Explore family friendly events, theatres, galleries, concerts, nightlife, things to do, and more in the Greenville, SC and Upstate areas.

Interested in adding an event to our calendar? Please click the green “Post Your Event” button below.

Sunday, October 1, 2023
South Carolina State Museum $1 on the first Sunday of every month
Oct 1 @ 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
South Carolina State Museum

First Sunday Sponsored by BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina

South Carolina State Museum, Dinosuar, South Carolina, Family, Things to Do, Columbi

 

General admission is only $1 for guests on the first Sunday of every month! PLUS enjoy 4-D movies and/or planetarium shows, for only $5 each!

 

 


 

First Sunday Ticket Pricing

General admission to the South Carolina State Museum is only $1 for guests on First Sunday!*

Included in general admission, guests can explore four floors of South Carolina art, cultural history, natural history and science/technology, including the Boeing Observatory and the Robert B. Arial Collection of Historical Astronomy located on the fourth floor.

For an additional price, guests can enjoy a planetarium show and/or a 4D theater movie.

Please note: these prices are only valid on First Sunday. Not valid with other discounts or Museums for All.

 

GENERAL PUBLIC FIRST SUNDAY ADMISSION

Tickets are available for purchase on site only.

General Admission

Includes entry to 4 floors of gallery space and the Boeing Observatory.

Adult $1
Senior (Ages 62 +) $1
Children (ages 3-12) $1

With ONE Show Add-On

Gen. admission + ONE planetarium or 4D show.

Adult $6
Senior (Ages 62 +) $6
Children (ages 3-12) $6

With TWO Show Add-Ons

Gen. admission + TWO planetarium and/or 4D shows.

Adult $9
Senior (Ages 62 +) $9
Children (ages 3-12) $9

 

*General admission allows museum guests entry into all four floors of permanent exhibit space but does not include planetarium shows or 4D theater films.

 

Monday, October 2, 2023
VIRTUAL RAILFAN is live!
Oct 2 all-day
online w/ Hub City RR Museum

VIRTUAL RAILFAN is live from the Hub City RR Museum in Spartanburg.

The Virtual Railfan cameras were installed on Tuesday, July 6th at the Hub City Railroad Museum. There is one camera looking north and one looking south. The Hub City RR Museum wants to thank the City of Spartanburg for allowing us to install the cameras, and to Virtual Railfan for the install. We have already seen over 300 railfans at one time watching the video feed.
Links to live feeds: [North Camera feed] [South Camera feed]

Carolina Railroad Heritage Association

CRHA LogoThe Carolina Railroad Heritage Association is a <501(c)(3)> not for profit local association of approximately eighty members who enjoy railroads and railroad history. The CRHA is currently meeting the third Friday of each month in Fountain Inn, SC at 7:00 pm. Programs at the meetings include presentations on historical and current railroads and are presented by members as well as outside speakers. Our activities include a photo contest, occasional field trips to local railroad sites, picnics and a December pot luck dinner. CRHA members volunteer at our museum and caboose in Spartanburg, SC. If you have an interest in railroads, contact Dave Winans at [email protected] for more information about the CRHA.

For membership, please download and print the membership application and follow the instructions.

Museum Hours:
Wed: 10am – 2pm
Sat: 10am – 2pm

Monarchs and Milkweed: A Story of Survival
Oct 2 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
NC Arboretum

Join us on a journey into the world of butterflies and plants, and see the complex relationship between monarchs and milkweed. “Monarchs and Milkweed” explores how very survival of these majestic creatures has been shaped over time by one another, traveling through the seasons of a calendar year and revealing how both insect and plant grow and interact, culminating in a massive migration that crosses a continent.

Writing Workshop: Excavating Family History Through Poetry
Oct 2 @ 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
online

For so many of us, our family story is what defines our lives—what we run from or toward in the decades after leaving home. In this course, we will dive into family narratives together. The events we hope to discuss can include those that seem to haunt family struggles: trauma, abuse, neglect. Yet those blessed with stable families have plenty of stories to tell, too—a glorious summer road trip that reveals the love between siblings, or a tender reckoning with a parent’s humanity. As guidance for methods of writing on experiences with family, we will read poetry of Ai, Aria Aber, Catullus, Victoria Chang, Lucille Clifton, Natalie Diaz, Tarfia Fiazullah, Joy Harjo, Robin Coste Lewis, Vi Khi Nao, Sylvia Plath, Carmen Giménez Smith, and others. In order to consider different approaches to the idea of “family histories,” the assigned work will roughly fall in one of the following topics: parents and guardians, siblings and those of our youth, ancestors, and continuing the cycle. These are delineated by the familial figures the authors address in their works, leading up to the writers’ own enactment of parenthood.

In each class, we will discuss the methods the authors have employed, and their methods of engagement with their creative production. In addition, we will consider the effects assigned texts have on you as a reader and, just as important, how you think the writer accomplishes these effects. You will create your own works with these methods in mind. Beyond merely creating new work, we will also revise with help from the discussions.

