Fall weekends in the mountains are packed with local festivals, celebrating everything from fall color to pottery.

While many of these events aren 't destinations for tourists, they can add to a visitor 's stay and help boost the local economy, according to local tourism officials.

A lot of the festivals are value-added events for people who are already here,  said Ken Mills, economic development director for Swain County.

One of the largest events of the season is the Apple Harvest Festival, which last year brought between 30,000 and 35,000 people to downtown Waynesville, according to Lois Beery, administrative assistant and festival coordinator for the Greater Haywood County Chamber of Commerce.

Last year 's attendance was up despite a gas shortage and the downturn in the economy.

Beery said based on vendor participation so far for this year 's festival, it is looking like another good year.

We really are very positive about the event,  she said. We ve added so many new aspects including teaching and learning demos and an expanded kid 's area. 

The Apple Harvest Festival, which takes place Oct. 17, is timed to coincide with peak leaf season, and some visitors plan their trips in order to attend the event.

But this event is just one of the festivals planned in the region throughout the month of October and continuing into November.

There 's something going on every weekend here for sure in October,  said Linda Harbuck executive director of the Franklin Chamber of Commerce.

Other events

Another big draw is the Cherokee Indian Fair, which begins Oct. 6 and continues through Oct. 10.

An estimated 15,000 to 20,000 people turn out over the five-day period, according to Lynne Harlan, public relations coordinator for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

The 97th annual fair features some big-name entertainment, food, and traditional Cherokee artwork. Harlan said the event attracts both locals and tourists.

In Waynesville, the Church Street Art and Craft Show, which will take place Oct. 10, will attract close to 25,000 tourists and locals to downtown, according to Buffy Phillips Messer, executive director of Downtown Waynesville.

That event is in its 26th year.

We know there is definitely a direct and an indirect (economic) impact,  Messer said. We feel it really provides another activity, a major tourism activity. 

Another event that seems to be growing is the WNC Pottery Festival.

On Nov. 7, the population of the tiny town of Dillsboro will swell to around 3,500 people as pottery-lovers fill the town.

This will mark the fifth year for the event, according to Joe Frank McKee, one of the organizers of the festival.

This year 's festivities have expanded to include a clay Olympics  and firing of a wood kiln, which will take place Nov. 6.

McKee says the festival has a big impact on local businesses and restaurants as well as the potters who take part.

Everybody in town does very, very well. The Sylva restaurants benefit greatly from it,  McKee said. By putting this show on, we bring people in that eat here, shop here, sleep here. 

But the economy has taken its toll on some local events.

This year 's antiques festival in Dillsboro, normally held in mid-September, was canceled because of a lack of antique dealers.

Janet Chinners, treasurer of the Dillsboro Merchants Association and antiques festival chairwoman, said dealers have been hard hit by the economy.

We were unable to get the vendors. The only vendors I could lure here were the ones that didn 't have to travel,  she said.

This would have been the seventh year for the event. Chinners said organizers will take another look at the event next year to see if there 's enough interest to bring it back

Economic impact

Pinpointing the exact economic impact of all the fall festivals and other events is tough because so many visitors are already here for the fall color.

It would be hard to separate what impact any of these are going to have,  Harbuck said.

Tourism officials say fall festivals and other events can enrich or help extend a visitor 's stay.

Many people do come to see the fall foliage, and if they have something else to do while they are here, it may extend their stay,  said Julie Spiro, executive director of the Jackson County Chamber and Tourism Authority.

Mills added, The mantra of any tourism area is stay one more day. 

Spiro said Jackson County stepped up its efforts to provide free activities to tourists as well as locals this summer.

During the summer, the chamber offered free outdoor movies and a free concert series.

We 're trying to give visitors some free things to do that will give them more flexibility in their budget to spend more time in Jackson County,  Spiro said. It might encourage them to spend an extra day in the area, but it will definitely enrich their stay in the area. I think it 's a great opportunity for a visitor to discover our area and what we have to offer. 

That 's especially important in a year when the down economy has meant fewer visitors in some areas.

In Jackson County, for example, receipts from the room occupancy tax dropped from nearly $60,000 for the month of June 2008 to just over $44,500 for June of this year.

In Macon County, Harbuck said she 's noticed a drop in attendance as some of the events held this year.

The economy has affected attendance at the events that have already taken place this year. Not to a catastrophic extent, but attendance has been down,  Harbuck said.

Local tourism officials have their fingers crossed for a better fall season.

If we have a good fall color season, I think we 're going to have a good tourist season,  Harbuck said.