Kidding Around Downtown introduces a wonderful display of 15 unique and original new “kids” on the block, which have been decorated by area artists and sponsored by local businesses, organizations and groups.
Kidding Around Downtown will continue through Saturday, October 25. Be sure to come for a full day of fun. The goats will gather at the Historic Courthouse at noon for music, food, fun, viewing and a 2:30 pm public auction of the goats will occur. A percentage of every winning bid will go to a local charity designated by the winning bidder. Over the past 5 years, the auctions have raised over $119,700 for local Hendersonville County Charities.
Connemara Farms Goat Dairy
Have you “herd the news?”
Coma and celebrate the 49th anniversary of the induction of the Connemara, the Carl Sandburg home, into the National Park Service, located at 81 Carl Sandburg Lane, Flat Rock.
Hendersonville County Travel and Tourism.

The Curb Market is a local landmark that opened in May 1924 on Main Street with a few sellers under umbrellas. It was soon organized as a farmer's market. County residents who had farm items to sell needed a central location to reach those in town who were looking for fresh produce, fruit, milk, butter, eggs, baked goods and many other items. It was an important service for those who ran boarding houses.
The Curb Market has changed with the population growth and the socio-economics of the area, but the tradition of quality items produced in Henderson County has not changed.
You will find berries, fruits and vegetables in season, jams, jellies, pickles, fresh bakery items along with native plants, dried and fresh cut flowers, annuals, perennials and shrubs. Linens, rugs, hand hooked chair pads, handbags, jewelry, soap and other items as well as our bonnets and aprons are always popular. Also available are artistic woodwork, wall hangings, wreaths, handmade toys and other interesting items too numerous to mention.
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Fred W. Symmes Chapel (also known as "Pretty Place" because of its amazing view) is one of the many buildings that make up YMCA Camp Greenville. It was given by Mr. Fred W. Symmes for the enjoyment of the boys (and now girls) who camp here each summer and is the spiritual center of the camp. The current chapel was constructed in 1941 with several additions and improvements made in subsequent years. Camp Greenville has been in existence since 1912 and covers 1600 acres. It is a year-round operation serving as a Summer Camp, Environmental Education Center, Group & Conference Center, and facility for weddings.
The Chapel is located on private property owned by the YMCA Camp Greenville (a branch of the YMCA of Greenville, SC). Camp Greenville welcomes visitors to enjoy the beauty of the Chapel during daylight - except when it is in use for a Camp event (Sunday morning worship services by campers or groups), or for another reserved event (weddings, dedications, memorial services, etc.). Typically the chapel is booked throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday. We strongly recommend calling the camp office to check the schedule prior to visiting to avoid conflicts with weddings or other privately scheduled events at Pretty Place!
Fees for use of the chapel help to maintain the area, as well as assist with camperships (scholarships to help provide experiences for children who might otherwise not be able to enjoy a camp experience due to some type of hardship). Donations are welcome. Please contact the camp office at 864.836.3291 for information regarding contributions.
We hope you enjoy the peace and serenity you will experience upon visiting the Symmes Chapel - "Pretty Place"!

