The event features historic downtown streets — Main and Mill streets — lined with food, art, crafts, a time capsule and three stages of live music. The festival has its roots in the celebration of Earth Day, and it still maintains a focus on environmental protection and sustainability. It strives to promote local businesses and civic groups. 

The music lineup includes Marshall Ballew, The Buchanan Boys, The Freight Hoppers, Second Hand String Band, Bird in Hand, Noonday Sun, Carolina Dusk, Sugar Barnes and Dave Magill, Darren and the Buttered Toast, Mangas Colorado, Fieldtrip, PMA, Porch 40 and Total War. 

The festival begins at 9 a.m. with a 5K race from Mark Watson Park. The race is sponsored this year by the Jackson County Recreation and Parks Department. For registration and routes information, visit www.imathelete.com or call 828.293.3053.

Jackson County’s youngest performers will kick things off at 10 a.m. on the Triple Threat children’s stage with the annual Mountain Youth Talent Contest. Children’s activities this year will also include face painting and an inflatable slide in the Bridge Park. 

In commemoration of Sylva’s 125th anniversary, Greening Up the Mountains will also feature a time capsule, which is sponsored by Jack the Dipper Ice Cream. 

Sponsors of the festival include Harris Regional Hospital, Jack the Dipper Ice Cream, Jackson Paper Manufacturing, Green Bros. of Sylva, Inc., Nationwide Insurance, Bubacz’s Signature Brew Café & Coffee, Soul Infusion Tea House & Bistro, Triple Threat Performing Arts Academy, Friends of the Library, Balsam Mountain Preserve, Innovation Brewing, Sequoyah Fund, Main Street Syva Association, Sylva Garden Club, Carole Lilly Massage, 540 AM WRGC Radio and the town of Sylva. 

Festival begins with 5K Race

The annual Greening Up the Mountains 5K race will get the day started Saturday, April 26. This year’s route is new and much easier, with fewer climbs. 

The route begins at Mark Watson Park in downtown Sylva. It crosses U.S. 23 Business, continues to Dillsboro Road, then loops into Monteith Park. Racers then return on the same route, back to the park. The route includes paved and graveled road sections. 

The 5K begins at 9 a.m. Registration starts at 8 a.m. at Mark Watson Park. Registration the day of the event costs $20, with a limited number of event shirts available for $10. 

Following the race, at 10 a.m., there will be an awards ceremony. Awards will be given for overall male and overall female, as well as for the top three finishers in each age bracket.  

Proceeds raised through this event go to support the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department.

Friends of the Library promotes membership during Greening Up the Mountains

The Friends of the Library invite new members to join on April 26 during Greening Up the Mountains in Sylva.

As a bonus on Greening Up day, all new members and all renewing members will receive a free tote bag sporting the logos of the Friends of the Library and the Jackson County Public Library. Join the Friends, get a bag and fill it with books in the Friends of the Library Used Book Store’s Bargain Bag Sale. Pay just $1 in the store for a tote bag full of books during Greening Up the Mountains only.

Performance schedule

The Bridge Park Stage

(located in Bridge Park, just in front of Railroad Ave.)

10 a.m. Sugar Barnes and Dave Magill 

11 a.m. Darren and the Buttered Toast

12 p.m. Mangas Colorado

1 p.m. Fieldtrip

2 p.m. PMA 

3 p.m. Porch 40 

4 p.m. Total War

The Signature Brew Stage

(located at the corner of Landis and Main streets)

10 a.m. Marshall Ballew

11 a.m. The Buchanan Boys

12 p.m. The Freight Hoppers 

1 p.m. The Second Hand String Band

2 p.m. Bird In Hand

3 p.m. Noonday Sun

4 p.m. Carolina Dusk

Triple Threat Children’s Stage

10 a.m.-12 p.m. Mountain Youth Talent Contest 

12 p.m. Triple Threat Performing Arts Academy 

1 p.m. Junior Appalachian Musicians, MDCS – Advanced String Band

2 p.m. Jackson County Junior Appalachian Musicians