A cherished gathering of locals and visitors alike, “Art After Dark” will launch its 2025 season from 6-9 p.m. Friday, July 4, in downtown Waynesville. 

The long and storied tradition that is the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games returns to MacRae Meadows on Thursday, July 10, continuing through Sunday, July 13. 

When he was just a kid, Cole Taylor vividly remembers the first time he watched wrestling on TV. It was a World Wrestling Federation (WWF) show called “Superstars” that was mixed in with the Saturday morning cartoons. Taylor was utterly captivated by the spectacle. 

Heavy Metal Ric Savage couldn’t stand it. He was helpless, sidelined while his tag-team partner, Shane Austin, took a beating from a pair of masked maniacs.

Just when things looked their bleakest, after barely breaking free of a chokehold, Austin mustered the strength to tag Savage in. Savage went to work, dishing out elbows like hot biscuits on a Sunday morning before grabbing each villain by the neck and banging their heads together like Moe would do Larry and Curly.

At the recent MerleFest, the nation’s premier Americana/bluegrass festival in Wilkesboro, an emerging act from our region, Upstream Rebellion, not only made its debut at the gathering as part of the band competition, the members also walked away immensely inspired. 

As part of the multi-year America 250 NC effort, Haywood County’s Sons of the American Revolution, Daughters of the American Revolution and the Haywood County America 250 NC team will host a historical presentation by George Washington’s favorite general — sort of. 

A “Spirit of America Celebration” will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 14, at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. The theme of the event, sponsored by the Haywood County Republican Party, is “Proud to be an American.” 

Western Carolina University will hold a groundbreaking ceremony at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 12, to kick off the first phase of a series of planned upgrades for E.J. Whitmire Stadium and other aging facilities used by Catamount student-athletes. 

Members of the community, including numerous people from several law enforcement agencies, gathered on the lawn in front of Haywood County’s historic courthouse last Wednesday for an event to highlight a growing problem in our community — child abuse. 

The 22nd annual Whole Bloomin’ Thing Festival will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 10, in the Historic Frog Level District of Waynesville.

Children’s activities, local growers and artisans/crafters, flowering baskets, herbs, outdoor decor, live music and more.