Blessing of the Animals

Flat Rock, N.C. – The Episcopal Church of St. John in the Wilderness will offer a “Blessing of the Animals” on Sunday, October 4, at 4:00 p.m. in the new outdoor Wilderness Chapel located behind the Parish Hall at 1905 Greenville Highway in Flat Rock.

Pets and furry or feathered companions are invited to this special annual service to receive a blessing. Cats, dogs, snakes, chickens, horses, birds, goats, in fact all domestic animals, are welcome! As an option, a stuffed animal or pet photo may be presented to receive a blessing. Our outdoor gathering space will create a lively atmosphere for all creatures involved.

"The Blessing of the Animals is a special worship service that playfully restores us to be the creatures that we were made to be,” said the Reverend Joshua P. Stephens, Rector of St. John in the Wilderness.  We pause each year at this time to offer thanks and blessings for our animal companions who love us so very well. In so doing, we discover solidarity with them before God who gives all of creation life and sustenance. What a joy it is to be given life and friendship with each other and our pets! We will thank God for all of it on October 4th."

The service occurs the same day as the annual Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, a man with a true spirit of love and peace that could have only come from God. He turned the cerebral, inward-leaning theology and scholasticism of the Middle Ages on its head by his radical commitment to living a life of poverty and service in the pattern of Jesus of Nazareth.

 Those who encountered St. Francis were drawn into the peaceable Kingdom of God to know more fully the Prince of Peace. Even animals, it is said, were attracted to his Christ-like gentleness. In one story, he preaches to a flock of birds. In another he makes peace with a wolf that had been terrorizing a village calling the creature “Brother Wolf” and reconciling him to the village.

In the event of rain, the service will be relocated inside the Parish Hall.

For more information call the church office at 828-693-9783 or visit www.stjohnflatrock.org.

ShareWell Coffee

A Decade of Great Coffee

Our friends at ShareWell Coffee Co. have been keeping Western North Carolina happily caffeinated for 10 years—including the past 4½ years right here in Flat Rock. That’s a lot of beans, a lot of cups and a whole lot of good coffee.

• Madrona Food Truck (10 am-4 pm)

• Live Music by Josh Dunkin & Lou Torchio

• Local Market Vendors

• Coffee Specials, Cupping, Cake Cutting

• Community Celebration!

“10 Year Anniversary Blend”
- Blend of Sumatra & Ethiopia Kuro Konga
- Process: Washed - 23% Dev. Roast
-Tasting Notes: Ripe Grapefruit, Wildflower Honey, & Cacao Nibs.

October 1 | Chef’s Tasting
A Journey through Southern Appalachia
October 1, 2026

A guided journey through the flavors of Southern Appalachia.

Join us at 6:00 PM for an intimate dining experience inspired by the ingredients, traditions, and stories of Southern Appalachia. Throughout the evening, our chef will personally present each course, sharing the inspiration behind every dish and its connection to the region.

Weather permitting, our outdoor patio will set the scene, allowing guests to experience the chef’s flavors against the beautiful backdrop of Western North Carolina. Come ready to savor, discover, and experience local flavor one thoughtfully crafted course at a time.

To secure your spot, please call (828) 696-9094 for a reservation.

https://hliresort.com/seasons/events/chefs-tasting/

Marigold Art Collective Ribbon Cutting — October 1

The community is invited to welcome Marigold Art Collective, a new creative gathering place in Flat Rock, at a ribbon-cutting celebration on Thursday, October 1, from 5–7 p.m. Created by artist, chef, and curator Jesse Roque, Marigold will bring together art workshops, creative gatherings, cocktails, conversation, and a little something delicious to eat. In the former Blue Ruby space at 2702 C Greenville Hwy, Flat Rock, NC.

