Find Your Weekend Plans Here!

Weekend Events and Activities:

EASTER EVENT:

The Paper Mill Lounge Will Host an Easter Egg Hunt on April 17th @ 2pm

Bring out the kiddies and let them snatch and grab for eggs in our yard during our annual Easter egg hunt!

Bunny Hopper Express April 15th & 16th 10:30Am-5 Pm The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad welcomes back The Bunny Hopper Express Easter Train April 15 & 16! This 4 and half-hour round trip special event train departs the historic Bryson City Depot at 10:30 am and will travel along the Nantahala Gorge River to our picturesque layover destination, for Easter-themed activities and Egg Hunt.

Easter Hat Parade Dillsboro - April 16th Saturday Bring your Easter bonnet to our annual Easter Hat Parade or make your own Hat. Registration begins at 12 noon. Prizes for all categories.

Easter Weekend Downtown Celebratioon- Join us Saturday, April 16th for our Easter Weekend Downtown Celebration!!
Featuring an adult Easter Egg Hunt with three $50 PRIZES!!
The downtown merchants are having BIG sales, candy, an Easter basket giveaway, music, and...THE EASTER BUNNY!!
Dress the kids (or yourself) in your Easter Sunday best, and take your picture with the Easter Bunny!!
Brought to you by Streets of Franklin Heritage Association.

Kids Easter Event: LightHouse Sylva- Come join us for a fun time of games, food, and fellowship on April 2, 2022, from 1-3pm.
Before everyone heads off for Spring Break, we still want to provide a fun and exciting outreach event for our community.
All are welcome to come to our event! Tell your family, friends, and neighbors!

Easter Egg Hunt April 9Th @ The Old Cherokee High School From 10 am- 1:00 pm They Will Have Food & Door Prizes and a Photobooth! You Must Pre Register To Receive Easter Egg Bag And Door Prize Ticket From 9:30 Am-10 Am
Egg Hunt Age Groups 5 and Under / 6y-9y/ 10y-13y

April 9th Easter Egg Hunt Deep Creek Missionary Hunt - Lunch Will Be Served at 12:30am with the egg hunt immediately following

Franklin Factory Easter Egg Hunt- Factory Easter Egg Hunt
Over 5,000 Eggs & Prizes!
Friday, April 15 at 11 am
Saturday, April 16 at 11 am
We have planned two dates to allow for smaller hunts. Please pick only one date to attend. This will allow everyone the opportunity to have an Easter "Eggs"travaganza!
$12 - 1 Hour Jump (socks not included) valid until 4pm
Visit with the Easter Bunny
Easter Basket Giveaway! (Must be present to win

Saturday April 16th: Easter Eggstravaganza On The Farm-
a FREE Easter Community Event for the Public that will include an Easter Egg Hunt for kids ages 0-2 years old, 3-5 years old , 6-9 years old, 10-12 years old, and then a separate hunt for Special Needs kids.
Registration for all ages is from 9:30am until 12:00pm
••Registrations requires a mandatory waiver signed by parents listing their children’s name- this is required for any children’s even on an Agritourism Farm in the State of North Carolina••
Time Slots for Egg Hunting:
1) 11:00am - 11:15am - Infant -2 y/o (one Adult per child)
*15 minute Break*
2) 11:30 am - 11:45am - 3-5 years old
*15 minute Break*
3) 12:00 pm - 12:15am - 6-9 years old
*15 minute Break*
4) 12:30 am - 12:45pm - 10-12 year olds
*15 minute Break*
1:00pm - 1:15pm - Special Needs - all ages
*15 minute Break*
1:30pm - 1:45pm - *Anyone who was left out, depending on how many eggs that we have left!- cannot have participated at any other time slot*
*15 minute Break*
*Golden Prize Announcements 2:15pm at the Stage*
Also, don’t forget, we will have the following-
Bounce House & Inflatables
Special Easter Dreamwhip Flavors
Premade Easter Baskets for Sale
Face Painting
Food Trucks
Vendors with Easter Basket Stuffing Items
Music on the Stage
Easter Bunny Photo Session
Vendor apply here: https://docs.google.com/forms

Events:
Spring Has Sprung Pop-Up @ Darnell Farms from 11am-5pm come down to the farm for some Family fun!!! with a small variety of vendors, fresh produce, delicious Dreamwhips chuckwagon food truck, plants and bounce houses!!!

