Waynesville's New Main Street Mural Gets Its Ribbon Cutting on June 5

By Jon Tharp, Broker  ·  May 20, 2026

Waynesville's New Main Street Mural Gets Its Ribbon Cutting on June 5

Downtown Waynesville is about to get a little more colorful — and a lot more historic.

After a week of painting and some help from the community, the Historic Main Street Mural is ready to be unveiled. The ribbon cutting is set for 6 p.m. on Friday, June 5, right next to High Country Style on Main Street.

The mural was created by artist Max Dowdle and commissioned by the Waynesville Public Art Commission. It reflects the spirit and history of Haywood County, including a nod to the original Gateway to the Smokies Arch that once stood on Main Street. For anyone who remembers that arch — or has seen old photographs of it — this mural is a meaningful piece of local storytelling.

The unveiling won't be a quick ceremony and scatter. After the ribbon cutting, the Haywood County Arts Council gallery will host refreshments, and from there you can stroll Main Street for Waynesville's First Friday event, which runs until 8 p.m. It's a good excuse to make an evening of it.

The project was funded through donations from the WNC Community Foundation, the Downtown Waynesville Commission, the Haywood County Arts Council, and Waynesville Town Council.

If you've been watching downtown Waynesville grow and evolve over the past few years, this is another sign of a community that takes pride in its identity. Events like this are also a good reminder of why people choose Waynesville — there's a real sense of place here that you don't find everywhere.

Details: - Date: Friday, June 5, 2026 - Time: 6 p.m. ribbon cutting, followed by refreshments and First Friday until 8 p.m. - Location: Main Street, Waynesville, NC (next to High Country Style) - Free and open to the public