The best arts & culture spots in Wilkesboro

Candlelight Ghost Tours of Wilkes brings local folklore to life with stories passed down through generations, including tales of Tom “Dooley” Dula and a spirit said to linger after a tragic accident. It’s a spirited way to walk through the area’s history, with just enough mystery to make every creak suspicious.

From the Wilkesboro newsletter, November 10, 2026

Celebrating creativity in Wilkes County since 1962, Wilkes Art Gallery is a nonprofit hub with rotating shows, plus grants and hands-on programs that actually feel useful. If you make, teach, or just like looking, keep their Artist Support Grant in mind.

From the North Wilkesboro newsletter, October 29, 2026

Wilkes Heritage Museum stitches together Wilkes County’s stories with the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame, Candlelight Ghost Tours, and lovingly restored landmarks like the Old Wilkes County Jail, Captain Robert Cleveland’s 1779 home, and the 1902 courthouse.

From the Wilkesboro newsletter, November 5, 2026

Taupe Gallery is a cozy spot right here in North Wilkesboro for art that makes you linger. They host events, share the story and faces behind the space, and you can sign up for updates so you always know when the next good hang is happening.

From the North Wilkesboro newsletter, November 5, 2026

Original etchings, watercolors, and note cards that actually make you slow down and look, John Furches Gallery showcases richly detailed botanicals, wildlife, and rural scenes with that light-and-color magic he’s known for.

From the Elkin newsletter, October 27, 2026

Old Salem Museums & Gardens Administrative Offices may have a very official name, but the draw is the living 18th-century town at Old Salem, with costumed interpreters, heirloom gardens, the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts, and seasonal Night Watchman and Christmas tours worth the short trek when your weekend…

From the Forsyth County newsletter, November 10, 2026

The University of North Carolina School of the Arts brings together emerging artists in dance, drama, filmmaking, music, and design and production. Its students also perform for the public, making UNCSA a local spot to catch ambitious work in the making.

From the Forsyth County newsletter, November 7, 2026

North Carolina’s only museum dedicated to the study of global cultures, Lam Museum of Anthropology turns everyday objects and ceremonial artifacts into the kind of stories that stick. Free admission, current exhibits like Life after Death, and hands-on family activities make it a smart Albemarle day trip.

From the Galax newsletter, October 27, 2026

If your week needs more rhythm and fewer spreadsheets, XLNC Dance Studio brings high-energy hip-hop at every level, plus jazz, tap, and line dance. National champion dancers lead the way, keeping it welcoming and challenging so you can sweat, learn, and actually look forward to Monday.

From the Charlotte newsletter, November 3, 2026