What to do this Weekend in the Mountains

Mountain events and festivals are everywhere in the month of May as Western North Carolina comes alive with wildflowers, rhododendron and mountain laurel and the beautiful shades of green in new foliage. Warm sunny days and cool evenings offer the perfect setting of outdoor adventures and festivals.  Get links for details on our NC Events Calendar

Date:      May 19, 2017
NC City:  ASHEVILLE
Event:     Downtown After Five   Free live music entertainment in downtown Asheville. Headlining this month is CHA WA. The celebration is every third Friday, May through September, with the goal of encouraging locals and visitors to enjoy downtown Asheville and support local businesses and entertainers.  The event is located on North Lexington Avenue (between Hiawassee and the I-240 overpass). Food and beer vendors will be available.   Get a link for details on our NC Events Calendar

Date:      May 19 - June 3 , 2017   
NC City:  FLAT ROCK
Event:     Flat Rock Playhouse presents: A Tuna Christmas  By popular demand, Scott Treadway and Preston Dyar serve up Christmas a little early on the Mainstage of the Flat Rock Playhouse. This hilarious comedy features the residents of Tuna, Texas – the “third smallest” town in the state. 2 actors. 22 characters. 2 million laughs! Admission: $15 - $50   Get a link for details on our NC Events Calendar

Date:      May 20, 2017 
NC City:  BLOWING ROCK
Event:     Art in the Park   A juried arts and craft show featuring 90 artists held in the picturesque downtown park once a  month from May through October.  Some of the best local and regional artists and craftspeople showcase their handcrafted jewelry, pottery, fiber, glass, photography, painting and more.  
Get a link for details on our NC Events Calendar

Date:      May 20, 2017 
NC City:  MARION
Event:    Carolina Donut Festival   Come out for food and fun in downtown Marion with the 1st Annual Carolina Donut Festival, hosted by Marion's own Mr. Bob's Donuts. Enjoy a variety of "doughy" goodness, games, music and more.    Get a link for details on our NC Events Calendar

Date:      May 20, 2017
NC City:  ROBBINSVILLE (Stecoah Valley)
Event:     Stecoah's Annual Bluegrass Festival    Enjoy bluegrass music ALL DAY LONG outside, or inside if the weather turns bad. You'' also find arts, crafts and food vendors.  Performers include Graham County Line • The Wilson Family • Jonah Riddle • The Pressley Girls  • a Jam Session with Larry Barnett and the Stecoah JAM kids. The Schoolhouse Cafe will be open all day. 11 AM - 5 PM.    Get a link for details on our NC Events Calendar

Date:      May 20, 2017  
NC City:  SALUDA
Event:     Saluda Arts Festival   This  year's annual festival will include  almost 90 artists and craftspeople, lively and award winning music, the children's art tent, several art and craft demonstrators and delicious food from our local restaurants. The festival also pays tribute this year to the late artist Johnny Waddill with a special exhibit displaying his work during the festival at the Saluda Center, 64 Greenville St., Saluda, NC. 
Get a link for details on our NC Events Calendar

Date:      May 20, 2017  
NC City:  BLACK MOUNTAIN
Event:     12th Annual Black Mountain Garden Show and Sale   The Garden Sale selection of plants cover perennials, annuals, herbs, vegetables, native trees, shrubs, maples, iris, daylilies, hostas and garden accessories. Garden related workshops will be conducted throughout the day. Come early to purchase items from the Clothesline Fundraising Event which supports the Black Mountain Beautification Committee. Parking is free and food is available at the hotel. Returning vendors and new vendors make this an annual event not to be missed. Admission: Free    Get a link for details on our NC Events Calendar

Date:      May 20, 2017  
NC City:  NORTH WILKESBORO
Event:    Concerts on the Deck     Dance the evening away to jazz, beach music and country rock. Free outdoor music series with food, drinks and a large dance floor. Sponsored by Window World. Convenient parking deck located at the intersection of 9th Street and the CBD Loop. Held the 3rd Saturday rain or shine, May - October. Admission: Free   Get a link for details on our NC Events Calendar

