Top 5 Summer Festivals in Brevard

A two-and-a-half-day extravaganza of superb live music, arts and crafts, delicious food, and more fun, family-friendly activities than you could shake a tail at, this yearly event is just about as beloved as its fluffy namesake and with good reason. For years, The White Squirrel Festival has been maybe one of the best music festivals around, with an eclectic mix of bluegrass, jazz, folk, and rock and roll from of the best, all performing  for free in charming downtown Brevard.

For eighty-three years, some of the most promising young musicians from around the world have come to train and perform with some of the most celebrated names in classical music. Each season offers music fans an opportunity to see more than 80 unforgettable performances with some of the biggest names in classical, jazz, bluegrass, country and pop music. Under the guidance of BMC Artistic Director and alumnus Keith Lockhart, the 2019 festival is a music lover’s delight.  Learn more here.

Summertime makes for great inspiration. The Transylvania County Community Arts Council (TC Arts) is hoping this season will inspire you to check out two weeks jam-packed with over 90 events and tailored to every taste. Like gallery openings? They’ve got those. Street dances? Art Shows? Bluegrass and old time jams? Variety shows? Open mics? They have it all, just waiting for you to explore. 

What’s red, white and blue and always ends with a bang? Brevard’s Fourth of July festival is what. This action-packed, all day festival kicks off with a Firecracker Run at 8am and continues throughout the day, with live music, arts and crafts, a pet parade, and Transylvania Cruisers Auto Show, the Pendergast Family Patriotic Pops concert at Brevard Music Center, Hot Dog-Eating Contest and, of course, fireworks. It’s a thrilling way to for the whole family to celebrate the grand old flag and let their patriotic spirit soar in a storybook small-town setting.

This esteemed closer to Summer Festival Season brings some of the biggest names in bluegrass, newgrass, old time, folk, jazz and traditional mountain music, to the stage at Brevard Music Center for three days of unforgettable performances. Hosted by Grammy®-winning local bluegrass superstars, Steep Canyon Rangers, Mountain Song Festival provides audiences a chance to see some of their favorite bands at an event that also serves as a fundraiser for the Cindy Platt Boys & Girls Club of Transylvania County.  More info here.