PISGAH FOREST AREA
The Pisgah Forest/Brevard area offers something for everyone.
There are miles of trails for bikers and hikers as well as walking trails for the less adventurous. The rivers offer waterfall vistas as well as swimming, tubing, kayaking, and fishing all within a few miles.
The area is also home to many cultural activities with music, theatre, galleries, Transylvania County Library, and museums. Brevard College, Blue Ridge Community College, and PARI offer a variety of activities.
A first stop is the Brevard Chamber of Commerce on Main Street for all the information and guidance you need. The Heart of Brevard and Explore Brevard are excellent resources for current events in the area.
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ANNUAL EVENTS (Check Heart of Brevard site)
The White Squirrel Festival "Where Music Meets the Mountains" This May festival features three days of free concerts on Main Street in downtown Brevard, plus several blocks of food vendors, artists, craftsmen and kid's activities. a 5k & 10k Fun Run, Photo Contest and Memorial Day Parade.
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Assault on the Carolinas Bike Ride This April event is an annual fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Pisgah Forest where all proceeds are donated to local charities. There are three thrilling route options - 100K, 60K, and 40K. All races start and end in downtown Brevard. In addition, the event includes live music and street vendors.
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Pisgah Mountain Bike Stage Race is the annual five-day single-track endurance event in September through Pisgah National Forest that covers 195 miles and includes the most rugged trails in the East.
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Forest Festival Days is held each October in the Cradle of Forestry, this day-long festival celebrates forest life and the history of forestry with exhibitions and arts and crafts demonstrations.
ARTS & CULTURE
Transylvania County Library is a vibrant, active part of the community. It provides adult and youth programming including outdoor concerts, adult field trips, and speakers. Sign up for their newsletter.
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Porter Center, Morrison Playhouse at Brevard College features theatrical events including everything from student performances to national touring acts.
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Transylvania Heritage Museum in Brevard is open Wednesday – Sunday from March through December. The museum lives up to its name with interesting exhibits, artifacts, art and the history of the region.
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Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) is a fun and entertaining learning experience. PARI is an astronomical observatory located at an elevation of 3,000 feet in the Pisgah National Forest. It's open to the public for tours and special program events.
Transylvania Historical Society is housed in the Allison-Deaver house built in 1815. The society is dedicated to preserving the cultural and architectural heritage of Transylvania County. Speakers and other events take place from May through October.
4th Friday Gallery Walk is a great relaxing, fun evening visiting downtown art galleries, sampling the restaurants and tasting new wines takes place May through December.
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Brevard Plein Air is held in September in conjunction with a downtown street festival.
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Cradle of Forestry commemorates the beginning of forest conservation in America. The Discovery Center features interactive exhibits as well as a film about the Biltmore Forest School that premiered on PBS. There are several trails and historic buildings on the site.
Transylvania Community Arts Council is a vibrant arts destination and resource center for area artists and arts organizations. It hosts 12 exhibitions throughout the year as well as classes, summer camps and other programs.
Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas contains an amazing collection of unique military artifacts, uniforms and more from al service branches.
MUSIC
185 King Street dedicated to showcasing live music in a relaxed and inviting listening room environment.
Oskar Blues is major craft brewery with a great calendar featuring everything from nightly music to weekend festivals.
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DFR Room is a downtown music club with an emphasis on Jazz, Blues and Classic Rock.
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Brevard Music Center Every summer from June through August the Music Center hosts its world-renowned music festival over 80 concerts - mostly classical but also some big-name pop performers.
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Mountain Song Festival is s two-day bluegrass music festival is held at the renowned Brevard Music Center. Enjoy the music of the Steep Canyon Rangers and other great folks.
The Cedar Mountain Outpost, Cedar Mountain Canteen, and Creekside Market & Grill also feature local musicians among other venues.
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OUTDOORS
Estatoe Trail is a mostly paved greenway that stretches from The Depot in the Lumberyard District to the Davidson River Campground. Visit the Estatoe Trail Status Story Map for current and future phases of trail.
Ecusta Trail, when complete, will be a 19.4-mile multi-use greenway along an unused railway corridor connecting Brevard to Hendersonville. It will also connect with the Estatoe Trail.
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​Dupont State Forest is about 25 minutes from Glen Cannon towards Cedar Mountain. It features waterfalls including the popular Triple and Hooker Falls, a large mountain lake, rivers and streams, and numerous hiking and biking trails.
Pisgah National Forest is in Transylvania County. Pisgah features many natural wonders including waterfalls, lakes and trails. There are opportunities for camping, horseback riding and much more in this expansive national forest.
Bracken Mountain Preserve is a 395-acre property owned by the City of Brevard. It is adjacent to the Pisgah National Forest and its trails connect to Forest Service Road 475-C.
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Gorges State Park is home to plunging waterfalls, rugged river gorges and sheer rock walls. The visitor center is west of Brevard near the town of Sapphire.
Holmes Educational State Forest is one of seven educational forests in the state. It features miles of trails that are accented by exhibits and displays depicting the ecology of the managed forest.
Caesars Head State Park is south on Hwy 276 and straddles the state/county line just over the border in South Carolina. The park’s showpiece is the beautiful Raven Cliff Falls.
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