Porches, Patios, Parlors, and Parks

Mountain music began in the homes and on the porches of local residents as a way of entertainment in the isolation of the mountains. Family music traditions and instruments were passed down from generation to generation. Those same traditions are featured throughout Highlands today. Friday Night Live concerts take place at Highlands Town Square and feature traditional mountain music, as well as an opportunity for the audience to participate by singing, clapping, tapping their feet, or dancing when the mood strikes. Saturdays on Pine are at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park on Pine Street and continue that sweet Highlands’ evening sound with a variety of genres which regularly includes bluegrass and old-time music. A more recent addition to the entertainment line-up - PorchFest - is sponsored by the Center for Life Enrichment and brings local talent to the forefront in a variety of settings in downtown Highlands. Many residents host house concerts featuring bluegrass and old-time music. Each of these venues, small or large, represents an evening of immersion into small town community life and friendship.