2024 Village Green Brochure

The Village Green

2024 Event Program

Photo by Rodney Byard

About The Village Green

The Village Green is literally The Heart of Cashiers. Not only is the 13+ acre park geographically situated in the center of our village, but it is also the hub for community events and gatherings.

With over 270 days of FREE community events happening yearly it is easy to see why The Village Green has become the heart of the village of Cashiers.

Mission

Begun by a visionary group of collaborators, The Village Green came into existence over 30 years ago in 1992 to preserve the heritage and integrity of our Cashiers Village and enhance the land for our community’s civic, spiritual, academic, recreational, and cultural activities.

The Village Green will continue its mission to enrich our community through cultural events, family-friendly programming, and the arts for

generations to come.

Funding

The Village Green receives no funding from Cashiers, Jackson County, the State of North Carolina, or the Federal Park System; maintenance, operations and improvements are funded by incredibly loyal and amazing individual donors, specially planned fundraising events, and community grants.

Future

Our organization’s values revolve around Community, Collaboration, and Conservation. We look forward to expanding our existing

relationships and beginning new relationships with like-minded organizations, corporations, and individuals to meet our community’s identified needs.

Please consider a donation to keep the park maintained, expand programs, and events free and open to the public!

Contents

At a Glance Calendar 8

*Locally Grown on The Green 12

*Groovin’ on The Green 16

*Village Nature Series 20

*4th of July Celebration 24

*Cashiers Plein Air Festival 27

*Blessing of the Animals 38

*Cashiers Valley Leaf Festival 42

*Halloween Block Party 46

*Gobble on The Green 50

*Christmas on the Green 54

*StoryWalk 58

Cashiers Live 62

Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music 63

Cashiers Annual Antique Show 64

Cashiers Designer Showhouse Vender Village 65

Playground Enhancement Project 66

Host Your Event at The Green 68

Advertisers’ Index 70

*Events and Programs Coordinated by The Village Green

Contents At A Glance Calendar

JUNE

June 1 | 12 - 3 pm

Big Brothers Big Sisters - Dia Del Los Ninos Playground Lawn

June 5, 12, 19, & 26 | 11 am - 3 pm

Locally Grown on The Green

June 7 | 6 - 8:30 pm

Groovin’ on The Green Nero Simon & The Sunsetters Sponsored by Jackson County Parks & Highlands-Cashiers Health Foundation

June 12 | 4 - 6 pm

Cashiers Volunteer Expo

Lewis Hall

June 15 | 7 - 9 pm

Cashiers Live presents Tell Me Lies: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac

June 21 | 6 - 8:30 pm

Groovin’ on The Green, Commodore Fox Sponsored by Ingles Markets

June 25 | 5:30 - 6:30 pm

Village Nature Series – “Mushrooms 101: A Sneak Peak into the Frontier of the Future”

June 29 | 7 - 9 pm

Cashiers Live presentsGreggie & The Jetts: A Tribute to Elton John

JULY

Wednesday, July 3 | 6 pm

Fourth of July Extravaganza! Caribbean Cowboys Band Fireworks start at dark Presenting Sponsor

Sundays – July 7, July 14, July 21, July 28, & Aug. 4; Tuesdays – July 9, July 16, & July 23, July 30

Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival

Lewis Hall

July 10, 17, 24, & 31 | 11 am - 3 pm

Locally Grown on The Green No Farmers Market on July 3

July 13 | 7 - 9 pm

Cashiers Live presentsThe Wildflowers: A Tribute to Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

July 17, 18, & 19

Cashiers Plein Air Festival Artist Demonstrations

July 18, 19, & 20 | 10 am - 5 pm

Cashiers Plein Air Festival Gallery Open to the Public

July 19 | 6 - 8:30 pm

Groovin’ on The Green, The Wobblers Presenting Sponsor Landmark Realty Group

July 31 | 5:30 - 6:30 pm

Village Nature Series “Literature and Ecology”

July 26 | 2 - 5 pm

Center for Life Enrichment College Football Preview!

July 27 | 7 - 9 pm

Cashiers Live presents - RCA Time Machine: A Tour of the ‘70s, ‘80s, & ‘90s

AUGUST

August 2 | 6 - 8:30 pm

Groovin’ on The Green Angela Easterling and The Beguilers Sponsored by Rusticks

August 4 | 4 - 5 pm

Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival

Lewis Hall

August 9 - 11

Cashiers 46th Annual Antique Show 160 Frank Allen Road

August 13 | 4 - 5 pm

Village Nature Series: Kids’ Edition“Backyard Nature Exploration”

Contents At A Glance Calendar

August 14, 21, & 28 | 11 am - 3 pm

Locally Grown on The Green No Farmers Market on August 7

August 16 | 6 - 8:30 pm

Groovin’ on The Green Martin and Kelly Sponsored by Cashiers Valley Real Estate

August 20 | 5:30 - 6:30 pm

Village Nature Series “George Masa’s Wild Vision”

