Low-Budget or Free Activities and Upcoming Events in Jackson County

Having fun and relaxing can be rare occasions when living in poverty. Society seems to expect these individuals to be constantly working to climb out of their hardships, assuming that they do not need to rest or enjoy recreation time. This is a harmful notion that leads to a culture of lower wage workers experiencing high levels of stress and burnout. It is important to take care of ourselves, and this does not just mean working to have the things we need, but also to take care of our mental and physical health by allowing ourselves to have fun. Having fun can give us more energy, gives time to relax and unwind, provides opportunities to connect with yourself and others. You should never feel guilty for taking time for yourself to breathe easy and enjoy an activity for a few hours. Everyone deserves a break, no matter where they are on the economic ladder.

There are plenty of free or low-cost options for activities around Jackson County, either indoor or outdoor. Throughout the year, Jackson County is the host of several events for the community, such as the Greening up the Mountains festival in Sylva or the Easter Hat Parade in Dillsboro. On Saturdays, Downtown Sylva holds the Farmers Market and the Jackson Arts Market where visitors are able to browse and shop from local vendors to support their community. To find scheduled events for Jackson County, visit the calendar of events on the Discover Jackson website. Western Carolina University often hosts events, and they aren’t just for college students! Go to the WCU Event Calendar to see when events are being held.  Discovering things to do locally can help connect to the culture and heritage that our beautiful mountain towns hold, creating a better understanding and appreciation of the community in which we live.

Indoor Recreation:

Indoor recreation choices in Jackson County are great options to get into the community and participate in activities that can help you relax and unwind. When there is inclement weather or you would rather just spend time indoors, the options below may be worth taking a look at. Within this list, there are several options, ranging from fitness to watching movies.

• Cullowhee Recreation Center-  88 Cullowhee Mountain Rd, Cullowhee, NC 28723

  • 28,000 square foot facility

  • Fitness room

  • Two aerobics room

  • Basketball courts

  • Fitness classes

  • Locker rooms with shower facilities

  • Options for rates include day pass, 12 visit, month, 6-month, or year pass

    • Check the Cullowhee Recreation Center website for more information and online registration options

• Jackson County Public Library- 310 Keener St, Sylva, NC 28779

  • Variety of books

  • Movies, music, and CDs

  • Free internet access

  • Public computers

  • Computer classes

  • Monthly creating community (adult arts and crafts)

  • Comfortable reading areas

  • Interactive children’s space

  • Area for teens

  • Volunteer opportunities for teens

  • Notary and other legal forms services

    • Check the Jackson County Public Library website for hours and event information

• Mountain Heritage Center- 176 Central Dr #240 Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC, 28723

  • Connect to local history and culture

  • Exhibits displaying the heritage of the Appalachians 

  • View artifacts presenting historic culture of the region 

• Check the Mountain Heritage Center website for hours and event info

• Catamount Cinemas- 90 East Shopping Center, Sylva, NC 28779

• Movie theater with 4 screens

• Watch new movies

• Offers assistive listening and closed captioning devices

• Wheelchair accessible 

• Check the Catamount Cinemas website for hours and pricing 

• Galaxy Lanes-  347 Jackson Plaza, Sylva, NC, 28779

• 22 lanes

• Wheelchair accessible 

• Bowling

• Arcade video games

• Billiards 

• Food and beverage 

• Check the Galaxy Lanes website for hours and pricing

Outdoor Recreation: 

Outdoor recreation in Jackson County grants you the opportunity to soak in the beautiful views and natural open space that Western North Carolina has to offer. The options on this list are wonderful places to get out and stretch your legs, take your kids to the playground, or just a place to sit outside for fresh air.

• Jackson County Greenway- 342 Old Cullowhee Rd, Sylva, NC 28779

• Sitting benches

• One mile paved trail adjacent to the Tuckasegee River

• Bridge/Poteet Park- 76 Railroad Ave, Sylva, NC 28779

• Bridge Park Pavilion for events in Downtown

• Playground 

• Sitting benches

• Basketball court

• Horseshoe pits

• Picnic tables

• East LaPorte River Access Park- 6912 Highway 107, Cullowhee, NC 28723

  • River access

  • Covered picnic shelter

  • Grills

  • Picnic tables

  • Asphalt basketball court

  • Sand volleyball court

  • Open green space

  • On site restrooms

• Barker’s Creek Access Area- 5139 US 74-W, Whittier, NC 28789

• Picnic tables

• Grills

• On site restrooms

• River access

• Volleyball court

• Mark Watson Park- 86 Mark Watson Park, Sylva, NC 28779

• Two Softball Fields

• Four Lighted Tennis courts

• Playground

• Covered Picnic Shelter

• Horseshoe Pits

• Dog Park

• Asphalt Basketball Court

• Walking/Running Trail

• Concession Stand

• Restrooms on Site

• Balsam Community Center- 400 Cabin Flats Rd, Sylva, NC 28779

• Community center 

• Asphalt basketball court

• Playground

• Check Balsam Community Center Facebook page for events information

• Fairview Youth Complex- 251 Big Orange Way, Sylva, NC 28779

• Three lighted baseball fields

• Batting cages

• Concession stand

• On site restrooms

• Walking trail

• Judaculla Rock- 552 Judaculla Rock Rd, Cullowhee, NC 28723

  • Historic soapstone quarry with over 1,000 petroglyph motifs

  • Viewing pavilion 

  • Walking trail

• Savannah Community Park- 270 Greenway Rd, Sylva, NC 28779

• Covered picnic shelter

• Grill

• Playground with swings

• On site restrooms

• Walking trail

Hiking

Jackson County is nestled within the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains and provides an abundance of hikes displaying the natural beauty of Western North Carolina. Before hiking, it can be helpful to research the trail to make sure you will be prepared for the terrain. Research can be done on Use the buddy system by hiking with at least one other person and telling someone else where you will be going for safety purposes. Take care of yourself by eating, staying hydrated, wearing the proper shoes, and bringing first aid and other supplies. Check out the Jackson County Outdoor Safety Guide for more safety tips! For this list, I will be sharing some of my favorite hikes that Jackson County has to offer.

• Waterrock Knob Trail- Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 451.2, Sylva, NC, 28779

• 1.2 mile round trip trail with 412 foot elevation increase 

• 6,292 foot summit allows one to see up to 50 miles out on a clear day

• Steep, sometimes strenuous hike

• Visitor center

• On site restrooms at parking lot

• Sitting benches

• Side trail leading to 1980’s airplane wreck site

• Pinnacle Park- 2110 Fisher Creek Road, Sylva, NC 28779

• 1,100 acres with 5,008 feet elevation

• Hiking trails

• Streams

• Waterfalls

• Devil’s Courthouse Trail- Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 422.4

• Short, but strenuous hike

• Panoramic views

• Mostly paved

• Views of North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Georgia

• Panthertown Valley Trail System- Breedlove Rd, Glenville, NC 28736

• 30 miles of trails for hiking, biking, or horseback riding

• Waterfalls

• Scenic views

• Camping 

• Using a map highly recommended

• View the Panthertown Website before arriving to read their Visitor’s Guide 

• WCU Trail System- 4121 Little Savannah Rd, Cullowhee, NC 28723

• 6.8 total miles for seven trails

• Hiking, biking, and running trails

• Moderate difficulty 

• Likely to encounter others