Greening Up The Mountains welcomes spring
Drawing thousands of visitors each year, the 19th annual Greening Up The Mountains Spring Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 23, in downtown Sylva.
The daylong event is a celebration of renewal, of revitalization, and a time of reconnecting with friends, relatives and neighbors. Browse the more than 190 vendors, representing arts, crafts, demonstrators, culinary delights, local schools, business, community, environmental, health, safety, children’s activities, and more.
Heritage Walk returns to Greening Up the Mountains
Taking a step back in time to appreciate the heritage of craftsmanship of the mountains will be a special part of this year’s 19th annual Greening Up the Mountains festival.
Catch the Spirit of Appalachia is bringing back its Traditional Heritage Walk to the Sylva Herald parking lot for the Saturday, April 23 event. All of the crafters will be demonstrating and selling their traditional arts from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Crafters like chair caner David Ammons will be participating.
“Caning comes in many disguises, but all of it is weaving,” said Ammons. “I watched Grandpa do only the herringbone weave from white oak splints. However, there are many forms of weaving ... wicker, rush, splint, shaker tape, rawhide, Danish cord, binder cane, and the 7-step method hand caning. Caning dates back to before 4000 B. C., I have learned, and is still popular in most households today.”
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For the second year, there will be a crawfish boil featuring traditional dirty rice, corn on the cob, boiled potatoes and crawfish on Back Street directly across from Eric’s Fresh Fish Market. Heinzelmannchen Brewery will also be providing beverages for the event.
Organized by the Town of Sylva, Greening Up the Mountains features more than 200 vendors, representing arts, crafts, demonstrators, local schools, business, community, environmental, health, safety, children’s activities, and more. The festival will also provide many tasty food options and a plethora of regional musical acts performing on two stages.
For more information, call 828.631.4587, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., visit www.greeningupthemountains.com, like the event on Facebook or call the Town of Sylva at 828.586.2719.
5K Run and Walk
5K run and walk begins at Mark Watson Park at 9 a.m. Register online at www.imathlete.com or stop by the Recreation Center in Cullowhee. Race day registration begins at 8 a.m., and is $20.
Shuttle service
A shuttle service will be available from the county Justice Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost is $1 per boarding, including children.
Live music
Music will begin at 9:30 a.m., with the Mountain Youth Talent Contest at the Sun Trust Lot on Main Street. Music will be held throughout the day at both the Main Street stage and at the Bridge Park gazebo on Railroad Avenue. The music lineup is as follows:
Signature Brew Stage
• 9:30-11 a.m. — Mountain Youth Talent Contest
• 11-11:45 a.m. — Marshall Ballew
• 12-12:45 p.m. — Henry River Honey
• 1-1:45 p.m. — The Colby Deitz Band
• 2-2:45 p.m. — Kim Shuler
• 3-3:45 p.m. — Dirty Soul Revival
Bridge Park Stage
• 10-10:45 a.m. — Sugar Barnes and Dave Magill
• 11-11:45 a.m. — Red Honey
• 12-12:45 p.m. — PMA
• 1-1:45 p.m. — Andrew Scotchie and the River Rats
• 2-2:45 p.m. — Buchanan Boys
• 3-3:45 p.m. — Ol’ Dirty Bathtub
Arts, crafts and kids
More than 30 arts and crafts booths and displays will be on Railroad Avenue, plus a full Farmer’s Market. Families can visit the “Kid’s Zone” where children can enjoy an inflatable slide, a candle-making workshop, balloons, arts and crafts workshop, and much more. Law Enforcement of Jackson County will be out to meet the public, there will be a DARE car display, and more in the “Safety Zone.”
Adopt a duck or several dozen to support the New Century Scholars students in Jackson, Macon and Swain counties. The Southwestern Community College Foundation will sell rubber duck adoption tickets for $5 each (or a quack pack of six for $25) as part of its annual “Ducks on the Tuck” fundraiser during the festival. Three-thousand ducks will race down Scotts Creek near the Bridge Park at 2 p.m. There are many great prizes including a 40-inch flatscreen TV. Winners will be announced at the festival. All proceeds benefit New Century Scholars, which guarantees the opportunity of an SCC education to high-potential students without the worry of tuition and fees.