Date:      May 20, 2017  
NC City:  NEBO
Event:     MTA Triathlon at Lake James   Join the McDowell Trails Association for the 8th Annual Lake James Triathlon on the grounds of spectacular Lake James State Park with hundreds of acres of forest land, a swimming beach, hiking trails, tent and picnic sites plus an interpretive area. Begin with a 750 meter swim in Lake James followed by a 22 mile bicycle ride ending with a 3.1 mile foot race to the finish line.  Get a link for details on our NC Events Calendar

Date:      May 20, 2017  
NC City:  MARS HILL
Event:     Madison County Barn Tour Event   From barns to barbecue, from Appalachian arts to country music, Madison County Barn Day will celebrate mountain culture and good times. The big event begins with a narrated bus tour of several historically significant barns of Madison County. The tour will be followed by a dinner with entertainment by local musicians and a country auction. Admission: $40, or $75 for 2 tickets  Get a link for details on our NC Events Calendar

Date:      May 20, 2017
NC City:  NEBO
Event:     Vineyard Deck Music Series - WNC artist Ginny McAfee   Come to South Creek Winery and a listen to great local music. Tastings include the glass and are $6, $7 or $10 depending on the wines you choose. The music events are rain or shine (if questionable weather, please call to inquire) and provided to South Creek Customers at no admission fee, unless it is a stated ticketed event. Tasting room opens at 11 am with wine tasting for a nominal fee; music begins at 1 PM.    Get a link for details on our NC Events Calendar

Date:      May 20, 2017 
NC City:  WILKESBORO
Event:     Candle Light Ghost Tours   Come out for an evening of tales, mystery and haunts at the Candle Light Ghost Tours. Learn about the ghosts that haunt the old buildings that make up downtown Wilkesboro. Visit a cemetery where Civil War Soldiers are buried, stand in the jail cell Tom Dooley spent his last days, and listen to the stories of the haunted Smithey Hotel. Tickets will be sold on the Courthouse lawn at the museum and at the Wilkesboro Open Air Market the Friday before. Tours start at 8 PM   Get a link for details on our NC Events Calendar

Date:      May 20 - 21, 2017
NC City:  CHIMNEY ROCK
Event:     Spring Girl Scout Day and Campout    Girl Scouts of all ages may enjoy their own special days at Chimney Rock State Park. Nearly 1,000 acres make an incredible backdrop to a variety of programs that are educational and fun. And the fun doesn't stop when the sun goes down - the 5-acre Meadows is the perfect place to spend a night under the stars. See the Scouts page for detailed program descriptions.   Get a link for details on our NC Events Calendar

Date:      May 21, 2017
NC City:  MAGGIE VALLEY
Event:    Haywood Community Band Concert Series   Held every 3rd Sunday starting at 6:30 PM at the Maggie Valley Pavilion, 3987 Soco Road. Enjoy musical renditions by the Haywood Community Band. Concerts offered FREE to the public from May to October.     

   

What to do this Weekend in the Mountains

November 17, 2016
NC City:  ASHEVILLE
Event:     Taste of Asheville   An evening of food, wine and beer tasting with 40+ AIR (Asheville Independent Restaurants) restaurants, wine sponsors and local brewers.  This event usually "sells out" so get your tickets in advance. Enjoy the best of Asheville's food and beverage scene with tastings and samplings of old favorites and new creations. This is a fundraiser for AIR and it's programs, including the "Chef's of Tomorrow" Scholarship at AB Tech and GO! Kitchen Ready.

November 17 - December 17, 2016
NC City:  FLAT ROCK
Event:     A Christmas Carol at The Flat Rock Playhouse  Adapted for the stage by Richard Hellesen.  Original music with lyrics adapted from traditional sources by David De Berry.  By popular demand, Charles Dickens’ classic tale returns to Flat Rock Playhouse in 2016. The State Theatre of North Carolina will be presenting the hit 2014 production bi-annually. Seats from $15 - $40

November 18, 2016
NC City:  NORTH WILKESBORO
Event:     Light Up Downtown   Annually, Historic Downtown North Wilkesboro kicks off the Holiday Season with the lighting ceremony soon after dusk. Main Street is filled with the lights, joys, smells, and sounds of Christmas. Santa will be in the lobby of Wilkes Towers ready for photos with the little ones. Local community groups take part in in providing hay rides, live entertainment, food, crafts, kids activities and more.

