Bryson City - Events In North Carolina

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January • February • March • April • May • June • July
August • September • October • November • December

Please note: we are not responsible for changes made in event dates.
Please confirm these events & festivals with the organization.

January 2013

January	Shake off the winter doldrums and enjoy a fantastic winter getaway! Hike the trails and see unobstructed vistas. Relax and unwind.
Flora & Fauna in January	In bloom: Witch-hazel's bright yellow flowers linger from December. Listen for the winter wren's long melodious song. Spotted salamanders lay their eggs in ponds and pools. Male deer drop their antlers. Black bears are in their winter dens.

February 2013

February	Shake off the winter doldrums and enjoy a fantastic winter getaway! Hike the trails and see unobstructed vistas. Relax and unwind.
All Month	We have two top-notch entertainment venues in our area. The Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin, which focuses on country, bluegrass, gospel and pop in a 1,500 seat arena. And Harrah's Cherokee Casino Event Center, which showcases a variety of music and comedy acts.
February 23 Nantahala Outdoor Center US 19 West	Nantahala Racing Club Glacier Breaker. The season opener for competitive slalom and whitewater racing in the US. More info
February 23 Bryson City Presbyterian Church	Annual Chocolate Cook-Off. Enjoy mini-tastings of some of the area's best chocolatiers. Benefits the Bryson City Library. 2 - 4 pm. More info
Flora & Fauna in February	In bloom: Red maple and spicebush bloom. Trailing arbutus, daffodils, and periwinkle will bloom in mild weather. Listen for the spring peepers and chorus frogs calling from wetlands. Mourning doves are courting. Wood frogs lay their eggs -- watch for them on warm rainy nights. Black bear cubs are born.

March 2013

All Month	We have two top-notch entertainment venues in our area. The Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin, which focuses on country, bluegrass, gospel and pop in a 1,500 seat arena. And Harrah's Cherokee Casino Event Center, which showcases a variety of music and comedy acts.
March 21 - May 31 Biltmore Estate Asheville	Festival of Flowers. April is the start of Spring and this event showcases the region's beauty, especially the stunning tulip display in the Walled Garden. More info
March 23-24 Nantahala Outdoor Center US 19 West	Bank of America US Whitewater Open. Watch world-class paddlers compete in down river whitewater as well as canoe and kayak slalom competitions. More info
March 29-30 Cherokee	Trout Season Opening Day Fishing Tournament. $10,000 in tagged fish in the rivers. Prizes range from $20 to $500 depending on the color of the tag. $5 entry fee. More info
March 30 Dillsboro	Easter Hat Parade. Parade starts at Dillsboro Town Hall at 2 pm. Calling all ladies, gentlemen, children and dogs. Grab your hat and join in the fun during Dillsboro’s delightfully unpretentious Easter Hat Parade. Join the ugly, big or best hat contest. They’ll be plenty of prizes. Antique cars lead the parade. More info
Flora & Fauna in March	In bloom: Sharp-lobed hepatica, bloodroot, spring beauty, trout lily, early meadow rue, jack-in-pulpit bloom in mild weather. Redbud and serviceberry trees bloom along Little River Road. Louisiana waterthrush, black an white warbler, and black-throated green warbler arrive in Park. Elk shed their antlers. River otter pups are born. Bears emerge from their winter dens.

