Sweet Lucy’s Affair

A Reason to Gather…

Sweet Lucy’s Affair was founded in 2013 to raise awareness about and funds for Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina, which has saved more than 11,000 acres in the viewshed of Lake James. When you enjoy the beautiful and panoramic views at Lake James State Park - Paddy’s Creek, Dobson’s knob, the flanks of Shortoff Mountain, and the South Mountains in the distance, you have the conservancy to thank.

Sweet Lucy’s Affair is an invitation-only event intended to strengthen the support of
Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina among Lake James community members. Please only purchase tickets if you were invited to this event.

2023 Ticket Sales are now closed.

Who is Sweet Lucy?

The real question is, “What is Sweet Lucy"?” Sweet Lucy is the smoker that the Turner family uses for their locally famous barbecue, served at the affair every year. The smoker was in turn named for a favorite bourbon-based liqueur; a bottle is given as a door prize annually.

Mystery solved: Sweet Lucy is a what, not a she.

What is the Leadership Circle?

The Leadership Circle is the heart and soul of Sweet Lucy’s Affair. Each Host family donates $1,000 or more to Foothills Conservancy in the name of Sweet Lucy’s Affair. These leaders plan, organize and (of course) host the event.

Any interested persons should contact one of the current Leadership Circle Hosts or reach out to Ann Costello, the Host and Project Lead for Sweet Lucy’s Affair at anncostello@me.com or 828-584-7919.

We’d love to have you join our Circle!

What’s involved in being a Leadership Circle Host?

Other than contributing, that’s up to you. We have volunteers to expand the lake-based mailing list, promote the event to neighbors, choose beer and wine, select the menu, arrange flowers, obtain door prizes, stuff and address invitations, emcee, contribute to the cost of the pork, and more.

On the day before and day of the event, there’s set-up and break-down, shuttling guests from and to the parking lot, greeting guests and serving prosecco, serving barbecue and more. You can volunteer or just come and enjoy the party!

A Lasting Impact…

Sweet Lucy’s Affair has raised more than $450,000 between 2013 and 2021.

In addition to our all-important Leadership Circle Hosts, our corporate sponsors — in 2021 Benthos LLC, Lake James Sales Team, and Lake James Custom Homes — support the event generously. Our guests make a suggested donation of $125 or more per person to enjoy beer, wine, music and a fabulous buffet of renowned Turner barbecue, vegetarian options, sides and desserts. It all adds up.

Many thanks to our 2022 – 2023

Leadership Circle Hosts

  • Aram & Linda Attarian

  • Jim & Tammy Basinger

  • Daryl & Laure Blume

  • Steve & Mary Boehm

  • Mark & Jill Boyce

  • Bill & Gwen Bradley

  • Henry & Maude Cantrell

  • Spencer & Donna Cash

  • Javier & Yngrid Chacon

  • Mark & Pat Chamberlain

  • Mike & Brooke Chamberlain

  • Philip & Annette Chamberlain

  • Ryan Chamberlain

  • Lee & Becca Champion

  • David & Loralie Clark

  • Tom & Geneva Coffey

  • Neal Cook & Joy Hord

  • Stewart & Tammy Cook

  • Ken & Catharine Corn

  • George & Ann Costello

  • Neil & Claire Cotty

  • Randy & Andrea Data

  • Doug & Joanne Deyo

  • Robert & Laetitia Dowd

  • Jim & Robyn Dunn

  • Steve & Darcy Garfinkel

  • Jeff & Cindy Gomez

  • Phillip & Jennifer Goodrum

  • Chris & Nancy Gunzenhauser

  • Chris & Mary Hagenstad

  • Rick & Eleanor Hahn

  • Rick & Danyel Harris

  • Greg & Paula Hoogerland

  • Jim Houle & Nancy Liu

  • Bob & Shari Kehlor

  • Rob & Katie Kirby

  • Andy & Jan Krouskop

  • Joe & Kate Lagedrost

  • BJ & Ellen Losch

  • George & Carter MacBain

  • Jeff & Carol MacKinney

  • Jim & Caroline Mandeville

  • Srinivas & Zsofia Mannava

  • Glenn & Lauren Marino

  • Ed McMillan & Margie Divish

  • Robert & Kim Meyer

  • David & Kate Mihalick

  • Jim & Amy Moellman

  • George & Paula Moore

  • Lee & Beth Neale

  • Steve & Lisa Nikrant

  • Greg & Terry Norell

  • Chuck & Jerelen Ohrt

  • Gresham Orrison & Susie Hamrick Jones

  • Darryl & Colleen Penner

  • Jason & Yanisa Phillips

  • Jeremy & Virginia Purbrick

  • Tom & Andi Ricks

  • John & Susan Riley

  • Douglas Robinson & Inez Serventi

  • Allen & Kerri Rodgers

  • Gene & Ann Rodriguez

  • Craig & Lisa Romer

  • Dan Rooney & Allison Evanoff

  • Thomas & Ellen Ross

  • Tim Roush & Jennifer Kersten

  • Jeff & Ginny Runge

  • Carl & Ashley Ryden

  • Joe & Kim Santucci

  • Jeff & Linda Schilling

  • Eric & Kara Sevensma

  • Mike & Terry Sliva

  • Mark & Lora Spencer

  • Daniel Steinberg & Lynn Fernandez

  • Jim & Adria Strife

  • Jeff & Suzanne Tomaszewski

  • John & Tonya Tournet

  • Rick & Jen Tozier

  • Richard & Catherine Turner

  • Jim & Jean Veilleux

  • Richard & Peggy Vitolo

  • Dave & Lynn Watson

  • Andy & Lisa Wersel

  • Doug & Liz White

  • Chip & Martha Whitfield


Thank you to our corporate sponsors:

BENTHOS

From the people who make it happen: