Greening Up the Mountains in Sylva, North Carolina

The small Appalachian town of Sylva, North Carolina is host to several annual festivals, but none quiet as eclectic as the fourteen year old "Greening Up The Mountains." The name comes from the leaves of the trees as they return to vibrant life, the bright green climbing its way up the mountains as winter retreats.

Each April, nearly five thousand people crowd the tiny downtown district in Jackson County to usher in the spring with regional music, delicious food, and over one hundred local vendors offering everything from hand-made pottery to custom-tied fly fishing lures.

A 5K marathon begins early in the morning, and as the runners finish their scenic journey they simultaneously herald the start of the six hour long festival.

The town's local brewery, Heinzelmännchen, offers fresh and unique ales to compliment the boiled peanuts, fry bread, and kettle corn that seems to find a way into every festival-goers hand (and stomach). Craft demonstrations are featured on every corner, and the unmistakably southern sound of bluegrass banjos fill the spring air. Basket weaving, pottery throwing, even guitar making displays can be watched-and even sometimes participated in.

Local restaurants such as Lulu's On Main, which Southern Living Magazine once touted as "Our favorite restaurant in the region!", seize the day by offering specials rarely available during the rest of the year.

The festival has a friendly vibe, and walking through the streets you get the feeling that everyone around you knows one another. The friendliness is contagious; by the time you leave you'll probably feel as though you know everyone too.

Greening Up The Mountains takes place on the last Saturday of each April, so if you're in the area be sure not to miss the opportunity to enjoy one of the most unique festivals in the south.

For more information, you can visit www.downtownsylva.org.