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 14 free, live concerts. Headliners this year: Firecracker Jazz Band and Jeff Sipe Group with special guest Ike Stubblefield.
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 on Saturday. Thanks!
For safety reasons, only service dogs are allowed on festival grounds.
Pet sitting will be available for out-of-town guests at Pure Pets (31 South Broad St).
Check out all of our 2012 Sponsors…who make all of this FREE music possible!
2012 Musical Performances
Our musical line-up is one of the region’s best, and no where else can you hear 14 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.
9th Annual White Squirrel Festival Music Headliners:
Firecracker Jazz Band
Saturday Headliner
Jeff Sipe Group with special guest Ike Stubblefield
Sunday Headliner
Other Performers:
| Saturday – May 26, 2012 | Sunday – May 27, 2012 | ||
| Performance | Time | Performance | Time |
| Davidson River Taiko | 12:00-1:00pm | The Fox Fire | 12:00-1:00pm |
| Jason DeCristofaro Sextet | 1:30-2:30pm | Dave Desmelik | 1:30-2:30pm |
| Serious Clark | 3:00-4:00pm | Jazz Drovers-a-5tet | 3:00-4:00pm |
| Naren | 4:30-5:30pm | Julie Lee | 4:30-5:30pm |
| Nikki Talley | 6:00-7:00pm | Fifth House | 6:00-7:00pm |
| Jon Stickley Trio | 7:30-8:30pm | Chatham County Line | 7:30-8:30pm |
| Firecracker Jazz Band | 9:00-10:30pm | Jeff Sipe Group with special guest Ike Stubblefield | 9:00-10:30pm |
This is a rain or shine event! Only service dogs allowed.
More information on our artists!
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 14 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.
2012 White Squirrel Festival Schedule
SATURDAY – May 26
Memorial Day: Parade 9:00am
“Presentation of the Wreath” 10:00am (Gazebo)
5th Annual 5K/10K White Squirrel Foot Race 8:00am
(Brevard Music Center)
Street Festival: 10:00am – 6:00pm
6th Annual Squirrel Box Derby (Jailhouse Hill) 9:00am – 5:30pm
(Races begin at 1:30pm)
“Pisgah Pete” (real white squirrel on the Gazebo block - Jennifer Burgin, Wildlife Rehabilitator)
White Squirrel Tours *pick up guide at Wildlife Rehab Booth
White Squirrel Exhibit (Trans. Heritage Museum) 10:00am – 5:00pm
White Squirrel Photo Contest (Displayed at Lil Bo-tique – 72 South Broad St.)
Food Court (West Main, between Caldwell/England St.)
Street Vendors (Gazebo block, South Broad St.)
WSQL 1240AM Radio Live (West Main St. & Derby Finish Line)
SUNDAY – May 27
Street Festival: 10:00am – 6:00pm
6th Annual Squirrel Box Derby (Jailhouse Hill) 10:00am – 6:00pm
(Races begin at 1:30pm)
“Pisgah Pete” (real white squirrel on the Gazebo block - Jennifer Burgin, Wildlife Rehabilitator)
White Squirrel Tours *pick up guide at Wildlife Rehab Booth
White Squirrel Photo Contest (Displayed at Lil Bo-tique - 72 South Broad St.)
Street Festival: 12 noon – 6:00pm
Food Court (West Main, between Caldwell/England)
Street Vendors (Gazebo block, South Broad)
WSQL 1240AM Radio Live (West Main St. & Derby Finish Line)
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).
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.
Other White Squirrel Festival weekend activities:
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Brevard’s Annual Fourth 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:
- food
- craft (handmade by vendor)
- non-profit
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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
[...] 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 [...]
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.
[...] 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 [...]
I know where the first white squirrels really came from,and who spread them over to lake Glenville.
[...] 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 [...]
[...] 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 [...]
i am new vendor i would like to join in your festival please call me at 828-380-0574 my name is tammy norton
We are a credit union and would like to be vendors at the squirrel festival. Please let us know. Thank you. 828-209-1009
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.
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.
[...] 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 [...]
Where do meet for the white squirrel tour/brevard college? Do we go to the college ourselves to meet there?
[...] 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 [...]
[...] 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. [...]