By Jon Tharp, Broker · August 13, 2026
At a Glance
Western North Carolina's Scottish roots come mostly from Scots-Irish families who traveled the Great Wagon Road into the backcountry in the mid 1700s, not from the Highland Scots who settled the Cape Fear valley near …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · August 13, 2026
At a Glance
September in Western North Carolina brings the NC Mountain State Fair in Fletcher, the NC Apple Festival in Hendersonville over Labor Day weekend, Mountain Heritage Day at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, and county fairs …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · August 5, 2026
At a Glance
The first Haywood Grows Farm Fest, which the Canton Merchant Partnership organized in Canton, celebrated Haywood County agriculture with a tomato theme called Mater Mayhem. Morning rain kept crowds and contest entries low, with two …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · August 5, 2026
At a Glance
Haywood County commissioners are expected to vote Aug. 17 on an ordinance creating a Working Lands Fund, which would route 100 percent of rollback property taxes into farmland preservation instead of the general fund. Rollback …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · August 4, 2026
At a Glance
Fresh Access Franklin launched three solar-powered refrigerated community kiosks around Franklin, NC in July 2026, funded for two years by Dogwood Health Trust. Franklin Farm Hub stocks them Mondays and Fridays with produce bought from …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · August 3, 2026
At a Glance
828newsNOW has launched a Veterans Guide covering Asheville and Western North Carolina, pulling VA health care, benefits help, county veterans service offices, and local support organizations into one regional directory. The guide matters here because …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · August 3, 2026
At a Glance
The Center for Pioneer Life sits three miles from downtown Burnsville in Yancey County, about 40 minutes north of Asheville. It centers on an 1845 log cabin that Ralph Young bought and had moved log …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · July 30, 2026
At a Glance
Raccoon Creek Bike Park in Waynesville celebrates its grand opening from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 8, with a live DJ, bounce house, food trucks and free Kona Ice for the first …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · July 29, 2026
At a Glance
TomatoFEST returns Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Riverwalk behind the historic L&N Depot in downtown Murphy, North Carolina. The fourth annual festival is free to attend and runs …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · July 29, 2026
At a Glance
Spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is linked to significantly better reported health and psychological well-being, along with vitamin D production, improved cognitive function, and quality-of-life gains for people with dementia. Haywood …