Stecoah welcomes Harvest Festival
 

Stecoah welcomes Harvest Festival

Mountain traditions come alive at the annual Harvest Festival on Oct. 14-16 at the Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center on…
Read More

Comment

North Hominy celebrates all things apple
 

North Hominy celebrates all things apple

The North Hominy Apple Festival will be held on Saturday, Oct. 15, at the North Hominy Community Center on Newfound…
Read More

Comment

Big wheels roll into Cherokee Oct. 14-16
 

Big wheels roll into Cherokee Oct. 14-16

Big rigs and antique trucks rumble into Cherokee Oct. 14-16 for the sixth Annual Big Rigs and Antique Trucks Show, where…
Read More

Comment

Southern Gospel songs with local author Sharon Wyatt
 

Southern Gospel songs with local author Sharon Wyatt

The Marianna Black Library will host an evening of original Southern Gospel music written by the author of the new…
Read More

Comment

Dove Award Winner Phil Keaggy to headline fundraising concert
 

Dove Award Winner Phil Keaggy to headline fundraising concert

On Saturday, Oct. 15, Blind Faith Productions will present Phil Keaggy, a multi-Dove Award winner, Grammy nominee and world-renowned guitar…
Read More

Comment

An ‘Out of This World’ concert in Maggie
 

An ‘Out of This World’ concert in Maggie

The Haywood Community Band will present its final free concert of the Maggie Valley Concert Series at 6:30 p.m. on…
Read More

Comment

Lake Junaluska Singers to perform Oct. 14-15
 

Lake Junaluska Singers to perform Oct. 14-15

The Lake Junaluska Singers will present two concerts at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 14 and 15 at historic Stuart Auditorium. The…
Read More

Comment

Tickets on sale Oct. 14 for Justin Moore, Thompson Square concert at WCU
 

Tickets on sale Oct. 14 for Justin Moore, Thompson Square concert at WCU

Tickets go on sale 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 14, for a Nov. 10 concert at Western Carolina University’s Liston B.…
Read More

Comment

Experience world harmonies with Ubuntu
 

Experience world harmonies with Ubuntu

Ubuntu, a group of people who meet to sing world music a cappella, will perform at 7 p.m. on Oct.…
Read More

Comment

Drum circle planned in downtown Franklin
 

Drum circle planned in downtown Franklin

A drumming circle for all ages will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 16, on the Macon County…
Read More

Comment

Songwriters in the Round series continues in Balsam Oct. 13
 

Songwriters in the Round series continues in Balsam Oct. 13

The decade-old Songwriters in the Round series at the Balsam Mountain Inn continues Thursday, Oct. 13, with crowd favorites Thom…
Read More

Comment

Highlands hosts Fall Colors Art Show
 

Highlands hosts Fall Colors Art Show

The Fall Colors Art Show will be held this week at the Highlands Recreation Center in Highlands. The popular juried…
Read More

Comment

Marianna Black Library to host amateur photography contest
 

Marianna Black Library to host amateur photography contest

The Marianna Black Library in Bryson City is hosting its Third Annual “Life in Swain” amateur photography contest. The past…
Read More

Comment

WCU Fine Art Museum offers free children’s series at county farmers market
 

WCU Fine Art Museum offers free children’s series at county farmers market

The Fine Art Museum at Western Carolina University — with funding from the Jackson County Arts Council — is hosting…
Read More

Comment

Leaf Lookers Gemboree opens Oct. 14
 

Leaf Lookers Gemboree opens Oct. 14

Looking for great fall color? Well, gem and mineral dealers from across the country will be in Macon County Oct.…
Read More

Comment

WCU high school marching band contest set for Oct. 15

 

WCU high school marching band contest set for Oct. 15


About 3,000 students from high school marching bands in four states will compete for top honors during the 11th annual…
Read More

Comment

23rd annual Apple Harvest Festival set for Oct. 15 in downtown Waynesville
 

23rd annual Apple Harvest Festival set for Oct. 15 in downtown Waynesville

The 23rd annual Haywood County Apple Harvest Festival will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 15, in…
Read More

