Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
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In the winter, ski at Beech Mountain. In summer, rock out at a music festival.
If Transformus wasn’t enough summer music festival fun for you, there’s another one happening next month. From the Festival of Gnarnia website:
As we journey around the sun, a brief window in time draws near. A unique moment for creative human expression comes to light. Far beyond the dirty sneakers forgotten in the depths of your closet, amongst the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, exists the festival of Gnarnia. For four days this refuge satisfies a special yet sophisticated taste with a legendary mélange of musical acts, performance arts, and artistic craftsmanship.
You are cordially invited to the festival of Gnarnia, August 9-11th 2012.
2012 lineup includes Beats Antique, Gramatik, Paper Diamond, ESKMO, Papadosio, Rising Applachia and more. Beech Mountain is about two hours away.
Held in Beech Mountain, Gnarnia (with its The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe theme) features a star-studded lineup including Beats Antique, 7 Walkers, Paper Diamond, Tipper, Emancipator, Mark Farina, Conspirator, 12th Planet and Toubab Krewe, among many others. Performance artists add “everything from fire spinning to stilt walking to comedy here in The Land of Gnarnia” and a roster of visionary/spiritual/psychedelic visual artists (Android Jones, Brandon Paul, Abho Thati, Sean Pace and others) amp up the creative element.
And, if you need more than just music, dancing and art at your festival, Gnarnia’s events list offers an obstacle course of activities. Bicycle jousting, mud wrestling and a costume ball are on the itinerary, along with guided yoga and nature hikes.
Speaking of nature, Gnarnia’s list of lodging possibilities suggests a refreshing mountain getaway (two bedroom chalet, anyone?), and a nearby campground offers rustic tent sites to the budget-minded starting at $16 a day.
Have had my tickets for months. Looking forward to an epic weekend through the wardrobe.