November 18, 2016
NC City:  BLOWING ROCK
Event:    Scheduled Opening Day for Appalachian Ski Mountain   ASM Opens (if weather permits) for the 2016-2017 season.  To celebrate, the first 100 guests to the Ticket Cashier Window will receive a FREE ski ticket. 

November 18 - 23, 2016  (continues  select dates through Jan 1, 2017)
NC City:  BRYSON CITY
Event:     The Polar Express at The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad  The 1 ¼ hour round-trip excursion comes to life as the train departs the Bryson City depot for a journey through the quiet wilderness for a special visit at the North Pole. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, guests on board will enjoy warm cocoa and a treat while listening and reading along with the magical story.  Santa will board THE POLAR EXPRESS, greeting each child and presenting them with a special gift as in the story, their own silver sleigh bell. Enjoy singing Christmas carols during the trip back. Kids of all ages will believe in the magic of the Holiday season. 

November 18, 2016 - January 1, 2017
NC City:  ASHEVILLE
Event:     Winter Lights at The North Carolina Arboretum    Winter Lights is a three-acre nightly walking tour of The North Carolina Arboretum's nationally-known gardens, including its Quilt Garden and Bonsai Exhibition Garden. Celebrate the holidays and discover the natural beauty of western North Carolina through lighted garden exhibits and landscapes. The 2015/2016 Winter Lights exhibit will also include animated displays that are programmed to illuminate to the sounds of musical holiday favorites. In addition, there will be several new displays and family-friendly activities that will be placed throughout the gardens. 

November 18 - January 4, 2017
NC City:  ASHEVILLE
Event:    Winter Wonderland at The Grove Arcade  The historic Grove Arcade is all dressed up in holiday style with 35 shops and restaurants in celebration mode. Gingerbread entries from The Omni Grove Park Inn are on display along with traditional winter wonderland decorations and shops filled with special gifts. for friends and family.

November 19, 2016
NC City:  OLD FORT
Event:     Classic Car Cruise-in   Held the 3rd Saturday of every month. Bring your car, truck or motorcycle. Downtown Old Fort, 3-5 PM. A  free Sponsored by Route 70 Cruisers

November 19, 2016
NC City:  WEST JEFFERSON
Event:     Annual Holiday Parade   The Holiday parade begins at 3 PM followed by the 1st Annual Light up the Town event starting around 5:30 PM. The Downtown will be lit at dusk with lighted displays and decorations. Businesses will be all decked out for the Holiday season many  will also have extended hours to start your Holiday shopping early. Food specials and live music at will be offered by downtown restaurants. Visit stores for chances to win prizes. End your evening at the WJ Methodist Church Hensley Hall for Coffee House Live with great entertainment and refreshments beginning at 7:30 PM.

November 19, 2016
NC City:  BURNSVILLE
Event:    Christmas Ornament Festival in Town Center   9 AM - 2 PM. An annual Christmas Ornament Festival featuring one of a kind gift items handmade by local crafters and artisans. Admission is free. The Burnsville NC area is home to hundreds of North Carolina's favorite artists and crafters. This is your opportunity to make your holiday gift giving really special with a handcrafted piece from, the mountains.

November 19, 2016
NC City:   ASHEVILLE
Event:     Asheville Holiday Parade  The 70th Annual Asheville Holiday Parade, presented by Bojangles, rolls through downtown Asheville beginning at 11 AM. The parade starts on Biltmore Avenue near South Charlotte Street, makes a left on Patton Avenue, and ends at French Broad Avenue.  This year's parade features nearly 100 entries including marching bands, dance and cheer squads, nonprofits and businesses. Bojangles will have food and beverages available for sale along the parade route.