Comment

WATCH ONLINE: Every Breath Sings Mountains provides an entertaining and thoughtful evening
 

WATCH ONLINE: Every Breath Sings Mountains provides an entertaining and thoughtful evening

Voices from the American Land — along with local partners Land Trust for the Little Tennessee, the Wilderness Society, Tuckasegee…
Read More

Comment

Old-timers and their colorful plant names
 

Old-timers and their colorful plant names

It’s that time of the year, and the hills are alive not with music but “sang” hunters. As of now…
Read More

Comment

Providing shelter for hikers
 

Providing shelter for hikers

The Nantahala Hiking Club, the Franklin-based Appalachian Trail maintaining club, is building a new Appalachian Trail shelter about half way…
Read More

Comment

Enjoy an ancient form of flower arranging
 

Enjoy an ancient form of flower arranging

The unique flower and decorative plant arrangements of Ikebana International will be on display during a special exhibit, part of…
Read More

Comment

Lace your shoes for the Bethel half marathon
 

Lace your shoes for the Bethel half marathon

The popular Bethel half marathon and 5K race is set for Saturday, Oct. 8, the 18th version of this event.…
Read More

Comment

Founder of WNC Alliance Esther Cunningham dies at 93
 

Founder of WNC Alliance Esther Cunningham dies at 93

The Western North Carolina environmental community recently lost one of its most credible and visible faces with the death of…
Read More

Comment

Fall color forecaster tells all
 

Fall color forecaster tells all

Hear this fall’s official leaf forecast, including the why and how of leaf color production, at the Jackson-Swain Master Gardeners’…
Read More

Comment

Valentine to sign books
 

Valentine to sign books

A book signing with nature photographer James Valentine, a well-known naturalist, photographer and filmmaker, is set for 5 p.m. to…
Read More

Comment

Hiking to celebrate
 

Hiking to celebrate

The Nantahala Hiking Club offered three hikes (Ranger Falls, Appalachian Trail north of Winding Stair Gap, and Bartram Trail) this…
Read More

Comment

See John Muir “live” in Waynesville
 

See John Muir “live” in Waynesville

Pull a chair up to the fire and enjoy listening to America’s famed wilderness adventurer, John Muir, a critical player…
Read More

Comment

Bear group to talk about camping, hiking in bear country
 

Bear group to talk about camping, hiking in bear country

Learn about hiking and camping in a year when the bear activity is particularly high, forcing the closures of many…
Read More

Comment

Photography exhibit open in Asheville
 

Photography exhibit open in Asheville

A juried exhibit of the Carolinas’ Nature Photographers Association “Autumn in the Southern Appalachians” is ongoing through Oct. 24 at…
Read More

Comment

Workshops dig in to points of vermicomposting
 

Workshops dig in to points of vermicomposting

Learn all about keeping worms for making compost at two upcoming workshops. The N.C. Cooperative Extension Service and the Jackson/Macon…
Read More

Comment

Western icon with ties to Western NC
 

Western icon with ties to Western NC

Acclaimed storyteller and actor Lee Stetson will bring his one-man show on John Muir to Western North Carolina in October.…
Read More

Comment

Tour de Franklin to showcase fall’s best
 

Tour de Franklin to showcase fall’s best

Bicyclists from near and far will take to the road for the eighth-annual Tour de Franklin “Halloween Hunard” charity bicycle…
Read More

Comment

Hike, bike, paddle, fish, climb: OutdoorAthlon coming to Franklin has it all
 

Hike, bike, paddle, fish, climb: OutdoorAthlon coming to Franklin has it all

Joe and Dawn Johnson of Atlanta might be making another trip to the mountains next weekend after learning about the…
Read More

Comment

Escape to the backroads with guidebook author
 

Escape to the backroads with guidebook author

Carolyn Sakowski will read from the third edition of her book, Touring the Western North Carolina Backroads, at noon on…
Read More

