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Cultural Arts

Named one of America’s 12 Small Town Arts Places, the Highlands Plateau nurtures a longstanding love of the creative spirit. Artists of every genre-- visual, performing, musical, literary and culinary-- have homes in the Highlands and the surrounding mountains. The result is a profusion of creativity in the lifestyle that can be found in local shops, galleries and theaters, festivals and outdoor concerts.

Performing Arts

The world’s greatest music and theatre, internationally-known performers, beautifully intimate settings, cool mountain air, fine dining, art, theatre and film, golf and shopping – it’s all here for you.

We are fortunate to have two venues for performing arts. Highlands Performing Arts Center (PAC), downtown Highlands, offers an almost kaleidoscopic array of programs throughout the year. There are nationally recognized singers and bands of all varieties. It screens live performances of the Metropolitan Opera and Britain’s National Theatre. The productions of the Highlands-Cashiers Players are staged at the PAC, as are performances of the Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival. New in 2023 . . . Mountain Theatre Company (MTC), one of North Carolina's oldest theatre companies, will call the PAC it's new home. As the resident professional theatre company at the PAC, Mountain Theatre Company presents Broadway-style musical productions in an annual season running from June – December.

And the nearby Smoky Mountain Center for Performing Arts in Franklin, our neighbor just down the mountain, offers year-round entertainment.  Performances include Broadway-style plays and musical productions, dance and choral festivals, lectures, recitals, special events, movies and award-winning touring concerts.

Your guide to The Arts is here or pick up a copy at the Welcome Center, 108 Main Street, Highlands, NC.