This year’s collection includes beautiful, exciting, and creative auction lots that will open for bidding today at 10 a.m. and close at 4 p.m. on Saturday, November 26. Support Summit School and participating area nonprofits by either attending our fundraiser in-person or virtually.
If you are planning to bid or shop at the Festival, be sure to pre-register through our OneCause Auction Website HERE.
We are pleased to share a video that one of our fourth-grade students, Amelia, made to help guide you through the registration process. Click HERE to watch Amelia’s video to get the Auction 101!
WHEN
Friday, November 25 – Saturday, November 26, 10 AM – 5 PM
WHERE
The Summit Center gym and fine arts facility at 370 Mitten Lane, Cashiers
WHAT
The Festival of Trees is a family-friendly event on the Cashiers-Highlands plateau during Thanksgiving weekend. Guests get in the holiday spirit by viewing and bidding on decorated Christmas trees and décor with accompanying gifts and experiences, revel in a wide variety of holiday performances, create free personalized children’s crafts, celebrate literacy on the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Storytime Stage, enjoy a pop-up Build-A-Bear Workshop, and shop one-of-a-kind gifts in the Gift Zone. McKee Properties serves as Presenting Sponsor and Ingles Markets as the Media Sponsor.
While raising money for Summit is the primary focus of the event, the Summit Charter School Foundation will once again spread the holiday spirit of giving: when a nonprofit provides an auction item, 80% of the item’s sale will go back to the participating organization, creating a collaborative initiative to benefit fellow charities and their worthy causes.
Participating nonprofits include: Adult and Teen Challenge of the Smokies Men’s Center, Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library, The Bascom, Big Brothers Big Sisters of WNC – Cashiers & Highlands, The Blood Connection, Blue Ridge Free Dental Clinic, Boys and Girls Club of the Plateau, Camp Merrie-Woode Foundation, Cashiers Chamber of Commerce, Cashiers Highlands Humane Society, Cashiers Literacy Council, Cashiers Historical Society, Cashiers Valley Preschool, Center for Domestic Peace, Center for Life Enrichment, Highlands Biological Station, Haywood Arts Center, Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation, HIGHTS, Highlands Cashiers Land Trust, and The Village Green.
ENTRY TICKETS
$5 for adults; free for all children. Tickets can be purchased online via the auction website, at the door, or at the Cashiers Chamber of Commerce, Cashiers Valley Pharmacy, Zoller Hardware, Cashiers Farmers Market, and Oakleaf in Highlands. Each ticket includes a coupon to the Jersey Mike’s Subs locations in Brevard and Sylva.
SHOPPING
Shopping will be available at the Gift Zone and a pop up Build-A-Bear Workshop® sponsored by Design South Builders is a kid favorite with a new collection of furry friends and accessories to choose from. Wreaths will be plentiful. Additional vendors include local honey products by Calm Creek Farm, live tree carving by Cutting Edge Carvings, jewelry by Ginger Made, and handmade ornaments and holiday decor from a variety of talented donors. There will also be a jewelry trunk show with Twine and Twig on Saturday, Nov. 26 from 1 PM – 5 PM. Get ahead of the holiday hustle and bustle by shopping early at the Festival!
CHILDREN’S CRAFTS AND STORY TIME
Children enjoy complimentary crafts and coloring stations as well as interactive experiences through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Storytime Stage. Santa, Mrs. Claus, and other magical characters will be roaming the Festival on Saturday, Nov. 27 from 10 AM – 11 AM.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday, November 26
10:00 a.m. Doors open to the public
11:00 a.m. Storytime with the Albert-Carlton Library on the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Stage
12:30 p.m. Trumpet Performance by Jesse Loyd
1:00 p.m. Summit’s Got Talent HOLIDAY featuring Summit students
2:00 p.m. Winter Wonderland Singalong with Tracie Jernigan
3:00 p.m. Storytime and Crafts with the Albert-Carlton Library on the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Stage
5:00 p.m. Doors Close
5:30 – 6:30 – When you are done at the Festival of Trees on Friday, we encourage you to attend The Village Green’s Annual Cashiers Tree Lighting, showcasing thousands of lights in The Heart of Cashiers.
Saturday, November 27
10:00 a.m. Doors open to the public
11:30 a.m. Musical Performance by John Warren and Eric Young
12:30 p.m. Musical Performance by Mark Wise
1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Twine & Twig Trunk Show
1:30 p.m. Storytime with the Albert-Carlton Library on the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Stage
3:00 p.m. Storytime with Mrs. KK of Sunshine Story
3:45 p.m. The Kooks of Hazzard featuring Ann Betty, Matt Betty, and Jeremy Robinson
4:00 p.m. Silent Auction Closes
5:00 p.m. Doors Close
SILENT AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS
In addition to beautiful decorations, many auction items include experiences and support specific, worthy educational programs. A collection of highlights include: a 2-night stay at the new Grand Bohemian Lodge in Greenville, golf rounds and merchandise from prestigious golf clubs across the plateau and beyond, a Michael Aram Menorah, a professionally catered 3-course meal from Chef and Summit parent–Holly Chick– featuring Native Prime Provisions and Red Clay Hot Sauce products and paired wines, boys and girls toy gift baskets from The Corner Store, tickets to the touring Harry Potter Experience in Atlanta, and numerous bottles of rare Blanton’s bourbon. Vital school programs are supported throughout, such as scholarships for the Summit Class of 2023, the music and art programs, athletics, and much more.
RAFFLE
New this year is a raffle! Purchase tickets HERE for the chance to win one of the following: 1) Golf Car from Appalachian Golf Cars, 2) Slim designer tree featuring products and gift cards from McCulley’s, Lulu & You, Bombshell Hair Boutique, Rosenthal’s, Highland Hiker, Rifle Paper Co., Narcissus, and Corkcicle. 3) Giant Build-A-Bear Workshop® teddy bear. You do not have to be present at the event to win. 1 Ticket for $35 or 4 for $100.
Unable to attend? Not interested in bidding, but still want to support our school children, teachers, and the community at large? We invite you to make a 100% tax deductible donation to our “Giving Tree” Fund HERE.