Sustainability: In honor of Earth Day and the Greening Up the Mountains festival origins, we are committed to sustainability.  Thank you to Jackson County Solid Waste and our team of recycling volunteers for helping us make the festival clean and green.

• No single-use plastic water bottles are permitted to be sold or given away at the festival.  TWSA has generously provided water bottle refilling stations at Bridge Park and on Main Street.  We are also giving away reusable water bottles at this year's festival at the information booths.
• No single-use plastic bags are permitted to be used by our vendors.  This does not apply to products packaged in plastic bags, such as kettle corn, or food items, such as pastries, that are pre-wrapped in plastic.
• No styrofoam containers, including, but not limited to, cups and plates, are permitted. Vendors must use reusable or recyclable products (paper or plastic food containers are recyclable in our area).​

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Directions from Asheville, NC: Click here for Google Maps directions - Travel Time: 45 - 60 minutes

Directions from Atlanta, GA: Click here for Google Maps directions - Travel Time: 2 - 3 hours

Directions from Knoxville, TN: Click here for Google Maps directions - Travel Time: 1.5 - 2 hours

Pet Policy

​Friendly dogs with leashes are welcome.

Transit

The Jackson County Transit shuttle will be running from the Jackson County Justice Center and Jackson Plaza to the downtown festival area on festival day.  Rides are $1 per person.  Pets are not allowed on the shuttle, but service animals are permitted.

The 27^th annual Greening Up The Mountains festival in Sylva, NC began as a celebration of  Appalachian heritage arts around Earth Day.  Its namesake reflects the gradual progression of spring green moving up the mountains. Local residents and business owners organized the original festival in partnership with the Sylva downtown Main Street program, which is now called Main Street Sylva Association.  2,500 people were in attendance and now the festival has grown to 12-14,000 people.  Early festivals featured talent shows, farm and kitchen demonstrations, nature education, plus costume, essay and baking contests, - even a cake walk!

The festival has evolved into a larger event showcasing heritage arts and locally crafted items for purchase, live music, demonstrations, and food/beverages . . . all while continuing to emphasize environmental stewardship and sustainability.  

Several years ago the organizing committee wanted increase the event’s environmental practices.  Over a 3-year period festival requirements were added to eliminate single-use plastics, plastic bottled water, and plastic shopping bags.  Tuckaseigee Water and Sewer Authority created water filling stations so that attendees could refill their water bottles throughout the day.  Baxley’s Chocolates also offered to provide festival signage to help people understand the county’s trash and recycling practices, complementing the Jackson County Solid Waste’s educational offerings at the event. Demonstration organizations also share their strategies with the public at the festival.   Western North Carolina’s “Feed Me Foam,” truck was added to the festival, demonstrating how they distill a truck load of foam into a solid brick that can be used in other ways.  The Styrofoam recycler picks up Styrofoam each month at Mark Watson Park.