Brevard

Brevard offers opportunities to connect with community and nature

It's a rare town that can boast of hosting an equal number of barbecue joints and Asian restaurants—and just as many ice cream parlors—but in Brevard, it's true.

Put on a pair of comfortable shoes and enjoy a fun evening exploring downtown Brevard’s art galleries. Number 7 Arts on W Main Street is a fine arts and crafts cooperative that can’t be missed. Check out their featured works by 37 local artists in a wide variety of mediums. More local arts are highlighted on the Scenic 276 South Fine Art & Craft Corridor, a 13-mile stretch of state road that showcases numerous galleries and studios.

Move to the Mountain Music

Brevard has a rich community that values public events and festivals. Start the festival season in March, when Brevard College hosts the world-touring BANFF Mountain Film Festival, a big-screen celebration of films and documentaries about life and sports in the wild. Located adjacent to downtown, the small liberal arts school was founded in 1934 and contributes to the town’s special character.

On Memorial Day weekend, Brevard pays tribute to its rare concentration of signature furry creatures with the White Squirrel Festival. The festival features a parade, free concerts, a “Squirrel Box Derby,” and other, well, “nutty” amusements.

The international summer institute and festival at the Brevard Music Center has hosted noted performers for more than 75 years. Its signature event is the annual Brevard Music Festival, which spans seven summer weeks and features more than 80 different acts. Local music aficionados also take in shows at Brevard College‘s Paul Porter Center for the Performing Arts.

Each summer, Brevard’s Main Street also becomes a prime place to cut a rug. On Tuesday nights through June, July, and August, Old Time Street Dances are held to a soundtrack of live bluegrass. Not sure how to square dance? Don’t worry—free instruction is available before the music begins.

In September, the Mountain Song Festival brings the best in acoustic music to town. From bluegrass, newgrass, old time, folk, jazz, and traditional mountain music to the many branches that stem from it, the festival is designed to further encourage music in our everyday lives.

The Land of Waterfalls and Outdoor Adventures

Transylvania County can justly claim to be “The Land of Waterfalls,” as some 250 waterfalls exist in the county. Some are relatively small and gentle. Others take big, breathtaking plunges into mountain pools. Looking Glass Falls, for example, drops 60 feet amid a stunning crop of boulders and is one of the most-photographed waterfalls in the country. The nearby and wildly popular Sliding Rock is a natural waterslide! Thousands of visitors slide down its long, slick surface into a six-foot-deep pool at the bottom. These two are easily accessed from parking areas, but many more waterfalls can be discovered just a short hike away.

Remarkably, more than half of the land in Transylvania County is publicly owned and protected. This includes 88,000 acres of Pisgah National Forest, the 10,000-acre DuPont State Park, the 7,600-acre Gorges State Park, and the new 6,700-acre Headwaters State Forest. Together, these lands offer myriad opportunities for biking, camping, climbing, hiking, horseback riding, paddling, and sightseeing.

The headwaters of the French Broad River, one of the oldest rivers in the world, are located near Brevard. A few miles west of town, master guides at Headwaters Outfitters help residents and visitors alike take advantage of all the river has to offer. It’s a hot spot for tubing, canoeing, kayaking, and fly fishing. Nearby, the Davidson River, another renowned trout-fishing destination, flows through the Pisgah National Forest.

Forest Conservation Began Here

Another natural treasure, tucked within the Pisgah National Forest, is the Cradle of Forestry. This 6,500-acre heritage center was the site of the first forestry school in the United States. The national forest is also home to the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education, a state-run facility that hosts students of all ages to learn about the region's unique biodiversity.