Enjoy hands-on learning through experiments, crafts, and other activities. Each month offers a different theme that children and caregivers can learn about together. This is a self-paced drop-in program. Pre-registration is not required.

Enjoy hands-on learning through experiments, crafts, and other activities. Each month offers a different theme that children and caregivers can learn about together. This is a self-paced drop-in program. Pre-registration is not required.

The festival is an activity-filled, family event that commemorates the traditions of mountain living and craft in a unique and beautiful setting. Festival-goers will cheer as college forestry students compete during the John G. Palmer Woodsmen’s Meet that has the flavor of an old-time lumberjack competition. Competitors representing forestry schools throughout the country test their skills in a number of events including archery, axe throwing, crosscut sawing and pole felling. Participating schools will be announced closer to the event date.

National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is the nation’s largest single-day volunteer event for public lands. NPLD is also a “Fee-Free Day”—one of only five days a year when entrance fees are waived at national parks and other public lands. Because of this everyone can enjoy the Cradle of Forestry for FREE this day! Come explore our exhibit hall, film, gift shop and over 3 miles of paved hiking trails featuring seven historical buildings from the time of the first forestry school in America, the Biltmore Forest School. Our film, First in Forestry plays every half hour. Come explore all the magic the Cradle of Forestry has to offer!