This four-part course will take place on Mondays, October 2, 9, 16, & 23 from 5:30 – 7:30 PM ET.

*

Diana Arterian is the author of the forthcoming poetry collection Agrippina the Younger (Northwestern University Press/Curbstone, 2025). Her first book, Playing Monster :: Seiche (1913 Press), received a starred review in Publishers Weekly and was a Poetry Foundation Staff Pick. A Poetry Editor at Noemi Press, Diana’s creative work has been recognized with fellowships from the Banff Centre, Caldera, Millay Arts, Vermont Studio Center, and Yaddo. Her poetry, nonfiction, criticism, co-translations, and conversations have been featured in BOMB, Brooklyn Rail, Denver Quarterly, Los Angeles Review of Books, NPR, The New York Times Book Review, and The Poetry Foundation website, among others. She curates and writes “The Annotated Nightstand” column at LitHub. Diana holds a PhD in Literature & Creative Writing from the University of Southern California, and she splits her time between Cambridge and Los Angeles.

Tuesday, October 3, 2023
Monarchs and Milkweed: A Story of Survival
Oct 3 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
NC Arboretum

Join us on a journey into the world of butterflies and plants, and see the complex relationship between monarchs and milkweed. “Monarchs and Milkweed” explores how very survival of these majestic creatures has been shaped over time by one another, traveling through the seasons of a calendar year and revealing how both insect and plant grow and interact, culminating in a massive migration that crosses a continent.

Networking Over Coffee
Oct 3 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
online

Here is what you can expect from us:

  • Best in class professional networking
  • Fresh ideas on your venture
  • A chance to meet your next employer, customer, partner, or colleague
  • Career advice & connections
  • a chance to practice your personal introduction in a Zoom full of supportive and helpful people.

How do you make all this happen? Sign up and show up.

The event is virtual. Join from anywhere.

Roper Research Room Open
Oct 3 @ 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Anderson County Museum

The Roper Research Room is open each Tuesday from 1 – 7 p.m. or by appointment with the curator. Find photos and documents about Anderson County or your ancestors from the area. The holdings in our library are more than 2,800 strong making it a wonderful resource for teachers, students and researchers. From city directories, maps and photographs, to many family genealogies, we have information that can help with your research.

Can’t make it on Tuesdays? Request an appointment here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeSGAMAkcsuvo7791ZfmlpDwd-GqTJc-Py-WR-bvHcQ4cLotA/viewform

Wednesday, October 4, 2023
VIRTUAL RAILFAN is live!
Oct 4 all-day
online w/ Hub City RR Museum

VIRTUAL RAILFAN is live from the Hub City RR Museum in Spartanburg.

The Virtual Railfan cameras were installed on Tuesday, July 6th at the Hub City Railroad Museum. There is one camera looking north and one looking south. The Hub City RR Museum wants to thank the City of Spartanburg for allowing us to install the cameras, and to Virtual Railfan for the install. We have already seen over 300 railfans at one time watching the video feed.
Links to live feeds: [North Camera feed] [South Camera feed]

Carolina Railroad Heritage Association

CRHA LogoThe Carolina Railroad Heritage Association is a <501(c)(3)> not for profit local association of approximately eighty members who enjoy railroads and railroad history. The CRHA is currently meeting the third Friday of each month in Fountain Inn, SC at 7:00 pm. Programs at the meetings include presentations on historical and current railroads and are presented by members as well as outside speakers. Our activities include a photo contest, occasional field trips to local railroad sites, picnics and a December pot luck dinner. CRHA members volunteer at our museum and caboose in Spartanburg, SC. If you have an interest in railroads, contact Dave Winans at [email protected] for more information about the CRHA.

For membership, please download and print the membership application and follow the instructions.

Museum Hours:
Wed: 10am – 2pm
Sat: 10am – 2pm

Monarchs and Milkweed: A Story of Survival
Oct 4 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
NC Arboretum

Join us on a journey into the world of butterflies and plants, and see the complex relationship between monarchs and milkweed. “Monarchs and Milkweed” explores how very survival of these majestic creatures has been shaped over time by one another, traveling through the seasons of a calendar year and revealing how both insect and plant grow and interact, culminating in a massive migration that crosses a continent.

Thursday, October 5, 2023
Plott-Tober Fest
Oct 5 all-day
Sorrells Park, downtown Canton

Schedule of Events

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5 – FREE EVENT! 