April 2013

All Month	We have two top-notch entertainment venues in our area. The Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin, which focuses on country, bluegrass, gospel and pop in a 1,500 seat arena. And Harrah's Cherokee Casino Event Center, which showcases a variety of music and comedy acts.
All Month Biltmore Estate Asheville	Festival of Flowers. April is the start of Spring and this event showcases the region's beauty, especially the stunning tulip display in the Walled Garden. More info
April 4 - 15 Harrah's Cherokee Casino	World Series of Poker. The tournament is open to anyone wanting to play and registration is available at the event. Each WSOP Circuit location enables poker players - including pro, semi-pros, and amateurs - the chance to test their skills and advance to the championship finale to be held at Harrah's New Orleans in May. Games include No Limit Hold-'em and Pot-Limit Omaha. Schedule
April 13 Whittier Main Street exit 72 off Hwy 74	Green Thumb Day. Get into spring and take home bedding plants and hanging baskets, as well as local arts and crafts. Contact Gloria Nolan 828-497-2393 for more information.
April 26-28 Nantahala River Gorge US 19 West	US Team Trials for Freestyle Kayaking. Top freestyle kayaking paddlers from around the country will converge on Bryson City to compete in the USA Team Trials for their chance to compete at the World Championships this September. This event will also include lots of music, a great whitewater gear sale, the Nantahala Open, and a release on the upper cascades of the Nantahala for experienced paddlers. More info
April 26-28 Cherokee	Summer Kickoff Trout Season Tournament. $10,000 in tagged fish in the rivers. Prizes range from $20 to $500 depending on the color of the tag. $11 entry fee. More info
April 27 Main Street Sylva	Greening Up The Mountains Spring Festival. The festival begins with a 5K run/walk and continues through the day with local artisans, children’s activities, heritage craft demonstrations, heritage walk, music and food vendors.
Flora & Fauna in April	In bloom: trout lily, jack-in-pulpit, squirrel corn, dutchman's breeches, columbine, trilliums, blue sage, black haw, fringed phacelia, fire pink, indian paintbrush, magnolia, solomon's seal, violets, bluets, trailing arbutus, virginia bluebell, wild mustard, ironwood, dogwood, wood sorrel, bleeding heart, silverbell, wild geranium, phlox, redbud, service tree, spring beauty, golden ragwort, meadow rue. The majority of warblers and other neotropical migratory birds arrive in Park.

May 2013

All Month	We have two top-notch entertainment venues in our area. The Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin, which focuses on country, bluegrass, gospel and pop in a 1,500 seat arena. And Harrah's Cherokee Casino Event Center, which showcases a variety of music and comedy acts.
thru May 31 Biltmore Estate Asheville	Festival of Flowers. April is the start of Spring and this event showcases the region's beauty, especially the stunning tulip display in the Walled Garden. More info
May 1 Cherokee	Oconaluftee Indian Village - opening day for the season which runs through October. Experience Cherokee life in the 1760s. Visitors interact with villagers as they hull canoes, make pottery and masks, weave baskets and create beadwork. More info
May 24-25 Riverfront Park Bryson City	Heritage Festival Weekend. This two day festival has it all! Friday night entertainment is loaded with local talent featuring an emphasis on old-time gospel. Saturday entertainment is as varied as the region - classic country, Indian hoop dancing and bluegrass, or high energy newgrass. In addition to music, the festival offers local arts and crafts, food and games.
May 30 - June 2 Cherokee Indian Fair Grounds	Gourd Artist Gathering. This event is truly unique! Featuring classes and workshops on all facets of gourd manufacture and design. All this in a fun and lively festival atmosphere. More info
May 31 - June 2 Cherokee	Memorial Day Holiday Trout Fishing Tournament. $10,000 in tagged fish in the rivers. Prizes range from $20 to $500 depending on the color of the tag. $11 entry fee. More info
Flora & Fauna in May	In bloom: indian paintbrush, columbine, white azalea, wild iris, bleeding heart, dog hobble, mountain laurel, silverbell, wild crab, cucumber tree, calycanthus, wild geranium, wild orchids (including lady's slippers), painted trillium, magnolia, solomon's seal, bluets, flame azalea Bobcat kittens are born.

