Community Calendar

Live Bluegrass with The Sons of Ralph band at Jack of the Wood in Asheville NC, Fridays at 7:00

A brand-new live music experience is coming to the rails June 5 & 6, 2026.

Step aboard a historic steam-powered train for an unforgettable evening of live music and mountain scenery. The Great Smoky Mountains Music Train is a moving musical journey through the heart of the Smokies—traveling alongside the Nantahala River and Fontana Lake.

What to Expect
• 6 live performances throughout vintage railcars
• 2 full bands + 4 solo/duo/trio artists performing live American, Appalachian, folk, country and bluegrass music
• Wander freely between coaches and open-air gondola cars
• Beer, wine and food offerings available for purchase onboard
• Dance, relax, mingle, and enjoy nonstop music
• Stunning mountain views from start to finish
Each music coach offers its own vibe, sound system, and atmosphere. Four enclosed vintage coaches provide seating and room to move, while two open-air gondola cars are dedicated to high-energy band performances and dancing. Two additional quiet coaches are available for conversation and relaxing.

A One-of-a-Kind Experience
Think of it as a jam session in your living room—except your living room is a moving train winding through the Great Smoky Mountains.
Schedule
• Boarding: 6:30 pm
• Departure: 7:00 pm sharp
• Return: Approximately 10:00 pm
• Includes a short intermission during the ride
• Round trip: approximately 3 hours

The train departs from and returns to the Bryson City Depot in downtown Bryson City, NC.

COME JAM ON TUESDAYS!
Fireforge's Open Bluegrass Acoustic Jam with hosts Matt Purinton and Sam Kruer is every Tuesday evening from 6:30-8:30 pm! Everyone with an acoustic instrument is welcome to play. Come jam or listen and request tunes! It’s going to be a ton of picking and grinning . See you there!

MEET THE HOSTS
Matt and Sam are both veterans of the Greenville music scene. While both are steeped in bluegrass, they’re versatile in their ability to play many styles. Matt’s fiery mandolin playing and Sam’s rock solid bass grooves enable them to make an exciting bluegrass sound that you’ll want to rock with!

COME JAM ON TUESDAYS!
Fireforge's Open Bluegrass Acoustic Jam with hosts Matt Purinton and Sam Kruer is every Tuesday evening from 6:30-8:30 pm! Everyone with an acoustic instrument is welcome to play. Come jam or listen and request tunes! It’s going to be a ton of picking and grinning . See you there!

MEET THE HOSTS
Matt and Sam are both veterans of the Greenville music scene. While both are steeped in bluegrass, they’re versatile in their ability to play many styles. Matt’s fiery mandolin playing and Sam’s rock solid bass grooves enable them to make an exciting bluegrass sound that you’ll want to rock with!

Live Bluegrass with The Sons of Ralph band at Jack of the Wood in Asheville NC, Fridays at 7:00

The Feast of St. John Helps Helene Survivors

Flat Rock, N.C. – The Episcopal Church of St. John in the Wilderness invites you to celebrate its patron saint, John the Baptist, with the Feast of St. John. The sixth annual celebration will be held from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 21, 2026 at Hubba Hubba Smokehouse, located on Little Rainbow Row at 2724 Greenville Highway in Flat Rock.

The family-friendly celebration features food, fellowship and live music with the return of North Carolina based Chatham Rabbits. Sarah and Austin McCombie tour nationwide, have released four full-length records and still find time to run their farm in Chatham County.

Even though the event is free, this is a fundraiser for the ongoing Hurricane Helene Relief efforts in Bat Cave, Chimney Rock and Lake Lure. The funds will go to the Church of the Transfiguration in Bat Cave. Father John Roberts of the parish said, “Our focus is on meeting specific unmet financial needs for our community. Everything given to our Hurricane Recovery fund is restricted for rebuilding purposes. This is an ongoing effort and that will continue this year. Last year, we distributed over $105,000 out of this fund for unmet needs, small grants, and rebuilding efforts to over 50 households.”

Donation receptacles will be present at the event. For anyone wishing to donate outside the event, visit www.stjohnflatrock.org/donate. Check the box to write a comment and type "Feast of St. John."

Guests should arrive early to get their food order in and find a seat. Yard games will be offered for children. Barbecue and other family-favorite foods and beverages will be available for purchase at Hubba Hubba Smokehouse. Seating at the picturesque outdoor courtyard is limited, so guests are encouraged to bring portable chairs.

If rain spoils the outdoor fun, the concert will begin at 6:00 p.m. inside the Parish Hall of the church at 1905 Greenville Highway in Flat Rock. Food will not be offered. For more information, visit www.stjohnflatrock.org or call 828-693-9783.

COME JAM ON TUESDAYS!
Fireforge's Open Bluegrass Acoustic Jam with hosts Matt Purinton and Sam Kruer is every Tuesday evening from 6:30-8:30 pm! Everyone with an acoustic instrument is welcome to play. Come jam or listen and request tunes! It’s going to be a ton of picking and grinning . See you there!

MEET THE HOSTS
Matt and Sam are both veterans of the Greenville music scene. While both are steeped in bluegrass, they’re versatile in their ability to play many styles. Matt’s fiery mandolin playing and Sam’s rock solid bass grooves enable them to make an exciting bluegrass sound that you’ll want to rock with!

Live Bluegrass with The Sons of Ralph band at Jack of the Wood in Asheville NC, Fridays at 7:00

COME JAM ON TUESDAYS!
Fireforge's Open Bluegrass Acoustic Jam with hosts Matt Purinton and Sam Kruer is every Tuesday evening from 6:30-8:30 pm! Everyone with an acoustic instrument is welcome to play. Come jam or listen and request tunes! It’s going to be a ton of picking and grinning . See you there!

MEET THE HOSTS
Matt and Sam are both veterans of the Greenville music scene. While both are steeped in bluegrass, they’re versatile in their ability to play many styles. Matt’s fiery mandolin playing and Sam’s rock solid bass grooves enable them to make an exciting bluegrass sound that you’ll want to rock with!

Celebrate America’s 250th Independence Day at the Stars, Stripes, and Strings Festival in Downtown Spruce Pine on July 3rd from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The event will feature live music, family-friendly activities and games, local food trucks and vendors, downtown dining, community gathering spaces, patriotic displays, a parade hosted by the Kiwanis Club, and a fireworks finale to close out the evening.

The event highlights a strong lineup of live entertainment, including GRAMMY Award winner and reigning two-time IBMA Guitar Player of the Year Trey Hensley, along with performances by Bandana Rhythm, High Mountain Grass, Toe River Drifters, and more.