There are summer evenings in Highlands that feel almost borrowed from memory – the last gold of daylight across the hills, the easy rise of conversation, the sense that for a few hours the world has arranged itself just so.
On Tuesday, July 28, that mountain magic gathers around a worthy cause when the Highlands Biological Foundation welcomes guests to its 2026 Summer Soirée at Flat Mountain Farm, beginning at 6:00 P.M. and lingering into twilight.
The evening is more than a beautiful gathering. As the Foundation’s largest annual fundraiser, it helps sustain biological research, education, and conservation in the southern Appalachians. In Highlands, where the natural world is never just scenery, that mission resonates deeply.
At Flat Mountain Farm, the setting becomes part of the evening’s spell. Open meadows give way to wooded paths, thoughtfully designed spaces invite guests to linger, and the landscape settles into that rare balance Highlands does so well: polished but never pretentious, elegant but entirely at ease.
Guests will move through an atmosphere shaped as much by feeling as by fare: exceptional food, wine, beer, and cocktails; mountain air that cools with the hour; and conversation that comes more easily under an open sky. The Summer Soirée has long been one of the season’s cherished traditions, and 2026 promises a gathering rooted in the beauty of Flat Mountain Farm and the generosity of this community.
That spirit is reflected in the stewardship of Koble Delmer and Caleb Irby, the owners of Flat Mountain Farm. Koble, a creative director with a background in graphic design, brings an artistic sensibility shaped by travel and a lifelong connection to Highlands. Caleb, who grew up nearby, built his career in hospitality across the United States and Europe, creating spaces where food, drink, and welcome are inseparable.
Together, they have cultivated an environment that feels intentional and inviting – exactly right for an evening devoted to community and care for the natural world.
Tickets are $325, and they offer more than entrance to a lovely night; they become an investment in research and education efforts that make a lasting impact on the Plateau.
For longtime supporters, the Summer Soirée is a ritual of summer. For first-time guests, it’s an invitation into the heart of the Foundation’s work and the grace of this place.
And because evenings like this do not wait, now is the moment to claim a place at the table. Tickets and additional details are available at highlandsbiological.org/soiree2026 or by calling (828) 526-2221.
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