June 2013

All Month	We have two top-notch entertainment venues in our area. The Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin, which focuses on country, bluegrass, gospel and pop in a 1,500 seat arena. And Harrah's Cherokee Casino Event Center, which showcases a variety of music and comedy acts.
Every Saturday night Bryson City Train Depot	Music in the Mountains. Free concert of traditional mountain music. 6:30 to 8:00 pm More info
May 31 - June 2 Cherokee Indian Fair Grounds	Gourd Festival. This event is truly unique! Featuring classes and workshops on all facets of gourd manufacture and design. All this in a fun and lively festival atmosphere.
June 8 Museum of the Cherokee Indian	Cherokee Voices Festival. Living history, demonstrations of basket making, pottery, fingerweaving, carving, and flintknapping. Storytelling, traditional music, flute music, gospel music in Cherokee language, Indian dinners, traditional dance including the Warriors of AniKituhwa. More info
June 9 Dillsboro	Dillsboro Art & Music Festival. Watch artisans demonstrate their craft; Juried show featuring woodworking, jewelry, stained glass, basketry, pottery & more. Food & music. 10 am - 5 pm.
June 14-16 Acquoni Expo Center, Cherokee	Cherokee Pow Wow. A three-day festival of drum, song and dance. Hundreds of world-champion dancers will compete for thousands of dollars in prizes at the Acquoni Expo Center. Watch the explosion of color and motion in the arena with the Traditional, Fancy Shawl, Grass, Two Step and Jingle dance competitions. More info
June 14 Franklin	Taste of Scotland. Street festival with all day entertainment, clans, authentic Scottish foods, music & dancing, pipe & drum bands, parade, Border Collie demonstrations, crafts, shortbread contest, children’s Highland games and many other contests. Free Admission. 9 am - 5 pm. More info
June 28-29 Stecoah	Artisans Drive-About & Gallery Tour. Visit local artisans in their studios, as well as the Stecoah Gallery. More info.
June 29 Stecoah Valley Center	An Appalachian Evening concert featuring Balsam Range. Kicks off the summer concert series. 7:30 pm. More info
Flora & Fauna in June	In bloom: flame azalea (uplands), common elder, hydrangea, mountain oxalis, Allegheny myrtle, magnolia, galax, yellow ragwort, field daisy, spiderwort, beard tongue, goats rue, mountain laurel, butterfly weed, mountain stewartis, black snakeroot, New Jersey tea, wood sorrel, woodland bluets, Canada mayflower, speckled wood lily, and fly poison. Catawba rhododendron reaches its peak of bloom; Rosebay rhododendron booms at the lower elevations. Black bears are breeding. Deer fawns are born.

July 2013
All Month	We have two top-notch entertainment venues in our area. The Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin, which focuses on country, bluegrass, gospel and pop in a 1,500 seat arena. And Harrah's Cherokee Casino Event Center, which showcases a variety of music and comedy acts.
Every Saturday night Stecoah Valley Center	An Appalachian Evening concert. An ever-changing schedule of bluegrass, folk and old-time mountain music by award-winning artists. 7:30 pm. Dinner seatings at 5:00 & 6:15 pm, with reservations required. More info
Every Saturday night Bryson City Train Depot	Music in the Mountains. Free concert of traditional mountain music. 6:30 to 8:00 pm. More info
July 4 Downtown Bryson City	Fourth of July Freedom Fest. Annual event featuring the best fireworks display west of Asheville! 5K race, music, entertainment, food, crafts and free raft rides. More info
July 12-13 Cherokee Indian Fairgrounds	Festival of Native Peoples. Indigenous tribes from across the Americas gather for the finest showcase of native dance, song and art in the southeast, the event honors the collective history, customs and wisdom of some of the oldest documented tribes. More info
Flora & Fauna in July	In bloom: bergamot, black-eyed susan, coreopsis, dutchman's pipe vine, flowering raspberry, hercules club, indian pipe, jewel-weed, mountain stewartia, ox-eye daisy, partridge berry, passion flower, phlox (summer), purple-fringed orchis, queen anne's lace, rhododendron (white), sourwood, star grass, trumpet creeper, wild lilies, michaux's saxifrage, butterfly weed, thyme-leaved bluets. Rosebay rhododendron blooms at mid-elevations. Flame azalea blooms on balds early in month, Cucumber trees display showy fruits.

