Brevard, North Carolina, has a great little downtown. A stately courthouse sits on a square with a gazebo where community concerts are held. Explore 50 or so shops including antique malls, galleries, and the popular O.P. Taylor toy store and White Squirrel Shoppe (both on the square across from the stately courthouse). Don't miss the Red Wolf Gallery.
Brevard is located along Highway 64 and surrounded by the Pisgah National Forest. With 250 waterfalls, it's no wonder Transylvania County is known as the Land of Waterfalls. This is a great place for a lunch or dinner break from hiking at nearby Looking Glass Rock or the waterfalls of DuPont State Forest. To find wonderful nearby hiking and waterfalls nearby, see our Pisgah Forest Waterfall & Hiking Map.
Head west on Highway 64 towar Cashiers for Gorges State Park and the Nantahala National Forest, home to Panthertown Valley and Schoolhouse Falls.
For a small mountain town, Brevard has more than its share of culture. It is home to the world-renowned Brevard Music Center (and its amazing summer music line-up) and the Paul Porter Center at Brevard College.
If you adopt one of their protected white squirrels, you can get discounts at many of the shops. The white squirrels are a unique feature. They are not albinos because they have dark eyes, but are rather a rare breed that has flurished here since being "introduced" in 1951. The story goes that a pair of the squirrels were given to H. H. Mull, who gave them to his daughter. One escaped from its cage, so Mr. Mull let the other one out. And the rest is history.
PARI (Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute) is an internationally-known science and space research center is near Brevard in Pisgah National Forest. Visit for a tour at this former NASA campus with space artifacts, minerals, meteorites and events for star gazing. Read all about PARI.
See more of our Coolest NC Mountain Small Towns.
Brewery Tours
Take a tour or sample beers in the Tap Room in the Oskar Blues Brewery a few miles from downtown. See our Oskar Blues Brewery Guide.
Downtown Brevard Events & Festivals
White Squirrel Festival
Approximately 20,000 people go nuts in Downtown Brevard for the White Squirrel Festival on Memorial Day weekend each year! See plenty of arts and crafts, hear live music, eat plenty of food and watch the Squirrel Box Derby.
July 4th Celebration
For a charming small-town 4th of July Celebration, go to Brevard. Included is 5K Firecracker Run, parade, classic car show and evening fireworks. During the day, downtown streets were closed to an overflowing crowd for the Fine Arts & Craft Showcase. The Courthouse Gazebo is center stage for day-long musical entertainment including the Brevard Brass Band, playing timeless American favorites.
October 28, 2017: Halloweenfest
Since Brevard is located in Transylvania County, where else is better to honor Halloween? Flight of the Vampire 5K, 10K, and Children’s Fun Run takes off at 7 AM. Watch as vampires, zombies, and ghosts (disguised as runners) take off from downtown. At 10 AM, join the Costume Contest and Parade. You'll also find Chili Cook-off and Pie Bake-off, street vendors, a Pumpkin Carving Contest, Haunted House, Masquerade Ball, Boo-T-Ful Me fashion show, Mountain Music Mash competition, Ghost Tours, and more! At 6 PM is Osktoberfest, presented by nearby Oskar Blues Brewery, with live music, beer garden, plenty of eats by local Food Matters Market, and live music.
December 2, 2017: Christmas Parade & Twilight Tour
The annual Christmas parade begins at 3 PM down Broad Street through downtown Brevard. At 4 PM, the Twilight Tour kicks off with craft vendors, live music, tree lighting and food trucks. The Brevard College Lessons & Carols concert at 7:30 PM in The Porter Center is free to attend.
The Aluminum Tree Museum
See many vintage Christmas trees and ornaments during December at the Transylvania Heritage Museum at 189 West Main Street. Read more.
Mountain Song Festival
Takes the stage in early September in the in the beautiful covered, open-air auditorium by the lake at Brevard Music Center near downtown. This foot-stomping, banjo-picking celebration of bluegrass and newgrass music supports the Boys and Girls Club of Transylvania County.
Directions from Asheville: I-26 to exit 40/Highway 280/Airport exit toward Brevard. Downtown Brevard is 33 miles from Downtown Asheville. For a super scenic drive, take the Forest Heritage Scenic Byway from Brevard to or from the Blue Ridge Parkway.
