The Tryon Pour Tour is a self-guided walking tour of downtown Tryon, NC, where visitors sample craft beer, wine, cocktails, and nonalcoholic drinks at six participating businesses. Pick up a free passport at any stop, collect stamps, and enter completed passports to win tickets to the Tryon Beer Fest on November 7. Details are at exploretryon.com/pour-tour.
A Fourth Friday event in Tryon was supposed to happen once. Instead it turned into something the town keeps coming back to. The Tryon Pour Tour, run by the Tryon Downtown Development Association, has grown into an ongoing reason to spend an afternoon wandering downtown, drink in hand, discovering businesses you might have walked past a dozen times.
The idea is simple. It is a self-guided walking tour of downtown establishments pouring craft beer, wine, cocktails, and nonalcoholic options. You stroll, you sample, you find a new favorite, and you support the local shops keeping Main Street busy.
On May 13, 1926, daredevil Harry Gardiner, known as the "Human Fly," climbed Asheville's newly opened Flat Iron Building using only his hands and feet, no ropes or harness. The stunt was a charity benefit for disabled World War I veterans treated at Oteen Hospital. Gardiner had scaled hundreds of buildings nationwide and credited concentration, not strength, for his survival.
Picture downtown Asheville in the spring of 1926. The streets around Battery Park Avenue and Wall Street are packed, and every face is tilted up toward the same point in the sky. A man in ordinary clothes is climbing the side of the brand new Flat Iron Building with nothing but his hands and feet, plus a lot of nerve. No ropes. No net.
That man was Harry Gardiner, and the country knew him as the "Human Fly." On May 13, 1926, he scaled the nine-story Flat Iron Building, and the climb became one of the strangest spectacles in Asheville history.
Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer says the proposed Costco west of the city is back on track after the company re-engaged following a positive meeting with property sellers. The 160,000-square-foot warehouse, 32-pump fuel station, and tire center would sit on nearly 40 acres at Enka Commerce Park. Costco withdrew in February over infrastructure and NCDOT costs. The mayor says it is not yet a done deal.
The Costco that western North Carolina has been waiting on is not dead after all. Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer says the proposed warehouse store is back on track after the company re-engaged with the property sellers and the city, just a few months after walking away from the project.
Manheimer shared the update after speaking directly with a Costco representative, who confirmed the company had a positive meeting with the sellers and is once again moving the project forward. Her words were measured. She called it encouraging and said the project is back on track, while making clear it is not yet a done deal.
June is one of the best months in the Western North Carolina mountains, with festivals nearly every weekend and the high country in full bloom. Highlights include the Taste of Scotland Festival in Franklin, the NC Rhododendron Festival in Bakersville near Roan Mountain, the Flame Azalea Festival in Robbinsville, Boonerang in Boone, and Thunder in the Smokies in Maggie Valley. Beyond the festivals, June is prime time for waterfalls, river tubing, Blue Ridge Parkway drives, and gem mining around Franklin.
June is when the Western North Carolina mountains hit their stride. The rhododendrons and flame azaleas light up the high country, the rivers warm up enough to float, and there is a festival almost every weekend. Travel site NC Tripping recently rounded up things to do across the state this month, and the mountains earned more than their share of the list. Here is how a local would spend a June in these hills.
June Festivals Across the Mountains
The festival calendar is the easiest place to start, because June keeps it full.
In Franklin, the Taste of Scotland and Celtic Festival brings Highland games, bagpipes, clans, and vendors to downtown in late June. For a town with deep Scottish roots, it is one of the highlights of the year, and it is a great excuse to spend a weekend in Macon County.
Up in Bakersville, the NC Rhododendron Festival celebrates the famous blooms on nearby Roan Mountain, where one of the largest natural rhododendron gardens in the world turns pink and purple in June. The festival pairs the natural show with a parade, a street fair, and small-town hospitality.