3:15 PM – Plott-Tober Fest Opening Ceremony & Welcome​

  • Mike McLean – President, Haywood County Historical & Genealogical Society

  • Richard Hurley – Emcee, Plott-Tober Fest

  • FEATURED SPEAKERS:

    • Pat Smathers – Cruso Fund

    • Zeb Smathers – Mayor, Town of Canton

    • Jim Trantham – Mayor, Town of Clyde

    • Mike Eveland – Mayor, Town of Maggie Valley

    • Gary Caldwell – Mayor, Town of Waynesville

    • Bob Plott – Our State Dog – The Plott Hound

4:00 – 7 pm – Milltown Farmers Market

  • A collection of local farmers and artisans celebrating local food, music, and community

  • Music featuring the Steubenville Tootlers – The best German Band Music this side of
    Frankfurt

  • BearWaters Brewery Celebrating Plott-Tober Fest with Dutch Cove Hefeweisen

  • Haus Heidelberg German Cuisine

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6 – HISTORY DAY – TICKETED EVENT


9:30 am – 8:30 pm – Ticket Sales at Main Entrance
10 am – 4 pm – German Roots Registration (HCH&GS & Canton Historical Museum Booth)
12 noon – 1 pm Plott Hound History – Bob Plott
1 pm – 3 pm Haywood County’s German Roots (Heritage Tent)
3 pm – 4 pm Kids Activities at Splash Pad
10 am – 4 pm Free Shuttle to the Museum of Haywood County History in Clyde for Free Exhibits
(Departs from Sorrells 
Street Park every hour from 10 am & last return to Sorrells Street Park at 4 pm)

Live Music: 
10 am – 1 pm – The Steubenville Tootlers – The best German Band Music this side of Frankfurt
4 pm – 5 pm – Acoustic Songwriters: Beth Lee and Nick Dauphanais 
5 pm – 6 pm – Acoustic Bluegrass: Brew Davis and Nick Dauphanais
6:30 pm – 7: 30 pm – Appalachian Heritage Music: William Ritter & Tim McWilliams
7:30 pm – The JackTown Ramblers – 4-piece American Bluegrass, Swing, & Gypsy Jazz band


10 am – 10 pm Food Trucks – Vendors – WNC Organizations
Bearwaters Brewery Celebrating Plott-Tober Fest with Dutch Cove Hefeweisen
Haus Heidelberg German Cuisine

​SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7 – PLOTT FEST – TICKETED EVENT


9:00 am – 8:30 pm Ticket Sales at Main Entrance

Plott Fest: 

  • 9 am – 11:30 am Dog Registration

  • 9:30 am – ONE DOG & TWO DOG MECHANICAL BEAR BAY

  • 10:30 am – 3 DOG MECHANICAL BEAR BAY

  • 11:30 am – COON TREEING EVENT

  • 12:30 pm – UKC BENCH SHOW

  • 3:30 pm – Plott Hound Roundtable hosted by Bob Plott

  • 4:30 pm – PRESENTATION OF AWARDS (METHVEN AWARD, R.H. PLOTT MEMORIAL AWARD, PERSON DOING MOST FOR PLOTT BREED AWARD, PLOTT PATRIOT AWARD) ON STAGE

  • 4:45 pm – Raffle Drawing

10 am – 4 pm Free Shuttle to the Museum of Haywood County History in Clyde for Free Exhibits(Departs from Sorrells Street Park every hour from 10 am & last return to Sorrells Street Park at 4 pm)

1 pm – 5 pm Kids Activities at Splash Pad

1 pm – 3 pm – Heritage Craft Demonstration Tents:

  • BLACKSMITHING – David Burnette

  • HIDE TANNING – Charles Brown

  • FLINTLOCK RIFLES – Dana Ballinger

Live Music & Dance: 
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm – J. Creek Cloggers
2:30 pm – 3:15 pm – Daniel Johnston – Acoustic Music Songwriter
6:15 pm – 7: 00 pm Richard Hurley – Award Winning Singer/Songwriter
7:00 – An Evening of Bluegrass
with Darren Nicholson, Marc Pruett, Reed Jones, & Audie Blaylock


10 am – 10 pm Food Trucks – Vendors – WNC Organizations
Bearwaters Brewery Celebrating Plott-Tober Fest with Dutch Cove Hefeweisen
Haus Heidelberg German Cuisine

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8 – FREE EVENT!
1:30 pm – 4 pm – Shaped Note Singing Demonstration
Morning Star United Methodist Church
2535 Dutch Cove Road
Canton, NC 28716
June Smathers Jolley & Friends will be singing from the Christian Harmony Songbook, published in 1873.  Loaner books will be available for those who would like to learn to sing using the shaped-note system.

The Moonshiners Reunion + Mountain Music Festival
Oct 5 all-day
Plum Hollow

Moonshiners Reunion

The Moonshiners Reunion & Mountain Music Festival is ALWAYS held the first full weekend in October!

(Thursday, Friday, and Saturday)

 

Dedicated to keeping the moonshining spirit alive, the Moonshiner’s Reunion is one of the Appalachian region’s most authentic annual folk music celebrations. The gates open at noon on Thursday. Check back here often for more details!

This event is the inspiration of musician Barney Barnwell, whose career path was as winding and steeped in local color as the Moonshiner’s trail leading to the copper pot corn whisky still. Listening to tales of the Moonshiners of the 30’s and 40’s, many of them relatives, Barney saluted these outlaws of yesteryear by writing and performing songs about their ways, myths, and unique contributions. Barnwell was also instrumental in getting South Carolina Educational Television to film a documentary on moonshining in the foothills, featuring none other than the Barnwell Clan. We are dedicated to keeping his memory, his music and his tales alive with this festival, so join us for a weekend you will never forget!

