The border between North Carolina and Virginia has a certain level of mystique about it.
In our experience, the Appalachian culture, agriculture, music, and enduring wildness of the area make it uniquely magical.
Located about 7 miles west of where the Blue Ridge Parkway crosses US-21, the Town of Sparta really epitomizes this special quality.
Although it has a population of less than 2,000 people, the historic town (which was established in 1866) is the seat of Alleghany County.
Along with nearby towns like Banner Elk, Boone, Blowing Rock, and West Jefferson, Sparta is part of the NC High Country, a region renowned for great hiking, stunning water features, and expansive views.
Sparta makes an excellent base for exploring Western NC, Southwest VA, and the Blue Ridge Parkway, but the town itself also has flavor and flare to spare.
Read on for our guide to the best things to do in Sparta NC and the surrounding area, including all the best parks, restaurants, events and attractions Alleghany County has to offer!
READ MORE: The 25 Best Small Towns in North Carolina to Visit
Best Things to Do in Sparta NC
- Blue Ridge Craft Trails
- Blue Ridge Mountain Heritage Festival
- Blue Ridge Music Trails
- Drive The Blue Ridge Parkway
- Events at Crouse Park
- Explore Stone Mountain State Park
- Sample Sparta Restaurants
- Spend Christmas in Sparta
- Take a Drive on Highway 21
- Visit New River State Park
READ MORE: The 10 Best Mountain Towns Along the Blue Ridge Parkway to Visit
1. Blue Ridge Craft Trails
As part of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area‘s Blue Ridge Craft Trails, Alleghany County is home to an excellent array of artists and crafters, including some great attractions in the heart of Sparta.
Start at Mangum-Cater on Main, where two local pottery families joined up to create a gallery and workspace. There’s lot of seating, a back porch with murals, and a shop featuring everything from dishware to sculptures.
Just down Main St, Alleghany Arts & Crafts is a co-op that offers unique handmade products from the Blue Ridge Mountains, as well as a gallery to view around 30 different regional artists’ works.
Other great arts & crafts shops in Sparta include Three Crows Metalworks (handmade jewelry made with metal, copper, and vibrant stones), Carolina Farm Table (custom farmhouse tables), and Pottery Place, which offers pottery, quilts and more in a historic home.
Visit on October 17-18 or 24-25 for the NC Mountain Arts Adventure Annual Studio Tour, which offers a chance to meet and interact with individual Alleghany County artists in their personal studios.
READ MORE: Visiting the Southern Highland Craft Guild Folk Art Center
2. Blue Ridge Mountain Heritage Festival
Now in its 30th year, the Blue Ridge Mountain Heritage Festival takes place in Downtown Sparta NC on the third Saturday of September, with the 2025 festival taking place from 10AM-4:30PM on Sept 20.
Historic Main Street will come alive with traditional Appalachian music & dance and delicious food. Expect lots of bluegrass and Old Time music, as well as clogging and contra dancing.
There will also be a variety of local and regional arts and crafts, from folk art, intricate woodwork, and pottery to handmade jewelry and textiles.
Local food vendors offer a tantalizing taste of the Blue Ridge Mountains, with mouthwatering barbecue, homemade treats, and other Southern delicacies.
READ MORE: The Top 20 Fall Festivals in the North Carolina Mountains
3. Blue Ridge Music Trails
Alleghany County is also part of the Blue Ridge Music Trails, and offers a host of live music and special events that fans of traditional Appalachian music will enjoy.
The Alleghany Jubilee is a community dancehall and a hub for old-time music & dancing, with Line Dance Lessons every Monday night, the Rise & Shine Band every Tuesday, and local guest bands every Saturday.
The Muddy Creek Music Hall is a great place for a “dinner & a show” date, with local and national touring artists offering live bluegrass, old-time, country, and Americana music every Wednesday through Sunday.
“Music on Main” takes over Downtown Sparta with live music on the first Saturday of each month (Spring through Fall), and “Saturdays in the Park” brings live music to the Crouse Park stage on the third Saturday.
But the can’t-miss music event of the year takes place at the Alleghany County Fairgrounds in July, when the Alleghany Fiddler’s Convention features some of the region’s best old-time and bluegrass musicians.
READ MORE: What is Bluegrass? The History & Evolution of Appalachian Music
4. Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway
Alleghany County is considered the birthplace of the Blue Ridge Parkway, because it is home to Cumberland Knob (MP 217.5), where BRP construction began in September of 1935.
The county has 32 miles of the BRP within its borders, which is more than any other county along the entire 469-mile scenic route).
This includes the 7,000-acre Doughton Park (MP 238.5–241), the Parkway’s largest recreation area, a nice restaurant, great hiking trails, two historic cabins, and a big campground.
Downtown Sparta is just 7 miles west of the BRP, so exploring the famous route is definitely high on the “must-do” list for visiting the beloved NC mountain town.