Over in Graham County, the Flame Azalea Festival in Robbinsville leans into native plants, arts, and crafts, a fitting theme for one of the most remote and beautiful corners of the state. In the High Country, Boone throws the Boonerang Music and Arts Festival, a downtown street party with live music and vendors.
Late in the month, Maggie Valley revs up for Thunder in the Smokies, a motorcycle rally that draws riders from all over for a weekend of bikes, music, and a Blue Ridge Parkway tour ride. Earlier in June, the calendar also includes Trail Days in Elkin, the NC Gold Festival in Marion, and the Toe River Arts Studio Tour across Mitchell and Yancey counties, all annual traditions worth catching if the timing lines up.
Chase Waterfalls and Blooms
June is one of the best months to chase waterfalls, with full creeks and green forest everywhere you look. DuPont State Recreational Forest near Brevard is the most famous stop, with Triple Falls, High Falls, and Hooker Falls all reachable on a single outing. Looking Glass Falls in Pisgah, right off the road, is one of the easiest and most rewarding waterfalls in the region.
The blooms are the other June draw. Roan Mountain's rhododendron gardens are the headliner, but flame azaleas and mountain laurel light up trails and roadsides across the higher elevations all month. A drive or a short hike at elevation in June rarely disappoints.
Get on the Water
When the days warm up, the rivers fill with tubes and kayaks. The French Broad around Asheville and Brevard is a local favorite for an easy float, and outfitters make it simple to rent gear and grab a shuttle. The Tuckasegee near Bryson City and Dillsboro offers gentle family floats, while the Nantahala Gorge brings cooler, faster whitewater for those who want more of a thrill.
The region's lakes are in full swing too. Lake Junaluska, Lake Glenville, Fontana Lake, and Lake James all offer swimming, paddling, and boating with a mountain backdrop, and June is when they come alive.
Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway
If you want the mountains with minimal effort, the Blue Ridge Parkway is always the answer. June brings long days, green tunnels of forest, and overlook after overlook of layered ridgelines. The stretches around Asheville, Mount Pisgah, and Graveyard Fields are classics, and the cooler elevations make even a hot day comfortable. Pack a picnic and pick a few overlooks.
Dig for Gems Around Franklin
Macon County is the gem capital of this part of the country, and Franklin's mines are a perfect rainy-day or family activity in June. You can sift through buckets of dirt looking for rubies, sapphires, garnets, and more at the area's gem mines, and the town's gem shops and museum round out the theme. It is the kind of hands-on fun that keeps kids happy and sends visitors home with a story and a souvenir.
Plan Your June in the Mountains
The hardest part of June in Western North Carolina is fitting it all in. A good weekend might pair a festival with a waterfall hike and a float down the river, with a Parkway drive to cap it off. Festival dates shift a little from year to year, so it is worth confirming the specifics before you build a trip around one.
For people who already live here, June is a reminder of why they chose these mountains. For those still thinking about a move, a long mountain June is about the best sales pitch the region can make. The festivals, the rivers, the blooms, and the long golden evenings are not a vacation here, they are just summer.
FAQ_1_Q: What festivals happen in the WNC mountains in June? FAQ_1_A: June is one of the busiest festival months in the Western North Carolina mountains. Highlights include the Taste of Scotland and Celtic Festival in Franklin, with Highland games and bagpipes in late June, and the NC Rhododendron Festival in Bakersville, which celebrates the famous blooms on Roan Mountain. The Flame Azalea Festival in Robbinsville features native plants, arts, and crafts, while Boone hosts the Boonerang Music and Arts Festival downtown. Late in the month, Maggie Valley holds Thunder in the Smokies, a motorcycle rally with a Blue Ridge Parkway tour ride. Earlier June traditions include Trail Days in Elkin, the NC Gold Festival in Marion, and the Toe River Arts Studio Tour across Mitchell and Yancey counties. Exact dates shift year to year, so confirm before planning a trip around one.