September 29 Peggy Ratusz Trio

The Garden Pavilion Stage

From covers to originals, this trio made up of legendary local favorites, Peggy Ratusz (vocals, hand percussion), Kelly Jones (acoustic guitar/vocals) & Jonathan Pearlman (acoustic guitar/vocals) cast a wide net of musical styles including rural Roots & Blues, Classic Country, throwback R&B and vintage Pop, Rock and Folk!

“The ‘ruby-throated’ Blues Chanteuse, Peggy Ratusz entices audiences with mouthwatering interpretations and delicious turn of phrases. With succulent ease, she pours her hot buttered vocals over a plethora of genres: Ballads, Blues, Country, Rock and Jazz and delivers like a 5-star chef. She lays it all out on the stage for everyone to savor and enjoy.”

Saturdays 9/13 and 9/27 at 3pm

Round up your girl group for an afternoon in full bloom! Join us for a hands-on floral arranging class and create a beautiful arrangment while sipping and enjoying an afternoon surrounded by flowers. 

We’ll kick things off at Holt Orchards, where you’ll hand-pick your very own blooms straight from the field. Then, take a little stroll through the farm store and grab some donuts to bring home.  Next, head over to Marked Tree, where Tracy Holt and Lance Hiatt will show you how to turn your freshly picked flowers into a swoon-worthy arrangement—all while sipping a glass of Marked Tree wine. 

Tickets are $120* and include your arrangement materials, flowers, vase, donuts, two glasses of award winning Marked Tree wine, and a selection of cheese and charcuterie.

*Wine Club Members will recieve a dicount once logged into their account online!

PURCHASE TICKETS

https://markedtreevineyard.orderport.net/wines/Events

Hendersonville Symphony at BRCC

Classics I - America250

September 26, 2026, 3pm

Blue Ridge Community College

We hope you will join us to mark America250 with a concert highlighting American perspectives and narratives. A concert overture by Florence Price, based on the spiritual Sinner, Please Don't Let This Harvest Pass, a short explosion of color by Jessie Montgomery entitled Starburst, and Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man round out the first half. Then, in the second half we'll be joined by Ron Whittemore as he narrates Copland's, Lincoln Portrait followed by one of the most famous American works, Appalachian Spring.

Tickets Here

Event by Patrice Pfeiffer Art

Hope United Methodist Church 2443 Spartanburg Hwy East Flat Rock, NC 28726-2328

Duration: 2 hr

Public  · Anyone on or off Facebook

This is a free get-together, not a class. Just bring something you’d like to work on and come spend a little time making, talking and sharing ideas.

I’m ready to open the doors to the Creative Space!

Our first get-together will be Friday, September 25 at 1:00 PM.

This isn’t a class, and you don’t need to come with a particular project or know what you’re doing. Just bring something you’d like to work on and spend a little time creating in the company of other creative people.

You can work and chat, ask questions, see what other people are doing, share ideas, offer a little encouragement or get some when you need it. Or you can just sit and work on your own thing while enjoying the company.

I’ve wanted to create a welcoming place where people can get together around the simple pleasure of making things, and I’m looking forward to seeing what this becomes.

Space is limited, so please respond to this event if you plan to join us. I’m looking forward to our first Creative Explorations get-together!

Blue Ridge Humane Society

Event Name: Fur Ball
Date: 9/24/2026
Time: 5:30-8:30 PM 

Location: 353 Banner Farm Road, Mills River, NC 
Link for more info and to buy tickets: Fur Ball - Blue Ridge Humane Society

Event Description:

Where elegance meets compassion! Fur Ball is an annual gathering to celebrate our animals and the tireless efforts of those who advocate for their well-being. This year’s event signals New Beginnings as we’re hosting the event at our new Community Support facility in Mills River – and the future home of our Adoption Center.

The evening features delicious food, cocktails, raffle prizes, a thrift store pop-up market and lounge, and the opportunity to view our new home while making a difference in the lives of animals today. Together, we are ready to create a brighter future for pets and pet owners in our community.  This is a black-tie optional special occasion, and a limited number of dog tickets will be sold so dapper pups can join in the fun!

