Around Town: Farm Fun Day at Johnson Farm, guided walks, Art in the Park set

With the fall season now here, there are plenty of outdoor activities to choose from around town as temperatures fall as well as the leaves.

In this edition of Around Town, Farm Fun Day at Historic Johnson Farm is highlighted, as well as guided history walks downtown and an art exhibit happening in Brevard.

Farm Fun Day set for Oct. 15 at Historic Johnson Farm

Historic Johnson Farm located at 3346 Haywood Rd., will be hosting Farm Fun Day from 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15. According to a press release, this family-friendly event will feature a wagon ride for visitors as well as farm animals that will be ready for petting from all ages.

Admission is $20 for a family of up to four people of any age. A family with more than four people has a charge of $5 for each additional family member, and tickets can be purchased at the door.

Games and crafts for children are included with admission, the release said. The historic farmhouse will be open for self-guided tours. The Heritage Weavers and Fiber Artists as well as Caregivers of Mother Earth will be on site to lead activities and talk about their organizations.

Popcorn and drinks are included with admission. Parking will be available across the street at Rugby Middle School. Visitors are asked to leave pets at home.

Guided History Walks return for October

Hendersonville Guided History Walks are set for Sundays in October, according to a press release.

The walks offer informative strolls in several historic areas of town along Main Street (10 a.m. Oct. 2 and Oct. 30); in Oakdale Cemetery (10 a.m. Oct. 9); in the Seventh Avenue Historic Depot District (10 a.m. Oct. 16); and – new this year – Murals, Mosaic, and Ghost Signs tour around downtown (10 a.m. Oct. 23).

Cost for each tour is $10 per person, 10 years and older. Children under 10 are free with a paid adult. Space is limited and reservations are requested. Contact history walk leader Mary Jo Padgett at maryjo@maryjopadgett.com or via the website at www.maryjopadgett.com to make a reservation. Private tours for groups can be arranged anytime. To see the entire schedule for 2022 visit the website and click on Guided Walks.

“Locals and visitors alike can celebrate and share the interesting history and architecture of Hendersonville,” Padgett said in the release. “For example, learn how the rich natural resources here – the local clay for brick, the hand-hewn foundation rock from local quarries, and, in fact, the heritage carried from the earlier Cherokee lifestyle – have contributed to our lives today.”

Padgett served on Hendersonville City Council for eight years. She is a journalist and public relations consultant and co-founder and former executive director of ECO. She was associate editor at The Mother Earth News magazine and conducts programs and guided tours in Paris, France, on the American Revolution.

Her parents spent their honeymoon in the Skyland Hotel on Main Street. She grew up on a farm in Rutherford County, and has lived in a 100-year-old house in downtown Hendersonville for 40 years.

Connestee Art League hosts Art in the Park in Brevard

The Connestee Art League will be holding Art in the Park, featuring over 30 local artists, on Oct. 8 on the property of Brevard Elementary School, along Route 276, directly across from the Boys & Girls Club.

According to a press release, Art in the Park benefits arts programs for children and adults in the Brevard Community and is one of the League's annual fundraisers. This year, the total received from the net exhibitor fees will be donated to the Brevard Elementary School’s art department, which encompasses art, music, dance, creative writing and theater.

The lineup includes two-dimensional artists such as painters, illustrators and photographers. There will also be three-dimensional artists such as potters, woodworkers, jewelry makers, stained glass artists and many more, the release said.

Cash and checks are recommended, since wifi may not be available for the use of credit cards. In case of rain, the event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 15.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETINGS

Town of Mills River: The Town of Mills River is seeking input to help make decisions about how to invest its share of American Rescue Plan Act funds in the community. Last month the Town received the balance of its share of funding which amounts to $2,360,273. To date the Town has provided funding to the Mills River Fire and Rescue Department and committed $70,000 over four years to support the Mills River Farm Market’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) double dollar matching program. The remainder of the funds have yet to be obligated, according to a press release. Over the next two months, the Town is conducting public input sessions and is seeking feedback. A survey is scheduled to launch next week and Oct. 13. Town Council will discuss its ideas and priorities. Then on Oct. 20 the Town is hosting two input sessions; the first mid-morning and the second later in the evening. For more information and detailed dates and times, visit www.millsriver.org/arpa.

Henderson County Parks and Recreation: The Henderson County Parks and Recreation Department will hold a public meeting from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Oct. 4 at East Flat Rock Park.

This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Around Town: Farm festivals, guided walks, Art in the Park set