Maggie Valley                       Cherokee 

                                              (15 minutes f/Maggie Valley)

                                      

     Mini Golf, Maggie Valley              Maggie Valley Zoo

                             

       Maggie Valley                  One of the World's

                                                      largest antique motorcycle

                                             museums (downtown

                                                 Maggie Valley)

         

Cattaloochee Ski Lodge  (Maggie Valley, NC) 

THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAIN
NATIONAL PARK

 This national park, in the states of North Carolina and Tennessee, encompasses 800 square miles of which 95 percent are forested. World renowned for the diversity of its plant and animal resources, the beauty of its ancient mountains, the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture, and the depth and integrity of the wilderness sanctuary within its boundaries, it is one of the largest protected areas in the east. Part of the park, visit Chattahoochee Valley and see the reintroduced elk population and an old settlers’ village.

Elk at Chattaloochee Valley

(just click on the picture for more information....and yes there is Elk to

 be seen in the Cattaloochee Valley)

For more information on the Great Smoky Mountains National Park call

865-436-1200 or visit www.nps.gov/grsm.

For more information on the Blue Ridge Parkway call 828-298-0398 or visit www.nps.gov/blri.

Waynesville, NC

(LOCATED 5 -7 MINUTES FROM MAGGIE VALLEY

Waynesville is at the heart of an arts community that's thriving in Haywood, a community that's been a part of Waynesville's history since the 19th century. A walk along Main Street encapsulates it all, from traditional to contemporary. Gourmet coffee shops, bakeries and light, airy galleries filled with modern paintings, sculpture and jewelry sit side-by-side with old-fashioned newsstands that have seen customers for decades. Folkmoot Press Release:

Now celebrating its 20th Anniversary, The North Carolina International Festival, Folkmoot USA, will bring all of the dancers stomping, swirling and leaping from every corner of the globe to Henderson County for the first time ever.

Folkmoot – an old English word meaning "meeting of the people" – does just that as its more than 300 international participants mix and mingle with locals and visitors, dancing their ways into hearts.

Three programs will be held at Blue Ridge Community College’s Bo Thomas Auditorium. Another first: A free children’s program will kick off the season at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 16 and is presented by the Blue Ridge Community College Foundation and Four Seasons Arts Council, with each later presenting programs.

A week later on Wednesday, July 23, all participating folk groups will be at the Bo Thomas Auditorium. Presented by the community college’s foundation, tickets are available at the college.

The following Sunday, July 27, Four Seasons Arts Councils will present a program at 1 p.m. which will feature three groups. This is a special opportunity to see more of the group’s repertoire, say Festival organizers, as they bring many costumes, instruments and are capable of a great number of dance routines.

Festival organizers say this 20th Anniversary edition is expected to be strong in terms of quality, diversity and entertainment, in spite of visa and economic problems. More than 190 folk groups have shared the cultural heritage of 95 countries with WNC’s citizens and visitors during the past 19 years.

Named a Top 20 Event in the Southeast by the Southeastern Tourism Society, and a Top 100 Event by the American Bus Association, Folkmoot has also been recognized locally and internationally for its accomplishments in the sharing of cultures and friendship.

Groups are expected to represented six continents: Africa, Asia, Australia/Oceania, Europe, North America and South America. Eager for Americans to have a better understanding of them as a people, folk groups offer the best of their country’s folk music and dance, a way to learn about the history as well as the present.

The Buryat Republic’s graceful dancers in bright silks keep an audience spellbound. The Togolese from West Africa use drums and other percussion instruments as their dancers share ancient tribal rituals. The French on stilts make one wonder how it is possible to walk on those tall sticks, much less dance. Chile’s dancers share their mix of ancient culture of the Incas as the mixture of Spanish heritage and where they live at the edge of the Andes. Russians show off acrobatic skills in many dances. The Mexicans and their stopping boots and high-twirling skirts even allow watchers to generate energy. Tahiti’s graceful waves take one to the South Seas.

And the list goes on as the musicians and dancers tell the story of their respective country through music and dance. Also participating are performers from Norway, the island of Sardinia, Romania, Nepal, Hawaii and local USA groups, and perhaps others.

From the Parade of Nations on Friday, July 18 and its many evening programs and matinees to its street Festival on July 26, this fast-pace exciting, entertaining and educational event gives a colorful picture of the world and its diversity. Not only are the cultures and crafts of the regions seen, but it is also a rare opportunity to see peoples of the world interacting in friendship with each other and Americans.

It is recommended that tickets for Folkmoot be purchased in advance and prices range from $10 to $20 for adults, and are half-price for children 12-years-old and under.

For the July 23 program, visit or call the college’s Foundation at (828) 694-1709. For the
Sunday, July 27 program, visit or call the Four Season Arts Council at (828) 697-9278.

A complete schedule and tickets to any program are available by calling the toll-free number: 1-877-FOLK USA, by writing P O Box 658, Waynesville NC 28786, or by visiting the web page at  www.folkmoot.com

CHEROKEE INDIAN RESERVATION
(15 MILES FROM Maggie Valley on Highway 19)

Country Clubs/Resorts,
Golf Course Communities:

Maggie Valley Valley Golf and Resort

(Maggie Valley Country Club        
828-926-1616

Lake Junaluska Golf Course

Laurel Ridge Country Club

Springdale Country Club
800-553-3027
828-235-8451

Waynesville Country Club & Inn
800-627-6250
828-456-3551