Brevard Music Center

The home of the Smoky Mountains Photo Fest is Brevard Music Center, on the outskirts of Brevard, North Carolina, in the heart of the beautiful Asheville region of the Carolina Mountains.

The majority of the conference will be hosted in the center’s Parker Concert Hall, a 400-seat presentation space that is at once modern and cozy. This is our new home for gathering as a community to hear some of the brightest voices of the outdoor photography world share their knowledge, their passion and their art.

The concert hall empties into a spacious, glass-lined lobby, where the sponsors and vendors will stand ready to help you learn about (and maybe even try out) their gear and services.

Outside the lobby is the quaint and lovely Lake Milner, a tree-lined pool that’s often peaceful and always pretty—and in the fall, it’s perfectly reflective of the stunning autumn color that flanks its shores. The lake and the beautiful grounds that surround it are a perfect setting not only for photography, but also for taking a relaxing stroll between conference sessions, or for sitting on the grass to enjoy a mid-schedule lunch on a mild October afternoon.

On the other side of the lake sits the homey Burt Alumni House, with its porch overlooking the water. That’s where we’ll house classroom sessions. And behind the Parker is Searcy Hall, where we will host round-table discussions and the opening night social.

Finally, for all lovers of wildlife and the unique marvels of nature—while you roam the grounds, don’t forget to look for the resident population of white squirrels!