August 23 – August 31

Cashiers Historical Society Designer Showhouse Vendor Village Lewis Hall

August 30 | 6 - 8:30 pm

Groovin’ on The Green Pretty Little Goat

Presenting Sponsor Landmark Realty Group

SEPTEMBER

Sept. 4, 11, 18, & 25 | 11 am - 3 pm

Locally Grown on The Green

September 6th | 6 - 8:30 pm

Groovin’ on The Green Back Porch Orchestra Sponsored by Spinx

September 19

International Friendship Center’s Carnaval de Colores

September 24 | 5:30 - 6:30 pm

Village Nature Series - “Pollinator Habitat Conservation in the Mountains of WNC”

OCTOBER

October 2, 9, 16, 23, & 30 | 11 am - 3 pm

Locally Grown on The Green

October 5 | 11 am - 12 pm

Blessing of the Animals

160 Frank Allen Rd

October 11 - 13 | 10 am – 5 pm

Cashiers Valley Leaf Festival Rain or Shine

October 17 | 5 pm

Landmark Realty’s Annual Chili Cook Off Lewis Hall

October 22 | 4 - 5 pm

Village Nature Series: Kids’ Edition “Exploring Animals with Cherokee Stories & Games”

October 26 | 5 - 7 pm

Halloween Block Party Frank Allen Rd.

NOVEMBER

November 28 | 9 am

Gobble on The Green 5k & Turkey Trot

November 29 | 2 - 5 pm

A Visit with Santa Lewis Hall

November 29 | 10 am - 5 pm

Mistletoe Market

Lewis Hall

November 29 | 5:45 pm

Cashiers’ Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

DECEMBER

December 1 | 2 pm

Cashiers Valley Community Chorus Evening Concert

December 7

Cashiers Christmas Parade

December 10 | 4 pm Wildcraft Wreath Making

Events & Programs

The Village Green

Locally Grown on The Green

Wednesdays Through October 30 | 11 am - 3 pm

Choose the food less traveled at The Green Market – Locally Grown on The Green, Cashiers farm stand market for local growers beginning Wednesday, May 1.

The market is “producer-only” meaning that the vendor must be the grower or producer of ALL the products they sell. Vendors must produce within a 100-mile radius of Cashiers. That means that the season for each fruit and vegetable is longer. Shopping at the Green Market provides a forum for learning how food is grown, who grew it, and why it tastes so good.

Fill your basket with naturally raised meat and

dairy items, fresh eggs, jams, pickles, and freshly baked bread… Set your table with fresh cut flowers that morning or plant your entryway with locally grown perennials. Always fresh. Always local.

Free; at The Village Green Commons

No market on July 3 and August 7

Presenting Sponsor: Landmark Realty Group

Groovin’ on The Green

Select Fridays, Memorial Day - Labor Day | 6 - 8:30 pm

Music fills the air in The Village Green no matter the season. The Village Green Commons Lawn is the venue for artist performances.

The Village Green continues our FREE summer concert series “Groovin’ on the Green”! Local food and beverage options are available at each concert!

Our 2024 Groovin’ on The Green schedule is packed with new, outstanding musicians. The concerts will feature a brand new band line up

and new timeframe of 6:00 - 8:30 pm

The Village Green will continue offering the opportunity for groups to “Rent a Tent.” The Village Green will be providing 10×10 tents at $100+tax per tent per event. Different rates apply for the Fireworks Extravaganza. If you or your friends would like to book a tent for Groovin’ on The Green visit villagegreencashiersgreennc.com/concerts where you can reserve your tent or email Shelby@CashiersGreen.com.

Groovin’ on The Green Schedule

Friday, May 24

Darren Nicholson Band

Sponsored by the Laurel Magazine

Friday, May 31

Kevin Daniel & The Bottom Line Sponsored by Caliber Fine Properties

Friday, June 7

Nero Simon & The Sunsetters Sponsored by Jackson County Parks & Recreation

Sponsored by Highlands-Cashiers Health Foundation

Friday, June 21 – Commodore Fox

Sponsored by Ingles Markets

Friday, July 19 – The Wobblers

Sponsored by Presenting Sponsor Landmark Realty Group

Friday, August 2

Angela Easterling & The Beguilers Sponsored by Rusticks

Friday, August 16 – Martin & Kelly Sponsored by Cashiers Valley Real Estate

Friday, August 30 – Pretty Little Goat Sponsored by Presenting Sponsor Landmark Realty Group

Friday, September 6

Back Porch Orchestra Sponsored by Spinx

Village Nature Series

Select Tuesdays | Through September | 5:30 pm

The Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust and The Village Green co-host a series of lectures each year from April through September. Visitors and residents learn about wildlife, habitats, conservation, and local, cultural heritage from expert speakers in their fields. The Village Nature Series will begin at 5:30 pm on select Tuesdays of the month from April through September at The Village Green on Frank Allen Road. This series is sponsored by Cedar Creek Club.

