Greening Up The Mountains Festival
Sylva North Carolina's Earth Day Celebration

Update:

View
PHOTOS
from Saturday's festival!

Read Sylva Herald Article

FREE!
All are welcome,
Rain or Shine!
In the event of showers, please bring an umbrella and rain gear - just in case.

DIRECTIONS
to Sylva, NC
Please note: the following services are not entirely accurate but will provide a basic map for the area MapQuest / MapBlast! / Yahoo

BEST PARKING
FREE shuttle bus from Jackson Plaza (first left off Exit 83 from Hwy 23/74, less than 1/2 mile from Downtown Sylva)

CAMPING
Sylva is located within the Nantahala National Forest between the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway. There are many free and paid campgrounds in the area, and many bed & breakfasts, cabins and hotels to choose from. Contact JCTTA @ (828) 586-2155 for specific recommendations.

HISTORY
about this event

PHOTOS
last year's festival

CONTACT US
contact festival staff

Produced by:

Sylva Partners in Renewal (SPIR)

Catch the Spirit of Appalachia (CSA)

Sustainable Business Community
of The Tuckaseegee
Watershed Region
(SBC)

Main Stage Entertainment Sponsored by:

WRGC 680AM

Soul Infusion Tea House & Bistro

Hard Times Imageworks

Metrostat
Technologies

Balsam Mountain Preserve

The Juice Junkie

In Your Ear Music Emporium

Other Festival Partners:

Town of Sylva

Jackson County Travel & Tourism Authority

Jackson County
Arts Council

The Sylva Herald

Smoky Mountain News

Jackson County Magazine

The Print Haus

Cherokee
Bottled Water

CulloWHEE!
ArtsFest

The Canary Coalition

Schedule of Events
(keep checking back for further updates)

9:45am - Parade

All day event - Colored chaulk street painting sponsored by Jackson County Arts Council

10:00am - Marshall Ballew (Main Stage)

10:00am - Canary Coalition 5k Run begins

10:30am - Announcements
(Main Stage)

10:30am - Registration begins for Greenway Walk

10:45am - Jerry Harmon (Main Stage)

11:00am - Greenway Walk

11:30am - Jaida (Main Stage)

12:00pm - Mary Jane Queen & Family (2nd Stage)

12:15pm - Zyder Zee (Main Stage)

12:45pm - The Fiddling Dills Sisters (2nd Stage)

1:00pm - Ian & Jonathan (Main Stage)

1:30pm - Announcements (Main Stage)

1:30pm - Josh Bulla (2nd Stage)

1:45pm - Frank Lee (Main Stage)

2:00pm - Patrick Summerall (2nd Stage)

2:15pm - Announcements (Main Stage)

2:30pm - Matt Stillwell (Main Stage)

2:30pm - Linda & Mr. Wright (2nd Stage)

3:00pm - Announcements (Main Stage)

3:00pm - Brett Michael Wilson & 2wo 4our 7even Band (2nd Stage)

3:30pm - Larry Keel Experience with Curtis Burch (Main Stage)

3:30pm - Stephen & Mary Ann Lengyel (2nd Stage)

5pm Festival Ends!

Stop by Soul Infusion Tea House & Bistro after the festival for some healthy food, drink and more great pickin' music! Afterparty from 5pm - Midnight (live music 9pm - 12am).

Hungry after the festival? Stop by one of the many restaurants in our area for some delicious food!

just a counter, we do not endorse any advertising below

visitor statistics

Named for the way the spring greenness starts in the valleys and creeps up the  mountainsides, Greening Up the Mountains is a combination Earth Day and Appalachian Heritage festival, with a good dose of county fair thrown in.

Canning, quilting and baking contests are staples, and there are plenty of activities for kids.  Live music plays a big role, and environmental workshops are also popular. For more information or to vend, call Sylva Partners in Renewal at (828) 586-1577 or Jackson County Travel & Tourism Authority (JCTTA)

This Year's Main Stage Musical Entertainment:
Sponsored by Soul Infusion Tea House & Bistro, Hard Times Imageworks, Metrostat Technologies, In Your Ear Music Emporium, and WRGC 680AM

Our stage is covered and will provide music rain or shine!

Featuring: The Larry Keel Experience with Curtis Burch (3:30pm - 5pm)

The Larry Keel Experience is an acoustic ensemble headed by flatpicking guitar champion Larry Keel on vocals and flattop guitar, Jenny Keel on bass, and Mark Shimmick on mandolin and vocals. The "Experience" also includes and showcases a vast network of talented musicians who support and share in Larry's unparalleled drive to present to an unlimited world of listeners, American roots music with a powerful acoustic sound. Larry will be coming from the 15th annual MerleFest in Wilksboro, NC to join us at our festival. We are honored to have him play for us this year.

