‘Mother’s Day Gemboree’

The “Mother’s Day Gemboree” will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 9-10 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 11 at the Macon County Community Building in Franklin.

Rough and cut gems, minerals, fine jewelry, supplies, beads, door prizes, dealers, exhibits, demonstrations and more. 

Franklin arts and crafts fair

The Friends of the Greenway (FROG) will host an arts and crafts fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 3, at the FROG Quarters, located at 573 East Main St. in Franklin. 

Franklin farmers market returns for 2025

The Franklin farmers market will open up for the season beginning May. 

Macon GOP hosts ‘first in freedom’ anniversary dinner

The Macon County Republican Party will host a 250th anniversary celebration of the first declaration of independence from Great Britain and King George III in the Thirteen Colonies, preceding the U.S. Declaration of Independence by more than a year.

River protest calls attention to debris removal

On Saturday, April 26, a group of protesters took to the Little Tennessee River to call attention to what they see as excessive debris removal in Macon County as part of the cleanup process from damage by Hurricane Helene last year. 

Join Franklin Bird club for Macon County walks

The Franklin Bird Club leads walks along the Greenway on Wednesday mornings at 8 a.m. through September. Walks start at alternating locations: Macon County Public Library, Big Bear Park and Salali Lane. 

Good intentions gone wrong: Maconians sound alarm on excessive debris removal

By this point, more than six months after Hurricane Helene barreled through Western North Carolina, it’s a common sight. Heavy machinery moving in and around waterways, working to remove debris that choked rivers and streams during extreme flooding caused by the storm. 

Join Franklin Bird club for Macon County walks

The Franklin Bird Club leads walks along the Greenway on Wednesday mornings at 8 a.m. through September. Walks start at alternating locations: Macon County Public Library, Big Bear Park and Salali Lane. 

Reggae, soul at Lazy Hiker

The Natti Love Joys will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 12, at Lazy Hiker Brewing in Franklin.

A roots-rock-reggae band that has been playing live since 2003, the group consists of husband and wife duo Anthony “Jatti” Allen and Sonia “Marla” Allen (formerly Sonia Abel). 

‘Hands off’ protests hit their mark, nationally and locally

Joining millions across the globe, thousands in Western North Carolina rallied this past weekend, demonstrating against the policies of President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk while expressing grave concerns about the future of myriad federal programs and services. Their message? “We want people to know that we are not going anywhere.”

Smokey Mountain News Logo
SUPPORT THE SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS AND
INDEPENDENT, AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISM
Go to top
Payment Information

/

At our inception 20 years ago, we chose to be different. Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. We don’t plan to change that model. Support from our readers will help us maintain and strengthen the editorial independence that is crucial to our mission to help make Western North Carolina a better place to call home. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News.

The Smoky Mountain News is a wholly private corporation. Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. Your support of SMN does not constitute a charitable donation. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us.