In the Name of Love....

Christmas is nearly upon us and 2010 is just around the corner. Being an eternal optimist I always know that there is hope and have plans to work hard towards a new beginning in 2010.

We have gone through many trying times in our life, and one thing I always remember is that when it changes for the better, it happens in an instant. One minute our needs are staring us in the face and through the Grace of God we are sent an answer to our prayers. So for those of you that need an answer, keep believing in the Christmas Miracle.

Now on to this year's Christmas Story, we have to say, we weren't sure what to write, and as usual it just started flowing in. We truly hope this story touches all those that need an encouraging message.

To embrace the true meaning of Christmas you must embrace pure unconditional love itself.  Although, the nature of unconditional love and its purpose often confounds the logical mind.

As mere mortal beings, we did not create love instead we are the product of love's good intention. We all strive to be embraced with the warm and nurturing qualities of love, yet often it eludes us....read on...

If you didn't get to read last year's Holiday Tale, it is still very pertinent for the coming year..."There is light at the end of the tunnel" a cliche, but one with meaning, and something we do believe....read on....and gain your own sense of Hope, Faith and the Light at the end of the Tunnel.

Featured Event...

Christmas for the Kids at John C. Campbell Folk School

December 19, 2009 • 1-3 pm • Free

Each year John C. Campbell Folk puts on a Christmas party for children, free for all. Music, Dancing, Games, refreshments and Santa. If you are looking for a great event for the kids, this is it.

Wander through all the Highlander's Collection of Christmas Tales, from A Merry...Humble Mountain Christmas to Christmas at the Biltmore, Gingerbread Houses at the Grove Park Inn and others...

Looking for Christmas Events....

Check out our Event Calendar for other Holiday Events throughout the mountains.

Christmas is in the Air in the Mountains

It is hard to believe this year is almost over. I for one would like to finish this year off with as much fun, happiness and good cheer as I can find.

Today we went to an open house at Doyle's Cedar Hill in Murphy, great food, great people, way to do it Jeremiah.

We would like to recommend three very special holiday events coming up this weekend.  All will put a smile on your face, and a glow in your heart.

Not to mention the Fireside sale can put really great presents under your Christmas tree.

Come Enjoy...Mrs. Highlander

 Santa on the Chimney  • December 5th & 12th • 11 am to 2 pm

Where does Santa go to practice for his journey on Christmas Eve...Santa practices on a 315-ft. Chimney Rock before climbing down millions of much shorter chimneys all around the world. We experienced it for ourselves, read the Highlander's take on this event, it is guaranteed to make you laugh.

Fort Loudoun 18th Century Christmas at the Fort  • December 5th 9:45 am to 6:00 pm

Travel back in time for an Authentic 18th Century Christmas. The daily schedule includes a Christmas church service, wassail tasting and a special candlelight tour of the fort. On this special occasion, the soldiers will perform a rare night time firing of the fort’s cannon. Another Highlander Tale...a must read.

John C. Campbell Folk School Fireside Sale • December 6th • 10 am - 5 pm

Enjoy the ambiance of live music and a crackling fire as you shop for artful treasures. Craftspeople will offer handmade items such as jewelry, weaving, forged iron, photography, quilts and turned wood. You're sure to find special, one-of-a-kind holiday gifts here!

We are in production of our 2009 Christmas Tale, in the meanwhile take a little time to wander through the Highlander's Collection of Christmas Tales, from A Merry...Humble Mountain Christmas to Christmas at the Biltmore, Gingerbread Houses at the Grove Park Inn and others...

Looking for other Events....Check out our Event Calendar for other Holiday Events throughout the mountains.

Spend the Holidays in the Mountains....you know you want to!

36th Annual John C. Campbell Folk School Festival

One of the largest and most popular events of its type in the region, John C. Campbell Fall Festival is a celebration of our rich Appalachian heritage.

Fine craft, craft-making demonstrations, music and dance performances, kids' activities, tasty food, and a visit to the school's Craft Shop and History Center make Fall Festival a great way to begin the autumn season. Whether you are an old time Folk School fan or or a first time visitor, this is an event worth traveling to.

