Laurel Magazine

The Burnt Part Boys at Highlands PAC
2025-08-06 19:30, 2025-08-07 14:30, 2025-08-07 19:30, 2025-08-08 19:30, 2025-08-09 14:30 (America/New_York) | Highlands PAC, 507 Chestnut Street, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
Siblings from a mining town learn the power of self-reliance in this Appalachian, bluegrass-inspired journey.
Locally known as “The Burnt Part,” the Pickaway Coal Company’s South Mountain closed down after an accident in 1952 that resulted in the death of four miners. Ten years later, Jake Twitchell is an employee of that same company, doing the same job that took his own father’s life. Much to the dismay of his movie-buff younger brother, Pete, the Pickaway Coal Company is going to begin re-mining The Burnt Part and send down the next generation of young men. Inspired by his silver screen heroes, Pete sets out for The Burnt Part with his best friend, a pack full of dynamite, and plans to blow up the mine in hopes of protecting his older brother. This new musical is a dangerous and heartwarming adventure following the journey to discover the importance of the choices we make to protect our family.

Exclusive! How Journalists Skewered Big Business in U. S. History—and Why It Mattered at Center for Life Enrichment
2025-08-07 10:00 - 12:00 | Center For Life Enrichment, 348 S 5th St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
Thoughtful Americans have long resented special privilege and foreign domination. For much of U. S. history, one word—monopoly–symbolized both of these perils. To combat these perils, journalists —in conjunction with jurists, government officials, social scientists, and business people—have popularized an anti-monopoly vision that has shaped law, public policy, and popular culture. This illustrated lecture (with lots of cartoons) surveys the long history of journalistic representations of big business in U S. history. Why is big business so often represented as an octopus? What about “Mr. Money Bags”—the comic figure in the popular board game “Monopoly”? Anti-monopoly is often conflated with the “big is bad” ethos identified with an 1890 law known as the Sherman Act. This is misleading. The journalistic critique of big business in U. S. history is much more capacious. In 1904, for example, journalist William Randolph Hearst ran for president on a platform that was anti-trust, but pro-municipal ownership. The journalistic indictment of big business—in cartoons, fiction, and oratory, as well as the law—offers us a window on one of the most enduring political impulses in American history. In this lecture, we will not only see how, but also why, this indictment mattered in the past, and how it can help us think more constructively about plutocracy, health care, finance, digital media platforms, and the “tech-industrial complex” of the present.

Family Storytime at Hudson Library
2025-08-07 10:30 | Hudson Library, 554 Main St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
Join us for stories, music, and movement at Family Storytime, every Thursday morning at 10:40AM.

Rug Show at Josephine’s Emporium
2025-08-07 11:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-08 11:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-09 11:00 - 17:00 | Josephine’s Emporium, 40 Burns St,, Cashiers, NC, 28741, United States
Come see Oriental Rug Specialist rugs on display at Josephine’s Emporium.
Free rug pad with each purchase!
40 Burns Street, Cashiers.

Cashiers Quilters at St Jude's Catholic Church
2025-08-07 11:30 | NC
Come join us for lunch each Thursday at 11:30 at a local restaurant and then quilting at the church.
Held at St Jude’s Catholic Church in Cashiers.

Summer Writing Workshop at Albert Carlton Cashiers Community Library
2025-08-07 13:00 | Albert-Carlton Community Library, 249 Frank Allen Rd, Cashiers, NC, 28741, United States
Beginning on June 5 at 1:00 p.m. and continuing every Thursday until August 28, ACCCL staff member Michael Redman will lead a writing workshop that is free and open to everyone, regardless of previous writing experience.
The workshop will be a place to be introduced to techniques, perspectives, and exercises to help you develop your writing. It will also provide a safe,welcoming environment for you to share your own thoughts, ideas, and questions.

Kids Zone at Hudson Library
2025-08-07 15:30 | Hudson Library, 554 Main St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
Kids Zone features a variety of fun and interesting programs where kids can explore art, nature, science & more! Best for ages 5 and up.

