Haywood County’s Ready for Prime Time Players
Haywood County provides fertile grounds for a group of artists with diverse talents from mountain music to concert music to live theater. You will want to schedule time to experience one or several of these live performances.
Mountain Music
Mountain music has been in the heart and soul of Haywood County since before the Revolutionary War.
In Canton, there’s “Pickin’ in the Park,” held outdoors each Friday night at the Canton Recreation Park from May through September.
In Maggie Valley, from April through October, each night Tuesday through Saturday, there’s music and dance at the Stompin’ Ground, known as the “Clogging Capital of the World.”
There’s bluegrass music at the Maggie Valley Opry House nightly April through October.
Every other Friday July 4th through August, downtown Waynesville closes off part of its Main Street to have square dancing and old-time music.
The Haywood Community Band
If you are in Maggie at the Maggie Pavilion on the third Sunday evening at 6:30 P.M. from May through October, you are in for a musical treat. The Haywood Community Band performs a varied repertoire including music from Cole Porter, Johann Straus and John Philip Sousa. You can catch them at other venues throughout Haywood County during their performance season.
The Haywood Arts Regional Theatre (HART)
The Haywood Arts Regional Theatre born in 1997 is a volunteer supported community theatre. Stage performances are in the James Auditorium, a 255-seat traditional proscenium space that operates April through November. In the winter, productions shift to the 75-seat Feichter Studio Theatre for a second season of more experimental work. The theatre built in the style of 1920s Summer Stock theatres enhances the experience.
Dinner and the theater is a distinct possibility in between exploring the great outdoors of western North Carolina. What a fun juxtaposition!
