White Squirrel Festival – 2012

Go Nuts at the 9th Annual White Squirrel Festival: May 26-27, 2012 (Memorial Day Weekend)

Voted “Best Spring Music Festival in Western North Carolina” by Asheville Citizen Times News Poll 2008

White Squirrel Festival Receives Honor: Top 20 Event for the month of May 2009 by the Southeast Tourism Society

Thousands of fan go nuts in Downtown Brevard on Memorial Day weekend, in Brevard, North Carolina!

You don’t want to miss our free, live concerts. Acoustic Syndicate, Sol Driven Train, Jill Andrews, & Town Mountain headlined this past year.

For those who prefer warming up early Saturday morning, run in the 5th Annual 5K/10K White Squirrel Race!  Check out Brevard Rotary’s website for more information.

We will kick off the 9th Annual White Squirrel Festival with our 5th Annual Memorial Day Parade, which is organized by the American Legion and VFW. This crowd-pleasing event will take place on Saturday at 9:00am, followed by a “Presentation of the Wreath” ceremony at our county War Memorial.

No alcohol is allowed at festival, except for approved designated area. Thanks!

For safety reasons, dogs are not allowed on festival grounds

Vendor applications ready mid February.

Check out all of our 2011 Sponsors…
who made all of this FREE music possible!

2011 Musical Performances

8th Annual White Squirrel Festival Music Headliner:

Sol Driven Train

performing 9:30pm (Saturday)

Acoustic Syndicate

performing 8:30pm (Sunday)

Want more information about our 2011 artists? Click here!

2011 White Squirrel Festival Music Schedule

Our musical line-up is one of the region’s best, and no where else can you hear 16 spectacular concerts for free. John Felty (of Looking Glass Entertainment and of Jupiter Coyote fame) continues to bring in some up and coming, as well as some established, performers who know how to get their audience smiling, dancing, and clapping.

Saturday May 28, 2011 Sunday May 29, 2011
Performance Time Performance Time
Rosman Concert Band 11:30-12:15pm 12:00-12:45pm
Boys in the Well 12:30-1:30pm Davidson River Taiko 1:00-2:00pm
Jason Decristifaro 2:00-3:00pm Moon Shine Babies 2:30-3:30pm
Moses Atwood 3:30-4:30pm New Familiars 4:00-5:00pm
Ethos 5:00-6:00pm brotherbrother 5:30-6:30pm
Jamie Laval 6:30-7:30pm Town Mountain 7:00-8:00pm
Jill Andrews 8:00-9:00pm Acoustic Syndicate 8:30-10:00pm
Sol Driven Train 9:30-11:00pm

This is a rain or shine event

Your chance to help with the White Squirrel Festival !

As one of the 2009 TOP 20 music festivals in the southeast, we are pleased to be able to offer 18 live concerts, free to the public.

But even with many of our performers adjusting their fees, it takes a lot of money to produce a festival of this quality.

There are opportunities for businesses to participate at several sponsorship levels. We even have a special music fund program for individuals who wish to make a tax-deductible donation.

For more information, contact us at (828) 884-3278 or email.

2011 White Squirrel Festival Schedule

SATURDAY – May 28

Memorial Day:  Parade                                                                      9:00am
“Presentation of the Wreath” 10:00am (Gazebo)
4th Annual 5K/10K White Squirrel Race                                   8:00am
(Brevard Music Center)

Squirrel Box Derby (Jailhouse Hill)                                          9:00am – 6:00pm
(Races begin at 1:30pm)
White Squirrel Guided Tours (Brevard College)                        11:00am, 2:00pm, 5:00pm
White Squirrel Exhibit (TC Heritage Museum)                           10:00am – 5:00pm
Squirrel Feeder & Photo Contests
Street Festival:  10:00am – 6:00pm
Food Court (West Main, between Caldwell/England)
Street Vendors (Gazebo block, South Broad)
WSQL Live (West Main)
Pisgah Pete (real white squirrel on the Gazebo block)
Jennifer Burgin, Wildlife Rehabilitator