Tickets are available now on our website.
https://www.blueridgehumane.org/get-your-fur-ball-tickets/

SEPTEMBER FULL MOON STORY HOUR
CORN MOON

Thursday, September 24, 4–5 p.m. at
The Sanctuary in the Pines
https://www.sanctuaryinthepines.com

September’s full moon is commonly known as the Corn Moon, a name associated with the time of year when corn ripens and is ready to be gathered. It is a moon of abundance and harvest—a time to consider what has grown, what has nourished us and what we carry forward. This year, the moon will reach fullness two days after we gather.

Every full moon, the community is invited to circle up and share stories. It’s a bit like The Moth Radio Hour—just a bit. This event is a free way to enjoy some sweet and sour soulful sharing.

Our theme for September is ADVENTURES WITH CHILDHOOD FRIENDS. The questions below are simply intended to prime your memory.

All are welcome.
COME EARLY SO WE CAN BEGIN ON TIME!

I will be your host for the afternoon and look forward to sharing time with you!

Bruce Holliday
Editor, Flat Rock Together

—

Adventures With Childhood Friends—Primers

Who was your first true friend? How did you find one another, and what made that friendship feel special?

Was there a place that belonged to you and a childhood friend—a treehouse, creek, vacant lot, bedroom, playground or hidden corner of the neighborhood? What happened there?

What adventure did you undertake together? Did you plan it carefully, or did one small decision lead somewhere neither of you expected?

Did you and a friend ever get into trouble—or narrowly escape it? Who came up with the idea? Who got the blame?

Did a childhood friend ever persuade you to do something you would never have done alone? Were you grateful afterward—or did you regret it?

Was there a secret only the two of you shared? Did keeping it bring you closer, or did it become a burden?

When did a childhood friend stand up for you—or when did you find the courage to stand up for them?

Did jealousy, competition, betrayal or a misunderstanding change a friendship? Were you able to repair it?

Did a close friendship end suddenly? Did someone move away, choose another friend or simply disappear from your life? What was left unsaid?

Have you reconnected with a childhood friend many years later? Did you recognize the person you once knew? Did being together make you feel young again?

What did a childhood friend teach you about courage, loyalty, kindness, forgiveness—or yourself?

Is there something about that friendship you understood only years later? How did being young together help shape the person you became?

Think of one moment rather than an entire friendship. What happened? What changed? Why has that memory remained with you?

BRCC Library

Join us next Thursday (9/24) for Silent Book Club in the library! Bring whatever you're currently reading and enjoy a dedicated hour of reading time.

https://www.facebook.com/brcclibrary

St. John in the Wilderness

On September 24, Holy Hikers will explore the Sam Knob and Flat Laurel Creek Trail Loop located in the Black Balsam section of Pisgah National Forest. We will walk through an alpine meadow, enjoy panoramic views from the summit of Sam Knob (6045 feet) then cross Flat Laurel Creek.  Mountain Ash and high-bush berries may display early signs of fall foliage! This 4.1-mile trail is rated moderate with an elevation gain of 850 feet.

​

The Black Balsam Range is unique within the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was formed during major tectonic shifts over one billion years ago. Outcroppings are composed primarily of metamorphic rocks such as hornblende gneiss and mica schist. From Sam Knob you can see neighboring summits of the Shining Rock Wilderness.

Plan to pack a lunch and plenty of water. Wear shoes or boots with good tread. Trekking poles are recommended for creek crossings. Dogs are allowed but must remain on leash. 

We will meet at the trailhead at 10:00. If you prefer to carpool or convoy from the church, plan to meet at the parish hall parking lot no later than 8:30. The trailhead is located 44 miles from St. John in the Wilderness with an estimated drive time of 1 hour and 15 minutes. Since many tourists and cyclists use this route, drive time may be longer than anticipated. 