Paint your Pet with CHHS at Highlands Community Building
2025-08-07 17:00 | Highlands Community Building, 869 North 4th Street, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
Cashiers Highlands Humane Society and PAWS Bryson City announce our second annual joint fundraiser to support the animals at our no-kill shelters!
No painting skills necessary! Chances are, the less artistic you feel you may be, the more fun you will have! Just send us a head shot photo of your pampered pet when you register below and our artist partner with Be a Light Painting will have customized for you that evening a line drawing sketch of your pet on a 16” x 16” canvas ready for you to paint! Brushes, paints and aprons will all be supplied.
Join us for a fun-filled two hours of creativity and love for the four-legged members of our family! Attendance is limited, so register early! Or show your support and get in on the fun becoming a Sponsor of one of the events.
To give our awesome artist partner with Be a Light Painting time to prepare your customized line drawing sketch of your pet based on the photo you submit, the deadline to register for Paint Your Pet is Friday, June 27th for the July events in Sapphire and Monday, July 21st for the August event in Highlands! Reservations come in hot and fast for this wonderful event and attendance is limited, so don’t delay!
Net proceeds from this event will be split 50/50 with the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society and PAWS Bryson City, both 501(c)3 non-profit no-kill animal shelters rescuing, caring for, and finding forever homes for abandoned and neglected animals in western North Carolina.
RAFFLE PRIZES: Thanks to our generous partners, there will be some awesome prizes we will raffle during Paint Your Pet! So bring some extra bucks (raffle tickets are $10 each) to support the shelter pets and a chance to win some great prizes!
Check-In: 4:30pm | Event: 5:00-7:00pm
Early check-in is encouraged so you have the full two hours to paint your pet!

BBBS | Boots & Bourbon at Chimney Pond Farm
2025-08-07 17:30 - 20:30 | Chimney Pond Farm, 240 Chimney Pond Rd, Glenville, NC, 28736, United States
BBBS of WNC – Macon and Jackson Counties is hosting their annual fundraiser at Chimney Pond Farm in Glenville, NC. Mark your calendars for Aug. 7th!

From 5:30 – 8:30 PM, enjoy live music by Young Mountain Magic, dinner by Village Pantry of Cashiers, live and silent auctions as well as local beer, bourbon and wine!
Tickets are selling now – grab yours here!

HCCMF | Angel Party
2025-08-07 18:00 | NC
Enjoy an outstanding cocktail party and performance by Zuill Bailey, cello & Helen Kim, violin at the stunning home of Faith & Fred Schwaibold. We thrive on generous contributions and are rewarding those patrons who contribute $3,000 and above with an Angel Party.
To join, please consider giving and become a part of this exclusive celebration of your generosity and our 44th season.

Zahner Conservation Lecture Series | Finding the Fabulous Ordinary at Highlands Nature Center
2025-08-07 18:00 - 19:00 | Highlands Nature Center, 930 Horse Cove Rd, Highlands, NC, 28741
Featured Speaker: Georgann Eubanks, author, University of North Carolina Press
Nature writer Georgann Eubanks gives us a guidebook to the spectacular seasonal joys of ecosystems in the Southeast. The destinations and events she explores in her latest work are scattered across seven states. They include such wonders as bugling elk in the Smokies, a half-million purple martins roosting on an island in a South Carolina lake in July, the bloom of thirty acres of dimpled trout lilies in a remote Georgia forest in February, and gnat larvae that glow like stars on the rock walls of an obscure Alabama canyon. These magical sites are great destinations to visit with children, inspiring wonder and the impulse for protection.
FREE | No registration required

Live Music Thursdays at 4118 Kitchen & Bar
2025-08-07 18:00 - 20:00 | 4118 Kitchen and Bar, 64 Highlands Plaza, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
Live music every Thursday from 6-8pm with Zorki Nastasic on guitar and Matt Molesworth on keyboard alternating weekly.

Carolina Concert Series at Trailborn Highlands
2025-08-07 18:00 - 21:00 | Trailborn Highlands, 96 Log Cabin Ln, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
Join us in the Trailborn Highlands backyard for live music and drinks during our Carolina Concert Series!

Judging the Court: The Evolving Role of the Supreme Court in Modern America at Center for Life Enrichment
2025-08-08 10:00 - 12:00 | Center For Life Enrichment, 348 S 5th St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
In the Federalist 78 Alexander Hamilton called the Supreme Court an “intermediary” between the “People” and the legislature, as the Court served as a “bulwark” for a limited Constitution. Some contemporary judicial critics challenge this notion, as public opinion of the Supreme Court has decreased, long-standing precedents have been overturned, and personal issues with the justices have created controversies. Others see the Supreme Court as protecting the fundamental and essential principles of the United States’ founding. All perceptions, of course, are filtered by partisan ideology in these modern times.
This presentation will examine the current Supreme Court, putting these issues in historical context and placing emphasis on cases from the 2024-2025 term.

