In Highlands and Cashiers, the good times just seem to last a little bit longer than other places.
So, when one of the biggest holidays of the year falls on a Thursday, it creates the perfect opportunity to turn Independence Day into a five-day celebration.
Things kick off Wednesday, July 3, when The Village Green cranks up its Fourth of July festivities. The event begins at 6 p.m. with live music and food vendors. Attendees to the free event can expect three different live music performances leading up to fireworks. Food, snacks, and refreshments will be served by Elevated Kitchen, Crossroads Custard, and Innovation Brewing out of Sylva. Attendees are welcome to bring their own lawn chairs, blankets, or picnic items, but dogs are not allowed due to the nature of the fireworks.
Highlands will keep the festivities going on July 4, with what has grown into one of the region’s biggest Independence Day events. Families are invited to the town baseball field beginning at 9 a.m. when the Rotary Club of Highlands will start launching water bottle rockets made by children in attendance. The traditional field games (sack race, tug of war, frozen shirt contest) will follow before a visit from the Mountain Area Medical Airlift Helicopter at noon.
Once the helicopter departs, the Highlands Fire Department will be on hand to help kids beat the heat with a spraying from the ladder truck. The annual Duck Derby will take place in Mill Creek at 2 p.m.
Following an intermission for dinner, a free concert featuring “The Business” will get underway at 6 p.m. at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park. Fireworks will follow once its dark, approximately 9:30 p.m.
And for those who just can’t get enough fireworks, the Friends of Lake Glenville will keep the red, white and blue blasts filling the night sky on July 5. The annual fireworks over the lake are scheduled for 9:30 p.m. following a boat parade featuring some of the area’s best decorated vessels.
With a full slate of concerts, arts events, and fun for the whole family set to take place over the weekend (July 6-7). There are plenty of opportunities to get out and soak up some of the Fourth of July over a five-day run.