April 30: Vermicompost, The Basics and Benefits by Mary Ann Smith: Composting with worms is a simple process that manages food waste, while producing a super-enriched soil amendment and promoting sustainability. This presentation will cover not only the basics about worms and worm composting, but also the science behind successfully gardening with worm products.

May 28: Hope for The Hemlocks by Olivia Hall and Thom Green: North Carolina’s hemlock trees need your help. Though hemlocks are declining, there is hope to bring them back to their previous glory! Join Olivia and Thom from the Hemlock Restoration Initiative to learn about hemlock ecology, woolly adelgid biology, what is being done to help, and management strategies to take care of hemlocks on your own land.

June 25: Mushrooms 101: A Sneak Peak into the Frontier of the Future with Lizza Bixby : Join Lizza Bixby as she weaves a terrific journey around all things fungi! Lizza will break the veil of mystery and briefly explain mushroom foraging in our area, at home mushroom growing, and how it can be great for your garden. She will cover myco-innovations sure to get you excited!

July 31: Literature and Ecology with John Lane: Join John Lane, environmentalist, poet, author, and emeritus professor of Wofford College as he presents on the unique ecology of our area!

August 20: George Masa’s Wild Vision with Brent Martin

Join Brent Martin, author and Executive Director of Bartram Trail Conservancy, as he presents on the life and work of Japanese immigrant and photographer, George Masa, whose photography of WNC in the early 20th century was unparalleled. Martin is the author of George Masa’s Wild Vision: A Japanese Immigrant Imagines WNC, which won the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award in 2022.

September 24: Pollinator Habitat Conservation in the Mountains of WNC with Bryan Tompkins

These days, there is a good chance you’ve heard about the plight of North Carolina’s native pollinators. Join Bryan Tompkins, US Fish and Wildlife Biologist, as he discusses

what’s causing native insect population declines and examines the survey efforts, data collection, and habitat restoration efforts taking place in Western North Carolina.

Village Natures Series: Kids’ Edition

Join Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust and The Village Green for the new Kid’s Edition of the Village Nature Series on select Tuesdays from 4-5 pm during the months of May, August, October, and December! This new series is free, suitable for children of all ages, and will be held at 160 Frank Allen Road.

May 14 : Awesome Opossum with Gina Patton of Balsam Mountain Trust featuring live animals!

August 13: Backyard Nature Exploration with Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust

October 22: Exploring Animals with Cherokee Stories and Games with Jessica Metz of New Kituwah Academy

December 10: Wildcraft Wreath Making with Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust

Wednesday, July 3 | 6 pm

4th of July Extravaganza!!!

Come one, come all! This Independence Day, come on out to The Village Green for an evening of food, music, and of course, fireworks. The annual “4th of July Extravaganza on the Green” will take place at 6 pm on Wednesday, July 3 at The Village Green Commons.

Entertainment will be provided by the Caribbean Cowboys Band who have been entertaining audiences for over 30 years, as well as a fireworks show featuring over 1,000 colorful bursts!

Admission to the event is free, however donations will be collected to help with the cost of the event. Many small communities have eliminated fireworks from their celebra -

tions due to the costs of a large pyrotechnic display, but The Village Green believes it is important to preserve this patriotic tradition for the Cashiers community.

Attendees are welcome to bring picnics and coolers of their own. Due to the nature and size of the event, personal tents and dogs are not allowed. Local food and beverage vendors, Elevated Kitchen, Innovation Brewery, and Crossroads Custard will be available during the event!

We hope to see you all there!

Presenting Sponsor: Landmark Realty Group

Cashiers Plein Air Information

Cashiers Plein Air Festival features internationally acclaimed painters who set up their easels to capture the beauty of the North Carolina Mountains. Their original art, painted during the festival, is displayed for exhibit and sale in a pop-up gallery in The Lewis Hall. The proceeds from the sale of these unique paintings benefit The Village Green, our 13+ acre park that is The Heart of Cashiers. The Gallery is FREE and open to the public from 10 am - 5 pm on July 18, 19, and 20.

Cashiers Plein Air is a seven-day festival featuring acclaimed artists from around the globe whose passion is to paint “open air.” This year The Village Green will bring 19 artists to Cashiers who will capture on canvas the unparalleled moments and memories of our beautiful landscape, mountain lifestyle, and treasured places.

As a nonprofit 501(c)(3), and privately conserved park for the people, The Village Green

does not receive any financial support from local, state, or federal government entities. We rely solely on the generosity of like-minded individuals and our biennial fundraising events such as Cashiers Plein Air Festival to raise critical funds to continue the programs and events our community cherishes, and to enhance our treasured, free public park.

Cashiers Plein Air Festival is The Village Green’s biennial event held to raise critical funds to continue the programs and events our community cherishes and to enhance our treasured park.

Continue on to the next few pages for information on our artists and how you can become a Benefactor to support the 2024 Cashiers Plein Air Festival and The Village Green!