August 2013

All Month	We have two top-notch entertainment venues in our area. The Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin, which focuses on country, bluegrass, gospel and pop in a 1,500 seat arena. And Harrah's Cherokee Casino Event Center, which showcases a variety of music and comedy acts.
Every Saturday night Bryson City Train Depot	Music in the Mountains. Free concert of traditional mountain music. 6:30 to 8:00 pm More info
Every Saturday night Stecoah Valley Center	An Appalachian Evening concert. An ever-changing schedule of bluegrass, folk and old-time mountain music by award-winning artists. 7:30 pm. Dinner seatings at 5:00 & 6:15 pm, with reservations required. More info
August 9-10 Macon County Fair Grounds Franklin	Mountain High BBQ & Music Festival. Friday 12 am - 7 pm, Saturday 10 am - 6 pm. Macon County Fair Grounds. More info
Flora & Fauna in August	In bloom: wild asters, whorled wood aster, turk's cap lily, filmy angelica, bee balm,, yellow-fringed orchid, turtle head, mountain mints, betony, crane-fly orchid, mountain bugbane, mountain St. John's wort, cardinal lobelia, monk's hood, meadow beauty, goldenrod, jewel-weed, hercules club, evening primrose, sweet Joe Pye weed, clematis. Witch hobble puts on early fall color; Staghorn sumac displays showy fruits. Damselflies are often seen flying low over the water.

September 2013

All Month	We have two top-notch entertainment venues in our area. The Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin, which focuses on country, bluegrass, gospel and pop in a 1,500 seat arena. And Harrah's Cherokee Casino Event Center, which showcases a variety of music and comedy acts.
Every Saturday night Bryson City Train Depot	Music in the Mountains. Free concert of traditional mountain music. 6:30 to 8:00 pm. More info
September 2-8 Nantahala Gorge	International Freestyle Kayaking World Championships. Top-level freestyle competition on the Nantahala River, music, big air show, raft trips, races, artisans fair and more. More info
September 6-8 Cherokee	End of Summer Trout Fishing Tournament. $10,000 in tagged fish in the rivers. Prizes range from $20 to $500 depending on the color of the tag. $11 entry fee. More info
September 20-21 Cherokee Indian Fairgrounds	Southeast Tribes Festival. Showcase of native dance, song and art in the southeast. More info
September 28 Western Carolina University Cullowhee	Mountain Heritage Day. Three music stages at the Mountain Heritage Center showcase old-time, bluegrass, gospel, and shape-note music at this large one-day event. Craft booths and lots of traditional foods. More info
Flora & Fauna in September	In bloom: asters, blue gentians, gerardia, fleabane, yarrow, New York Ironweed, jewelweed, boneset, sunflowers, lobelias, golden aster, pink turtlehead, love-vine, Canada goldenrod, black-eyed susan, yellow-fringed orchid Displaying early fall color: flowering dogwood, black gum, sourwood, yellow birch, American beech, pin cherry Peak of fall songbird migration is late September; Southbound birds include swainson's thrush, grey-cheeked thrush, Tennessee warbler, magnolia warbler, Cape May warbler, prairie warbler, northern waterthrush Listen for elk bugling in Cataloochee Valley.

