Summer Concerts Meet Wine Country: The Catalinas Coming to Yadkin Valley in 2026

As announced on Eventbrite, The Catalinas will take the stage at Blackmon Amphitheatre on Thursday, June 25, 2026, as part of the Surry Arts Council's Summer Concert Series. If you've been looking for a reason to finally make the drive out to Yadkin Valley wine country, this is a pretty good one.

Dobson sits right in the middle of the valley, so pairing a Thursday night concert with a wine weekend isn't a stretch. It's just smart planning.

Why the Timing Works

The Catalinas are beach music royalty in the Carolinas. Their sound is easy, it's fun, and it fits perfectly with the kind of unhurried evening you get out here in summer. Outdoor concert at dusk, then a long weekend to sleep in and hit tasting rooms at your own pace. That's the whole idea.

June in the valley means the vines are full and the countryside is green in a way that genuinely stops you mid-drive. I've made that route into Dobson more times than I can count and it still gets me. Pack sunscreen, comfortable shoes, and a cooler if you plan to pick up bottles along the way.

Make It a Wine Weekend: Start with Surry Cellars

If you're in Dobson for the concert, Surry Cellars is the obvious first stop. It's located right on the Surry Community College campus, which makes it one of the more unusual setups in the valley. The winemaking program there is real and working, so when they talk about the process, they actually mean it.

Their lineup covers a solid range: dry reds including Cabernet Sauvignon, crisp whites like Seyval Blanc and Chardonnay, and sweeter options including Muscadine. Good variety whether you're a longtime NC wine drinker or just getting your footing. The campus grounds are picnic-friendly, so a Friday daytime visit before the evening show is a natural combination. Check their current hours before you go.

Building the Rest of Your Weekend

A Thursday concert sets up a long weekend well. Most tasting rooms in the valley run Friday through Sunday, so you've got two full days after the show to work with. That's enough time to hit three or four wineries without feeling rushed, which is the right pace for this region.

The valley rewards slow travel. These aren't places you check off a list. You sit on a porch, you talk to the people pouring, you maybe buy a bottle you didn't expect to love. That's the experience I built ValleySomm to help people find, and a trip anchored around a concert like this is exactly the kind of thing the planner is good at.

If you want to keep things simple, cluster your Saturday visits near Dobson and save Sunday for a winery a little farther out. There are good options in every direction.

What Actually Makes This Worth the Drive

I'll be honest: the concert alone might not move the needle for everyone. But the combination of a live music event, a region full of genuinely interesting wineries, and a June weekend in the North Carolina foothills adds up to something worth planning around.

The Yadkin Valley doesn't always get the attention it deserves. The winemakers here are serious about what they're doing, and the terroir produces wines that hold up. Beach music and a glass of NC Cab Franc on a warm evening is a pretty specific kind of good. I'd take it.

If this concert is what finally puts the trip on your calendar, that works for me. The valley will take care of the rest.

Plan Your Trip

Use ValleySomm's trip planner to build your concert weekend itinerary. Pick your wineries, set your pace, and go. Two or three stops around Dobson plus the show makes for a weekend you'll actually remember.