Going south on the Parkway, the Mahogany Rock Overlook and Air Bellows Overlook offer amazing views, while Cumberland Knob is about 15 miles north, with the Blue Ridge Music Center just 5 miles further.
READ MORE: The 15 Best Waterfalls on the Blue Ridge Parkway in NC & VA
5. Events at Crouse Park
It may be a small park in a small town, but Sparta’s Crouse Park has a lot going on. The park was donated to the town in memory of Floyd Crouse and Sarah Ellen Gambill Crouse in 1969,
Attractions here include a paved walking trail, basketball/volleyball/pickleball courts, playgrounds, picnic shelters, restrooms, and more.
However, the park is really beloved as a place for local music events such as “Saturdays in the Park,” with an outdoor stage and a dancing space.
It also hosts the Alleghany Farmers Market on Saturdays in the Summer and Fall.
READ MORE: Fall in North Carolina: 25 Great Places to See Fall Colors in NC
6. Explore Stone Mountain State Park
Located about 15 miles from Sparta, Stone Mountain State Park has become one of our favorite haunts. We hike there multiple times a year, and drive through it once a week or more.
This park has a fantastic loop trail that includes summiting the mountain, visiting a historic homestead, and wading in the pool at the base of the 200-foot Stone Mountain Falls.
Several other spots are worth a visit. Widow Creek Falls is stunning, with a natural rock slide that brave swimmers can use. There’s also a good section of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail that cuts through the park.
Stone Mountain State Park also has an extensive campground with all the amenities, a phenomenal picnic area with shelters that have stone fireplaces, and popular fishing holes.
READ MORE: Top 15 NC State Parks in the North Carolina Mountains
7. Sample Sparta NC Restaurants
Small Blue Ridge Mountain towns aren’t always the best place to find fine dining, but Sparta definitely has some spots that are worth stopping in for a bite.
The Muddy Creek Café & Music Hall has a great menu, and is the top spot in town to catch some live music.
Mis Arados Mexican Restaurant is a local favorite, while Circle L Family Restaurant and The Pines Restaurant both serve up home-style diner food.
Other tasty spots to consider are Trojan Patio (burgers and bar food) and Crave (Italian-American fusion). For good beer, the Main Street Pizzeria & Taphouse is awesome, while Laconia Ale Works is a fine craft brewery.
READ MORE: The 20 Best Blue Ridge Parkway Restaurants in VA & NC
8. Spend Christmas in Sparta
Christmas in the Blue Ridge Mountains is a magical time, and visiting small Christmas towns in North Carolina is one of our favorite ways to celebrate the season.
Sparta boasts a prime High Country location for holiday festivities, because it’s close to an array of Christmas tree farms and some the best NC ski resorts.
Christmas in Sparta starts on Nov 29, with the Sparta Holiday Market from 10AM-2PM at Crouse Park offering a chance to shop for homemade soaps, bakery items, and more.
At 2PM that day, visitors can get festive at Sparta’s annual Christmas Parade on Main Street, followed by Small Town Saturday shopping, with great holiday specials and later-than-usual hours at downtown stores.
From 9AM-4PM on Dec 6, you can embrace the giving spirit of the season at the Christmas Arts & Crafts Fair at the Alleghany County Fairgrounds. Lots of homemade gifts will be available for purchase, from jewelry and crafts to decor, food items, and more!
READ MORE: The 20 Best Places to Celebrate Christmas in NC
9. Take a Drive on Highway 21
The Blue Ridge Parkway isn’t the only famous road trip route that passes through Alleghany County.
US Highway 21 runs right through the heart of Sparta, becoming Main Street as it moves through town. This was part of the old route that once connected the Great Lakes to Florida.
Nowadays, US Route 21 stretches 394 miles from Wytheville VA to Hunting Island State Park in South Carolina. The road itself is pretty cool, with something of a Route 66 vibe.
The really cool thing that happens on US 21 is the Road Market every June. It’s a 3-day market that lines the historic route for over 100 miles, from Wytheville all the way to Harmony NC.
READ MORE: The 20 Best Blue Ridge Parkway Overlooks in North Carolina
10. Visit New River State Park
Not to be confused with New River Trail State Park in Virginia, North Carolina’s New River State Park is a patchwork park in different areas of one of the world’s oldest rivers.
Located about 15 miles from Sparta, the park has campsites, including backpacking sites and paddle-in sites, as well as standard trailer and RV sites with full hookups.
There are four access spots: US 221 (which also has a Visitor Center), Wagoner, Kings Creek, and Elk Shoals.
The park also has 9 miles of hiking trails, some on which are right alongside the river. But fishing and paddling the New River are really the main draws here. -by Jonathon Engels & Bret Love; lead image of Sparta NC by ChristHash911 via CC BY SA 4