If you have never taken a class at the Folk School, you should check out all they have to offer.

We are already starting to see leaves change color. With all the rain we have had, this should be a beautifully colorful fall. Plan a trip to the Mountains and lift your spirits.

The Highlander has several new stories, and county profiles in production as well as new interactive features being developed, so keep up with our newsletters for the announcements.

Featured Mountain Easter Events

John C. Campbell Folk School Annual Easter Egg Hunt

April 11, 2009 • 1:00 p.m Sharp! • Arrive Early
This event is free and held at the Open House.

An annual favorite for kids the Saturday before Easter, bring your children at 1:00 p.m. to hunt for filled Easter eggs. There will be three areas for egg hunting, divided by age: 0-4, 5-7, and 8 & older. 

We ask that you please park in the gravel lot across from the Keith House to allow plenty of space for egg hunting and for the safety of the participants. 

Please arrive early - the hunt begins promptly at 1:00 pm and doesn't last very long!  There will be live music during the event.

54th Sunrise Service atop Chimney Rock

Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park

April 12th, 2009

Gates open at 5am and close at 6am for the 6:30am service.

No fees charged. 

Guests are welcome to enjoy the Park for the day. Celebrate the glory of Easter as our guest at this non-denominational community worship. This special service will be filled with song, scripture, special music and spectacular sunrise views over beautiful Lake Lure and Hickory Nut Gorge. 

John Mason, the Park's featured hammered dulcimer player, will perform. Arrive early, dress warmly and bring a flashlight.

For more information call 1-800-277-9611 or email visit@chimneyrockpark.com

Christmas Festivals in the Mountains

Christmas is right around the corner, and the reports all say that retail spending is higher than last year what a great report, it is nice to have some good news for a change.   We are really looking forward to the new President's plans and know this country can get back on the right track with some hard work and a lot of faith.

Mr. Highlander is working on this year's Holiday Tale, and it sounds like a perfect message for the end of this year and a fresh new beginning.  If you haven't read our past Holiday Tales, we have a nice collection and you can find links on the front page of the Highlander.

It is a great time escape to the mountains to enjoy a few festivals. Christmas events are now on line for Georgia, Western North Carolina and Tennessee, click to find a few to attend.

Here are a couple of our favorites and one unusual one we are visiting for the first time this coming Saturday, click the links for more information.

Christmas at the Fort December 6, 2008

Christmas for the Kids at John C. Campbell Folks School December 20, 2008

Now, for the unusual...

the Highlander is looking forward to attending this events for the first time.

Santa is rappelling down Chimney Rock to get ready for his Christmas Eve trip December 6th & 13th 2008

We will be reporting on this event in our next newsletter, along with our 2008 Holiday Tale.

Enjoy the Holidays and Count your Many Blessings, Mrs. Highlander

Autumn is in Full Bloom at the Top

We're not out of the woods yet, but the woods sure are beautiful in the mountains this time of the year. 

Gas prices are coming down each day, it is a great time to turn off the news and take a journey to the mountains.  Breathe fresh air, experience the beautiful colors, go on a hike, enjoy a scenic drive, go to one of the many festivals, and talk to friendly people. 

John C. Campbell had their fall festival last weekend, and it was wonderful, at least while there you didn't feel the pressure the world is trying to put on us at this time.  Isn't that what we all need.

Don't think I take the current economic situation lightly, it has effected us all, but I am not putting my faith in Wall Street or any politician, I place all my faith in God and the American people to bring us into a better place and time, better than before, more stable, more real.

Georgia Mountain Fall Festival starts this weekend, and many other festivals in all areas of the mountains.  

There are some great scenic drives you can go on in the mountains.  We just put up a new feature on Autumn on the Blue Ridge Parkway, take a look at the great views, and tell me that wouldn't be a great place to renew your hope.

There is no place better to lift your spirits than a trip to your favorite spot in the mountains, join us in God's Country and go back home with a renewed spirit.

