Press Releases

2018 Tour de Cashiers cycling event adds 5K run

2018 Tour de Cashiers cycling event adds 5K run

The 26th Annual Tour de Cashiers Mountain Cycling Experience, with the support of Premier Sponsor Highlands Cashiers Hospital,  will be held on Saturday September 15, 2018 across the sky-high, scenic mountain byways of western North Carolina. This year, runners can participate in the fun with an added 5K race in Cashiers Village.  The 3.1-mile route begins at the Cashiers Glenville Recreation Center, where cyclists also will depart earlier, and follows Frank Allen, Valley and Cashiers School Roads and Mitten Lane to a turnaround at Summit Charter School and return to the recreation center. This popular athletic event shifted its traditional spring schedule to the fall to accommodate an expanded activities schedule and take advantage of autumn weather conditions.  Added activities include a pre-event registration and social at Whiteside Brewing Co., the 5K run and an after-party for all participants and their families at the Baldaroo Music Festival. Under the direction of Tony Hammett, USAT Certified Race Director of Peak Racing Events, Atlanta, Georgia, the event is expected to attract participants from across the southeast, many returning every year to one of the state’s prime tourist destinations. “This is a beautiful area and we are thrilled to help grow the events for both the participants and Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce. We look forward to this exciting partnership,” said Hammett. Tour de Cashiers cyclists will follow one of three traditional routes – 25, 62 and 100 miles — across Jackson, Macon and Transylvania Counties.  They will ride steep climbs and fast […]

The Jackson County Ale Trail is expanding to include three new breweries. Whiteside Brewing Co., Dillsboro’s Innovation Station and Nantahala Brewing Company will join the already existing breweries on the trail – Sylva’s Innovation Brewing and Balsam Falls Brewing Co.

14th Annual WNC Pottery Festival Returns with More Than 40 Master Potters

14th Annual WNC Pottery Festival Returns with More Than 40 Master Potters

The 14th Annual WNC Pottery Festival returns to the Western North Carolina town of Dillsboro on November 3, 2018, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Selected as one of the Southeast’s Top 20 Events and regarded annually as one of the most popular arts events in the mountains, the festival attracts several thousand pottery aficionados each year. This year’s event promises attendees top-tier craftsmanship from 44 master potters.

14th Annual WNC Pottery Festival Returns with Over 40 Master Potters

14th Annual WNC Pottery Festival Returns with Over 40 Master Potters

The 14th Annual WNC Pottery Festival returns to the Western North Carolina town of Dillsboro on November 3, 2018, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Selected as one of the Southeast’s Top 20 Events and regarded annually as one of the most popular arts events in the mountains, the festival attracts several thousand pottery aficionados each year. Registration for artist participation in this year’s event filled quickly, promising attendees top-tier craftsmanship from 44 master potters. “This is always an outstanding event and the talent this year is out of this world,” said Joe Frank McKee, of Dillsboro’s Tree House Pottery, who co-founded the event. “The festival has grown immensely in recent years, showcasing the best applicants we’ve ever seen and earning respect from potters and art lovers nationwide.” All potters compete for slots prior to the start of the festival, and this year’s event welcomes seven new potters for a total of 44 exhibitors. Dillsboro’s Front Street will be lined with tents featuring some of the country’s best handmade pieces. A large variety of styles and techniques will be showcased, ranging from glazed sculptural tree forms to mixed media pottery. “The WNC Pottery Festival brings together some of the most experienced and talented potters from across the country to feature their work,” says McKee. “With artists from 17 different states representing a mixture of talents and skills, this is a must-see event for pottery fans everywhere.” During the festival and visitors can watch throwing and firing demonstrations by some of […]

National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) will be celebrated this year from May 6-12. This annual tradition celebrates the positive impact travel has for local economies, businesses, and personal well-being. 2018 marks the 35th anniversary of the original congressional resolution that established NTTW in 1983. This year’s theme, “Then and Now,” is a challenge to industry leaders to reflect on travel successes of years past while advocating for policies that promote growth for the future.