The trailhead address is Sam Knob Trailhead, Black Balsam Knob Road, Canton, NC 28716. Black Balsam Knob Road (Forest Service Rd #816) is a spur road located near Blue Ridge Parkway Mile Marker 420.  Drive to the end of Black Balsam Knob Rd and park near the toilets. For directions from St. John in the Wilderness see below.

https://www.stjohnflatrock.org/upcoming-hike

Two powerhouse local musicians, deliver an unforgettable show packed with soaring vocals, masterful guitar work, and rich harmonies. Thelston—frontman of the award-winning Andrew Thelston Band—brings high-energy, funk-infused rock ’n’ roll, while Hughes, an acclaimed vocalist and local favorite, delivers a soulful voice and magnetic stage presence. Together, they span decades of music—from Fleetwood Mac to Lady Gaga—sprinkled with originals that are sure to become new favorites. 

Tuesday Schedule

Friends of Music
SJITW
Friends of Music & the Arts Present

Celtic Harp Concert Opens New Series Season

Flat Rock, N.C. –  The Friends of Music & the Arts Series at the Episcopal Church of St. John in the Wilderness welcomes autumn with a Celtic Harp concert Sunday, September 20 at 4:00 p.m.  Open to the public, the free concert will be held in the spacious Parish Hall opposite the church at 1905 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock.

The harp quartet ensemble, Banrigh (pronounced Bahn-ree, meaning “Queen” in Scottish Gaelic) embodies a royal tribute to traditional Celtic music and culture. Four multi-talented musicians from the Midwest and Southeast have performed and traveled together worldwide for a decade, receiving high praise for their skill and versatility.

One of the oldest instruments in the world, the harp is mentioned in the Book of Genesis. The Celtic Harp, also called Folk Harp, evolved over centuries with its recognizable triangular frame and strings made of horsehair appearing in the 8th century. At 30 to 50 inches tall, the modern Celtic Harp is about half the size of the Concert Grand Harp.

The Banrigh quartet’s accomplished musicians include:

Donna Bennett, a clinical social worker, incorporates music in mental health therapy with children and adults. She has released a book of original and therapeutic harp music. She is a board member with the Scottish Harp Society of America.

Martha Geouge Hill, a North Carolina native and multi-instrumentalist, is passionate about her Celtic heritage. She has won awards at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games as a soloist and in ensemble.

Jen Narkevicius teaches and performs in Washington, D. C., and is Co-Director of Harp Quest working with students.  A Hospice volunteer, she brings music to the bedside of hospital patients.

Sue Richards, a four-time winner of the American National Scottish Harp Championship, developed and taught the harp program at the Ohio Scottish Arts School. She composes and performs with Ensemble Galilei in multi-media concerts.

Donations will be appreciated to support Friends of Music & the Arts ongoing series.  For more information visit www.stjohnflatrock.org.

Pollinator Festival

Sunday, September 20

A CELEBRATION OF NATURE, CREATIVITY & COMMUNITY
Spend your Sunday surrounded by native plants, local art, live music, foraging, wildlife education, and all the little creatures that keep our world blooming!

Join us Sunday, September 20th from 1–7 PM at Treska’s @ Highland Lake in Flat Rock for the Pollinator Festival!

All afternoon, you can explore:

30+ nature, art & sustainable vendors
Native plants & education
Pollinator Scavenger Hunt
Guided Foraging Walks at 1 PM, 3 PM & 5 PM
Nature & Wildlife Education
Flower Crown Making
Nature-inspired art

​

LIVE MUSIC

1–3 PM — Aaron Padgett & Elizabeth McCovey

4–7 PM — Old Sap

Come wander, shop, learn, listen, create, and connect with the natural world.
Bring the family and make an afternoon of it!

Sunday, September 20th
1–7 PM

​

Treska’s @ Highland Lake

211 Rhett Dr, Flat Rock, NC

Come celebrate the pollinators, plants,
people & places that make our community so special.