Elizabeth Locke Jewelry Showcase at Acorns
2025-08-08 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-09 10:00 - 17:00 | Acorns, 212 S 4th St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
All of Elizabeth Locke’s pieces are handmade in 19K gold using coins from Greece, Rome, and forgotten empires, as well as luminous pearls from the South Seas.

Friday Classes at Fusion Yoga and Wellness
2025-08-08 12:00 | Fusion Yoga and Wellness, 21A Lance Rd, Cashiers, NC, 28717, United States
Join us for Friday classes at Fusion Yoga and Wellness.
Fusion Flow: Flow & Restore
9:00 AM
This class offers the best of both worlds, beginning with a mindful vinyasa flow to build heat, strength, and flexibility, followed by grounding restorative poses to help you slow down, release tension, and reset.
Fusion Flow: Gentle
10:30 AM
Slow down and unwind with this soothing class that focuses on gentle, flowing movements paired with mindful breathing.

Art Workshop - Creating a Watercolor Brush Painting in the Style of Japanese Tradition at Center for Life Enrichment
2025-08-08 14:00 - 16:00 | Center For Life Enrichment, 348 S 5th St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
Create a work of art based on the tradition of watercolor brush painting! Practicing traditional techniques and using traditional design materials, class participants will produce a final project: a watercolor painting of a “sakura” cherry blossom tree on handmade paper. All materials will be provided for this class, and you will leave with a supply list for continuing your art exploration at home.

Live Music at Hummingbird Lounge
2025-08-08 17:30 - 22:00 | Old Edwards Inn and Spa, 445 Main Street, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
Plush easy chairs, sofas, and antique bistro tables invite you to sit back and embrace the carefree ambiance surrounding you. Live entertainment every Friday and Saturday night with Cy Timmons.

Friday Night Live with McClain Family Band at Town Square
2025-08-08 18:00 - 20:30 | Town Square, Main Street, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
Friday Night Live  Showcasing Traditional Mountain Music and Local Talent
McClain Family Band
Hailing from Eastern Kentucky’s Appalachian Mountains, the McClain Family Band have become internationally known as one of the most spontaneous, creative and spirited groups performing original and traditional bluegrass music. Television appearances include NBC’s Today Show, the CBS Morning News and ABC’s Good Morning America. They have also performed at Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, The Lincoln Center, and the Grand Ole Opry.

Live Music at Happ's Place
2025-08-08 18:00 - 21:00 | Happs Place, 5914 NC-107, Glenville, NC, 28736, United States
Enjoy live music every Friday and Saturday at Happ’s Place in Glenville.

Vino & Vibes at High Country Wine and Provisions
2025-08-08 18:30 - 20:30 | High Country Wine & Provisions, 621 Franklin Rd, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
Join us for Vino & Vibes with live music by Ezra & Katie!

Fiber Club at The Bascom
2025-08-09 10:00 - 12:00 | The Bascom, 323 Franklin Rd, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
The Bascom’s Fiber Club is made up of an enthusiastic community of fiber artists who come together weekly to share patterns and stories at The Bascom. Meetings take place on the Terrace.
In inclement weather, the group moves inside to the Library, but their enthusiasm is never dampened.

Macon County Art Association | Artfest 2025 at Macon County Public Library
2025-08-09 10:00 - 16:30 | Macon County Public Library, 149 Siler Farm Road, Franklin, NC, 28734, United States
Get ready! The Macon County Art Association (Uptown Gallery) invites you to a day of hands-on creativity and community fun at Artfest 2025, happening Saturday, August 9th from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM at the Macon County Public Library (149 Siler Farm Road, Franklin, NC). This exciting FREE event is open to the public and welcomes families, kids, and art lovers of all ages!
What to Expect:
• Interactive art activities for children and families
• Face painting and make-and-take art stations
• A bake sale with homemade treats
• A raffle with creative prizes
Whether you’re a parent, a student, a supporter of the arts, or just looking for a fun and inspiring Saturday, Artfest 2025 has something for everyone—indoors and outdoors, rain or shine!
Hosted by the Macon County Art Association, this event celebrates local creativity and connects the community through the arts.
For more information, visit the Uptown Gallery at 30 East Main Street in downtown Franklin, or email us at franklinuptowngallery@gmail.com.
