4th of July Festivities in the mountains of Western NC
As the celebration gets closer, some of the questions lingering out there is, “What is there to do here in the mountains of Western North Carolina.?”
I’ve gathered a few events that may interest you this coming 4th of July..
Maggie Valley, NC “Red, White and Boom in Maggie Valley“Maggie Valley will play host to its fourth annual fireworks festival, “Red, White & Boom!” from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 4, at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. The event, hosted by The Town of Maggie Valley and the MV Chamber, is free, and includes an afternoon festival and a dazzling fireworks display launched over the festival grounds.
In addition to the fireworks, visitors will enjoy an afternoon full of live entertainment, crafts, kids’ inflatables, games, souvenirs & food. Scheduled performers include entertainers from Hoss Howard of Cherokee, which will take the stage around 7 p.m. The Hominy Valley Boys open at 5:15 p.m.
For more information contact the Maggie Valley Chamber 828.926.1686 or CLICK HERE to visit their website
Maggie Valley, NC @ the Maggie Valley Club
3-4pm Pool Games
4-7pm BBQ, Music, Bocce & more!
$13 for Maggie Valley Club members; $14 for non-members; $7 for kids
for more info, contact the Maggie Valley Club (828) 926-1616
Maggie Valley, NC Jude’s Coffee & Cremery
7-9pm Ice Cream & Karaoke
Call (828) 944-0220
Lake Junaluska, NC
• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Annual craft fair in Nanci Weldon Gym
• 11 a.m. — Independence Day Parade at Lambuth Inn
• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Kid’s Area at Nanci Weldon Gym
• Noon — Barbecue lunch at Nanci Weldon Gym
• 7:30 p.m. — Junaluska Singers in Stuart Auditorium
• Dusk — fireworks display
Waynesville, NC “Stars and Stripes in Waynesville”The 19th Annual Stars and Stripes Celebration will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 4, in downtown Waynesville. The event features sidewalk sales, live street entertainment, refreshments and family fun.
As part of the event, SARGE’s Animal Rescue will hold a pet adoption day on the courthouse lawn during the event. In addition, International Fare will dish out Mediterranean Food during the event.
Other entertainment is as follows:
• 11 a.m., noon, and 2 p.m. — Fiddling Dills sisters and friends, near Gatekeepers
• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Madison Horns, mini park at corner of Main and Depot Streets
• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Karin Lyle and Friends, fiddle and dulcimer, Miller Street park area
• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.— Poetry People with Michael and Scott, roving the streets of Waynesville.
• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. — The Hominy Valley Boys, parking lot between UBC and LN Davis
• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Steve Whiddon, “Pianoman” at the Strand
• 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. — Uncle Sam, roving
• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Grey Wolf Band near SunTrust Bank
• 1:30 p.m. — Haywood Community Band, courthouse lawn
• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. —The Cruz’s, Miller street park
Please note: Main Street will not be closed, but the top of Miller Street will be closed due to pedestrian safety.
For more information contact 828.456.3517.
Cullowhee, NC (Western Carolina University) “Two patriotic shows at WCU”
Musical theatre students and faculty from Western Carolina University’s College of Fine and Performing Arts will perform a star-spangled variety show at two locations in Western North Carolina in advance of a Fourth of July concert at the Roanoke Island Festival Park.
The troupe, known as the WCU Catamount Starz, will perform at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 1, on the lawn of A.K. Hinds University Center on the WCU campus and at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 2, at Cashiers United Methodist Church. Both performances are free of charge.
The program, “What a Country: A Celebration of America,” features a selection of rock ‘n’ roll, pop, Broadway, patriotic and light classical song
and dance.
Cullowhee, NC “Regional Art and Craft Show”
The 20th Annual “Summertime” Mountain Artisans Fine Art and Craft Shows will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 4, and Sunday, July 5, at the Ramsey Center on the campus of Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. The show will feature over 100 original artists and crafters. For more information, call 828.524.3405 or CLICK HERE to visit their website.
