Stories from surrounding communities, closest first.
Smoky Mountain News · Bryson City, NC
Nearby: Bryson City, NCJackson County Americana/folk duo Bird in Hand will perform at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, at Mountain Layers Brewing Company in Bryson City. The road less traveled has always been the way for husband-and-wife duo Bird in Hand. Bryan & Megan Thurman call the Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina home, and the region is directly reflected in their music. Bird in Hand is upbeat and new while still rooted in the traditions of American folk. The two have played all over the Appalachian region, as well as across the country, and share an onstage chemistry that demands attention. They need to be seen live to understand the meaning of “Appalachian Thunder Folk.” The show is free and open to the public. For more information, visit mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.
Voice & Viewpoint · Newport, TN
Nearby: Newport, TNAbout 90% of Black voters backed Democratic House candidates in 2026, compared with roughly 80% who supported Kamala Harris in 2024, according to the AP Voter post-election poll, with 61% saying they cast their vote specifically to express opposition to President Donald Trump. Similar voting patterns emerged among Latino and Asian American voters. Among Black men, about one in 10 voted for a Republican House candidate this year, compared with roughly one in four who supported Donald Trump in 2024, according to the AP poll. Black candidates also fared well on election night Nov. 3, creating many firsts. A poll released Nov. 4 by BSP Research, noted that 69% of Black voters had a very unfavorable opinion of Trump; 57% also had a very unfavorable opinion of Republicans in Congress.
Smoky Mountain News · Maggie Valley, NC
Nearby: Maggie Valley, NCAmericana/indie-folk singer-songwriter Alan Edwards will perform at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, at the Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley. Edwards has been a singer-songwriter for over 30 years. His music holds an honesty and an authenticity not built on outward style but inner substance. He is joined by a backing band of some of the top players in the region, all with vocal harmonies reminiscent of The Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers, and Buck Owens & Don Rich. Admission is $30 per person. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, visit cataloocheeranch.com/ranch-event.
Church News · Knoxville, TN
Nearby: Knoxville, TNThe 2026 Church Music Festival, “Love Without End,” was a celebration of music of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in a variety of ways. The concert Saturday, Nov. 7, in the Salt Lake Tabernacle on Temple Square included more than 300 singers and musicians — many traveled from across the country to be in the Tabernacle or performed via submitted videos. Songs were performed by choirs, soloists, duets and small groups. Styles included contemporary, strings, gospel, jazz and Latin. More than half the program featured new hymns that have been published digitally in the Church’s new hymnbook, “Hymns for Home and Church.” Singing in the festival allowed Maddy Cook, a Utah State University student who sang in a combined institute choir, to worship Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ with hundreds of other people. “I feel like the Spirit was really strong,” she said afterward.
Cleveland Daily Banner · Knoxville, TN
Nearby: Knoxville, TNKENTUCKY RUNNING BACK CJ Baxter (1) runs for yardages as he's hit by Tennessee linebacker Arion Carter (7) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, in Knoxville, Tenn. AP photo, WADE PAYNE KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Standing at the podium, basking in his 16th-ranked team’s 34-6 victory over No, 8 Kentucky Saturday night, Tennessee coach Josh Heupel got emotional.It had little to do with the play on the field.Volunteers linebackers coach William Inge had been away from the team for almost two months with an undisclosed serious medical situation. Inge was hospitalized for most of October and is now on the mend at home. He was allowed to be on the sideline for the game.His presence was a significant motivator for the Vols (7-2, 4-2 in Southeastern Conference).“We have truly witnessed a miracle and God’s hands on somebody,” Heupel said about Inge’s recovery. “It was motivation for everyone.
Smoky Mountain News · Waynesville, NC
Nearby: Waynesville, NCI’ve always dreamed of living a weird life. Not a self-destructive one. Not one of chaos and confusion. But, one of constant movement and interaction with strangers who became fast friends over a cold pint of beer or simply talking in a parking lot because I liked their T-shirt or they liked mine. That’s all. There’s a reason I bring this up. A very big reason in my existence. One recent evening, alone in my humble abode one-bedroom apartment in downtown Waynesville, I re-watched the seminal 2007 film “Into the Wild.” It had been many years since I viewed that serene movie, and yet it still hit all of the deepest buttons within my absolute being: love, truth, and sense of self. And I vividly remember the first time I saw “Into the Wild.” It was February 2008 in the very, very tiny town of Victor, Idaho. The population at that time was around 800.
