2 Credit HoursJune 8–12, 2026Instructors: Dr. Laura Boggess, Mars Hill University & Mr. Gary Kauffman, USFS (Emeritus)Cliffs and rock outcrops are among the most striking and ecologically distinctive landscapes in the Southern Appalachians. These environments support rare, endemic, and specialized species shaped by extreme conditions and long-term geological processes—yet they remain understudied…

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Explore the history and culture of the Cherokee people through interactive exhibits, artifacts, and multimedia presentations at the Museum of the Cherokee People in Cherokee, NC.

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Permanent exhibition featuring Cherokee art, history, and cultural heritage spanning thousands of years. Located at the Museum of the Cherokee People.

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Haywood Handmade Gallery's "Threads" exhibit celebrates the beauty, creativity, and versatility of fiber art. From traditional weaving and embroidery to contemporary works inspired by textiles, this exhibition showcases how fibers, threads, and fabric inspire artistic expression. Each piece highlights texture, pattern, and the intricate craft that transforms simple materials into compelling art.…

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A gentle, all-levels yoga class on Monday evenings at the historic Pine Grove School House. Bring a mat; suggested donation $5–$10.

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The Bascom: A Center for the Visual Arts and the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area will presentConnecting to Place: Blue Ridge Craft Trails Invitational 2026, a juried group exhibition featuring 20 craft artists from across Western North Carolina, on view in the Thompson Gallery from May 16 through July 25, 2026. Curated by M. Anna Fariello, the exhibition celebrates the Blue Ridge Craft Trails a…

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Haywood Handmade Gallery's "Threads" exhibit celebrates the beauty, creativity, and versatility of fiber art. From traditional weaving and embroidery to contemporary works inspired by textiles, this exhibition showcases how fibers, threads, and fabric inspire artistic expression. Each piece highlights texture, pattern, and the intricate craft that transforms simple materials into compelling art.…

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A $2 summer kid movie at Ruby Cinemas in Franklin — Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 AM all summer. $2 admission, $2 drinks, $2 popcorn. An easy, cheap morning out with the kids at the hometown theater.

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Weekly old-time and bluegrass jam session at the historic Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center. Musicians of all skill levels welcome — bring an instrument or just come to listen.

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Venture out after dark in search of one of the Plateau’s most elusive amphibians! Join our Naturalists as we explore cool, damp habitats and uncover the quiet lives of salamanders and the important role they play in our forest ecosystem.All ages welcomeWeather dependentREGISTRATION REQUIRED:https://highlandsbiological.org/naturecenternights/#june-9Free Nature Center programming provided by Highla…

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Evening concert at Highlands Performing Arts Center.

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Love to Bird?Looking for chances and places to go birding?Want to learn more about birds and birding?This could be the group for you!We are a loosely organized group of locals who love birding. Some have years of experience observing and identifying birds. Some of us are backyard birders, building our list of recognizable birds. All of us want to learn more about the birds that reside in, migrate…

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A free Wednesday-morning bird walk on the Little Tennessee River Greenway, led by experienced Franklin Bird Club birders — about 2.5 hours; bring binoculars if you have them. Runs April through September; donations occasionally taken for the greenway. The start point rotates weekly, so this one meets at the trailhead in the title.

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Haywood Handmade Gallery's "Threads" exhibit celebrates the beauty, creativity, and versatility of fiber art. From traditional weaving and embroidery to contemporary works inspired by textiles, this exhibition showcases how fibers, threads, and fabric inspire artistic expression. Each piece highlights texture, pattern, and the intricate craft that transforms simple materials into compelling art.…

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Free weekly storytime for children ages 3-6 at the Macon County Public Library. Stories, songs, and crafts.

