Calendar of Centennial Events

May 9 - A once in a lifetime opportunity to hike the entire length of the Kelsey Trail from the end of 5th Street through Highlands Falls Country Club, Cullasaja Club, and Wildcat Cliffs Country Club to the top of Whiteside Mountain.  Sponsored in cooperation with the Highlands Plateau Greenway, the hike is approximately 5 miles long with some strenuous stretches of trails.  Lunch will follow at a scenic vista overlooking the “Big View” on Whiteside Mountain Road.  Reservations limited.  Call for reservations & ticket prices.

June 6 - The “Highlands Improvement Society Social” will take place in a scenic setting on Whiteside Cove Road offering a glance of life as it was around 1909.  You will learn about the history of the land trust, its founding members, and its first purchase of land, the summit of Satulah Mountain.  Enjoy a picnic dinner, cake walk, horse shoes, and other turn of the century activities with music provided.  Period costumes optional, but are encouraged.  6:00 p.m. Call for reservations & ticket prices.

June 7 – “Where It All Began” Delight in “High Tea” on the summit of Satulah Mountain and enjoy a skit by Elaine Whitehurst, President of the Highlands Historical Society, as she portrays Marguerite Ravenel, the President of the Highlands Improvement Society, who played an active part in the purchase of the summit with funds collected from the citizens of Highlands in 1909.  Bag piper David Landis will entertain with music on arriving and leaving the event.  Period costumes and kilts optional, but are encouraged.  4:00 p.m. Call for reservations & ticket prices.

June 18  -  The Zahner Conservation Lecture Series features Ran Shaffner, author of “Heart of the Blue Ridge” as he recounts the history of the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust from 1883-2000.    HCLT Executive Director, Dr. Gary Wein will complete the history and share our vision for the future of land conservation.  Artist Rosemary Clark Stiefel, designer of the HCLT logo, will share her inspiration for the design of our new logo. Highlands Biological Station Nature Center, 7 p.m. Free to all.

June 24 - The Village Nature Series in collaboration with the Village Green in Cashiers features Ran Shaffner, author of “Heart of the Blue Ridge”, Dr. Gary Wein, Executive Director of HCLT, and artist Rosemary Clark Stiefel, designer of the HCLT logo, as they share the history, vision of HCLT, and inspiration for the new logo with the Cashiers audience. 6:30 p.m. Free to all.

June 25 – Pinnacle Party at the Cashiers Historical Society, which will include a dedication of the nature trail at the historic Zachary Tolbert house to the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust.  This significant and permanent project of recognition for HCLT honors work done for public education regarding the identity and history of the use of trees by the founders of the Cashiers community.  By invitation from CHS only.

June 26, 27, 28 – The Highlands Historical Society presents their annual “Walk in the Park” featuring portrayals of past Highlands leaders Samuel Kelsey, Professor Thomas Harbison, Baxter White, Henry Bascom, Dr. Mary Lapham, Margaretta Ravenel, and Mary Chapin Smith.  Emphasis on the association of Smith, Ravenel, and Harbison with the Highlands Improvement Society and the founding of the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust will be highlighted. 

August 22-October 17 - At the new Bascom enjoy the works of painters and art instructors Will Henry Stevens and Lamar Dodd who left legacies of inspirational beauty through their images of southern landscape paintings.  The Bascom offers this show as a tribute to the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust’s 100th anniversary.  Opening night reception is provided by HCLT.  Free to all.

September 7-30 – An exhibition of “art duplicating art” at Mary Adair Leslie’s Summit One Gallery features local artists depicting the beauty of the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau based on the photographs that are used in HCLT’s centennial coffee table book.  A percentage of the receipts from sales will be donated to the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust.  Free to all.

September 17 - The annual awards celebration will be held at the Bascom.  All HCLT partners are invited for a very casual supper to honor and acknowledge land and conservation easement donors.  Music provided by John Warren.  Reservations required.  6:00 p.m.  Free to HCLT members, call for reservations.
 
October 10 –A fall Pumpkinfest with contests for pumpkin carving, hayrides, Appalachian storytelling, music, giant pumpkin carving demo(lition), face painting, food,  and old-time fun for the entire family are offered at the working farm of Linda David, a member of the Board of Directors of HCLT, and her husband Kenton David.  Pumpkins grown on the farm will be used for the contest.  A cider press and other nostalgic demonstrations of skills required at the turn of the 20th century will be featured.  $15 per family (or carload) in advance, $20 at the door: includes one free pumpkin voucher, admission in the pumpkin carving contest, hayrides and more.  The festival is open from 10-2:00 pm.  Call for details or for your advance ticket.

Watch for traveling displays at the Hudson Library in Highlands, Franklin Library, Carlton Library in Cashiers, and at the Highlands Biological Station Nature Center.

Details for these events are available from the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust at (828)526-1111 or by email at hitrust@earthlink.net.  Please mark your calendars now as the summer months become very busy.  We do not want you to miss a single event!