Summer Events

Independence Day

The Fourth of July is celebrated all day long with games and activities at the Town Ballfield, beginning with a rocket launch, Highlands Rotary Hot Dog Cookout and the club’s Annual Duck Derby staged at Mill Creek. The fun continues with an outdoor concert in the Kelsey Hutchinson Park. Bring chairs and a picnic from one of the many fabulous restaurants in town.

Night skies will burst in technicolor glory on the evening of the Fourth of July with an immensely enjoyable fireworks display sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. The show begins at the arrival of darkness. Virtually any spot downtown will give you a clear view of the excitement.

Highlands Motoring Festival

Highlands Motoring Festival (HMF) has been featured in national publications and draws entries that would be the envy of much larger shows, HMF is still a true local event. 

Cars are the main attraction, but it’s the sheer joy and fellowship of the people that make this a truly unique event.   It launches with One Lap in the Mountains, a two-day driving tour through the curves and back roads and rare straightaways of Western North Carolina. And the main event is Cars in the Park Auto Show at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park. HMF’s culminating car show, High Octane on Main, is open to any interesting vehicle – no registration, no entry fee, and no judging.

This is a juried exhibit that the public is invited to browse. To register or for more information, visit highlandsmotoringfestival.com.