Marked Tree 2026 Vineyard Dinner Series

This summer and fall, we're partnering with talented local chefs to bring a series of unforgettable wine dinners and culinary pop-ups to Marked Tree. From thoughtfully curated multi-course meals to casual seasonal gatherings, each experience is designed to showcase the harmony between exceptional food and our award-winning wines. Join us as we celebrate the flavors of the season, the creativity of our local culinary community, and the joy of sharing great wine around the table.

Saturday, September 5th- The Bird Pop-Up with Chef Christain Albrecht of Braised & Confit Catering

Saturday, September 19th- Seafood Pop-Up with Chef Brett Suess of Stupid Events & Catering

Saturday, October 24th- Wine Dinner with Chef Shawn Kelly of Fork and Plough

Sunday, November 15th- Sunday Supper Wine Dinner with Chef Launa Tierney of Homemade Pasta Noodles

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

Imagine a mystery plant that could protect riverbanks from flooding and erosion, that was an important habitat for wildlife and was an essential staple for Southeastern native tribes including the Cherokee.  Now imagine what the consequences would be if 98% of that magic plant was gone?

David Weintraub and the Center for Cultural Preservation will premiere its newest documentary, “RAISING CANE- The Cherokee and Rivercane” on September 19 in Flat Rock.  According to Weintraub, the film’s director, “William Bartram, the naturalist, explorer and author encountered such vast, dense forests of cane so massive along streambanks in his travels in the 1770s that he said they were impenetrable.  Southeastern tribes relied on cane as a food source, they built their houses out of it, carved blowguns for hunting and made cane mats and baskets with it.  But today, rivercane, America’s native bamboo is disappearing.”

Mary Welch Thompson is an acclaimed Cherokee basketmaker who uses white oak, honeysuckle and rivercane to make her baskets.  “Historically, rivercane was the most important resource for making baskets, mats and many other things.  However, rivercane loves waterfront property and so does man.  The Cherokee launched a basketry revival campaign more than twenty years ago to revitalize a tradition that goes back tens of thousands of years.  The biggest issue for us is the lack of rivercane to continue making them. 

Fortunately, a number of conservation groups throughout the region are working in partnership with the Eastern Band of Cherokee to restore rivercane as a critical protector or streambanks, habitat and as an essential resource for basketry.   Weintraub adds, “Raising Cane looks at this magic plant through the eyes of the natural world, native tribes and stewardship so that we all can become the heroes nature is asking us to be.” 

Raising Cane will have its world premiere on Saturday, September 19 at 7:00 PM at the Thomas Auditorium at Blue Ridge Community College.  In addition to the film screening, Cherokee elders and conservationists will discuss the future of rivercane and basketry and take questions from the audience.  Additionally, the Center will be celebrating its 15th birthday, so the event will be followed by music and food and drinks for ticketholders. 

Advance tickets to this event, which are expected to sellout,  can be ordered online at https://saveculture.org/shop/raising-cane/. This film is made possible by the North Carolina Humanities, the Community Foundation of Henderson County, Asset Marketing Brokers, Wild Birds Unlimited Hendersonville and the supports of the Center for Cultural Preservation.  The Center for Cultural Preservation is a cultural nonprofit organization dedicated to working for mountain heritage continuity through oral history, documentary film, education and public programs. For more information about the Center contact them at (828) 692-8062 or www.saveculture.org

The countdown is on for our annual Conservation Celebration, and tickets are officially available!

Join us on September 19th at Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock as we gather under this year’s theme, Planting Hope.

We are thrilled to welcome our keynote speaker, New York Times bestselling author Leigh Ann Henion. Her latest book, Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the Dark, invites us to rediscover the wonder and connection found right outside our backdoors.

Gather with fellow conservation champions for an inspiring evening of community, local impact, and celebration.

Don't wait—reserve your seats today!

