Second Saturday in downtown Murphy, NC lands on October 10 this year, and it is a big one. Shop & Sip opens the doors of downtown's shops from 2 to 5pm, and Murphy Music & Brews fills the afternoon and evening with live music, North Carolina craft beer and food trucks, all for a charity that serves military veterans and first responders. Add peak-season color on the ridges and a walk along the river, and you have my favorite kind of Murphy Saturday. Here is what's planned, where it happens, and what a monthly downtown rhythm like this means when you own a home here.
Key Takeaways
- Second Saturday: Shop & Sip runs Saturday, October 10, 2026, from 2 to 5pm, with 20 downtown retailers on Peachtree Street, Tennessee Street and Valley River Avenue taking part.
- Shop & Sip happens on the second Saturday of every month, so it's a standing date on a downtown resident's calendar, not a once-a-year event.
- Murphy Music & Brews is a ticketed charity festival on October 10 at The Hackney Warehouse, 11 Railroad Street, with live music starting at 3pm; it benefits Shepherd's Men.
- Homes inside the Town of Murphy limits typically have town water and sewer, and many sit within a short walk of the Courthouse and the Murphy River Walk.
- The Tarheel neighborhood on the edge of town is about five minutes from downtown, and Andrews is roughly 20 minutes away on US-19/74/129.
What is Second Saturday in downtown Murphy, NC?
I'm Bonnie DuPree, a REALTOR® with RE/MAX Town & Country and a Resort & Second-Home Property Specialist (RSPS), and downtown Murphy is my hometown square. Second Saturday is Main Street Murphy's monthly afternoon for supporting locally owned businesses, and in October it shares the day with the town's annual music festival. The blue marble Cherokee County Courthouse anchors the scene, the storefronts along Peachtree and Tennessee streets open their doors, and the Valley and Hiwassee rivers meet along the Murphy River Walk.
If you're getting to know the area, our Murphy, NC real estate and mountain lifestyle guide gives you the lay of the land first. Here is October 10 at a glance:
| Time | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 2–5pm | Second Saturday: Shop & Sip (drop in) | Participating shops on Peachtree St, Tennessee St and Valley River Ave |
| 3pm into the evening | Murphy Music & Brews (ticketed charity festival) | The Hackney Warehouse, 11 Railroad St |
| Any time | A walk before or between events | Murphy River Walk, Konehete Park to the Old L&N Depot |
| Dinner hour | Supper downtown | Restaurants on Tennessee St, Peachtree St and Valley River Ave |
How does Shop & Sip work on October 10?
Simply show up and stroll. From 2 to 5pm, Downtown Murphy retailers and Main Street Murphy invite you in for refreshments, treats, special sales, raffles and fun. The town lists 20 participating retailers across three streets, including:
- Peachtree Street: Gray Matters Boutique, Indigo Mountain Traders, Marketplace Antiques, Fairycross Bottle Shop and The Murphy Art Center (MAC).
- Tennessee Street: Narrative Bookstore, Serenity Mountain Gift Shop & Boutique, Peaceful Trails, Enchanted Butterfly, The Little Shop, Burning Acres, and All American Estate Clearing & Antiques, among others.
- Valley River Avenue: Linen & Pearl, Open Studios @ Cherokee County Arts Council, Black & White Market and Blue Moon Elise, among others.
The full list, with any updates, lives on Main Street Murphy's Shop & Sip page. There's no ticket or registration listed for Shop & Sip; you simply drop in to the participating shops. For questions, the town lists its Downtown Development Director at (828) 837-2510, extension 6.
What I love about Shop & Sip is how naturally it fits into an afternoon. The three streets sit close together, so you can browse antiques on Peachtree, pick up a book on Tennessee, and see what's showing at the arts council on Valley River Avenue without moving your car. When the shops close at 5, supper is only a few steps away. My downtown Murphy restaurant and brewery guide covers the spots on Tennessee, Peachtree and Valley River.
What should you know about Murphy Music & Brews 2026?
Murphy Music & Brews is the town's one-of-a-kind charity festival, bringing together live music, craft beer and wine, and food trucks for a cause. With the support of Shepherd's Men and the Town of Murphy, it raises money to improve the lives of military veterans and first responders through treatment at the Shepherd Center. Here is what the organizer and the ticket listing publish for October 10:
- Venue: The Hackney Warehouse, 11 Railroad Street in Murphy.
- Time: Live music begins at 3pm. Main Street Murphy's calendar lists 3 to 8pm, while the town's event page and the ticket listing show 3 to 10pm, so check the final schedule before you go.
- Lineup: HU$H, Laid Back Country Picker, Donnie Reis and War Hippies, Scott Miller, and Hippies and Cowboys.
- Pours: Balsam Falls Brewing, Mountain Layers Brewing Company, Buck Bald Brewing, Homeplace Beer Co., Snowbird Mountains Brewery, Wise Man Brewing and FernCrest Winery.
- Food: BigHead's Grub, Heyman Kettle Corn, Dragon Ass BBQ, Bigfoot Bites, The Ark, Mountain Top Majestic Coffee and Ocho Coffee.
- Tickets: Sold through Eventbrite, with general admission and VIP tiers. The listing notes you must be 21 or older to purchase alcohol, with ID checked at the gate, and that it's a rain-or-shine event.
