3 things happening in NC this week: Kites, the endangered hellbender, and a first taste of fall

Unseasonably cool temperatures, a kite festival, and a celebration of North America’s largest native salamander, sometimes referred to as a ‘snot otter.’ Here are 3 things happening in NC this week.

Every year around this time in NC, folks get a little too thirsty for fall. 

It’s not yet September. I haven’t made Labor Day plans yet. And the grocery store is already trying to sell me pumpkin spice varieties of all the things. 

READ MORE: It’s almost flu season. Should you still get a shot, and will insurance cover it?

But the “fall-a-philes” are in for a treat this week. Scroll below for the scoop and make sure to share this story with your friends and family in North Carolina. 

NC flirts with fall

I see it every year. People start dropping pumpkin spice in their latté and then they walk out into 90-degree weather. It makes the pumpkin taste like broken dreams. 

Well, the pumpkin people will get to enjoy their drinks with no seasonal irony this week. 

Cooler air blows in at the mid-week point. Folks across NC can expect high temperatures in the 70s and they’ll stick around for a week or more, according to AccuWeather. Residents of NC’s higher elevations might even see low temperatures in the 40s. 

It’s a great week for picnics and outdoor fun. Speaking of, keep reading. 

Mile High Kite Festival

Kites need no introduction. They are thousands of years old, a marvel of simple engineering. It’s the kind of science that looks like magic. 

Every year, the western NC town of Beech Mountain paints the sky with something they call the Mile High Kite Festival. The name comes, naturally, from Beech Mountain’s elevation, which exceeds 5,000 feet. 

This year’s festival is set for Saturday, Aug. 30 from 10 am to 4 pm. It’s free to attend, and there will also be free kites for kids 12 and under. Expect food and crafts too.

Hellbender Festival

The eastern hellbender, sometimes referred to as a “snot otter,” is a cool but endangered native of North Carolina. (Photo via NC Wildlife Resources Commission)

The hellbender’s name has done it no favors. 

This salamander, which kind of looks like a giant slug with feet, picked up the name at some point and it wasn’t a compliment. It’s better than some of its nicknames though. “Snot otter”? For real? You guys are mean. 

That said, the hellbender is harmless to humans, a little bit cute (in my opinion) and a good sign that the water in your area is clean, which is one of the reasons why they’re endangered. Save the hellbenders, y’all. Somebody put that on a t-shirt.

This weekend, the Mitchell County town of Spruce Pine is celebrating their native salamander with a new festival, appropriately named the Hellbender Festival.

According to organizers, it’s “a celebration of healthy streams, environmental stewardship, and the vibrant community of Spruce Pine.” Sign us up.

Look for interactive science zones, live music, food, hands-on exhibits, and more at this free festival. The fun starts Saturday, Aug. 30 at 10 am. Go here for more info.