Cashiers Festival of Trees Returns on November 28 and 29

Holiday Activities and a Dazzling Display of Trees, Wreaths, and Gift Baskets Await at Summit Charter School

The Summit Charter School Foundation is excited to announce that the 2025 Cashiers Festival of Trees will open on Friday, November 28, at 370 Mitten Lane in Cashiers, North Carolina. The festive fundraiser—accessible both in person and online—will run through Saturday, November 29, with doors open to the public from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

With attendance and participation growing each year, the Festival has outgrown the Summit Center alone and will now extend across the high school campus, bringing even more holiday magic for visitors to enjoy.

The Festival is a family-friendly event on the Cashiers-Highlands plateau during Thanksgiving weekend. Guests can get in the holiday spirit by viewing and bidding on decorated Christmas trees and décor with accompanying gifts and experiences; reveling in a variety of holiday activities; creating free personalized children’s crafts; celebrating literacy in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Storytime Nook; enjoying a pop-up O.P. Taylor’s Workshop and a holiday scavenger hunt; watching rivalry weekend football games in the Gameday Lounge; shopping one-of-a-kind gifts in the Gift Zone and Vendor Village; and sampling delicious offerings from food trucks. Cashiers Valley Real Estate serves as Presenting Sponsor and Ingles Markets as the Media Sponsor.

While raising funds for Summit remains the primary focus of the Festival, the event also spreads the holiday spirit of giving. Participating nonprofits that provide an auction item receive 80% of the sale of their items, creating a collaborative initiative that supports their worthy causes.

2025 participating charities include: Big Brothers Big Sisters of WNC, Cashiers Historical Society, Merrie-Woode Foundation, Albert Carlton–Cashiers Community Library, The Gordon Center for Children, Cashiers Highlands Humane Society, Cashiers Valley Preschool, Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust, Cashiers Friends of the Library, Mountain Theatre Company, The Bascom: A Center for the Visual Arts, Boys and Girls Club of the Plateau, Pisgah Legal Services, Cashiers Valley Garden Club, HIGHTS, Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce, Hudson Library of Highlands Foundation, Highlands Performing Arts Center, WALK Ramble and Vision Cashiers, International Friendship Center, and Hawthorn Heights of Bryson City, NC.

“As we celebrate the fifth year of the Cashiers Festival of Trees, we are filled with gratitude for how this tradition has brought our community together,” said 2025 co-chairs Denice Dunn and Celeste Pratt. “Each year, the generosity, creativity, and spirit of giving continue to grow—reminding us all what this season is truly about.”

Businesses, nonprofits, and individuals have created traditional and themed trees, wreaths, gift baskets, artwork, unique displays, and more to be enjoyed during the event. A full list of supporters can be viewed here or at www.summitschool.org. 

An additional sampling of this year’s 170 submissions includes The Designer’s Market, Spruce Interiors, Cashiers Kitchen Company, Anthropologie, Brookings Anglers, Mattel Toys, Nerf, Wit’s End, AGA Cooktops, and designs by all 13 grades from Summit Charter School. Cashiers Firewood’s submission—a highly anticipated feature each year—showcases an intricately designed Takeuchi excavator and skid steer made out of firewood. Bennett Equipment and Takeuchi serve as the firewood display sponsors this year. The winning bidder will receive two cords of seasoned or kiln-dried firewood, delivered and stacked.

“The community’s continued support in our fifth year has been truly remarkable,” said Melissa Hudson, Festival of Trees Director. “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the talented designers, generous benefactors, corporate sponsors, and devoted volunteers who bring the Festival to life. As we open the day after Thanksgiving, we look forward to celebrating the spirit of giving and the joy the holiday season brings. We invite everyone to experience the magic at the Festival—where trees, festive décor, and family fun fill every corner.”

EVENT DETAILS

WHEN • Friday, November 28 – Saturday, November 29, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

WHERE • 370 Mitten Lane, Cashiers, NC – Summit Center, Fitness Center, and High School Campus

ENTRY TICKETS • $5 for adults; free for all children 18 and under. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. Each ticket includes a coupon to Jersey Mike’s Subs locations in Brevard and Sylva.

SILENT AUCTION • Bidding on trees, wreaths, and gift baskets opens Friday, Nov. 28, at 10:00 a.m. and continues until 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29. All bidding will take place via the online auction website, and pre-registration is encouraged: https://one.bidpal.net/cashiersfestivaloftrees.

FOOD TRUCKS • A new feature this year includes a mouthwatering lineup of food trucks and sweet treats: Chick-fil-A, Grand Ole Station, Crossroads Custard, Chile-Loco, Smasheville, and a hot chocolate station from Cashiers Valley Preschool.

