Darren Nicholson will play HCC April 19. File photo
 

Carolina Heritage Weekend

A multi-day event celebrating Appalachian heritage, Carolina Heritage Weekend will take place April 18-20 around Haywood County. 
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Alma Russ. FIle photo
 

Americana, folk at Mountain Layers

Rising singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Alma Russ will hit the stage at 5 p.m. Sunday, April 21, at Mountain Layers Brewing…
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Blue Ridge Books welcomes Hall
 

Blue Ridge Books welcomes Hall

Author Tiffany Hall will present her new book, “Bigger,” at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at Blue Ridge Books in…
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Cracker will play Murphy April 13. File photo
 

Cracker, Kevn Kinney to rock Murphy

Legendary rockers Cracker and Kevn Kinney (of Drivin’ N’ Cryin’) will perform on Saturday, April 13, at the Murphy Music…
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World music in Franklin
 

World music in Franklin

The Ubuntu Choir of the Great Smoky Mountains will perform a program of uplifting music from around the world at…
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John Brown will play Hayesville April 5. File photo
 

‘John Brown: An Evening of Jazz’

Jazz artist John Brown will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 5, at the Peacock Performing Arts Center…
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Imij Of Soul will play Waynesville April 6. File photo
 

Hendrix tribute to rock Boojum

A rock-n-roll power trio tribute to the sound, music and vibe of Jimi Hendrix, Imij of Soul will hit the…
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Christina Chandler. File photo
 

Americana rolls into Scotsman

Asheville-based singer-songwriter Christina Chandler will perform at 8 p.m. Thursday, March 28, at The Scotsman in Waynesville. 
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Shane Meade. File photo
 

Meade returns to Mountain Layers

Popular Florida-based indie/soul singer-songwriter Shane Meade will perform at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 30, at Mountain Layers Brewing Company in…
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Contra dancing returns to Franklin April 6. File photo
 

Want to learn contra dancing?

There will be a contra dance class offered from 6:30-9 p.m. Saturday, April 6, at the Macon County Public Library…
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The sculpture unveiling ceremony will be March 23 in Franklin. Donated photo
 

Franklin sculpture unveiling

The “Women’s History Trail Sculpture Community Celebration” will be held on Saturday, March 23, in Franklin.  
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Natti Love Joys will play WNC March 29-30. File photo
 

Reggae, soul at Lazy Hiker

The Natti Love Joys will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, March 29, at Lazy Hiker Brewing in Sylva. The band…
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Dillsboro’s ‘Easter Hat Parade’
 

Dillsboro’s ‘Easter Hat Parade’

A beloved Western North Carolina tradition, the “Easter Hat Parade” will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 30, in…
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Wyatt Espalin. File photo
 

Espalin returns to Mountain Layers

Singer-songwriter Wyatt Espalin will hit the stage at 5 p.m. Sunday, March 24, at Mountain Layers Brewing in Bryson City. 
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‘The Lightning Thief’ will be at HART on select dates in March. Donated photo
 

HART presents ‘The Lightning Thief’

A production of “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical” will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. 22-23 and 2…
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Smoky Mountain Roller Girls’ will ride again March 24. File photo
 

Ready for roller derby?

The Smoky Mountain Roller Girls will host its next bout against the Yellow Jackets Roller Derby from Georgia Tech University…
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Bird in Hand will play Bryson City March 15. File photo
 

Americana, folk at Mountain Layers

Jackson County Americana/folk duo Bird in Hand will perform at 6 p.m. Friday, March 15, at Mountain Layers Brewing Company…
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HCC Foundation Professional Crafts fundraiser
 

HCC Foundation Professional Crafts fundraiser

The Haywood Community College Foundation inaugural “Evening of Art” event to support the needs of HCC’s Professional Crafts program will…
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The Get Right band will play Waynesville March 9. File photo
 

Rock rolls into Scotsman

Celebrating the fourth anniversary of Adamas Entertainment, Spiro Nicolopoulous Blues Apocalypse will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, March 8, with…
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Laurel Rematore. File photo
 

Smokies Life CEO to retire

Following CEO Laurel Rematore’s announcement that she intends to retire at the end of 2024, Smokies Life, formerly known as…
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Schoolhouse falls. File photo
 

Show girl power on the trail

Celebrate International Women’s Day with a hike and trail workday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 9, at Cold…
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A CSA box from Encompass Farm contains a variety of produce. ASAP photo
 

Sign up for food from the farm

Celebrate CSA Month by lining up your source for fresh fruits and vegetables this growing season, with a CSA Fair…
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Bears becoming accustomed to human trash creates danger for them and for their human neighbors. Beth Pape photo
 

Bear with bears

Dive into the natural history of black bears at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 6, at the Reuter Center at the…
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A section of the Appalachian Trail beckons hikers.
 

