White Squirrel Festival Is Upon Us!

Little 'ole Brevard, NC is waking up from its winter hibernation and everything is now in full bloom. You can feel the excitement building for the 5th Annual White Squirrel Festival, as it's now become the county's biggest annual festival/event. It's a great way to kick off what is considered "season" here. Memorial Day weekend used to be somewhat slow here, as many schools were still in session, and things didn't get busy until mid June. But with the advent of the White Squirrel Festival, it now "goes nuts" and the summer starts out with a bang!

This year, as always, is bigger and better than ever. We have 16 bands booked for the outdoor covered stage on Main Street. There's nothing like it... you can stroll the streets, shop vendors, buy really cool odds and ends, listen to music, all while viewing the Blue Ridge Mountain range in the backdrop of the city.

Edwin McCain is the big act this year, and he will be performing Sunday night, May 25th. Both two days of music are free, thanks to our many sponsors, such as the Steve Owen & Associates Realtors, Asheville Regional Airport and United Community Bank. These folks help foot the bill for event so everyone can have a great time free of charge. So if gas prices are high, here is the perfect three day vacation that will offset the gas hike. This is probably about a $80 ticket if you were to hear these acts over two days at most venues. And the WSF was voted the Best Spring Music Festival by the readers of the Asheville Citizen Times.

And of course, for the locals, we have the 2nd Annual running of the Squirrel Box Derby. Last year was the inaugural event with almost 20 downhill racing carts and it provided quite the excitement with all the thrills and spills of racing nearly 40 mph down Jailhouse Hill by the courthouse. We expect even more racers this year, and we've divided the race over both days, with the kids racing Saturday the 24th, and the adults and businesses racing Sunday, the 25th. The Lagati team has been working all winter on their cart, so expect to see them in the hunt for first place this year. Close in pursuit will be John Taylor, of OP Taylor toy store fame. Last year's race was closer than a democratic primary!

The Rotary will also be doing a first ever White Squirrel 5K and 10K race. So throw the kids in the back of the wagon and come join us. We will have a small beer garden this year with local brews so you can relax and listen to the music without having to leave the stage area. And we have all sorts of kid's activities, white squirrel tours, a theater show, local mountain arts & crafts, and lots of other "goodies."

That's it for now from the mountain top. I'll do my best to keep you posted!