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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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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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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Blackberry Smoke will play Cherokee Feb. 16. File photo
 

Blackberry Smoke returns to Harrah’s

Southern rock juggernaut Blackberry Smoke will perform at 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16, at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. 
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Peacock presents ‘Scribes on Stage’
 

Peacock presents ‘Scribes on Stage’

Featuring four plays, the “Scribes on Stage” series will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, at the…
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Natti Love Joys will play  Waynesville Feb. 3. File photo
 

Reggae, soul at Frog Level

The Natti Love Joys will perform during the “Bob Marley Birthday Celebration” at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, at Frog…
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Pleasantly Wild will play Waynesville Feb. 3. File photo
 

Boojum goes Pleasantly Wild

Asheville-based rock/funk trio Pleasantly Wild will hit the stage at 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, at The Gem downstairs taproom…
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Sign up for summer camp
 

Sign up for summer camp

Registration for Spring Break Camp at the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville opens at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, with Discovery…
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Plant trees in Bryson City
 

Plant trees in Bryson City

Help MountainTrue plant more than 2,500 new native plants at Bryson City Island Park during volunteer workdays 1-4 p.m. Saturday,…
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Bike Chestnut Mountain
 

Bike Chestnut Mountain

Ride the trails with an experienced mountain bike instructor at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, at Chestnut Mountain Nature Park…
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Tyler Ramsey will perform in Highlands Jan. 25. Parker J. Pfister photo
 

New lost ages: Tyler Ramsey to play Highlander Mountain House

At the core of any great singer-songwriter lies this inherent trait of stage presence, one where an entire room, no…
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Outlaw Whiskey will play Bryson City Jan. 27. Garret K. Woodward photo
 

Rock rolls into Unplugged Pub

Haywood County rock/country act Outlaw Whiskey will hit the stage at 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27, at the Unplugged Pub…
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Normally found only in the western U.S., an accidental rufous hummingbird was seen at Clingmans Dome and added to the park list in 2020. Jeff Bartlett photo
 

Off course: Strange species make 'accidental' appearances in the Smokies

Red-necked phalarope, Bonaparte’s gull, band-rumped storm-petrel and harlequin duck. If you are thinking these don’t sound like names that should be…
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Tater (left) and Yammy will share the spotlight this year during Groundhog Day at Chimney Rock State Park. Chimney Rock State Park photo
 

Celebrate Groundhog Day with Tater and Yammy

Groundhogs Tater and Yammy will make their meteorological debut during the 19th annual Groundhog Day Celebration Friday, Feb. 2, at…
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The N.C. Drought Management Advisory Council publishes a new map every Thursday  at ncdrought.org. N.C. Drought Management Advisory Council map
 

Drought continues its disappearing act

Severe drought is gone from North Carolina and moderate drought barely holding on after an extraordinarily rainy first half of…
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See the American chestnut story in film
 

See the American chestnut story in film

Experience the story of the American chestnut, a mighty wonder that once sustained all forms of life in the Appalachian…
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Kesselring has been collecting flies from all over the world over the course of four decades. File photo
 

Fly collector to display his collection

Mike Kesselring will show off his enormous fly collection and other gear gathered over 40 years of world-wide travel 6:30-8…
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Nancy Carroll has volunteered with the Southern Highlands Reserve since it first launched its volunteer program in 2019. SHR photo
 

Southern Highlands Reserve names outstanding volunteer for 2023

Nancy Carroll has been named Southern Highlands Reserve’s Volunteer of the Year for 2023 in recognition of the “life, laughter…
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Cataloochee Ski Area. A Shot Above photo
 

Spend Friday nights on the slopes

Ski Cataloochee for less this winter, with discounted night skiing available through Jackson County Parks and Recreation Friday nights, Jan.…
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Appreciation Days coming to Cataloochee
 

Appreciation Days coming to Cataloochee

Those who have spent their careers protecting others can enjoy Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley at a reduced rate…
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Plan a garden visit
 

Plan a garden visit

Tickets for 2024 Visitors Days at the Southern Highlands Reserve in Lake Toxaway go on sale Thursday, Feb. 1.
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The plant doctor is in
 

The plant doctor is in

It’s not yet time to plant for spring, but Haywood County Master Gardeners are still available to answer questions about…
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Volunteer with Mainspring
 

Volunteer with Mainspring

Help care for conserved lands by participating in a string of upcoming stewardship volunteer workdays with Mainspring Conservation Trust, held…
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Help the hemlocks
 

Help the hemlocks

Keep the hemlocks of the Pisgah National Forest safe from the invasive hemlock wooly adelgid during a volunteer workday 10…
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Michael Yannette will perform at WCU Jan. 25-27. Joshua Norman photo
 

WCU presents ‘Fantasia on Mysterium’

A special stage production of “Fantasia on Mysterium: The Epic Immersive Theatrical Recital” will be held at 7:30 p.m. Jan.…
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Hunters wait their turn to offer their comments. Holly Kays photo
 

Shifting seasons: Hunters weigh in on proposed bear, deer rule changes

More than 100 people came to a public hearing Thursday, Jan. 11, at Haywood Community College in Clyde, that took…
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Smokies visitation increases in 2023, but N.C. side lags
 