Comment

Skippy Dies: The anguish of being young
 

Skippy Dies: The anguish of being young

Kind Hearts, this is an astonishing book. Frankly, I never would have read this one, if I had not blundered…
Read More

Comment

Despite outcry, Swain not in the running to house Smokies’ artifacts
 

Despite outcry, Swain not in the running to house Smokies’ artifacts

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park might finally get a place to store its sizeable cache of historical artifacts, but…
Read More

Comment

Flagging tourism prompts Jackson to hike room tax
 

Flagging tourism prompts Jackson to hike room tax

Tourists staying in Jackson County will pay more on their hotel bills starting Jan. 1. Commissioners this week hiked the…
Read More

Comment

MaconSense to speak on steep slopes
 

MaconSense to speak on steep slopes

MaconSense, a non-partisan organization promoting civic engagement and community service projects, will present a program at 12 p.m. on Thursday,…
Read More

Comment

Tests show well water safe near Francis Farm Landfill
 

Tests show well water safe near Francis Farm Landfill

Water supply sampling on six wells near the closed Francis Farm Landfill in Haywood County shows that all are safe…
Read More

Comment

Forest Hills doesn’t want student housing complex
 

Forest Hills doesn’t want student housing complex

Village of Forest Hills leaders are saying no thanks to a Charlotte company that wanted to build luxury student apartments…
Read More

Comment

Swain gets new fire chief as probe continues
 

Swain gets new fire chief as probe continues

Bryson City has a new fire chief, after a police investigation spurred the ouster of long-term fire chief Joey Hughes…
Read More

Comment

Preservation Foundation unveils new grant application
 

Preservation Foundation unveils new grant application

The Cherokee Preservation Foundation will use a new grant application, beginning with the Spring 2012 grant cycle. The Foundation staff…
Read More

Comment

Give the gift of warmth this winter
 

Give the gift of warmth this winter

Coats for Kids is now accepting donations in Jackson County. Donations of gently used or new winter clothing items —…
Read More

Comment

Walk to remember Trail of Tears
 

Walk to remember Trail of Tears

The Trail of Tears Memorial Walk will begin 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8, at the Cherokee Historical Association building,…
Read More

Comment

Authorities search for rape suspect
 

Authorities search for rape suspect

Law enforcement officials are looking for information on a rape which occurred at approximately 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 25,…
Read More

Comment

Forest Hills leaders dream of their community’s future
 

Forest Hills leaders dream of their community’s future

The Village of Forest Hills wants to control its future by possibly acquiring a 74-acre, abandoned golf course located within…
Read More

Comment

HCC gets $2 million grant to re-train workers
 

HCC gets $2 million grant to re-train workers

Two million dollars in grant money is coming to Haywood Community College for laid-off workers to find a new place…
Read More

Comment

Community college merger idea gets thumbs down from Haywood leaders
 

Community college merger idea gets thumbs down from Haywood leaders

Haywood County commissioners sent a message to Raleigh lawmakers this week to abandon the notion of merging small community colleges.…
Read More

Comment

Battling the bureaucracy for veterans
 

Battling the bureaucracy for veterans

David Gifford proudly stood as a congressman presented him with medals for meritorious service in the Air Force and the…
Read More

Comment

Volunteers needed for Toys for Tots
 

Volunteers needed for Toys for Tots

The Toys for Tots coordinator for Macon, Jackson and Swain counties is beginning the search for volunteers. Randy Dean Hughes,…
Read More

Comment

Smokey Mountain News Logo
SUPPORT THE SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS AND
INDEPENDENT, AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISM
Go to top
Payment Information

/

At our inception 20 years ago, we chose to be different. Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. We don’t plan to change that model. Support from our readers will help us maintain and strengthen the editorial independence that is crucial to our mission to help make Western North Carolina a better place to call home. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News.

The Smoky Mountain News is a wholly private corporation. Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. Your support of SMN does not constitute a charitable donation. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us.