July 4th weekend kicked off the unofficial start of the summer season in Highlands. And what a start it is! All the shops, restaurants, galleries and inns are brimming with life and culture. Trunk shows are abundant at Acorn’s this season and—as well as other locations in Highlands. Summit One Gallery is holding a Studio Courtyard Sale this Friday, July 11 with lemonade and BBQ for guests. Also this week/weekend is the annual Mountains in Bloom Festival presented by The Bascom Center for the Visual Arts. Drake’s Diamond Gallery is hosting a Mia Katrin Show July 25, complete with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. Wolfgang’s Restaurant and Wine Bistro has a sizzling July lineup that includes two performances by acoustic singer/songwriter Tom Quigley and a Wine Dinner by Robert Craig Winery. Madison’s Restaurant has become the place to be for breakfast in Highlands with the new Chef Johannes Klapdhor at the helm—and the Wine Garden remains a favorite for summer afternoon nibbles and sips. Both the Performing Arts Center and the Highlands Playhouse have full seasons of endless entertainment planned, as does the Chamber Music Festival.

Yes, our cup runneth over with cultural opportunities in this enchanting mountain village of Highlands. But beyond the culinary and creative pursuits that give us such pleasure, the call of the wild that has drawn visitors to Highlands for decades remains the star of the show here on the Plateau. Hiking excursions to scenic overlooks, a refreshing swim in a clear mountain pool, awe-inspiring waterfalls, horseback rides on forested trails, canoeing, kayaking, fly fishing—Highlands truly is a paradise for nature lovers! And if you’re one of them, be sure to bookmark the Highlands Land Trust website to stay informed about ecotours, including Stargazing on the Mountain October 23 (book your lodging now for this, as October draws leaf lookers from far and wide). And don’t miss the Green Living Fair July 25 and 26.

Of course, new to the Highlands experience this year is mountain golfing at the Old Edwards Club, a newly renovated architectural marvel that cascades along 200 acres on one of the highest ridges on the east coast.

These activities only represent a portion of the happenings in Highlands this season. For a more thorough listing, visit the websites of the Highlands Chamber, The Mountain Laurel Magazine, The Highlander Newspaper Calendar of Events and HighlandsInfo.com. And coming in September/October, Old Edwards Inn has some exciting premiere events planned—including a Southern Women Writers Series where you can meet, eat and hobnob with your favorite southern storytellers against the intimate backdrop of the Old Edwards Inn and Spa. More information on that—and our Oktoberfest—coming soon!