Fantasia on Mysterium: The Epic Immersive Theatrical Recital

Fantasia on Mysterium: The Epic Immersive Theatrical Recital

Fantasia On Mysterium: The Epic Immersive Theatrical Recital is a genre-busting reimagining of a traditional piano recital and theatrical play, blended with artistically created mind-blowing immersive visuals that accompany both the storytelling and the live performances of Russian composer Alexander Scriabin’s piano works. The audience joins the pianist/actor/playwright Michael Yannette onstage as he weaves the highly synchronistic real-life stories of both he and the composer, which, as it furthers down the rabbit hole, exposes itself to be highly revelatory to both. Live performances will be held: Thurs., Jan. 25, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. Fri., Jan. 26, at 7:30 p.m., and Sat., Jan. 27, at 7:30 p.m. Please note that unlike other performances in the Bardo Arts Center’s Performance Hall, this is a General Admission ticketed event where the audience will be seated on stage. For accessibility accommodations, please contact BAC’s Audience Services Manager, Sara Rincon, at srincon@wcu.edu or 828.227.2508. Click here for ticket information. 

The Great Outhouse Races

outhouse races in jackson county

The Great Outhouse Races

Join us for the exciting Outhouse Races, taking place on Saturday, February 17, 2024 in Sapphire, NC! Crazy? Maybe. Dangerous? Perhaps. Fun? Without a doubt! You won’t find Outhouse Races on Snow anywhere else in North Carolina! Dozens of homemade outhouses race to compete for the throne. Spectators come from throughout the southeast to line the course and cheer on those brave enough to see if the outhouse crashes or coasts across the finish line. The Outhouse Races have been named a “Top 20” event by Southeast Tourism Society. The event begins at 11 a.m. with food service and drinks available for purchase (or you may bring a picnic). Live music and a static parade happen before the races begin at 3 p.m. WHAT ARE OUTHOUSE RACES? Homemade outhouses may be made of wood, cardboard, plastic or any other homemade items. There are three people to a team. The outhouses are secured on a set of skis which are pushed by two team members, while one team member “sits” inside. The race course is a two-lane track on packed snow (or ice), with two teams racing head to head over approximately 120 feet (40 yards), with the first 30 feet being propelled by the pushers and the last 90 using gravitational power. This event is as exciting as Drag Racing – if you use your imagination. The outhouses can be simple, or as elaborate and creative as desired!

Give Those You Love Handcrafted and Handmade Items from Jackson County, N.C.

Give Those You Love Handcrafted and Handmade Items from Jackson County, N.C.

Elevate your seasonal shopping experience by visiting the mountain towns of Jackson County, N.C.! Here, you’ll find hand-crafted treasures and artisan creations as you merrily make your way down the small-town sidewalks, past the storefront windows adorned for the holidays. We’ve created your perfect Gift Guide for those one-of-a-kind items guaranteed to delight your friends and family members. Make it a complete “gifting getaway” by booking a stay at one of our hotels, cabins, cottages or lodges! And if you can’t decide exactly what to purchase, a gift certificate gives the perfect excuse to make the return trip with them to Jackson County! The Artisan Village of Dillsboro For abundant holiday cheer, one need not look any further than the Village of Dillsboro, recently named one of the “Five North Carolina Towns That Belong in a Christmas Movie,” by Our State magazine. Strolling the village sidewalks, you’ll feel as if you’ve been transported back to simpler days. Listen for the train whistle as the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad delivers passengers to the town as part of its holiday rides. For hand-crafted items that honor Appalachian tradition, don’t miss Dogwood Crafters. A cooperative showcasing mountain arts, crafts and gifts, Dogwood has been a staple in Dillsboro since 1976. Enter the log cabin-style galleries to find handmade treasures created by more than 85 regional artists who keep craft traditions alive. The ever-changing inventory in its 12 rooms includes corn shuck dolls, wooden bowls, handmade quilts, knitted items, stained glass and delightful novelty […]

