CELEBRATE OUR NATION’S BIRTHDAY

July Fourth festivities are bigger and better than ever this year, with America 250 in full swing to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Haywood is hopping with special events and commemorative moments.

See fireworks all weekend long with three days of shows in the sky: July 3 at Lake Junaluska, July 4 in Maggie Valley, and July 5 in Canton.

So pull out your highlighter and plan your holiday festivities!

Wednesday, July 1

LAKE JUNALUSKA

• Closest to the Pin Golf Competition:Try your hand at this annual golf tradition starting at 7 a.m. at Lake Junaluska Golf Course.
• Pickleball tournament:8-10 a.m. at Lake Junaluska pickleball courts.
• Floating Lanterns on the Lake:Light up the lake with this glowing tribute at 9:15 p.m. Biodegradable lanterns are placed on the water in honor or memory of loved ones. To donate and dedicate a lantern in honor or in memory of someone, visit lakejunaluska.com/lanterns.

Thursday, July 2

LAKE JUNALUSKA

• Bluegrass concert:7 p.m. with Balsam Range and Upstream Rebellion at Stuart Auditorium. www.itickets.com/artists/22696.
• Barbecue dinner:From 5-7 p.m. near the Lakeside White Tent. $25 for adults, $12.50 for children ages 5-12, free for four and under.

Friday, July 3

LAKE JUNALUSKA

• Flotilla contest:Decorate your kayak, canoe or paddleboard for the theme “Sweet Land of Liberty” and join a patriotic parade like no other from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the Colonnade. Go all out for the chance to win awards for the most patriotic, most creative and best costumed crew and spirit. Spectators can view the sea of red,white and blue from the Kern Center, the Rose Walk, the Harrell Center and the Colonnade.
• Cornhole tournament:2-4 p.m. on the Harrell Center lawn.
• Barbecue dinner:From 5:30-8:30 p.m. near the Lakeside White Tent. $25 for adults, $12.50 for children ages 5-12, free for four and under.
• Blue Ridge Big Band:Free concert at 7 p.m. at the Lakeside White Tent beside Stuart Auditorium.
• Fireworks over the lake:9:15 p.m. Special viewing of fireworks is available at the lakeside swimming pool and the Cherokee IV pontoon boat. Tickets for special viewing can be purchased at bit.ly/LJfireworks2026.

WAYNESVILLE

• Chill on the Hill:The Tuscola High School parking lot for spectacular views of the Lake Junaluska fireworks. Plus, enjoy food trucks, music, bounce houses and more. The parking lot opens at 5 p.m. $25 per carload. All proceeds benefit Tuscola’s Marching Mountaineers. The fireworks are scheduled to begin around 9:15 p.m.

CANTON

• Pickin’ in the Park:6-9 p.m. at the Canton Rec Park on Penland Street. This free event features music by the Brother Rathbone Band, three clogging groups, barbecue from Hit the Pit and ice cream from Jack the Dipper. Bring a lawn chair or blanket.

CHEROKEE

• 4th of July Powwow July 3-5:Hosted within the Qualla Boundary of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, this annual event honors Indigenous heritage with captivating dance performances and colorful regalia. Fireworks at 10 p.m. July 4. Visit visitcherokeenc.com.

Saturday, July 4

WAYNESVILLE

• Waynesville Stars & Stripes Celebration:Kids and their families are encouraged to dress in their loudest and proudest red, white, and blues for the Patriotic Kids’ Parade starting at 11 a.m. (registration at 10 a.m.). This car-less parade is open to kids of all ages and begins at the historic Haywood County Courthouse. After making your way down Main Street in the parade, peruse nearby shops, galleries, and restaurants to the tune of live music.
• Haywood’s Historic Farmers Market:Stop by the market from 9 a.m.-noon to get all the fixings you need for your July 4th menu: toppings for hamburgers or items for side dishes. Visit waynesvillefarmersmarket.com. 250 Pigeon St., Waynesville.

