Event Calendar Winter 2021

Looking to fill your social calendar? We've got the rundown on what to do and explore.

Main Event

Highlands and Cashiers Christmas Parades

December 4

What happens when the bands, camels and floats arrive in Highlands? An amazing small-town Christmas Parade that you don't want to miss! Gather all your family, friends and neighbors and join the merry making on Main Street for this long-standing Highlands Christmas tradition. The parade begins at 10:30 a.m., don't be late! Then, make sure to be in Cashiers in time for their 46^th Annual Cashiers Christmas Parade at 3 p.m., where this year’s theme will be “Santa’s Favorite Christmas Characters.” A post parade party will be held at The Village Green’s Commons Hall, hosted by Cashiers Cares, where youngsters will have an opportunity to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus. Highlands Parade: (828) 526-2112  www.highlandschamber.org;  Cashiers Parade: (828) 743-5191 www.cashiersareachamber.com

ONGOING

The Bascom: A Center for the Visual Arts

Tuesdays through Saturdays

The Bascom: A Center for the Visual Arts has three exhibition spaces open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round. Current exhibitions include “Art League of Highlands-Cashiers Member Exhibition,” August 28 through December 31; “Re: Play,” September 13 through December 30; “Craft to Art Series: Mosaics,” September 18 through December 23; “Emergence: A Survey of Southeastern Studio Programs,” January 15 through April 30. (828) 526-4949 www.thebascom.org

The Scott & Patti Holiday Spectacular

December 9 through 19

Join Highlands Playhouse Thursday – Saturday at 7 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. for America’s ‘Best Cabaret Act’ (Creative Loafing) The Scott & Patti Show brings you an all-new Holiday extravaganza perfect for the whole family (especially your weird uncle)! Join Scott & Patti as they celebrate the season through songs, dances, side-splitting comedy and a bevy of special guests. Adult tickets $25 in advance or $30 at the door, tickets for children under 18, $10. (828) 526-2695 www.highlandsplayhouse.org 

Holidays in Highlands

Through December 24th

Stop by Kelsey Hutchinson Park and you will find the elves have decorated Santa's sleigh for the holidays, your perfect photo opportunity! No worries if the photographer wants to be in the photo too, you'll find Highlanders are a very friendly bunch and can snap a shot of the whole group! Plus, Santa and Mrs. Claus have a special mailbox from the North Pole set up in the Kelsey Hutchinson Park this year! Be sure to write a letter to Mr. and Mrs. Claus for your Christmas wishes. Santa will be sneaking into the Park to get his mail from you. His mailing address is 123 Elf Road, North Pole 88888. (828) 526-2112  www.highlandschamber.org

Kid Zone: After-School Fun

Thursdays

Join the Hudson Library in Highlands at 3:30 p.m. every Thursday, where kids can enjoy a variety of fun and educational activities! Kids Zone programs are free and open to the public. Programs are designed with kids in grades K-5 in mind. On the first and second Thursdays, and any time there’s a fifth Thursday, Hudson Librarian Carlyn Morenus presents a variety of STEM programs, featuring robots, 3D pens, building sets and other fun activities where the kids can really get hands-on with science and technology. The third Thursday each month is Lego Club. Kids get to build their own creations with Legos and Duplos, which are put on display in the library until the following Lego Club program. The fourth Thursday of each month is Kids Zone with The Bascom. Each program features The Bascom’s Billy Love with a different illustrated children’s book, paired with an exciting art project. (828) 526-3031 http://fontanalib.org/highlands

DECEMBER

Commonly Misused Medications: Effects on the Brain

December 8

Join the Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. for this presentation by Vaya Health, identifying commonly misused medications and discussing physiological differences related to aging. Shed light on this growing problem and discuss possibilities of how we can help as individuals and as a society. (828) 743-0215 http://fontanalib.org/cashiers

Highlands Field Site Students’ End-of-Semester Project Presentations

December 9

Bats and hemlocks and salamanders, oh my! Join the Highlands Biological Station as they celebrate the four months of hard work their 12 Highlands Field Site students have accomplished. These talented and determined students have been working hard to contribute to the understanding of the incredible biodiversity of our region. You can join them for their end-of-semester celebration where they will present their individual and group research project findings for our community. Location and time to be determined. (828) 526-2623  www.highlandsbiological.org