Tickets: https://conservingcarolina.org/conservationcelebration2026/

Neighborly Alliance Hendo

Neighborly Alliance Quarterly Meet and Greet.

Saturday, September 19, 4- 6 p.m.

Come join this grassroots movement to create community outside of geographical neighborhoods. We are working towards neighbors helping neighbors (think rides to the airport, a helping hand around the house/yard, buyers club, time bank, etc.).

We also offer social gatherings for fun and growth. Have a talent/skill you can teach? Let's grow together. Please RSVP to neighborlyalliancehendo@gmail.com. We are gathering at the pavilion next to Treska's at Highland Lake Cove. 211 Rhett Drive, Flat Rock, NC.

All are welcome. Light refreshments will be served with a side of fun.  www.neighborlyalliancehendo.org. 

Ladies Aid Society Silver Tea

Please join us for the Ladies Aid Society Silver Tea at Mountain Lodge on Saturday, September 19 from 3-5.

Please RSVP to Joy Rutherfurd 828-712-3316 by September 16th. This is our annual fundraiser so we do ask that you make a contribution to the Ladies Aid Society to assist other local organizations that we partner with each year to receive financial assistance.

The Ladies Aid Society is one of the oldest philanthropic organizations in the US.

Finding the Blessings — Earth, Sky, and Sea

Join poet Greg Lobas for an intimate midday gathering exploring the sacred threads that connect us to the natural world. Through the language of his own poetry, Greg will invite us into his lived experience of communion with Earth, Sky, and Sea — the quiet blessings found in a mountain vista, a passing storm, a rippling lake. This is a time to slow down, listen deeply, and rediscover the ways nature speaks to the soul. Bring your lunch, your curiosity, and an openness to wonder.

Gregory Lobas has published extensively as both an outdoor writer and as a poet. He is the 2026 winner of the Poet Laureate Prize from the North Carolina Poetry Society. His book, Left of Center, won the Dogfish Head Poetry Prize and placed second in the Delaware State Press Association awards. Other awards have come from the Poetry Society of South Carolina (Marjorie E. Peale Prize and Peter Pan Prize) and the Carrie McCray Award from the South Carolina Writers' Association. A 2026 Best-of-the-Net nominee, his work has appeared in Outdoor Life, Pheasants Forever, New Ohio Review, Tar River Poetry, Cimarron Review, Vox Populi, Susurrus, Kakalak, and many other journals.

A retired first-responder, he lives in the foothills of North Carolina with his wife Meg, dog Sophie, and tractor Bubba.

Saturdays 9/13 and 9/27 at 3pm

Round up your girl group for an afternoon in full bloom! Join us for a hands-on floral arranging class and create a beautiful arrangment while sipping and enjoying an afternoon surrounded by flowers. 

We’ll kick things off at Holt Orchards, where you’ll hand-pick your very own blooms straight from the field. Then, take a little stroll through the farm store and grab some donuts to bring home.  Next, head over to Marked Tree, where Tracy Holt and Lance Hiatt will show you how to turn your freshly picked flowers into a swoon-worthy arrangement—all while sipping a glass of Marked Tree wine. 

Tickets are $120* and include your arrangement materials, flowers, vase, donuts, two glasses of award winning Marked Tree wine, and a selection of cheese and charcuterie.

*Wine Club Members will recieve a dicount once logged into their account online!

PURCHASE TICKETS

https://markedtreevineyard.orderport.net/wines/Events

Carl Sandburg: Outspoken Advocate for Democracy and Social Justice.

UUF of Hendersonville, September 13 at 12:30 pm

Sandburg was an outspoken advocate for democracy and social justice during the first

half of the Twentieth Century. You see it in his writing, his speeches, and the folk songs

he sang from his American Songbag. He addressed such issues as the social safety net

and governmental safety regulations, racial and ethnic discrimination and opportunity,

personal responsibility and social mobility, union rights and political agency, extreme

wealth and income inequality, media misinformation and lies, war and peace, and more.

