exceptions) | Writers' Group 

6 Saturday 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | A Small Town Christmas

(A variety of events take place inside the Historic Banner Elk School throughout the day. 

17 Wed. 7 p.m. | Writers' Group

13 Tuesday 4:15 p.m. | Book Discussion Group: When the Ghosts Come Home (Wiley Cash)

20 Tuesday 3:15 p.m. | Explorers' Club (Ages 7-11)

29 Thursday 6 p.m. | Writers' Group

10 Tuesday 4:15 p.m. | Book Discussion Group: The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating (Elizabeth T. Bailey)

17 Tuesday 3:15 p.m. | Explorers' Club (Ages 7-11)

26 Thursday 6 p.m. | Writers' Group

10 Tuesday 4:15 p.m. | Book Discussion Group: Hamnet (Maggie O’Farrell)

17 Tuesday 3:15 p.m. | Explorers' Club (Ages 7-11)

26 Thursday 6 p.m. | Writers' Group

14 Tuesday 4:15 p.m. | Book Discussion Group: The Frozen River (Ariel Lawhon)

21 Tuesday 3:15 p.m. | Explorers' Club (Ages 7-11)

30 Thursday 6 p.m. | Writers' Group

12 Tuesday 4:15 p.m. | Book Discussion Group: My Friends (Fredrick Backman)

19 Tuesday 3:15 p.m. | Explorers' Club (Ages 7-11)

28 Thursday 6 p.m. | Writers' Group

9 Tuesday 4:15 p.m. | Book Discussion Group: Three Days in June (Anne Tyler)

23 Tuesday 3:15 p.m. | Explorers' Club (Ages 7-11)

25 Thursday 6 p.m. | Writers' Group

14 Tues. 4:15 p.m. | Book Discussion Group: Klara and the Sun (Kazuo Ishiguro)

21 Tues. 3:15 p.m. | Explorers' Club (Ages 7-11)

30 Thurs. 7 p.m. | Writers' Group

11 Tuesday 4:15 | Book Discussion Group: The English Patient (Michael Ondaatje)

18 Tues. 3:15 p.m. | Explorers' Club (Ages 7-11)

27 Thurs.. 7 p.m. | Writers' Group

Book Discussion Groups:

The discussion group is open to anyone  interested in participating and discussing literature.  No need to sign  up – just come!  2026 Book list (PDF) posted below 

 BE NOW (Banner Elk Night Owl Writers) Writers' Group:

Welcome POETS, short story WRITERS and NOVELISTS! Participants meet on the last Thursday of every month (dates are contingent on at least 4 people expressing interest).

The goal of our time together is to share and enjoy our written works, as well as to kindly offer constructive feedback at the writer's discretion. If interested in a date listed on the above calendar, please email Nikki at  zigjoy@zoho.com and include your name in the email. 

Explorers' Club: 

The Explorers' Club is a fun and free after-school program that invites children ages 7 to 11 (2nd-6th grade) to "bring your curiosity" to the NEW Explorers' Room at the Book Exchange. Certified NC Environmental Educator and Blue Ridge Naturalist Tamara Randolph leads participants in exploring a variety of topics related to geography, ecosystems, plants, animals, fungi, rocks, weather and other cool things that make our planet so much fun to explore! Children will also build literacy skills. The Explorers' Club is held one Tuesday a month from 3:15-4:45 (arrive when you can). To learn more, email tamara@ncexplorers.com.

Volunteer at the Book Exchange!

Volunteer for a future slot, or to be a substitute. Being a substitute is an easy way to see if you like it!  Direct volunteer questions to Dusty Ross, dkross77@gmail.com.  

It's a small town, but there's lots to do!  You may enjoy these other organizations' offerings also:

• Mayland Community College: Continuing Education Schedule for Spring 2025
• Ensemble Stage Theatre at the Historic Banner Elk School
• BE Artists Gallery at the Historic Banner Elk School
• Playful Heart Studio (Yoga and more) at the Historic Banner Elk School 
• Greater Banner Elk Heritage Foundation
• Lees-McRae Summer Theatre