God Bless...Mrs. Highlander

Leaf Color Change, Great Weather and Fun Festivals

We are starting to see signs of Fall even in the mountain valleys and the higher elevations are definitely seeing color change.  

As always along with the color change the mountains have wonderful festivals every week end.  This weekend, October 4th & 5th,  John C. Campbell is holding their 35th Fall Festival, and it is a great one to come to.  There is music, dancing, arts, crafts for sale and being demonstrated and a variety of good food from many different vendors.  

The Fall Festival is also pet friendly, so feel free to bring your favorite pooch and pooches bring your favorite human attached to your leash and enjoy the mountains.  The weather is going to be great and so far we aren't having any issues getting gas in this area and the price is not bad either, so take advantage the opportunity to turn the news off and get away to the mountains to have a great time.  

Admission for the Family friendly event is $5 for adults, $3 for kids 12-17 and kids under 12 get in free, so come enjoy this classic mountain festival.

If you would like more information see John C. Campbell Folk School web site, or email us as info@folkschool.org or call us at 800-365-5724.  

Fall Festivals and Butterflies

We just got back from a great mountain road trip to Chimney Rock and we had a wonderful time. We always meet so many interesting people. We have a lot of great new features coming up in the Highlander, so be sure to sign up to be notified of new additions, new communities, adventures, festivals and events.

In the meanwhile now is the time for Festivals and Butterflies, join us in the mountains to enjoy the Best the Mountains Have to Offer. If you haven't already, take time to read our feature story on the Migration of the Monarch, it will lift your spirits and start you planning a mountain journey of your own. Nature's Pilgrimage...the Migration of the Monarch... The autumn season begins their celebration of life as they pursue a natural innate spiritual sense that drives them along a pilgrimage that will eventually carry them across a continent. 

Coming up this weekend, on Saturday September 27, 2008 you won't want to miss the Foxfire Heritage Festival at Dillard City Hall.  Come join Foxfire for old fashioned fun, food, crafts and music.  You will see basket making, woodworking, broom making, coppersmithing, blacksmithing, Native American jewelry, stained glass, canoe carving and so much more.

Admission is only $4.00 and the proceeds go to benefit the Foxfire's Local Education Programs.  For more information call 706-746-5828 or email giftshop@foxfire.org

October 4th & 5th John C. Campbell Folk School is holding their 35th Annual Fall Festival.  This wonderful and true mountain festival features over 200 crafters, continuous music and dance performances on two stages including, blue grass, folk and gospel music.  More than 40 craft-making demonstrations including a Mountain life area, great food, kid's activities and much more.

For more information call 1-800-Folk-Sch (800-365-5724) or info@folkschool.org

For those of you that want to plan a little further in the autumn, mark your calendars for October 10th through October 19th for the 

Fall Festival at Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds.  

This 10 day event features exciting musical performances, education demonstrations, arts and craft sales, a flower show and the popular Georgia's Official State Fiddlers' Convention.

For more information call 706-896-4191 or gamtfair@alltel.net

If you are looking for events in other parts of the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains, check our event calendar that covers most of the counties throughout the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains.

It is a great time of the year for an scenic road trip, it will lift your spirits.  While we were at Chimney Rock, we met a young man with a great attitude, he had just lost his job.  He had saved for his vacation all year and decided to go anyway to lift his spirits and go back home with a renewed frame of mind, trusting God to get him through and find him a new job.  We commend him for knowing where his true source of support comes from.

Our philosophy for the future is to have faith, not in what we hear on the news, but in God, in ourselves, we can get back on track, but it will take all of us.  If we let the news get us in such a depressive state of thinking, God can't get through to us to inspire us to think creatively and find ways to get back to a productive future.  It is attitudes like the young man we ran into that will keep the ball rolling.  Fear stops progress, I don't mean you should be irresponsible, I don't say that this country is not having serious problems, but there is a solution and it will take creative thinking on the part of all of us to make a difference.

Keep the Faith....Think Creatively....Always Believe God has the Answer

God Bless.....the Highlander