November 19 - January 3, 2017
NC City:  ASHEVILLE
Event:     19th Century Carolina Christmas at the Smith-McDowell House   Asheville's oldest surviving dwelling is now a National Register property and a window into how life was lived here in the 19th century. Celebrate Christmas the old-fashioned way. The Smith-McDowell House Museum's timeline of authentically decorated period rooms showcases the evolution of Christmas celebrations and decorations. This yearly exhibit, began in 1981, is a tradition for many regional families and tour groups. The mansion and local history museum will again be authentically decorated with fresh trees, garlands, ornaments and toys of the Victorian Period. 

November 20, 2016
NC City:  MARION
Event:     Marion Christmas Parade    This annual event marks the beginning of the Christmas season in Marion. 3 PM - 4 PM in historic downtown Marion. 

           

Forest City NC Hosts One of the largest Car, Truck and Motorcycle Shows in the Southeast

August 20, 2016   Hot Nights, Cool Rides   More than 350 classic cars, trucks and motorcycles line downtown Forest City NC, drawing both engine enthusiasts and the curious. 


The events includes food, dancing, and music. One of the largest car, truck and motorcycle shows in the Southeast, Forest City's 25th annual "Hot Nights, Cool Rides" event attracts thousands of spectators and hundreds of dynamite vehicles. 

photo courtesy Hot Nights, Cool Rides

The eclectic display of antique and modern vehicles, combined with the authentic, 1930s buildings of Forest City's Main Street, leaves people feeling like the decades have collided. The event runs from 11 AM. - 9 PM. and features live music, vendors, prizes and more. 

Registration is $25 per vehicle and the event is free for spectators.

Fathers Day Weekend Events in the Mountains

photo courtesy of www.stayandplayinthesmokies.com

June 16 - 19, 2016
NC City:  FRANKLIN
Event:     Scottish Heritage Festival   Always held on Father's Day Weekend, this favorite event features Scottish Fun, Food, Fashion, Music, Dancers, Games, Clans, Border Collie Demonstrations, Crafters, Continuous Entertainment and Culture for the whole family. The event kicks off with a golf tournament.

June 18, 2016
NC City:  WILKESBORO
Event:     Candle Light Ghost Tours   Come out for an evening of tales, mystery and haunts at the Candle Light Ghost Tours. Learn about the ghosts that haunt the old buildings that make up downtown Wilkesboro. Visit a cemetery where Civil War Soldiers are buried, stand in the jail cell Tom Dooley spent his last days, and listen to the stories of the haunted Smithey Hotel. Tickets will be sold on the Courthouse lawn at the museum and at the Wilkesboro Open Air Market the Friday before. Tours start at 8 PM 

June 18, 2016
NC City:  DILLSBORO
Event:     Front Street Arts and Crafts Show   Enjoy over 40 booths  displaying the hand-made craftsmanship of some of the best artists from around the region, along with live family entertainment and festival food. There will also be a silent auction to benefit the Lighthouse Baptist Church Missionary Fund.

June 18, 2016
NC City:  BRYSON CITY
Event:     Fontana Trestle Train Ft. BBQ & Brews   The Barbeque and Brews Dinner Trains feature locally hand-crafted beer from Hoppy Trout Brewing Company, The Sneak E Squirrel and Nantahala Brewing Company plus slow-cooked authentic North Carolina Barbeque. The train departs Bryson City Depot at 7 PM and travels through the scenic mountain countryside to the Fontana Trestle for a spectacular sunset. The base ticket prices from $70 (adults over 21 only) and includes a souvenir tasting glass with three beer samples and a meal of pulled pork, homemade coleslaw and apple pie. Additional beer will be available for purchase.  

June 18, 2016
NC City:  OLD FORT
Event:    Classic Car Cruise-in   Held the 3rd Saturday of every month. Bring your car, truck or motorcycle. Downtown Old Fort, 3-5 PM. A  free Sponsored by Route 70 Cruisers. 

