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Festival with Altitude
Written By: Mary Jane McCall | Issue: 2017/05 - May | Photograph By: Bernie Coulson
The Highlands Motoring Festival weekend, June 8-11, brings a bevy of exotic, classic cars and driving enthusiasts to Highlands for one of the Southeast’s premier motoring events.
Known as the “Festival with Altitude,” this celebration of the automobile draws a large following year after year. This year’s theme is “Cars of Italy,” and event organizers are excited to announce several changes in weekend events geared toward bringing a bit of European flair to the mountains.
Gone is the formal gala that normally kicks off the weekend and in its stead is Monte Carlo Casino Night on Thursday, June 8, from 7:00 P.M. until 10:00 P.M. at Highlands Falls Country Club. Volunteers, including members of Highlands Rotary Club, will bring the Monte Carlo experience to the festival. It has been many years since Highlands had a casino night fundraiser.
Friday, June 9, is the ever-popular One Lap of the Mountains, featuring a new route of less-traveled roads around the Blue Ridge Parkway. This popular driving event is a detailed road rally but is non-competitive. Participants will gather for coffee and a light breakfast at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park and then depart for the day’s drive. Lunch will be at the famed Pisgah Inn, renowned for fabulous food and breathtaking views. There is a registration fee for this event and a limited number of registrations available.
The Classic Car Show will be staged from 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Saturday, June 10, at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park. Organizers expect 125 entrants and more than 2,500 visitors for this dazzling event. The early registration fee to enter a car is $35. There is no charge for spectators, but donations to REACH are appreciated.
The Motoring Festival Committee and hardworking volunteers work year-round to ensure this festival’s success. This year they are encouraging anyone interested in helping out to become a Friend of the Motoring Festival by volunteering to help out at the car show on Saturday. Interested volunteers should call Jerry Hermanson at (828) 526-9647 to sign up.
The Festival wraps up on Sunday, June 11 with Cars and Coffee on Main Street from 9:00 until 11:00 A.M.
This year all proceeds from the four-day event go to REACH of Macon County, a nonprofit dedicated to helping victims of domestic violence. For more information, please visit highlandsmotoringfestival.com.
