Anyone who has driven down Main Street recently can attest, parking spaces are becoming hard to come by as leaf season reaches its full crescendo across the Highlands area.
With the peak of fall color expected to take place in the next two weeks, the Highlands Chamber of Commerce and other local organizations are making plans to handle the influx of visitors leading up to the town’s annual Halloween celebration and the sold-out Highlands Food and Wine Festival the first weekend in November.
A first-time event, Highlands Heritage Jamboree will celebrate and honor the town’s history with traditional music, dancing and more on Oct. 29. Residents and visitors will enjoy bluegrass, clogging and bagpipe performances.
“We’re excited to provide this event to Highlands in honor of the rich heritage of the area,” said Kaye McHan, executive director of the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC. “The skill, artistry and joy that goes into the creation of music and dance is something we want to continue to preserve and celebrate.”
The stage at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park will host a full slate of performances as part of Highlands Heritage Jamboree beginning at 3 p.m. Margaret Took, of the Highlands Bagpipers, will lead off the festivities and the Mars Hill University clogging team will follow with a performance from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Laney and Friends will entertain the crowd from 5-7 p.m.
Halloween on Main will fill the streets with ghouls and goblins beginning at 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 31. Always among the most popular events of the year in Highlands, Halloween festivities will include merchants passing out candy, free hot dogs from the Rotary Club of Highlands and the Mountaintop Rotary Club, and three different musical performances.
“It’s Halloween, it’s a fun time for everyone including our volunteers, and we are excited to be a part of the festivities again this year,” Rotary Club of Highlands President Chris Wilkes said. “Along with the hot dogs, we also provide volunteer crossing guards at each intersection on Main Street to make sure everyone is as safe as possible while they are out trick-or-treating.”
New this year, a “Kid Zone,” will be set up across from Reeves/Ace Hardware and The Park on Main. An inflatable slide and an obstacle course, provided by the Highlands School PTO, will be part of the fun. Additionally, popcorn, provided by the Highlands School Booster Club, and hot chocolate, distributed by Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Plateau will be given away.
“We continue to provide this long-standing and popular event, offering an accessible, free experience for everyone – all ages of residents, businesses and visitors – to enjoy Halloween as a community,” said McHan.
In addition to these events, the Highlands Chamber of Commerce will conclude its Outdoor Concert Series, which began in May, at the end of October.
“We know our town is active with people enjoying the changing of the leaves, the vibrancy of our businesses downtown and the beauty of the season, so we hope they will bring a chair, blanket and a picnic and join us for continued live music in our gorgeous outdoors,” McHan said.
All of the events are free and open to the public.
Friday Night Live – Wright Square, Main St.
Oct. 14 – Southern Highland Band
Oct. 21 – Aubrey Eisenman & The Clydes
Oct. 28 – Ezra and Katie
Saturdays on Pine – Founders Park, Pine St.
Oct. 15 – Picante
Oct. 22 – Vega Band
Oct. 29 – Laney and Friends (5 p.m. as part of Highlands Heritage Jamboree)