THE GREAT OUTDOORS

The Fabulous Fakes exhibit each April involves artists creating unique versions of master works with more than 50 “Fakes” exhibited at various venues. The League’s Henderson County Library gallery hosts themed exhibits throughout the year. A Member Showcase each November takes place at host gallery Art on 7th. Other exhibits “pop up” each year around town. The annual, year-round, ArtScape Banner Project is an outdoor exhibit with the work of 40 local artists. The Art League’s Open Studio Tour in October provides artists and the community an opportunity to see and learn from artists at work. More than 50 artist studios are open to the public on one weekend. Brochures and maps are available for both events at the Visitor Center. Adult classes and workshops are offered in a variety of two- and threedimensional media. Experienced instructors teach in small classes to provide the best experience for students. Visitors and nonmembers are welcome to these and all exhibits.

MUSIC

CAROLINA CONCERT CHOIR

828-393-5737 CarolinaConcertChoir.org

The Carolina Concert Choir has about 50 members of all ages under the direction of Artistic Director and Conductor Dr. Michael Lancaster with Richard Riccardi serving as accompanist. Composed of auditioned singers from Hendersonville, Asheville, Sylva, Brevard and upstate South Carolina, the choir’s repertoire includes a mix of classical choral and choral/ symphonic compositions and lighter fare, including popular favorites. The Carolina Concert Choir performs twice a year, near the Christmas/ Hanukkah holiday in mid-December and in mid-April for a spring concert. Rehearsals and performances are at Grace Lutheran Church at 1245 6th Avenue West in Hendersonville. The choir also periodically performs with the Asheville Symphony Chorus, Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra and Brevard Philharmonic Orchestra in their venues. The Carolina Concert Choir sponsors the annual All-County Honors chorus for more than 80 aspiring middle and high school students which concludes with a concert the third weekend in each November.

FOUR SEASONS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

828-490-7119 4SeasonsOrchestra.org

The Four Seasons Chamber Orchestra is Western North Carolina’s orchestra for all seasons, presenting one concert each spring, summer, fall and winter around Hendersonville and beyond. Its mission is to present inspiring music in intimate settings and raise funds and awareness at every concert in support of causes and organizations in the community. The 4SCO is composed of professional, amateur and student musicians with programming that ranges from historic masterpieces of the symphonic tradition to new art and popular music and beyond. The 4SCO is led by director and conductor Eric Scheider.

HENDERSONVILLE CHORALE

Facebook.com/HendersonvilleChorale

This group of approximately 3040 people which sing all varieties of music from classics to show tunes, is a non-auditioned group of singers that includes every age group and skill level. The Hendersonville Chorale’s mission is to provide opportunities to all people who love to sing and share the love of music and the inspiration it provides the greater community. The chorale prides itself on its welcoming camaraderie. Directed by Michael Stephen Brannon, the Chorale prepares and performs two concerts each year, one in the spring and another in the fall. The Chorale seeks new members. Those interested should email choralehendersonville@gmail.com.

HENDERSONVILLE COMMUNITY BAND

HCBMusic.com

The Hendersonville Community Band has been committed to playing and sharing music with the community since 1991. HCB consists of 75 amateur and professional musicians of all ages. Led by Conductor and Musical Director Winford Franklin, the band performs four concerts a year in the fall, at holiday time and in the spring and summer, with occasional guest appearances by local ensembles and artists. In October 2022, the HCB will premier a piece by Bill Locklear, based on the hymn “There is a Balm in Gilead,” that was commissioned by the band to celebrate its 30th season. Locklear will guest conduct that part of the concert. HCB also encourages music education through summer camp music scholarships for Henderson County students and college scholarships for music majors from the region.

HENDERSONVILLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

828-697-5884 HendersonvilleSymphony.org

Celebrating more than 50 years, the Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra of professional musicians that performs five concerts a year, often featuring guest artists from around the country. All main season performances are held in the Blue Ridge Conference (Concert) Hall at Blue Ridge Community College. Season subscription and single concert tickets are available throughout the season, which runs from September through April. The Hendersonville Symphony considers the musical enrichment and education of young people a major priority. Youth programs include the Hendersonville Symphony Youth Orchestra, Hendersonville Symphony Youth Chorus, Young Artist Competition, Education Concerts for local, school-aged children and a Youth Scholarship program. Volunteers with Friends of the Hendersonville Symphony help produce the Symphony’s fundraisers each year.