Coming down from the mountains of Kentucky to play with Larry and the "Experience" will be a guest appearance by Grammy Award-winning dobroist and acoustic guitar pioneer, Curtis Burch, founding member of the Newgrass Revival. Curtis' dobro playing can be heard most recently on the Grammy Award-winning "Best Album Of The Year" (2001), "O Brother Where Art Thou?". This will be one show you do not want to miss!

Click here to read this week's Smoky Mountain News article about the band!

Marshall Ballew - 10am
After 12 years with WNCW 88.7FM public radio of Spindale, NC, Marshall opens up this year's festival with a delightful collection of vintage string instruments. Marshall also works at In Your Ear Music Emporium on Main Street in Downtown Sylva.

Jerry Harmon - 10:45am
Known as The Smoky Mountain Gypsy, Jerry Harmon is an old-time mountain musician and storyteller. He'll be sure to please all ages with his homegrown country-folk twang and his great stories of growing up in these mountains.

Jaida - 11:30am
A favorite local singer and songwriter, Christy Stokes will bring her unique energy and songwriting talents to our Main Stage this year! Christy and her husband Cody own The Juice Junkie on Mill Street in Downtown Sylva.

Zyder Zee - 12:15pm
This group of local musicians play "acoustic, jazz, dance music". They are sure to keep the energy of this festival filled with dancable music!

Ian Moore & Jonathan Wertheim - 1pm
These two former members of Sylva's own Smoky Mountain Drum & Bass are guaranteed to entertain you!

Frank Lee - 1:45pm
Self styled as a "vintage Americana" musician, Frank recently toured with the Grammy award-winning Freighthoppers. His old-time sounds combine elements of Americana, blues, and bluegrass to make for a foot stomping good time.

Matt Stillwell - 2:30pm
Returning this year to our Main Stage, Matt Stillwell is Sylva's own Nashville country music star. Matt grew up here in Sylva! We are honored to have him with us again.

Master of Ceremonies: Ian Moore with special guests The Rib Tips.

A SAMPLING OF FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES

The Great Smoky Mountains Triathalon Club and The Canary Coalition are holding a "Greening Up The Mountains 5k Run" road race. For more info about signing up for this race, click here.

The Jackson County Greenways Commission is sponsoring a walk during Greening Up the Mountains. The walk begins 11:00 AM, registration begins at 10:30 AM at the Greenway booth. Entry Fee is $5.00. A bare root oak tree will be given to the first 50 registrants, proceeds will support the Jackson County Greenways. Walk passes through downtown and residential area and incorporates the Sylva River Walk. Distance is approximately a 1½ miles. Map of route available at the booth. Walk Info:  Call – Jimmi 586-8994 Ext. 261 or David 743-9043

The Sylva Garden Club will be hosting a tree walk (identification of trees seen during the walk will be provided by the Sylva Garden Club), 2PM on Friday April 26 at starting at Centential Park.

Blackrock Outdoors will have a climbing wall in front of their store on Main Street during the festival. Come stop by and try out your rock climbing skills!

The anuual Cub Scout & Boy Scout soapbox derby will be held on Schulman Street downtown during the day! Come see local scouts race in their homemade soapbox racers.

Catch the Spirit of Appalachia's Heritage Stage
Sponsored by Smoky Mountain Chevrolet in Franklin
Located in the cove of Alan's Restaurant in Downtown Sylva 
Entertainment scheduled from10:30am - 4pm

Second Stage Performance-Emcee:  Gail Stillwell Cooper

10:30 - 12:00-Children's Talent Contest - The children of Jackson County Schools
The children of Jackson County bring the best in mountain music and song.  With voices that challenge the songs of birds and strengths of deep down heritage roots, these up and coming entertainers will amaze the festival goers with their talent. Representing each school, the children will be competing for First and Second Prize.

11:00 -11:05 (and thereafter 5 minutes each hour on the hour) - Poetry on the Hour-Local Poets
Each hour on the hour, all poets will be invited to share their word
pictures, their music of voice (five minutes limit). Poets must call 631-4587
and receive a slot, then register with emcee on the day of the festival.