Depression: From Surviving to Thriving

December 14

Join the Hudson Library at 2 p.m. in partnership with Vaya Health as they present the fourth in a series of mental health programs geared especially towards older adults. As we navigate the holiday season, depression can be a barrier to full enjoyment and participation. This course examines different types, common causes, symptoms and treatment methods for depression, focusing on moving from a place of simply surviving to one of thriving. (828) 526-3031 http://fontanalib.org/highlands

Fireside at The Farm

December 16

Join Half-Mile Farm for the return of Fireside at The Farm: a holiday evening with Mike Kinnebrew. Settle into the magical ambiance of The Barn from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and relax into a special evening with the sounds of holiday music filling the pavilion. Mike's talent for engaging the audience with music from the heart will make for an unforgettable evening. Come experience this charming singer-songwriter and Highlands' favorite for yourself. Public welcome; $15 for Old Edwards Inn and Half-Mile Farm Hotel Guests & Members, $25 cover charge for the public. Cash bar and complimentary light bites. (855) 271-7246 www.oldedwardshospitality.com/calendar-of-events

Merry Christmas Darling: Carpenters’ Christmas

December 17

Join the Smoky Mountain Center for “Merry Christmas Darling: Carpenters’ Christmas,” a concert show celebrating one of the most successful recording acts of all time with their classic Christmas repertoire and a full complement of their biggest hits. A natural off-shoot of the show, “We’ve Only Just Begun: Carpenters Remembered,” this concert is guaranteed to put you in the holiday spirit! Michelle Berting Brett takes center stage re-creating the Carpenters’ sound and sharing stories culled from extensive research and interviews with those who knew Karen and Richard personally and professionally. This is a family show that will have you singing along to the Carpenters’ classics and all your Christmas favorites! Tickets: $20, $25, $30, $37 (priority seating); (828) 524-1598 www.smokymountainarts.com

Wreaths Across America

December 18

Join Wreaths Across America at 12 p.m. at the Highlands Cemetery to remember and honor our veterans through the laying of remembrance wreaths on the graves of our country's fallen heroes and the act of saying the name of each and every veteran aloud. To sponsor wreaths, sign up to volunteer or to get information on the event visit www.facebook.com/WAAHighlandsNC. (828) 200-9753 ppotts63@frontier.com

The Overlook Theatre Company’s Christmas Celebration

December 21

Join the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts at 7 p.m. with the Overlook Theatre Company as they celebrate with stories, songs and holiday memories in this annual gathering of Christmas cheer. Sing along with traditional favorites and enjoy new, modern renditions of classic Christmas tunes- all in a beautiful setting of thousands of sparkling lights, a giant glittering Christmas tree and a few spectacular surprises. A sure not-miss for anyone ready to share in the Christmas spirit! (828) 524-1598 www.smokymountainarts.com

JANUARY

Bibliophiles: “The Housekeeper and the Professor”

January 12

Join the Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library at 5:30 p.m. for Bibliophiles, a community book discussion group sponsored by the Friends of the Library, discussing “The Housekeeper and the Professor” by Yoko Ogawa. (828) 743-0215 http://fontanalib.org/cashiers

Hosted Event with the Cheese Biscuit Queen Mary Greene

January 21 through 23

Half-Mile Farm welcomes Mary Greene as she helps ring in the New Year with a cheese biscuit demo and fireside chat on Saturday, and a hosted Social Hour on Friday and Saturday evenings including complimentary hors d’oeuvres. Breakfast each day will feature specialties from Mary's delicious array of southern recipes and sweet remembrances. Her cookbook, “The Cheese Biscuit Queen Tells All,” is filled with recipes passed down from her family's heritage, as well as other selections surrounded in Southern history. Hosted events are for Half-Mile Farm guests only. (855) 271-7246 www.oldedwardshospitality.com/calendar-of-events