Boonerang 2025 is Just What We Needed

A Letter of Thanks

On behalf of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce staff, Board of Directors, and the many local businesses who benefited from the experience of this four-day homecoming, we say thank you!

As High Country residents, we’ve gathered for many reasons over the last nine months, mostly in a cooperative way to help members of our community and local businesses deal with unimaginable and complex circumstances brought along by Hurricane Helene. This past weekend the energy sparked with joy and excitement, bringing smiles and hugs along with a sense of relief that despite all we have experienced, we have returned to this special community event together.

There were many Boonerangers that found their way back to Depot and Howard Streets over the weekend, finding familiarity with the places and buildings that hold so many dear memories, while also visiting new shops and businesses that will hook them for years to come. They brought friends, first-time visitors, and people who were simply looking for an excuse to return to the mountains to experience the hospitality that our community has displayed for generations.

The music was amazing – from homegrown talent to international influences, budding stars to established veterans. Boonerang shows just how much the High Country has inspired styles and careers over the years. Hearing local references in lyrics, watching Jam program grads dazzle from the Jones House stage once again, and exposure to different cultures through song and dance, help showcase a connectedness across genres throughout the lineup of performers, which sets this festival apart from so many others around the region. The energy these talented performers displayed as they played to the home crowd can only serve as an inspiration to our next generation of talent and will further fuel the economic impact of the arts on our region.

It was also great to see so many visual artists and crafters back in their booths, some for the first time since Fall, bringing their creations to market. The unique finds and gifts procured on Howard and North Depot Streets are a visual representation of the best of our creative community. Local galleries and businesses provided space for deeper collections and expanded inventory and give visitors a destination to return to when they want to find the next piece in the set.

Thank you to Mark Freed and the staff of the Town of Boone Cultural Resources department for the continued vision and imagination that helps make each Boonerang a truly unique showcase of music, art, and creative talent. While this has always been a collaborative effort, Mark’s passion and precision provides the energy every successful event needs to continuously raise the bar.

We greatly appreciated Mayor Tim Futrelle and Mayor Pro Tem Dalton George joining members of the Chamber and Town staffs for a special ribbon cutting Friday night to commemorate the start of the festival along with Western North Carolina’s ability to host such impactful events. Audience members were encouraged to take word back to their friends and neighbors that Boone and the High Country are open for business, festivals, fishing, hiking, tubing, and anything else they may wish to enjoy this summer. As our businesses continue to rebound from Helene’s economic impact, these visual reminders are worth more than you may realize.

Thanks to Lane Moody and the Downtown Boone Development Association Board of Directors for remaining an active partner in this venture, and their encouragement and conversations with local businesses help set expectations and operational plans for a successful weekend.

Thanks to the Town of Boone Public Works Department for their amazing efforts on organizing the current Howard Street construction site to handle vendors and patrons while keeping the Downtown area beautiful throughout the entire weekend.

The Town of Boone Police, Fire, and local emergency responders worked through the heat to provide plenty of hydration stations, quick details about Saturday’s brief lightening delay, and seamless pedestrian flow and security throughout the event, all with smiles on their faces.

Volunteers and non-profit organizations provided the staff to make this event possible. Pouring beverages, providing directions, shuffling supplies, and engaging patrons in conversations, these ambassadors are friendly, helpful touchpoints to our guests.

From our vantage point, Boonerang 2025 was a true success, and we applaud the Town of Boone for already beginning the process of gathering feedback about this year’s event in the constant hope to make next year the best yet. The impact of this High Country tradition is felt long beyond the third weekend of June. Numerous businesses in the downtown area have reported return visits from Boonerang patrons later in the year. Careful scheduling and expansion of dates has made this a true destination event, with overnight guests finding more time to enjoy other parts of the High Country over their weekend visit.

Next year marks Boonerang’s fifth edition, which will likely bring an elevated sense of celebration to this unique festival. It should not be lost on anyone involved – from organizers to spectators – that great events can be born from trial and error. The dedication toward improvement each year helps ensure that issues are addressed and plans are refined. Those that have experienced all four events have come to expect that each festival is different, with new artists and musicians, improved layouts, and better access to surrounding businesses.

As the Howard Street revitalization project continues, and is ultimately completed, a new element with improved functionality will be infused into a popular gathering area. We are excited to see next year’s lineup, to participate in the gathering of community feedback, and to stand next to Doc Watson’s statue and see the latest version of an event that shows what our community can accomplish when we all work together.

With great pride and admiration,

David Jackson | President/CEO, Boone Area Chamber of Commerce