Plum Hollow Farm (also known as Woodstick), which lies near South Carolina’s “Dark Corners”, one of America’s moonshining hot spots, provides a unique and beautiful setting for the festival. A covered bandstand and gentle hillside sets the stage for laying on a quilt and getting comfortable when the music begins. Bring your lawn chair, your tent, your RV. Just remember no glass of any kind is allowed!

Want to know how to get to Plum Hollow? Click Here For Directions.

Camping

The surrounding woods are always popular for camping, whether it be an RV or a tepee, and everyone is encouraged to bring their instruments so they can join in the “all night pickin’” as in years past. Although we don’t have hook-ups we do have a shower house and camping is included in the price of the ticket. Absolutely NO pets of any kind, glass containers, 4/wheelers, modified golf carts, drones or fireworks allowed. Campsites are first come, first serve, except for Sponsors and Bands and some select spots at the “Top of the Hill”. If you are interested in a reserved campsite these must be paid in advance. Please call (864) 357-0222 or (864) 585-0780 for more information or to reserve your spot today! No one will be allowed into the festival until the gates open at noon on Thursday (except sponsors, bands or press).

No one will be allowed into the festival until the gates open at noon on Thursday, except sponsors and bands.

We also have rustic cabins for rent. Festival sponsors or bands have first choice but after that it’s a first come first serve basis. Some cabins will sleep 6 to a room, while other cabin suites include hand carved double beds and only sleep 2. Whether you are looking for privacy with a cabin suite or want to spend the weekend with a group in the regular cabins, each one rents for $100.00 per night and must be rented for all 3 nights. Please call (864) 357-0222 for availability. Also, see our media gallery for photos of the cabins.

Golf Carts

If anyone is interested in renting a golf cart for the Moonshiners Reunion, please contact Brittany at Golf Cart Services. Although we are not affiliated with them, they’re our official vendor of golf carts. PLEASE make sure you rent a cart with working lights. We do not allow golf carts to be used at night without working lights. Please call (864) 574-4616. Ext. 209

Vendors

The only vendors accepted at the Moonshiners Reunion are exhibitors/vendors of true Southern Heritage articles, such as broom making, wood carving, soap making, pottery, etc. These Folk artisans are strongly encouraged to bring their wares, and may set up and sell for $150.00 & the price of a gate ticket. Also must set up arrangements at least one week in advance.There are no electrical hookups for vendors so you must be self-contained. Vendors are allowed to set-up in the concert area if you wish, but you must be set-up before Thursday evening and plan on staying all weekend. No vehicles are allowed in or out of the concert area after the festival begins. If you are needing more details please feel free to call us at (864) 357-0222.

Tickets

Ticket price is per person and includes camping, parking and all concerts. Ticket prices are for all ages. Tickets may be purchased at the gate. Sponsors & Bands are welcome to come early any time the week of event. Just call in advance to let us know so we can arrange for someone to help you.

** NOTE: we do not manufacture, distribute or sell any alcohol (moonshine) at our venue

Once Again, we thank everyone who participates in making this such a memorable event. Where else can you enjoy moonshining folklore and great music while surrounded by great friends and the Blue Ridge Mountains!

Monarchs and Milkweed: A Story of Survival
Oct 5 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
NC Arboretum

Join us on a journey into the world of butterflies and plants, and see the complex relationship between monarchs and milkweed. “Monarchs and Milkweed” explores how very survival of these majestic creatures has been shaped over time by one another, traveling through the seasons of a calendar year and revealing how both insect and plant grow and interact, culminating in a massive migration that crosses a continent.

The Frog Badge + Conference Stories
Oct 5 @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Pelham Road Library | F.W. Symmes Branch

Some of you may be wondering how you can benefit from conferences even if you weren’t able to attend DEF CON 31, BSides Las Vegas, or any local BSides. For starters, attend the October meeting where Overcast and probably a few others will share stories with only a hint of embellishment. He’ll also explore ways to have your own remote con experience if training or travel are limited. While attending the DEF CON 31 conference Overcast acquired Frog Badge #26 of 28. Cutting it kinda close there before they ran out. He’ll share how a random group of Frog Badge collectors reverse engineered its challenges.

Also, he brought back goodies to share with the DC864 crew.

SPEAKER BIO
Overcast is a co-founder of DEF CON 864 and one of its current leads. He loves exploring hacking and spending quality conversational time with family and friends. Occasionally those folks enjoy talking to him too.

LOCATION
Pelham Road Library (F.W. Symmes Branch) | 1508 Pelham Road, Greenville, SC 29615
Also virtually streaming on Discord (invite is on our website About page)

AGENDA

  • Welcome and announcements at 6 PM
  • Presentation (15 – 20 minutes)
  • Projects open mic (15 – 20 minutes)
  • Villages and networking (remaining time)
Friday, October 6, 2023
Plott-Tober Fest
Oct 6 all-day
Sorrells Park, downtown Canton

Schedule of Events

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5 – FREE EVENT! 


