By Jon Tharp, Broker · July 16, 2026
At a Glance
The Shadow of the Bear is a fall optical phenomenon near Cashiers, NC, where the setting sun casts Whiteside Mountain's silhouette across the valley in the shape of a rising black bear. It appears for …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · July 16, 2026
At a Glance
Four red wolf litters were born in the North Carolina wild this year, with 12 to 16 pups surviving their first months, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Center for Biological …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · July 15, 2026
At a Glance
Waynesville's Mountain Street Dances return in summer 2026 with free Friday-evening events from 6:30 to 9 p.m. in front of the Historic Haywood County Courthouse. The nearly century-old tradition features live bluegrass, clogging, and square …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · July 15, 2026
At a Glance
Canton hosts its first "Every 'Mater Matters" tomato art contest at the Haywood Grows Farm Fest on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, downtown. Entry is free and open to all ages and media, with pieces due …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · July 15, 2026
At a Glance
ASAP's 2026 Farm Tour runs Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 19-20, noon to 5 p.m., across farms within about an hour of Asheville. A single pass covers everyone in one vehicle at every farm both days: …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · July 10, 2026
At a Glance
The Malvern is an Asheville restaurant in Buncombe County drawing praise for a deliberately short menu that it executes well. Rather than chasing trends or overloading the plate, the kitchen focuses on a handful of …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · July 10, 2026
At a Glance
Western North Carolina offers some of the darkest, clearest night skies in the eastern United States. High elevations along the Blue Ridge Parkway, low light pollution around towns like Franklin and Brevard, and thousands of …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · July 10, 2026
At a Glance
Asheville is one of 15 finalist towns in The Local Palate's 2026 "Best Culinary Towns in the South" readers' poll, with first-round voting open through July 10 and a second round July 13 to 17. …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · July 10, 2026
At a Glance
The Little Switzerland Square Dance has run every Saturday night in July and August since 1928, making it the oldest continually operating square dance in North Carolina. Held at Geneva Hall for $6 cash, it …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · July 10, 2026
At a Glance
Appalachian Grown, run by Asheville nonprofit ASAP, certifies over 850 regional farms and connects Polk County residents with local growers through farmers markets, the Local Food Guide, and the Polk Fresh Farm Tour. Backed by …