Attend a lively musical performance, go dancing at one of the many street festivals planned throughout the Blue Ridge Mountains, explore regional gem mines, sample your way across a food and wine festival, or explore a new art exhibit. There’s no shortage of cool things to do here in Western North Carolina. Here’s a list of some of the best events taking place this month.

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Forest Plants ID Hike
May 22, 2016 - May 23, 2016
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Ever wondered what the different types of vegetation were as you hiked the trails at Lake James State Park? Armed with field guides and curiosity, Park Ranger Jamie Cameron leads a hike along the Fox Den Loop trail to learn about identifying native plants (and a few trees). The trail is a moderate, 2.25?mile trek so come prepared with comfortable hiking shoes, water and maybe a snack. The adventure begins at the picnic shelter at the Catawba River Area at 9 a.m.