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Click on any of the highlighted links for more information.
Downtown Waynesville is Haywood County's oldest town with over a century of experience as a quaint mountain retreat. Even before the railroad made it easy to get here, visitors flocked to Waynesville for the cool, clean air, clean water, outstanding scenery and an opportunity to escape sweltering cities. Today, vacationers continue to gravitate to this delightful mountain town for its cool summers, dramatic autumns, mild winters, lush springtime, as well as Southern hospitality and small town charm. But, be prepared, you're bound to fall in love. Waynesville's quaint old buildings, brick sidewalks, galleries, tempting foods and old-time general store will take you back to a more leisurely time. A time when people made you feel welcome and when you could slow down and really savor the present. When it's time to dine, there is everything from hearty country fare to the local specialty mountain trout, to fine international cuisine and high-end gourmet. We are very well known for having some of the best and most beautiful golf courses in the country!
Why not go hot air ballooning , for a once in a lifetime experience to float above it all and experience one of the most beautiful backdrops in the world, the Pisgah National Forest. Hot air ballooning is truly the premier outdoor attraction and one of the most incredible things to do in Asheville, NC! How about some exciting, white-water rafting? We love to go with the people at Huck Finn River Adventures in Hot Springs. From mild to wild, they have the course that will make you go "WOW!". What a "cool" way to see the mountains and valleys! Just a short walk in this historic town is Hot Springs Spa & Resort. They feature modern hot tubs built into attractive wooden decks with the hot natural mineral water flowing constantly to them from the spring. Relax in a secluded, private, outdoor setting along the scenic Spring Creek and the French Broad River. Or see our area at your own pace, on a guided bike tour which can be fun for the whole family. And if it's fishing you enjoy, check out this helpful guide. We have world-class trout fishing! Anglers from all over the world come to spend time on our rivers to try out their fly-casting abilities! You just can't miss by spending the day at the Cradle of Forestry, there is much to learn, see and do for everyone of all ages. Just down the road is the famous Sliding Rock. Fun for the whole family! A fast ride down a river, over a large rock with a splash in the cold- water pool at the end! Everyone enjoys the Western North Carolina Nature Center, especially the kids! One of their primary objectives at the WNC Nature Center is to provide both children and adults with the opportunity to interact with and learn more about animals and plants in our environment, thereby increasing their appreciation and understanding of nature. More than 30,000 school age children attend the Nature Center during the year as part of their educational program. See our Naturalist's Notes which have been written specifically for students and educators to supplement their classroom experiences. Our area also has many wonderful historic places to visit, from museums to old settlements with cabins, outbuildings and streams to explore. To see and understand our cultural heritage, visit the American Folk Art & Antiques. It offers Americana and contemporary southern folk art. Hiking is one of the best activities here in North Carolina! There are many wonderful places to explore, lots of wildlife and wildflowers to be discovered. We're very close to the Blue Ridge Parkway which offers panoramic views of the mountains while hiking or just riding in your car. And if it's waterfalls you're looking for, bring your camera along for some breath taking photos! We can supply you with directions to get to many fabulous waterfalls in our area. Are you looking for the excitement of casinos? Harrah's Cherokee Casino has over 60,000 square feet of space with 2,400 gaming machines! Harrah's is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Not only do they have 3 great restaurants to choose from, but they also have a culturally-themed educational child care facility. You'd be hard pressed to find such a wide variety of entertainment from Loretta Lynn, Bill Cosby, BB King, Kenny Rodger, Jay Leno to Charlie Daniels. Check their website to find who will be on stage during your visit. While you are in Cherokee you should see the Oconaluftee Indian Village. This is a recreated Cherokee community with native Cherokees in period dress. There are guided tours with live demonstrations of Cherokee Indian skills, crafts and arts as practiced over 250 years ago. For evening entertainment, the Carolina Nights Dinner Show in neighboring downtown Maggie Valley is hard to beat. Enjoy a prime rib dinner, then sit back and revel in this toe-tapping, hand-clapping, laughing good-time show! And don't forget our local theatre, H.A.R.T. (Haywood Arts Repertory Theatre). Some of the finest theatre is to be found right here in one of the most beautiful theatre facilities in the region. North Carolina offers a wide range of music, from bluegrass, jazz, rock, zydeco and gospel to a symphonic orchestra. The Asheville Symphony produces great musical masterpieces, children's concerts and Pops Concerts too. And of course, no visit to the Great Smoky Mountains is complete without a trip to The Biltmore Estate. You could spend many days walking through the estate, wandering the acres of gardens or visiting the winery for a sample or two of their award-winning wines. George Vanderbilt created Biltmore Estate in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains more than a century ago as a retreat for family and friends; a place to rediscover gracious hospitality and revel in nature’s beauty. His vision holds true today. Explore Biltmore House, a magnificent 250-room château filled with priceless art and antiques. Stroll through century-old gardens designed by America’s first landscape architect. Savor award-winning wines and taste the chefs’ creations using estate-raised foods. Enjoy the 8,000 acres of forests, farmlands, and rivers on bikes, horseback, and rafts. Check out their website to see all that is offered throughout the year.
