HIGHLIGHTS

Gatlinburg’s Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival, Sept. 19 - Oct. 31 will feature autumn-themed activities, such as old-fashioned hay rides. COURTESY of Tennessee Department of Tourism Development

GATLINBURG’S AUTUMN CELEBRATION
Downtown Gatlinburg, Tenn., will be decked out with the colors of fall for the Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival, Sept. 19- Oct. 31. Old-fashioned hay rides, local craft exhibits, special events and live entertainment will be spotlighted throughout the six-week schedule. As an extra attraction, artisans and storekeepers will decorate storefronts with the red, orange and yellow hues of the season for the occasion. Hours vary. Free admission. For more information, call 800-568-4748 or visit smokymountainharvestfest.com.

POTTERS To EXHIBIT IN VIRGINIA
Cave Spring High School in Roanoke, Va. will host works created by about 40 area potters during the ninth annual Blue Ridge Potters Guild Show/Sale Oct. 17-19. Theme for this year’s show will be “Child’s Play.” A special gallery exhibit interpreting the theme will show works from the 60+ guild members. A separate exhibit will feature pottery donated by guild members. Hours: 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, and 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. For more, visit blueridgepotters.com.

ALSO ON TAP

Sept. 11: Taste of Black Mountain, Black Mountain, N.C. Samples from area restaurants and beer and wine distributors. Admission fee to be charged. For more information, call 828-669-2300.

Sept. 13: Mountain Music and Arts & Crafts Festival, Vogel State Park, Blairsville, Ga. Appalachian, bluegrass and gospel music, arts and crafts booths, demonstrations and food concessions. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission: $2-$5, plus $3 parking. For details: 706-745-2628.

Sept. 13-14: Autumn Arts Festival, city park, Hagers-
town, Md. Hay rides, barrel rides and pumpkin painting. Activities begin at 11 a.m. daily. For more information: 301-739-8577, ext. 116 or hagerstownmd.org.

Sept. 13, Oct. 11: Ole Mater Farm Festival, Sylva, N.C. Region’s top bluegrass and bluegrass gospel groups perform from noon to 9:30 p.m. Admission: adults, $10;

Tours of the Biltmore Estate, including the winery, will be held during the Field-to-Table Festival, a celebration of fine food and drink, Sept. 19-28. courtesy of biltmore estates

Sept. 19, 26: Discovery at Dusk, Rosman, N.C. A four-hour canoe trip on the French Broad River. Departs at 4 p.m. Cost: $50 per person. Reservations required. Contact: 828-877-3106; headwatersoutfitters.com.

Sept. 19-28: Field-to-Table Festival, Biltmore House, Asheville, N.C. Traditional celebration of fine food and drink with estate tours, culinary demonstrations, wine barrel tastings, seminars and entertainment. Call 800-411-3812 or visit biltmore.com.

Sept. 20-21: Wildlife Art Festival of North Georgia, downtown Blue Ridge Park, Blue Ridge, Ga. Sponsored by Blue Ridge Mountain Arts Association, a showcase of finest Southeast wildlife artists. Call 706-632-2144 for more information.

Sept. 20-21: Heritage Crafts Weekend, Heritage Garden at North Carolina Arboretum, Asheville, N.C. Demonstrations, plant sales and musical performances. Artists and crafters to include basket, jewelry and paper makers, weavers, wood carvers and more. Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Parking fees only. Contact: 828-665-2492; ncarboretum.org.

Sept. 26-27: Great Smoky Mountains Third Annual Auto Fest, Smokies Stadium, Sevierville, Tenn. Wide variety of autos, swap meet, car corral, cash and prize giveaways, Thursday night cruise-in and downtown block party. Open at
8 a.m. For more, call 865-428-2212 or visit smokymtnautofest.com.

Sept. 26-28: Tryon Fall Classic, FENCE Equestrian Center, Tryon, N.C. Jumping competitions; show begins at 7 a.m. For more, call 828-859-9021.

Sept. 27: Pioneer Days, Toccoa, Ga. Travelers Rest Historic Site hosts traditional pioneer skills demonstrations, music, dancing and treats from early 1800s. Hours: 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Admission: $2.50-$4. Call 706-886-2256 for more details.

Sept. 27: Culture Fest, Chattanooga, Tenn. Free day-long event at Coolidge Park celebrates cultural diversity through music, dance, food and arts. Contact: 423-267-1218 or artsedcouncil.org.

Sept. 27: Fall Birding, Table Rock State Park, Pickens, S.C. Led by the park naturalist and members of the Greenville County Bird Club, a search for warblers, songbirds and habitats. Participants should bring binoculars. Hours: 8:30-10:30 a.m. Contact: 864-878-9813.

Sept. 27-28: 20th Annual Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival, Lakewatch Plantation, Moneta, Va. Twenty-seven wineries to be represented, along with 85 juried craft and food vendors and outdoor concerts. Tickets available for tasters and non-tasters. Hours: 11 a.m.-
6 p.m. For details: 800-676-8203.