LAKE JUNALUSKA

• “Sweet Land of Liberty” parade:Begins at 11 a.m. at Lambuth Inn and travels along North Lakeshore Drive. Put on your best red, white and blue to watch the parade.
• Family Fun on the Fourth:Chow down and kick up your heels at this family cookout and dance. Music by Whitewater Bluegrass, with a moving performance of the national anthem by the Singing Soldiers at noon. Family-friendly activities include square dancing, bounce house and yard games. Noon-2 p.m. at the open air Nanci Weldon gym. Cost for meal is $20 adults, $10 for ages 5-12. Buy tickets in advance at bit.ly/LJJuly4Buffet.
• Reading of Declaration of Independence and music:At 7 p.m. the Rev. Ashley Calhoun will read the Declaration of Independence and the Singing Soldiers will perform, both at Stuart Auditorium.

MAGGIE VALLEY

• Maggie Valley Backyard 4th Celebration:Food, fun and fellowship come together from 6-11 p.m. Maggie Valley Festival Grounds on Soco Road. Bring your blanket, chairs, picnic basket, bubbles, hula hoops, balls and yard games. Food trucks will offer all types of food, drinks and desserts. Free admission. This is an alcohol-free event. Leave pets at home. Enjoy fireworks at dark.

LAKE LOGAN

• Boojum’s Beach Bash:Celebrate the 4th of July at Lake Logan from noon-6 p.m. Enjoy swimming, boating, kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkeling, games, live music and more. Day pass includes access to all activities: $20, $15 ages 12-17, free age 11 and younger. Visit book.peek.comor lakelogan.org to purchase passes.

Sunday, July 5

CANTON

• July 4th + 1:Keep the Independence Day celebrations going through the weekend with Canton’s annual patriotic block party at 6 p.m. at Sorrells Park. Enjoy an evening with food trucks, free watermelon, music and games; plus kids can cool down in the splash pad. Stick around for the final fireworks show of the weekend beginning at dusk, and for a unique perspective, jump in the Pigeon River to watch the sky light up.
• FFA Hot Dog Fundraiser:5 p.m.-dark in the parking lot of Pisgah High School. This is a fundraiser for summer camp at White Lake for Future Farmers of America students. You will be able to see Canton’s fireworks from the parking lot.

WAYNESVILLE

• Haywood Community Band:4 p.m. at Long’s Chapel, 133 Old Clyde Road, Waynesville. Haywood Community Band presents their annual salute to the red, white and blue. A musical program with foot-stomping flag-waving favorites honoring our sweet land of liberty. Admission is free.

LAKE JUNALUSKA

• Lakeside Worship Service:9 a.m. at the Lakeside White Tent where the Rev. Dr. Daniel Shin, theologian in residence, will preach.

Target Date Set For Roundabout Completion

The NC Department of Transportation will soon complete a new roundabout constructed as part of a safety and mobility project along US 276 marking a significant milestone to improve safety and traffic flow.

NC DOT has a website with roundabout information and instruction. Here are a few tips:

1. Slow down and be prepared to yield to traffic already in the roundabout.
2. Watch for pedestrians and cyclists crossing at designated locations.
3. Choose the appropriate lane before entering the roundabout and follow directional signage.
4. The right lane is used to exit out of the roundabout.
5. Stay in the left lane to go through it halfway around.
6. Avoid stopping within the roundabout except when required to yield.

For more information, visit DriveNC.gov  or follow NCDOT on social media.

Cherokee Preservation Foundation Awards Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Planning Grant for Heritage Microsite

