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Midday Mountain Music is a free, informal music presentation featuring local and regional musicians held in the Blue Ridge Music Center's covered breezeway, milepost 213 on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Galax, Virginia. Midday Mountain Music takes place from 12-3pm each day when the Music Center is open. Join us for a few minutes or for the whole afternoon! No tickets are needed.

Interested in seeing wildlife? Take a stroll with a ranger and explore the renowned Anhinga Trail where alligators, wading birds and other wildlife are easily spotted! Meet at the Royal Palm benches . Wheelchair accessible. 0.7 miles, 45 minutes.

The Everglades is a place like no other! Sit in the shade as a ranger reveals the amazing wonders of the Everglades. Topics vary daily. Meet at the Royal Palm benches . Accessible. 20 minutes.

Step back into the late 1800s at one of Doughton Park’s most cherished historic sites. Completed in 1889, the Brinegar family home offers visitors a window into mountain life shaped by resilience, craftsmanship, and community. Also, walk through the garden and see whats growing! Rangers and volunteers are on site to share stories of the Brinegar Family.

Take a stroll back in time at the historic Mabry Mill, a beloved Blue Ridge icon. Built by Ed Mabry with help from the local community in the early 1900s, this humble mill once bustled with the sounds of a working mountain hub. A sawmill, gristmill, and woodworking shop powered daily life here, serving neighbors scattered across the rugged landscape. Today, the tradition of craftsmanship and community continues. Park employees will have the mill doors open for you, ready to welcome visitors inside to explore the machinery, hear the stories, and experience the lives shaped by this remarkable place.

Enjoy a peaceful guided walk through the Rocky Knob Recreation Area as you search for butterflies alongside a Park Ranger, volunteers, and fellow butterfly enthusiasts. Participants will also have the opportunity to contribute to the Blue Ridge Parkway Citizen Science Butterfly Monitoring Program, helping to track and better understand local butterfly populations. What to Bring • Water • Sturdy, comfortable walking shoes Weather Notice This program will be canceled in the event of rain.

Step back into the late 1800s at one of Doughton Park’s most cherished historic sites. Completed in 1889, the Brinegar family home offers visitors a window into mountain life shaped by resilience, craftsmanship, and community. Also, walk through the garden and see whats growing! Rangers and volunteers are on site to share stories of the Brinegar Family.

Step into a living postcard as we wander through the iconic Mabry Mill—a place where water wheels turn, stories hum, and mountain memories linger. Join a Park Ranger on a tour that invites you to explore one of the Blue Ridge Parkway’s most beloved stops, where history isn’t trapped in the past.

Step into history with a ranger as we unveil the fascinating story of the Wood Family, their Ordinary, and tourism at Peaks of Otter! Stop in and chat with the ranger, learn about the family, and play with some old-timey toys and games. A ranger will be at Polly Wood's Ordinary from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. All NPS Blue Ridge Parkway programs are free and open to anyone. All ages welcome.

Experience the heat, rhythm, and skill of traditional Appalachian blacksmithing. Watch as Park staff shape iron into tools and art while sharing the stories of the people who relied on this essential craft. Discover how blacksmiths supported daily life in mountain communities and see history come alive at the forge. The Mabry Mill Blacksmith will be operating from 10:30am to 2:00pm.

Take a stroll back in time at the historic Mabry Mill, a beloved Blue Ridge icon. Built by Ed Mabry with help from the local community in the early 1900s, this humble mill once bustled with the sounds of a working mountain hub. A sawmill, gristmill, and woodworking shop powered daily life here, serving neighbors scattered across the rugged landscape. Today, the tradition of craftsmanship and community continues. Park employees will have the mill doors open for you, ready to welcome visitors inside to explore the machinery, hear the stories, and experience the lives shaped by this remarkable place.

The Gilded Age “Denim King”, Moses H. Cone, turned his hand from textile manufacturing to becoming a “gentleman farmer” in the late 1890s. And what better way to emphasize “gentleman” than to build a 23-room mansion in the Blue Ridge mountains? Join a ranger to ascend the grand staircase of the Cone manor house, and peek into the past while touring the living spaces of this local industrialist. Learn about the legacy of the Cone family from Moses’ beginnings as a grocery salesman to the family’s patronage of the fine arts in Baltimore. Then join the ranks of the manor staff as you descend the steep and narrow servant’s stairs to visit the butler’s pantry and kitchen. Learn about the lives of the inside servants, the outdoor estate workers, and the ordinary folk who kept the 3,600 acre country estate in impeccable working order. IMPORTANT: All participants MUST be able to climb and descend two flights of stairs, as this historic building does not have an elevator. Guided tours are limited to 18 people.Reservations can be made up to 5 days in advance by calling the Moses H. Cone Manor House. We cannot take reservations more than 5 days in advance. (828) 295-3782