The Town of Blowing Rock is preparing for a series of infrastructure projects set to commence next week, highlighted by significant waterline work on Park Avenue. These developments unfold as early voting for the 2026 general election approaches and the town’s annual Halloween Festival is scheduled for the end of October.
Waterline and hydrant replacement on Park Avenue is scheduled to begin Monday, Oct. 12. This essential project involves replacing an existing 4-inch cast iron line with a new 6-inch ductile iron line, a change projected earlier this month to take approximately three weeks to complete. Town officials and the contractor conducted a project walk-through on Thursday to finalize preparations for the start date. During work hours, Park Avenue will remain partially open, with the contractor tackling the project in 100-linear-foot sections. The street will be fully reopened to traffic each night, and no weekend work is planned. Residents and visitors should anticipate minor parking disruptions in the areas actively under construction, which will commence near the corner of Main Street.
In addition to the Park Avenue waterline project, the town has several other repair and maintenance initiatives underway or slated to begin shortly. Sidewalk repairs on Clary Court have been moved up and are also scheduled to commence on Monday, with a revised work plan already posted by the town. Further infrastructure improvements include repairs to the parking deck at the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum, which are set to begin on November 2. During this repair period, the museum’s parking deck is expected to be closed for approximately two weeks. Separately, sidewalk repairs on Laurel Lane are currently in progress. The town also extended its thanks to its Public Works crews for successfully completing the semiannual cleanup week, an effort crucial for maintaining the community's appearance and infrastructure.
On the civic front, residents are reminded that the Blowing Rock Town Council is scheduled to convene on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 6 p.m. The meeting will take place in Town Hall. The full agenda for this session is available on the town’s website. For those unable to attend the meeting in person, it can be watched live or accessed later via the town’s YouTube channel, providing convenient access to local governance proceedings.
Ahead of the upcoming general election, early voting in Watauga County is set to begin next week, providing residents with multiple opportunities to cast their ballots. Early voting for the 2026 general election will run from Oct. 15-16 and Oct. 19-23, with polls open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Additional early voting dates are scheduled for Oct. 26-30, during which polls will also be open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. The final opportunity for early voting will be on Saturday, Oct. 31, with polls open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Watauga County voters have the flexibility to use any early voting site, as all sites will adhere to this unified schedule.
Regarding municipal finances, the town has either mailed or is currently in the process of mailing out 2026 property tax bills. For any questions or inquiries pertaining to these bills, residents are encouraged to contact Town Hall directly by calling 828-295-5200. This direct line ensures residents can receive timely and accurate information regarding their property taxes.
Lastly, the community can anticipate the annual Blowing Rock Halloween Festival, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 31. This popular event encourages families and their pets to dress up in costumes for the festive occasion, offering a community-wide celebration for all ages.
