Fall Festivals
The 23rd annual Apple Harvest Festival, which takes place Oct. 15, is timed to coincide with peak leaf season, and some visitors plan their trips in order to attend the event.
But this event is just one of the festivals planned in the region throughout the month of October and continuing into November.
"There's something going on every weekend here for sure in October," said Linda Harbuck executive director of the Franklin Chamber of Commerce.
Another big draw is the Cherokee Indian Fair, which begins Oct. 4 and continues through Oct. 8 at the Cherokee Fair Grounds. This is the 99th Cherokee Fair, making it easily the oldest-running fall festival in the Smokies..
An estimated 20,000 people turn out over the five-day period. The annual fair features some big-name entertainment, food, and traditional Cherokee artwork.
In Waynesville, the Church Street Art and Craft Show, which will take place Oct. 8, will attract close to 25,000 tourists and locals to downtown, according to Buffy Phillips Messer, executive director of Downtown Waynesville.
"We know there is definitely a direct and an indirect (economic) impact," Messer said. "We feel it really provides another activity, a major tourism activity."
Main Street is transformed into an art and craft marketplace for this one-day event; widely known as one of the finest juried art shows in the region. Live mountain music and clogging, entertainment, food.
Another event that seems to be growing is the Western North Carolina Pottery Festival.
On Nov. 7, the population of the tiny town of Dillsboro will swell as pottery-lovers fill the town.
This will mark the seventh year for the event. This juried event showcases more than 40 master potters demonstrating a variety of techniques. Come see why it's become one of the top arts events in the mountains, attended annually by a few thousand aficionados of pottery.
One of the largest fall events in Bryson City is the annual Chili Cook-Off, which this year is held on Oct. 15. For $5 you get to sample chili from some of the best cooks in the region and even vote for your favorites.
Franklin holds two huge events on two consecutive weekends in October. First is the annual three-day (Oct. 13-15) Autumn Leaves Craft Show at the Macon County Fairgrounds. Then on the following Saturday (Oct. 21) is the annual Pumpkin Festival in downtown Franklin, which includes the ever-popular pumpkin roll and an all-day street fair.
Pinpointing the exact economic impact of all the fall festivals and other events is tough because so many visitors are already here for the fall color.
"It would be hard to separate what impact any of these are going to have," Harbuck said.
Tourism officials say fall festivals and other events can enrich or help extend a visitor's stay.
"Many people do come to see the fall foliage, and if they have something else to do while they are here, it may extend their stay," said Julie Spiro, executive director of the Jackson County Chamber and Tourism Authority.