June 18, 2016
NC City:  LITTLE SWITZERLAND
Event:     Black Light nighttime Mine Underground Tour   Black Light is the common name for ultraviolet light because it is invisible to human sight. Be amazed by the bright colors in the Bon Ami Mine revealed with short-wave ultraviolet lights. Bon Ami Mine is one of the few places in the world where you can visit an underground mine at night and see brightly flowing fluorescent Hyalite Opal and other rare minerals. No reservations needed. Admission: $15/adults; $10/students and seniors.

June 18 - 19, 2016
NC City:   CHIMNEY ROCK
Event:      Father's Day Weekend Admission Special at Chimney Rock State Park.  Buy one regularly-priced adult admission and Dad or Grampa receives one free,  Forget the tie! Give dad what he really wants: a getaway to the mountains at Chimney Rock for incredible views and scenic hiking with the family. Buy one regularly-priced adult admission and dad's or granddad's admission is free with the online coupon.  Coupon must be presented (in print or on your mobile device) to the Ticket Plaza at the time of purchase. Valid June 18-19, 2016 only. 



June 18 - 19, 2016
NC City:  MAGGIE VALLEY 
Event:     PlottFest    An annual festival celebrating the NC State Dog and offering the best in mountain music, American Plott Association and National Plott Association sanctioned Bench Dog Shows, and the Smoky Mountain Trout Festival. All profits from the Festival will Benefit Head Start of Haywood and Jackson Counties.  One of the highlights of the event is a mountain music festival celebrating WNC's heritage. Some of the most popular local and regional musicians perform for a great weekend of entertainment.

June 18 - 19, 2016
NC City:  HIGHLANDS   
Event:     Village Square Art and Craft Show   Sponsored by the Macon County Art Association, there are many works of art from which to choose. You will also find jewelry, pottery, weaving, metalwork, woodwork and other high quality crafts for the home and garden. 70+ local and regional art vendors. The show is held in downtown Highlands at Kelsey-Hutchinson Park and neighboring Village Square, a block from Main Street.

June 19, 2016
NC City:  Ronda
Event:     Father's Day Brunch   Celebrate Dad with a brunch at Raffaldini Vineyards. Enjoy an open buffet overlooking the mountains. The Raffaldini Vineyards Vintage ’51 Dodge Truck will be on display. Bring your camera for a one-a-kind photograph opportunity. $50 plus tax per person. $35 + tax excluding wine service

This Weekend Full of Arts and Crafts Festivals and Live Mountain Music Concerts

You know its summertime in the NC mountains when the streets and parks are busy with craft festivals and art markets and the sounds of both old time mountain music and new, up and coming local musicians performing with a backdrop of the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina. Check out this weekend' events:

Art and Crafts Festivals and Events:

Date:      June 2 - 4, 2016
NC City:  CHEROKEE

Event:     14th Annual Gourd Artist Gathering    The event features exquisitely crafted gourd art. This year’s Cherokee Gourd Artists Gathering brings together collectors and exhibiting artists for a weekend of live demonstrations, classes, competitions and a spectacular art market offering stunning works of gourd art, materials, tools and supplies. Come see how an inexpensive, traditionally utilitarian component of the Cherokee household is transformed into a piece of artwork. Admission is free. 

Date:      June 3, 2016
NC City:  ASHEVILLE 
Event:    Asheville Downtown Gallery Association Art Walk   Enjoy the fine art and craft of the Asheville Downtown Gallery Association and see on  of the reasons Asheville has been voted #1 small city in the country by the readers of American Style Magazine 2 years running. 20+ downtown venues participate with a complete  Downtown Gallery Guide and a map available at any participating downtown gallery, the Chamber of Commerce, or Pack Place.

Date:      June 3 - 4, 2016
NC City:  LITTLE SWITZERLAND
Event:     Artisan League of Little Switzerland Arts and Crafts Market    Unique handcrafted gifts, including woodwork, pottery, paintings, fiber arts, journals, jewelry, photography, literary works, prints, cards and aromatherapy. View or purchase the work of both emerging artists and award-winning professionals. 10 AM - 4 PM at Geneva Hall.

