St Patrick's Day Road Race in Oskar Blues Southeast Brewery in Brevard

March 17    Oskar Blues 4 Miles Road Race This is the 1st annual St. Patty's Day Road Race at Oskar Blues Southeast Brewery. The race begins at 9 AM with a Fun Race following at 9:05 AM. The 4 mile race is a USATF Certified race. Awards will be given to each age group winner.

A portion of proceeds will go to Brevard High School Track and Field. 

Oskar Blues Southeast Brewery is located at 342 Mountain Industrial Drive in Brevard NC.  WNC's newest brewery (opened in December 2012), Oskar Blues' taproom is now open and tours are held daily. Featured brews include Dales's Pale Ale, Mama's Little Yella Pils, Old Chub Scottish Style Ale, G'Knight Imperial Red Ale, Ten Fidy Imperial Stout, Deviant Dales IPA.

Growers' Fair at Full Spectrum Farms

April 16   Full Spectrum Farms - Growers' Fair   Buy or share plants and seeds with your neighbors while supporting Full Spectrum Farms. A service organization dedicated to providing a full spectrum of life’s opportunities for persons with autism.  This event promotes sustainable agriculture by providing local growers an opportunity to present their products to the public. Full Spectrum Farm is located at 3101 Old Cullowhee Road, Cullowhee, NC.

First Annual NCAA Opening Day Festival at Flat Rock Cinema

Flat Rock Cinema, Henderson County Red Cross and Morris Broadband proudly present the first annual NCAA Opening Day Festival. Watch the tournament on our big screen featuring Morris Broadband High Definition video, enjoy light appetizers between 11:30 am and 1:30 pm and enter the Sweet Sixteen bracket for a chance to win $100. Tickets are only $25 and all proceeds go to our local Red Cross Chapter. Why not take the day off and enjoy the the first day of the such a big event?  Doors open at 9:30 am and we'll wrap things up at 6:00 pm.  Our full MENU, including beer, wine and cocktails, will be available all day.  Tickets are limited so please call David Feldmeth for your reservation at 828-551-0360.

Christmas Shopping Update from Asheville's Grove Arcade

Downtown Asheville's Grove Arcade is a spectacular setting to celebrate the holidays and this year you can purchase locally grown, fresh-cut Fraser fir Christmas trees on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Stop by and let Steven Tingle help you find the perfect tree from his family farm in Cruso. Tingle will be selling from the Portico Market at the corner Battery Park and O.Henry Avenue.

Brother Wolf Rescue is teaming up with the merchants of the Grove Arcade to provide a special holiday Gift Wrapping service for downtown shoppers this season. Bring your gifts to the Arcade on Saturday, December 11, and Saturday, December 18, from noon until 5 p.m. and have them wrapped for a nominal fee. The Arcade is providing the materials, and Brother Wolf is providing the talented wrappers. All proceeds will benefit Brother Wolf Rescue, a local organization dedicated to the rescue of animals of all sorts who need our help to survive.

Winter Wonderland Continues a display of entries from the National Gingerbread House Competition, live holiday music on the weekends, photos with Santa and special family events.

Suite 143 is the site of a special exhibition of artwork submitted for the Mountain Express holiday cover art contest. Entries will be displayed from December 1 to 19 with an opening reception taking place Friday, December 3, from 6 to 7 p.m. Artist Jason Probstein is working in Suite 143 creating beautiful handmade blown glass ornaments, a perfect holiday gift or memento of a trip to Asheville. Children attending the December 3 will receive a beautiful handmade glass candy canes created by Probstein as a souvenir of this event.

At Make Merry on December 4 and Make Merrier on December 18, you won't want to miss the Noon performances of a dramatic reading of Twas the Night Before Christmas that are sure to become a family tradition.

The Historic Grove Arcade is located at One Page Avenue in Asheville North Carolina

A Taste of Compassion in Asheville

Nov 11 head for Asheville and a Taste of Compassion .  Music by One Leg Up and wine and hors d’oeuvres provided by local restaurants during the Asheville-based Animal Compassion Network’s seventh annual event. Guests can bid on more than 200 items, including concert and theater tickets and designer pet supplies, during a silent auction. Proceeds help the no-kill organization foster, spay and neuter, and find homes for pets.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Announces Raffle for North Carolina Log Cabin

On July 27 2010 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina announced the 1st Annual Smoky Mountain Cabin Raffle. A limited number of raffle tickets will be available for purchase through the October 7, 2010 deadline on our specially created event website at www.LogCabinRaffle.org   The Grand Prize Drawing will take place on October 14, 2010 and will be open to the public.