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Science on the Rocks: Microplastics in Big Brown Bats📍Weyman, Highlands Biological StationKick off theScience on the Rocksseries with Grant-in-Aid researcherRachel Pricefor a relaxed conversation aboutmicroplastics in Big Brown Batsand the influence of urbanization.Rachel’s research explores whether county-level urbanization is associated with the presence of microplastics in bat organs, offering…

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A laid-back ~1-mile run/walk meetup every Wednesday from Outdoor 76 on Main Street in downtown Clayton, GA. All paces welcome — go for the miles, stay for the hang.

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Weekly pub trivia at Lazy Hiker Brewing Company. Teams of up to 6 welcome, prizes for top finishers. Great craft beer on tap.

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Summer chamber music concert at Highlands Performing Arts Center.

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Live music performance at Lazy Hiker Brewing Co.

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The Southern Appalachian mountains are known as the Salamander Capital of the world and harbor an incredible diversity of salamanders- over 50 species! Slide into Innovation Station in Dillsboro from 6:30 pm-7:30 pm on Thursday, June 11th, to join Outreach Director Skye on an exploration of these mysterious, slippery creatures. During this talk, we will discuss why this region is home to so many…

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A $2 summer kid movie at Ruby Cinemas in Franklin — Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 AM all summer. $2 admission, $2 drinks, $2 popcorn. An easy, cheap morning out with the kids at the hometown theater.

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Celebrating:•Photography Resident Exhibition•I Sing Behind the Plow: A Century of Teaching Craft and Traditional Culture at the John C. Campbell Folk School•Connecting to Place: Blue Ridge Craft Trails Invitational 2026The summer reception brings together exhibitions that honor tradition, place, and the evolving language of craft. Guests may meet the Photography Resident to learn about their ongo…

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Held Thursdays from 4pm-7pm at the Sorrells Street Park in downtown Canton, the Mill Town Farmers Market celebrates Haywood County’s local farmers and artisans. Browse handcrafted wood carvings, metal work, and pottery to spruce up your living space, pamper yourself with botanical skincare and perfumes, and stock your pantry with locally grown produce, farm-fresh dairy, homemade jams, baked goods…

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Join us at The Bascom onThursday, June 11, 2026, from 5:00 to 6:30 pm for the reception of our exhibition,Connecting to Place: Blue Ridge Craft Trails Invitational. The reception will also celebrate two other exhibits currently on display:Photography Resident Exhibitionand ISing Behind the Plow: A Century of Teaching Craft and Traditional Culture at the John C. Campbell Folk School. Meet the arti…

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Zahner Conservation Lecture 1Featured SpeakerDr. Matt Bertone, Entomologist and Director, NC State Plant Disease and Insect Clinic (NCSU)Date: Thursday, June 11Time: 6pm – 7pmCost: FREE | No registration requiredLearn more:https://highlandsbiological.org/foundation/events/zahnerlectures/#arthropodsSponsored by Vicki and Donny FergusonOrganized by Highlands Biological Foundation

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Welcome to the Salamander Capital of the world! The Southern Appalachian mountains are known as the Salamander Capital of the world and harbor an incredible diversity of salamanders- over 50 species! Slide into Innovation Station in Dillsboro from 6:30pm-7:30pm on Thursday, June 11th to join Outreach Director Skye on an exploration of these mysterious, slippery

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Live local musicians perform on the patio at Lazy Hiker Brewing every Thursday evening. Great craft beer and mountain vibes.

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Weekly open mic night at The Rathskeller Coffee Haus & Music Room. Singers, songwriters, poets welcome. Sign-up starts at 6:30 PM.

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Love the classic sounds of Frankie Valli, The Drifters, The Del Vikings? Ever wonder what Adele, Jason Mraz, and Garth Brooks would sound like if they had lived in the Doo Wop era?Meet The Doo Wop Project, a group of fantastically talented, charismatic and engaging Broadway stars from smash hit shows like Jersey Boys, Motown: The Musical, Beautiful, A Bronx Tale, and more, who trace the evolution…

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Live music performance at Balsam Falls Brewing.

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Arts

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The library's MST3K-style movie night for Adult Summer Reading — heckle the screen, riff the lines, and shout your favorites along with the cast. June's feature is National Treasure (PG). Snacks provided; geared to teens and adults. Second Fridays all summer.

