Calendar of Events

Winner of six 2017 Tony Awards^® including Best Musical and the 2018 Grammy^® Award for Best Musical Theater Album.

A letter that was never meant to be seen, a lie that was never meant to be told, a life he never dreamed he could have. Evan Hansen is about to get the one thing he’s always wanted: a chance to finally fit in. Dear Evan Hansen is the deeply personal and profoundly contemporary musical about life and the way we live it.

“One of the most remarkable shows in musical theater history,” says The Washington Post. Rolling Stone calls Dear Evan Hansen, “a game-changer that hits you like a shot in the heart” and NBC News calls the musical “an inspiring anthem resonating on Broadway and beyond.”

Dear Evan Hansen features a book by Tony Award winner Steven Levenson, a score by Grammy, Tony, and Academy Award^® winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land, The Greatest Showman), and direction by four-time Tony Award nominee Michael Greif (Rent, Next to Normal).

Fade to Black is a Metallica Tribute band from Baltimore, Maryland.

We formed this band with mutual goals of paying tribute to and delivering the musical intensity created by the Heavy Metal Gods themselves. Breathing and living all things Metallica, Fade To Black is endlessly devoted to recreating the sounds and energy brought to you through the albums of Kill ‘Em All, Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, …And Justice for All, and Metallica “the Black Album”.

DJ Dance Party with Meseret & Zati  Every Friday Nigh it’s you, it’s dark house and the dance floor. NO COVER 21+

Dear Orange Peel Family:

We find ourselves, once again, in an extremely challenging time to be in the business of bringing a crowd of people together for a shared experience.

For that reason, effective immediately, all public concerts and events at The Orange Peel on Biltmore Avenue will be subject to new Covid-19 health measures.

For all shows, we will require:

• Vaccination -or- Negative PCR Proof at Entry.  We require either proof of a full course of COVID-19 vaccination, or proof of a negative COVID-19 lab-conducted test taken in the prior 48 hours, upon entry into the venue.  At-home rapid tests are not as reliable and will not be accepted.  Patrons must bring a completed COVID-19 vaccination card, with their final dose at least fourteen days prior to the event, or a valid negative test result from no more than 2 days prior to the evening of the show in order to go inside. 
• Mask at All Times Additionally, regardless of vaccination status, customers will be required to wear a mask to enter, and masks must be worn at all times, except when taking a sip of your beer or beverage of choice.  Between sips, however, your mask must be worn. 

Quite simply, we feel it is necessary to enact these steps to keep our beloved venue open given the current spikes in Covid nationwide and the contagious Delta strain.   Our first priority is the health and safety of our guests, artists and krewe. To ensure that we can continue to operate safely to bring great music to WNC, these simple measures are the best we can do to minimize the risk and the spread of Covid.  Our previous policy included mandatory vaccinations and masking for staff, and this is an extension of those precautions.

We ask for your help and cooperation in enthusiastically complying with these safety precautions.  They will help keep us safe; they will help keep you safe; they will help keep our venue open.  Our music community and venue staff have already endured many months without nationally touring concerts and our plea is that fans support independent venues taking these steps for everyone’s protection, so that we can stay open to bring you all the amazing shows we have lined up for this fall.  For anyone who is unable or unwilling to wear a mask, and to either provide proof of vaccination or proof of a recent negative test result, we would be happy to offer you a refund.  Please contact us at [email protected] to request one.

When you arrive at the venue, please be ready and willing to follow the policies without argument.  Venue staff are working hard right now to do a challenging job in uncertain circumstances; please do not make it harder for them.  If you have feedback to share, you are welcome to email us beforehand.   We thank you for your support and compliance.  For more answers to specific questions about how to acceptably meet our requirements, please see our Covid-19 Policy FAQ

Included with admission

Our fun-for-all-ages botanical model train displays invite you to experience our grounds in an engaging new way. Located in the Conservatory in the Walled Garden, the displays feature replicas of structures connected with Biltmore and its founder George Vanderbilt. Each beautifully executed piece was handcrafted from such natural elements as leaves, bark, and twigs.

In compliance with state and local mandates related to COVID-19, all guests must enter the Conservatory via the ADA entrance in the back and follow a one-way route.

Included with admission

A unique-to-Biltmore, large-scale outdoor sculpture will be crafted and installed in Antler Hill Village this spring by Patrick Dougherty. Over the last three decades, this internationally-acclaimed artist has combined his carpentry skills and love of nature to build over 300 of these wondrous works, captivating the hearts and imaginations of viewers worldwide.

