Explore Jackson County

Sylva - Dillsboro - Cullowhee - Cashiers

Home base for Crafter's Camera — and one of Western North Carolina's richest pockets of craft, history, and mountain beauty.

Worth visiting

• Appalachian Women's Museum — housed in the historic Monteith Farmstead in Dillsboro, preserving the stories of Southern Appalachian women. Free grounds, open to the public, with picnic tables and a peaceful setting along Scott's Creek.

• Dillsboro Creative Arts Center (formerly Jackson County Green Energy Park) — a former landfill transformed into a working studio space where artists use captured methane gas to fire glass, forge metal, and throw pottery. Open for classes and studio visits.

• American Museum of the House Cat — one of only two cat museums in the entire country, tucked along Highway 441 in Sylva. Founded by the late Dr. Harold "Catman" Sims, whose legacy lives on through the museum and its sister shelter, Catman2.

• Scott's Creek and WNC Fly Fishing Trail — Jackson County is home to the first and only fly-fishing trail in the U.S. Bring a rod and cast a line right along the AWM grounds at Scott's Creek.

• Jackson County Ale Trail — brewing is its own craft tradition, and Jackson County has become one of NC's growing craft beer destinations, with walkable breweries in both Sylva and Dillsboro

Craft & culture

• Sylva

  • Greening Up the Mountains — Sylva's largest outdoor festival, held each April in downtown Sylva. A heritage arts festival celebrating spring and Earth Day with 150+ artisan vendors, live music, a 5K run, and craft demonstrations (wood carving, cane chairs, corn shuck dolls, basket weaving, and more). Free admission.

  • WNC Pottery Festival — first Saturday in November, Sylva.

  Dillsboro

  • Front Street Arts & Crafts Show — June, downtown Dillsboro, 40+ regional artisan booths.

  • Colorfest — first Saturday in October, Front Street — 40 demonstrating artists, free admission, live entertainment.

  • Dillsboro Creative Arts Center Makers Market — a weekly seasonal market.

  • Cullowhee

    • Mountain Heritage Days — the county's largest annual festival, held at Western Carolina University each September. Free admission.

  Cashiers

  • Rotary Arts & Crafts Fair — held Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends on the Cashiers Village Green, with 80+ vendors, all handmade by the craftspeople themselves.

  • Summer Colors Fine Art Show — July, presented by the Art League of Highlands-Cashiers. Paintings, wood turnings, jewelry, textiles, and glass. Free admission.