A special stage production of “Peter & The Starcatcher” will be held on select dates and times from June 5-28.

This wildly inventive production explores the origins of some of literature’s most beloved characters in a fast-paced journey filled with magic, humor and heart. 

An award-winning bluegrass band with gospel, folk and country music influences, Dailey & Vincent will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 4, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. 

Classic rock/R&B act The V8s will perform as part of the “Concerts on the Creek” summer music series at 7 p.m. Friday, June 5, at Bridge Park in downtown Sylva.

Most of The V8s have been playing in various bands (often together) since 1975. The outcome is one good-time party band. Classic, danceable tunes delivered from old school musicians with feel. 

A special performance by the Mountain Voices Community Chorus will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 16, at the First United Methodist Church in Franklin.

Titled “Songs of Peace & Light,” the showcase will feature showtunes, pop, gospel and patriotic selections. MVCC is a 45-voice mixed community chorus with members from Western North Carolina and North Georgia.

The popular “Under the Stars, On the Rocks” culinary series is currently underway at the Oak Steakhouse at the Skyline Lodge in Highlands.

The events feature renowned chefs from around the southeast on select dates through the fall: June 9, July 7, Aug. 11, Sept. 8, Oct. 13.

A first-of-its-kind exhibition centering Native voices, perspectives and creativity in response to the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, the exhibition “Unrelenting: Cherokee People and the American Revolution” is currently being showcased at the Museum of the Cherokee People (MotCP) in Cherokee. 

The inaugural Great Smoky Mountains Music Train will leave the station June 5-6 from the Bryson City Depot.

Step aboard a historic steam-powered train for an unforgettable musical journey along the stunning Nantahala River and Fontana Lake. Experience six live performances, each set in its own vintage coach.

The monthly “Waynesville First Friday: Shop, Sip, Stroll” will take place from 5-8 p.m. Friday, June 5, in downtown.

The downtown merchant corridor transforms into a lively celebration of local art, music and community. Stroll the streets, explore galleries, meet artists, enjoy live music and discover local shops and delicious restaurants. 

Michael Hettich and Al Maginnes will read from their poetry collections, “Waking Up Alone” and “Second Line: a sequence,” at 3 p.m. Saturday, June 6, at City Lights Books in Sylva.

Hettich has published over a dozen books and chapbooks of poetry.

What began as a welcoming gathering during the cold winter months has become something more. At “Stecoah Stories and Seeds,” local guests engage the group in stories of people, agriculture and traditions. Following the presentations, a free lunch is provided, offering time and space for Q&A and social connection.

On Friday June 5, Haywood Waterways Association will lead a moderate 6-mile hike in the Sunburst area of Haywood County. Shannon Rabby, Instructor of Fish and Wildlife Management Technology, Sciences and Natural Resources, will share his knowledge of local trees and woody plants on our way to a waterfall. 

The event is free for Haywood Waterways’ members and a $5 donation for nonmembers; memberships start at $25. 

The Highlands Biological Foundation announced the return of its annual Zahner Conservation Lecture Series, a beloved summer tradition dating back to the 1930s. Named in honor of Dr. Robert Zahner and his wife Glenda for their lasting impact on land conservation in the Highlands Plateau, the series offers the public an opportunity to engage with leading voices in science, conservation and the arts. 

Friends of Panthertown invites the public to come out from 5-7 p.m. Friday, June 5, for a fireside chat at the organization’s office in downtown Sylva at 116 Central St.

Participants are welcome to bring their own tools to sharpen or to help Friends of Panthertown sharpen theirs. Meet with other like-minded people in the community, roast marshmallows over a blazing fire. 

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.

Walks are about two and a half hours. The public is welcome. All walks are weather dependent. Additional information, including directions to each location and a bird club checklist  can be found at  littletennessee.org/franklin-bird-club. 

Western Carolina University students are using emerging technology and design expertise to help expand a critical refuge for survivors of abuse in Western North Carolina. 

Construction management students from WCU’s College of Engineering recently used drones and 360-degree cameras to create detailed, interactive 3D models of the REACH of Haywood County shelter and property.

Mayor Gary Caldwell announced the appointment of Interim Manager Page McCurry and Interim Manager Rick Howell. McCurry will take office on June 11 and serve until July 5. Howell will take office on July 6 and serve until Town Council appoints a town manager. 

 McCurry currently serves as the town’s human resources director and has an extensive background in public administration. 

Construction along Waynesville’s commercial corridor is ready to begin its next major phase.

A contractor for the N.C. Department of Transportation will close the U.S. 74 West offramp to Russ Avenue (Exit 102) from Monday, June 8 through Sunday, Aug. 30. The closure is necessary for the safety of drivers and crews who will improve the offramp. 

