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Popular regional Americana/roots act Chatham Rabbits will perform at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, at the Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center in Franklin.
Featuring world-class culinary treats and marquee musical acts, the annual Highlands Food & Wine Festival will be held Nov. 13-16 at various venues within the community.
A special production of “Beetlejuice Jr.’ will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 14-15, 21-22 and 2 p.m. Nov. 16 and 23 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.
Florida-based indie/soul singer-songwriter Shane Meade will perform at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, at Mountain Layers Brewing Company in Bryson City.
Hailing from Elkins, West Virginia, Meade is a self-taught late bloomer who borrowed an old guitar from his father.
The last “Community Contra Dance” of the autumn series will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.
Contra dance is a form of social folk dancing from which square dancing evolved, so it shares many of the same movements. As always, no partner is necessary, generations mix.
Kathryn Kirkpatrick and Annie Woodford will share poems from their latest collections, "Creature" and "Peasant," at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.
The 16th annual “Handmade Holiday Sale” will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, in the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee.
This event is presented by the WCU Fine Art Museum and is located throughout the Bardo Arts Center lobby and Star Atrium.
The Haywood County Arts Council’s (HCAC) “Small Works” exhibit will run through Dec. 31 at the HCAC Gallery & Gifts showroom in downtown Waynesville.
“The Polar Express” train ride will roll down the tracks on select dates from the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad depot in downtown Bryson City.
Climb aboard one of the powerful locomotives and historic train cars as it departs the Bryson City Depot for the North Pole to pick up Santa Claus himself.
A special showcase, “Didanisisgi Gadagwatli: A Showcase of Pottery from the Mud Dauber Community Workshop,” is now on display at the Museum of the Cherokee People in Cherokee. On view through May 2026, the exhibition features works by students of Tara McCoy (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians) handcrafted during an intensive three-month workshop.
A sensational Asheville-based act, Rudy’s Bluegrass Revue will hit the stage at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, at the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville.
The trio’s lively performances seamlessly blend bluegrass, Americana, traditional and mountain roots music, all of which will keep your toes tapping and spirits dancing.
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is reporting the first presumptive detection of Chronic Wasting Disease in Edgecombe County. NCWRC has received a preliminary positive test result on a white-tailed deer harvested by a hunter in the eastern corner of the county. The closest confirmed location from this new suspected site is 92 miles away in Cumberland County.
The Women’s History Park in east Franklin has received statewide recognition as a “Great Place for Public Art” for its Sowing the Seeds of the Future sculpture.
The North Carolina chapter of the American Planning Association presents the “Great Places Across NC” awards. The annual awards range from public recreation parks, downtown redevelopment areas, com-prehensive plans and public art.
Now is the time to submit soil samples for faster turnaround time on results and avoid peak-season testing fees. This year, the peak laboratory season starts Wednesday, Nov. 26, and runs through March 31, 2026.
Samples must physically arrive at the Agronomic Services’ loading dock by Tuesday, Nov. 25, by 5 p.m. or earlier to avoid being charged a peak-season fee of $4 per sample.
Girls on the Run of Western North Carolina (GOTR WNC) will host its annual Fall 5K Presented by AdventHealth. Hundreds of girls, families, coaches and community members will lace up their sneakers for this celebration of confidence, connection and joy.
Amid the ongoing federal government shutdown, the nonprofit Friends of the Smokies will continue to provide funding to ensure Great Smoky Mountains National Park remains open with basic visitor services and limited staffing from Nov. 3, through Jan. 4, 2026.
Jackson County is now home to two certified forest therapy trails endorsed by the Association of Nature & Forest Therapy. The most recent certified trail is the Jackson County Greenway. The first trail certified was the popular Pinnacle Park lower loop section.
Haywood Waterways is putting out a call for volunteers to collect water samples.
In 1996, the Volunteer Water Information Network program was established as a water quality monitoring program for many Western North Carolina counties.
This year, folks in Haywood County will have the chance to embellish their homes with a one-of-a-kind wreath at the annual NC State Extension Master Gardener℠ Wreath-Making Workshop on Saturday, Dec. 6. The extension office will provide a selection of fresh greenery, natural embellishments and knowledgeable extension master gardener volunteers.
Farmers, homeowners and small businesses are invited to safely dispose of unwanted pesticides Tuesday, Dec. 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Mountain Research Station, 265 Test Farm Road, Waynesville.
This free collection, sponsored by the N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services and N.C. Cooperative Extension, is open to individuals, farmers and small businesses—no dealers or large retailers.
Acclaimed Western North Carolina author Thomas Rain Crowe will present his new book, “New Natives: Becoming Indigenous in a Time of Crisis and Transition,” with photographer Simone Lipscomb at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.
The 19th annual WNC Pottery Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, in Bridge Park in Sylva.
Showcasing the work of more than 40 master potters from an array of states. A variety of clay art styles will be presented with over 40 master potters.
A community jam will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, on the front patio of the Marianna Black Library in Bryson City.
Anyone with a guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, dulcimer or anything unplugged is invited to join. Singers are also welcomed to join in or you can just stop by and listen.
A cherished gathering of locals and visitors alike, “Art After Dark” will continue its 2025 season from 6-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, in downtown Waynesville.
Popular Asheville act Spiro Nicolopoulos Blues Apocalypse will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, at The Scotsman Public House in Waynesville.
A planned gift from a longtime Western North Carolina economic development and marketing professional and his spouse has pushed Western Carolina University’s “Fill the Western Sky” comprehensive fundraising campaign past its minimum goal of $100 million in philanthropic support.
