2025 Events
September
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Saturday, January 4 - Monday, March 31
Shop hurricane-affected WNC businesses from Chimney Rock, Lake Lure, Hendersonville, Asheville, and more, as rebuilding efforts are underway. WNC Main Street is temporarily located in the International Pavilion at Tryon International. Click here to see a list of vendors, directions, and more.
Sunday, February 2
It’s our favorite day of the year! While Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park remains closed due to Hurricane Helene, our beloved Groundhog Day tradition continues, thanks to a generous partnership with Tryon International Equestrian Center.
Groundhog Day 2025 Schedule
12-2pm: Arrive early at Tryon International and enjoy family-friendly activities as we await Tater’s big prediction, including encounters with Chimney Rock’s animal ambassadors and park naturalists, groundhog-themed activities, ice skating, and carousel rides. Shop WNC Main Street for an opportunity to support storm-affected businesses, and grab a bite to eat at one of Tryon’s many delicious restaurants.
1:30pm: Tater the Groundhog will make his appearance to forecast the arrival of spring as well as Super Bowl LIX winners. Will he call for six more weeks of winter or is spring just around the corner? We will find out as Chimney Rock Village Mayor Peter O’Leary will translate his prediction.
Location
Tryon International Equestrian Center
25 International Boulevard, Mill Spring, NC 28756
Can’t make it in person? The event will also be livestreamed on our Facebook page starting at 1:30pm.
Saturday, February 15
Volunteer at Chimney Rock State Park’s only open access. Projects will include assisting with tree debris removal, and staircase and tread repair to the Comatose approach.
Meeting Location:
Rumbling Bald Trailhead
827 Boys Camp Road
Lake Lure, NC 28746
**Please note: Access to Chimney Rock Village and the Chimney Rock attraction portion of the park remain closed to the public.
Monday, March 31
Join a park naturalist and Chimney Rock’s animal ambassadors to learn all aboout the Appalachian Mountains’ many mammals. Discover all their special characteristics and what makes them thrive in Western North Carolina.
This program will feature live animals.
Location:
Etowah Library
101 Brickyard Rd
Etowah, NC 28729
Registration required | Open to all ages
Monday, April 7
Join a park naturalist and Chimney Rock’s animal ambassadors to learn all aboout the Appalachian Mountains’ many mammals. Discover all their special characteristics and what makes them thrive in Western North Carolina.
This program will feature live animals.
Location:
Edneyville Library
2 Firehouse Rd
Hendersonville, NC 28792
Open to all ages
Saturday, April 19
Visit Chimney Rock Management at the 2025 Hendo Earth Fest for a chance to meet with our park naturalists and enjoy surprise appearances from our animal ambassadors!
Hendo Earth Fest is a community day to promote education on environmental and sustainable practices, and a chance to renew and expand our commitments to protect our planet. Dozens of local and regional organizations will be in attendance, with plenty of hands-on activities and demonstrations designed to edcuate and inspire action to protect our WNC environemntal.
Sunday, April 20
Join us for the 69th Annual Easter Sunrise Service, hosted this year at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). The stadium provides beautiful east-facing views of the sunrise out towards the Blue Ridge Foothills and Piedmont. Although Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park remains temporarily closed following Hurricane Helene, this cherished Western North Carolina tradition continues nearly seventy years later!
Register for your complimentary parking pass
The sunrise service will begin at 6:40 AM, led by Village Foothills Chapel and accompanied by the Chimney Rock Bagpipe Band.
Afterwards, enjoy family-friendly activities and dining throughout the day:
- Coffee and breakfast bar following service
- Bunch at Legends Club (reservation only)
- Easter egg hunts at 12:30 and 2:30 PM
- Shop WNC Main Street from 8 AM – 4 PM
- Chimney Rock animal encounters
TIEC also offers a variety of pet-friendly lodging options for those looking to make a weekend of the event.
Service begins at 6:40 AM.
Arrive as early as 5:30 AM to find seating. Sunrise is at 6:50 AM.
Location:
Tryon International Equestrian Center – International Pavillion Stadium (next to WNC Main Street)
25 International Blvd
Mill Spring, NC 28756
Monday, April 21
A North Carolina State Park Ranger has many responsibilities from law enforcement to education to high angle rescue and wears many hats. Come meet with a ranger to learn all aspects of their jobs and see all the equipment needed to provide visitors with a safe and fun visit to our state parks.
Location:
Green River Library
50 Green River Rd
Zirconia, NC 28790
Open to all ages
Monday, April 28
Many native animals have adaptations that help them survive in the wild. Learn the amazing adaptations of predators and prey that live in our backyards! A short craft at the end of the lesson will let everyone show off their new knowledge.
This program will feature live animals.
Location:
Etowah Library
101 Brickyard Rd
Etowah, NC 28729
Registration required | Open to all ages
Thursday, May 1
Reptiles and amphibians are often confused for one another, but the differences between these two groups of mysterious animals are vast and intriguing. Together, we’ll investigate these fascinating creatures.
Location:
Green River Library
50 Green River Rd
Zirconia, NC 28790
Open to all ages
Friday, June 27 - Sunday, August 31
We’re back and ready to see the Rock through your lens!
After nine months away, we’re thrilled to welcome guests back to Chimney Rock. Whether you’re revisiting your favorite overlook or seeing the views for the very first time, we want to see how you capture summer at the Rock. From classic vistas to hidden gems, share your most creative shots.
