Be sure to visit both Main Street and Bridge Park to enjoy all the festival has to offer. Like us on Facebook to receive festival updates and information.
VOLUNTEER: The festival requires all of the staff, law enforcement and numerous volunteers make happen. If you would like to volunteer, click HERE to fill out the form. You get a free t-shirt!
VENDOR and SPONSORSHIP Spots are Completely FULL!
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.
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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 27th 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.