12:00-12:40-Queen of the Ballads-Mary Jane Queen & Family  - Local Mountain Folk Music
The Prince and Queen families, who settled in the John's Creek area of Caney Ford section during the 19th century, have produced several generations of skilled folk musicians.  The Prince and Queen families joined when Mary Jane Price married Claude Queen in 1935, and their children have continued the tradition of playing and singing.  "I was a Prince until I married!"  says Mary Jane.  "Now, I'm a Queen!"  Mary Jane Queen, the inspiration for the movie The Songcatcher,  is 88 years old and going strong, still playing in the clawhammer  banjo style like that of her father, Jim Prince.  With a remarkable repertory of over 100 very old British ballads and several rare American narrative songs, Mary Jane sings songs such as "William Riley,"  "Salt Lake City," "Sweet Jane," "I Wish I were a Single Girl Again," without the accompaniment of an instrument.  "These ballads are story songs,"  says Mary Jane.  "Stories!  Set to rhyme! Listen to the words!"  Joining Mary Jane on the second stage at Allen's Restaurant will be her son, Henry, and daughter, Jannette...plus more if we're all lucky.  Mary Jane will have some new CD's of her ballads for sale; Henry will also have CD's available.

12:45-1:30-Family-Style Music-The Fiddling Dills Sisters - Local Mountain Folk Music
With family heritage that goes back generations, the Dills Sisters, Amanda and Sharon, have been fiddling most of their young lives. The girls have a large community following, not only because they are winners of many awards at the Georgia Official State Fiddlers Convention and other fiddling contests, but because of their attention to playing for and with their neighbors. Steeped in christian love, and backed up by the Cullowhee Valley Boys, the girls stroke their strings and voices in old time gospel tradition, blue grass music, and mountain folk music. Tapes & CD's will be available.

1:30-2:00-Fourteen-Year Old Musical Genius-Josh Bulla - Old World Folk Music
This handsome young man plays the Uilleann (Irish)  pipes, the Celtic (folk) harp, and Irish whistle;  the Scottish bag pipes, the pedal harp, the piano, the violin, the flute, the dulcimer... and probably any other instrument he wishes to play.  He plays with the Highland Pipes and Drums, the Montreat Scottish Pipe Band in Black Mountain, the Blue Ridge Civic Orchestra and the Mountain Folk Harp Group in Asheville.  For our stage, Josh will play the pedal harp,  sharing such songs as "O Danny Boy,"  "My Wild Irish Rose," "The Last Rose of Summer," "She Moved Through the Fair."  Josh will also lead off the Parade of Many Colors with the Scottish bagpipes and then stroll for a time through the streets of the town sharing his music with all.

2:00-2:30-Whittier Boy Gone Good-Patrick Summerall - Local Up & Coming Country Artist
Musician beyond ordinary, this Whittier boy has realized his dreams.  His songs "Dreamers" and "Wings of an Eagle" have just been released to great reviews-and this country, pop, gospel singer recently opened for Diamond Reo and Trace Atkins at the Macon Cherry Blossom Festival in Georgia. Patrick will have his CD's for sale during the festival.

2:30-:300-What's ya Got Cooking?-Linda and Mr Wright - Comedy/Musical Duo
Linda Owen Vinson, award-winning cook and storyteller, has published her first cook book "A Pinch From the Little Brown Jar."  She will be entertaining the festival goers by telling humorous stories of how she came to  cook and create her own recipes.  Joining her will be the Carolina Cowboy, David Wright, who will accent the stories with his guitar and crooning ways.  Some of the songs will be "Hey Good Looking," "Old Cold Tater," "Hoggie Went A'Courtin'."   Linda's books will be available for purchase.

3:00-3:30-Witness Records-Brett Michael Wilson & 2wo 4our 7even Band - Christian Alternative
Brett Michael Wilson, headquartered in Asheville and on tour with his new CD Child of God, will share with the audience his heart and soul approach to music.  A talent spotlighted by his guitar-based songwriting, some of the songs featured will includs Wilson's tribute to America after September 11, "Make Us See;" his triubte to a sick friend, "Strong Hands;" and "Ananais."  CD's will be available.

3:30-4:00-Smoky Mountain Strings-Stephen and Mary Ann Lengyel - Senior Sylva Gospel
This husband and wife duo from Sylva have been entertaining at our festival since its inception.  With enthusiasm and genuine love of the strings, Stephen plays the fiddle while his wife, Mary Ann, strums on the washtub bass.  Last year, the Lengyels were first-place winners in the performing arts division of the local Silver Arts section of the Senior Games, winning third place in Raleigh.  This pair continues to be first place winners with us!  They are first place in good fun...and generosity of spirit with the community!