Festivals & Special Events

• Whole Blooming Thing, May 10. Festival featuring area growers and artists. Held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Waynesville’s Frog Level district. 828.627.1058.

• 2nd Annual $100,000 Fishing Challenge & Outdoor Expo, May 15-17. Harrah’s Cherokee has teamed up with the Cherokee Fisheries & Wildlife Management to host the tournament, which will give 25 lucky finalists a chance to catch the $100,000 Grand Prize trout from a huge, 4,000-gallon tank in front of the casino. Each finalist will have two minutes to catch a winning fish. All trout are worth at least $1,000. Finalists who come up empty-handed will still win $500. 25 finalists will be selected in random drawings May 15-17. Tournament begins at 9 p.m. May 17.

• The Little Engine That Could, May 16-18, 23-25. Live music, face painting, old-fashioned carnival games, storytelling, petting zoo, and the appearance of characters from the story. $18 for ages two and over, which includes the half-hour train ride and activities for the family. Reservations are strongly suggested. Call the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad at 800.872.4681 or 828.586.8811.

Upcoming Music Events

• Angela Faye Martin, May 15. Martin will be playing and singing songs from her album One Dark Vine along with some new originals and a few select covers. 7 p.m. at the Macon County Library in Franklin. 828.524.3600.

• Haywood Community Band Maggie Valley Concert Series, May 18. Free held at the Pavilion next to the Maggie Valley Town Hall at 6:30 p.m. Theme for the first concert will be musical favorite of the band members from the previous years series. The concert series, in cooperation with the Maggie Valley Civic Association, is held on the third Sunday of every month, May through October. 828.452.5553 or 828.452.7530.

• Percy Sledge, May 23 and 24. Timeless classics at 8:30 p.m. at Eaglenest Entertainment. #39.95 reserved tickets, $49.95 Gold Circle, $89.95 VIP. www.eaglenestnc.com. 828.926.9658.

Ongoing Music Events

• Acoustic Group meets at 7 p.m. every Monday evening at at Faith United Methodist Church, 53 Hendix Street, in Waynesville. Mountain dulcimers, hammered dulcimers, guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, autoharp, and bass players (no amplifiers please) welcome. Mountain, folk, sacred, celtic and bluegrass music. Contact Carol Gatrell at 828.454.9757 or bcgatrell@bellsouth.net.

• Community Music jams are held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. the first and third Thursday of each month at Marianna Black Library in Bryson City. All invited to come with anything unplugged. 828.488.3030.

• Friday Night Live highlights the best performances in Jackson County, including folk, rock, country, bluegrass, easy listening and all things in between. Shows held throughout the Sylva area on the last Friday of each month. 828.586.2155.

• Haywood Community Band meets from 7 to 8:30 p.m. every Thursday at Grace Episcopal Church. 828.452.7530.

• Karaoke is held at 7 p.m. every other Friday at the American Legion Post 47 in Waynesville. Open to all members and their guests. 828.456.8691.

• Men Macon Music, barbershop singing, meets at 5:30 p.m. every Monday in the Chapel of First Presbyterian Church, 26 Church St., Franklin. Visitors welcome. For more information, call Roger at 828.524.9692.

• Mountain dulcimer players meet from 3 to 5 p.m. on the first and third Sundays of each month at the Bryson City United Methodist Church. Knowledge of music not required, tablature method used. 828.488.6697.

• Old Timey Bluegrass Jams are held at 7 p.m. every Tuesday at Spring Street Cafe in Sylva.

• Pick and Play Dulcimer Group of Sylva meets at 1:30 p.m. on the first, third and fifth Saturday of every month in the fellowship hall of St. John's Episcopal Church. 828.293.0074.

• The Franklin Early Music Group meets every Monday at 9 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church. 828.369.5192.

• The Nikwasi Dulcimer Players meet every Thursday afternoon at First United Methodist Church in Franklin. All are welcome. For more information call 828.349.3170 or 828.524.2294.

Art/Gallery Events

and Openings

• Southern Highland Craft Guild Fiber Weekend, May 10-11. Guild members will share their expertise in a variety of fiber arts including quilting, spinning, weaving and surface design. There will be hands-on activities for children including weaving a bookmark and building collages. Held at the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville. For more information, call 828.298.7928 or visit www.craftguild.org.

• Dovetail and Nail: Southern Furniture, May 10-June 12. The work on exhibition comes from many private collections representing Glenn County, Ga., Habersham, Ga., and Macon County, N.C., among many other locations in the South. Members-only opening reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at The Bascom, inside the Hudson Library on Main Street in Highlands. The exhibition will continue Tuesdays through Saturdays thereafter from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Non-members who wish to attend the opening reception can sign up for membership by calling The Bascom at 828.526.4949.