FAQ_2_Q: When do the rhododendrons bloom on Roan Mountain? FAQ_2_A: The rhododendrons on Roan Mountain typically reach peak bloom in mid to late June, which is why the NC Rhododendron Festival in nearby Bakersville is held that month. Roan Mountain is home to one of the largest natural rhododendron gardens in the world, and when the Catawba rhododendron peaks, the high balds turn vivid shades of pink and purple. The exact peak shifts a little each year depending on spring weather and elevation, since higher spots bloom later than lower ones. Late June is usually a safe bet, but it is worth checking recent bloom reports before making the drive. The Roan Highlands also offer some of the best long-range hiking views in the Southern Appalachians, which makes the trip worthwhile even if you catch the blooms a little early or late.
FAQ_3_Q: What outdoor activities are best in the mountains in June? FAQ_3_A: June is prime time for nearly every mountain activity. Waterfalls run full and forests are lush, making it an ideal month to visit DuPont State Recreational Forest near Brevard or Looking Glass Falls in Pisgah. The rivers warm up enough for tubing and paddling, with the French Broad, the Tuckasegee near Bryson City, and the Nantahala Gorge all popular depending on how much adventure you want. Mountain lakes like Lake Junaluska, Lake Glenville, and Fontana come alive for swimming and boating. The Blue Ridge Parkway is at its green, long-day best, and the higher elevations stay comfortable even when the lowlands heat up. For a family or rainy-day option, gem mining around Franklin is a reliable favorite. The challenge in June is not finding something to do, it is choosing.
FAQ_4_Q: Where can I go gem mining near Franklin, NC? FAQ_4_A: Franklin, in Macon County, is widely known as a gem capital of the region, and several gem mines in and around town let visitors sift through buckets of dirt in search of rubies, sapphires, garnets, and other stones. The mines are a popular family activity, especially as a rainy-day or hot-afternoon option, and many provide everything you need to get started. The town also has gem and mineral shops and a gem museum that round out the theme, and Franklin hosts gem and mineral events through the warmer months. June is a great time to go, since it pairs well with the area's other summer draws. It is a hands-on, low-effort activity that tends to delight kids and send visitors home with a real souvenir from the mountains.
About the Author
Jon Tharp is a licensed NC real estate broker with Keller Williams. He's helped buyers and sellers across Western North Carolina for over 10 years, specializing in mountain homes, land, and short-term rental investments, with offices throughout WNC covering all mountainous areas. If something in this post has you thinking about a move, he's easy to reach — (828) 347-9055 or smokymountainhomes4sale.com or Jon@jontharphomes.com.
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The Tuckasegee, Nantahala, and Davidson rivers draw serious anglers from across the country — and the guides and lodges built around them just got national recognition.
Asheville's Honeyfest celebrated honeybees and pollinators on June 7, 2026, with local honey producers, vendors, food trucks, and live music from Queen Bee and the Honey Lovers. The Center for Honeybee Research event moved to Highland Brewing after Hurricane Helene destroyed its longtime home at Salvage Station. Organizers used the day to raise awareness about pollinator health and to support recovery of bee populations after storm-related hive losses.
Asheville turned out for its smallest and most important neighbors at this year's Honeyfest, a celebration of honeybees and the people who keep them. The festival drew a crowd to Highland Brewing for an afternoon of local honey, food, and music built around a serious message: pollinators matter, and they need our help.
The event is more than a feel-good summer gathering. It is organized by the Center for Honeybee Research, and the bee conservation message sits at the center of the day. Honeybees and other pollinators are responsible for a huge share of the food we eat, and their populations have been under pressure for years.
Hatley Pointe is a boutique ski and snowboard resort near Mars Hill in Madison County, NC, reopened for the 2024 to 2025 season after owners Deborah and David Hatley spent roughly $12 million rebuilding the former Wolf Ridge Ski Resort. It offers 700 feet of vertical drop, night skiing, full snowmaking, a rebuilt lodge with multiple dining venues, and a deliberately limited number of daily lift tickets.