October 2013

All Month	We have two top-notch entertainment venues in our area. The Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin, which focuses on country, bluegrass, gospel and pop in a 1,500 seat arena. And Harrah's Cherokee Casino Event Center, which showcases a variety of music and comedy acts.
Every Saturday night Bryson City Train Depot	Music in the Mountains. Free concert of traditional mountain music. 6:30 to 8:00 pm. More info
October 12 Whittier, Main Street Exit 72, off Hwy 74	Maple Leaf Festival. Hosted by the Whittier Community Club and Whittier Information & Historical Center. Area artists and crafters, holiday exhibits, flea market, food, live local entertainment from 10am to 4pm. For more information, call Gloria Nolan 828-497-7589.
October 18-20 Stecoah Valley Center	Harvest Festival & Quilt Show. Our 3 day celebration begins at 6pm Friday evening with an old – fashioned bonfire. Saturday is a full day of food, crafts, and entertainment. The Country Fair will offer competitions and exhibits of jams, jellies, pies, cakes, quilts, needlework, and much more. Free Gospel singing on Sunday afternoon. More info
October 19 Bryson City Train Depot	Chili Cook Off. .A traditional cook-off with prizes awarded in both professional and amateur classes, showmanship, and, of course, people’s choice! Between chili samples, enjoy the music or the many local arts and crafts. This event is a favorite year after year!
Flora & Fauna in October	In bloom: White wood aster, bee balm, mountain gentian, heart-leaved aster, wide-leaved sunflower, coneflower. An amazing variety of mushrooms can be seen in the park this month. Fall colors peak at the higher elevations early in the month; at the lower and mid-elevations in the second half of the month. Listen for ruffed grouse drumming. Tree crickets can be heard in the lowlands at night.

November 2013
All Month	We have two top-notch entertainment venues in our area. The Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin, which focuses on country, bluegrass, gospel and pop in a 1,500 seat arena. And Harrah's Cherokee Casino Event Center, which showcases a variety of music and comedy acts.
November 1-3 Cherokee	Rumble in the Rhododendron Fly Fishing Tournament. $10,000 in prize money. Two-person commpetition in the Trophy Waters. $225 entry fee. More info
November 2- January 1 Biltmore Estate Asheville	Christmas at Biltmore. America's largest home glimmers with holiday decor and beautiful treasures. More info
November 2 Dillsboro	WNC Pottery Festival. Showcasing the work of more than 35 highly skilled potters from throughout the eastern US. The event is juried and the lineup of potters is quite impressive. More info
November 21-22 Stecoah	Artisans Drive-About & Gallery Tour. Visit local artisans in their studios, as well as the Stecoah Gallery. More info.
Flora & Fauna in November	In bloom: Nodding lady's tresses, tall rattlesnake root, southern harebell Fall colors on oaks at the lower elevations; Spiny fruits on sweet gum trees. Winter wrens may be singing; flocks of pine siskins may be seen. Brook trout are spawning by month's end; monarch, sulfur, and buckeye butterflies are on the wing

December 2013
All Month	We have two top-notch entertainment venues in our area. The Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin, which focuses on country, bluegrass, gospel and pop in a 1,500 seat arena. And Harrah's Cherokee Casino Event Center, which showcases a variety of music and comedy acts.
November 2 - January 1 Biltmore Estate Asheville	Christmas at Biltmore. America's largest home glimmers with holiday decor and beautiful treasures. More info
December 6-7, 13-14 Dillsboro	Lights & Luminaries. Experience the magic as the entire town is transformed into a winter wonderland of lights, candles, laughter and song. 2500 luminaries light your way to shops and studios. Shopkeepers provide live music and serve holiday treats with hot cider and cocoa. Carolers sing and Santa visits with children at Town Hall.
December 8 Bryson City	Annual Bryson City Christmas Parade. Billed as “the biggest little Christmas parade in the Smokies”, this event lives up to the title! Complete with clowns, an old time boom bah band, floats, homecoming queens, marching bands and of course, Santa. You don’t want to miss this vanishing slice of Americana! 2 pm.
December 15 Mountain Farm Museum Cherokee	A Mountain Homecoming. Demonstrations of crafts past, live music, refreshments, and walking tours of the Mountain Farm Museum are just a few of the reasons to attend this annual event! A real “old-time” Christmas celebration!
Flora & Fauna in December	In bloom: Witch-hazel. Christmas ferns remain green through the winter Watch for purple finches feeding in tulip trees. Listen for eastern screech owls calling at dusk. Black bears enter their winter dens.

More fun things to do in the NC Smoky Mountains