It's all about the chocolate
 

It's all about the chocolate

Bryson City chocolate cook-off Cooks of all things chocolate will square off at the 8th annual Chocolate Cook-Off from 2:30…
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Photography, folk art exhibit at Gallery 86
 

Photography, folk art exhibit at Gallery 86

A creative photography and folk art exhibit, “Memories — Past, Present and Future” will be showcased April 6-28 in Gallery…
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This must be the place
 

This must be the place

She knows me better than anybody. She’s a little rough around the edges. Her beauty has seen better days. She’s…
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Soldiering on: Porch-n-soul act enters next chapter
 

Soldiering on: Porch-n-soul act enters next chapter

Caleb Burress sees a rebirth — in himself and his music. “2014 was an education for us on many levels…
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Greening Up welcomes spring
 

Greening Up welcomes spring

The 18th annual Greening Up the Mountains spring kickoff street festival will be held Saturday, April 25, from 9 a.m.…
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Greening Up the Mountains: Through the Hills
 

Greening Up the Mountains: Through the Hills

3 p.m. • Signature Brew Stage The newest musical entity in Western North Carolina, the Haywood County quartet brings together…
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Greening Up the Mountains: Rye Baby
 

Greening Up the Mountains: Rye Baby

1:05 p.m. • Signature Brew Stage Hailing from Chattanooga, Rye Baby is a fiery duo, one that encompasses the honky-tonk…
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All three Cherokee tribes partnering for ‘Cherokee Days’
 

All three Cherokee tribes partnering for ‘Cherokee Days’

One year after hosting a highly successful event at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., the…
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This must be the place
 

This must be the place

It is the single most essential thing in my life. Running. The action of putting on jogging shorts, a comfortable…
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Mountains to Sea: The quest for fresh seafood
 

Mountains to Sea: The quest for fresh seafood

Debbie Milner has a simple philosophy. “If I won’t eat it, I won’t sell it,” she said. Standing next to…
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WCU drummer tapped for  U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps
 

WCU drummer tapped for U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps

Western Carolina University Pride of the Mountains Marching Band drummer Seth Estes, who graduates in May with a bachelor’s degree…
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Vaudeville at The Strand
 

Vaudeville at The Strand

An intricate mix of artistic performance, The Moon Show will be held at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 23, at The…
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This must be the place
 

This must be the place

They fascinate me the most — in a way that is captivating and haunting, ancient and mysterious. Women. The opposite…
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In search of the perfect word: Literary festival returns to WCU
 

In search of the perfect word: Literary festival returns to WCU

A writer looking at a blank page is a like a painter staring at a fresh canvas, a sculptor facing…
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Loretta Lynn to hit Harrah’s stage
 

Loretta Lynn to hit Harrah’s stage

Country music legend Loretta Lynn will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 11, at Harrah’s Cherokee.
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Gypsy jazz, swing at Classic Wineseller
 

Gypsy jazz, swing at Classic Wineseller

The 9th Street Stompers will perform at 7 p.m. Friday, April 17, at The Classic Wineseller in Waynesville.
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Acclaimed gospel act to hit Franklin stage
 

Acclaimed gospel act to hit Franklin stage

Gospel singers Jeff & Sheri Easter will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 3, at the Smoky Mountain Center for…
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Conference focuses on fermentation sciences
 

Conference focuses on fermentation sciences

A conference with a special focus on fermentation science will be held by the Western Office of the North Carolina…
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Catch the Spirit of Appalachia awards scholarships
 

Catch the Spirit of Appalachia awards scholarships

At its annual Scholarship Fundraising Dinner on March 20, the board of Catch the Spirit of Appalachia in Jackson County…
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Lincoln assassination drama at HART
 

Lincoln assassination drama at HART

As part of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, the production of “The Actor and The Assassin” will hit…
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Jackson County students win Youth Art Month awards
 

Jackson County students win Youth Art Month awards

More than 60 Jackson County school students received awards for work exhibited at Western Carolina University during Youth Art Month.
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‘Peter Pan’ flies into WCU
 

‘Peter Pan’ flies into WCU

The School of Stage and Screen will close its 2014-15 Mainstage season with a high-flying production of the J.M Barrie…
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New art studio opens in Franklin
 

New art studio opens in Franklin

Colorful Creations, a “Paint Your Own Pottery” studio owned by Jimbo and Stacy Ledford, recently opened in Franklin.
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Oyster, seafood festival returns to Maggie Valley
 

Oyster, seafood festival returns to Maggie Valley

The Smoky Mountain Oyster & Seafood Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 18, at…
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Canton concert to benefit Community Kitchen
 