Franklin, NC “Fireworks and Fun in Franklin”
The 4th of July Fireworks & Fun Day, sponsored by the Franklin Chamber of Commerce, will be held beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 4, at the Macon County Veterans Memorial Recreation Park just south of Franklin off U.S. 441. The celebration will conclude at dark with the largest fireworks display in the area.
There’s plenty of food and entertainment to be had by all. The fun gets underway at 9 a.m. with the annual 4th of July Horseshoe Tournament, located behind the Macon County Community Building. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Cost is $25 per team or $12.50 per individual.
Kids are sure to enjoy the Fun Land inflatable play area, featuring Euro-bungee, ladder golf, a 1/10 scale NASCAR remote-control race track and the infamous “Plunger Toss”. The “play all day” fun land bracelets are $15, individual tickets are $1.
There’s also an all-day music and entertainment lineup. Here’s the schedule:
• 1 p.m. — Frog Town 4
• 2 p.m. — Rye Holler Boys
• 3 p.m. — Dave Stewart
• 3:30 p.m. — Brian Sanders
• 4 p.m. — Touch of Class Band
• 4:45 p.m. — Eric Haggart
• 5:15 p.m. — C-Squarse
• 6 p.m. — Children’s Choir
• 7 p.m. — Sundown
• 8 p.m. — Raffle/Awards/Announcements/ Bulls Eye Bingo
• 8:15 p.m. — Presentation of Colors and Salute to Armed Forces
• 8:30 p.m. —Loose Cannons (Army Ground Forces Rock Band, Ft. McPherson, GA)
• 9:30 p.m. — Fireworks
Bryson City, NC “Bryson City Freedom Fest”
The Bryson City July 4th Freedom Fest celebration kicks off at 9 a.m. with the Firecracker 5K race that takes runners on a scenic route up Deep Creek Road. Race begins at Riverfront Park.
An entertainment stage, food and craft vendors will set up on Main Street, Town Square and Everett Street, which will be closed to traffic from the town square to Mitchell Street. Specialty foods include BBQ, hot dogs, hamburgers, shaved ice, funnel cakes and other desserts, candy apples, and kettle corn. At 1 p.m., compete in a Watermelon Eating Contest.
Dress up your pet for the “Strut Your Mutt” Pet Contest at 10:30 am at Riverfront Park, sponsored by PAWS. Categories include “Best Tail Wag” and “Looks Most Like Owner.”
Music is a main attraction from 10:30 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. The festival will top off with a fireworks show, launched from the top of airport hill.
The entertainment schedule is as follows:
• 10 a.m. — VFW Post 9281
• 10:30 a.m. — Grampas Music
• 11:30 a.m. — The Rye Holler Boys
• 1 p.m. — Watermelon Eating Contest
• 2 p.m. — Karaoke Block
• 3 p.m. —The Freight Hoppers
• 4 p.m. — The Elderly Brothers
• 5:30 p.m. — Blues Brothers, Neil Diamond, and Elvis Show
• 7:00 p.m. — Big House Radio
• 9:45 p.m. — The Star Spangled Banner
• 10 p.m. — Fireworks
For more information, contact the Swain County Chamber of Commerce at 828.488.3681.
Cashiers, NC “Cashiers Mountain Music Festival”
The Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the inaugural production of The Cashiers Mountain Music Festival benefiting the Cashiers Preservation Foundation, beginning at 11 a.m. and running until the start of the town’s annual fireworks display at dusk on Saturday, July 4, at the Village Green in the heart of Cashiers.
This all-day live music concert is loaded with bluegrass and mountain music and will feature such nationally recognized acts as The Isaacs, Lizzie Long & Friends, Sierra Hull and the High Windy Band; as well as regional acts including Rye Holler Boys, The Hims, Tucker’s Town, Mountain Faith and the Sweet Tater Band.
There will be plenty of concessions, so bring your chairs or blankets and enjoy the music in this beautiful mountain setting. Tickets are $20 for adults, $5 ages 6 to 12 and children under 6 are free. No coolers, pets or firearms. Please call the Chamber at 828743.5191 or CLICK HERE for more information.
Many of the event information was gathered by Smoky Mountain News. CLICK HERE to visit their site.