The Smoky Mountain Cabin Raffle will also include bonus drawings throughout the three-month event. Buy your ticket(s) EARLY for a chance to win the bonus drawings which include a one-week stay at a cabin provided by Hidden Creek Cabins, a Whitewater Rafting trip for 4 down the legendary Nantahala River provided by Paddle Inn Rafting and a $1,000 cash prize drawing.

This beautiful Smoky Mountain Cabin, located in Bryson City North Carolina, is a fully furnished 2 bedroom 2 bathroom Log Cabin with custom hardwood floors, granite countertops, hot tub, pool table and a rocked fireplace.

Raffle participants can give back while also having the exciting chance to win a beautiful custom log cabin in the Smoky Mountains. Proceeds from the 1st annual Smoky Mountain Cabin Raffle will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina in its continued effort to recruit, screen, train and support caring adults who want to make a difference in the life of a child.

BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!

Picnic and a Play Benefits Mayberry 4-Paws

June 18, Round Peak Vineyards, 765 Round Peak Church Rd,  Mount Airy North Carolina will host a play  benefiting Mayberry 4-Paws. a non-profit spay and nuetering organization. The event is free, although donations are encouraged. A portion of all wine sales will also be donated. So bring a picnic and watch The NoneSuch Playmakers perform "All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten".  (336) 352-5595   http://www.RoundPeak.com

Seventh Asheville Wine Auction and Gala Dinner in Asheville

June 12,  6:30, Togar Rugs, Asheville North Carolina.   Seventh Asheville Wine Auction and Gala Dinner  This is  the premier charity wine auction in Western North Carolina, featuring a live auction with expert auctioneer Andrew Brunk of fine wines, art, fantastic trips and more, as well as a formal dinner with paired wines, held at an extraordinary facility donated by Togar Rugs. All proceeds benefit the Asheville Art Museum. Call 828.253.3227 now to reserve your place in advance.

Franklin Historic Store Holds Annual Treasure Sale

May 22, 9:00-2:00, TM Rickman General Store, 251 Cowee Creek Road, Cowee/West's Mill National Register Historic District, Franklin North Carolina. Both Visitors and Locals enjoy the 3rd Annual Treasure Sale at the Rickman General Store.

The T.M.Rickman General Store, a part of the 370 acre Cowee/West's Mill National Register Historic District, was acquired by the Land Trust for the Little Tennessee in August of 2007. Since then the community has been active with fundraising, making the purchase a reality.

It's for the BIRDS!

Through May 10, Grove Park Inn,  Asheville North Carolina -  Decorated Birdhouse Competition Display  10th Annual Decorated Birdhouse Competition - Winners will receive cash and prizes valued at over $3,000. Download an entry form and start building today! All entries in the competition will be on display from April 10-May 10, 2009. Contestants also have the option in this year's contest to donate their birdhouse to benefit Habitat for Humanity.

3rd Annual Chocolate Cookoff

Feb 20, Bryson City Presbyterian Church, Everett St., Bryson City North Carolina. Area chocolatiers compete for prizes and you get to sample these delectable goodies all made from scratch. Fundraiser for the Friends of the Marianna Black Library. Judging begins at 1PM and the delectable goodies will be open to the public at 2 pm for tasting and selecting the People’s Choice Award. Entry application & contest information

Main Course Dining Kickoff

Nov 19, 7PM – 9 PM,  The Venue, Market St., Asheville NC. Main Course Dining is back and this is the "kick-off" party. The evening includes food from each of the 18 restaurants participating in the Main Course Dining program and complimentary beer and wine. A cash bar for liquor drinks will also be available.Tickets for the evening are $50 and come with a free Main Course Dining booklet, additional tickets can be purchased for $25 each. Purchase tickets online. Website: http://airasheville.org

Benefit Concert for Ashe County Free Medical Clinic

Nov 14, at 7:30 p.m. at the Ashe County High School Auditorium, Jefferson NC. Come enjoy the Benefit Concert featuring the music of Jeff Little and Wayne Henderson. During intermission, a "Laura Nan" Sweater will be raffled off; proceeds will go to support the Clinic. The ticket price is $15.00. Tickets can be purchased at Blue Moon Guitars and the Ashe County Arts Council in West Jefferson, North Carolina.Website: http://www.acfmc.org