Downtown Waynesville is a vibrant, friendly small town nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with magnificent mountain views off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Unique shops, galleries, cafés & restaurants are all within walking distance of Main Street's tree lined brick sidewalks. Historic buildings, relaxing benches, public art & welcoming folks make Waynesville a thoroughly enjoyable place to live & visit. Numerous popular events, parades & festivals occur throughout the year. The heart of Appalachian culture and heritage, Waynesville hosts Folkmoot USA, North Carolina's official international music and dance festival annually.
Waynesville is the largest town in Western North Carolina west of Asheville and is home to the Haywood Arts Regional Theater, an award winning theater, and The Museum of North Carolina Handicrafts at the historic Shelton House. Historic Inns and Bed & Breakfasts abound along with shops to delight any fancy. Novelty shops include the Mast General Store, a dog bakery, a chocolate shop, quilt shop, mountain home furnishings store, fly fishing outfitter, numerous jewelry stores and art galleries, and award-winning restaurants and brew pubs.
With a great climate, growing cultural environment, extensive recreational areas and educational opportunities for all ages, Waynesville ranks very high on quality of life issues. Waynesville is also a prime choice for living near the recreational lifestyle the Smoky Mountains and Blue Ridge Parkway have to offer. Temperatures average mid-70 degrees during the summer and mid-40's in the winter - a spectacular setting for year-round or seasonal living.
Haywood Regional Hospital-a Duke LifePoint Hospital- is just ten minutes from the Woody Lane home at Exit 104. Duke LifePoint Healthcare is a joint venture of Duke University Health System, Inc. and LifePoint Hospitals.
Waynesville is conveniently located - just a 30 minute drive to Asheville, 45 minutes to Asheville Regional Airport, 90 minutes to Greenville /Spartanburg Airport , about 2.5 hours to Charlotte, and just under 3 hours to Downtown Atlanta.
The Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department operates and manages 39 acres of parks in the town of Waynseville. They have a state of the art recreation center with pool and indoor gym, jogging track, volleyball courts, flying disc golf course, skateboard park, dog park, tennis courts - you name it, everything a big city has but with small town charml!
Southern hospitality coupled with clean air and water, cool summers, mild winters,
lush springtime, and dramatic autumns, make Waynesville the perfect place to enjoy vacations or year-round living!
HELPFUL LINKS:
Town of Waynesville www.townofwaynesville.org
Downtown Waynesville Association www.downtownwaynesville.com
Waynesville Gallery Association www.waynesvillegalleryassociation.com
Haywood County Chamber of Commerce www.haywood-nc.com
Haywood County Government www.haywoodnc.net/
Blue Ridge Travel Guide www.blueridgetravelguide.com
Downtown Waynesville 2015 Events
Festivals, special events and performances are held frequently in downtown Waynesville, sponsored by the Downtown Waynesville Association (DWA) and other area organizations. All take place on Main Street unless otherwise stated. For more information, call 828-456-3517.
APRIL 2015
Apr 10-12 & 17-19 - The Actor and the Assassin presented by HART Theatre
This critically acclaimed play about the sibling rivalry between John Wilkes Booth and his brother, Shakespearean actor, Edwin Booth that ultimately served as a backdrop for Abraham Lincoln's assassination. The performances mark the 150th anniversary of the assassination which took place on April 14, 1865. http://www.lastshotfired.com/
MAY 2015
May 1 - Fri - the original "ART after DARK" - Participating galleries & studios remain open until 9 pm on this evening with special artists showings, displays, and refreshments. Look for the WGA group flag representing the Waynesville Gallery Association.
May 2-3, Sat & Sun - RAMP FESTIVAL - American Legion Field – crafts, live music & more, food featuring ramps, a naturally mountain grown wild onion 11-4, 828-456-8691
May 8 - 10, Sat & Sun - LAST SHOT FIRED CELEBRATION - various locations - visit the website for a full schedule of events http://www.lastshotfired.com/
May 16 - Sat – QUICK DRAW - A delightful evening, outstanding artists painting to beat the clock, terrific food, a lively auction benefiting local art teachers & students. For info, 828-456-6495 www.wncquickdraw.com
May 23 - Sat - Another Rockin' BLOCK PARTY - Downtown is Alive at Night
JUNE 2015
Jun 5 - Fri - the original "ART after DARK" - Participating galleries & studios remain open until 9 pm on this evening with special artists showings, displays, and refreshments. Look for the WGA group flag representing the Waynesville Gallery Association.
Jun 13 - Sat - APPALACHIAN LIFESTYLE Celebration - Main St. - Protecting, preserving & developing our historical & cultural resources through a heritage themed event. Educational & entertaining, 10am-5pm
Jun 26 - Fri - MOUNTAIN STREET DANCES - Downtown is Alive at Night. Put on your cloggin' & square dancin' shoes and enjoy an old-fashioned mountain hoe down! Live mountain music, demonstrations and instruction by local clogging teams. Refreshments, historic Courthouse lawn. 6:30-9pm.
JULY 2015
Jul 3 - Fri - the original "ART after DARK" - Participating galleries & studios remain open until 9 pm on this evening with special artists showings, displays, and refreshments. Look for the WGA group flag representing the Waynesville Gallery Association.
