Got a knack for photography? Then grab your camera and take a few snaps of our most famous residents… Brevard’s very own white squirrels. They scamper all over the downtown area, and we’ll even take you to see them on our scheduled White Squirrel Tours. Already have a great shot of one of these fuzzy little critters? Then submit it in our White Squirrel Photo Contest.

And speaking of scampering, be sure to check out the 5K and 10K White Squirrel races sponsored by the Rotary Club. Runners from the entire southeast love to go nuts in the cool morning mountain air at 2500 ft. It’s all happening in beautiful downtown Brevard, voted one of the “Top 10 Coolest Small Towns in America by Budget Travel.” From festivals to waterfalls to hiking and biking, you can find it all this Memorial Day weekend in downtown Brevard, NC,  “Where Music Meets the Mountains.”

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 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 8^th 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.

Come watch the thrills down Jailhouse Hill!

Race Schedule
The Derby takes place during the White Squirrel Festival.

Saturday – May 28:                  AGES 8-11 YEARS and AGES 12-17 YEARS

9:00am-10:00am    Registration/Inspection – Participant Set-up (8-11 years, 12-17 years)
9:00am-9:45am      Memorial Day Parade
10:00am-11:00am   Finish Line Safety set-up
10:00am-10:30am   Line-up display/judging
10:00am-11:00am   Memorial Presentation of the Wreath
11:00am-12:30pm  Trial Runs
12:30pm-1:30pm    Lunch Break
1:30pm-6:30pm      Races
6:45pm                   Awards Ceremony (West Main Street Stage)
6:30pm-7:00pm      Breakdown

Sunday – May 29: AGES 18+ YEARS and BUSINESSES

10:00am-11:00am  Registration/Inspection – Participant Set-up (18+ years and Businesses)
11:00am-11:30am  Line-up display/Judging
11:30am-12:30pm Trial Runs
12:30pm-1:30pm   Lunch Break
1:30pm-5:30pm     Races
5:45pm                  Awards Ceremony (West Main Street Stage)
6:00pm-7:00pm     Total Breakdown

PARKING AND REGISTRATION INFORMATION

For Saturday race:

1)       Registration will take place in the SAFE’s Attic parking lot on Appletree/North Broad Street.

2)       Parking for all registrants/families is available in the CATV/Cable parking lot on Appletree Street.  Please do not park in the Henry’s/Sears/NAPA/ABC parking lot—that is reserved for their business customers.

For Sunday race:

1)       Registration will take place on the corner of Appletree/North Broad Street in the Henry’s/NAPA/ABC parking lot.

2) Parking for all registrants/families is available in this parking lot, EXCEPT for the spaces in front of the Sears store—those spaces are reserved for Sears’s business customers.

For more information call Heart of Brevard 828.884.3278

In order to continue to keep safety our #1 priority, here are some guidelines, as you begin designing your entry for May 2011:

* Braking System: must affect 2 of the 4 wheels that are on the ground. We recommend that you do not have two independent brake “pedals” for the primary system. The dominant hand/foot may cause the vehicle to start spinning. (You may have a back-up breaking system.).

* Steering System: must affect 2 of the 4 wheels that are on the ground. Try to design to prevent over-steering that can lead to flipping over.

* To Protect the Head and/or Prevent Falling Out: a DOT-approved helmet is MANDATORY. We HIGHLY RECOMMEND a roll bar/cage or designing the back of the kart so that it is higher than the driver’s head (in case the kart flips). We REQUIRE a safety belt/restraint.

* Towing Capacity: we are REQUIRING that you include towing hooks (eye screws) both at the back and front ends for towing up Jailhouse Hill.

Other Entry Requirements:

* Overall footprint dimensions cannot exceed 32 square feet.

* Wheel base needs to be wider than the height of the vehicle body.

* Total maximum weight (driver & vehicle): 250 lbs. (ages 8-11), 350 lbs. (ages 12 and above).

* Hand-built and must incorporate some form of bodywork.

Besides the mandatory DOT-approved helmet, we REQUIRE that drivers wear gloves, long-sleeved shirts/jackets, long pants, and closed-toe shoes. We encourage children and youth to wear elbow pads, as well. Major road burn can be avoided with proper clothing.

(Standard derby kit cars will need modification to meet our safety standards. We encourage you to create your own design).

Don’t forget those creative designs for the nuttiest or squirreliest categories!

NO ALTERATIONS/ADDITIONS/DELETIONS CAN BE MADE TO THE VEHICLE ONCE IT PASSES INSPECTION (EXCEPTIONS FOR SAFETY WILL HAVE TO BE CLEARED WITH THE EMERGENCY SAFETY DIRECTOR AND HEART OF BREVARD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).

or the Squirrel Box Derby?

The 8th Annual White Squirrel Festival: May 28-29, 2011 (over Memorial Day Weekend), located in downtown Brevard.

This is the biggest event our county produces to honor our special furry, white critters.

It was recognized as one of the 2009 TOP 20 spring events in the entire southeast region by The Southeast Tourism Society.

We need volunteers for the:

- Information Booth

- Saturday Beer Garden **must be at least 21 years of age

- Stage Support

-T-Shirt Sales

- Squirrel Box Derby

Please contact the Heart of Brevard:

828.884.3278 or email

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 8th 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 26th.  Call beforehand to make certain staff is on hand to receive your photo (828.884.3278).  Entry forms are available at the office.

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 28-29).

Download entry form now!

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.

Winners of the 2010 Seventh Annual White Squirrel Photo Competition:

• 1st Place:

• 2nd Place:

• 3rd Place:

• Honorable Mention: 

• Judge’s Choice :

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2011 Annual White Squirrel Feeder Competition

Call Heart of Brevard for feeder competition details 828.884.3278

Download entry form now!

Winner of the 2010 Seventh Annual White Squirrel Feeder Competition:

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Brevard’s 4th Friday Gallery Walk

May 27th 5:00 – 9:00pm

Enjoy an evening of art, wine, food in downtown Brevard.

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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 2011 Tee Shirt

$100 Level

-White Squirrel Festival 2011 Signed Poster (2011 band signatures)

-White Squirrel Festival 2011 Tee Shirt

$250 Level

-Private Tour of Wildlife Rehabilitation Facility (home of Elliott, the festival white squirrel)

-White Squirrel Festival 2011 Signed Poster (2011 band signatures)

-White Squirrel Festival 2011 Tee Shirt

$500 Level

-CD Box Set of either 2011 headliners

-Private Tour of Wildlife Rehabilitation Facility (home of Elliott, the festival white squirrel)

-White Squirrel Festival 2011 Signed Poster (2011 band signatures)

-White Squirrel Festival 2011 Tee Shirt

$1,000 Level

-Two CD Box Sets of both 2011 headliners

-Private Tour of Wildlife Rehabilitation Facility (home of Elliott, the festival white squirrel)

-White Squirrel Festival 2011 Signed Poster (2011 band signatures)

-White Squirrel Festival 2011 Tee Shirt

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