NOC Spring Fling
Date: April 19 - 21, 2019
Time: All day
Price: Free
Age: All Ages
Celebrate spring in the Smoky Mountains with a free, family-friendly event in the Nantahala Gorge! Enjoy paddling events, live music, delicious food and the 2nd Annual Live Like Maria Freestyle Shootout on this weekend of celebration.
In addition to the events listed below, we will have boat and gear raffle where you can win a Jackson Kayak Rock Star! Stop by the NOC Tent on River Left to grab your raffle tickets through 5PM Saturday. All proceeds benefit the Live Like Maria Foundation
| Friday, April 19 | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| NOC Spring Sale | All Day | Outfitter's Store |
| Free Boat Demos | All Day | Outfitter's Store |
| Freestyle Open Practice | 12PM - 6PM | Play Hole |
| Family Paddle with the Pros | 4:30PM | Ferebee Park (Shuttle Provided) |
| River's End Restaurant | 11AM - 7PM |
| Saturday, April 20 | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Live Like Maria Preliminaries | All Day | Play Hole |
| NOC Spring Sale | All Day | Outfitter's Store |
| Demo Day | All Day | River Left, Vendor Tents |
| River's End Restaurant | 8AM - 7PM | |
| Attainment Race: Long Boats | 1PM - 5PM | Meet at NOC Event Tent |
| Ducky 8 Ball Race | 4PM - 5PM | Meet at NOC Event Tent |
| Awards Ceremony: Attainment & 8 Ball Race | 5:30PM | Riverside Stage at NOC |
| Gear & Boat Raffle | 5:30PM | River Left |
| Throw Rope Challenge & Awards | 6PM - 7PM | Meet at NOC Event Tent |
| Live Music: Somebody's Child | 3PM - 6PM | Riverside Stage at NOC |
| Sunday, April 21 | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Live Like Maria: Finals | All Day | Play Hole |
| NOC Spring Sale | All Day | Outfitter's Store |
| Free Demos | All Day | Outfitter's Store |
| River's End Restaurant | 8AM - 7PM | |
| Slicey Boat Freestyle Competition | Following Live Like Maria Finals | Play Hole |
| Downriver Race (Long & Short Boat) | 3PM | Meet at NOC Event Tent |
| Awards Ceremony | 5PM | Riverside Stage at NOC |
Directions
Nantahala Outdoor Center's main campus, the Nantahala River Outpost is located in far Western North Carolina on US Highway 19. 12 miles from Bryson City and on the south side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the outpost is nestled in the Nantahala Gorge. If you are on a Rapid Transit rafting/train excursions, the meeting place is in Bryson City at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Depot.
From Asheville, NC: Take I-40 West towards Knoxville, TN. Take exit 27 onto US 74 West towards Waynesville. Stay on 74 West, the outpost is 50 miles down this road. 8 miles past Bryson City, the 4-lane will split into two 2-lane roads. Stay on 74, the left lane. You will enter the Nantahala Gorge and after 5-miles you see the Nantahala River and NOC's Nantahala Outpost.
From Gatlinburg, TN: Take 441 South through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and through Cherokee. Just past Cherokee, get on 74 West. After 15 miles, the road will split into two 2-lane roads. Stay on 74 W, the left lane, and continue the 5-milts to the NOC Nantahala Outpost.
From East Atlanta: Take I-85 North to I-985 North. At Gainesville, take 365 North to 441 North. Just past Dillsboro, NC, 441 merges with US 74. 8 miles past Bryson City, the 4-lane splits into two 2-lane roads. Stay on 74, the left lane. Continue 5-miles and arrive at the NOC Nantahala Outpost.
From West Atlanta: Take I-75 North to I-575 North. I-575 becomes State Hwy 5, and then Hwy 76. Stay on this road until Blue Ridge, GA where you turn left onto Hwy 60 towards Mineral Bluff, GA. In Mineral Bluff, turn right onto Hwy 60 Spur. Follow it into North Carolina to US 74 East, turning right towards Murphy and Andrews when the road ends. Stay on 74 East, NOC's Nantahala Outpost is 20-miles past Andrews. You will follow the Nantahala River for the last 8-miles.
From Chattanooga, TN: Take I-75 North towards Cleveland, TN. Take the 1st Cleveland exit, the US 64 Bypass Exit. Go 6-miles and take the Ocoee Exit onto US 64 East towards Murphy, NC. In Murphy the road number changes to US 74. Stay on 74 East, NOC's Nantahala Outpost is 20-miles past Andrews. You will follow the Nantahala River for the last 8-miles.
