Outdoor venue in NC Smokies serves as a gateway to year-round attractions

This article was written for our sponsor, Visit Maggie Valley NC.

Nestled in the peaks and valleys of the Great Smoky Mountains and just a half-hour away from Asheville, the scenic town of Maggie Valley is a picturesque mountain getaway — and while the town has a cozy population of just under 2,000, it's far from a sleepy destination.

In fact, the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds keep residents busy and draws in thousands of visitors year-round for a diverse range of events, live concerts, holiday celebrations, and more.

"Mayor Ralph Wallace and the town wanted to supplement our tourism industry and the business community," said Teresa Smith, executive director of the Maggie Valley Chamber of Commerce. "In doing so, they created the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds on an eight-acre tract of land that was previously a cornfield and features 360-degree views of the mountains."

"Over the years, the venue has hosted a wide range of events from arts and crafts festivals, motorcycle and car shows to major music concerts," she finished.

The festival grounds are slated to host 26 events over 53 days in 2021. Maggie Valley's biggest event of the year is the Hillbilly Jam, a two-day music festival that pays tribute to the mountain culture of moonshining. Other musical events include Brews N Tunes, combining local music and local beer, as well as the Smoky Mountains Bluegrass Festival.

Aside from music, events in Maggie Valley cover the spectrum, from car shows to food festivals. For example, the WNC Jeep Fest brings in over 3,000 attendees to see automotive and food vendors and take classes and guided rides, and the Smoky Mountain Elk Fest brings music, entertainment, craft vendors, and educational demonstrations to the festival grounds — all while raising funds to keep the local elk population thriving.

Another highlight, the Maggie Valley Arts and Crafts Shows, occurs several times throughout the year and brings out artisans from all across the Southeast, offering everything from chainsaw art and pottery to goat milk soaps and handmade jewelry. According to Smith, the Arts and Crafts Shows are some of the most highly attended events, bringing out residents and visitors of all ages to shop the booths, enjoy festival food, and take in live demonstrations.

The festival grounds also regularly host holiday celebrations, like Fourth of July Fireworks, and family-friendly events, like petting zoos and drive-in concerts.

Additionally, thanks to the festival grounds' location, visitors can easily explore all that Maggie Valley has to offer.

"Since the festival space is in the middle of town, it's surrounded by commercial and independent businesses. It's a place that's family-friendly, it's relaxing, it's inviting — and it's a place that's completely different from anywhere else," said Nathan Clark, Maggie Valley town manager. "We have this wonderful body of water known as Jonathan Creek that flows right down the middle of town. No matter where you find yourself, you're either looking at a mountain vista or overlooking the creek. There's nothing like it."

In addition to the events at the festival grounds and nearby Jonathan Creek, Maggie Valley is also just minutes away from other natural attractions like the Blue Ridge Parkway, Soco Gap, Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Cataloochee Valley — the latter of which offers breathtaking views of not only the mountains, but also the chance to get a glimpse of the Cataloochee elk that were reintroduced into the area several decades ago.

"In 2001, the National Park Service restored wild elk to the Smoky Mountains in the Cataloochee Valley near Maggie Valley, and the herd has begun to migrate out of the park — so you can frequently see elk in and around town," said Smith.

"Maggie Valley is also adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, both of which offer great motor touring opportunities, whether by car or by motorcycle," she added.

Other highlights around Maggie Valley include the internationally recognized Dale's Wheels Through Time Motorcycle Museum. The museum is just five miles off the Blue Ridge Parkway and features over 350 rare, working motorcycles.

While the mountains may be predominantly known for scenic drives and mountain hikes, Maggie Valley offers plenty more to do. Visitors can grab a local drink at BearWaters Brewing Company, hit the greens at the Maggie Valley Club & Resort or the Fantasy Golf & Game Room, or even take home their own moonshine courtesy of Elevated Mountain Distilling Company.

In the wintertime, Maggie Valley is a hotspot for winter sports. According to Clark, the area has the east coast's longest ski schedule, thanks to the advanced water technology at the Cataloochee Ski Area.

While there's plenty to keep busy with throughout each season, for both Clark and Smith, the events at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds aren't to be missed.

"My favorite festival is probably the Southeastern Gas & Petroleum Expo that happens in the summer. If you're into things like the collections of old gas station signage and anything that has to do with that era of the country, there are probably a couple hundred vendors that have stuff from the 1920s to today," said Clark. "It's unique, and you're going to see things that you wouldn't see at typical festivals."

"Historically, Maggie Valley is a place of intergenerational family travel — people come here because they came as a kid or are traveling with their grandparents," he continued. "There's really something for everybody here, and I think the range of our events is a reflection of that."

This article was written for our sponsor, Visit Maggie Valley NC.