Weekend Events

Events and Activities:

Fourth annual Hook, Line & Drinker Festival August 21st 3pm- 7pm
The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce will present the fourth annual Hook, Line and Drinker Festival on Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021. The event will be held from 3-7 p.m., at the Bridge Park Pavilion in Sylva, N.C.
The festival features fly fishing guides and fishing industry vendors; food trucks; children’s activities; music by the Carolina Soul Band; clean water, outdoor activity and wildlife advocates; and WNC craft beer vendors. This event is typically held each May but due to the Covid 19 pandemic, the festival was canceled in 2020 and postponed until Aug., 21, 2021. In December of 2019, the Southeast Tourism Society (STS) named the Hook, Line and Drinker Festival one of their Top 20 Events in the Southeast for 2020. There is always live music by some of the region's most popular bands. In the event's first three years, organizers welcomed classic hit artists Terri Lynn Queen & the Stingers (2017), A Social Function (2018), and Lyric (2019) as well as progressive bluegrass bands Unspoken Tradition (2017), Fireside Collective (2018) and Another Country (2019). The Carolina Soul Band will perform classic soul/R&B/rock/pop/beach hits from 3-7 p.m. in 2021.
Admission to the family friendly Hook, Line and Drinker Festival on Saturday, Aug. 21 is $5. Children 12 and under are admitted for free. Reusable Hook, Line & Drinker souvenir cups are included in the price of admission for all. Souvenir cups are required for craft beer vendor purchases by adults 21 and older.
A portion of net proceeds from the festival will benefit Trout Unlimited's “Trout in the Classroom” programming for 2021-22 and the "Kids Fishing Day" program at the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department.
Jackson County is the proud home of the WNC Fly Fishing Trail® and the NC Trout Capital®. The WNC Fly Fishing Trail® features 15 hot fishing spots that run from the northern end of the county to the southern end along the Tuckaseigee River. Jackson County is stocked with more trout than any other county in the state and is home to the largest recorded rainbow trout caught in N.C.
New for 2021, organizers are excited to introduce the event's very own festival brew! This special seasonal craft beer is a "Hook, Line and Drinker Kolsch," and was created by Innovation Brewing in Sylva (Dillsboro & Cullowhee). Proceeds from each pint sold will benefit the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce's continued operation of the festival.
Festival organizers encourage everyone to be Covid safe. We will have hand sanitizer available at each vendor booth and a limited number of face masks. We strongly recommend that anyone who is not vaccinated to please wear a mask and keep a safe social distance. We will be observing Covid safe recommendations issued by the Governor of N.C., our Jackson County Board of Commissioners, and the Town of Sylva Board of Commissioners, as well as the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
For more information, please visit the festival website at www.hooklinedrinkerfest.com, call the organizers at 828-586-2155 or visit the Festival's Facebook page.

August 20th from 6pm- 8 Pm Friday Night Live Old-time country music concert. Outdoors at Highlands Town Square.
Join the fun listening and dancing to our old-time country music band picking tunes and singing those great old country songs of days gone by with some magical twists of music styles blended in from our band member's diverse musical backgrounds. Bring a chair, sit close but remember to leave some room for the folks who came to do a little flatfoot and buck dancing. We love our fans and can't wait to see you in Highlands, NC!
Free admission

Swain County Agricultural Fair- Saturday August 21st From 10 amp 4 Pm
A County Fair-style festival, complete with judging of vegetables, eggs, and flowers; agricultural demos; craft vendors; food vendors and live music!!

Red Cross Blood Drives are being held in Franklin Friday, Aug. 20, from 1 to 6 p.m., at Discover Church, 47 Macon Center Drive; and in Highlands on Friday, Aug. 20, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Highlands School, 545 Pierson Drive; and Monday, Aug. 23, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Community Bible Church, 3645 Cashiers Rd. To donate blood, bring a blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification that are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age, weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and others 18 years of age and younger must meet certain height and weight requirements.

Family Fun with Pollinators - FREE ALL DAY EVENT- Saturday August 21st 10-4
We are proud to be creating an event to celebrate all the pollinators as well as the host plants that feed them and encourage their continued success. This all-day (come and go as you please) event is designed to be enjoyed by all ages offering fun activities and learning opportunities, as well as the chance to meet with various experts and local community nature enthusiasts, and some vendors too. A
Food Truck and Face Painting - already scheduled!!
Learn more here:
https://windingstairfarm.com/nursery/events/family/

Macon County Public Library will be hosting some NC author talks/book signings
in the library at the end of the month and September. Susan Meissner, and on September 4th, Kristin Harmel.

