Friday, May 09, 2008

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!

Labels: , , , , ,

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Squirrel Box Derby builder's forum

Just to let you die hard Squirrel Box derby fans know... there is now a squirrel box racing cart forum at http://WhiteSquirrels.com where you can discuss your design with other racers. We're expecting 40 or more racers this year compared to last year's 17. The race has also been expanded to two days... Saturday, May 24th for the kids, and Sunday, May 25th for the adults and businesses. I've heard of a couple of teams that have already been hard at work on their designs. If it's even close to last year, this will be a great event. The streets were packed with onlookers and there were some very close races (one had to be decided by viewing the tape)

There's also been some rule changes, such as the requirement for a seat belt. The biggest problem with most carts is that they over steer. So be sure to make a safe design that is wide, low to the ground, and has good steering and brakes. You can view the Squirrel Box racing rules here.

Labels: , , , ,

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

'08 White Squirrel Festival Music Line Up!

5th Annual White Squirrel Festival Music Headliner:

Edwin McCain

performing Sunday, May 25th at 8:30pm

Our musical line-up is one of the region’s best, and no where else can you hear 18 spectacular concerts for free. John Felty (of Looking Glass Entertainment and of Jupiter Coyote fame) continues to bring in some up and coming, as well as some established, performers who know how to get their audience smiling, dancing, and clapping.

For information concerning any of our musical performers or getting involved with the 5th Annual White Squirrel Festival May 24-25, 2008.

Please contact John Felty or call 828-243-3496

Keep checking back as we update our performance schedule for the 5th Annual White Squirrel Festival.

Saturday May 24, 2008
Sunday May 25, 2008
Performance Time
Performance Time
Barnacle 2:00pm
Brio 2:00pm

Bobby Powell & Tim Jones

featuring Roy Chapman

3:00pm
Moon Shine Babies 3:00pm

Julie Lee

4:00pm
Odd Meters 4:00pm
Ethos 5:00pm
Balsam Range 5:00pm
Shannon Whitworth 6:00pm
Nikki Talley 6:00pm
The Jeff Sipe trio w/ Jeff Coffin 7:00pm
Beth Wood & Chris Rosser 7:00pm
Patrick Smith 9:00pm
Edwin McCain 8:30pm

Labels: , , , , ,

Sunday, November 25, 2007

All new White Squirrels web site launches

Attention White Squirrel fans worldwide, there's now a site filled with White Squirrel history, trivia, photos and links. It's WhiteSquirrels.com and it not only provides information on Brevard, NC's famous little critters, but also info about the town itself. (For example, OP Taylor's Toy Store and the White Squirrel Shoppe) It also has the current weather as well as business, entertainment and lodging information.

We hope to have our forums and blog working there shortly as well. So bookmark that site and check back often as we prepare for next year's 5th Annual White Squirrel Festival next Memorial Day weekend.

Labels: , ,

Friday, June 08, 2007

Squirrel Box Derby Results!





Well for those of you who didn't attend, the 1st Annual Squirrel Box Derby was a bit at the White Squirrel Festival. We had 26 vehicle entries and 30 racers (some people used the same cart in two different divisions) We also had a number of incredible spills, but fortunately no one was seriously injured. The most amazing crash came in the adult/business semi-finals with the Team Lagati car against the infamous John Taylor's OP Taylor scream machine. It was neck and neck the whole way down the hill until the Lagati cart began to wobble. Right at the finish line, in a dead heat, the team Lagati cart began to spin out of control and flip. Check it out the stills on this run! The Lagati driver was scraped up and shaken, but okay. OP Taylor's car went on to face the Freedom Flyer (Just to the left of the checkered flag) in the finals, only to lose by a few feet.

I entered this "Squirrels of the Carribbean" car, and my step nephew drove it to third place in the 12 to 17 year old category. The competition was just too fierce in the adult division and I was happy to get third and take home People's Choice as well as well as winning "Squirrliest." It's all about knowing the categories and the competition. Team Lagati is already said to be at work on next year's cart as well as numerous others.

