Sweet Lucy's Affair 2026

Join us for Sweet Lucy's Affair, a private, lake-based, invitation-only event in support of the Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina. The Event was founded in 2013 to raise awareness about the Conservancy and the more than 11,000 acres saved to date in the Lake James area. 

Enjoy an exclusive dining experience created by Chef Philippe & the Camp Lake James team, complemented by a curated selection of wine & beer, and live music.

Proceeds from Sweet Lucy’s Affair benefit Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina, a nationally accredited regional land trust that inspires conservation in Western North Carolina by permanently protecting land and water for the benefit of people and all living things. Since 1995, they have protected over 74,000 acres of land.

Who is Foothills Conservancy of NC?

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Foothills Conservancy serves eight counties: Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, Lincoln, McDowell and Rutherford, in three major river basins: the Broad, Catawba and Yadkin. FCNC preserves the natural and cultural heritage of our region by conserving scenic and recreational landscapes, productive farms and forests, healthy watersheds, rich biodiversity, and vital wildlife habitat. You will have an opportunity to meet the FCNC team, hear about their projects in our area, and ask questions!

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, that has been served at the event in years past. The smoker was in turn named for a favorite bourbon-based liqueur; a bottle is given as a door prize annually!

No one made barbecue with as much heart and care as Richard Turner, one of the founders of Sweet Lucy’s Affair. He loved to smoke meat the old and slow way, taking up to 24 hours of continuous monitoring of “Sweet Lucy”, his smoker. He brought his certified “pitmaster” skills to Foothills Conservancy, drawn by the mission of preserving land “for all time and for all people.” 

With appreciation of all his years of service and support, we are retiring “Sweet Lucy’s Barbecue” as the headline cuisine this year. We turn instead to the Camp Lake James Chef Philippe and his Culinary Team to deliver outstanding food to you. Come and enjoy the exciting new offerings found exclusively at Sweet Lucy’s Affair!