A weekend in Waynesville means a few days refreshed by mountain breezes, cooled by creek water, and rejuvenated by the many arts and culinary offerings this vibrant town has to offer. As the longstanding ‘Gateway to the Smokies,’ Waynesville is steeped in natural and cultural history, from originating team square dancing in the 1930s to its position as a midpoint between the iconic Cataloochee Valley and Cold Mountain.
Jo Gilley recognized Waynesville’s strong cultural identity 14 years ago when she bought the independent bookshop Blue Ridge Books, which regularly hosts local writers like Ron Rash and Wiley Cash who pack the house. “Everybody is inspired here,” says Gilley. “Maybe it’s the beauty of the mountains or the people here, who make everybody feel welcome, but it’s just a good getaway.”
Take a stroll through Waynesville’s vibrant Hazelwood shopping district, pop into a few galleries on Main Street, and grab a meal made with fresh ingredients from the region’s growers. Or pick up a few locally made goods, catch the Church Street festival that draws attendees from a dozen countries, and breathe in the fresh air of the surrounding Great Smoky and Blue Ridge Mountains. However you spend your time in this historic, yet modern community, it’ll be rich with the best the mountain region has to offer.
In the heart of Haywood County, NC, lies a colorful mountain town bustling with outdoor adventures and radiating a rich arts and culture scene. Waynesville offers the perfect balance of scenic outdoor attractions and upscale experiences for everyone to enjoy.
Along a mile-long stretch of Main Street, the backbone of Waynesville’s brick downtown, you’ll find shops and galleries filled with arts, crafts, and goods made by those who call the town and the mountains their home. Start at The Jeweler’s Workbench, led by a team that has a combined 80-years’ worth of experience. Inside, you’ll find an elegant selection of everyday and special occasion jewelry; custom orders are taken, and the store stocks local jewelry made by artists like Ilene Kay, who is part of the Blue Ridge Craft Trails, as well as other North Carolina jewelers.
Shop for farmhouse-inspired decor and fresh florals at The Modern Deer. Photography courtesy of Visit Haywood
Then wander over to Twigs and Leaves Gallery for more of North Carolina’s visual art offerings. The gallery offers a deeply sourced selection of arts and crafts, including bright watercolors, wooden bowls and lamps, and clay works by mountain artists.
If you’re looking to pamper yourself, stop in to The Modern Deer for locally hand-made candles and soaps. One door down, stop into The Funky Fern Emporium for a colorful selection of quirky art, vintage clothing, and the grooviest decor in town. And for the little ones in your life, Sassafras sells games, puzzles, and every toy a kid could ever want!
The Hart Theater has been a mainstay of Waynesville’s art scene since 1985. A semi-professional theater group led by artistic director Candice Dickinson, the theater itself sits on a National Historic site owned by the Shelton Museum of North Carolina Handicrafts and has three performance spaces. It uses them all to serve its community with children’s education and performances, and full-scale productions that reflect the depth of talent in the area.
Current season offerings include Anything Goes and A Little Night Music. To learn more about upcoming shows and performances, check the lineup for 2025 here.
Waynesville is rich with festivals and outdoor events that draw crowds across the seasons. When the air turns crisp, head to town on October 11 for the 42nd annual Church Street Arts and Crafts show, an outdoor event that showcases local potters, jewelry makers, and other artists. Performers, including Scottish bagpipers and clog dancers, get two stages. A week later, on October 18, is the Apple Harvest Festival, a downtown event featuring 200 booths of soap makers, herbalists, artists, furniture makers, food, and, of course, the mountain apple harvest from area growers.
Festivities fill Waynesville’s spring, summer, and fall months. On Saturdays from April through December, you can shop for produce, baked goods, fresh eggs and dairy products, handmade art, and cut flowers all sourced from around Haywood County at Haywood’s Historic Farmers Market. In the summer, revelers take to the streets of downtown Waynesville for Summer Street Dances, held on June 27, July 18, and August 8, 2025. And from May through December, art galleries in downtown and the Historic Frog Level District extend their hours until 9 p.m. on the first Friday of each month and feature studio tours, artist demonstrations, and refreshments for Art After Dark.
There’s nothing new about the farm-to-table concept, but Waynesville has a secret ingredient: an abundance of local farmers. “Our chef, Josh Monroe, has his own farm, and we partner with a handful of other farms for meat and cheese and vegetables,” says Joey Militti, front-of-house manager and part owner of The Chef’s Table on Church Street. “We have customers who call and let us know if they have ramps when ramp season is in. And we partner with local wild mushroom foragers who bring us fresh mushrooms to work with. Using only local ingredients keeps our menu fresh, as we only cook with fruits and vegetables that are truly in season.”
Dine at a variety of downtown restaurants. Photography courtesy of Visit Haywood
Meanwhile, if it’s breakfast time in North Carolina, it’s biscuit time. Settle in for a morning feast, including a build-your-own biscuit sandwich, at the retro Waynesville Main Street Diner. Times Square Bagels starts smearing some bagel classics at 6 a.m. Or grab an Ultimate Mocha and some house-roasted beans to go at Panacea Coffee.
Lunchtime? Head over to Hazelwood, once Haywood County’s manufacturing center and now home to a bustling retail district. The Beach Mountain Diner offers a true mountains-to-sea menu for breakfast and lunch, with items like Eggs Benedict elevated with crab meat, and chicken and waffles. Housed in the old Hazelwood Pharmacy building, the restaurant is owned by Barry Adeeb, a Florida restaurateur with roots in Waynesville.
Then pop into Hazelwood Soap Co., a family-owned business that sells hand-made skincare products, essential oils, and soy wax candles featuring exclusive scents like the light-and-airy White Tea. Just down the street, Farm to Cake Bakery sells the most delicious hand-pies and other treats.
For evening entertainment, stir up friendly competition amongst your crew by playing a round of pool or foosball at The Gem at Boojum Brewing. Photography courtesy of Visit Haywood
Take a beer break at Frog Level Brewing, Panacea’s sister operation just a few doors down in the Frog Level neighborhood. Today, you can catch a breeze off the creek as you savor smoked trout dip made from fish sourced from nearby Sunburst Trout Farms and one of the rotating brews on tap, from dark espresso stouts to cream ales. (Kids are welcome, and dogs, too — your canine friend might like their own snack bowl with a choice of shredded chicken or brisket.)
Over on North Main Street, right across from the Mast General Store, is Boojum Brewing (look for the bright blue awning). Inside you’ll find at least nine brews on tap and a laid-back menu that leads off with The Boojum, a burger piled with hickory-smoked bacon, onion rings, Cheddar cheese, and barbecue sauce. Eat your veggies with some green bean fries. And in the evening, stop by The Gem at Boojum Brewing Company for pool, trivia, foosball, and grownup libations.
With summer in full swing, Waynesville offers the best of both worlds for a true weekend getaway that combines arts and culture with outdoor excursions. From the sculptures that dot the town to the Blue Ridge Mountains backdrop, there’s something for everyone in this mighty town.
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