The 28th annual PumpkinFest will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 19, in downtown Franklin. 

While Macon County may have been spared the catastrophic flooding experienced by so many of its Western North Carolina neighbors following Hurricane Helene, it was not spared the most serious and devastating effects of the storm — loss of life. 

The Franklin Bird Club leads walks along the greenway on Wednesday mornings at 8 a.m. Walks start at alternating locations: Macon County Public Library, Big Bear Park and Salali Lane. 

There will be a contra dance class offered from 6:30-9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.

Contra dance is considered the most accessible and sociable of all dances, with participants moving in two long facing lines or in groups, and with frequent partner changes. With its roots in the British Isles and France, contra dance has become a traditional American dance form. 

Mainspring Conservation Trust seeks volunteers to participate in the annual Little Tennessee River Cleanup starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 14. 

Macon County commissioners are considering the adoption of a farmland protection ordinance that would not only orchestrate cooperation between county government and farmers in the region but also allow for more grant funding opportunities for the county. 

The Macon County Commission decided last week in a split vote to fund a $200,000 request from the school system that will ensure all students in Macon County receive free lunch for the coming school year.

Rising singer-songwriter Alexa Rose will perform at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9, at Yonder Community Market in Franklin. 

There will be a special showcase of the Grace Johnson art collection and a fundraiser reception for the Friends of the Library from 4-6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. 

Macon County Schools decided last month to maintain a policy that had been in place — but until now had been enforced sporadically — that bars for-profit entities from using school facilities.