Zero Gravity Skate Park Festival Activity: schedule being finalized

SUNDAY – May 29

Squirrel Box Derby (Jailhouse Hill)                                     10:00am – 6:00pm
(Races begin at 1:30pm)
White Squirrel Guided Tours (Brevard College)                    2:00pm and 5:00pm
White Squirrel Exhibit (TC Heritage Museum)                      12 noon – 5:00pm
Squirrel Feeder & Photo Contests
Street Festival:  12 noon – 6:00pm
Food Court (West Main, between Caldwell/England)
Street Vendors (Gazebo block, South Broad)
WSQL Live (West Main)
Pisgah Pete (real white squirrel on the Gazebo block)
Jennifer Burgin, Wildlife Rehabilitator

Zero Gravity Skate Park Festival Activity: schedule being finalized

Comporium Sets Up Communications Center for 2011 White Squirrel Festival

BREVARD, N.C. – (Apr. 20, 2011) - Comporium announced today that it will be adding a communications center to be co-located with the Heart of Brevard’s information booth on Main Street for the upcoming White Squirrel.

Included will be three, open “hot” Wi-Fi routers at the corner of Main and Broad in one of Comporium’s trucks.

“In addition, we’ll make available two phones from which people
can make free long distance calls for up to two minutes anywhere in the continental U.S.,” said Comporium General Manager Frank Porter.  “It’s our way of saying ‘thank you’ to the many customers who have signed up for our Unlimited Long Distance plan.”

The 8th Annual White Squirrel Festival is set for Memorial Day Weekend (May 28 and 29).  Voted as one of the top events in the Southeast for the month of May, the festival attracts thousands of fans to Downtown Brevard.

According to the Heart of Brevard, the White Squirrel Festival kicks off with the 4th Annual Memorial Day Parade, which is organized by the American Legion and VFW. This crowd-pleasing event will take place on Saturday at 9 a.m., followed by a “Presentation of the Wreath” ceremony at the county’s War Memorial.  There will be free, live concerts by groups including Acoustic Syndicate, Jill Andrews and Town Mountain.  Heart of Brevard promises a surprise headliner for Saturday night.

Saturday morning also features the 4th Annual 5K/10K White Squirrel Race, hosted by the Brevard Rotary Club.  The festival also includes a photo contest, guided tours and other family oriented activities.

Comporium will also be showcasing its Cable TV system using one or more wide-screen TV sets.

About Comporium

Comporium makes life easier for its residential and commercial customers by providing access to a broad range of communications services, including local telephone, long distance, cable TV, security and High-Speed Internet. Please visit their website for more information.

Annual White Squirrel Photo Contest

It’s springtime and all your backyard white critters are scampering about.  If you’re able to catch them in some of their high flying acts or their persistent appearance at what you call a bird feeder, now is the time to bring out your cameras.

Enter our 9th Annual White Squirrel Photo Contest.  Photo entries must include at least one local white squirrel.  Submit your entries to the Heart of Brevard office (175 East Main Street, Suite 200) on or before May 23rd.  Call beforehand to make certain staff is on hand to receive your photo (884.3278).

Prizes are award for first place ($50), second place ($25), and third ($10).  There is a $5 entry fee to help generate funds for the prizes.

All photos will be displayed during the White Squirrel Festival (May 26-27).

Entry forms are available mid February.

Contest rules:

  • No more than 2 photos per person can be submitted.
  • Photo(s) must be taken by the entrant.
  • Photo(s) must be mounted or framed  (no larger than 8”x10’ print; frame no larger than 11”x14”)
  • Photo(s) must have on the back of the photo entrant’s name, contact information, and name/title of the photo

Judges will make their determination based on: subject, composition, technique, lighting, creativity, attractiveness, impact.

Annual White Squirrel Feeder Competition

Make your feeder at home and bring it to the Heart of Brevard.  The public can vote for their favorite squirrel feeder during the White Squirrel Festival

Call Heart of Brevard for feeder competition details 828.884.3278

Entry forms are available mid February.

Other White Squirrel Festival weekend activities:

Brevard’s 4th Friday Gallery Walk

May 25th 5:00 – 9:00pm
Enjoy an evening of art, wine, food in downtown Brevard.

5th Annual White Squirrel Twirl (The Sylvan Squares Dance Club)

May 26th 7:30pm
St. Timothy United Methodist Church
$7 per dancer
Call 828.884.6428 for more information or email.

Street Vendors Application:

Vendor applications ready mid February.
Applicants must fall within the following categories:
  • food
  • craft (handmade by vendor)
  • non-profit
Commercial vendors – Call us to get sponsorship specifics needed for you to be involved.