SHOPPING • Shopping will be available in the Gift Zone, Vendor Village, and a pop-up O.P. Taylor’s Workshop, sponsored by Design South Builders—a kid favorite featuring a new collection of furry friends, an onsite stuffer, heart ceremonies, and accessories to choose from. This year’s vendors include:

• Embroidery by Webster Workshop

• Glass-blown and blacksmith art from Jackson County Green Energy Park

• Handmade pottery by Crowfoot Pottery

• Jewelry by A Jones Company

• Artisan chocolate from Indigenous Chocolate

• Art by Hannah Beimborn

• Jewelry by Isabelle Ambrose Jewelry

• Live wood carvings by J-MAD

• Local honey from Bee. Honey + Hive

• Gourmet gift baskets by Health Nuts Market

• Decorative “bottles of bubbles” by Amanda Stoltzfus

• Hand-painted ornaments by Lora Uhrig

• Freshly milled breads by Fields of Grain

• One-of-a-kind artwork by Maggie Culbreth Creations

• Hand-poured candles by Elder & Co.

• Handmade soaps and lotions by Hazelwood Soap Company

CHILDREN’S EXPERIENCES • Children enjoy complimentary crafts, a holiday scavenger hunt with prizes, coloring stations, and readings in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Storytime Nook. Santa, Mrs. Claus, and other magical characters will roam the Festival on Saturday, Nov. 29, from 10:00 a.m. – noon.

WREATH BAR • A fresh wreath bar—sponsored by Bear Valley Farm—lets you choose your favorite wreath and make it your own with beautiful bows, ornaments, and festive accents. Bonus: from 10:00 a.m.–noon and 1:00–3:00 p.m. both days, expert designers will be on hand to craft custom wreath creations.

PHOTO BOOTH • All ages can enjoy a holiday photo booth with take-home pictures, sponsored by Slab Town Pizza, on Saturday, noon – 3:00 p.m.

SILENT AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS • In addition to beautiful decorations, many auction items include unique experiences. Highlights include a stay on a private island in South Carolina, golf rounds and merchandise from local and regional private country clubs, a wine dinner for 12 at The Library Kitchen + Bar with Michelin-star-trained Chef Johannes Klapdohr, toy gift baskets from The Corner Store, Minecraft and LEGO-themed trees, Roberto Coin Jewelry from TJ Bailey’s, tickets to the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship, a three-month flower delivery by Fiddlehead Designs, rare bourbon and wine collections, and trips to 30A, Florida, Lake Keowee, and more.

ART WALK • Featuring curated pieces of art for auction by Laura Moser, Kat Ford, Tracy Melton, Annie Couch, Carla Gignilliat, Barbara Sallows, Matt Betty, Cara Chase, and Tammi Johnson.

GAMEDAY LOUNGE • While your team competes in its legendary football rivalry game, visit an expanded Gameday Lounge featuring football game viewings, seating, and beverages. Sponsored by The Moskowitz Law Firm.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Friday, November 28

10:00 a.m. – Doors open to the public

11:00 a.m. – Storytime in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Nook (sponsored by the Albert Carlton Library and Cashiers Literacy Council)

1:00 p.m. – Storytime in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Nook (sponsored by the Albert Carlton Library and Cashiers Literacy Council)

5:00 p.m. – Doors close

7:00 – 10:00 p.m. – Festival: After Dark (By Invitation Only; Benefactor and Corporate Sponsor Event), sponsored by The Club at High Hampton

Saturday, November 29

8:30 – 10:00 a.m. – VIP Breakfast with Santa & Friends (By Invitation Only; Benefactor and Corporate Sponsor Event), sponsored by Waffle House

10:00 a.m. – Doors open to the public and “Buy It Now” goes live on silent auction items

10:00 a.m. – Noon – Santa and Mrs. Claus roam the Festival

11:00 a.m. – Storytime in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Nook (sponsored by the Albert Carlton Library and Cashiers Literacy Council)

Noon – 3:00 p.m. – Holiday Photo Booth Pop-Up (sponsored by Slab Town Pizza)

4:00 p.m. – Silent auction closes

5:00 p.m. – Doors close

Happening all open hours: O.P. Taylor’s Workshop, Gameday Lounge, children’s crafts, silent auction, Gift Zone and Vendor Village shopping, glass blowing and blacksmith demos, artisan displays, food trucks, live woodcarving, and scavenger hunt.

About the Summit Charter School Foundation

The Summit Charter School Foundation raises critical funds to support Summit Charter School, a tuition-free K–12 public school in Cashiers, North Carolina. Summit relies on private funding on an annual basis to fund the vital needs of its school children, staff, and facilities. Summit currently serves 350 students across five counties in western North Carolina. The Foundation is volunteer-led by a Board of Directors, including Carrie Snoey, Denice Dunn, Robert D. Hunter, Debi Townsend Stewart, Thomas Bates, Jeffrey Beall, Sarah Chapin, Gordon Coleman, Terry Dawkins, Scott Dunbar, Patch Foster, Andrew Hudson, Sarah Jennings, Wendy Lupas, Roman Placko, Jeanne Puckett, Eric Reeves, and Taylor Stewart.

The school engages students in learning experiences that stimulate discovery, inspire excellence, and nurture a positive influence in an ever-changing world. Summit’s primary goals are to graduate students who are academically prepared, engaged in the community, and strong in character. Learn more at www.summitschool.org or call 828-743-5755.