“Dillsboro After Five” will take place from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays in downtown Dillsboro. Start with a visit to the Jackson County Farmers Market located in the Innovation Station parking lot.

The Cherokee Bonfire & Storytelling will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays through Sept. 29 at the Oconaluftee Islands Park in Cherokee. The bonfire is free and open to the public. For more information, call 800.438.1601 or click on www.visitcherokeenc.com.

Macon County Art Association Encaustic Painting Classes will be held on Fridays September 3 and 17, October 29, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., at the Uptown Gallery 30 E Main St., Franklin. For more information, contact Karen Smith, at karen@programservices.org

Jackson Arts Market- Saturdays 1:00-5:00 PM

533 West Main St Sylva, NC
Free outdoor arts experience with LIVE MUSIC , 20+ artists, and demos sharing their artistic process of creating hand made pieces. Saturdays in 2021, the Jackson Arts Market is coming to our gardens with beautiful, handcrafted items! Order a breakfast sandwich and a cocktail or beer at our service window, then Sip-N-Shop craftsman showcases, vendors booths with everything from craft jewelry to canned goods and breads, all the while enjoying the sounds of local musical artists! ALL OUTSIDE!!

Farmer’s Market (with artisans) will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays through October at 117 Island Street in Bryson City. Stop by the old barn by the river for local, homegrown produce, as well as baked goods, jellies and preserves, authentic crafts, and more. Food truck, picnic tables and a strolling musician

Local Pubs in the area:

Macon:
Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Yard Karaoke - 2nd Friday of Every Month
Come Join the Lazy Hiker and T and J Entertainment for a night of Karaoke outside in the Yard !! Bring your own lawn chairs and blankets. We'll have local vendors as well as games, food, and of course beer. So bring your thirst, your appetite and your voice! Cheers! Click on www.lazyhikerbrewing.com .

Rathskeller Coffee Haus & Pub (Franklin) will host Live Music: Intermission August 20th, Shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public. www.rathskellerfranklin.com

Saturdays On Pine (Highlands) will be held at the Kelsey-Hutchinson Park from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
. Free and open to the public. www.highlandschamber.org

Friday Night Live (Highlands) will be held at the Town Square from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
. Free and open to the public. www.highlandschamber.org

Swain:

Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host Rock Holler Band On Stage August 20th
. All shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.538.2488.

Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host Wyatt Espalin - Live! Friday August 20th, Woolybooger - Live! Saturday August 21st
Free and open to the public. 828.538.0115 or www.mtnlayersbeer.com.

There will be a free wine tasting from 6 to 8 p.m. every Thursday and 2 to 5 p.m every Saturday at The Wine Bar & Cellar in Sylva. 828.631.3075.

Bryson City Wine Market offers a glass of wine and a Market Plate Monday through Saturday as well as special flight tastings from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. every Friday and Saturday

Jackson:

Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host Sylva Led Zeppelin Night featuring Andrew Thelston Band Friday August 20th
All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. For more information and a complete schedule of events, click on www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.

Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva) will host an open mic from 8 to 10 p.m. every Thursday. Free and open to the public. www.balsamfallsbrewing.com .

Innovation Station (Dillsboro) Will host The Knotty G's - SunDAYsessions Sunday August 22nd from 2-4

The Paper Mill Lounge Will Host Terri Lynn Queen with Scott Baker and Tim Queen August 21st from 8pm-11pm

The Paper Mill Lounge is excited to present Natasha Noir Nightly's The Paper Doll Cabaret, a show filled with Drag and Shenanigans, every first Saturday of the month! This is a 21+yo, first come first serve show! September 4th October 2nd November 6th and December 4th all shows are from 9pm -11:30 pm

Hiking:

Nantahala Hiking Club will hike to Panthertown Valley Wilderness, Frolictown Falls and Salt Rock Overlook on Saturday, Aug. 21. Good combination of falls and overlooks. Dogs and children over 6 are welcome to attend. For reservations and more information, call leader Robin Lurie at (954)632-7270.

Nantahala Hiking Club will hike to Wesser Bald Tower for a Full Moon hike on Sunday, Aug. 22. Hiking North on the Appalachian Trail from Tellico Gap ascend 700′. Return by way of the fire access road. You will need a headlamp and trekking pole. Bring water, snacks and camera. Hike limited to 5 people. Please confirm by emaiing David Heck at dheck.linuxmail@gmail.com with subject line “Wesser Bald Tower Full Moon Hike”. Include your phone # in the email.

Weekend Plans in Macon, Jackson, and Swain Counties!

Gov. Cooper issues State of Emergency for WNC due to flooding

Slides close U.S. 19/74 in Nantahala Gorge