Walking (or Hiking) in a Winter Wonderland

Walking (or Hiking) in a Winter Wonderland

As the seasons change and the temperature lowers, so do the mountain views which open  up after the leaves fall. Hikes can become winter wonderlands, with frosty mountaintops and icy cascades from area waterfalls. As the temperatures fall, so do the prices of lodges, hotels, cabins and cottages – a bonus during this “Secret Season.” While hiking, always remember the Seven Principles of Leave No Trace®: 1 – Plan ahead and prepare. 2 – Travel and camp on durable surfaces. 3 – Dispose of waste properly. 4 – Leave what you find. 5 – Minimize campfire impacts. 6 – Respect wildlife. 7 – Be considerate of other visitors. The experience of hiking to a frozen fall is not without some risk, so take precautions as you explore. Be aware of slippery rocks and trails. Remember: Take no chances, only photos for memories (from a safe distance, of course). Here are our Top 5 Waterfalls for Winter Wonder! Whitewater Falls – Sapphire, N.C. Our list starts off big and tall – 411 feet, to be exact. Iconic Whitewater Falls nestles in the Nantahala National Forest near Cashiers and Sapphire. One of the highest cascades east of the Mississippi River, it embraces its larger portion of winter weather each by creating glorious, large ice sculptures. An easy, quarter-mile hike takes you to the viewing platform. Have your camera ready! Pro Tips: Bring cash for the nominal parking fee and plan to arrive early to enjoy the amazing views without a crowd. For […]

Kick Off the Holiday Season at a Jackson County, N.C. Celebration

Kick Off the Holiday Season at a Jackson County, N.C. Celebration

Experience the spirit of the season in a Jackson County, N.C. mountain town, where the magic comes alive amidst the lights, parades and holiday markets!   Old-fashioned holiday scenes and the joy and laughter of your loved ones will surround you as you celebrate the season in our mountains. Our Holiday Calendar is packed with family-friendly events, and we have all the details here. So, plan your holiday getaway today!   Gobble on the Green   Before you gobble your Thanksgiving meal, get in some exercise in Cashiers at Gobble on the Green!    This 5K run/walk will be held at 9 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23, beginning and ending at The Village Green. The course will canvas Frank Allen Road and circle around Cashiers Lake.   Kids can get in on the fun by participating in the Junior Warrior Course, a free, scavenger-hunt type of activity to be held at The Village Green Playground.    The cost is $35 plus a $3.50 sign-up fee. Packets may be picked up early on Wed., Nov. 22, from 3 to 6 p.m. at The Village Green Lewis Hall.  Click here to register!    Christmas Tree Lightings   Jackson County features two festive tree lighting events: Fri., Nov. 24, in Cashiers and Fri., Dec. 1, in Sylva.   In Cashiers, The Gazebo area of The Village Green will light up as part of a lively and heartwarming celebration featuring s’mores and cider and a dramatic entrance by Santa Claus. Festivities begin at 5:45 p.m., with the lighting after sunset. Pro Tip: […]

Give the Gift of Lasting Mountain Memories from Jackson County, N.C.  

Give the Gift of Lasting Mountain Memories from Jackson County, N.C.  

As the seasons change and the temperature lowers, so do the lodging prices and number of visitors to Western North Carolina. Adding to this perk are the mountain views which open after the leaves fall, offering a newness to familiar scenes. This time of year, hikes can turn into journeys into winter wonderlands, with frosty mountaintops and icy cascades. Lodges, hotels, cabins and cottages offer stacked-stone fireplaces and reading nooks, perfect for disappearing into a good book or the friendly competition of a board game. And then there’s the chance of a glistening mountain snowfall.  Known as our “Secret Season,” our winter months are some of the most enjoyable, with plenty of ways to make memories. Why not hibernate – for a while, at least – in the cozy towns and cradling mountains of beautiful Jackson County?    Here are our Top 6 Picks for memory-making this season!   Find Your Frazier Fir   It’s a scene out of a Hallmark movie. With family or friends, you bundle up, grab a cup of hot cocoa and scout the rows of evergreens, lined up like soldiers across an open mountain field. Eventually, “the one” comes into view – and, eventually, into your home to be decked as the centerpiece of your holiday festivities.   Jackson County is home to several tree farms offering fine Fraser Firs that dot our higher elevations. Most are family owned, and all are ready to match you with the perfect Tannenbaum. Consider Chimney Pond Farm or Bear Valley Farm, both […]

