A group of musicians play banjo, fiddle, and guitar.
Pickin' at Phipps General Store

Lose Track of Time in Lansing

Lansing is a picturesque small town nestled in the High Country of northwestern North Carolina, not far from the Virginia border. The town boasts a rich Appalachian music heritage that is carried forward into the present with regular music jams and a new music festival on the horizon; it brings joyful noise to the many people who visit every year.

A community that blossomed during the 1930s due to industrial growth brought on by the town’s rail line location, Lansing is once again experiencing a renaissance. With multiple music festivals, jam sessions and pickins’, Lansing is vibrating with the sounds of bluegrass, traditional, and folk music throughout the year.

Significant icons in the Lansing landscape include: the Ola Belle Reed Festival named for the same Appalachian banjo player and singer (1916-2002); the Lost Province Center for Cultural Arts, started as the Lansing grade school in 1938 and maintaining that role through 1992; and the Phipps General store dating back to 1834. Lansing is also notably only a little over an hour away from Bristol, TN, known as the birthplace of country music.

Suggested Music-Themed Day Trip Itinerary*

Morning

Start your morning off with the sweet sounds of nature at Creeper Trail Park, a riverside park located in downtown Lansing. With easy-to-navigate foot paths and bike trails, the beautiful landscape of Creeper Trail Park is a perfect backdrop for music. The popular park features a rustic red barn that doubles as a stage for local musicians and jams throughout the year. The Old Barn Stage schedule, and other events happening in Lansing, can be found on the town’s Facebook page.

Website and Address: Lansing, 114 S Big Horse Creek Rd, Lansing, NC 28643

Midday

Explore the offerings of the Lost Province Center for Cultural Arts located in a historic stone school building. An anchor in the community, the arts center is a bustling hub for musicians, potters, quilters and more traditional arts that are distinctly inspired by the Appalachian Mountains it calls home. The center is also the site of Lansing’s new music festival, Fly Around Fest. A music festival and fundraising event for Hurricane Helene disaster recovery, Fly Around Fest will be held August 1-2, 2025. For more information about the festival, visit www.flyaroundfest.com.

Website and Address: Lost Province Center for Cultural Arts,  9710 NC Highway 194, Lansing, NC 28643

Afternoon

Notable Appalachian banjo player, picker, and NEA Heritage Fellow Ola Belle Reed was born into a musical family in Lansing. Her contribution to traditional music and the preservation of the oral histories she inherited is commemorated annually at the Ola Belle Reed Festival, scheduled for October 4 this year. Held in the J.O. Blevins Meadow (behind the Lansing Volunteer Fire Department), the festival is a celebration for music makers and music lovers complete with juried competitions and square dancing. If you want a glimpse of this history but are unable to attend the festival, take a moment to enjoy the Reed mural on the side of CJ’s Market.

Website and Address: Ola Belle Reed Festival, 9281 NC-194, Lansing, NC 28643

Evening

Lansing remains vibrant throughout the day with live music in multiple spaces. Enjoy bluegrass, old-time, pickin’, and open jams at the Old Orchard Creek General Store, Molley Champer Cider, and The Liar’s Bench. All three venues are a testament to the rich culture and history of the area and incorporate not only local musicians but also North Carolina artisans and farmers into their story. You’ll be deeply immersed in the spirit of the mountains as the sun sets to the tune of the hills.

Websites and Addresses:

Music

*There are many wonderful things to see and do in and around Lansing; this is simply a sample. When you visit, tag us from where you are so we can share what you found in Lansing! @ComeHearNC

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