Image: Close Ties (2006) Scottish Basketmakers Circle, Dingwall, Scotland. Photo: Fin Macrae
NOTE: This is an example of Patrick Dougherty’s work; the artist will create Biltmore’s unique structure in Antler Hill Village this spring.

Summer at Biltmore offers an abundance of opportunities to explore our 8,000-acre Blue Ridge Mountain backyard and create the kind of memories that last a lifetime. Wander through historic gardens, along winding trails, and within the spacious halls of America’s Largest Home^®. Enjoy extraordinary experiences and peace of mind in one spectacular setting: only at Biltmore.

“Shine and Dine” on the railway! We cordially invite you to hop on board The Carolina Shine, GSMR’s All-Adult First Class Moonshine Car! We will be proudly serving hand crafted, triple-distilled, craft moonshine. Some of the smoothest tasting moonshine in the Carolinas!

Offered on the Nantahala Gorge excursion, this shine and dine experience begins in a renovated First Class train fleet car, The Carolina Shine. The interior features copper lined walls filled with the history of moonshining in North Carolina. Learn about the proud tradition that the Appalachians established when bootlegging was an acceptable way of life and local home brews were the best in town. Read about Swain County’s very own Major Redmond, the most famous mountain moonshine outlaw of the 19th century.

Hit the trails and learn more about the Arboretum’s botanically diverse forest with the return of guided trail walks in 2021! In response to COVID-19, new safety measures have been put in place to protect our guests, members, volunteers and staff: Walks will be limited to 10 people, including the guide, and all participants will be required to wear face coverings for the duration of the walk.

This free hiking program is led by trained volunteer guides who take small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types. Depending on the season, topics of discussion may include wildflowers, plant and tree identification, natural history and more.

Guided trail walks depart from the Baker Exhibit Center Lobby every Tuesday and Saturday at 1 p.m. through the month of October. Walks last 1.5- 2.5 hours and are approximately one to two miles in length, and as such are recommended for guests 14 years or older. Walks are held rain or shine, so all participants should dress appropriately for the weather.

Register In Advance

Space is limited and advance registration is encouraged. Pre-registered participants must check in at the Baker Information Desk no later than 10 minutes before the scheduled program to keep their spot. Unclaimed spots will be offered to other guests.

Guests may sign up for trail walks in the following ways:

• Pre-register online
• Sign up in-person at the Baker Information Desk.

Over the past decade, The String Cheese Incident has emerged as one of America’s most significant independent bands. Born in 1993 in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, SCI has since released 10 albums, 5 DVDs and countless live recordings from their relentless tour schedule. Their 20 year history is packed full of surreal experiences, epic moments, groundbreaking involvement and huge accomplishments. They have been recognized for their commitment to musical creativity and integrity, for their community spirit, philanthropic endeavors, and for their innovative approach to the business of music.

When The String Cheese Incident’s growth first started gaining momentum over a decade ago, when the internet was just beginning to take hold and the major-label business model was failing, the band decided to make music on their own terms.

Since then, The String Cheese Incident has gone on to carve out a completely different approach to the business of music; they are truly pioneers of a new way of “making a band.”  With the World Wide Web as their tool, SCI was among the first artists to disseminate information via the internet, such as tour dates, release information, and other news, to their growing fan base.  Rather than doing business on such terms as “the bottom line,” The String Cheese Incident put their music and their fans first, opening companies of their own, including a ticketing company, a merchandise company and a fan travel agency, to best serve their community. The band’s record label, SCI Fidelity Records, has always operated under the same ideals. Even early on, SCI Fidelity embraced downloadable music and file sharing, delivering SCI’s “On the Road” series, where every show the band plays is made available for download on the internet.  Whether they realized it at the time or not, The String Cheese Incident was inventing grassroots band development.  Today, literally hundreds of bands are using some version of this same approach to building a band.

The String Cheese Incident’s commitment goes well beyond their immediate community, and even beyond the music community as a whole. Early on, the band took a serious interest in giving back to the communities that they visited, and they were among the first performers to encourage “Green” shows and tours.  SCI’s support has helped give rise to such not-for-profit organizations as Conscious Alliance, Rock the Earth, and Head Count. In 2002, when the band’s right to sell tickets to their own shows became threatened by ticketing giant Ticketmaster, the band stood strong for the independent music community and filed a lawsuit against the company.  All the while, The String Cheese Incident has stayed committed to music as a creative endeavor, not just in their recordings but also in their live performances.  The list of SCI’s special guests and collaborators is long and diverse. Their annual events such as Horning’s Hideout, and holiday shows such as New Year’s and Halloween, have helped redefine the concert experience and has garnered the band a reputation as live music vibe innovators.

