Around Town: Feast of St. John, Block Party Series, Brandy Bar's Songwriter Sessions set

As the days count down to the first day of summer on June 21, more and more outdoor activities are happening around the mountains.

This edition of "Around Town" features the annual Feast of St. John, the start of Brevard's Tuesday Night Block Party Series and also the Brandy Bar in downtown Hendersonville hosting the Songwriter Sessions.

The Feast of St. John

Each year on the last Sunday in June, The Episcopal Church of St. John in the Wilderness celebrates its patron saint with the Feast of St. John the Baptist. In 2021, the historic church extended the festivities outside the parish to the broader community and will do so again this year, according to a press release.

The second annual celebration will be held from 5-8 p.m. Sunday, June 26, with no reservations required. The free event will be held at Hubba Hubba Smokehouse, located on Little Rainbow Row at 2724 Greenville Highway in Flat Rock.

All are welcome at the family-friendly celebration featuring food, fellowship and live music, the release said.

“Since our earliest days in the 1800s, we have gathered with friends and neighbors to fellowship and find renewal with God and one another,” Rector Josh Stephens said in the press release. “The Feast of St. John is a time for our broader community to gather and to reconnect.”

Local bluegrass band Pretty Little Goat will perform, beginning at 6 p.m. and yard games will be offered for children. Barbecue and other foods and beverages will be available for purchase at Hubba Hubba. Seating at the outdoor courtyard is limited, so guests are encouraged to bring portable chairs.

"St. John in the Wilderness as a parish has deep roots in Flat Rock and this corner of Western North Carolina,” Stephens said. “We are incredibly grateful to live in a place with such natural beauty and with so many wonderful friends, parishioners, and neighbors. We hope you will help us keep the feast."

The rain date is set for 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 29 at Hubba Hubba. For more information, visit www.stjohnflatrock.org or call 828-693-9783.

Heart of Brevard announces Tuesday Night Block Party Series

Heart of Brevard recently announced the start of its Tuesday Night Block Party Series, welcoming residents and visitors back to downtown Brevard.

The eight-week series kicks off Tuesday, June 14 and runs through Aug. 2 The final block party is held in conjunction with the Brevard Police Department and Transylvania County Sheriff's Department’s National Night Out Celebration, according to a press release.

Attendees can expect a lineup of live music, local food and children’s activities. The June events feature LEAF Global Arts and the July and August events feature Brevard's Old Time Street Dances. Block parties will be held weekly from 6-8 p.m. on East Main Street. Many downtown retail businesses and restaurants will also be open for the block party.

“Summer is (almost) here and the time is right for dancing in the streets," said Heart of Brevard Executive Director Nicole Bentley in a press release. "As we continue to plan for long-term economic recovery, bringing people back together downtown helps support our local businesses, restaurants and the local arts scene.”

HOB and LEAF Global Arts invites everyone to experience "a world without borders," the release said. From dance, to drumming to arts and crafts, LEAF’s performing artists will bring a new lineup of cultural art experiences and live music to the June block parties. Each week will feature a different band and the LEAF Easel Rider, a mobile arts and crafts lab.

LEAF resident artist Melissa McKinney kicks off the series Tuesday.

“We are so excited to bring the energy of LEAF Global to downtown Brevard,” said McKinney in the press release. "Connecting community is part of our mission and we believe downtown Brevard holds the same values. Music is the best way to bring people together.”

Old Time Street Dances, a long-time community favorite, returns to the Heart of Brevard at the block party on July 5. The dances offer free, family-friendly fun that celebrates our Appalachian heritage, the release said.

The Tuesday Night Block Parties are free and open to the public. For more information about LEAF, Old Time Street Dances and other upcoming events, follow Heart of Brevard on Facebook and Instagram.

Gallery at Flat Rock to present work of Polizzi

The Gallery at Flat Rock will present an exhibition from June 16-26 of the work of the late Hendersonville artist Bobbie Polizzi that will include artworks by 15 area artists created in response to this well-loved artist and teacher, according to a press release.

“La Dolce Vita: The Sweet Life of Bobbie Polizzi” will include a Celebration of Life party from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, June 16 at The Gallery at Flat Rock. The event and exhibition are free and open to the public.

“Bobbie was a guiding presence,” said Suzanne Camarata, owner of The Gallery at Flat Rock, in a press release. “She brought a sense of creativity and redemptive spirit to her own life and her many friendships. We are excited, in a bittersweet way, to celebrate her life in true ‘Bobbie style,’ just as she would have wanted it.”

About 25 of Polizzi’s artworks from private collections will be gathered for the first time for “La Dolce Vita,” along with a group show by artists who have been inspired by her inimitable and whimsically dark style.

A portion of sales from artwork in the group exhibit will go to the Henderson County Boys & Girls Club, Bobbie’s charity of choice for her legacy; there will also be a chance to give directly to the Boys & Girls Club at the event.

The Gallery at Flat Rock is located in Flat Rock Square at 2702-A Greenville Highway in Flat Rock. Current gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday noon to 4 p.m. or by appointment. To learn more, visit the gallery website at galleryflatrock.com or call the gallery at 828-698-7000.

Brandy Bar's Songwriter Sessions begin

The Brandy Bar, located at 504 Seventh Ave. E. in downtown, will be hosting Songwriter Sessions, beginning with the opening night from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday.

The first of the series will feature Mare Carmody, John Longbottom and Charlie Wilkinson.

Mare grew up in Virginia but has lived in Tennessee, Arkansas and North Carolina, according to a press release. John Longbottom grew older in England, then somehow arrived in Virginia spending the next 50 years playing in bands and as a solo act, the release said. Wilkinson grew up playing folk music in central Virginia, and he has recently been enjoying playing Chicago style blues – roots music – with Jimmy Anderson.

For more information, contact Songwriter Sessions at WNCsongwritersessions@gmail.com or call The Brandy Bar at 828-513-1336.

This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Around Town: Feast of St. John, Block Party Series, Brandy Bar's Songwriter Sessions set