• Museum of North Carolina Handicrafts Opening, May 12. Luncheon will feature metal sculpture artist Grace Cathey, who has donated a set of original candlesticks for raffle. Tickets are $2 each or three for $5. The Shelton House will sell their new Community Cookbook featuring local recipes for $5. Tickets to the luncheon are $25. Begins at 11 a.m. For reservations contact, Ruth Gray at 828.454.9046.

Classes, Workshops

& Demonstrations

• Leapin' Frog Gallery is now taking reservations for a "Mixed Media Magic" workshop with Vae Hamilton June 10-12. Hamilton is a full time artist with more than 35 years of experience and has exhibited in 11 foreign countries. The emphasis of this workshop is to open the door for exploration and creativity in acrylic and mixed media. Students will be encouraged to strenthen their personal, unique painting styles. $245 for the three day workshop. Lunch is included each day. Call 828.456.8441 to sign up or for more information.

• Art Classes for Adults and Children taught by Mark Menendez at Mountain Home Collection, 110 Miller St., Waynesville. Open Studio where each student is working on their own medium and subjects. Oil, acrylic, color pencil, watercolor, pastel, and pencil art taught in a fun atmosphere. Mondays - adult classes 10 a.m. to noon, 1 to 3 p.m.; kids classes from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Thursdays - adult classes 10 a.m. to noon, 2 to 4 p.m.and 6 to 8 p.m. Call 828.456.5441 for more information.

• Art courses are taught at Studio 598 in downtown Sylva. Courses include painting, landscape sketching and drawing, watercolor, children’s craft classes. The studio also offers open studio life drawing and critique sessions. Studio 598 was founded by Norma Smith, a professor in the Art Department at Western Carolina University. For more information visit www.studio598.com or call 828.342.7899.

• Intro to Digital Photography workshops are held the first Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon at Penumbra Gallery and Studio in Sylva. $35. 828.631.5278.

• A quilting class is offered at the Old Armory Recreation Center from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursdays. There is no charge for the class. For more information please contact Georgia Guidroz at 828.926.0118 or Michael Huffstetler at 828.456.9207.

• Pottery classes, 1-4 p.m. Mondays at the Old Armory in Waynesville. All skill levels. Sponsored by Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department. Six-week class costs $55 per person. Supplies and equipment included. Registration required. Call Janet at 828.627.8260.

• Art lectures, 2 p.m. the second Sunday of every month at the Uptown Gallery, 30 E. Main St., Franklin. Free. Sponsored by the Macon County Art Association. 828.349.4607 or 828.269.8741.

• Art classes for teens and adults are held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays at the Waynesville Recreation Center. $20 for members, $24 non-members. Children’s classes from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. 828.454.9890.

Film

• “Becoming Jane,” May 7. a partial biographical portrait of the young Jane Austen. We follow her romance with a young Irish lawyer who many believe is the template for her famous novel character Mr. Darcy. 4:30 and 7 p.m. at the Macon County Library in Franklin. 828.524.3600.

• “Murder on the Orient Express,” May 9. In 1934, a trainful of suspects and one murder victim make the trip from Istanbul to Calais especially interesting. Super-sleuth Hercule Poirot sets out to solve the mystery. 2 p.m. at at the Macon County Library in Franklin. 828.524.3600.

• “Beowulf,” May 14. The mighty warrior Beowulf battles the demon Grendel who is terrorizing towns and incurs the hellish wrath of the beasts ruthlessly seductive mother. 4:30 and 7 p.m. at the Macon County Library in Franklin. 828.524.3600.

• “Robin Hood,” May 16. Errol Flynn as Robin Hood is a force to be reckoned with, whether it's foiling evil Prince John (Claude Rains), dueling wicked Sir Guy Gisbourne (Basil Rathbone), or winning the hand of Maid Marian (Olivia de Havilland). 2 p.m. at the Macon County Library in Franklin. 828.524.3600.

Literary

• The NCWN (Netwest) Prose Workshop and Critique Session, May 8. 7 p.m. at Tri-County Community College in Murphy. Visitors are invited to come and observe. For more information contact Richard Argo: 828.837.5500.

• Peter J. Barr, May 9. Barr will present a slideshow and discussion based on his new guidebook, Hiking North Carolina’s Lookout Towers. 7:30 p.m. at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. 828.586.9499.

• Jennifer Lowe-Anker, May 10. Lowe-Anker is the widow of mountain-climber Alex Lowe, killed in an avalanche on the Himalayan mountain Shishapangma in 1999. She is author of Forget Me Not, a memoir. 2 to 4 p.m. at Cyrano’s Bookshop in Highlands. 828.526.5488.

Theater and Stage

• “Outrageous Acts,” May 9-11. Presented by HART. 828.456.6322.

• “Waiting for MacArthur,” May 16-18 and 23-26. Presented by Smoky Mountain Community Theater in Bryson City. 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $8 foradults, $5 for students. For more information, call Teresa Maynard at 828.488.3489.

