The Cashiers, Highlands, Sapphire, and Glenville communities offer their own traditions and twists to make the Fourth of July festivities uniquely their own.
Here, the holiday unfolds across a full weekend of celebration, moving from village lawn to resort grounds to open water, with each stop adding its own energy and character. The Laurel has often returned to these gatherings because they showcase such a distinctive mountain style of patriotism: live music on the Green, families spread out on blankets, children chasing one more game or treat, and boaters transforming Lake Glenville into a floating parade of red, white, and blue. The settings may differ, but the spirit is the same – communities coming together in ways that feel both lively and deeply rooted.
This year, Cashiers gets the celebration started spectacularly on Friday, July 3, with their annual Fireworks Extravaganza at The Village Green from 6:30 P.M. until 10:30 P.M. This fun-filled evening of live music, delicious food and drink, laughter, and family fun is the perfect prelude to the annual fireworks show which begins at dusk.
Highlands gets its celebration started early on the morning of Saturday, July 4.
The day begins with games at the Ball Field and a free hot dog lunch hosted by the Highlands Rotary Club. It is the kind of old-fashioned fun that never goes out of style, echoing earlier celebrations remembered for friendly competition, laughter, and children darting from one activity to the next.
In years past, the day has also been defined by touches that make Highlands uniquely itself, from duck derbies and community gatherings to the irresistible pleasure of simply strolling downtown between events and taking in the patriotic spirit that seems to settle over every corner of town.
That evening, the Saturdays on Pine Concert at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park kicks off at 6:00 P.M. with the high-energy sounds of Southside Station. Their crowd-pleasing mix of pop, classic rock, country, dance favorites, and current hits keeps the audience singing along and dancing well into the evening.
After the concert, the celebration reaches its grand finale with another unforgettable fireworks display lighting up the Highlands sky.
Sapphire Valley Resort kindles its own unique patriotic spirit with its annual July Fourth Yankee Doodle Dandy Day from 10:00 A.M. until 4:00 P.M.
This lively tradition is packed with activities designed to bring families and friends together for a full day of fun. From the ever-popular ducky derby and live music to games, contests, pony rides, a petting zoo, and a kid’s fun zone, there is something for every age to enjoy. Add in snow cones, popcorn, hotdogs, hamburgers, and plenty of laughter, and you have the recipe for a classic all-American celebration that perfectly captures the spirit of community.
On Sunday, July 5, the holiday weekend concludes in unforgettable style with the Friends of Lake Glenville’s annual Gala Boat Parade and Fireworks Over Lake Glenville. Launching from The Pointe just north of Trillium at 8:00 P.M., this colorful tradition invites boaters to go all out, decorating their boats in patriotic flair worthy of America’s 250th birthday celebration.
As darkness settles over the water, the Fireworks Over Lake Glenville begin at 9:30 P.M., reflecting across the lake in a breathtaking display of sparkle and color. Whether you watch from shore or from the deck of a boat, it is the perfect ending to a weekend devoted to celebrating freedom, community, and the joy of coming together. It also beautifully continues a tradition Laurel has celebrated for years, one in which Cashiers and Glenville look to the sky – and across the lake – for a finale as grand as the mountains themselves.
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