3:15 PM – Plott-Tober Fest Opening Ceremony & Welcome​

  • Mike McLean – President, Haywood County Historical & Genealogical Society

  • Richard Hurley – Emcee, Plott-Tober Fest

  • FEATURED SPEAKERS:

    • Pat Smathers – Cruso Fund

    • Zeb Smathers – Mayor, Town of Canton

    • Jim Trantham – Mayor, Town of Clyde

    • Mike Eveland – Mayor, Town of Maggie Valley

    • Gary Caldwell – Mayor, Town of Waynesville

    • Bob Plott – Our State Dog – The Plott Hound

4:00 – 7 pm – Milltown Farmers Market

  • A collection of local farmers and artisans celebrating local food, music, and community

  • Music featuring the Steubenville Tootlers – The best German Band Music this side of
    Frankfurt

  • BearWaters Brewery Celebrating Plott-Tober Fest with Dutch Cove Hefeweisen

  • Haus Heidelberg German Cuisine

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6 – HISTORY DAY – TICKETED EVENT


9:30 am – 8:30 pm – Ticket Sales at Main Entrance
10 am – 4 pm – German Roots Registration (HCH&GS & Canton Historical Museum Booth)
12 noon – 1 pm Plott Hound History – Bob Plott
1 pm – 3 pm Haywood County’s German Roots (Heritage Tent)
3 pm – 4 pm Kids Activities at Splash Pad
10 am – 4 pm Free Shuttle to the Museum of Haywood County History in Clyde for Free Exhibits
(Departs from Sorrells 
Street Park every hour from 10 am & last return to Sorrells Street Park at 4 pm)

Live Music: 
10 am – 1 pm – The Steubenville Tootlers – The best German Band Music this side of Frankfurt
4 pm – 5 pm – Acoustic Songwriters: Beth Lee and Nick Dauphanais 
5 pm – 6 pm – Acoustic Bluegrass: Brew Davis and Nick Dauphanais
6:30 pm – 7: 30 pm – Appalachian Heritage Music: William Ritter & Tim McWilliams
7:30 pm – The JackTown Ramblers – 4-piece American Bluegrass, Swing, & Gypsy Jazz band


10 am – 10 pm Food Trucks – Vendors – WNC Organizations
Bearwaters Brewery Celebrating Plott-Tober Fest with Dutch Cove Hefeweisen
Haus Heidelberg German Cuisine

​SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7 – PLOTT FEST – TICKETED EVENT


9:00 am – 8:30 pm Ticket Sales at Main Entrance

Plott Fest: 

  • 9 am – 11:30 am Dog Registration

  • 9:30 am – ONE DOG & TWO DOG MECHANICAL BEAR BAY

  • 10:30 am – 3 DOG MECHANICAL BEAR BAY

  • 11:30 am – COON TREEING EVENT

  • 12:30 pm – UKC BENCH SHOW

  • 3:30 pm – Plott Hound Roundtable hosted by Bob Plott

  • 4:30 pm – PRESENTATION OF AWARDS (METHVEN AWARD, R.H. PLOTT MEMORIAL AWARD, PERSON DOING MOST FOR PLOTT BREED AWARD, PLOTT PATRIOT AWARD) ON STAGE

  • 4:45 pm – Raffle Drawing

10 am – 4 pm Free Shuttle to the Museum of Haywood County History in Clyde for Free Exhibits(Departs from Sorrells Street Park every hour from 10 am & last return to Sorrells Street Park at 4 pm)

1 pm – 5 pm Kids Activities at Splash Pad

1 pm – 3 pm – Heritage Craft Demonstration Tents:

  • BLACKSMITHING – David Burnette

  • HIDE TANNING – Charles Brown

  • FLINTLOCK RIFLES – Dana Ballinger

Live Music & Dance: 
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm – J. Creek Cloggers
2:30 pm – 3:15 pm – Daniel Johnston – Acoustic Music Songwriter
6:15 pm – 7: 00 pm Richard Hurley – Award Winning Singer/Songwriter
7:00 – An Evening of Bluegrass
with Darren Nicholson, Marc Pruett, Reed Jones, & Audie Blaylock


10 am – 10 pm Food Trucks – Vendors – WNC Organizations
Bearwaters Brewery Celebrating Plott-Tober Fest with Dutch Cove Hefeweisen
Haus Heidelberg German Cuisine

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8 – FREE EVENT!
1:30 pm – 4 pm – Shaped Note Singing Demonstration
Morning Star United Methodist Church
2535 Dutch Cove Road
Canton, NC 28716
June Smathers Jolley & Friends will be singing from the Christian Harmony Songbook, published in 1873.  Loaner books will be available for those who would like to learn to sing using the shaped-note system.

The Moonshiners Reunion + Mountain Music Festival
Oct 6 all-day
Plum Hollow

Moonshiners Reunion

The Moonshiners Reunion & Mountain Music Festival is ALWAYS held the first full weekend in October!

