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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High Peaks Stroll to Swinging Footbridges
July 15, 2018 @ 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
$5Event Navigation

Join the NC High Peaks Trail Association and local author Katey Schultz for a rare treat. Schultz leads a tour of one of the area’s unique and alluring features, its swinging footbridges.
A product of the area’s steep topography and limited transportation network, the bridges once were a vital link for rural families cut off from the road grid by rushing rivers. Schultz will give the history and purpose of the bridges, drawing on her book, “Lost Crossings: A Contemplative Look at WNC’s Historic Swinging Bridges.” The book has been featured in “Our State” magazine and on UNC-TV’s program by the same name. The tour group will be limited in number, but folks will have the chance to photograph and cross a few of the bridges in both Yancey and Mitchell counties.
Participants should meet on the Burnsville Town Square at 1 p.m., where Yancey Transportation vans will embark on the tour for a donation of $5 per person. Seating is limited, so you must make a reservation by contacting Schultz at katey13@hotmail.com or 828-675-1312 by Thursday evening, July 12. No dogs are allowed on this adventure. Bring a light snack and plenty of water. The tour will involve some easy walking to the bridges and should conclude by 5 p.m.