Mitch Albom’s memoir “Tuesdays With Morrie” comes to life on stage at Flatrock Playhouse in Flat Rock, N.C., Oct. 1-19. courtesy of flatrock playhouse

Oct. 1-19: “Tuesdays With Morrie,” Flatrock Playhouse, Flat Rock, N.C. Loving memoir by Mitch Albom and Jeffrey Hatcher to professor Morrie Schwartz, who helped Albom see the world as a more profound place. Admission: $29. Show times are 8:15 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays; 2:15 p.m. Sundays. For more: 828-693-0731; flatrockplayhouse.org.

Oct. 3-4: Three Sisters Music Festival, Ross’s Landing, Chattanooga, Tenn. The Chattanooga Downtown Partnership showcases top names in contemporary and traditional bluegrass. Hours vary. Visit downtownchattanooga.org or call 423-265-0771 for more information.

Oct. 3 - Nov. 14: “Desperate Hours,” Barter Theatre, Abingdon, Va. A trio of escaped convicts takes over an unassuming Midwest home. Showtimes and ticket prices vary. For more, call 276-628-3991 or visit bartertheatre.com.

Oct. 4: Freshwater Folk Festival, National Fish Hatchery, White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. Live music, educational activities, demonstrations, homemade food and craft items. Hours: 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. For details: 304-536-1361;
freshwaterfolkfestival.org.

Oct. 4-5: Fall Colors Train Ride, Oak Ridge, Tenn. Scenic tour of East Tennessee’s autumn foliage on Secret City Excursion Train. Departure times:
11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Contact: 865-241-2140.

Oct. 4-26: Rocktoberfest, Rock City Square, Lookout Mountain, Ga. Celebration of harvests and fall foliage with German music and food, specialty beer and polka stage. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Rock City admission: $15.95 adults/$8.95 child. Contact: 706-820-2531.

Oct. 8-12: The 41st Annual Autumn Glory Festival, Oakland, Md. Countywide activities: parades, Maryland state banjo and fiddle championships, crafts, antiques vendors and concerts. Hours vary. Contact: 301-387-4386; visitdeepcreek.com.

Oct. 11: Black Dog Wine and Beach Music Festival, Château Morrisette, Floyd, Va. Key West Band and The Catalinas to perform. Also crafters, artisans, vendors and Wine 101 expert presentation. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. For details, call 540-593-2865 or visit thedogs.com

Oct. 11-12: Hands & Harvest Festival, Monterey, Va. Activities and entertainment, plus seasonal foods: apple dumplings, barbecue, baked goods and Allegheny Mountain trout. Hours vary. Contact: 540-468-2550; highlandcounty.org.

Oct. 11: Taste of Our Town Festival, downtown Lewisburg, W.Va. Food from regional restaurants and civic organizations, live music and children’s activities. For more, call 304-645-7917 or visit carnegiehallwv.com.

Oct. 13-14: Full Moon Suspension Bridge Hikes, Tallulah Gorge State Park Interpretive Center, Tallulah Falls, Ga. Evening hikes follow North Rim Trail, with 325-step descent of Hurricane Falls Trail staircase to suspension bridge over Hurricane Falls. Hours: 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Advance registration required. Cost: $4 parking. Contact: 706-754-7981.

Oct. 17-19: Lake Eden Arts Festival, Camp Rockmont, Black Mountain, N.C. Celebration of world folk arts with concerts, dancing, handcrafts, healing arts, poetry and workshops. Contact: 828-686-8742; theleaf.com.

Oct. 18: Eighth Annual Chili Cook-Off, downtown, Bryson City, N.C. Prizes in professional and amateur classes, showmanship and people’s choice. Music, arts and crafts. Hours: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Contact: 828-488-3681; greatsmokies.com.

West Virginia’s largest one-day event, the New River Gorge Bridge Day Festival, includes BASE jumpers, arts, crafts and food on Oct. 18. courtesy of new river gorge bridge day festival

Oct. 18: New River Gorge Bridge Day Festival, Fayetteville, W.Va. State’s largest one-day event with BASE jumpers, arts, crafts, and food. Hours: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. For more details: 800-927-0263 or officialbridgeday.com.

Oct. 18-19: Gold Rush Days, public square, Dahlonega, Ga. Celebration of peak fall colors and town’s 1828 gold discovery. Arts and crafts exhibitions, children’s activities, live music, hog calling, and wheelbarrow race. Hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call 706-864-3513.

Oct. 25: Fall Color Walk, Greenville, S.C. Stroll through Paris Mountain State Park to Mountain Lake with lake reflections of autumn hues, leaf identification and explanation of fall color. Hours: 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Program fee $5. To register and for more information, call park office at 864-244-5565.

Send future calendar events to mtnhomescalendar@charter.net.