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Quality of Life
Medical Facilities
Grace Hospital and Valdese Hospital became part of the Blue Ridge HealthCare System at the end of 1999. Grace Hospital has 204 beds and Valdese Hospital has 172 beds. Both hospitals are being completely renovated and updated.
There are more than 190 physicians who practice in Burke County, approximately 17.9 physicians per population. Numerous specialists from Asheville and Charlotte, North Carolina, have satellite offices in Burke County.
All levels of senior housing are available including single family cluster homes, senior apartment complexes, assisted living as well as long and short term nursing facilities.
Cultural Organizations, Entertainment and Venues
Organizations include the Burke Arts Council, the Art League of Burke County, Burke Choral, Burke Community Concert Association, Burke Cultural Arts Coalition, Morganton Community Band, Morganton Youth Theater, Old Colony Players, Schubert Music Club, Valdese Music Club, South Mountain Hand weaver's Guild, WPCC Drama 120, WPCC Portfolio Art Club, and the Waldensian Church Museum.
The City of Morganton Municipal Auditorium, locally known as CoMMA, presents Broadway performances, international dance troops, comedy performances and concerts. The auditorium seats 1000. The ceiling of the CoMMA lobby features an original fresco by renowned artist, Ben Long. Entitled "The Muses" the fresco is Long's largest and last ceiling work.
The Old Rock School Auditorium in Valdese hosts plays, nationally known entertainers and local performances. Valdese also presents an annual outdoor drama "From This Day Forward." This historical pageant honors and recreates the Waldensian settlement of Valdese. The Glorious Return Festival held in late summer in downtown Valdese is the oldest annual street festival in Burke County.
The Historic Morganton Festival is one of the largest street festivals in western North Carolina. It is held the first weekend following Labor Day each year in downtown Morganton. Downtown events also include free outdoor concerts, car shows, art crawls, parades and holiday celebrations.
The Western Piedmont Symphony serves Burke, Alexander, Catawba, and Caldwell counties. Approximately 60 professional orchestra musicians participate in the symphony.
The Jail House Gallery and Jail House Gallery East serve as the county art museums featuring exhibitions of local, regional and national artists. The Historic Burke County Courthouse in the center of town square is home to the Historic Burke Foundation, the Visitor's Center and a small museum.
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