October brings cooler temperatures and colorful changes in the trees, as well as Halloween and fall festivals. If you have a fall festival or Halloween celebration not included in this list, please send the information to jessica.goodman@blueridgenow.com. Evening of trick-or-treating is 6 to 8 p.m. today at Jones Residence Hall, Brevard College. Halloween Haunted Trail today through Friday at the High Velocity Wrestling Arena, 3515 Asheville Hwy, Hendersonville. Admission: $10, adults; $18, couples; kids, $6. Benefits Salvation Army Youth group. Fall Festival will be 6 yo 8 p.m. Friday at Calvary Baptist Church, 2501 Haywood Road. Bounce castle, jumbo slide, face painting, games, prizes, cotton candy, popcorn, funnel cakes, relays, cake walk, bobbing for apples. Information: 693-6014. Fundraiser Masquerade Ball will be Friday at the Saluda Mountain Jamboree. Benefits Saluda Medical Center. Tickets: $25 per person; $40 for couples. Barbecue dinner, music, costumes, dancing, cash bar. Tickets: Manna Cabanna's Produce Market, Cathy Jackson Realty, Biddie's Antiques, the Thrifty Barn, Macon Bank; Polk County Wellness Center, Carolina Foothills Chamber of Commerce, or 828-817-2308. All Harvest Fair will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Cummings Memorial United Methodist Church, 3 Banner Farm Road. Free games, music, craft fair, door prizes. The 27th Halloweenfest will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday in downtown Brevard. Children's activities and vendors. Information: 884-3278, www.brevardnc.org. Fall Harvest festival and art exhibit will be 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Crescent View Retirement. Food, crafts, games for the children and a local blue grass band. Hendersonville Antique Car Club Halloween Car Show is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Walmart Shopping Center. Information: 685-2507. Count Dracula's Red Carpet Blood Drive will be noon Saturday at American Red Cross Bloodmobile Drive, Brevard. Donors register: 884-4530. Fall Festival will be noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at Barnwell Baptist Church. Bounce house, slide, games, hayride, food. Information: 329-9750. Fall Festival will be 12:30 to 3 p.m. Saturday at Covenant Presbyterian Church, PCA, 2101 Kanuga Road. Games, food, music. Information: 693-8651, www.covpca.org. Howl-o-Ween Canine Costume Contest will be 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at Pet Source, 1927 Spartanburg Highway. Host: Relay For Life of Henderson County's Bark For Life. Canine games, photos for $3, drinks, food, face painting. Costume contest, 2:15 p.m. Suggested donation: $5. Pumpkin Patch Harvest will be 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Anointed Word Church, 170 Bradley Branch Road, Arden. Games, crafts, activities, prizes, candy, face painting, pinata, puppet show. No scary costumes. Information: 280-9657, mamacindy1@bellsouth.net, www.anointedwordfellowship.org. Trunk or Treat will be 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Mills River United Methodist Church. Games, hayride and candy. Donate canned foods for Fishes & Loaves. Prize for most creative trunk. Halloween Carnival with Fletcher Parks and Recreation will be 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday at Kate's Park. Games, age-appropriate costume contest, prizes, candy, air bounce, more. Bring carved pumpkin for contest. Free. Food donations accepted for Interfaith Assistance Ministries. Information: www.fletcherparks.org, 687-0751. Trunk-or-Treating, games and activities, will be 4 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Etowah United Methodist Church parking lot, off Brickyard Road. Family-friendly costumes. Information: 891-4360. The 25th Trick or Treat Street will be Saturday in downtown Hendersonville. Costume contest, 4:30 p.m., Gazebo. Treating with downtown merchants. Sid the Surf performs, 5 to 7:30 p.m., Gazebo. Trunk or Treat will be 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday at Balfour Baptist Church, 2502 Asheville Hwy. Trunk-N-Treat will be 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday at Refuge Baptist Church Family Life Center. Treats. Flight of the Vampire 5K Race will be 5 p.m. Saturday in downtown Brevard. Registration starts at 2 p.m. Cost: $30. Costumes welcome. Information: www.BrevardRotary.org. Hot dog supper and Trunk-A-Treat will be 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Sugarloaf Baptist Church. Tween/Teen Halloween Party with Hedrick-Rhodes Post 5206 VFW Auxiliary will be 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday. Admission: Nonperishable food for VFW Thanksgiving/Christmas charities. Adult supervision, music, games, prizes, refreshments. Information: 693-6325. Trunk or Treat will be 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Etowah Baptist Church. Games, snacks, popcorn, drinks. Information: www.etowahbaptistchurch.org, 891-7153. Hallelujah Festival will be 6:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Bat Cave Baptist Church. Free hot dog supper, cotton candy, popcorn, desserts, games and candy. Halloween night prowrestling event will begin at 8 p.m. Saturday at High Velocity Wrestling Arena, 3515 Asheville Hwy. Cost: $8. Costume contest for adults, kids and live band. Fourth Halloween Party Fright Night will be Saturday in the Back Room of Flat Rock Wine Shoppe. Costume contest. Live music at 9 p.m. with the Shane Pruitt band. "Ghoulish toast" at midnight. Information: 697-6828, www.flatrockwineshoppe.com.