Date:      June 3 - 5, 2016
NC City:  SPRUCE PINE
Events:   Toe River Studio Tour   Grab the tour map and hit the road to visit artists in Mitchell and Yancey counties.  This year’s first tour includes over 100 artists and 10 galleries, Artists open their studios twice a year for the Toe River Studio tours. Enjoy meeting the artists in the premier craft destination in WNC. 

Date:      June 4, 2016
NC City:  OLD FORT
Event:     NC Gold Festival   This annual event, features gold exhibits, gold mining techniques and demonstrations, treasure and scavenger hunts, geo-caching, gold panning, numerous vendors including arts and crafts, raffles, Friday night kicks off the festival.

Date:       June 3-5, 2016
NC City:   WEST JEFFERSON
Event:     Ashe County Studio Tour    Tour the best Ashe County artists working in their own studios. This is a self-guided tour and maps and artist's biographies are available online. The event is sponsored by the Ashe County Arts Council. 
  

Live Music and Concerts: 

Date:      June 3, 2016 
NC City:  WEST JEFFERSON  
Event:     Backstreet Park Summer Concert Series  Come enjoy the kickoff of this FREE summer concert series held  from May/June - August, 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM, every 3rd and 4th Friday. Bring your chair, blanket or picnic and enjoy the sounds of traditional, old time, and bluegrass music for ages.  Rain locations: the Farmer's Market or the Ashe Arts Center. This concert features Wayne Henderson and Helen White. Wayne Henderson is a renowned finger-pickin' Appalachian guitar player and Helen White is an award-winning singer and multi-instrumentalist.

 Date:      June 3, 2016
NC City:  CASHIERS 
Event:     Groovin' On The Green   This concert features " Joe Lasher Jr." (Rock & New Southern Country artist ).  Live summer music concert with great music in a stunning venue in the beautiful weather. The summer concert series is held on Friday at 6:30 pm at the Village Commons. (Frank Allen Road – Next to the Post Office). FREE event, but tips appreciated.  

Date:      June 3, 2016
NC City:  SYLVA 
Events:   Concerts on the Creek - Bobby Sullivan Trio   Live concerts held every Friday night between Memorial Day Weekend and Labor Day. The free outdoor performances take place at the Bridge Park Pavilion beside Scott Creek in downtown Sylva on Fridays from 7:30-9:30 PM. All shows are family-friendly, drawing diverse audiences comprised of locals and visitors alike.   

photo courtesy of the Blue Ridge Music Center

Date:      June 4, 2016 
NC City:  Just north of Boone in Galax VA
Event:     Blue Ridge Music Center Concert    This concert features "Big" Ron Hunter & the Martha Bassett Band    The Blue Ridge Music Center Summer Concert Series is performed rain or shine. You are welcome to bring your own picnic basket (NO ALCOHOL please) and encouraged to bring a lawn chair. Phone ticket sales through BRPF Office end at Noon on Friday and are available online up to 12 hours before the concert. The Galax Smokehouse serves BBQ, sides and drinks at each concert. Check the website for details about the performers and concerts

Date:       June 6, 2015
NC City:   HENDERSONVILLE
Event:      Monday Night Live concert series featuring The Low-Down Sires  These summer concerts are held at the Hendersonville Visitors Center. Bring a lawn chair, but no pets or alcohol. The seating area opens after 5:30pm and the concerts are from 7 PM - 9 PM.  

 Find more weekend events and festivals on our 

NC Events Calendar

 

The Village of Chimney Rock NC Hosts Spring Celebration this Weekend

May 14, 2016   SpringGo    Enjoy a day filled with Spring fun and everything from a pancake breakfast and SpringGo parade to a cow pie bingo raffle and an opportunity to find the artist in you.  

This year's SpringGo in Chimney Rock Village has something for everyone. 

Festivities begin at 7 AM and end with a special outdoor performance at The Gathering Place by the Symphony of Rutherford County

Reserve your seat to create your own work of art at Paint-Bug.com. View the website for complete Festival details. 