Presenting Sponsor: Landmark Realty Group

Cashiers Plein Air Artists

Stephanie Amato

Stephanie was born and raised on Long Island, NY and currently resides in Milton, GA. She studied illustration at Parson’s School of Design in New York City and continued her training at Mason Gross School of the Arts, The Art Students League and the New York Academy. Stephanie also obtained a degree in Graphic Design.

She is a Signature Member of the American Impressionist Society, Resident Member of the NYC Salmagundi Club, Associate Member of the Oil Painters of America, Associate Member of the Portrait Society of Atlanta, Signature Member of the Pastel Society of New Jersey and the former President of “The New Jersey Society of en Plein Air Painters” 2009-2011.

Gary Baughman appears at the Village Green Plein Air Festival after a 10 year hiatus. He participated in the 2010-2014 events. His painting, “Lunker Lake” received a First Place Award in 2014. He is happy to return to painting in Cashiers where he has many good memories, friends and collectors of his works. His paintings have appeared in many exhibitions, local, Regional and National, winning many top awards. Gary is a popular instructor for several art organizations in the Atlanta area and at Hilton Head Island.

Primarily working with pastels en plein air, Greg Barnes sets up a portable easel in front of the subject. Soft pastels are used to draw or “paint” onto archival sandpaper. This paper provides tooth, allowing layering of the pigment into the surface. Each piece of Greg’s work starts by quickly blocking in the darkest shapes and continues by building detail in the main subject areas until the painting says just enough.

Greg Barnes is considered a contemporary landscape impressionist, relying heavily on intuition when searching for subject matter. Contrast, movement, and light attract him, and a bold use of color punctuates his style.

Deliece Blanchard

Deliece Blanchard paints landscapes with lyrical and rhythmic marks that reveal her background in music. A cellist as well as an oil painter, the mountains are her favorite plein air setting - where overlooks, rushing streams, or wildflowers are frequent subjects. Deliece is a prize- winning member of the Oil Painters of America, the American Impressionist Society, and American Women Artists, and has been awarded painting fellowships in the US and Ireland. The First-Place winner at Plein Air New Bern in 2022, Deliece was juried into the OPA National Exhibition in 2024.

Gary Baughman

Greg Barnes

Cashiers Plein Air Artists

Dobson-Cundiff, renowned for vibrant landscapes, excels in alla prima and plein air painting, capturing vivid atmospheres. Notable as a top Southeast impressionist, she led Plein Air Painters of the Southeast and secured two Silver Medals in 2023’s Oil Painters of America exhibitions. With signature memberships in major art societies like Oil Painters of America and American Women Artists, she’s esteemed in the art world. Former faculty at Ringling College of Art and Design, she now conducts workshops in her Sarasota studio. Accomplished and influential, her bold artistry and leadership mark her as a standout figure in contemporary painting.

A SC native, Madeline Dukes currently lives in North Charleston, SC. “While landscapes and organic forms are the subjects of my paintings, I tend to paint abstractly or push the abstract elements found in the landscape. I use many different mediums such as oils, acrylics, paper, and graphite. I also utilize an interactive process of observation in nature to capture color, rhythm, depth, line, and atmosphere.” Dukes received her BA from Winthrop University with a minor in studio art. This award-winning artist’s work is found in corporate and private collections around the U.S. Her work has been featured in Fine Art Connoisseur and Skirt! magazines.

Millie Gosch is a highly accomplished and collectible artist. She is Signature Member of the American Impressionist Society and a member of Plein Air Painters of the Southeast. The beauty and quality of Millie’s work reflects her lifelong appreciation of nature and the outdoors. Growing up in a small Georgia town, Millie developed a deep love for nature in general and particularly the South. As an artist her favorite subjects areLowcountry and pastoral scenes. Millie owns the City Muse Gallery in College Park, GA. The space doubles as her studio and gallery. Studio visits are welcome and available by appointment.

Originally from southern California, landscape artist, John Guernsey, moved to Georgia in 1993, and began a full time art career in 2006. Most of his work is ‘en plein air’, although he produces many studio works as well. His work reveals a keen observance of atmosphere and light and is inspired not only by nature, but city life and architecture as well. Mr. Guernsey maintains a busy schedule of workshops and participates regularly in nationally ranked plein air festivals. Recent plein air awards include: Best of Show - Cashiers Plein Air 2022, Olmsted Park Plein Air 2019, Los Gatos CA 2019, 2017.

Katie Dobson Cundiff

Madeline Dukes

Millie Gosch

John Guernsey

Cashiers Plein Air Artists

Michelle has been a professional artist in Sarasota for 30 years. Michelle finds inspiration in the grandeur and majesty of natural scenery. “Working to capture the ever-changing light of the picturesque scenes and immersing myself in nature, is what led me to my passionate bird paintings. Whether it’s the ephemeral flight of a bird or the timeless beauty of a landscape, the artwork I create serves as a reminder of our innate connection to the world around us and encourages us to protect and cherish it.”