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A drop-off parents' night out: blacklight painting, slime, pizza, and a movie for the kids while you get the evening free. 6–9 PM, $30 per child. Message A Carolina Heart to reserve a spot.

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Asheville's free, iconic Friday-night drum circle in Pritchard Park — hundreds of drummers, dancers, and onlookers fill the downtown park from around sunset. Bring a drum or just come to watch. The one Asheville thing worth the drive on a Friday; runs spring through fall.

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Live music every Friday night at Currahee Brewing in downtown Franklin. Rotating lineup of local and touring artists.

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Live music every Friday at Innovation Brewing in downtown Sylva. Great beer, great music, great people.

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We invite you to enjoy a day of free, guided outings in the iconic Roan landscape. Enjoy blooming rhododendron and gorgeous views as we celebrate the conservation of these globally important ecosystems. We offer a variety of outings for different ages, interests, and ability levels — from challenging treks, nature journaling, or a simple stroll.All hikes are free, but registration is required, an…

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The Lake's biggest market of the year, you won't want to miss out on this treasure trove of furniture, plants, arts & crafts, women's clothing, toys, decor, tools, antiques, and much more! Special early bird shopping will be from 7:30-8 a.m. for $5 cash. Only service animals are permitted. New this year, the market is accepting card payments as well as cash!

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Fresh local produce, baked goods, crafts, and plants from Macon County growers and artisans. Every Saturday morning.

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Fresh produce, artisan foods, flowers, and crafts at Highlands' weekly outdoor market.

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Local produce, artisan goods, baked items, and mountain crafts at the Saturday morning farmers market on the Town Square. One of the best markets in Western North Carolina.

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Haywood’s Historic Farmers Market invites everyone to experience local flavors and crafts every Saturday, April through December, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. This producer-only market showcases a variety of products sourced from Haywood and nearby counties, including fresh produce, meats, fish, eggs, honey, dairy, flowers, nursery plants, baked goods, preserves, and heritage crafts. Leashed dogs are w…

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Free outdoor yoga session at the Macon County Recreation Park, weather permitting. All levels welcome. Bring your own mat.

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The Bascom’s Fiber Club is made up of an enthusiastic community of fiber artists who come together monthly to share patterns and stories at The Bascom. Meetings take place on the Terrace. In inclement weather, the group moves inside to the Library, but their enthusiasm is never dampened.2026 Meeting Dates:January 10thFebruary 14thMarch 14thApril 11thMay 9thJune 13thJuly 11thAugust 8thSeptember 5t…

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Jamie (HIte) and Hunter – Watch out, folks…..this is part of their Excellent Adventure as they premier at Frog Quarters MidDay Music. You’ll hear originals and covers of oldies and more.

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Join a different kind of art class at Artful Being School. The Meditative Studio Practice is a weekly, guided creative session and an entry point into the Artful Being process. Learn to settle into your body, then move into intuitive drawing and a chakra-based color exploration to reveal the personal visual language already within. There is no pressure to create something good, only an invitation…

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Join us for Meet at the Moot, Folkmoot’s new monthly Second Saturday celebration of art, culture, music, wellness, and community. Explore open artists studios, meet local creatives, enjoy live demonstrations and activities, discover unique handmade goods, and experience the vibrant creative energy of the historic Folkmoot Friendship Center.

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Jason Passmore: Country / Southern Rock headlines this Pickin' on the Square date. Free family bluegrass / Americana / rock concert on the Town Square Gazebo — a Franklin tradition for over three decades. Bring a lawn chair and a cooler; alcoholic drinks must be in a Social District cup with the proper dated sticker (no outside booze). Food vendors set up at each show — M's Ice Cream and Sweet Ca…

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Free outdoor concert series on the historic Town Square every Saturday night from May through October. Local and regional bluegrass, folk, and Americana acts perform on the gazebo stage.

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