Food and Drink

• Wine and Cheese Tasting, May 22. 7 to 9 p.m. at Vin in Waynesville. $25 per person. Reservations required. 828.452.6000.

Dance

• Ballroom dance lessons are offered from 7-9 p.m. at the Old Armory Recreation Center in Waynesville. In March, Tuesdays will be for advanced swing; Wednesdays will be for beginners samba; and Thursdays will be for intermediate tango. $35. 828.734.8063.

• Beginner Salsa Dance Classes are held at the Old Armory Rec Center in Waynesville from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays. $15 per single or $25 per couple for one month. Call 828.734.8063 for more information or to register.

• Ballroom dance is held at 7 p.m. on Fridays at the Macon County Community Building on U.S. 441 in Franklin. 828.349.2090.

• Dance lessons are given at the Diamond K Dance Ranch in Maggie Valley at 7 p.m. every Saturday. Dance begins at 8 p.m. 828.926.7735.

• Haywood Dancers hold a ballroom dance every third Friday night of the month from 8 to 10:30 p.m. at the Rec. Center in Waynesville. Refreshments served, smart casual dress. $10 per person. 828.648.6136 or 828.456.3874.

• High Mtn. Squares dance from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Macon County Community Building on U.S. 441 in Franklin. 828.349.2090.

• Line Dancing is held at 7 p.m. on Mondays at the Macon County Community Building on U.S. 441 in Franklin. 828.349.2090.

• Pisgah Promendaders hold a western style square dance the second and fourth Saturday of each month at the Old Armory in Waynesville. Early round dancing runs from 6:45 to 7:15 p.m., square dance is from 7:15 to 9:30 p.m. $5 per person donation. Square dance attire suggested. 828.586.1640.

• Smoky Mountain Shag Club meets from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays at the Old Armory Rec Center in Waynesville. Join award winning instructors and learn the basic steps to the Carolina Shag. 828.734.6635.

Art group meetings

• The Western North Carolina Fibers/Handweaving Guild will meet at Opportunity House in Hendersonville on Saturday May 17 at 10 a.m. A colorful program on silk painting will be given by Donna Kassab, owner of “Yarns to Dye For.” All are welcome. Call Betty or Bob 828.670.6702.

• Tuesday Paint Group meets at the new Leapin’ Frog Gallery in Waynesville’s historic Frog Level district. Work in any medium. Space limited, call 828.456.8441 for more information.

• A crochet/knitting group meets from 9:30 a.m. to noon each Monday in the Conference Room of the Community Services Center in Sylva. 828.586.4009.

• The Activist Movie Club screens documentaries and feature films every 2nd and 4th Friday. The venue is a private home near Waynesville with a large-screen TV. Discussion follows with refreshments. RSVP to JohnBuckleyX@gmail.com for confirmation and directions or call 828.926.2508.

• art league of the smokies meetings are held at 6 p.m. at the Swain County Center for the Arts in Bryson City the first Monday of each month. 828.488.7843.

• The Blue Ridge Watermedia Society meets at 6:45 p.m. at the Old Armory in Waynesville the second Tuesday of the month, March-Dec. Contact Sandi Riggs at 828.627.9666.

• Carolina Quilters meet from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. each Wednesday at the Community Service Center in Sylva. 828.586.4009.

• Cashiers Quilters Guild meets at 12:30 p.m. every Wednesday at the United Methodist Church on Highway 107. All quilters welcome. 828.743.2644.

• Community Quilts sew for Haywood County nursing homes and the neo-natal unit from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the second and fourth Thursday of the month. 828.926.6003 or 828.926.9177.

• Franklin Basket Weavers meet every Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in downtown Franklin. Beginners welcome, limited supplies available.

• High Country Quilters Guild meets at 7 p.m. the third Thursday or each month at the Community Center in Maggie Valley. 828.926.9177 or 828.926.4427.

• Knitting/crocheting classes are held from 9:30 a.m. to noon every Monday at the Community Service Center in Sylva. 828.586.4009.

• Needle Gems Chapter of Embroidery Guild of America meets the first Thursday of every month in Macon County. Call 828.524.0166 for times and locations.

• The Macon Co. Art Assoc. meets at 1 p.m. the second Monday of every month at the Uptown Gallery on Main Street in Franklin. 828.349.4607.

• The Sapphire Valley Needlepointers meet at 10 a.m. the second Tuesday of each month at Chestnut Hill. 828.526.2593

• The Smoky Mountain Quilt Guild meets at 9 a.m. every second Monday at Memorial Park on West Main Street in Franklin. Evening meetings are held every third Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the park.

• The Western North Carolina Decorative Artists meet on the second Saturday of each month at Macon Middle School. 828.349.3061 or gbk5@mshsi.com.

• The Western North Carolina Woodturners meet at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at Blue Ridge School near Glenville. 828.293.9314.