A Dazzling Display of Trees, Wreaths, and Gift Baskets Awaits: Cashiers Festival of Trees

Issue: Whats News

The Summit Charter School Foundation is excited to announce that its inaugural Festival of Trees will open on Thursday, November 26 in the Summit Center at 370 Mitten Lane, Cashiers, NC, 28717. The festive fundraiser – accessible virtually and in-person – will run through Saturday, November 27. Event hours for the public are 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM. 

The Cashiers Festival of Trees is a family-friendly event on the Cashiers-Highlands plateau during Thanksgiving weekend. Guests get in the holiday spirit by viewing and bidding on decorated Christmas trees and holiday décor with accompanying gifts and experiences, revel in a wide variety of holiday performances, create personalized children’s crafts, celebrate literacy on the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Storytime Stage, enjoy a Build-a-Bear Experience, and shop one-of-a-kind gifts in the Gift Zone.  McKee Properties serves as Presenting Sponsor and Ingles Markets as the Media Sponsor.

While raising money for Summit Charter School is the primary focus of the event, the Summit Charter School Foundation will spread the holiday spirit of giving: when a non-profit or school decorates a tree or wreath, 20% of the item’s sale will go back to the participating organization, creating a collaborative initiative to benefit fellow charities and their worthy causes. 

“Supporting our entire community is very important to our cause and the school’s overall mission,” explains the inaugural co-chairs and Cashiers residents Sarah Palisi Chapin and Sarah Jennings.  “We look forward to the Festival of Trees complementing the many wonderful festivities on the plateau during the holiday season.”

Businesses, nonprofits, schools and individuals have created trees, wreaths, gift baskets, and more decor to be enjoyed during the event. A full list of supporters can be viewed here, or on www.summitschool.org. A small sampling of the nearly 80 auction packages and designers includes the Camp Merrie-Woode Foundation, a NASA Space Camp Package appointed by designer Chad Lucas, the Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau, Lynn Monday’s House of Design, Blue Ridge School, The Bascom, Interior Enhancements, the Cashiers Historical Society, Laura Moser Art, Spruce Interiors, and Zoller Hardware. Cashiers Firewood’s submission includes a Firewood Stack Cabin Replica, standing more than 14 feet and offering 7 cords of firewood to the winning bidder. 

“The support from the community for our school and participating nonprofits has been truly inspiring. We owe deep gratitude to all of our designers, benefactors, corporate sponsors, and devoted volunteers. We can’t wait to celebrate everyone’s hard work as we officially open the day after Thanksgiving. Displays will be up for view during the duration of the event, so we invite the community to join us!” conclude the co-chairs. 

Pertinent event information is included below: 

EVENT DETAILS 

WHEN • Friday, November 26 – Saturday, November 27, 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM

WHERE • The Summit Center gym and fine arts facility at 370 Mitten Lane, Cashiers

SILENT AUCTION • Trees, Wreaths, and Gift Baskets may be bid on beginning Friday, Nov. 26 and until 4 PM on Saturday, Nov. 27. All bidding will take place via an online auction website and pre-registration is encouraged for anyone interested in bidding. LINK: one.bidpal.net/cashiersfestivaloftrees

SHOPPING • Shopping will also be available at the Gift Zone and a Build-A-Bear experience. Wreaths will be plentiful, including artistic expressions by Oakleaf Style. Additional vendors include Alli + Jean, Calm Creek Farm, Sarah Lane’s Sweets, and handmade holiday decor from a variety of talented donors. Get ahead of the holiday hustle and bustle by shopping early at the Festival and avoid the added stress of this year’s labor shortages and lack of inventory!

BUILD-A-BEAR •  A Build-A-Bear experience, sponsored by Design South Builders, will be available for purchase during the Festival. Get your teddy bear and select his or her holiday outfit and accessories, participate in the traditional heart ceremony, and leave home with your Bear in a Condo! Build-A-Bear Coloring Stations and Playhouse Coloring Cottages will also be onsite.

CHILDREN’S CRAFTS • Children can enjoy complimentary crafts and coloring stations as well as interactive experiences through the Dolly Parton Inspired Storytime Stage. A Meet & Greet with Santa and Mrs. Clause will take place on Saturday, Nov. 27 from 10 AM – 11 AM. 

ENTRY TICKETS • $5 for Adults, $1 for Age 5-18, and free for under 5. Tickets can be purchased online via the auction website, at the door, or at the Cashiers Chamber of Commerce, Cashiers Valley Pharmacy, Zoller Hardware, and the Cashiers Farmers Market. Each ticket includes a coupon to the new Jersey Mike’s locations in Brevard and Sylva.

IN-TOWN GIFT WRAPPING • In celebration of the event, students and volunteers will staff a DIY Gift Wrapping Station and Coffee & Cocoa Bar at Hampton Realty, 1525 Highway 107 South, Cashiers, NC 28717. Gift wrapping supplies are courtesy of Cashiers Valley Pharmacy and American Greetings.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS • Guests will enjoy a variety of performances, storytime, and more. The event schedule, as of November 17, is as follows: 

Friday, November 26 

10 AM – 5:30 PM – Doors open to the public

11:00 AM – Storytime and craft with the Albert Carlton Cashiers Community Library on the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Stage 

12:30 PM  Storytime with the Albert Carlton Cashiers Community Library on the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Stage 

2:00 PM – Musical Performance by Erica Nicole

3:00 PM – Talent Performances by Summit Students

3:30 PM – Winter Wonderland Sing-A-Long with Tracie Jernigan 

5:00 – 6:30 – When you are done at the Festival of Trees on Friday, we would love for you to join us at The Village Green’s Annual Cashiers Tree Lighting, showcasing thousands of lights in The Heart of Cashiers. 

Saturday, November 27 

10 AM – 5:30 PM – Doors open to the public

10 AM – 11 AM – Meet & Greet with Santa and Mrs. Clause 

11 AM – Storytime and Craft with the Albert Carlton Cashiers Community Library on the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Stage 

12:30 PM – Bluegrass by John Warren and Benny Queen

1:30 PM – Performance by Highland Heckelphones Quartet 

2:00 PM – Traditional Hispanic Dance Performance

3:00 PM – Violinist Rainier Finley 

3:30 PM – Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM)

SILENT AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS  •   In addition to beautiful decorations, many auction items include experiences and support specific, worthy programs. A collection of highlights include: a two-student trip to Space Camp in Texas with all travel and lodging included, a luxury outdoor grill by EVO, his and hers gift baskets from Zoller Hardware and The Corner Store, a round of golf at High Hampton, seven cords of firewood delivered and stacked to your home, and vital school programs such as the inaugural Summit Senior Class trip, the choral program, outdoor education, athletics, and much more. 

DOOR PRIZE  •   Each guest and volunteer at the Festival of Trees is automatically entered into a door prize, which includes the opportunity to own a 2004 Land Rover Discovery, a tree, a giant Build-A-Bear teddy bear, and gift certificates to Slab Town Pizza, Cashiers Smokehouse, LuLu & You, McCulley’s, and Ingles.