Catherine Hillis, an acclaimed watercolorist, resides in Lake of the Woods, Virginia, amidst historic Civil War landscapes. Over decades, she has excelled in national watermedia competitions and plein air events, amassing hundreds of awards and nine Signature Memberships in prestigious organizations. Regularly featured in publications like Watercolor Magazine and the Washington Post, she contributes to American Watercolor Weekly Newsletter. Hillis has served as Artist in Residence in Dinan, FR; Hot Springs National Park, AR; and Chateau d’Orquevaux in November 2024, showcasing her talent and dedication to her craft on a global scale.

After earning her BFA from the Cleveland Institute of Art, Mary Hoffman focused primarily on the portrait and the figure. In 2005, the artist discovered painting “en plein air” and began creating stunning landscapes that capture the atmosphere of world all around. Light is an important element in Hoffman’s landscape paintings; each is a depiction of the artist’s cumulative experience of the lighting and weather conditions throughout her painting day. In her work, Hoffman aims to “show the viewer that the things usually taken for granted are really worth a second look.”

was born and raised in rural North Carolina. After graduating from East Carolina University School of Art in 1983, he moved to New York City to begin a career in advertising and design. After that amazing experience he decided to turn his attention to oil painting and moved to the Lowcountry of South Carolina. Mark is particularly fascinated with the effects of light and weather upon the landscape. He paints beyond a literal interpretation of a scene to portray nature in a way that reflects his own ideas and sensibilities while capturing the grandiose beauty of our remarkable landscape.

Michelle Held

Catherine Hillis

Mary Hoffman

Mark Kelvin Horton

Mark Kelvin Horton

Cashiers Plein Air Artists

Lila McAlpin lives in Atlanta Georgia. Lila earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Georgia. Lila has been an invited artist for years with The Village Green Plein Air Festival and with Olmstead Plein Air. Lila is currently serving on the Board of Directors for the Lamar Dodd School of Art at the University of Georgia. Lila’s art is inspired by her deep love of the outdoors. She paints en plein aire in the deeply fertile mountains of North Carolina and on the wild and marshy coast of Georgia. Over the past few years she has focused on the rivers and creeks in these areas that she has enjoyed exploring all her life.

Jill Schultz McGannon completed her BFA and MFA from UGA in 1985 and 1988, and has worked full-time as an artist since then. Her paintings can be seen at many galleries including Reinert in Charleston, SC. She has won first place at six plein air events since 2021, is a Signature Member of AWA and OPA, and has been in eleven OPA and NOAPS shows since 2019. She has won three awards in the Plein Air magazine Salon in the last three years, and was featured in International Artist Magazine in January of 2023 in their Best Landscapes contest.

Larry Moore has been a professional visual communicator for the past 45 years, working from his roots as a mural and apparel artist in the surf industry into graphic design, advertising, illustration, and fine art, achieving national recognition for his work in each of these areas of visual communication. He has been a college and workshop instructor since 1990 and has published a successful book on creativity for artists titled Fishing for elephants: Insights and exercises to inspire authentic creativity. He is currently working on his third book. He’s been a location painter since 1984 and a studio artist since 2002.

Renowned painter, author, and teacher, Morgan Samuel Price, began her journey in Cleveland, Ohio, launching her career with Hallmark Cards after graduating from Ringling College of Art and Design. Over 50 years, she gained acclaim as a member of prestigious societies like Salmagundi Club and Allied Artists of America, also earning the title of Fellow of the American Artist Professional League. Her art has been featured in 35+ publications, including International Artist Magazine and Plein Air Magazine. Morgan’s lifelong dedication to visual delight shines through her paintings and teachings, earning her immense gratitude wherever she goes.

Lila McAlpin

Jill McGannon

Larry Moore

Morgan Samuel Price

Cashiers Plein Air Artists

Steve Puttrich

Steve Puttrich is a Chicago-based artist whose paintings resonate with the rhythm of nature and the textures of human emotion. Steve attended the American Academy of Art and the Art Institute of Chicago. An alumnus of the American Academy of Art and the Art Institute of Chicago, his 35-year career blends watercolor’s luminosity with oil’s richness. Both Impressionism and representative styles inspire his works. Despite childhood challenges, he persevered and demonstrated remarkable resilience in overcoming this obstacle. Art became his expressive outlet. Steve is also an esteemed instructor and has received numerous national Plein Air Painting Awards.

Jeremy Sams

Jeremy Sams is an award winning representational artist from North Carolina. He has been a professional artist for over 26 years and his primary subject matter is landscapes while working in acrylics. Jeremy has won many awards for his plein air work and has been featured in several publications such as Plein Air Magazine. His style of painting has been called impressionistic realism and his personal inspirations come mostly from the play of light and atmosphere and their effects on objects and landscapes. “As a visual story teller, my goal is to communicate a message of hope and peace.”

