Live Saturday music offered by Friends of the Greenway (FROG) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 573 E. Main Street, Franklin. Upcoming: Aug. 16, Nena Lee & Friends, Gary Gibson and George James; Aug. 23, Dave Stewart; Aug. 30, George James and Sheila Krause.
Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center’s “Where We Live: History, Nature, and Culture” series continues Tuesday, Aug. 18, 6:30 p.m., with a focus on understanding and caring for area streams and rivers. Featured speaker Lewis Penland is vice president of Penland Contracting, was a participant in the Mountain Landscapes Initiative Toolbox, was former chairman of the Macon County Planning Board and has helped with the Clean Water Contractor classes. A meal will be available at 5:30 p.m. in the school’s old lunchroom for $20. The Center is located at 51 Cowee School Dr., 6 miles north of Franklin on Hwy. 28.
The Macon County Republican Women’s Club will meet Tuesday, Aug. 19, at 11:30 a.m., at Riverwalk Grille, 57 Highlands Rd., Franklin. Guest speaker to be announced. All Republican women are welcome to attend.
Pet First Aid and CPR is being offered Saturday, Aug. 23, at 4 p.m., at Sky Valley/Scaly Mountain Volunteer Fire Department Community Room. This event is free, but register by emailing [email protected].
The Franklin Bird Club leads walks on Wednesday mornings along the Little Tennessee Greenway. Walks begin at 8 a.m. at alternating locations. The schedule and directions are listed at www.littletennessee.org/franklin-bird-club The public is welcome, all walks are weather dependent. Upcoming walks are: Aug. 20, Macon County Public Library parking lot; Aug. 27, Big Bear parking lot near the playground; Sept. 3, Salali Lane; Sept. 10, Macon County Public Library parking lot.
Friends of the Rickman Store is inviting the public to celebrate with Mainspring Conservation Trust the 100th anniversary of the historic Rickman Store, Saturday, Aug. 16, at 11 a.m. Located at 259 Cowee Creek Road, the store offers music, local crafts, unique antique items and refreshments.
Pickin’ on the Square will feature Rock Holler Band (Rock) Aug. 23; and Franklin’s own Jason Passmore (Country/Country Rock) on Aug. 30. Sponsored by the Town of Franklin, Pickin’ happens every other Saturday through October and features local and regional musical talent as well as food and beverages for sale. Bring a chair. For information about upcoming featured musicians, visit www.franklinnc.com.
828Vets Day is Thursday, Aug. 28, and the public is invited to the Gazebo on the square in downtown Franklin beginning at 9 a.m. for the presentation of an award for volunteer of the year, a testimony, the national anthem, and an overview of 828Vets mission, activities, membership information, and more.
A Macon County Master Gardener is available on the first Monday of each month at the Holly Springs Community Building, 2720 Cat Creek Road, from 9 to 11 a.m. to answer plant and garden questions. A variety of gardening-related handouts will also be available. This is a free, community service.
Karaoke is available in Franklin at Lazy Hiker, every other Friday, and The Rathskeller Coffee Bar and Pub the first, second, and fourth Wednesdays of each month.
Open Mic Night second Friday, 6 to 8 p.m., at Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center; email [email protected]. The center is located at 51 Cowee School Dr., 6 miles north of Franklin on Hwy. 28.
Aglow International Franklin Lighthouse hosts a gathering the third Saturday of each month at 10 a.m., at 164 Iotla Church Rd.
Franklin Alcoholics Anonymous “Open Meetings” are for anyone who thinks they may have a drinking problem or for anyone interested in the A.A. recovery program. In-person meetings are held Tuesdays 5:30 p.m. at No Wrong Door, 102 Thomas Heights Rd.; Sunday at 1 p.m., and Monday, Wednesday and Friday 5:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church Outreach Center, 66 Harrison Ave.; and Saturday at 10 a.m.,Tuesday at 8 a.m. and Thursday at 12 noon at St. Agnes Episcopal Church on 66 Church St. On-line meeting information is available by visiting www.aawnc80.org; or to speak with a member of A.A., call (828)349-4357.
Awake America Prayer Meeting is held on the first Thursday of every month, from 12 to 1 p.m. at Macon County Recreation Center, 1288 Georgia Road, Franklin. For more information, contact facilitator Bob Henson, (229)352-0620; email: [email protected]; or visit www.awakeamericaprayer meetings.org.
James Thompson’s Classic Country Sound bluegrass and gospel music the first and third Friday at 60 Firehouse Road behind the Otto Fire Department. Hosted by Otto Community Development Club.
Trivia nights are the fourth Monday of each month, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Otto Community Center, 65 Firehouse Road, Otto; Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. at Lazy Hiker on Main Street in Franklin; every third Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Rathskeller Coffee Bar and Pub, in Franklin; and Mondays at 7 p.m. at Currahee Brewing Company.
Franklin Al-anon “Live and Let Live” Family Group in-person meetings are Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. at St. Agnes Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 66 Church St. Parking is behind the church. Al-Anon is a fellowship of friends and family dealing with the impact of another’s drinking or substance abuse. Contact (334)224-4785.
Nar-Anon is a support group for friends and families whose lives have been affected by addiction. Meetings are held Tuesday nights at 7 p.m., Hickory Knoll Global Methodist Church, 86 E. Hickory Knoll Rd., in the fellowship hall building. Contact Karen (408)829-4452.
Franklin Lions Club meets the second and fourth Monday, 6 p.m., Louisa Chapel Methodist, 470 Louisa Chapel Road.
FUNDRAISERS
Magnolia Mission/WNC Resource Room Yard Sale is Aug. 16 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 374 W. Main Street, Franklin. Most items are priced at $1 and all proceeds from the event are for Magnolia Mission, which “provides support, supplies, and encouragement to current and prospective foster, adoptive, and kinship families and children, as well as biological families,” and WNC Resource Room, “which is a place for resource (foster, adoptive, and kinship) parents to obtain items, furniture, toys, clothing, accessories, etc.” For more information, contact Jill Murphy at (828)421-8600.
An Evening of Appalachian Tradition and Bluegrass Music. The Bascom: A Center for the Visual Arts invites the community to an evening steeped in regional tradition at the annual Bascom Barn Dance, set for Thursday, Aug. 14, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. This lively and family-friendly event celebrates the spirit of Appalachian square dancing and its rich cultural heritage.
Square dancing has long been a beloved pastime in the region. The Bascom Barn Dance continues this legacy, bringing the community together through music, movement, and shared joy.
This year’s event features the high-energy bluegrass sounds of Jackson Grimm and the Hidden Valley Ranchers, accompanied by old-time country caller, Harrison Keeley, who will guide dancers of all experience levels.
The Bascom is located at 323 Franklin Road, Highlands. Admission is $10 for adults; free for children under 12. Reserve tickets by visiting thebascom.org or calling (828)526-4949
About The Bascom
The Bascom creates visual art experiences that inspire and empower individuals and communities through seeing, thinking, and doing. For more than 30 years, The Bascom has served as a vital cultural resource for Western North Carolina, and continues to build on that legacy through advocacy for the arts.
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