Smokies visitation increases in 2023, but N.C. side lags

In 2023, visitation to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park grew 2.2% to reach its second-highest number ever — but…
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Get outdoors with Ice Fest
 

Get outdoors with Ice Fest

Winter hikes, winter lights, frosty runs and outdoor ice skating will offer ample opportunity for chilly fun in celebration of…
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The new facility doubles retail space of the previous location. GSMA photo
 

GSMA opens new Townsend visitor center

A new visitor center and retail space is now open just outside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Townsend,…
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The latest drought map, based on observations through 8 a.m. Jan. 9, shows a significant improvement in drought conditions. N.C Drought Management Advisory Council map
 

Drought washes away in winter rain

Heavy rains last week banished all but a spot of severe drought from the mountain region, with more relief likely…
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Help maintain the Benton MacKaye Trail
 

Help maintain the Benton MacKaye Trail

The Benton MacKaye Trail Association will remove blown-down trees along the Tennessee/North Carolina line during a maintenance trip starting at…
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Climate plan open for comment
 

Climate plan open for comment

Draft priority measures to reduce greenhouse gases in North Carolina are open for public comment through Sunday, Jan. 28. 
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Retreat to explore intersection of faith and eco-justice
 

Retreat to explore intersection of faith and eco-justice

A retreat for faith leaders and people interested in inspiring their congregations and communities to care for the planet will…
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Register for the Business of Farming Conference
 

Register for the Business of Farming Conference

The 21st annual Business of Farming Conference is coming up Saturday, Feb. 24, at the A-B Tech Conference Center in…
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Waynesville park closed after storm
 

Waynesville park closed after storm

Allens Creek Park in Waynesville is closed until further notice while county crews clean it up following last week’s heavy…
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Panthertown and DuPont seek board members
 

Panthertown and DuPont seek board members

Two organizations dedicated to stewarding beloved outdoor spaces are looking for new board members to help them fulfill their respective…
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Badfish will play Asheville Jan. 17. Donated photo
 

When the dance gets hot: Sublime tribute act Badfish returns to WNC

Back in 2001, while students at the University of Rhode Island, bassist Joel Hanks and drummer Scott Begin had been…
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An image from the “Safe and Found” documentary shows the Haywood County Search and Rescue Team in action. Jester Wallis Productions photo
 

Backcountry guardians: Documentary highlights Haywood SAR’s lifesaving impact, shows hikers how to stay safe

As 23-year-old David Crockett opened his eyes to day two of sub-freezing temperatures in the snow-covered Shining Rock Wilderness, he had…
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Marne Harris (left), director of Southwestern Community College’s Small Business Center, picks blueberries with former Appalachian Farm School student Cindy Anthony,  who owns the Thomas Berry Farm in Cullowhee. SCC photo
 

Appalachian Farm School returns to Sylva

An eight-week training course for anyone interested in operating an agriculture-based business will kick off Monday, Jan. 15, at Southwestern…
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Southern Environmental Law Center
 

Forest Service releases 800-acre Nantahala restoration plan

The U.S. Forest Service has released its final analysis and draft decision for the Nantahala Mountains Project, which will touch…
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Lake Junaluska was one of many WNC landscapes captured by George Masa. George Masa Photo. Courtesy of E. M. Ball Photographic Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library, Special Collections, University of North Carolina - Asheville.
 

Database collects George Masa photos

A new database cataloguing the work of renowned Smokies photographer, Japan-born George Masa, is now available online. 
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A snowboarder catches some air. File photo
 

Show off on snowboard

Over the next two months, snowboarders are invited to film their best moves at Cataloochee Ski Area and submit them…
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Volunteers pose for a photo after a day on the trail. Friends of Panthertown photo
 

Pitch in with Panthertown

Friends of Panthertown will host a trail workday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, meeting at Salt Rock…
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Plungers show off their costumes during the 2023 event in Canton. HWA photo
 

Ready for the Plunge?

The 12th annual Plunge Benefit-t-t-ting Kids in the Creek and Environmental Education will take place 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.…
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Barbara Ballentine. File photo
 

Learn bird talk

Find out how birds talk to each other during a program offered at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 29, at the…
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Environmentalists make the case for housing
 

Environmentalists make the case for housing

Hear the case for building more housing from an environmental perspective with a webinar offered 5:30-6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 22,…
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Go hiking
 

Go hiking

Explore winter in the mountains with a trio of upcoming hikes led by Haywood County Recreation and Parks. 
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Explore Rattlesnake Lodge
 

Explore Rattlesnake Lodge

The Carolina Mountain Club has started a new hiking initiative, called Leisure Hikes, with the next event scheduled for 10…
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Co-owners of the Cultivate Garden Shop (from left) Spencer & Courtney Tetrault and Amanda & Blake Yoder. Donated photo
 

Cultivating dreams: Garden shop opens in Waynesville

Just about a year ago, Spencer Tetrault was cruising along Depot Street in Waynesville when he noticed a “For Lease”…
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George Ivey, N.C. Development Director  for the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, addresses the audience at the Blue Ridge Rising Summit. Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation photo
 

Regional leaders discuss strategies for the Blue Ridge Parkway corridor

More than 130 leaders from North Carolina and Virginia gathered to discuss a strategic action plan for the entire Blue…
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