The U.S. Department of Labor has released additional funds to help North Carolinians get back to work in areas affected by Hurricane Helene.
The new funds, totaling $4 million, represent the remaining portion of a $10 million Disaster Recovery Dislocated Worker Grant that the DOL initially awarded to North Carolina in 2024 in the wake of Helene.
Amid the ongoing federal government shutdown, the nonprofit Friends of the Smokies will continue to provide funding to ensure Great Smoky Mountains National Park remains open with basic visitor services and limited staffing from Nov. 3, 2025, through Jan. 4, 2026. The latest agreement allows the popular Cades Cove Loop Road to remain open to the public along with all visitor centers and picnic areas that are normally open this time of year.
Henry T. and Priscilla M. Ireys will share their new book, “The Keep: Living with the Tame and the Wild on a Mountain Farm,” at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.
The “North Carolina Glass 2025” showcase will run through Friday, Dec. 5, in the John W. Bardo Fine & Performing Arts Center at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee.
The Franklin Chamber of Commerce announced that plans are underway for the Annual Christmas Parade, which will officially ring in the holiday season. The celebration will take place at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30.
In-person early voting ends Saturday, Nov. 1, but voters will have one last opportunity to cast their ballots on Election Day, Tuesday Nov. 4.
Same-day registration is only available during the early voting period. Voters cannot register to vote on Election Day.
The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles is partnering with local fire departments to provide on-site driver’s license testing for firefighters and first responders who operate heavy emergency vehicles.
A packed slate of weekend events is on tap as Western Carolina University rolls out the welcome mat for alumni and friends to return to campus Nov. 7-8 for Homecoming 2025, including a parade and party in the university’s adopted hometown of Sylva.
Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina announced the completion and opening of an accessible walking trail through the meadow of Oak Hill Community Park & Forest, marking the latest milestone in the park’s Sensory Trail Experience Program.
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service is now accepting applications for the Helene Recovery Recycling Infrastructure Grant Program, which supports western North Carolina communities in rebuilding and strengthening waste reduction and recycling systems following Hurricane Helene.
Ten North Carolina Veterinary practices were recently awarded grants to help support their large animal practices. This $130,000 recurring fund was created by the N.C. General Assembly in 2023 and is annually administered by the N.C. Ag Finance Authority.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness month in the United States.
This week, the Smoky Mountain News has partnered with REACH of Haywood County to publish a series of stories outlining the ways domestic violence perpetrators can victimize those they should love and what resources are available for anyone in need.
More than 180 guests gathered at Chestnut Ridge Wedding Venue in Canton for REACH of Haywood County’s third annual Women of Vision Fashion Show on Sept. 25.
What began three years ago as a creative fundraiser to uplift women and raise awareness about domestic violence has now become one of the community’s most anticipated events — a day that celebrates resilience, connection and hope.
Not all domestic violence victims escape. Some are too ashamed or fearful to leave. Some are bound by cultures or communities that do not fully respect women, where judgment and reputation outweigh survival. The age when victims simply endure is still with us. That was the case of a woman named Martha who died a few years ago in Western North Carolina.
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission recently released 12 rehabilitated black bear cubs back to the wild, four from the coastal region and eight from the mountains.
NCWRC has been overseeing the rehabilitation and release of orphaned black bear cubs since 1976 through the agency’s cub rehabilitation program, one of the first in the country.
Duke Energy Foundation has awarded The North Carolina Arboretum a $25,000 grant as part of its effort to support local conservation efforts and environmental impact programs across North Carolina.
A backyard flock in Rutherford County has tested positive for High Path Avian Influenza (HPAI). The positive sample was identified by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Raleigh.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park will remain fully open amid the government shutdown through at least Nov. 2 in a combined effort from Sevier County, the Cities of Gatlinburg, Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Pittman Center, Blount County, Cocke County, the State of Tennessee, the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, Friends of the Smokies and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
Gov. Josh Stein announced $6 million in grants from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Flood Resiliency Blueprint program to help reduce flood risks across the state. The announcement includes projects to restore the French Broad River Basin after western North Carolina experienced catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Helene last fall.
Jackson County Parks and Recreation has announced two introductory archery programs this November, perfect for learning the fundamentals of shooting a bow and arrow in a safe and structured environment.
In-person early voting continues through Saturday, Nov. 1. Voters can vote in-person at their county board of elections and are able to register to vote the same day if necessary.
Hours of operation can vary among polling places. Voters can find their polling place and the operating hours by checking voter registration at vt.ncsbe.gov.
Western Carolina University’s Cherokee Center will celebrate five decades of outreach and partnership with the Cherokee community on Tuesday, Nov. 4, with an open house beginning at 5 p.m. followed by a reception and panel discussion at the Cherokee Youth Activity Center from 6 to 8 p.m.
After Brevard-based Domokur + Associates outlined a plan to complete design and construction management services for rebuilding and renovating several cabins at Camp Hope, which was heavily damaged during flooding from Tropical Storm Fred in 2021. The Town of Canton is poised to take another step toward restoring one of its most cherished public spaces.
Gov. Josh Stein is highlighting Renew NC’s work to repair and rebuild homes damaged by Hurricane Helene. Western North Carolinians who are seeking assistance in rebuilding Helene-damaged homes have until Dec. 31 to submit an application to the state’s Renew NC Single-Family Housing Program (SFPH).
