The holiday season will be in full swing this weekend as Highlands and Cashiers host their annual Christmas parades on Saturday, Dec. 6. The Highlands Christmas Parade runs from 10 a.m. to noon, and the 51st Cashiers Christmas Parade follows from 3 to 5 p.m.
The Highlands Christmas Parade will showcase a variety of participants, including spirited floats, live animals, vintage cars, Highlands School homecoming court, sports teams, cheerleaders, and other community organizations. Mr. and Mrs. Claus will also be in attendance to spread holiday cheer. The event is presented by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands NC.
The parade route will follow Main Street in downtown Highlands. Second St. to Sixth St., along with Smallwood Ave., will close at 9:45 a.m.
The 51st Cashiers Christmas Parade, themed the “Gingerbread Man’s Mountain March”, will feature the winners of the Spirit of Our Community Awards and the Gingerbread House Competition, along with floats and displays from local businesses, churches, high schools, public safety agencies — and, of course, Mr. and Mrs. Claus. It is presented by the Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Appalachian Golf Cars, Church of the Good Shepherd and Indigenous Chocolate LLC.
The parade route will begin on Frank Allen Road and N.C. 64 West, continue to the Crossroads and turn onto N.C. 107 South to Cashiers School Road.
Roads are set to close at 3 p.m. Below is a list of the closures:
• N.C. 107 North and Slab Town Rd.
• N.C. 107 South and Cashiers School Rd.
• U.S. 64 East and Crossroads
• N.C. 107 North and Crossroads
• N.C. 107 South and Frank Allen Rd.
• U.S. 64 West and Slab Town Rd.
• U.S. 64 West and Frank Allen Rd.
Entry to both parades is free of charge.
- Mitch Stone
reporter@highlandsnews.com