‘Glamp’ the Smokies

The Great Smokies Eco-Adventure, a fundraising event for Discover Life in America, will be held April 21-23 near Gatlinburg. 
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Go the extra mile for trail maintenance
 

Go the extra mile for trail maintenance

A new Carolina Mountain Club trail crew, dubbed the Extra Mile Crew, has been formed to work on trail sections…
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Explore the MST
 

Explore the MST

Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail will hold its annual gathering May 3-5 at Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain, with…
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Shoot sharp
 

Shoot sharp

Learn the fundamentals of archery during a youth program 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 9, at the Cashiers/Glenville…
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When flows are high, the Upper Chattooga River offers a fun ride to advanced paddlers. Kevin Colburn photo
 

The last stroke: Forest Service ruling ends Chattooga paddling debate

A decades-long debate over paddling rules on the Upper Chattooga River has come to a close after the appearance of a final…
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Volunteers use the Zebmobile to haul a bear box through fresh show. David Huff photo
 

Bear boxes replacing cables at some A.T. shelters

Trekking through fresh snowfall on the Appalachian Trail, Carolina Mountain Club volunteers and U.S. Forest Service staff installed a new…
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Writers at the 2023 conference spent mornings workshopping and receiving constructive feedback on their submitted manuscripts. Michele Sons photo.
 

Tremont Writers Conference accepting applications

Applications are open to the second annual Tremont Writers Conference, slated for Oct. 23-27 at Tremont’s campus in the Great…
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Ela Dam has been in operation since 1925.  File photo
 

Public comment open on Ela Dam license surrender

Last week, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission accepted an application that Northbrook Carolina Hydro II LLC submitted in November seeking…
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The gap is getting close to closing on the new Blue Ridge Parkway bridge over Interstate 26. NCDOT photo
 

Blue Ridge Parkway bridge nears completion

The new Blue Ridge Parkway bridge over Interstate 26 in Asheville is now just 3 feet from connecting, but several…
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The 288-mile Benton MacKaye Trail runs through three states. File photo
 

Adopt a trail section

The Benton MacKaye Trail Association is looking for volunteers to adopt six trail sections in North Carolina, taking ownership of…
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Laurel Knob. File photo
 

Hike Laurel Knob

Take a Leap Day hike to Laurel Knob at 9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 29, in Panthertown Valley. 
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Long-term water quality nformation helps leverage grants for water quality improvement projects. HWA photo
 

Become a water quality watcher

Help keep tabs on water quality in Western North Carolina by joining the Volunteer Water Information Network. 
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Elizabeth "Elli" Flagg. File photo
 

Haywood hires new rec director

Haywood County has a new recreation director with the appointment of Elizabeth “Elli” Flagg, who started her new job Feb.…
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Fly tying retreat coming to Maggie
 

Fly tying retreat coming to Maggie

Learn to tie flies with the best during the Fly Tyers Retreat 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 2,…
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Prescribed fires planned for Cherokee National Forest
 

Prescribed fires planned for Cherokee National Forest

A slate of prescribed fires is planned through the end of May on the Cherokee National Forest in southeastern Tennessee,…
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Help wildlife on Tax Day
 

Help wildlife on Tax Day

When filing a state tax return this year, North Carolina workers can support research and conservation management projects by donating…
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Tobacco Trust money flows to WNC
 

Tobacco Trust money flows to WNC

The N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission has awarded more than $6.1 million in 30 grants, including more than $400,000 targeted…
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Avian flu found in Lenoir County
 

Avian flu found in Lenoir County

For the first time since 2022, High Path Avian Influenza has been found in North Carolina. 
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Bill (far right) and Sharon (second from left) Van Horn stand with Santa Claus and NHC President Victor Treutel to receive their award. NHC photo
 

Van Horns honored for hiking club legacy

In recognition of the outsize impact that longtime members Bill and Sharon Van Horn have had on the organization, the…
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Celebrate water quality in style
 

Celebrate water quality in style

The 16th annual Hiwassee Watershed Gala will take place at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 29, at the Charles Suber Banquet…
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Grants available for high school outdoor clubs
 

Grants available for high school outdoor clubs

A limited number of high schools will be awarded a $10,000 grant to develop a Trailblazers Outdoor Club for the…
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Jon Cox will play Bryson City Feb. 17. Wayne Ebinger photo
 

Unplugged welcomes Jon Cox

Regional country/rock act Jon Cox will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, at the Unplugged Pub in Bryson City. 
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Forest therapy trails in Japan often have various structures like this one that support the forest bathing experience. Mark Ellison photo
 

Feeling the forest: Forest therapy offers opportunity for restoration

With my eyes closed, I can’t see the patchwork of brown leaves and fallen twigs covering the forest floor before…
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Greenhouse gas emissions continue to fall in N.C., report finds
 

Greenhouse gas emissions continue to fall in N.C., report finds

Net emissions of greenhouse gases have fallen 38% between 2005 and 2020 in North Carolina, according to the latest update…
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Jess Laggis of the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy stands with a landowner on one of the many farmland  conservation projects the nonprofit has worked on. SAHC photo
 

New program aims to protect farmland as older farmers age out

Nearly 300 million acres of American farmland is expected to change hands over the next 20 years, and a new…
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The Virginia big-eared bat is capable  of hovering and swift flight.  Michael Durham/durmphoto.com photo
 

Bat conservation plan out for public comment

A draft conservation plan for the federally endangered Virginia big-eared bat is out for public comment through March 1. 
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In fall 2023, 67,000 pounds of hatchery-raised trout were stocked in North Carolina. NCWRC photo
 

Fish hatchery planning process moves forward

The U.S. Forest Service has completed its review of proposed renovations at the Bobby N. Setzer Fish Hatchery in the…
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