Festivals, Special & Seasonal Events

• 4th Heritage Alive Mountain Youth Talent Contest, Nov. 19. Fiddle, cello, piano, mandolin, banjo, guitar, standup bass, poetry and vocals. 7:30 p.m. at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. 631.4587.

• Christmas Craft Show, Nov. 21. Held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Post 47, Legion Dr., Waynesville. For more information call 456.8691. If crafts would like to rent table space to display their crafts call Diane Megrath at 734.2234.

• Downtown Waynesville Holiday Open House, Nov. 22. Live music, cookie tour, holiday decor, shopping and more. Noon to 5 p.m. on Main Street. 456.3517.

• Hard Candy Christmas Craft Show, Nov. 27-28. The largest holiday arts and crafts show in Western North Carolina. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day at the Ramsey Center on the WCU campus. Admission is $3 per person, with children under age 12 admitted free. Parking is also free. For show info, call 524.3405 or visit www.mountainartisans.net.

On Stage & In Concert

• Civil War Letters of Macon County, Nov. 21. The Macon County Historical Society in partnership with Michael Rogers, local photographer, will showcase a docudrama based on the research of letters and diaries from period residents of Macon County and shows how the War affected the citizens in Macon County. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. followed by a pre-show of period music and introduction of re-enactors at 6:45 p.m. Screening begins at 7:30 p.m. $8 adults, $5 children. Held at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. 524.9758.

• Dusk Weaver, Nov. 21. Native American singer/songwriter performs at 7 p.m. at Swain County Center for the Arts in Bryson City. 488.7843.

• Cullowhee Consort Renaissance Ensemble, Nov. 22. The Consort recreates an Old World 16th Century holiday celebration, performing vocal numbers such as madrigals and chansons, interweaving humorous glimpses of the times and demonstrating their authentically reproduced instruments. 4 p.m. in the historic Chapel of First Presbyterian Church in downtown Franklin. 524.7684.

• “A Christmas Carol Revisited,” Nov. 27. Three street performers bring all of Dickens' characters magically to life. Utilizing beautiful oversized masks for all the spirit characters, and the involvement of the audience, old Scrooge's miraculous transformation from a miser to a man of good will. 7:30 p.m. at the Martin-Lipscomb Performing Arts Center in Highlands. 526.9047.

Art/Gallery Events

& Openings

• Art of Wine and Dining exhibit opening, Nov. 14. Reception from 5 to 7 p.m. at Summit Gallery in Highlands. Exhibit up through December. 526.2673.

• It’s a Small, Small Work, Nov. 18. Reception held noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 22 in conjunction with Downtown Waynesville’s Holiday Open House on Main Street. No pieces are priced over $300. Artwork will be sold off the wall in a “pay and walk away” style. The exhibit will be on display through Jan. 2.

Film & Screen

• “Two Lovers,” Nov. 18. Featuring Joaquin Phoenix and Gwyneth Paltrow. 3:30 p.m. at the library in Franklin. 524.3600.

• “Planes, Tranes and Automobiles,” Nov. 19. Steve Martin, John Candy, Laila Robins, William Windom, Michael McKean and Kevin Bacon star in this 1987 comedy. 7 p.m. at the library in Sylva. 586.2016.

• “Hello Dolly,” Nov. 20. Starring Barbra Streisand and Walter Matthau. 2 p.m. at the library in Franklin. 524.3600.

• “Pocahontas,” Nov. 23. The daughter of a Native American tribe chief and English soldier share a romance when English colonists invade 17th century Virginia. 3:30 p.m. at the library in Franklin. 524.3600.

• “Squanto, a Warrior’s Tale,” Nov. 24. Squanto, a young warrior abducted from his homeland and enslaved, must battle impossible hazards on a desperate journey home. 3:30 p.m. at the library in Bryson City. 488.3030.

Literary

• Dorthoy Allison, Nov. 19. Part of the “WNC Read-for-All” program, the event will begin with a feature on Allison, highlighting her achievements as a writer, and move into the dominant issue of domestic violence. Discussion of Allison’s “Bastard Out of Carolina” at 7:30 p.m. in the A.K. Hinds University Center’s theater at Western Carolina University. 227.7264.

• Joseph Gatins, Nov. 20. Author of We Were Dancing on a Volcano: Bloodlines and Fault Lines of a Star-Crossed Atlanta Family, 1849-1989. 7 p.m. at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. 586.9499.

• Matthew Baker and Dennis Ackison, Nov. 21. Baker is author of My Mountain Granny and Ackison is author of Murder at Fontana Dam. 1 to 5 p.m. at Gils Bookstore in Bryson City.

• Ann Fariello, Nov. 21. Author of Cherokee Basketry From the Hands of our Elders. 11 a.m. at Osondu Booksellers in Waynesville. 456.8062.

• Brian Lee Knopp, Nov. 21. Author of Mayhem in Mayberry, Adventures of a PI in Southern Appalachia a true story of the life of a Private Investigator. 3 p.m. at Osondu Booksellers in Waynesville. 456.8062.

• Brian Lee Knopp, Nov. 21. Author of Mayhem in Mayberry, Adventures of a PI in Southern Appalachia a true story of the life of a Private Investigator. 7 p.m. at City Lights Bookstore. 586.9499.?

Arts Group Meetings

• Western Carolina Fiber & Handweavers Guild Meeting, Nov. 21. Held at Historic Johnson Farm (not the Folk Art Center) located at 3346 Haywood Road, Hendersonville. Business meeting at 10 a.m., project at 10:45 a.m. Call 877.3033.