Dillsboro Lights & Luminaries
Dillsboro Lights & Luminaries
Journey back to the days of yesteryear. Experience the magic as the entire town is transformed into a winter wonderland of lights, candles, laughter, and song! 2,500 luminaries light your way to shops and studios as shopkeepers provide holiday treats with hot cider and cocoa. Enjoy live music while the children will experience a socially distant and safe visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. This event will take place the first two Friday and Saturdays of December.
Dillsboro Lights & Luminaries
Dillsboro Lights & Luminaries
Journey back to the days of yesteryear. Experience the magic as the entire town is transformed into a winter wonderland of lights, candles, laughter, and song! 2,500 luminaries light your way to shops and studios as shopkeepers provide holiday treats with hot cider and cocoa. Enjoy live music while the children will experience a socially distant and safe visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. This event will take place the first two Friday and Saturdays of December.
Dillsboro Lights & Luminaries
Dillsboro Lights & Luminaries
Journey back to the days of yesteryear. Experience the magic as the entire town is transformed into a winter wonderland of lights, candles, laughter, and song! 2,500 luminaries light your way to shops and studios as shopkeepers provide holiday treats with hot cider and cocoa. Enjoy live music while the children will experience a socially distant and safe visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. This event will take place the first two Friday and Saturdays of December.
Assault on Blackrock
Assault on Blackrock
Sylva, NC’s extreme trail race How does running a seven-mile trail race with 2,770 feet of elevation gain sound? Trail runners who compete in the Assault on BlackRock trail race will summit BlackRock at 5,810 feet – and that’s just the halfway point of the race. The course weaves through the spruce forests along the spine of the Plott Balsam Mountains on challenging rocky/dirt roads and single track. The final climb to the summit ridge comprises 650 feet of elevation gain in 1/3 of a mile on steep single track. T-shirts are guaranteed to runners registered prior to 3/1/2023. Awards will be given to the overall top 3 female and male finishers and the top female and male “Masters” finishers (50+). For those looking for an additional challenge, runners who complete the BlackRock 101 Challenge will receive a belt buckle. All proceeds from this race will go to the Jackson County Public Schools Back to School Bash. The Back to School Bash will help students and families with book-bags, school supplies, sports physicals, haircuts, clothing, and other school necessities free of charge. BlackRock 101 Challenge Runners who complete the course in 101 minutes or less (1 hour 41 minutes) will earn a belt buckle.
Catamount Climb Half Marathon & 5K
Catamount Climb Half Marathon & 5K
The 2023 Catamount Climb Half Marathon and 5K will be hosted on the campus of Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC along the banks of the Tuckasegee River. The 5K course is completely on campus and navigates through the heart of campus with moderate elevation change. The half marathon course starts on campus, and then heads off campus for a few miles before returning back to campus for the finish line. The Catamount Climb Half Marathon and 5K (formerly known as Valley of the Lilies) is hosted by the Western Carolina University School of Health Sciences and the Department of Campus Recreation & Wellness.All race proceeds go to support student professional development and travel and academic scholarships. EVENT: 5K Start Time: 8:30am EDT End Time: 1:00pm EDT Price: $25.00 Race Fee Registration: Price increases to $35.00 after March 5, 2023 at 11:59pm EST EVENT: HALF MARATHON Start Time: 8:00am EDT End Time: 1:00pm EDT Price: $45.00 Race Fee Registration: Price increases to $60.00 after March 5, 2023 at 11:59pm EST After the race, runners and visitors can grab some lunch at one of the area’s great restaurants then enjoy Sylva’s Brew Hop along the Jackson County Ale Trail and celebrate N.C. Beer Month. There are numerous hotels, bed and breakfasts, resorts and other accommodations in the area that make the perfect weekend getaway. A free visitor guide is available to assist in booking your trip today.