Smoky Mountain News · Waynesville, NC
Nearby: Waynesville, NCThe Haywood County Arts Council’s “Small Works” exhibit will run through Thursday, Dec. 31, in the Haywood Handmade Gallery at the HCAC in downtown Waynesville. The annual exhibit expands the types of work for sale in the downtown Waynesville gallery, as well as who can display their work. With dozens of artists participating, the exhibit promises to be eclectic. “Small Works is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our local artists and find meaningful, one-of-a-kind gifts,” said HCAC Executive Director Tonya Harwood. “Every purchase supports the talented artists who make Haywood County such a special place.” Although the only requirement is that the pieces be 12 inches in any dimension or smaller in any dimension, HCAC challenges participants who are making holiday themed works to consider artistic expressions that are multicultural in nature and celebrate the many different holidays — including the ways of celebrating and ways of experiencing holidays.
Elizabethton Star · Morristown, TN
Nearby: Morristown, TNSTAR STAFF REPORTS A cold front moving through East Tennessee is expected to bring much colder temperatures and the possibility of snow in the higher elevations of Carter County beginning Thursday evening, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown. The National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather outlook early Thursday, Nov. 12, warning that rain will transition to snow across the East Tennessee mountains and portions of southwest Virginia as colder air moves into the region. A winter weather advisory will take effect at 7 p.m. Thursday for elevations above 3,000 feet in the East Tennessee mountains. Forecasters expect snow to continue intermittently through Saturday morning in the higher elevations of East Tennessee and portions of southwest Virginia. Total snow accumulations of 1 to 4 inches are expected in areas covered by the winter weather advisory, with locally higher amounts possible across the highest mountain peaks.
Smoky Mountain News · Franklin, NC
Nearby: Franklin, NC1. Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center (Franklin) will host Mama’s Broke (Americana) at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12. 2. Americana/indie-folk singer-songwriter Alan Edwards will perform at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, at the Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley. 3. The Haywood County Arts Council’s “Small Works” exhibit will run through Dec. 31 at the Haywood Handmade Gallery in Waynesville. 4. A “Community Contra Dance” will be held from 6:30-9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. 5. Holiday Art Market (Bryson City) will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at Southwestern Community College.
Smoky Mountain News · Franklin, NC
Nearby: Franklin, NCTo celebrate the release of its first anthology book, the Smoky Mountain Storytellers series will continue with its next installment, which will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at Outdoor 76 in downtown Franklin. The event will feature a mix of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry by guest writers Rhonda Browning White, Skip Horack, Andrew Clark, Doug Woodward, Lauren Raye, Bob Scott, Adam Bigelow, and Whitney Waters. “Storytellers came about as a way to gather and enjoy the craft of writing in a live, collective environment. In this day of the digital age, live, in-person performance is not only more valuable and rare, but it’s also becoming a lifeline for creativity,” said series co-founder Hannah McLeod. The reading is free and open to the public. For more information, email [email protected].
Smoky Mountain News · Franklin, NC
Nearby: Franklin, NCA “Community Contra Dance” will be held from 6:30-9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. Contra dance is a form of social folk dancing from which square dancing evolved, so it shares many of the same movements. As always, no partner is necessary, generations mix. All are welcome, including beginners. No dance experience or fancy clothing are necessary. Those who would like to come out just to listen to the music are welcome, too. For the uninitiated, the caller walks the dancers through the steps of the upcoming dance for a few minutes and then continues to call the moves in time to the music so the dancers know what to do next. Dances will include contras, squares, mixers and perhaps a few other types of folk dances appropriate to the level of the dancers in attendance. Beginners are strongly encouraged to arrive by 6:30 p.m. for the instruction. The dance itself will run from 7-9 p.m.