HENDERSONVILLE SWING BAND

828-696-8031 HendersonvilleSwingBand.org

This 17-piece band has been a musical fixture in Hendersonville for 26 years. Staying true to the original masters of swing, the band performs music by The Dorsey Brothers, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Count Basie and more. Led by trombonist-conductor Jerry Zink, the band plays benefit concerts several times a year for local service organizations and charities.

THEATRE

FLAT ROCK PLAYHOUSE

2661 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock 828-693-0731 FlatRockPlayhouse.org

North Carolina’s State Theatre opened its curtain in 1952 in the Village of Flat Rock. Seventy years later, the theatre continues to provide the region with professional live entertainment. About 90,000 patrons a year enjoy a variety of musicals, comedies, contemporary dramas, the Playhouse Jr. family/ school series and music concerts that entertain and enlighten all year long. The theatre also offers excellence in arts education and outreach to children and adults locally, regionally and statewide via its Studio 52 arts programming.

HENDERSONVILLE THEATRE

229 S Washington Street, Hendersonville 828-692-1082 HVLTheatre.org

For more than 55 years, Hendersonville Theatre (formerly Hendersonville Community Theatre) has been the Official Community Theatre of Hendersonville. The theatre’s purpose is to enrich, stimulate and entertain the community by providing high quality performing arts experiences. Hendersonville Theatre presents a varied season of plays, musicals, live music and performing arts. The theatre is run mainly by volunteers and welcomes people with a desire to join their family of dedicated performing art enthusiasts.

The Arts Council of Henderson County offers performing and visual arts classes throughout the year.

The Blue Ridge Parkway offers many scenic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The Great Outdoors

Henderson County and its neighboring Western North Carolina counties boast beautiful, nationally recognized places for exploring the great outdoors.

Year round opportunities abound throughout the region for hiking, mountain biking, cycling, backpacking, camping, fishing, hunting, skiing, snowboarding, tubing, paddling and other outdoor activities in conservation areas, forests and other natural settings.

BEARWALLOW MOUNTAIN

Off Bearwallow Mountain Road Hendersonville ConservingCarolina.org/BearwallowMountain and VisitHendersonvilleNC.org/ Scenic-ToursHikes

Bearwallow Mountain is in eastern Henderson County at an elevation of 4,232 feet above sea level. Both the Bearwallow Mountain Trail and the Trombatore Trail start from the same parking lot on Bearwallow Mountain Road. Parking is limited so carpooling encouraged. The one-mile-long Bearwallow Trail features a grassy meadow at its summit along with a historic fire tower and a 360° view that includes such area landmarks as downtown Hendersonville, Mt. Pisgah, Mt. Mitchell, Hickory Nut Gorge and upstate South Carolina. The Trombatore Trail is a 2.4mile hike through a forest with significant changes in elevation and panoramic views of Hickory Nut Gorge and Bearwallow Mountain.

DUPONT STATE RECREATIONAL FOREST

Henderson Co/Transylvania Co Line 828-877-6527 NCForestService.gov/Contacts/DSF.htm or DupontForest.com

Stretching from Stone Mountain in Henderson County to Rich Mountain in Transylvania County, the 10,400acre DuPont State Recreational Forest contains a variety of plant communities including rich hardwood coves, groves of white pine, upland oaks, spray cliff plants and sedges on granite domes. The forest features four spectacular waterfalls – Hooker Falls, Triple Falls, High Falls and Bridal Veil Falls – all within a three-hour walk along the Little River. In addition, Grassy Creek Falls, Wintergreen Falls and several mountain lakes can be found along the trails. The forest has approximately 80 miles of roads and trails open to hiking, biking and horseback riding. Visitor parking is available in six access areas located around the perimeter of the forest. Interior forest roads are not open to motorized vehicles. As part of the NC Wildlife Resources Commission’s Game Lands program, parts of the forest are open to deer, turkey and small game hunting on certain days and by permit only. For fishing, DuPont features impoundments, warm-water streams and cold-water streams. A state fishing license is required. For more information about hunting or fishing, visit NCWildlife.org or call 888-248-6834. DuPont State Recreational Forest is open yearround from 5AM to 10PM. There is no public camping. Support for the forest also comes from the Friends of DuPont Forest, a nonprofit