(Thursday, Friday, and Saturday)

 

Dedicated to keeping the moonshining spirit alive, the Moonshiner’s Reunion is one of the Appalachian region’s most authentic annual folk music celebrations. The gates open at noon on Thursday. Check back here often for more details!

This event is the inspiration of musician Barney Barnwell, whose career path was as winding and steeped in local color as the Moonshiner’s trail leading to the copper pot corn whisky still. Listening to tales of the Moonshiners of the 30’s and 40’s, many of them relatives, Barney saluted these outlaws of yesteryear by writing and performing songs about their ways, myths, and unique contributions. Barnwell was also instrumental in getting South Carolina Educational Television to film a documentary on moonshining in the foothills, featuring none other than the Barnwell Clan. We are dedicated to keeping his memory, his music and his tales alive with this festival, so join us for a weekend you will never forget!

Plum Hollow Farm (also known as Woodstick), which lies near South Carolina’s “Dark Corners”, one of America’s moonshining hot spots, provides a unique and beautiful setting for the festival. A covered bandstand and gentle hillside sets the stage for laying on a quilt and getting comfortable when the music begins. Bring your lawn chair, your tent, your RV. Just remember no glass of any kind is allowed!

Want to know how to get to Plum Hollow? Click Here For Directions.

Camping

The surrounding woods are always popular for camping, whether it be an RV or a tepee, and everyone is encouraged to bring their instruments so they can join in the “all night pickin’” as in years past. Although we don’t have hook-ups we do have a shower house and camping is included in the price of the ticket. Absolutely NO pets of any kind, glass containers, 4/wheelers, modified golf carts, drones or fireworks allowed. Campsites are first come, first serve, except for Sponsors and Bands and some select spots at the “Top of the Hill”. If you are interested in a reserved campsite these must be paid in advance. Please call (864) 357-0222 or (864) 585-0780 for more information or to reserve your spot today! No one will be allowed into the festival until the gates open at noon on Thursday (except sponsors, bands or press).

No one will be allowed into the festival until the gates open at noon on Thursday, except sponsors and bands.

We also have rustic cabins for rent. Festival sponsors or bands have first choice but after that it’s a first come first serve basis. Some cabins will sleep 6 to a room, while other cabin suites include hand carved double beds and only sleep 2. Whether you are looking for privacy with a cabin suite or want to spend the weekend with a group in the regular cabins, each one rents for $100.00 per night and must be rented for all 3 nights. Please call (864) 357-0222 for availability. Also, see our media gallery for photos of the cabins.

Golf Carts

If anyone is interested in renting a golf cart for the Moonshiners Reunion, please contact Brittany at Golf Cart Services. Although we are not affiliated with them, they’re our official vendor of golf carts. PLEASE make sure you rent a cart with working lights. We do not allow golf carts to be used at night without working lights. Please call (864) 574-4616. Ext. 209

Vendors

The only vendors accepted at the Moonshiners Reunion are exhibitors/vendors of true Southern Heritage articles, such as broom making, wood carving, soap making, pottery, etc. These Folk artisans are strongly encouraged to bring their wares, and may set up and sell for $150.00 & the price of a gate ticket. Also must set up arrangements at least one week in advance.There are no electrical hookups for vendors so you must be self-contained. Vendors are allowed to set-up in the concert area if you wish, but you must be set-up before Thursday evening and plan on staying all weekend. No vehicles are allowed in or out of the concert area after the festival begins. If you are needing more details please feel free to call us at (864) 357-0222.

Tickets

Ticket price is per person and includes camping, parking and all concerts. Ticket prices are for all ages. Tickets may be purchased at the gate. Sponsors & Bands are welcome to come early any time the week of event. Just call in advance to let us know so we can arrange for someone to help you.

** NOTE: we do not manufacture, distribute or sell any alcohol (moonshine) at our venue

Once Again, we thank everyone who participates in making this such a memorable event. Where else can you enjoy moonshining folklore and great music while surrounded by great friends and the Blue Ridge Mountains!

VIRTUAL RAILFAN is live!
Oct 6 all-day
online w/ Hub City RR Museum

VIRTUAL RAILFAN is live from the Hub City RR Museum in Spartanburg.

The Virtual Railfan cameras were installed on Tuesday, July 6th at the Hub City Railroad Museum. There is one camera looking north and one looking south. The Hub City RR Museum wants to thank the City of Spartanburg for allowing us to install the cameras, and to Virtual Railfan for the install. We have already seen over 300 railfans at one time watching the video feed.
Links to live feeds: [North Camera feed] [South Camera feed]

Carolina Railroad Heritage Association

CRHA LogoThe Carolina Railroad Heritage Association is a <501(c)(3)> not for profit local association of approximately eighty members who enjoy railroads and railroad history. The CRHA is currently meeting the third Friday of each month in Fountain Inn, SC at 7:00 pm. Programs at the meetings include presentations on historical and current railroads and are presented by members as well as outside speakers. Our activities include a photo contest, occasional field trips to local railroad sites, picnics and a December pot luck dinner. CRHA members volunteer at our museum and caboose in Spartanburg, SC. If you have an interest in railroads, contact Dave Winans at [email protected] for more information about the CRHA.