Free landscape desktop wallpaper image of Clingman's Dome covered in fog at sunset in the Smoky Mountains National Park. This image was taken by nature and landscape photographer, Dave Allen.

Fred W. Symmes Chapel (also known as "Pretty Place" because of its amazing view) is one of the many buildings that make up YMCA Camp Greenville. It was given by Mr. Fred W. Symmes for the enjoyment of the boys (and now girls) who camp here each summer and is the spiritual center of the camp. The current chapel was constructed in 1941 with several additions and improvements made in subsequent years. Camp Greenville has been in existence since 1912 and covers 1600 acres. It is a year-round operation serving as a Summer Camp, Environmental Education Center, Group & Conference Center, and facility for weddings.
The Chapel is located on private property owned by the YMCA Camp Greenville (a branch of the YMCA of Greenville, SC). Camp Greenville welcomes visitors to enjoy the beauty of the Chapel during daylight - except when it is in use for a Camp event (Sunday morning worship services by campers or groups), or for another reserved event (weddings, dedications, memorial services, etc.). Typically the chapel is booked throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday. We strongly recommend calling the camp office to check the schedule prior to visiting to avoid conflicts with weddings or other privately scheduled events at Pretty Place!
Fees for use of the chapel help to maintain the area, as well as assist with camperships (scholarships to help provide experiences for children who might otherwise not be able to enjoy a camp experience due to some type of hardship). Donations are welcome. Please contact the camp office at 864.836.3291 for information regarding contributions.
We hope you enjoy the peace and serenity you will experience upon visiting the Symmes Chapel - "Pretty Place"!

Carl Sandburg was a famous poet who moved to Flat Rock, NC in 1945 to have peace and solitude and to have a spectacular place to continue his writings.
The estate was named "Connemara". Carl Sandburg published over one third of his works while living at Connemara, and it was at this house that he died of natural causes in 1967.
His wife, Lillian raised prized Chikaming dairy goats on the vast property. People have been coming to Connemara to see the goats for many years, and they are still there today!
Today at the Carl Sandburg Home
Today the Carl Sandburg Home is a National Historic site. The estate offers a beautiful place to go when you want to get away, a world away. There are over 5 miles of hiking trails on 264 acres, including 2 ponds, pastures and 2 mountains.
This area is very popular during the leaf season and offers a beautiful view of Hendersonville's fall foliage.
The park is open from 9am to sunset all year long. Tours of the historic home are offered daily. Visitors are encouraged to tour the grounds and enjoy the beautiful solitude it has to offer.
Park entrance is free of charge. Guided house tours are $5 for adults and $3 for seniors. Children 15 and under are free.

Each year many people come to Hendersonville, North Carolina to experience the fall foliage and the spectacular display of beauty and diversity in nature.
This time of the year is a busy time for visitors who want to explore Western North Carolina and enjoy the vibrant colors of the fall leaf change. The scenic drives along the Blue Ridge Parkway and elsewhere during the fall season are mesmerizing and out of this world beautiful.
The fall color season begins at the end of September and goes through the end of October; however, some tourists will come in late September or early November to miss the crowds.

The difference in the elevation here in Hendersonville and the many different species of trees found here in the Blue Ridge Mountains are what make the autumn views exceptionally good in this area of Western North Carolina. The peak in color changes to different areas from week to week depending on the elevation, which means there are always areas to visit that are in the peak of thier transition.
Each fall season the trees in the deciduous forest respond to shorter days and cooler nights by beginning preparations for their dormant winter ahead.
This festival of color offered by nature's changing of the leaves is certainly one of the greatest shows on earth, making this area a spectacular destination for any trip during the fall season.