Jul 4 - Sat - STARS & STRIPES CELEBRATION -Shops & restaurants open, fun for all ages throughout the downtown area 11am-3pm. Live music & entertainment, "Kids on Main" patriotic children's parade (sign-ups at 10am, courthouse lawn, begins 11am) Main Street Cook-Out in United Community Bank parking lot, 11am-4pm.
Jul 10 - Fri - MOUNTAIN STREET DANCES - Downtown is Alive at Night. Put on your cloggin' & square dancin' shoes and enjoy an old-fashioned mountain hoe down! Live mountain music, demonstrations and instruction by local clogging teams. Refreshments, historic Courthouse lawn. 6:30-9pm.
Jul 18 - Sat - ARTFEST Main St -Haywood County Arts Council presents a daylong extravaganza of music, dance, art, craft & food booths. 10am–5pm
Jul 24 - Fri - MOUNTAIN STREET DANCES - Downtown is Alive at Night. Put on your cloggin' & square dancin' shoes and enjoy an old-fashioned mountain hoe down! Live mountain music, demonstrations and instruction by local clogging teams. Refreshments, historic Courthouse lawn. 6:30-9pm.
Jul 25 - Fri - FOLKMOOT USA PARADE of NATIONS - Main St - FOLKMOOT USA Dancers & musicians from around the world parade on Main Street 1pm
AUGUST 2015
Aug 1 - Sat – DOWNTOWN DOG WALK - Courthouse lawn, Proceeds support the proposed Sarge's Adoption Center, 9:30-1pm www.sargeandfriends.org
Aug 7 - Fri - the original "ART after DARK" - Participating galleries & studios remain open until 9 pm on this evening with special artists showings, displays, and refreshments. Look for the WGA group flag representing the Waynesville Gallery Association.
Aug 7 - Fri - MOUNTAIN STREET DANCES - Downtown is Alive at Night. Put on your cloggin' & square dancin' shoes and enjoy an old-fashioned mountain hoe down! Live mountain music, demonstrations and instruction by local clogging teams. Refreshments, historic Courthouse lawn. 6:30-9pm.
Aug 15 - Sat – WAYNESVILLE BEER FAIRE - Celebrating the craft breweries of Waynesville and WNC. Great local music, fine foods, home brews, and educational displays. 21 and older only event Noon-5, American Legion Field, 828.356.4094 http://waynesvillebeer.com
Aug 21 - Fri – 5th Annual MAIN STREET MILE - 6:30pm Fundraising Event for Shiners' Hospital for Children of Greenville CHIP TIMED RACE! THE FASTEST, FLATTEST MILE RACE IN WNC
SEPTEMBER 2015
Sep 4 - Fri - the original "ART after DARK" - Participating galleries & studios remain open until 9 pm on this evening with special artists showings, displays, and refreshments. Look for the WGA group flag representing the Waynesville Gallery Association.
Sep 5– Sat - BLOCK PARTY - Downtown is Alive at Night, Dancing in the street with 3 live bands, 7pm; "Kids on Main" craft stroll - 6-7pm, eats & treats, restaurants open, a portion of Main Street closes
Sep 4-5 - Fri & Sat – 45th Annual SMOKY MOUNTAIN FOLK FESTIVAL - Two evenings celebrating our mountain folk music. "Open Tent" begins at 5pm Fri & Sat, Main Stage Show follows @ 5:30pm until Stuart Auditorium, Lake Junaluska, call 452-1688.
OCTOBER 2015
Oct 2 - Fri - the original "ART after DARK" - Participating galleries & studios remain open until 9 pm on this evening with special artists showings, displays, and refreshments. Look for the WGA group flag representing the Waynesville Gallery Association.
Oct 10 - Sat – 32nd Annual CHURCH STREET ART & CRAFT SHOW - Main Street is transformed into an art & craft marketplace for this one-day event; widely known as one of the finest juried art shows in the region. Live mountain music & clogging, entertainment, food. 10am-5pm.
Oct 17 - Sat – 27th Annual APPLE HARVEST FESTIVAL - Music & dance, craft & demonstration booths, apples, cider, fresh fried pies and other apple delicacies. 10am-5pm.
Oct 31 - Sat - TREATS on the STREET - Merchants offer treats to young children, 5-7pm
NOVEMBER 2015
Nov 6 - Fri - the original "ART after DARK" - Participating galleries & studios remain open until 9 pm on this evening with special artists showings, displays, and refreshments. Look for the WGA group flag representing the Waynesville Gallery Association.
DECEMBER 2015
Dec 4 - Fri - the original "ART after DARK" - Participating galleries & studios remain open until 9 pm on this evening with special artists showings, displays, and refreshments. Look for the WGA group flag representing the Waynesville Gallery Association.
Dec 7 - Mon - WAYNESVILLE CHRISTMAS PARADE - Main Street - 6pm
Dec 12 - Sat - "A NIGHT Before CHRISTMAS" - A Family Holiday Tradition downtown. Live music, caroling, Bethlehem Market Place, Live Nativity, old-fashioned wagon rides, Santa, storytelling, poetry, luminaries & more. Shops, galleries & restaurants remain open. 6-9pm.
Asheville Chamber of Commerce www.AshevilleChamber.org
National Park Service - Smoky Mountains www.nps.gov/grsm
Blue Ridge Parkway www.blueridgeparkway.org
Maggie Valley Attractions www.maggievalley.org
Cataloochee Ski Resort www.Cataloochee.com
Homegrown in Haywood www.visitncsmokies.com
Everyone is Wild about Waynesville!