For membership, please download and print the membership application and follow the instructions.

Museum Hours:
Wed: 10am – 2pm
Sat: 10am – 2pm

Monarchs and Milkweed: A Story of Survival
Oct 6 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
NC Arboretum

Join us on a journey into the world of butterflies and plants, and see the complex relationship between monarchs and milkweed. “Monarchs and Milkweed” explores how very survival of these majestic creatures has been shaped over time by one another, traveling through the seasons of a calendar year and revealing how both insect and plant grow and interact, culminating in a massive migration that crosses a continent.

 eReaders for Beginners 
Oct 6 @ 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Middle Tyger Library

Have you heard library staff talking about eBooks and want to know what all the fuss is about? Join us as we work though how to get electronic books and audiobooks on your personal device, so you can enjoy the library wherever you go.

Saturday, October 7, 2023
Plott-Tober Fest
Oct 7 all-day
Sorrells Park, downtown Canton

Schedule of Events

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5 – FREE EVENT! 


3:15 PM – Plott-Tober Fest Opening Ceremony & Welcome​

  • Mike McLean – President, Haywood County Historical & Genealogical Society

  • Richard Hurley – Emcee, Plott-Tober Fest

  • FEATURED SPEAKERS:

    • Pat Smathers – Cruso Fund

    • Zeb Smathers – Mayor, Town of Canton

    • Jim Trantham – Mayor, Town of Clyde

    • Mike Eveland – Mayor, Town of Maggie Valley

    • Gary Caldwell – Mayor, Town of Waynesville

    • Bob Plott – Our State Dog – The Plott Hound

4:00 – 7 pm – Milltown Farmers Market

  • A collection of local farmers and artisans celebrating local food, music, and community

  • Music featuring the Steubenville Tootlers – The best German Band Music this side of
    Frankfurt

  • BearWaters Brewery Celebrating Plott-Tober Fest with Dutch Cove Hefeweisen

  • Haus Heidelberg German Cuisine

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6 – HISTORY DAY – TICKETED EVENT


9:30 am – 8:30 pm – Ticket Sales at Main Entrance
10 am – 4 pm – German Roots Registration (HCH&GS & Canton Historical Museum Booth)
12 noon – 1 pm Plott Hound History – Bob Plott
1 pm – 3 pm Haywood County’s German Roots (Heritage Tent)
3 pm – 4 pm Kids Activities at Splash Pad
10 am – 4 pm Free Shuttle to the Museum of Haywood County History in Clyde for Free Exhibits
(Departs from Sorrells 
Street Park every hour from 10 am & last return to Sorrells Street Park at 4 pm)

Live Music: 
10 am – 1 pm – The Steubenville Tootlers – The best German Band Music this side of Frankfurt
4 pm – 5 pm – Acoustic Songwriters: Beth Lee and Nick Dauphanais 
5 pm – 6 pm – Acoustic Bluegrass: Brew Davis and Nick Dauphanais
6:30 pm – 7: 30 pm – Appalachian Heritage Music: William Ritter & Tim McWilliams
7:30 pm – The JackTown Ramblers – 4-piece American Bluegrass, Swing, & Gypsy Jazz band


10 am – 10 pm Food Trucks – Vendors – WNC Organizations
Bearwaters Brewery Celebrating Plott-Tober Fest with Dutch Cove Hefeweisen
Haus Heidelberg German Cuisine

​SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7 – PLOTT FEST – TICKETED EVENT


9:00 am – 8:30 pm Ticket Sales at Main Entrance

Plott Fest: 

  • 9 am – 11:30 am Dog Registration

  • 9:30 am – ONE DOG & TWO DOG MECHANICAL BEAR BAY

  • 10:30 am – 3 DOG MECHANICAL BEAR BAY

  • 11:30 am – COON TREEING EVENT

  • 12:30 pm – UKC BENCH SHOW

  • 3:30 pm – Plott Hound Roundtable hosted by Bob Plott

  • 4:30 pm – PRESENTATION OF AWARDS (METHVEN AWARD, R.H. PLOTT MEMORIAL AWARD, PERSON DOING MOST FOR PLOTT BREED AWARD, PLOTT PATRIOT AWARD) ON STAGE

  • 4:45 pm – Raffle Drawing

10 am – 4 pm Free Shuttle to the Museum of Haywood County History in Clyde for Free Exhibits(Departs from Sorrells Street Park every hour from 10 am & last return to Sorrells Street Park at 4 pm)

1 pm – 5 pm Kids Activities at Splash Pad

1 pm – 3 pm – Heritage Craft Demonstration Tents:

  • BLACKSMITHING – David Burnette

  • HIDE TANNING – Charles Brown

  • FLINTLOCK RIFLES – Dana Ballinger

Live Music & Dance: 
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm – J. Creek Cloggers
2:30 pm – 3:15 pm – Daniel Johnston – Acoustic Music Songwriter
6:15 pm – 7: 00 pm Richard Hurley – Award Winning Singer/Songwriter
7:00 – An Evening of Bluegrass
with Darren Nicholson, Marc Pruett, Reed Jones, & Audie Blaylock


