A dulcimer-building course will be offered during Western Carolina University’s 12th Annual Mountain Dulcimer Week in July.

The course will be held all day Monday through Friday, July 18-22, and will be taught by Bob Magowan, a Luthier who has been constructing dulcimers at his home in Memphis, Tenn., for the past 11 years. Magowan has built more than 100 musical instruments, mostly mountain dulcimers, and has acted as the “dulcimer doctor” at dulcimer festivals.

Fees for the course are $325 to register and $200 for materials and supplies. The course is limited to the first 10 students to enroll.

Entice your taste buds at the third annual Taste of Downtown Sylva walking culinary tour on Saturday, June 25, from 2 to 5 p.m. Tickets are on sale at participating businesses.

Sample items from downtown businesses and partake of what they have to offer. Cool coffee drinks, brewery, gourmet cuisine, delectable sweets, organic, local fare and more.

Tickets can be pre-purchased for $15 (adults) and $7 (youth ages 12 and under) cash or check only. A limited number of tickets are available.

Registration is open for the Annual 4th of July Horseshoe and Cornhole Tournaments presented by the Franklin Chamber of Commerce on Monday, July 4. The Horseshoe Tournament will kick off Monday’s Annual 4th of July “Fireworks in the Park” festivities at the Macon County Veterans Memorial Recreation Park, just south of town on U.S. Highway 441.

The Horseshoe Tournament will begin at 10 a.m. and is open to “pitchers” of all ages, both men and ladies. Registration will open at 9:30 a.m. the day of the tournament next to the horseshoe pits. Registration fee is $25 per team. Pre-registration is now available at the Franklin Chamber of Commerce.

The Highlands Playhouse, the second oldest professional theater in North Carolina, is gearing up to open their 73rd Season on June 16 with the show “Suds: The Rocking ’60s Musical Soap Opera.” At the helm of the Playhouse this year is DV Caitlyn, the theatre’s new artistic director. Caitlyn, an Assistant Professor of Theater at Western Carolina University, is excited to tackle his new role.

Born and raised in California, Caitlyn earned a BA. in Theatre Arts from CSU Fresno and an MFA from U.C. San Diego. He began his professional acting career by performing King John at the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park, also known as Shakespeare in the Park.

Read more...