Mountain Credit Union has announced the promotion of Suzie Shook to Chief Executive Officer, following the retirement of Amy Woody, who had served as CEO since September 2020.

Shook brings more than 30 years of credit union experience to the role, having dedicated her entire professional career to Mountain Credit Union since joining the organization in July 1993 as a Member Service Representative. 

The Town of Franklin announced the appointment of Justin Setser as the new Fire Chief of Franklin Fire and Rescue. Setser has been serving as the interim Fire Chief since the departure of Ben Ormond in February. Chief Setser will officially assume his full-time duties as Fire Chief on June 5.

With 24 years in fire service, Setser has held multiple positions including captain and assistant chief and has served as incident commander during several major incidents.

An acclaimed Americana/bluegrass act, the Darren Nicholson Band will hit the stage for an intimate performance at 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 3, at the Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley.

A Grammy-nominee and winner of 13 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) awards, Nicholson has taken his own brand of mountain music around the world. 

Florida-based indie/soul singer-songwriter Shane Meade will perform at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 30, 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 series Where We Live: History, Nature, and Culture, will present a program called “Beautiful, Beneficial Bees.”

The program will be focused on beekeeping in Western North Carolina and will cover a brief history of beekeeping, structure of a hive, what it takes to be a beekeeper here, issues that we face, the need for bees and what the average person can do to support bees and other pollinators. 

The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) announced that Drake Fowler, executive director of The North Carolina Arboretum, has been elected to its 2026 Council of Fellows. 

ASLA Fellows are recognized for their exceptional contributions to the landscape architecture profession and society at large.

The Pigeon River Fund of The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (CFWNC) awarded seven grants totaling $188,430 to environmental groups working to improve surface water quality, enhance fish and wildlife habitats, expand public use and access to waterways, and increase water quality awareness in Buncombe, Haywood and Madison counties. 

Western Carolina University is celebrating a milestone achievement that underscores its commitment to student success, interdisciplinary learning and hands-on research.

This spring, Asratun Sarmin Anjum, an international student from Bangladesh, became the first WCU graduate in 25 years to earn a degree rooted in physics — an accomplishment made possible through a customized, interdisciplinary academic pathway. 

Western Carolina University will launch a new Master of Science in engineering program in fall 2026, expanding graduate opportunities and responding to growing regional demand for engineers with advanced credentials. 

The in-person program, based at WCU’s Cullowhee campus, blends advanced coursework with applied research and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Learn about Daniel Boone at an event held at the Western Waters Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.

The lecture, delivered by award-winning author Randell Jones will discuss the exciting episodes of America’s pioneer hero during the tumultuous, eventful years of the United States’ Founding Era. 

The “On the Lawn at Yonder” 2026 season will return with legendary singer-songwriter Ed Snodderly at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 24, at Yonder Community Market in Franklin.

A popular annual series featuring some of the finest Americana, bluegrass, folk and alt-country artists in Western North Carolina and greater Southern Appalachia, the gatherings have become a much-anticipated monthly event (May-October). 

A Western Carolina University geochemistry professor is leading new research in Antarctica that could reshape scientists’ understanding of the mass extinction that wiped out the dinosaurs.

Shane Schoepfer recently returned from an expedition to Seymour Island near the Antarctic Peninsula, where he and a team of researchers collected fossil and sediment samples dating to the end-Cretaceous extinction about 66 million years ago. 

Like a baseball team’s manager gearing up for spring training, the folks in the Western  Carolina University Office of Alumni Engagement are sharpening their pencils and setting the starting lineup for the second annual Ballparks and Brews Tour.

Launched last year, the event is designed to bring together members of the WCU family for a series of gatherings at baseball stadiums across the Southeast.

Adam Bigelow of Bigelow’s Botanical Excursions is giving folks an opportunity to learn about botany while enjoying an adult beverage.

This fun and informative series of classes will be held at Sante Wine Bar in downtown Sylva over the course of six Tuesday evenings from 6-8 p.m. There will be wine service at the classes. Cost of the class does not include alcohol purchases. Classes will be limited to 25 people per session. 

Memorial Day weekend traditionally marks the start of the busy boating and summer travel season. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is encouraging safe boating practices and reminding the public of the dangers of operating a water vessel while impaired.  

“On the Road, On the Water, Don’t Drink and Drive” is a public safety campaign aimed at reducing alcohol and drug-related incidents on the roadways and waterways. 

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will open 30 trout streams and two lakes classified as Delayed Harvest to trout harvest on June 6. They will remain open through Sept. 30.

On the first Saturday in June, anglers may begin harvesting trout from Delayed Harvest waters. From 6 a.m. until noon, fishing in those waters is limited to youth only.

