Arts in Highlands NC and Cashiers NC

The Sapphire Valley Arts and Crafts Festival returns October 3–4 with handmade creations, live music, food, and family‑friendly fun.

The Festival’s fall season highlights the Am Meer Quartet’s November 13–16 Residency and a September Porchfest set by the Lawson Ensemble.

The Dazzling Dahlia Festival arrives September 10–12 at The Bascom with floral installations, gallery‑inspired designs, studio pottery, and the popular Single Bloom Competition — a free, colorful weekend for the community.

An afternoon of operatic and Broadway favorites highlights Bel Canto’s ongoing support for arts and education across Highlands on September 13.

The Highlands Performing Arts Center brings two standout concerts this September: a Motown celebration on September 11 and bluegrass favorites Nu‑Blu on September 26, offering two lively, soulful nights on the Main Stage.

The Highlands‑Cashiers Film Festival returns September 16–19 with competition films, special screenings, director Q&As, community events, and the festive Black & White Masquerade, offering a boutique, story‑driven weekend on the Plateau.

Michelle Radford, winner of the Dazzling Dahlia Festival poster competition and The Laurel’s September cover artist, celebrates landscapes and dahlias through her multidisciplinary work blending painting, textiles, and family life.

The Bascom’s annual Clay Symposium returns September 26, featuring three nationally recognized ceramic artists demonstrating distinct approaches to surface design, alongside a companion exhibition on view through mid‑November.

Not Dead Yet 2.0 brings four dynamic artists to Dead Artists Gallery for a lively September 5 opening in Wright Square.