After a successful career as an architectural illustrator, Vladislav became a full-time fine artist, popular instructor, speaker and demonstrator at the watercolor and plein air conventions, as well as a judge of many national and international competitions. His work was celebrated with numerous prominent awards including Best of Show Awards, First Place Awards, Collector’s Choice Awards, Artist’s Choice Awards and BoldBrush Award. Vladislav is an exhibiting member of many art societies nationwide, and a Signature member of the prestigious American Impressionist Society and National Watercolor Society. His work has been widely represented in print media in the USA and Europe.

Vlad Yeliseyev

To Benefit The Village Green

For over 30 years, The Village Green has been a park for the people and has become known as The Heart of Cashiers. To celebrate all that is Cashiers and The Village Green, we are bringing the 7th Biennial Cashiers Plein Air Festival to our treasured community!

Cashiers Plein Air Festival is a seven-day festival featuring acclaimed artists from around the globe whose passion is to paint “open air.” This year The Village Green will bring 19 award-winning artists to Cashiers who will capture on canvas the unparalleled moments and memories of our beautiful landscape, mountain lifestyle, and treasured places.

As a nonprofit 501(c)(3), and privately conserved park for the people, The Village Green does not receive any financial support from local, state, or federal government entities. We rely solely on the generosity of like-minded individuals such as yourself to ensure that The Village Green can continue for generations to come. This year, Plein Air is our

only fundraising event that directly supports all aspects of our beloved park.

We invite you to become a benefactor of our 2024 Cashiers Plein Air Festival! By becoming a Cashiers Plein Air Festival Benefactor, you will also enjoy exclusive access to the festival artists, their artwork, and unique opportunities to learn from and interact with some of the nation’s most prominent Plein Air artists. Donor levels and benefits are listed adjacent to this page.

With your support, our treasured green space will remain and The Village Green will continue to be the heart of our Cashiers’ community.

Thank you in advance for your consideration and benevolence to The Village Green.

Sincerely,

Jill Wolfe2024 Cashiers

Plein Air Festival

Chair

The Cashiers Plein Air Festival Committee

The Village Green Board of Directors

Become a Plein Air Benefactor

Renoir Level - $5,000

Renoir Benefactor recognition on the 2024 Plein Air marketing materials: The Village Green Website, Plein Air Website, Social Media, and Print Media

(2) Tickets to each Artist Demonstration

(4) Invitations to the Benefactor’s Preview Party - Wednesday, July 17

(4) Tickets to the Artist Awards Gala - Saturday, July 20

(2) Reserved parking places at The Village Green Commons for the duration of the event.

9am Early Entry to the Festival Gallery at Lewis Hall - Gallery Opens to the Public at 10 am

$750 Art Credit for use at the Festival Gallery at Lewis Hall

Monet Level - $2,500

Benefactor recognition on the 2024 Plein Air marketing materials: The Village Green Website & Plein Air Website

(1) Ticket to each Artist Demonstration

(2) Invitations to the Benefactor’s Preview Party - Wednesday, July 17

(2) Tickets to the Artist Awards GalaSaturday, July 20

(1) Reserved parking spot at The Village Green Commons

9am Early Entry to the Festival Gallery at Lewis Hall - Gallery Opens to the Public at 10 am

$500 Art Credit for use at the Festival Gallery at Lewis Hall

Bazille Level - $1,000

(2) Invitations to the Benefactor Preview Party - Wednesday, July 17

(1) Reserved parking spot at The Village Green Commons

9 am Early Entry to the Festival Gallery at Lewis Hall - Gallery Opens to the Public at 10 am

$250 Art Credit for use at the Festival Gallery at Lewis Hall

Visit our website at CashiersPleinAirFestival. com or Scan the QR code to become a Benefactor today!

Thank you for your incredible support!

Blessing of the Animals

Saturday, October 5 | 11 am

The Blessing of the Animals is a tradition in the Cashiers community started by the Church of the Good Shepherd. Cashiers’ area churches will observe this annual event at 11 am on Saturday, October 5 at The Village Green Commons on Frank Allen Road. Bring a chair to this gathering with animals that features music and prayer in celebration of all God’s creatures great and small. Each animal receives a special blessing.

Attendees are encouraged to bring a donation for the Cashiers Highlands Humane Society. Besides a monetary gift, items like blankets, rugs, towels, Milk Bones, unscented cat litter and canned dog and cat food are useful as

well as always needed.

Animals must be leashed or otherwise secured and under the owners’ control at all times.

The tradition of animal or pet blessings is in remembrance of St. Francis of Assisi’s love for all of God’s creatures. St. Francis, whose feast day is October 4, wrote a Canticle of the Creatures, an ode to God’s living things: “All praise to you, O Lord, for all these brother and sister creatures.”

For more information, contact the Church of the Good Shepherd online at goodshepherdofcashiers.com or (828) 743-2359.