Wanona Tara, a hospitality industry executive with more than 30 years of experience, has joined the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center as director of sales. 

In her new role, Tara is responsible for all group sales at Lake Junaluska, including lodging, food service, conferences and media services. She also will serve on the center’s operations, revenue and extended executive teams. 

Prominent Latina storyteller Carolina Quiroga will join the “Conversations with Storytellers’ series at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 14, at Pigeon Community Multicultural Development Center in Waynesville.

Quiroga delivers bilingual tales designed to bridge cultural gaps, drawing on myths, fables and personal stories. Her work aims to foster empathy and understanding through multicultural narratives. 

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is requesting tips from the public to aid in an ongoing investigation of 33 black vultures (Coragyps atratus) dumped on the Foothills Parkway. 

On April 6 at approximately noon, Great Smoky Mountains National Park rangers reported a large number of dead birds along the side of the road on Foothills Parkway West.

When the members of the Mountain View Garden Club started researching when the club was formed, old newspaper clippings made it difficult to determine whether it was 1950 or 1951. So, appropriately enough, they had to do a little more digging to find the answer — which turned out to be 1951. 

“The article was from an April 1951 edition of The Mountaineer, and it said, ‘Next month will be an initial meeting of a potential new garden club,’” said Julia Bruijn, the club’s current president. 

The Waynesville Recreation Center announced the return of its annual free “Spring Fling” community event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 16. This family-friendly celebration will take place on the Recreation Center green space.

This rain-or-shine event is completely free and open to families, children and community members of all ages. 

Haywood Regional Medical Center will host its annual free sports physicals event for local student-athletes from 3-7 p.m. Thursday, May 21, at the Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center located at 75 Leroy George Drive in Clyde.

Open to middle and high school students, this event provides a convenient, no-cost opportunity to complete required physicals ahead of the upcoming sports season.

Gov. Josh Stein announced that North Carolina set a record for tourist spending in 2025, with travelers spending more than $37.2 billion on trips to and within the state, surpassing the previous record of $36.7 billion set in 2024. 

The state’s tourism-supported workforce increased 0.3% to 230,997 jobs in 2025. Tourism payroll increased 3.5% to $9.8 billion. Also as a result of visitor spending, state and local governments saw tax revenues of more than $2.7 billion. 

Strive Not to Drive envisions a Western North Carolina where communities have less traffic congestion, better air quality and safer streets for all. 

This year’s annual celebration is taking place May 15-22. The purpose is to encourage people to use sustainable transportation for one week. That includes making virtual engagements, walking, biking, riding public transit or even carpooling. 

The popular “Under the Stars, On the Rocks” culinary series is currently underway at the Oak Steakhouse at the Skyline Lodge in Highlands.

The events feature renowned chefs from around the southeast on select dates through the fall: May 12, June 9, July 7, Aug. 11, Sept. 8, Oct. 13.

The Friends of the Lake 5K Road Race and Walk will take place on Saturday, Sept. 5, at Lake Junaluska. Those who register by Aug. 20 will enjoy discounted registration and are guaranteed to receive a “Love the Lake” T-shirt, which runners are encouraged to wear during the event.

Now in its 19th year, the event supports the Lake Junaluska Walking Trail, one of the most popular privately-owned recreation areas in Western North Carolina.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park has transitioned its backcountry permit reservation system to Recreation.gov. This transition will improve reliability, security and customer support for backcountry users.  

Visitors with existing reservations do not need to do anything — the park will honor all permits issued before the switch. 

 N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has announced the approved season dates, bag limits and applicable regulations for the 2026-27 waterfowl, webless migratory game bird (including doves) and extended falconry seasons. The dates and associated regulations are available on the agency’s website and will be published in the 2026-2027 Inland Fishing, Hunting and Trapping Regulations Digest this August. 

Extension master gardener volunteers of Haywood County have divided their perennials, rooted cuttings and started plants. Hundreds of plants will be available, including house plants, herbs, natives, perennials, shrubs and more.

Second Hand Treasures will include a wide assortment of gently used garden items, tools, artwork and books. 

Recent rainfall was not enough to offer relief from worsening drought conditions. According to the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council, extreme drought conditions have expanded across most of the Piedmont and in Western North Carolina, and one county is now considered to be in exceptional drought. 

According to the DMAC’s classification’s issued Thursday, Union County is in an exceptional drought, 61 counties are in extreme drought and most of the rest of the state is in severe drought. 

The Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center has announced the appointment of a new director of facilities to oversee the upkeep of all buildings, properties and infrastructure of the conference center. 

Seth Bauman, who formerly served as maintenance manager at Lake Junaluska, has been promoted to the role of director of facilities, said Michael Huber, general manager for the conference and retreat center.