Downtown Waynesville Commission

04/15/2026

Big News! Waynesville has been named #2 Best Main Street in America by USA Today Readers.

This national honor places Waynesville among the most beloved downtowns in the country, celebrating its vibrant blend of locally owned shops, renowned restaurants, thriving arts scene, and breathtaking mountain backdrop in the heart of Western North Carolina.

Thank you to everyone who voted to put Waynesville on the map for others to enjoy, and thank you to the businesses that have made Waynesville among the best in America.

04/02/2026

The Appalachian True Heritage Festival returns to Downtown Waynesville on April 17–18, and it's bigger than ever! Experience live music from the Darren Nicholson Band, Woody Platt & the Bluegrass Gentlemen, Appalachian Roadshow, and Upstream Rebellion — plus hands-on craft demos, a community quilt show, community jam, and a scenic Quilt Trails Bus Tour (ticketed). Free admission to the festival.

👉 Read the full blog to plan your weekend!

Two Days of Mountain Culture, Craft, Food, and Live Music – With Exciting New Experiences for 2026WAYNESVILLE, N.C. — The mountains are calling, and the Appalachian True Heritage Festival is answering. Organizers are proud to announce the return of this beloved celebration to the heart of Downto...

03/24/2026

Don't forget to cast your vote! Voting through USA TODAY 10BEST is open until April 6th (voting available daily), and votes can be cast through our website, Downtownwaynesville.com.

Downtown Waynesville is asking residents and supporters to help push the town to the top in a pair of national contests recognizing standout main streets.

03/20/2026

Downtown Waynesville has been nominated as 'Best Main Street' by USA TODAY and 'Best Main Street in the South' by Garden & Gun! Show your love for Downtown Waynesville by voting on our website. Click the linktree in our bio access.

Good news... you can vote daily through USA Today and hourly through Garden & Gun!

03/02/2026

Last Call for Heritage Vendors! 📢

Due to a recent spike in interest for the 2026 Appalachian True Heritage Festival, we have decided to extend the application period until Wednesday, 3/4/26 at 11:59pm.

The Appalachian True Heritage Festival is a two-day celebration of the rich history, traditional crafts, and vibrant mountain culture of Western North Carolina. The event brings together cultural bearers, artisans, musicians, storytellers, and the broader community for a hands-on, educational, and immersive experience. Please note: Vendor booths will be set up on the second day of the event only. By submitting an application you are applying to vend on Saturday, April 18th, 2026.

We look forward to receiving your applications!

02/06/2026

February is the month of love... loving the locals that is! 💕

Shopping local is the backbone of our thriving Downtown district. The 'Love the Locals' campaign is more than just a series of sales; it's a heartfelt thank you to the residents who support the small, independently-owned businesses that give Downtown Waynesville its unique character. This February, we’re making it extra rewarding to be a local! ✨

Look for the exclusive 'Love the Locals' HEART signage in business storefronts or check out our website (in bio) to find out which businesses are participating.

02/05/2026

Please Take & Share Our Ice Fest Survey ❄️

Despite another challenging year with the weather, Ice Fest was a success because of you. Our partners, towns, volunteers, local businesses, and HCTDA staff came together, adapted, and made it happen and we couldn’t be more grateful.

We’d love your feedback as we look ahead. Please take a few minutes to complete our Ice Fest survey, and if possible, share it with your email lists or on social media so we can gather as much feedback as possible.

Take the survey here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/RFJX9PX

🗓 Survey closes: February 17, 2026

02/03/2026

Meet the Downtown Waynesville Commission director, Beth Gilmore! 👋

Part of our mission is to champion the growth and stewardship of Downtown Waynesville. With this, we are extremely excited to launch our newest ‘Appalachian True Life’ video story series featuring your community members and neighbors. Through this series we will take a deeper look into the individuals that make our community so special.

01/30/2026

We are thrilled to announce that we are accepting vendor applications for the 2026 Appalachian True Heritage Festival! ✨

The Appalachian True Heritage Festival is a two-day celebration of the rich history, traditional crafts, and vibrant mountain culture of Western North Carolina. The event brings together cultural bearers, artisans, musicians, storytellers, and the broader community for a hands-on, educational, and immersive experience.

Please see the link in our bio to apply and make sure to read all of the event information before applying. We will kick off this year's festival with a concert under the Arch on April 17th, followed by a craft vendor market and live heritage craft demonstrations on Saturday, April 18th.

We can't wait to hear from all the wonderful local businesses and community members that make this event so special!

Please email [email protected] with questions 📩

12/11/2025

The time is here! Get excited for 2025's Annual Smoky Mountain Christmas Celebration.

This year guests are invited to participate in our Elf Trail: a 12-stop trail offering various children's activities and fun for the whole family! Each stop on the trail is marked by festive lollipops, and those that complete the trail will be gifted a prize, but that's not all...

Also featured at this year's event:
🎵 Live music & carolers
🎅 Santa + Grinch Photo Opportunities
🎤 Christmas Karaoke
📸 Elf Photo Booth
🐴 Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides
❄️ Live Ice Carvings
🍭 Food Trucks (for the perfect sweet treat)
🔅 Hundreds of Luminaries
✍️ Live Gesture Drawings
+ Live Nativity Scene at First Baptist Church of Waynesville

Hope to see you there THIS Saturday evening, 12/13, from 6-9PM!