A Year To Remember

Written By: Johanna Fein, Highlands Chamber of Commerce/ Visit Highlands, NC | Issue: December 2023

As we approach the conclusion of 2023, the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC reflects on the year and highlights the ways in which we have been privileged to elevate the quality of life in our community.

Our dedicated Welcome Center staff of volunteers who extend a warm and helpful welcome to both residents and visitors, providing valuable information and assistance regarding all things Highlands.

We paid to have all the Town entrance signs refurbished and the lighting repaired. As with previous years, we provided all the hanging baskets and populated the planters on Main Street as well as having the trash cans pressure washed monthly to aid in sanitation.

And finally, between Plateau Pick Up in April and Tidy Our Town in November, we coordinated hundreds of volunteers to help spruce up Highlands and its surrounding highways.

Leadership Highlands successfully educated and empowered 13 graduates to actively contribute to the future well-being of our community.

This fiscal year, $325,650 was provided to local non-profits who give back to the local community.

We staged 51 outdoor concerts, free and open to the public – Friday Night Live in Town Square and Saturdays on Pine in Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park. These events have become great community gatherings and entertainment to local guests and visitors.

On the Fourth of July, a myriad of events was hosted by local organizations, concluding with our traditional fireworks display and concert, for enjoyment by all.

We hosted a Shred Event, a chance for local businesses and neighbors to safely dispose of paperwork and vital documents.

We collected more than two tons of waste paper and donations in the amount of $1,827 for two local organizations, The Gordon Center and Highlands Child Care Development Center.

Our Volunteer Fair provided 15 non-profits with an opportunity to find new volunteers and educate the public about their work.

Congratulations to Jim Spencer, International Friendship Center, and Highlands Historical Society and their volunteer Kim Daughtery – all honored for outstanding service to the Highlands community at our annual Business After Hours Autumn Ovation event.

Highlands Heritage Jamboree celebrated and honored the town’s history with traditional music, dancing, barbecue, moonshine and more.

Despite the chilly temperatures, this year’s Halloween on Main featured hundreds of outstanding costumes by Highlanders of all ages. Not to mention two bands, a DJ, a morgue, hearse, haunted house and so much more!

Holidays in Highlands: Starting with Light Up the Park & Main, continuing with Santa in the Park and the Christmas parade along Main Street, we make every effort to make your holiday season sparkle.

Thank you to our board of directors, staff, volunteers, businesses, community leaders and everyone who contributes to the shared vision for the ongoing success of the Town of Highlands.

Here’s to a delightful holiday season and fantastic New Year!