The Cherokee Preservation Foundation has awarded the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area (BRNHA) with a $30,000 12-month planning grant. Funding will initiate the development of a dedicated microsite on BlueRidgeHeritage.com to support and celebrate the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) cultural heritage throughout Western North Carolina and to highlight EBCI artisans.
The planning grant centers on a collaborative dialogue among BRNHA, the EBCI community, and regional tourism and cultural partners. This project marks an intentional shift in how Cherokee heritage is presented on BRNHA’s site. Currently, the website segments heritage into five distinct categories: craft, music, natural resources, agriculture, and Cherokee heritage. Through this grant, the BRNHA will work under the guidance of the EBCI community to better present the Cherokee’s holistic view of heritage.
“We are grateful to the Cherokee Preservation Foundation for supporting this essential planning period,” said Angie Chandler, Executive Director of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area. “Our goal is to listen first. By receiving guidance directly from the EBCI community, we can ensure this digital space authentically reflects what is most important to them, while providing artists and tradition bearers with the recognition and digital coverage they deserve.”
Over the next year, the BRNHA will facilitate community listening sessions and partner meetings in the seven westernmost counties within the Cherokee Preservation Foundation’s footprint. This includes Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties. Conversations will help define the site’s scope, content, and design, ensuring the final product is a respectful reflection of past and present Cherokee traditions in Western North Carolina. A final report will include guidance on how regional tourism and cultural partners can more proactively collaborate with EBCI cultural partners.

About the Cherokee Preservation Foundation
The Cherokee Preservation Foundation is a 501(C)(3) charitable organization that provides grant funding in the areas of cultural preservation, economic development and environmental preservation to the seven westernmost counties of North Carolina and on the Cherokee Qualla Boundary. Learn more at cherokeepreservation.org.
About the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area:
The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area is a nonprofit organization that preserves, cultivates, and promotes the natural and cultural heritage of 25 Western North Carolina counties and the Qualla Boundary to benefit current and future generations.
To learn more visit www.blueridgeheritage.com.

Edith Allen Wildlife Sanctuary Announces Baby Shower & Education Center Open House

Maggie Valley United Methodist Church is happy to announce our new membership in the Maggie Valley Chamber of Commerce.  We are a small, friendly, and serving church at 4192 Soco Road in Maggie Valley.  Our church has been around for over 150 years serving the Maggie Valley Community.

We have several ministries serving the food needs of Maggie Valley.  We have a food pantry that provides food to those in need in a supermarket type format.  The clients choose their food from shelves but there is no checkout register!   We provide a wide variety of food and necessities, such as canned goods, meats, milk, and eggs.  We also provide necessities such as dishwashing soaps and personal needs such as toothpaste and toothbrushes.  We also provide clothing to those in need during the winter months, all free of charge.  Our Food Pantry is open from 9 AM-Noon on Monday and Wednesday.

We also have what we call Shepard’s Table, which is a ministry to provide hot meals delivered to those in need.  Our volunteers prepare the food fresh in our kitchen each Monday morning and deliver to the homes to those who have applied and been approved for the service on Monday afternoon.  We presently deliver about 125 meals each week.

Other activities and missions include a hiking group, and the Maggie Valley Quilters, previously housed in the Maggie Valley Town Hall, are now housed at the church.  They meet each Wednesday morning.  We supply transportation and a driver for Camp Ability’s summer camp for children with special needs for two weeks in the summer.

It is our pleasure to be a new member of the Chamber of Commerce. We hope to meet many of the members over time through various activities.  Come see us, we have services each week at 10:30 AM, or come during the week and let us show you around.

Country Vittles Extends Hours

Country Vittles Restaurant has announced that they will be staying open on Friday and Saturday until 8:00 p.m. These new hours will begin on April 17th.

Stop in and have dinner with Ms. Judy and the Vittles crew!

Attention Lodging Partners!

Effective July 1, 2025

Under North Carolina General Statues 130A-511 and North Carolina General Statutes 42A-39, certain employees and contractors involved in vacation rentals or lodging establishments must complete approved human trafficking awareness training. Below is a list of training programs currently approved by the North Carolina Department of Labor.

Available Training Options (choose one)

• PACT (Protect All Children from Trafficking)
• BEST (Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking)
• Unbound Now – Human Trafficking Foundations
• Marriot International (For information on accessing Marriott’s human trafficking awareness training, contact Abbe Horswill at [email protected])

Let me know if you have additional questions.

Thank you!

Kisha Scotton, Administrator
NC Department of Labor – Wage and Hour Bureau

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Road and Trail Updates

This link gives good detail about road and trail closures in NC.

https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/temproadclose.htm