Cashiers Valley Leaf Festival

Thousands of “leaf lookers” travel through the Cashiers area every October to enjoy the wonderful hues of red, orange and yellow as the trees turn their Autumn colors. This fall festival celebrates the leaves beginning to change in the beautiful mountain village of Cashiers.

This popular and free event welcomes 90+ regional artisans to the park who create all of their wares from start to finish. Visitors will find unique handcrafted wood, pottery, jewelry and much more on display and for purchase throughout the weekend. Plenty of food and drinks are available in the park from local food trucks and vendors.

Live musical performances will be on the Gazebo stage Saturday and Sunday during the festival.

The festival starts each day at 10 am and ends at 5 pm Friday and Saturday, and until 3 pm on Sunday. For more information and a full schedule of events and activities during the Cashiers Valley Leaf Festival, visit www. villagegreencashiersnc.com/cashiers-valleyleaf-festival/

Presenting Sponsor: Landmark Realty Group

Halloween Block Party

Saturday, October 26 | 5 - 7 pm | Frank Allen Road

Afrightfully fun family-friendly Halloween event! The Village Green, Albert-Carlton Cashiers Community Library, Jackson County Parks & Recreation, and the Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau collaborate to bring the second annual Block Party along Frank Allen Road. Enjoy delicious culinary delights from a food truck, plus lots of fun and games, and

tricks and treats from participating organizations! A portion of Frank Allen Road will be closed so families and friends can walk to each organization.

Presenting Sponsor: Landmark Realty Group

Gobble on The Green

Thursday, November 28 | 9 am

Turkey, cornbread dressing, pumpkin pie, football, and family time … there are so many reasons to love Thanksgiving! Did we mention pie? Each family has its own activities and traditions to look forward to.

The Village Green offers a 5K Run/Walk turkey-trot, Gobble On the Green. In addition, The Village Green will offer the third annual ‘Junior Warrior Course’, a scavenger hunt type of obstacle course that will be held at the Village Green Playground suitable for children.

Gobble on The Green will begin at 9 am Thursday, November 28, 2024 at The Village Green Commons. The Junior Warrior Course will begin at 9:30 am Thursday, November 28, 2024 at The Village Green Playground. Registration will open during the summer of 2024.

Presenting Sponsor: Landmark Realty Group

Christmas on The Green

Friday, November 29

The Village Green will add some sparkle to your holidays on Friday, November 29 with the annual “Christmas On the Green” celebration. After a day of feasting make your spirits merry and bright with a visit to The Village Green.

Enjoy a day full of Christmas festivities at The Village Green to kick off your holiday season! Visit local vendors at the Mistletoe Market from 10 am - 5 pm in Lewis Hall for locally crafted Christmas gifts and some warm and tasty treats.

Then, make your way to the Gazebo lawn for the annual Cashiers’ Christmas Tree Lighting at 5:45 pm. The event features holiday music,

s’mores, cider, and a cozy firepit, but the highlight of the evening will be when the switch is turned on to illuminate the 65-foot spruce in the center of Cashiers followed by thousands of twinkling lights throughout the village core.

Stroll the pathways of The Village Green at the crossroads of Cashiers throughout December, January, and February to enjoy the breathtaking light display. The Village Lights will stay until February 2025.

Presenting Sponsor: Landmark Realty Group

StoryWalk

In the summer of 2020, the leaders of the Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library, The Village Green, The Literacy Council of Cashiers, and Vision Cashiers began a collaboration to install a StoryWalk in The Village Green.

A StoryWalk provides an outdoor adventure that champions reading along with family connection, health, and wellness. Pages of a story are posted at a series of stations along the trail at The Village Green, allowing families and friends to enjoy a story as they walk the path.

The collaboration between these organizations has allowed the community to enjoy four books along the StoryWalk: Every two months a new, seasonally appropriate book is debuted on the trail.

Scan below to contribute to this amazing literacy adventure in The Heart of Cashiers!

Cashiers Live

Presented by Calamino Presents

Calamino Presents hails from Nashville, TN, bringing the Cashiers’ area their much-anticipated Cashiers Live concert series!

Cashiers Live concerts are an evening of live music dedicated to the artists and songs that helped shape our lives celebrating the songs that defined a generation, and the stories behind them – all performed by talented musicians from across the country. Cashiers Live will be held on the Common’s Lawn off of Frank Allen Road, 160 Frank Allen Road.

Cashiers Live Concert Schedule

Saturday, June 15 - Tell Me Lies: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac

Saturday, June 29 - Greggie & The Jetts: A Tribute to Elton John

Saturday, July 13 - The Wildflowers: A Tribute to Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

Saturday, July 27 - RCA Time Machine: A Tour of Tunes from the 70’s, 80’s & 90’s!

To learn more about Cashiers Live and to purchase your VIP passes or tickets, please visit cashierslive.com, or email Info@CashiersLive.com.

Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music

Sundays and Tuesdays, July 7 - August 4 | 5 pm

The Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival enhances the cultural life of Western North Carolina by sponsoring performances by acclaimed musicians and promoting education, outreach and audience development programs that foster an appreciation of chamber music.

The Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival Regular Concert series will be held on Sundays and Tuesdays at 5 pm at The Village Green’s Lewis Hall on Frank Allen Road.

Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival Schedule:

Sunday, July 7 – “Now Here This” with violinist Scott Yoo and Friends

Tuesday, July 9 – “All in the Family”

Sunday, July 14 – “Bastille Day Celebration –Vive La France!”

Tuesday, July 16 – “Variety is the Spice of Life”

Sunday, July 21 – “Quartet for the End of Time”

Tuesday, July 23 – “Concerto Night”

Sunday, July 28 – “Chee-Yun – Solo!”

Tuesday, July 30 – “Dover Quartet – Debut”

Sunday, August 4 – ”Viano Plus Piano”

Cashiers 46th Annual Antique Show

Friday - Sunday, August 9 - 11

Cashiers 46th Annual Antique Show will be held August 9, 10, and 11 at the lovely Cashiers Village Green. A 160-foot-long tent with an interlocking floor will showcase 27 exhibitors in room settings. The Pavilion will hold an exhibitor and the glass repair booth, and the Lewis Hall will hold 14 exhibitors.

This will be the most spectacular exhibit offered to date and a must-visit.

Friday, August 9: Early Buying from 7:30 am to 9 am. Early Buying Tickets $35 (good all three days).

Friday, August 9: 9 am to 5 pm – Tickets $18

(good all three days).

Saturday, August 10: 9 am to 5 pm, Sunday, August 11: 11 am to 4 pm. The entrance is through the front entrance of Lewis Hall. Food will be available on-site. Please visit our Facebook page and our website at cashiersannualantiqueshow.com for more information.

Early tickets are available as of May 1. Call (828) 226-5325 with questions, or ask on website.

The Cashiers Designer Showhouse Vendors Village

Friday, August 23 - Saturday, August 31

The Cashiers Historical Society’s annual fundraiser – The Cashiers Designer Showhouse – will host a dozen renowned vendors at the Lewis Hall at The Village Green for their Vendor Village From August 23 through August 31.

A variety of shopping will be available throughout the event’s 10 days, with highly regarded vendors offering unique lifestyle

items from apparel to home decorating and antiques.

For a full list of vendors, please visit www. cashiershistoricalsociety.org. A portion of each vendor’s proceeds go toward the Showhouse fundraiser and benefit the Cashiers Historical Society.

The Village Green

Playground Enhancement Project!

One of the highlights of a visit to The Village Green is the children’s playground, Village Play. As you enter the gated area, the laughter and energy of children fill the air.

Village Play was designed by the children of Cashiers in 2002. The playground was then constructed entirely by members of the community. More than 1,500 volunteers worked for five days to build the fantasy playground.

As a structure that is over 22 years old, The Village Green Board of Directors has made it their goal for 2024 to raise the appropriate funds to repair necessary equipment, add new elements that fit cohesively with the current design, and make the playground accessible to any child, regardless of their physical ability.

The Village Green Board of Directors has chosen Beanstalk Builders to design and construct the new playground elements.

The Village Play Project will focus on restoring what is currently in place, and adding newer spaces and elements around the existing

footprint. To be clear, we will not be tearing down any portion or part of the main, whimsical wooden castle-like section.

We will be “adding to” the overall footprint by re-imagining underutilized areas and adding horizontal play, music play, an area for artistic expression, and an area that can be used by teens as well as young children.

The total estimated cost of this project is $375,000. Please consider a donation of any size to help The Village Green accomplish this goal to add elements and restore the current, whimsical structure so our area’s children can continue to play and play for 25 more years!!!

Visit our website at VillageGreenCashiersNC. com/Playground to learn more and donate or scan the QR Code!

Host Your Special Event at The Village Green

The Village Green is a spectacular 13+-acre, nonprofit park system in beautiful Cashiers, NC.

Within our beautiful park system lies The Lewis Hall at The Village Green.

Lewis Hall is surrounded by the year-round beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, wrapped in an unparalleled natural setting, and situated in the center of our Cashiers Village.

30-foot timber-frame cathedral ceilings, three private dressing/meeting rooms, a full catering kitchen, and a beautiful central fireplace all combine to create a sophisticated and elegant, yet natural venue for any event hostess or host.

Lewis Event Hall at The Village Green is an

open and inviting space that is incredibly versatile. The Hall can be transformed into whatever your heart desires. Whether that be a winter wonderland or kept in a more rustic state by playing off the natural light, cedar beams, and classic color palette.

We offer local residents (Jackson, Macon, and Transylvania Counties) a 15% discount. We also offer a 25% discount to those that wish to have a wedding or event Sunday – Thursday. *Offers cannot be combined.

Please visit VillageGreenCashiersNC.com/ weddings to contact our team for your special day!

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