Spring Break -Arcade, Jump Factory, & Select Attractions
1 Hour Jump + $20 Bonus Play only $27.99 per person (socks not included, cannot be split, valid day of purchase only, bonus play cannot be used for food/merchandise or at the Jump Factory

Sylva Brew Hop April 8th- April 10th till 11 am- 10pm
Tickets are now available at http://bit.ly/brewhop22. Get 2 tastes from each of 5 participating hop stops. This year, we will have an Ale Pass style ticket so you and your friends and get together any time during the weekend - redeem your tastes all in one session or spread them out over the weekend. $35 gets you a souvenir glass and 2 - 4 oz. tastes at 5 different locations. Participating hop stops include: Balsam Falls, Innovation Brewing, Lazy Hiker, Nantahala Brewing and The Paper Mill. Check back soon for a link to buy your ticket.

Greening Up The Mountain Festival April 23rd 10-4
Join us for this amazing festival! Located in downtown Sylva on Main Street and in Bridge Park, you can enjoy perusing and purchasing hand-made art, and products, food, live music and more!

Alma Russ Band April 23 1pm
Enjoy this amazing Singer/songwriter out of Western North Carolina, playing “patchwork music”: country, folk, & Appalachian styles pieced together. She will be on the Main Stage at Bridge Park for Greening Up the Mountains.

JAM is WNC makers and music festival every Saturday 1 - 5 with free entry on Main street in historic downtown Sylva. Connect with local creators selling handmade goods, demonstrating their artistic process and teaching with workshops, all while enjoying live music.

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission will discuss the Commission’s recent proposed changes that would allow hunting on three western bear sanctuaries at a meeting on April 5, at 6:30 p.m. at Tri-County Community College in the McSwain Building Lecture Hall. The rule change would permit limited bear hunting beginning in fall 2022 in sanctuaries in the Pisgah National Forest, Standing Indian and the Panthertown area in the Nantahala National Forest. NC Wildlife officials indicate they support the rule change. The meeting is open to the public for residents who are interested in attending.

Youth Volleyball League For Girls and Boys Grade 3rd-8th Registration From March 1st the 31st Register Online at rec.jacksonnc.org Fee is $50 Knee Pads Recommended Practice Starts April 18th Games Will Be Saturdays Starting May 7th
Volunteer Coaches Needed Call For More Information 828-293-3053 ext.6

WNC Farm to Table is proud to announce that we have partnered with Ilda for an unforgettable evening of exquisite dining. Tickets for this debut event are $100 and that includes a 4-course meal, including lamb from Moody Bluff Farm, and wine pairings. Seating is limited. Purchase tickets here: https://square.link/u/73lCJdG4
Ilda was voted Mountain Restaurant of the Year by Eater Carolinas. WNC Farm to Table has provided much of the local produce, meat, and other items for Ilda since they opened last April.
WNC Farm to Table is opening in the upcoming months just around the corner on Mill Street. We will announce soon when online ordering will be open to the public.
For more information and how to support WNC Farm to Table opening its doors, please visit http://wncfarmtotable.org

Smoky Mountian Sk8way & Fun Zone Host Adults Only Skate every Thursday Night 7 - 10 pm with DJ Ken Brandenburg Cost is $8 and Includes Skates

Smoky Mountain Pregnancy Care Centers in Cullowhee and Franklin have an educational parenting program to earn “Points” to use to obtain free items for your family. The centers carry formula, diapers, wipes, baby items, and clothing up to size 6, as well as strollers, car seats, high chairs, pack n’ plays, etc. Donations are always welcome. Services are free and confidential. For more information or an appointment, call (828)349-3200, (828)293-3600 or smpcc.org

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.

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

533 West Main St Sylva, NC
Free outdoor art experience with LIVE MUSIC, 20+ artists, and demos sharing their artistic process of creating handmade 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 bread, all the while enjoying the sounds of local musical artists! ALL OUTSIDE!!

Smoky Mountain Farmers & Artisans Market- 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

Food Pantries :

Franklin Covenant Church - Host a Free Lunch And Pantry Once a Month on the fourth Saturday of the month. It runs from 11:00 am until we either run out or there are no more people coming. It is a drive-through and to-go service. In addition to a free hot lunch, we give out dry goods and pantry supplies, like cleaning supplies, etc.

Franklin Covenant Church Drive through Hot Lunch, Food Pantry and prayer as requested will be held on Saturday, March 26, starting at 11 a.m, at Franklin Covenant Church, 265 Belleview Park Rd. They look forward to serving you

Holly Springs Baptist Church, 2nd Mile Ministry is open 10 to Noon Mondays providing a food pantry, children's clothes, and financial aid (rent and utilities) for families and seniors in need.

Five Fire Departments in Macon County – Nantahala, Cullasaja, Sky Valley, Clarks Chapel, and Burningtown – are open Monday thru Friday for drive-up food deliveries from 1 to 4 p.m. for anyone who needs food.