If you plan to build a cart for next year's race, there will be some modifications to the rules, so be sure to check the WhiteSquirrelFestival.com contest link in the coming weeks. John Taylor vows to hold on to his overall "Golden Nut" trophy, now proudly displayed in his store front window. That's the cumulative prize for having the fastest, squirrliest, nuttiest and people's choice points. Actual winners in each category will be posted soon.

Saturday, May 19, 2007

White Squirrel Festival activities

We're down to the last week before the 4th Annual White Squirrel Festival! Here are some of the top events...

Saturday, May 26th, 2007

Squirrel Box Derby (Jailhouse Hill) 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Wee White Critters (Tinsley Museum) 12 noon, 2:00 pm, 4:00 pm
White Squirrel Guided Tours 11:00 am, 2:00 pm, 4:00 pm (Brevard College Campus)
White Squirrel Exhibit (Tinsley Museum) 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Polaroid Photos with Woody the White Squirrel 12 noon - 5:00 pm
Pepsi Concession Stand (Times Arcade Alley) 12:00 noon - 10:00 pm
Squirrel Photo Contest (2 E Main Street) Judging at 4 pm
Live Music 11:30 am - 10 pm (9 great bands! See previous posts for schedule)

Street Festival 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

Children's Village (West Main & Jordan Street)
Food Court (East Main, between Gaston/Johnson)
Street Vendors (Gazebo block, South Broad)
WSQL Live at the Gazebo
Jennifer Burgin, Wildlife Rehabilitator
"Line of Fire", "Best Buy" Gaming (West Main Street)
Boy Scout Haymaze (Jordon Street)
Sing Up the Moon: Front Porch Singing' & Tellin' 7 pm Library Amphitheater

Sunday, May 27th, 2007

Squirrel Box Derby Finals -- Jailhouse Hill (if required) 1 pm - 2 pm
"We White Critters" (Tinsley Museum) 2 pm and 4 pm
White Squirrel Guided Tours (Brevard College) 2 pm and 5 pm
White Squirrel Exhibit (Tinsley Museum) 12 pm - 5 pm
Polaroid Photos with Woody the White Squirrel 1 pm - 5 pm
Pepsi Concession Stand (Times Arcade Alley) 12:30 - 10:00 pm
Squirrel Feeder Contest (2 East Main Street)
(Ballots at Heart of Brevard booth; winner announced at 5 pm)
Squirrel Photo Contest (2 East Main)
Live Music 12 noon - 10 pm (9 great bands! See previous posts)

Street Festival 1 pm - 6 pm

Children's Village (West Main and Jordan Streets)
Food Court (East Main, between Gaston/Johnson)
Street Vendors (Gazebo block, South Broad)
WSQL Live at the Gazebo
Jennifer Burgin, Wildlife Rehabilitator
"Line of Fire", "Best Buy", Gaming (West Main Street)

Many, many thanks to our great White Squirrel Sponsors!

French Broad Place (great new condos right in downtown Brevard)
Steve Owen & Associates (let them help you find a new home in Brevard)
City of Brevard
Asheville Regional Airport
United Community Bank
Boyd Automotive
Vulcan Materials
Platt Architecture (They designed last year's HGTV Dream Home!)
White Squirrel Shoppe
Walmart
Wachovia

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Wee Little Critters at the White Squirrel Festival

Grab your tails and hold on tight! We have a full blown theatrical production this year at the White Squirrel Festival. Wee Little Critters is being staged by the Brevard Little Theater in cooperation with The Jim Bob Tinsley Museum and the Transylvania Heritage Center. The cast includes...

Lynsy Folckomer (Barbara Mull, at age 9)
Chantel Dalton (Barbara Mull, at age 13)
Sonia Arnold (Ann Mull)
David Borden (Uncle Harry Mull)
Maxwell Bernson (Grandpa William Mull)
Liz Peryam (Professor Bushy)
Tony Morrow (Narrator)

The Director is Gene O'Hare and Producers are Tony Morrow and Joe Narsavage. Be sure to include this as a "must see" event at this year's WSF. In short, the "must sees" now include...

• The White Squirrel Guided Tours with Professor Bob Glesener
• The Squirrel Box Derby Races down Jailhouse Hill
• The Wee Little Critters

The shows run Saturday, May 26th, 2007 at noon, 2pm and 4pm. And again Sunday at 2pm and 4pm.

Labels: , , ,