With wellness travel on the rise, Intrepid Travel has named it one of the top travel trends for 2018. Since this is such a rapidly growing trend, many destinations and travel groups are scrambling to create packages to mold their destination into a wellness getaway, but Jackson County, NC is a natural fit. Filled with endless opportunities and experiences to appeal to health-conscious travelers looking for mental and physical well-being, visitors will leave Jackson County feeling exhilarated, refreshed and rejuvenated.

International Fly Fishing Film Festival® Coming To Jackson County, NC

International Fly Fishing Film Festival® Coming To Jackson County, NC

The International Fly Fishing Film Festival®, or IF4, will be held in Sylva, NC at the Quin Theater on February 24, 2018 at 7 p.m. Tickets to the festival are $15 and are available for purchase online (https://www.showclix.com/event/if42018sylvanc) and through the Tuckasegee Fly Shop in Sylva. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the local trout in the classroom program. IF4 will showcase exclusive short and feature-length films produced by professional filmmakers from all corners of the globe, showcasing the passion, lifestyle and culture of fly fishing. This event and the films to be featured are already capturing the attention of anglers around the world. “We are thrilled and honored to host the International Fly Fishing Film Festival in Sylva,” said Nick Breedlove, Director of the Jackson County Tourism Development Authority. “We are excited to welcome attendees from across the country and invite them to explore all that Jackson County has to offer. With Jackson County boasting the only fly fishing trail in the country, anglers in attendance will have no shortage of activities to explore and enjoy during their visit.” “Those coming for the film fest should come a day early and stay a day later,” Breedlove said. “Make a weekend out of it. Late February fly fishing is incredible in Jackson County.” Jackson County, a hotspot for fly fishing, is home to the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail and is North Carolina’s Trout Capital. The WNC Fly Fishing Trail is made up of 15 spots along the county’s […]

Explore the Winter Wonder of Western North Carolina

Explore the Winter Wonder of Western North Carolina

Winter doesn’t have to be for hibernating with an abundance of outdoor fun and festive events offered in Jackson County, North Carolina. The mountain towns of Sylva, Dillsboro, Cashiers and Cherokee offer welcoming winter warmth for visitors and locals throughout each community with holiday traditions, active adventures, seasonal cheer and much more. Read on to find out how to celebrate the winter season in Jackson County, and visit www.DiscoverJacksonNC.com to learn even more.

13th Annual WNC Pottery Festival Features 43 Master Potters

13th Annual WNC Pottery Festival Features 43 Master Potters

The 13th Annual WNC Pottery Festival returns to the Western North Carolina town of Dillsboro on November 4, 2017 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Named one of the “Top 20 Southeast Arts Events” by the Southeast Tourism Society, registration for this year’s event quickly filled, promising attendees top-tier craftsmanship from 43 master potters.

WCU’s Mountain Heritage Day set for 43rd year Saturday, Sept. 30

WCU’s Mountain Heritage Day set for 43rd year Saturday, Sept. 30

CULLOWHEE – Western Carolina University’s Mountain Heritage Day, a free family oriented festival that celebrates Southern Appalachian culture through concerts, living-history demonstrations, competitions and awards programs, will be held Saturday, Sept. 30, on the WCU campus, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Named one of the top 20 festivals in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society, this year’s event will include additional musical acts, vendors and an expectation of more visitors, organizers said. This year’s festival is dedicated to the memory of Haywood County’s Steve Sutton, a WCU alumnus and stellar banjo picker who died Saturday, May 13. He was a fixture at Mountain Heritage Day, playing with Whitewater Bluegrass Company and participating in numerous Circle Tent performances and jam sessions over the years. He is remembered for helping young musicians and the sense of community he shared through the festival. The festival started as Founders’ Day on Oct. 26, 1974, at the inauguration ceremony of WCU Chancellor H.F. “Cotton” Robinson, and became known as Mountain Heritage Day the following year. The festival has become renowned as a showcase of mountain music, family activities and the region’s finest arts and crafts, and vendors offering ethnic, heritage and festival food. Rain or shine, the festival brings history to life and fun to thousands. Shuttles will operate throughout the day, with stops at designated free parking and attraction locations. FAMILY FUN Mountain Heritage Day organizers continue their emphasis on providing activities for children, and the popular Children’s Tent will provide sing-alongs, […]