You might think that he is speaking about today.

The theatrical talk “Carl Sandburg: Outspoken Advocate for Democracy and Social

Justice” tells this story. It involves a speaker giving the narrative about Sandburg’s life;

an actor delivering dramatic readings of his poetry and prose; and a singer performing

verses from ten folk songs. The talk runs for about fifty minutes, with thirty-five minutes

of performance and the remainder for open discussion.

The Jewish Community Center in Asheville and the First Congregational Church in

Hendersonville have hosted the performance. Mark Acker Pastoral Associate and

Minister of Music at FCC said, “The three actors gave an entertaining and thought-

provoking presentation that is engaging and relevant for our times. The discussion after

the talk was inspirational.”

Come hear the talk “Carl Sandburg: Outspoken Advocate for Democracy and Social

Justice” at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Hendersonville, 409 Patterson Street

off Kanuga Road on Sunday, September 13, starting at 12:30 pm in the sanctuary.

Doors open at 12:00 pm.h The talk is free. For more information go to

https://uufhnc.org/.

https://uufhnc.org/event/carl-sandburg-outspoken-advocate-for-democracy-and-social-justice/

SILVER STACKING RINGS with Melanie Merenda

THE GALLERY AT FLAT ROCK

Sep 12 2026 - Sep 12 2026

Learn metal smithing basics by making your own set of silver stacking rings! In this class Melanie will cover foundational forming, texturing, soldering, and finishing techniques, while walking you through the process step by step. At the end of class, you'll go home with two silver rings. This class is suitable for both teens and adults.
All supplies included.

1:00-3:00 pm
The cost for this workshop is $120. Call or stop by The Gallery at Flat Rock to sign up. 828-698-7000

New Silent Book Club Begins at BRCC Library

Blue Ridge Community College Library is launching a new Silent Book Club chapter this fall. Unlike a traditional book club, participants simply bring whatever they're currently reading and enjoy an hour of quiet reading together, followed by optional conversation. The first gathering is Thursday, September 10, from noon to 2 p.m., with meetings continuing every other Thursday through early December.

Apple Festival Brunch
Sept 6 11 -2
Apple season in Western North Carolina is something special—and this year, we’re bringing those favorite fall flavors to our famed Sunday Brunch Buffet.

Join us on Sunday, September 6, 2026 for an Apple Festival Brunch Buffet inspired by one of the mountains’ most treasured seasons. Our culinary team has woven crisp apples, warm cider, toasted nuts, seasonal vegetables, and comforting autumn flavors throughout a generous brunch spread made for lingering around the table.

Enjoy favorites including Cider Butternut Squash Bisque, Apple-Arugula Salad, Roasted Apple Spinach Salad, Cider-Glazed Salmon, Chicken Apple Skillet, Crusted Pork Tenderloin with Red Delicious Apple Sauce, and an array of apple-inspired seasonal sides.

View the menu: https://hliresort.com/seasons/menu/menu-apple-festival/

Seating is limited, reservations are required

Marked Tree 2026 Vineyard Dinner Series

This summer and fall, we're partnering with talented local chefs to bring a series of unforgettable wine dinners and culinary pop-ups to Marked Tree. From thoughtfully curated multi-course meals to casual seasonal gatherings, each experience is designed to showcase the harmony between exceptional food and our award-winning wines. Join us as we celebrate the flavors of the season, the creativity of our local culinary community, and the joy of sharing great wine around the table.

Saturday, September 5th- The Bird Pop-Up with Chef Christain Albrecht of Braised & Confit Catering

Saturday, September 19th- Seafood Pop-Up with Chef Brett Suess of Stupid Events & Catering

Saturday, October 24th- Wine Dinner with Chef Shawn Kelly of Fork and Plough

Sunday, November 15th- Sunday Supper Wine Dinner with Chef Launa Tierney of Homemade Pasta Noodles

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE