MARCH
Ramp It Up!, Saturday, March 27, 2010
This festival 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Cherokee Indian Fairgrounds highlights two mountain delicacies: trout and pungent, wild onion/garlic-like ramps. Held in conjunction with trout season opening on the Cherokee Qualla Boundary Indian Reservation, the festival includes music, a horseshoe competition, barbeque cook off and a trout-and-ramp feast! For Horse Shoe Rules, Prizes. & Entry Form see Info.
APRIL
Nantahala Outdoor Center's Demo Daze and Outfitter Storewide Sale April 19-20, 2008
New for 2008! All 60plus boats in NOC's demo fleet will be available for free test-paddling on the Nantahala River. Paddlers can also practice up in the pool, as well as in free creeking and playboating clinics. Plus, get a first look at new whitewater gear for '08. It's like spring training and opening day all in one weekend! See, NOC Outfitter's Store Demo Daze Storewide Sale
Relax - Raft - Recycle
Help clean-up the environment at the annual Tuckaseigee River Clean-up and enjoy a weekend getaway Apr 18-19, 2008. After a good night's sleep on Friday and Hanneke's hearty breakfast Saturday you assemble at Western Carolina University (18 minutes away) where you will be assigned a raft and a section of river to clean up; and then be transported to the river. In addition to a fun and a productive day, you'll receive a free T-shirt and a complimentary evening cook-out at which time many door prizes will be awarded. Get some friends together and call soon! Bring an old pair of long pants, tennis shoes and good gloves.
Greening Up The Mountains
Join us April 27 - 29, 2007, for fun and activity. Three organizations have joined their festivals for one gala event in Sylva on Saturday. The Mountain Life Celebration, features cash prizes for canning, baking, quilting and handicrafts and a children's parade of Spring costumes. A Celebration of Earth Day hosts environmental exhibits and local musicians performing old-time mountain music, folk and gospel on a solar powered stage, and you may participate in Guided Hikes and Programs on birds, wildflowers, astronomy, nature photography and fly fishing.
The Great Art In The Mountains Quick Draw
Also on Saturday, April 26 at the Waynesville Country Club noteworthy artists show their skill by creating a collectible piece of art in one hour or less, while spectators observe their progress. Get to know the artists as they work, then enjoy the art auction and reception that follows.
MAY
Ramp Festival
On Sunday, May 4th enjoy a mountain delicacy: ramps! Ramps are a natural wild onion growing in small patches in the forests of local mountains. Not easily found, they are harvested early each Spring. The Harvest is celebrated with food cooked with ramps, live music & entertainment from Noon till 4 PM at the American Legion Field in Waynesville.
15th Annual Swain County Heritage Festival
Swain County celebrates their Heritage Festival Friday and Saturday, May 23-24, 2008 in Bryson City at the Riverfront Park. Festivities start at 6PM Friday and continue until 10PM. On Saturday, the traditional entertainment starts again at 10AM and continues with log sawing contests, crafts, costumes and food until 8PM.
JUNE
Dillsboro Arts and Music Festival
The weekend of June 11-13, 2010 is a great time to visit. On Saturday the quaint mountain town of Dillsboro celebrates its Heritage. Join them in their old fashioned celebration with crafters - wood carvers, blacksmiths, basket weavers, potters and quilters - demonstrating their talents, mountain cloggers, fiddlers, dulcimer players and lots of good food. There is also an antique car show, and be sure to check out the local stores with handmade crafts and unique gift ideas!
An American Idol comes to Cherokee
Harrah's Cherokee Casino (12 Minutes away) is hosting American Idol's Season 8
winner, Kris Allen on Saturday, June 12th at 7:30pm in the Cherokee Council Fire Ballroom tickets are $25. For on-sale dates and to order tickets, call 1-866-370-3705.
13th Annual Studio & Gallery Tour
On Saturday, June 21st, 10AM - 5PM. Free walking art tour in downtown Waynesville. A perfect opportunity to see and talk to artists as they work, while enjoying free refreshments. Every studio and gallery will be identified by colorful streamers. Other local & regional artists will be featured throughout our downtown area on sidewalks and in parks.
Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts
This beautiful new venue will host three big events this June:
An Evening With Lorrie Morgan and Pam Tillis. Show time is 7:30 PM, June 11, 2010 and tickets are $24-$28.
Disney's Beauty and the Beast with performances on June 24-27,. Show times for the first three shows are and 2:30 PM for the June 27th performance. Tickets are $12.
I Love a Piano on June 29th at 7:30 PM. A joyous tribute in song, I Love a Piano celebrates the timeless works of Irving Berlin. Following the journey of a piano as it moves in and out of American lives from the turn of the nineteenth century to the present, our stellar young cast presents over sixty of Berlin's most beloved songs. Along with "I Love a Piano," hear such timeless classics as "Blue Skies," "There's No Business Like Show Business," "Puttin' on the Ritz," "How Deep is the Ocean," and "God Bless America." Tickets are $10.
For Tickets call 1-866-273-4615.
A Tribute to Rural Women of the Past
Also on Saturday, June 19th, there will be a tribute to rural women of the past through demonstrations of traditional womenÕs work: Hearth cooking, soap making, hominy, cornshuck crafts, artifacts and photo exhibit. The event takes place at Mountain Farm Museum of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park (12 minutes from The Chalet Inn) and is Free.
Mountain Dulcimer Concerts
Western Carolina University's Mountain Dulcimer Week June 22-27th will have three Concerts open to the public on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at Hoey Auditorium at 7:30PM. These concerts feature some of the country's favorite dulcimer players. Tickets are $12.00 per Concert or $25.00 for all Three Concerts. Contact Prof Hensley, 828-227-7397 or Emailto:hensley@email.wcu.edu
JULY
Inspirations "Singing In The Smokies"
For nearly three decades "Singing in the Smokies" has been one of the largest gatherings of gospel musicians and fans in the nation. This year there are three sessions: Thursday, July 1 through Sunday, July 4, 2010, Saturday & Sunday, Sept 4-5, 2010 and Friday & Saturday, October 15 & 16, 2010. All performances take place at the Inspirations park between Bryson City and The Chalet Inn.
Fourth of July Freedom Fest
After dinner - at any one of our good local restaurants- on Friday, Jul 4th enjoy the fireworks set off in front of Sylva's Historic Courthouse, or spend the day at Bryson City's Riverfront Park featuring live entertainment, food, crafts and culminating with fireworks.
International Festival Day
For the 25th year Folkmoot USA is bringing folk dance groups from more than ten countries together. From July 14 - 27, 2008, the folk dancers hold performances throughout Western North Carolina - each performance is always a different group of three countries. On Friday, July 18 starting at 1PM is the Parade of Nations - in their native costumes - down Main Street in Waynesville. International Festival Day is on Saturday, July 26th, from 10AM - 5PM: all the groups meet in Waynesville (25 minutes from The Chalet Inn), where Main Street is closed for traffic to host a daylong extravaganza of music, dance, crafts and food from around the world. A full schedule is at Folkmoot 25th Anniversary
SEPTEMBER
Tsali Challenge Triathlon, September 6-7, 2008
Non-swimmers' favorite triathlon! Race solo on Saturday or with a team of two or three on Sunday. You'll face a 3-mile lake paddle, 4.5-mile trail run, and 12-mile mountain bike ride, all at Tsali Recreation Area (25 minutes from The Chalet Inn). Registration required, see Tsali Challenge Triathlon
Mountain Life Festival
On Saturday, Sep 20th, there will be a Sorghum syrup making demonstration using a horse-powered cane mill and wood-fired cooker at the Mountain Farm Museum of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. From 10AM - 4PM, rein-actors will also demonstrate cooking over an open hearth, as well as hominy, apple butter, apple cider, and soap making. The event is free and will include traditional music.
Great Smoky Mountains Railfest
Friday, September 19 through Sunday, September 21. The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad will have special train excursions, a Motor Car and equipment display, food booths, an arts & crafts festival and live entertainment including railroad work songs at the Bryson City Depot.
Fireman's Day & 5 K Run
Bryson City's Volunteer Fire Department hosts its annual Fireman's Day at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad on Saturday, Sep 20, 2008. Enjoy a full day and evening of small town festivities in the mountain tradition: music, entertainment, crafts, barbecue, a parade of fire trucks, and the "Miss Flame" contest. Events start with a 5 K Run at 9AM (Registration at 8AM).
Dillsboro Annual Antique Fair
Dillsboro's Antique Fair takes place from 9AM - 4PM, Saturday, Sep 20th.
Mountain Heritage Day,
September 27, 2008
Mountain Heritage Day, an annual celebration of mountain life with plenty of traditional music, crafts, contests (from beard growing to chain saw cutting) and good old fashioned merry-making, is at Western Carolina University (18 minutes away). The events are free and the music begins and things "get cranking" at 10 AM on Saturday, and winds down around 5 PM.
OCTOBER
John C. Campbell Folk School Fall Festival
On Saturday & Sunday, October 4 & 5, 2008 from 10AM - 5PM celebrate the rich heritage of the Appalachians at the Brasstown, NC Folk School's annual Fall Festival, featuring over 200 juried and non-juried craftspeople. Crafts, food. Continuous live music and dance on two stages, craft demonstrations and much more.
25th Annual Church Street Arts & Crafts Show
On Saturday October 11, from 10AM-5 PM, Waynesville's Main Street (25 minutes from The Chalet Inn) is transformed into an arts & crafts marketplace. In addition to enjoying the areas largest collection of arts & crafts for sale, enjoy live mountain music, clogging, entertainment and food while you shop.
20th Annual Apple Harvest Festival
On Saturday, October 20, from 10AM - 5 PM, Waynesville's Main Street comes alive again with mountain music & dance to celebrate the Apple Harvest. Local growers have their fresh-harvested apples, fresh-made cider, home-made pies and other apple delicacies for you to enjoy.
NOVEMBER
Blacksmith Auction
The John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC is home to one of the country's leading artistic blacksmith programs. Their annual Blacksmith Auction begins with a 1PM preview on Saturday, Nov 7, 2009. At 2PM the Auction starts. Proceeds benefit their blacksmith programs.
Western NC Pottery Festival
Showcasing the work of more than 25 highly skilled southern potters. The event is juried and the lineup of potter makers is quite impressive. They include works by festival organizer JoeFrank McKee of Tree House Pottery in Dillsboro, local artisan Brant Barnes of Riverwood Pottery also from Dillsboro, who has been featured on HGTV, and other nationally renowned potters. Saturday, November 7, 2009.
Mountain Artisans Hard Candy Christmas
Authentic Arts & Crafts from the hands of over 100 traditional and contemporary craftsmen will be for sale on Friday and Saturday Nov 27 & 28, 2009, from 10AM - 5PM at the The Ramsey Center of Western Carolina University in Cullowhee (18 minutes from The Chalet Inn). Admission is $3.00. Children under 12 Free. Free parking. Click here for a list of exhibitors.
DECEMBER
Dillsboro Luminaire
Enjoy a pre-Christmas Smoky Mountain weekend! On Friday and Saturday, December 4 & 5 and again on December 11 & 12, 2009, the quaint mountain town of Dillsboro celebrates its Christmas Luminaire. The whole town is decorated with white lights. At dusk the streets are lit with candle luminaries, carolers and musicians stroll the streets and the more than 50 shopkeepers and artisans invite you to linger with a cup of punch or hot cider and home-baked goodies. For variety on Saturday, after Friday at the Luminaire, drive The Blue Ridge Parkway into Asheville and experience The Biltmore Estate's Candlelight Tour and Dinner. Return to the Inn's cozy fireplace and a glass of authentic German Gluhwein.
John C. Campbell Folk School Fireside Sale
On Sunday, December 6, 2009 from 10AM - 5PM, shop for handmade gifts as you stroll through the Folk School's beautifully decorated Keith House where craftspeople exhibit their wares. Stay to enjoy live holiday music and a crackling fire.
The Inn