Photo courtesy of www.chimneyrock.org

Earth Day Celebrations and Events in the Mountains

photo courtesy NOC

April 22 - 24, 2016
NC City:  BRYSON CITY
Event:     NOC Spring Fling    This event is NOC's way of welcoming spring to the Southeast. Come out and be a part of World Kayak's Hometown Throwdown, race in the Boater Cross or push your skills on the Nantahala Cascades. Don't forget to check out the season's hottest gear at the NOC's Outfitter's Store, plus, enjoy free live music and local brews at Big Wesser BBQ + Brew.

photo courtesy Chimney Rock State Park

April 23, 2016
NC City:  CHIMNEY ROCK
Event:     Earth Day Celebration at Chimney Rock State Park  Join Chimney Rock State Park rangers, biologists and other environmental educators to learn about the great work being done to protect the beautiful landscape. Booths will be located in Chimney Rock Village behind the Old Rock Café.   

April 23, 2016
NC City:  OLD FORT
Event:     Mountain Thunder Car Show    Annual Mountain Thunder Car Show in downtown, historic Old Fort. Sponsored by the Route 70 Cruisers, all makes and models of cars, trucks and motorcycles are invited to join the fun, no entrance or admission fees! There will be food, crafts and a “swap meet” area for treasure hunters.  

April 23, 2016
NC City:  NEBO
Event:     Folk Rock and Trees for the Earth - Skiffle Creek.   Come to South Creek Winery, give a listen to this great local group and raise a glass to original and cover tunes. Freddy Bradburn, who has released several CDs, including critically acclaimed “Cartoonland,” heads up the trio. Tasting room opens at 11 am with wine tasting for a nominal fee; music begins at 1 PM.  


April 23, 2016
NC City:  SYLVA

photo courtesy mainstreetsylva.org

Event:     Greening up the Mountains   This annual spring festival, named for the way the “spring green” creeps up the mountainsides, is a celebration of the local economy, sustainability, and traditional heritage crafts. Three full music stages will feature local bands, children’s performances, and heritage dance, along with the annual Youth Talent Show and more. Storytelling, face painting, an inflatable slide, the recycled materials Superhero Costume Contest, volunteer projects and more. Annual Greening Up the Mountains 5K Run. It also celebrates the greening of the environment, with information about sustainable living and presentations by environmental groups. It is held on on Main and Mill Streets in historic downtown Sylva from 10 AM to 4 PM.

photo courtesy visitNC.com

 April 23 - 24, 2016
NC City:  MAGGIE VALLEY
Event:     Southeastern Mini Truckin' Nationals   An open car show with spectators welcome. Hundreds of mini trucks will compete. Auto and Food Vendors will be on site. Held on the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds at 3374 Soco Road 

photo courtesy visitNC.com

April 23 - 24, 2016
NC City:  ROBBINSVILLE
Event:     Cheoah River High Flow Weekends   The Cheoah river has many Class IV/IV+ rapids and lots of residual vegetation that require a high skill level to negotiate. With the exception of two or three half-mile or so sections, the Cheoah is unusually continuous with a gradient that is consistently steep for a river its size. The 9+ mile run can be broken into three sections and represents a whitewater experience not often found in the Southeast. Recommended for experienced paddlers only. 




    

What to do this Weekend in the Mountains

Date:      Now- May 26, 2016
NC City:  ASHEVILLE
Event:     Biltmore Blooms    Biltmore's gardens, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, are alive with color as spring arrives. Enjoy special events and the beauty of tulips, azaleas, and countless other flowers during Biltmore Blooms. Guests will be able to step down into the Winter Garden to enjoy a display of exotic orchids intimately, just as George and Edith Vanderbilt's guests might have. Some of the plants will be the same species that were planned for the Biltmore Conservatory in 1894. Outdoors, enjoy a beautiful progression of blooms from tulips to pansies, azaleas, and much more.