Local Pubs in the area:

Macon:

Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) Will Host Thru-Hiker Chow Down on 4/2 12-3, Fundraiser 4/9 11am and Dustin Martin 4/15
Dustin Martin on 4/16, and EVERY Friday Night Is Karaoke 7 pm- 10 pm

Lazy Hiker Brewing 4/9 11am This day is dedicated to raising money for one of our local children here in Franklin, 16 year old Noah Carpenter. Noah has been diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma and has already begun chemotherapy. It can be extremely difficult financially for the family and I want to do everything I can to alleviate some of that burden. All money raised will go directly to Noah and his family to help them concentrate on the one and only thing that matters....getting Noah healthy

Currahee Brewing Co Will Host
Live Music Blue Jazz From 7-10
Open Mic Night Every Other Wednesday @ 7pm Mondays @ 7 Is Team Trivia Night

Swain:

Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) Will Host John Cox Band Live
Open Mic Night On Thursday Nights and start 'whenever' after we open until 11:00 pm. 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 4/1 Somebody's Child 4/2, Scott James Stambaugh live 4/8, Granny's Mason Jar Live 4/9, 4/15 Aly Jordan, Steve Heffker 4/22, Twelfth Fret 4/23, George Ausman 4/24, Kate Thomas 4/29

Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) Happy 5th Anniversary April 1st and 2nd
Let's Celebrate with a BIG two-day Party! Mountain Layers Brewing Company is celebrating FIVE years of making great craft beer and wonderful memories with y'all in the Great Smoky Mountains! It's been an amazing journey and every year adds to our story of operating a local craft brewery in Bryson City, this special community we feel fortunate to call home! This is our chance to celebrate with you our amazing customers, friends, and family as we are thankful and humbled for the support y'all have given us now and over the past FIVE years!
On behalf of the entire Mountain Layers Team, we invite you to join us for our two-day, FIVE year Anniversary Party at Mountain Layers Brewery on Friday, April 1st, and Saturday, April 2nd, from Noon till 9pm each day!
- Special FIVE Year Anniversary Beer Release - "Marionberry Sour"
- Two New Wine Slushie Flavor Releases - they're a surprise!
- 17 MLBC Beers on Tap, Wine, Hard Cider, Hard Seltzer, Wine Slushies, & Soda
- FREE Hourly Raffles of MLBC Merchandise each day
- FREE Anniversary Cupcakes, while supplies last each day
- LIVE Music: Friday (4/1), Wyatt Espalin, 6-9pm
- LIVE Music: Saturday (4/2), Somebody's Child, 6-9pm
- Delicious Hawaiian Food with Rice Wagon Food Truck, Noon-8pm, each day
- And More!

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 The Waymores Saturday 4/1 From 8-11 Colby Deitz on 5/20

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 .

PaperMill Lounge Will Host - Every Friday night, show us your FIT, come out and join in as we dance the night away with our Red Tape Sessions as a Decades Dance Party featuring DJ X!'
3/26, 4/23 Terri Lynn Queen With Scott Baker And Tim Queen

Nantahala Brewing's Sylva, NC Outpost Will Host

Innovation Brewing Will Host Live Music By David Potter 4/14 @ 7
Open Mic Night Friends Night Out

Bryan will be hosting an open mic night from 7-9pm. Our WNC Artist Spotlight/Open Mic is a great chance for local musicians to try out new songs, get some practice in front of an audience, or even book a future gig at one of our taprooms!
Musicians can swing by that night to take part, but if you want to secure a time slot go ahead and direct message us on here or email beer@innovationbrewing.com

Hiking:

Nantahala Hiking Club will hike on Saturday, April 2, to Siler Bald. Hike south on the Appalachian Trail to Snowbird Gap. Leave the meadow and ascend to the top of the bald. Spectacular views, almost 360 degrees seeing Lake Nantahala, Wayah Bald and Winespring Bald. Meet at Westgate Plaza 10 a.m. For more information and reservations, call Robert Barnable (828)369-1565.

Nantahala Hiking Club will hike on Sunday, April 3, to Larry’s Rd., out Old 64 West. FSRD 7281 is a big wide road with good views into West Dills/Cartoogechaye communities. Must call to confirm. For more information and reservations, call Kathy Ratcliff (828)526-6480.

Nantahala Hiking Club will hike on Monday, April 4, to Twenty Mile Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This hike uses three different trails with wide and easier footing with less than 800′ spread over 9 miles with much scenery and views of waterfalls. Must call for reservations. For reservations and information, call Katharine Brown (828)421-4178.

Weekend Plans in Macon, Jackson, and Swain Counties!