Satisfy Your Adventurous Appetite with a Taste of Jackson County, N.C.

Satisfy Your Adventurous Appetite with a Taste of Jackson County, N.C.

Nestled within the mountains of Jackson County, N.C. are amazing restaurants ready to please every palette and price. Its small towns offer big flavors from eateries that have earned loyal followings and impressive accolades. From white linen experiences against spectacular granite backdrops to tucked-away taverns steps off the sidewalks, Jackson County offers tastes that are sure to please even the most discriminating foodie and adventurous appetite. The area is home to award-winning chefs and rising culinary stars offering dishes that are eclectic and intriguing, often making creative use of farm-to-table and locally-sourced ingredients. This is where you may find more than one trout dish on the menu, but each will offer its own, imaginative twist. Plan your culinary journey by starting from the southern end of Jackson County, in Sapphire and Cashiers, and work your way up N.C. 107 to Sylva and Dillsboro. And don’t forget to make your lodging reservations so you can rest and relax after your delicious meals. While almost every locally-owned restaurant in Jackson County is worthy of praise, we’ve selected a few that have recently received rave reviews, critical praise or accolades. Canyon Kitchen: Taking Flavor to Great Heights – Sapphire With clear views of thousand-foot granite cliffs, Canyon Kitchen may offer one of the most dramatic and beautiful restaurant settings in the country – a dining experience sure to stir the soul and senses. It’s easy to see why Food & Wine selected it for its “Most Romantic Restaurant in Every State” list in […]

Spring Farm to Table Dinner

Spring Farm to Table Dinner

Join us for an enchanting Farm-to-Table dinner experience amidst the budding beauty of spring in Whittier, NC. Celebrate the beginning of the growing season’s freshest flavors harvested straight from the fields of our local farms, surrounded by the serene countryside. Indulge in a culinary journey that highlights the vibrant bounty of spring in a picturesque setting, where every dish tells a story of our commitment to farm-fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

Reel in an Unforgettable Fall Fly Fishing Adventure in The NC Mountains

Reel in an Unforgettable Fall Fly Fishing Adventure in The NC Mountains

Jackson County, NC, is home to the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail®, the first fly-fishing trail in the county. With over 92,000 trout stocked annually, the rivers that flow through the mountain towns of Cashiers, Cherokee, Dillsboro, and Sylva, serve as a fly fisherman’s paradise year-round. As the leaves change and the temperatures cool, changes are also taking place along our rivers.  October and November are the optimal time of year to angle the Tuckasegee River, known affectionately by locals as ‘the Tuck’. Cooler waters mean more active fish, longer feeding periods, lengthier fly hatches, and plentiful stocking for your fly-fishing adventure. Longer Nights = More Bites  Summer’s long warm days are pleasant and bright for many, but the warmer water can have an adverse effect on the fish population. Warmer weather can create stress for the fish, making them conserve energy and spend the majority of the day not actively feeding. According to local guide shop Tuckasegee Fly Shop, autumn provides longer, cooler nights making the season a “sweet spot” for anglers. The benefit of long nights in the fall means more consistent water temperatures. The cooler the water, the more oxygenated it is, meaning more active fish and longer feeding periods throughout the day. Longer Hatches = More Snatches The fly hatches that fish feed on reap the benefit of the cool weather as well. Four main fly hatches can be found along the Fly Fishing Trail® in the fall: Midges, Stone Flies, May Flies, and Caddice […]