Date:      April 8-29, 2016
NC City:  ASHEVILLE
Event:     Interlude  The Media Arts Project (MAP) and Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center (BMCM+AC) announce Interlude, a month-long series of contemporary art events to be held in and around BMCM+AC’s galleries in downtown Asheville. Inspired by Albers’ break from the norm, Interlude is a break with their own tradition and will be held in lieu of {Re}HAPPENING, the annual weekend art event at the former Black Mountain College site at Lake Eden. Interlude is a platform for artists of multiple disciplines to carry out experimental and non-traditional practices emphasized by the scholars of Black Mountain College. The event will activate a variety of spaces in downtown Asheville through music, dance, poetry, video, installation, conversation, and participatory events.

Date:      April 14-17, 2016
NC City:  ASHEVILLE
Event:     WNC Orchid Society Show   The WNC Orchid Society will host its annual show at The North Carolina Arboretum. The popular juried plant show will also feature award-winning orchid vendors, many of whom are nationally recognized growers and hybridizers. Rare and unusual plants, specialty lighting and orchid supplies will be available for purchase. Admission: Free with parking fee admission ($8 per vehicle).

Date:      April 14 - 17, 2016
NC City:  BLOWING ROCK
Event:    Savor Blowing Rock (formerly The Blue Ridge Wine & Food Festival)   Now in its 11th year, this festival celebrates the excitement of spring in the Blue Ridge with the best in cuisine, wine, and beer. Enjoy pairings, dinners, seminars, entertainments, and the Grand Tasting.

Date:      April 15, 2016
NC City:  BRASSTOWN
Event:     Music Events at John C Campbell Folk School:  Archipelago - "Composers Across the Pond"- Collected and Composed Songs of American composer, John Jacob Niles and Welsh composer, Ralph Vaughn Williams. Archipelago is a trio of classically trained musicians who have created a concert based on folk music as appropriate to the the concert's location at the Historic John C. Campbell Folk School, but also because so much of Appalachian folk music came to the mountains through the settlers who moved here long ago from the British Isles. Ralph Vaughn Williams and John Jacob Niles, the two composer/song collectors featured in the program represent that migration of traditional music. 7 PM - FREE admission, but DONATIONS WELCOME.

Date:      April 16, 2016
NC City:  ASHEVILLE
Event:    The Asheville City Open Air Market   will be open on Saturdays 8 AM - 1 PM, April - December at the Public Works Building, 161 S. Charlotte Street in downtown Asheville NC and on Wednesdays at Town Square Blvd in Biltmore Park Town Square .  Find the the freshest, best-tasting food around and local artisan products in two locations for your convenience, downtown and South Asheville.EBT, credit, and debit cards are accepted. Additional activities include live music, cooking demonstrations and food tastings from local chefs. 

Date:      April 16, 2016
NC City:  CHIMNEY ROCK
Event:     Naturalist Niche: Spring Wildflower Walk at Chimney Rock State Park   Grab your cameras and field guides for this informative, moderate hike with a Park naturalist to find blooming beauties like trillium, mountain laurel, flame azaleas and more unique species. Location of hike may vary depending on where the most flowers are blooming. Dress appropriately for the weather, wear comfortable hiking shoes and bring water.  Limited to 15; advance registration required.  

Date:      April 16, 2016
NC City:  OLD FORT
Event:    3rd Saturday Classic Car Cruise-In  Held in downtown, historic Old Fort (at the Hardees on Catawba). Sponsored by the Route 70 Cruisers, all makes and models of cars, trucks and motorcycles are invited to join the fun, no entrance or admission fees! There will be food, crafts and a "swap meet" area for treasure hunters.  

Date:      April 17  - 21, 2016
NC City:  FONTANA DAM
Event:    Spring Hike Week   Whether you are a returning Spring Hike Week participant, or  this is your first time at the Village,  you will  have a wonderful time enjoying Fontana Village Resort. Enjoy guided hikes and educational programs, plus there are many scheduled activities that will be available in which you may participate.  

    Find more NC Mountains Events and Festivals 

on the NC Events Calendar