Greening up the Mountains
Greening up the Mountains
The Greening Up the Mountains Festival, now in its 25th year, is a heritage arts festival that celebrates the arrival of Spring through both traditional and contemporary forms of Appalachian art, music, food, and beverage which honor our community and local artisans. The festival is sponsored by both the Town of Sylva and the Main Street Sylva Association and will be held in historic downtown Sylva, North Carolina. In addition to a variety of arts, crafts, and food vendors, attendees can enjoy a 5k run, youth talent contest, beverage arts featuring local craft breweries, and live music throughout the day on two stages. The festival is rain or shine!
Top 10 Vacation Rentals with Hot Tubs in the NC Mountains
Top 10 Vacation Rentals with Hot Tubs in the NC Mountains
From cozy cabins, private island retreats, luxury resort properties, and more, you can find the perfect stay for every style and budget. Our ‘Secret Season’ is here, and what better way to enjoy the scenery of frost-covered North Carolina mountains than in the comfort of a mountain view hot tub? Enjoy the laidback lifestyle of the mountains at your pace and avoid the tourist traps and traffic by booking your winter mountain getaway in the NC Mountains.
Outhouse Races
Outhouse Races
Join us for the exciting Outhouse Races, taking place on February 18, 2023, at 3 pm in Sapphire. Crazy? Maybe. Dangerous? Perhaps. Fun? Without a doubt! You won’t find Outhouse Races on Snow anywhere else in North Carolina! Dozens of 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 and burns or sails across the finish line. The Outhouse Races have been named a ‘Top 20’ event in the Southeast for February by Southeast Tourism Society. WHAT ARE OUTHOUSE RACES? Your Homemade Outhouses can be made of wood, cardboard, plastic, or any other homemade items. There are three people to a team and outhouses are secured on a set of skis, which can be provided to you by the Sapphire Valley Ski Area. These skis are pushed by two team members, while one team member ‘sits’ inside. Outhouses are equipped with a seat with at least one (1) hole, and a roll of toilet paper, or alternative wiping source. The race course is a two-lane track on packed snow (or on ice), with two teams racing each other head to head over a length of approximately 120 feet (40 yards), the first 30 feet being propelled by the pushers and the last 90 feet under its own gravitational power. This event is as exciting as ‘Drag Racing’ if you use your imagination. Outhouses can be very simple, or as elaborate as […]
The Best Winter Scenes to Experience in Jackson County
The Best Winter Scenes to Experience in Jackson County
Nestled in the heart of the Western North Carolina mountains, Jackson County is surrounded by winter scenes and natural beauty that serve as the perfect backdrop for any winter retreat. On even the coldest of winter days, visitors can see miles upon miles of layered, scenic mountain ranges and valleys. The area’s stunning landscape coupled with a calendar full of festive winter and holiday events, makes Jackson County the perfect place to reconnect with nature and celebrate the season.
Mistletoe Market, Santa on the Green & Cashiers Christmas Tree Lighting
Mistletoe Market, Santa on the Green & Cashiers Christmas Tree Lighting
Visitors to The Village Green enjoy twinkling light displays and festive decorations from Thanksgiving Weekend until New Year’s Day. The park becomes a winter wonderland to make your spirits merry and bright. But before the Green lights up on November 24, two other events that day – Santa on the Green and the Mistletoe Market – will also help kick off the season.  Mistletoe Market Friday, November 24, 2023 10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Lewis Hall This special artisan gift market takes place the Friday after Thanksgiving, in conjunction with Santa on the Green. The market will feature pottery, jewelry, handmade wreaths, homemade goodies and more! Come find that unique, one-of-a-kind, handcrafted gift for the naughty and nice on your list! Admission to this event is free. Santa On the Green (By Reservation Only) Friday, November 24, 2023 2 – 5 p.m. Lewis Hall On the day after Thanksgiving, children of all ages are invited to come and tell Santa Claus their Christmas wishes. Santa visits will take place in conjunction with the Mistletoe Market. Appointment times will be made available in early November on The Village Green website. *A suggested donation of $5 per child will be collected at the door.* Cashiers Christmas Tree Lighting Friday, November 24, 2023 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. The Gazebo Lawn (near the Cashiers Crossroads) This heartwarming event will feature holiday music, s’mores and cider and, of course, a spectacular light display. Santa will help light the spruce tree, and the Village Green […]