Click on these links for more up to date information. Want to know the best time to come and see which flowers are in bloom on the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway? Click here!
CALENDAR OF EVENTS for 2009
May 16, 2009 through May 16, 2009
May 29, 2009 through May 29, 2009 June 12, 2009 through June 12,
2009 June 20, 2009 through June 20,
2009
July 4, 2009 through July 4, 2009 July 4, 2009 through July 4, 2009 July 25, 2009 through July 25,
2009
August 14, 2009 through August
15, 2009 September 5, 2009 Enjoy a step back in time with this
celebration of Cherokee County. Enjoy all-day historic walking tours and a
heritage festival celebrating area artists, crafters, growers, food, live
stage entertainment, and more. All events are free and open to the public.
Sept. 26-27 Vance Birthplace Fall Militia Encampment Come and experience a weekend muster of the Buncombe Militia. The two-day program will include camp-life activities, small arms demonstrations, and hands-on children's activities. Sat.: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Sun.: 1-3:30 p.m http://www.nchistoricsites.org/vance/vance.htm .
September 26, 2009 through
September 26, 2009
October 7, 2009
through October 12, 2009 October 10, 2009 October 16, 2009 through October
17, 2009
Cultural Events Haywood County Arts Council
Haywood Arts Repertory
Theater HART is Haywood County's community amateur
theater organization and one of the region's most active theater companies,
presenting performances on the main stage and in the smaller studio theater in
its home. The Performing Arts Center is located at the Shelton House, 250 Pigeon
Street, just off South Main St. For specific show times, information and/or
tickets call the HART box office number at
CAROLINA NIGHTS DINNER THEATER
Opening Night: April 19, 2009 SOUND OFF is a lively show that highlights the styles of entertainment that have been presented to our military during times of combat, courtesy of the USO. The first act deals with the music of the ‘40s, as it relates to WWII. The Korean Conflict took place during the ‘50s, and the music of the 2nd segment reflects that period. The Viet Nam years were a time of social and political change, but the USO shows continued, and some of the great music from that era is represented as well. And in a newly added segment, we honor those who are serving or who have served in Iraq, as well as the entertainers and volunteers of the USO who are working tirelessly to bring a taste of home to our men and women in uniform. SOUND OFF is family friendly, and suitable for all ages. Seating at 6:15 PM The Diane Wortham Thearter in Downtown Asheville About the theatre: In the heart of the Pack Square Cultural District is the city's finest theatre, the Diana Wortham Theatre, an intimate 500 seat theatre inside the Pack Place complex, with convenient off-street parking and numerous restaurants within on block of the theatre. The theatre offers live performances of music, theatre and dance throughout the year by nationally touring artists (the Mainstage Series) as well as a wide array of performances by professional and avocational regional arts groups. For information on shows and times, http://www.dwtheatre.com/ "Unto These Hills" Outdoor Drama
One
of the longest running outdoor dramas in the U.S. "Unto These Hills" has sold
nearly six million tickets. The show works hard to portray the unique story of
the Cherokee from a historical perspective. The play traces the Cherokee
people through the eons, through the zenith of their power, through the
heartbreak of the Trail of Tears, finally ending, appropriately, in the present
day, where the Cherokee people continue to rewrite their place in the world. A
place based on traditional Cherokee values and modern sensibilities.
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