White Squirrel Festival Music Fund

The Heart of Brevard announces the creation of the “White Squirrel Festival MUSIC FUND.”  This is a fund through the Community Focus Foundation that will allow for tax-deductible donations by individuals to support the festival concerts.

This is your chance to be part of the only White Squirrel Festival in the world and showcase the talents connected to Transylvania County!  Show your support for these fine musicians and the warm hospitality of this mountain community.

Donations can be mailed to the:

Community Focus Foundation
c/o Heart of Brevard
175 East Main Street, Suite 200
Brevard, NC  28712
(Memo:  White Squirrel Festival Music Fund)

For your tax-deductible donation, you can receive:
(Please indicate preferable tee shirt size)

$50 Level

-White Squirrel Festival 2012 Tee Shirt

$100 Level

-White Squirrel Festival 2012 Signed Poster (2012 band signatures)
-White Squirrel Festival 2012 Tee Shirt

$250 Level

-Private Tour of Wildlife Rehabilitation Facility (home of Elliott, the festival white squirrel)
-White Squirrel Festival 2012 Signed Poster (2012 band signatures)
-White Squirrel Festival 2012 Tee Shirt

$500 Level

-CD Box Set of either 2012 headliners
-Private Tour of Wildlife Rehabilitation Facility (home of Elliott, the festival white squirrel)
-White Squirrel Festival 2012 Signed Poster (2012 band signatures)
-White Squirrel Festival 2012 Tee Shirt

$1,000 Level

-Two CD Box Sets of both 2012 headliners
-Private Tour of Wildlife Rehabilitation Facility (home of Elliott, the festival white squirrel)
-White Squirrel Festival 2012 Signed Poster (2012 band signatures)
-White Squirrel Festival 2012 Tee Shirt

For more information, please contact the Heart of Brevard at 828.884.3278 or email

14 Responses to “White Squirrel Festival – 2012”

  1. [...] nice pair of races held in conjunction with the Brevard White Squirrel Festival held over Memorial Day Weekend in Downtown Brevard. The races start and finish at the Brevard Music [...]

  2. Liz Hawkins says:

    We would like to participate in your white squirrel festival. We have many wagonettes that seat 10 people. Familys really enjoy the rides. My
    name is Liz Hawkins I can be reached at 803-371-0093. Thank you.

  3. [...] as you want it to be. Home to the white squirrel, Brevard hosts the nation’s only annual White Squirrel Festival, held over Memorial Day weekend. Come to enjoy the festivities: a parade, a 5K/10K race, guided [...]

  4. I know where the first white squirrels really came from,and who spread them over to lake Glenville.

  5. [...] Dianne took our 9 year old granddaughter, Emilie, to the annual White Squirrel Festival in Brevard. They had a blast. Emilie came home with her face painted and all excited about the [...]

  6. [...] are so many reasons to take a trip though.  Odd sights and events like Hillbilly Days or the White Squirrel Festival are always a good reason to travel somewhere, but another good reason to hop on the bike and go is [...]

  7. tammy norton says:

    i am new vendor i would like to join in your festival please call me at 828-380-0574 my name is tammy norton

  8. We are a credit union and would like to be vendors at the squirrel festival. Please let us know. Thank you. 828-209-1009

  9. kim says:

    Where is the photo contest entry form? It says it’s downloadable but don’t see it. Also, do we get our framed photo back??? Please post this information asap. Thanks.

  10. HOB says:

    If you hover on “Festival” a drop down menu will appear called “Applications.” The application for the White Squirrel Photo Contest is downloadable there. I have also just emailed you one.

    Yes, you most definitely get your frames back. We do ask that you pick them up before June 21st.

  11. [...] Originally Posted by kalos72 I am trying to see if I trip to the area this weekend is feasible… Anything local planned for the weekend usually? I know where I'll be ….. White Squirrel Festival – 2011 | Heart Of Brevard [...]

  12. kim says:

    Where do meet for the white squirrel tour/brevard college? Do we go to the college ourselves to meet there?

  13. [...] colonies in the North Carolina towns of Henderson and Asheville. In fact, there’s the annual White Squirrel Festival in Brevard, N.C. Who knew? Blanche seems to be a solo act in our neck of the woods. I feel better [...]

  14. [...] Brevard, North Carolina is a big, little town in western North Carolina.  It’s the county seat for Transylvania County, the Land of Waterfalls.  Of equal fame are its white squirrels as evidenced by the annual Brevard White Squirrel Festival. [...]

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