GREAT PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED TO 3 WINNING ENTRIES
1st Prize: The winning photo will be our Facebook cover photo for two weeks, and the photographer will receive two annual passes to Chimney Rock State Park.
2nd Prize: After the first place photo, the second place photo will be our Facebook cover photo for one week. The photographer will receive one annual pass to Chimney Rock State Park.
3rd Prize: The third place photographer will receive two adult day passes to Chimney Rock State Park.
CONTEST RULES:
- There is no fee to enter the contest. All photographs must be taken in Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park only in areas accessible to guests between June 27, 2025 – September 22, 2025.
The contest is open to amateur and professional photographers. - Up to three photos per person can be submitted via any of the following ways to be eligible to win:
- E-mail: You may email your digital photo with your contact information specified in rule #3 to [email protected].
- Facebook: Send us a private message including your contact information specified in rule #3.
- Every entry should be clearly labeled with the photographer’s name, city & state, a brief photo caption, an email address and the best phone number to reach you.
- Photos should be available at a minimum resolution of 1200 x 1600 pixels to be eligible to win. Photos taken via smart phones, tablets and other mobile devices are welcome if they meet minimum requirements.
- For entries showing human faces, you must list their name(s) and have written permission from any photographed person(s) to use their image.
- Entries should reflect the photographer’s interpretation of the theme. Emphasis will be placed on quality, composition and creativity. All entries may be used in promotions of Chimney Rock and park-related activities.
- Digital images can be optimized but not dramatically altered with photo editing software. Black and white photographs are welcome.
- Winners will be chosen by a team of Chimney Rock staff. Decisions regarding winners are final.
Winners will be notified personally and announced on Chimney Rock’s social media. For more information, email us at [email protected].
Friday, June 27 - Friday, August 15
Did you know some of our favorite team members have feathers, fur, or scales? Come meet them and their naturalist counterparts during our Summer Animal Encounters. See live animal ambassadors and learn about the roles they play in our native ecosystem every weekday at 2pm on the Outcroppings Deck.
Sunday, July 27 - Saturday, August 2
Come celebrate “World Ranger Day” as you take a walk and read “What a Park Ranger Does” written by Joseph Hiatt, a former Chimney Rock State Park Ranger. Begin at the Great Woodland Adventure Trailhead and follow the pages as you explore the trail!
The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier Vermont. Storywalk® is a registered service mark owned by the Kellogg-Hubbard Library.
Thursday, July 31
Come celebrate World Ranger Day and meet a Chimney Rock State Park Ranger and learn about what a day on the job looks like at this touch-a-truck style station in the top parking lot outside of Cliff Dwellers. World Ranger Day is celebrated worldwide on July 31st to commemorate Rangers killed or injured in the line of duty and to celebrate the work Rangers do to protect the planet’s natural treasures and cultural heritage.
Saturday, August 16
Celebrate National Track Trail day by joining a ranger for a 3/4th mile hike on the Great Woodland Adventure Trail. Participants will have the opportunity to take part in a Track Trail activity during the hike. Along the way, we will also learn about the local flora and fauna of Chimney Rock State Park. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes and bring plenty of water.
Meet at the Animal Discovery Den.
Saturday, September 13
Grab your binoculars because it’s migration celebration time! Our annual feathered frenzy is back, and you’re invited to join the fun. Celebrate the magic of fall bird and butterfly migration with a full day of family-friendly activities, live raptor demonstrations, a hawk watch, and so much more. Whether you’re a seasoned birder or just bird-curious, this is our biggest birding event of the year and you won’t want to miss it!
10am – 3pm | Bird & Monarch Activities
Top Parking Lot
Spread your wings! Measure your wingspan against local raptors, create a bird-themed craft, and discover the
magic of monarch migration.
10am – 3pm | Hawk Watch
Top of the Chimney
Look to the skies! Join our annual Hawk Watch and see how many migrating raptors you can spot soaring high
above Lake Lure and the surrounding mountains.
10:30am | Hike with a Naturalist
Meet in front of Cliff Dwellers Gifts
Bring the whole flock! Enjoy a guided hike to beautiful Hickory Nut Falls with a naturalist to learn more about
the flora and fauna that make the Park such a special place.
11am | Raptors of Chimney Rock: Bird Program
Outcroppings Deck
Meet some of the Park’s feathered ambassadors up close! Learn about the vital role raptors play in our
ecosystem and discover which of them might be living right in your own backyard.
12pm Hike with a Naturalist
Meet in front of Cliff Dwellers Gifts
Bring the whole flock! Enjoy a guided hike to beautiful Hickory Nut Falls with a naturalist to learn more about
the flora and fauna that make the Park such a special place.
1:00pm | Raptors of Chimney Rock: Live Bird Program
Outcroppings Deck
Meet some of the Park’s feathered ambassadors up close! Learn about the vital role raptors play in our
ecosystem and discover which of them might be living right in your own backyard.
1:30pm Hike with a Naturalist
Meet in front of Cliff Dwellers Gifts
Bring the whole flock! Enjoy a guided hike to beautiful Hickory Nut Falls with a naturalist to learn more about
the flora and fauna that make the Park such a special place.
2:30pm | Raptors of Chimney Rock: Live Bird Program
Outcroppings Deck
Meet some of the Park’s feathered ambassadors up close! Learn about the vital role raptors play in our
ecosystem and discover which of them might be living right in your own backyard.