The only thing left of the old ski resort is the foundation. Everything else, the snowmaking pipe, the pumps, the lodge, the lifts, even the grading of the slopes, is new. That is what roughly $12 million and the better part of two years will buy you on a 54-year-old mountain in northern Madison County.
The resort is called Hatley Pointe now, and it sits off Puncheon Road near Mars Hill, tucked below Big Bald Mountain right against the Tennessee line. If you skied here in another decade, you knew it as Wolf Ridge, or before that Wolf Laurel. The mountain is the same. Almost nothing else is.
Taylor Montgomery of Montgomery Sky Farm in Leicester, North Carolina won the 2026 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southeast on June 15. Montgomery, a chef with 32 years of experience, left traditional restaurants two years ago to cook from his regenerative farm just northwest of Asheville. He is the fourth James Beard winner from Western North Carolina.
A working farm in Leicester just won one of the biggest awards in American food. Taylor Montgomery of Montgomery Sky Farm won the 2026 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southeast on June 15, beating out a field of nominees from across the region and bringing the award back to the mountains.
Leicester sits in Buncombe County, about 20 minutes northwest of downtown Asheville along the Leicester Highway corridor, close to both I-26 and I-40. It is a quiet stretch of valleys and family farms, the kind of place most people drive past on the way to somewhere else. That makes the win even more striking. This is not a downtown Asheville hot spot. It is a regenerative farm where the chef grows much of what he cooks.
Haywood County saw solar installations rise more than 200% this year, with crews scrambling to keep up. A typical home system runs about $22,000, pays for itself in roughly 10 years through electric bill savings, and saves an average of $61,000 over a 30-year lifespan. Battery storage adds backup power during grid outages and can raise a home's resale value.
A 200% jump in anything turns heads, and that is exactly what solar crews in Haywood County dealt with this year as installations more than doubled across the county. Demand climbed fast enough that crews were rushing to keep up.
Haywood sits along US-74 and Interstate 40 just west of Asheville, close enough that Waynesville is about a 30-minute drive from the city. That proximity matters, because the same homeowners weighing a move to the mountains are also weighing how to power a home up here affordably.
Asheville is reconsidering its parking minimum requirements after data showed surface parking lots cover more than a third of downtown land. Dropping mandatory parking ratios would let developers build housing, shops, and offices instead of half-empty lots, a shift that could add downtown residential units and change how Buncombe County's largest city uses its most valuable real estate.
Surface parking covers more than a third of downtown Asheville, and the city is finally asking whether that is the best use of its most valuable land. A new push to reconsider parking minimums, the rules that force developers to build a set number of spaces for every project, could change how the heart of Buncombe County looks for decades to come.
Asheville sits where I-26 and I-240 meet, about a 60-mile drive east of Franklin and roughly an hour from most of the smaller mountain towns that orbit it. For a city center boxed in by ridgelines and the French Broad River, land is not something Asheville has to spare. Yet a large share of downtown sits paved over for cars that often are not there.
In May 1926, a 57-year-old daredevil named Harry Gardiner, known as the Human Fly, climbed Asheville's newly opened Flat Iron Building with no ropes or equipment. The stunt raised money for disabled World War I veterans at Oteen Hospital and drew big downtown crowds. Gardiner had scaled more than 2,000 buildings and famously said his risk was 80 percent mental.
Asheville has seen its share of spectacle, but few moments match the day in May 1926 when a 57-year-old man climbed the brand-new Flat Iron Building by hand, with no rope and no net, while the city watched from the street below. His name was Harry Gardiner, and he was known across the country as the Human Fly.
The Flat Iron Building still stands in downtown Asheville, in Buncombe County, near the corner of Wall Street and Battery Park Avenue, a short walk from the shops and restaurants that fill the city's core just off I-240. In 1926 the building had been open only a few months, and Gardiner's climb served as a dramatic way to introduce one of Asheville's new landmarks.