10 am – 10 pm Food Trucks – Vendors – WNC Organizations
Bearwaters Brewery Celebrating Plott-Tober Fest with Dutch Cove Hefeweisen
Haus Heidelberg German Cuisine

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8 – FREE EVENT!
1:30 pm – 4 pm – Shaped Note Singing Demonstration
Morning Star United Methodist Church
2535 Dutch Cove Road
Canton, NC 28716
June Smathers Jolley & Friends will be singing from the Christian Harmony Songbook, published in 1873.  Loaner books will be available for those who would like to learn to sing using the shaped-note system.

The Moonshiners Reunion + Mountain Music Festival
Oct 7 all-day
Plum Hollow

Moonshiners Reunion

The Moonshiners Reunion & Mountain Music Festival is ALWAYS held the first full weekend in October!

(Thursday, Friday, and Saturday)

 

Dedicated to keeping the moonshining spirit alive, the Moonshiner’s Reunion is one of the Appalachian region’s most authentic annual folk music celebrations. The gates open at noon on Thursday. Check back here often for more details!

This event is the inspiration of musician Barney Barnwell, whose career path was as winding and steeped in local color as the Moonshiner’s trail leading to the copper pot corn whisky still. Listening to tales of the Moonshiners of the 30’s and 40’s, many of them relatives, Barney saluted these outlaws of yesteryear by writing and performing songs about their ways, myths, and unique contributions. Barnwell was also instrumental in getting South Carolina Educational Television to film a documentary on moonshining in the foothills, featuring none other than the Barnwell Clan. We are dedicated to keeping his memory, his music and his tales alive with this festival, so join us for a weekend you will never forget!

Plum Hollow Farm (also known as Woodstick), which lies near South Carolina’s “Dark Corners”, one of America’s moonshining hot spots, provides a unique and beautiful setting for the festival. A covered bandstand and gentle hillside sets the stage for laying on a quilt and getting comfortable when the music begins. Bring your lawn chair, your tent, your RV. Just remember no glass of any kind is allowed!

Want to know how to get to Plum Hollow? Click Here For Directions.

Camping

The surrounding woods are always popular for camping, whether it be an RV or a tepee, and everyone is encouraged to bring their instruments so they can join in the “all night pickin’” as in years past. Although we don’t have hook-ups we do have a shower house and camping is included in the price of the ticket. Absolutely NO pets of any kind, glass containers, 4/wheelers, modified golf carts, drones or fireworks allowed. Campsites are first come, first serve, except for Sponsors and Bands and some select spots at the “Top of the Hill”. If you are interested in a reserved campsite these must be paid in advance. Please call (864) 357-0222 or (864) 585-0780 for more information or to reserve your spot today! No one will be allowed into the festival until the gates open at noon on Thursday (except sponsors, bands or press).

No one will be allowed into the festival until the gates open at noon on Thursday, except sponsors and bands.

We also have rustic cabins for rent. Festival sponsors or bands have first choice but after that it’s a first come first serve basis. Some cabins will sleep 6 to a room, while other cabin suites include hand carved double beds and only sleep 2. Whether you are looking for privacy with a cabin suite or want to spend the weekend with a group in the regular cabins, each one rents for $100.00 per night and must be rented for all 3 nights. Please call (864) 357-0222 for availability. Also, see our media gallery for photos of the cabins.

Golf Carts

If anyone is interested in renting a golf cart for the Moonshiners Reunion, please contact Brittany at Golf Cart Services. Although we are not affiliated with them, they’re our official vendor of golf carts. PLEASE make sure you rent a cart with working lights. We do not allow golf carts to be used at night without working lights. Please call (864) 574-4616. Ext. 209

Vendors

The only vendors accepted at the Moonshiners Reunion are exhibitors/vendors of true Southern Heritage articles, such as broom making, wood carving, soap making, pottery, etc. These Folk artisans are strongly encouraged to bring their wares, and may set up and sell for $150.00 & the price of a gate ticket. Also must set up arrangements at least one week in advance.There are no electrical hookups for vendors so you must be self-contained. Vendors are allowed to set-up in the concert area if you wish, but you must be set-up before Thursday evening and plan on staying all weekend. No vehicles are allowed in or out of the concert area after the festival begins. If you are needing more details please feel free to call us at (864) 357-0222.

Tickets

Ticket price is per person and includes camping, parking and all concerts. Ticket prices are for all ages. Tickets may be purchased at the gate. Sponsors & Bands are welcome to come early any time the week of event. Just call in advance to let us know so we can arrange for someone to help you.

** NOTE: we do not manufacture, distribute or sell any alcohol (moonshine) at our venue

Once Again, we thank everyone who participates in making this such a memorable event. Where else can you enjoy moonshining folklore and great music while surrounded by great friends and the Blue Ridge Mountains!