Several festivals around Western North Carolina are encouraging local artists and vendors to sign up for celebrations and events throughout 2013.

• The 16th Annual Greening Up the Mountains festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 27, in downtown Sylva. Applications are now being accepted for vendors, demonstrators, crafters, and environmental groups. The event centers around the theme of supporting local businesses, providers and residents as the best way to create a sustainable economy, and invites demonstrations, booths and educational displays from environmental groups, “green” initiatives and those focused on learning and sustaining traditional mountain crafts and arts. Applications will be accepted through April 15, but space is limited and early registration offers a reduced application fee.

www.townofsylva.org or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 828.506.3419.

• Haywood County Arts Council is seeking Blue Ridge National Heritage area artists with a passion for the traditional aspects of pottery and clay making for an exhibit to coincide with the Appalachian Lifestyle Celebration on June 8 in downtown Waynesville. The celebration commemorates all things local from crafts to food to music and dance. It’s a heritage themed event demonstrating various historical and cultural educational and entertainment opportunities. Interested artists should e-mail photograph samples of their work for jurying to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Feb. 25 and be of work created in the last 12 months. Selected artists will be asked to create up to three art pieces for the June 2013 exhibition. Work must be for sale.

www.visitncsmokies.com/events.

• Regional fine artists are being recruited to show and demonstrate their art form at the 5th Annual ColorFest “Art & Taste of Appalachia” this fall. The selected artists artwork will be displayed in a shop in Dillsboro from Sept. 5 until the culminating art festival on Oct. 5, and also featured on www.colorfestartblog.com. The festival is produced by Catch the Spirit of Appalachia in partnership with the Dillsboro Merchants Association and Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, with support from the Jackson County Arts Council and North Carolina Arts Council.

www.spiritofappalachia.org or 828.293.2239.