Canton concert to benefit Community Kitchen

Country/southern rocker Joe Lasher Jr. will perform at 7 p.m. April 18 at the Colonial Theatre in Canton. Tickets are…
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This must be the place
 

This must be the place

It’s my favorite place to sit. In a diner, tucked away in a booth, with a notebook, pen and endless…
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Open call for Appalachian Lifestyle festival
 

Open call for Appalachian Lifestyle festival

The Downtown Waynesville Association is seeking heritage themed vendors for the fifth annual Appalachian Lifestyle Celebration that will take place…
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WCU to showcase Barnwell collection
 

WCU to showcase Barnwell collection

A collection of images by acclaimed photographer Tim Barnwell that reflects the musical and craft traditions of the Southern Appalachian…
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Catch the Spirit holds mural fundraiser
 

Catch the Spirit holds mural fundraiser

“Golden Threads,” a dramatic 24-foot art mural created by Doreyl Ammons Cain for the Shindig on the Green in Asheville,…
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Progress made on new HART theatre
 

Progress made on new HART theatre

The roof trusses went up on the new Daniel and Belle Fangmeyer Theater on March 21 at the Haywood Arts…
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Easter in Western North Carolina
 

Easter in Western North Carolina

With the celebration of Easter around the corner, below are several events in communities around our region, from church gathering…
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This must be the place
 

This must be the place

My friend died yesterday. Way up in New York State, 1,000 miles or so away from me, my friend passed…
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One day at a time
 

One day at a time

Don’t hire C.J. Deering. “I don’t know why people hire me,” she laughed. “Maybe I’m just lucky, maybe they see…
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All in the family
 

All in the family

Louis Perrone loves being part of an Italian family. “I come from a big family — always a reason to…
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Diffie brings country hits to Franklin
 

Diffie brings country hits to Franklin

Country star Joe Diffie will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 21, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing…
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HCC participates in American Craft Council show
 

HCC participates in American Craft Council show

Haywood Community College’s Creative Arts Professional Crafts and Continuing Education departments recently participated in the American Craft Council show March…
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Rash book turned film to make WNC screen debut
 

Rash book turned film to make WNC screen debut

The film adaptation of the Ron Rash novel The World Made Straight will make its Western North Carolina big-screen premiere…
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Rollergirls season opener is March 21
 

Rollergirls season opener is March 21

The Smoky Mountain Rollergirls and their junior league The Lil’ Nemesisters will open the 2015 home season with a doubleheader…
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WCU to host tourism conference
 

WCU to host tourism conference

The impact of successful festivals and events on the economy of the 26 westernmost counties of North Carolina will be…
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Bodhran presentations at WCU
 

Bodhran presentations at WCU

The bodhran, a traditional percussion instrument of Ireland, will be the focus of two presentations Thursday, March 19, at Western…
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Langston Hughes Project stages at WCU
 

Langston Hughes Project stages at WCU

The Langston Hughes Project, a multimedia concert highlighting a “jazz poem” written by the late poet, novelist, playwright and social…
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This must be the place
 

This must be the place

As I took the first sip of my second cup of coffee, my shoulders began to relax.
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Trademark dispute heats up between local, national breweries
 

Trademark dispute heats up between local, national breweries

Nicole Dexter and Chip Owen haven’t been able to sleep well lately. “I think all I’ve been feeling the last…
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Natural bodybuilding competition to take place in Macon
 

Natural bodybuilding competition to take place in Macon

The inaugural Western North Carolina Natural Bodybuilding & Physique Federation Competition will be at 5 p.m. Saturday, March 14, at…
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Chili cook-off in Highlands
 

Chili cook-off in Highlands

The Highlands Annual Chili Cook-off will be from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, March 14, at the Highlands Community Building.…
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Cullowhee teen wins film contest
 

Cullowhee teen wins film contest

The National Coalition Against Censorship announced Anne Wade of Cullowhee as the winner of the 11th annual Youth Free Expression…
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STYX to play Harrah’s
 

STYX to play Harrah’s

Legendary rock group STYX will be performing at 9 p.m. Friday, March 13, at Harrah’s Cherokee Event Center.
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HCC to offer sound recording, engineering
 

HCC to offer sound recording, engineering

Haywood Community College’s Workforce Continuing Education Creative Arts Department will offer an Introduction to Sound Recording/Engineering class on Mondays from…
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This must be the place
 

This must be the place

Great people. Beautiful music. Endless outdoors. Delicious beer. Simply put, those are the exact reasons I moved to Western North…
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Bless Your Heart: The state of women in bluegrass
 

Bless Your Heart: The state of women in bluegrass

Danielle Bishop only cries when she’s mad. “And was I mad,” she said. Sitting in a booth at the Papertown Grill…
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