Back by popular demand our BBQ & Brews now featured on the Fontana Trestle Train, will roll out this Summer! Featuring slow-cooked BBQ prepared fresh and beer tastings showcasing our local breweries! Family-friendly seating will be available on this experience!

Departing from Bryson City at 7 pm, these trains will travel to the Fontana Trestle and beyond remaining parallel to the Fontana Lake stopping at the perfect viewing spot just around sunset for a spectacular view! A delicious BBQ meal will be served during the trip. Returning back to the Bryson City Depot at 9 pm.

In the Basket

Each of you will get your own basket of Southern-style barbeque goodness with a hand-pulled pork slider, a couple of pork ribs, and chicken drumstick accompanied by baked beans and house-made coleslaw.

And, of course, no respectable Southern barbeque would forget to warm up some apple cobbler for dessert.

Winner of six 2017 Tony Awards^® including Best Musical and the 2018 Grammy^® Award for Best Musical Theater Album.

A letter that was never meant to be seen, a lie that was never meant to be told, a life he never dreamed he could have. Evan Hansen is about to get the one thing he’s always wanted: a chance to finally fit in. Dear Evan Hansen is the deeply personal and profoundly contemporary musical about life and the way we live it.

“One of the most remarkable shows in musical theater history,” says The Washington Post. Rolling Stone calls Dear Evan Hansen, “a game-changer that hits you like a shot in the heart” and NBC News calls the musical “an inspiring anthem resonating on Broadway and beyond.”

Dear Evan Hansen features a book by Tony Award winner Steven Levenson, a score by Grammy, Tony, and Academy Award^® winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land, The Greatest Showman), and direction by four-time Tony Award nominee Michael Greif (Rent, Next to Normal).

Magic City Hippies

✨A mosaic of poolside grooves and lingering, sun-kissed melodies ✨

Est 2015, Miami FL

Magic City Hippies is: Robby Hunter, Pat Howard, John Coughlin

web: https://www.magiccityhippies.com/

The Breakfast Club®, the longest running, most recognized ’80’s tribute band in the United States. Formed in 1993, the group was the first of it’s kind. The mission was simple: create an entertainment group that embodied the enigmatic, creative, and buoyant spirit of music and live performances of the original MTV generation of the 1980’s.

Dear Orange Peel Family:

We find ourselves, once again, in an extremely challenging time to be in the business of bringing a crowd of people together for a shared experience.

For that reason, effective immediately, all public concerts and events at The Orange Peel on Biltmore Avenue will be subject to new Covid-19 health measures.

For all shows, we will require:

• Vaccination -or- Negative PCR Proof at Entry.  We require either proof of a full course of COVID-19 vaccination, or proof of a negative COVID-19 lab-conducted test taken in the prior 48 hours, upon entry into the venue.  At-home rapid tests are not as reliable and will not be accepted.  Patrons must bring a completed COVID-19 vaccination card, with their final dose at least fourteen days prior to the event, or a valid negative test result from no more than 2 days prior to the evening of the show in order to go inside. 
• Mask at All Times Additionally, regardless of vaccination status, customers will be required to wear a mask to enter, and masks must be worn at all times, except when taking a sip of your beer or beverage of choice.  Between sips, however, your mask must be worn. 

Quite simply, we feel it is necessary to enact these steps to keep our beloved venue open given the current spikes in Covid nationwide and the contagious Delta strain.   Our first priority is the health and safety of our guests, artists and krewe. To ensure that we can continue to operate safely to bring great music to WNC, these simple measures are the best we can do to minimize the risk and the spread of Covid.  Our previous policy included mandatory vaccinations and masking for staff, and this is an extension of those precautions.

We ask for your help and cooperation in enthusiastically complying with these safety precautions.  They will help keep us safe; they will help keep you safe; they will help keep our venue open.  Our music community and venue staff have already endured many months without nationally touring concerts and our plea is that fans support independent venues taking these steps for everyone’s protection, so that we can stay open to bring you all the amazing shows we have lined up for this fall.  For anyone who is unable or unwilling to wear a mask, and to either provide proof of vaccination or proof of a recent negative test result, we would be happy to offer you a refund.  Please contact us at [email protected] to request one.

When you arrive at the venue, please be ready and willing to follow the policies without argument.  Venue staff are working hard right now to do a challenging job in uncertain circumstances; please do not make it harder for them.  If you have feedback to share, you are welcome to email us beforehand.   We thank you for your support and compliance.  For more answers to specific questions about how to acceptably meet our requirements, please see our Covid-19 Policy FAQ