Current ticket details and any updates are on the Murphy Music & Brews website. The overlap with Shop & Sip is the beauty of the day: shop from 2, wander over for the first set at 3, and let the evening take care of itself.
October 10 is only one date in a generous month. My full October 2026 events calendar for Murphy covers the rest, including A Murphy Haunting downtown on October 31.
What does a monthly downtown rhythm mean when you own here?
A visitor sees one Saturday. A resident gets twelve of them a year, because Shop & Sip returns on the second Saturday of every month from 2 to 5pm. That's the difference I point out to anyone weighing a move: downtown Murphy isn't a place you plan a trip around, it's a routine you settle into. Here is how that plays out depending on where your home sits:
- In-town homes near the Courthouse and River Walk. Homes inside the Town of Murphy limits typically have town water and sewer and weekly garbage pickup, and many are within an easy walk of Valley River Avenue. On Second Saturday you simply lock the door and stroll down.
- The River Walk as your front path. The Murphy River Walk runs roughly 3 miles one way along the Valley and Hiwassee rivers, with trailheads at Konehete Park, Hilton and McClelland streets, and the Old L&N Depot. Homes near those trailheads turn a shopping afternoon into a riverside walk home.
- Edge-of-town neighborhoods. Tarheel sits just off Talc Mine Road behind the Murphy Fire Department, and our Tarheel neighborhood guide puts downtown about five minutes away. Wooded lots, Forest Service boundaries and a short hop to downtown.
- Lake homes around Hiwassee. Most of Hiwassee Lake's shoreline is national forest, so homes around it keep wooded views and still reach town for an afternoon. Drive times vary by cove and road, so I always encourage you to time the drive from a specific address.
- Valley homes toward Andrews. Andrews is about 15 miles northeast on the four-lane US-19/74/129, roughly 20 minutes, so homes along the Valley River corridor share both towns' calendars.
Why does Second Saturday matter to second-home owners?
As an RSPS, much of my work is helping people turn a favorite getaway into a home base, and a predictable calendar makes that easier. Second-home owners can plan their arrivals around the second weekend of the month and know downtown will be ready for them. It's a simple way to feel like a neighbor from the very first visit.
A Saturday like October 10 also shows you the details that matter when you choose a location:
- Walkability. You'll see exactly which blocks feel like an easy stroll to the shops, the music and the river.
- Parking and access. You'll learn whether you'd rather walk in from an in-town home or drive in from a mountain or lake property.
- Season. October brings color to the ridges around town, and fall is a lovely time to see how a home's views and porches read.
If you enjoyed my first weekend of fall in Murphy, from Paint the Town Fall to a River Walk Sunday, Second Saturday is its natural sequel. The painted windows from late September, the October shops, the music: it all adds up to a downtown that stays busy with good things. My team, The DuPree Real Estate Group, loves showing homes around town on weekends like this one.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Second Saturday in downtown Murphy, NC?
Second Saturday: Shop & Sip happens on the second Saturday of every month from 2 to 5pm. In October 2026, that's Saturday, October 10, with participating shops on Peachtree Street, Tennessee Street and Valley River Avenue.
Do you need a ticket for Shop & Sip?
No ticket or registration is listed for Shop & Sip; you simply drop in to the participating shops. Participating retailers offer refreshments, treats, special sales and raffles, and anything you buy is priced by each shop.
Where is Murphy Music & Brews 2026?
Murphy Music & Brews is at The Hackney Warehouse, 11 Railroad Street in Murphy, on Saturday, October 10, 2026. Live music begins at 3pm. Check the organizer's website for the final schedule.
Do you need a ticket for Murphy Music & Brews?
Yes. It's a ticketed charity event benefiting Shepherd's Men, with general admission and VIP tiers sold through Eventbrite. The listing notes you must be 21 or older to purchase alcohol, with ID checked at the gate.
How far is downtown Murphy from nearby neighborhoods?
Many in-town homes are within walking distance of downtown. The Tarheel neighborhood is about five minutes away, and Andrews is roughly 20 minutes on US-19/74/129. For lake and mountain homes, time the drive from the specific address.
Your Local Expert
I'm Bonnie DuPree, REALTOR®, founder of The DuPree Real Estate Group at RE/MAX Town & Country. Based in Murphy, NC — the county seat of Cherokee County — I've helped buyers and sellers across these mountains and lakes since 2007. As a Resort & Second-Home Property Specialist (RSPS), I help people find the home that fits the life they want here, from walkable in-town streets to lake coves and mountain ridges. My team follows a "One Thing" model, with each specialist focused on one part of your move.
Come for Second Saturday, stay for every Saturday
Shop the storefronts, catch the first set at the Hackney Warehouse, and walk down to the river with me on October 10. Then picture that afternoon waiting for you every month. Make Murphy the home you drive from, not to. When you're ready, browse current homes for sale around Murphy and see which ones put downtown within reach.
I'd love to help you find yours. Reach out to me directly, or call me at (828) 361-1027, and let's talk about how close to downtown you'd like to live.
The DuPree Real Estate Group is pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity. Bonnie DuPree, REALTOR® · RE/MAX Town & Country · Each Office Independently Owned and Operated.
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