Events
Never a dull moment at Holston Camp & Retreat Center! Check out some of our upcoming activities that you may enjoy. We’d love for you to join us.
Community Thanksgiving Dinner | November 22 @ 5:30pm
Join us once again for one of Holston Center’s favorite traditions! Our annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner is a special opportunity to gather with friends, neighbors, and community members around the table as we celebrate the season of gratitude together.
This year’s dinner will be held on Sunday, November 22 at 5:30pm. Church leaders from our community will lead us in hymns and scripture readings as we share a meal and enjoy an evening of fellowship.
The Thanksgiving Dinner is a potluck, so we invite you to bring a favorite side dish or dessert to share. Do you have a friend or neighbor who would enjoy gathering with us? Bring them too! Holston Center will provide the turkey, ham, & drinks.
Whether this is a tradition you’ve been part of for years or your first time joining us, there is a place for you at the table. Come enjoy a delicious meal, meaningful fellowship, and an evening of giving thanks in our community.
Oyster Roast Fundraiser | March 6, 2027 4pm-7pm
Join us at Holston Camp & Retreat Center for our 3rd Annual Oyster Roast Fundraiser! Enjoy fresh coastal oysters, homemade soups and chili, live music, and an evening of fellowship, all while supporting the ministry of Holston Center, including our summer camp scholarship program.
Our oysters come with a special family tradition! Each year, fresh oysters are brought directly from Eagle Island Seafood on the North Carolina coast to the mountains on the morning of the event. They’re then roasted on a family heirloom oyster roaster that has been passed down through generations. This father-and-son tradition brings the taste of freshly roasted coastal oysters right here to the High Country!
Oyster lovers, we’ve got you covered! This year, we’re excited to offer two options:
- Cluster Oysters – $40 per peck: Our traditional offering, with oysters served in their natural clusters.
- Single Oysters – $50 per peck: New this year by popular request! Individual oysters that are separated rather than served in clusters.
All oyster tickets must be purchased in advance. Because our oysters are brought fresh from the coast specifically for this event, we purchase only what has been reserved. Additional oysters will not be available for purchase on the day of the fundraiser.
Not an oyster lover? Come hungry anyway! Chef Chandler will be serving his signature brisket chili, homemade tomato soup, and another delicious soup selection, accompanied by cornbread and all the fixings! Hot sauce, oyster knives, sweet tea, and lemonade will also be available, and live music will make the evening even more enjoyable.
No advance tickets are needed for the soup and chili dinner! Guests are welcome to come enjoy a warm meal, listen to live music, spend time with friends and neighbors, and make a donation to support Holston Center.
Whether you’re coming for a peck of fresh coastal oysters or a cozy bowl of homemade soup, we hope you’ll join us for a wonderful evening of food, fellowship, and community, all for a great cause!
Holston Helpers
April 23–25, 2027
Has Holston Center shaped your life, your faith, or your family? Are you looking for a meaningful way to give back, reconnect, or serve alongside your church or community? Holston Helpers is an opportunity for individuals, families, youth groups, and organizations to come together for a weekend of service, worship, and fellowship in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina!
As we prepare for another exciting summer, we invite you to be part of the work that makes Holston Center such a special place. From maintaining beloved camp spaces to tackling new improvements and preparing for the arrival of summer campers, every helping hand makes a difference!
New for 2027, Holston Helpers is now a full weekend experience! We’ve expanded our traditional volunteer workday into a retreat-style weekend, complete with meals, lodging, worship, campfires, games, and meaningful service opportunities.
Weekend Schedule
Friday, April 23 | Welcome & Fellowship
Arrive at Holston Center and settle in for the weekend! We’ll gather for a welcome dinner at 6:30 PM, followed by an evening of worship, fellowship, and a classic Holston Center campfire. It’s the perfect opportunity to reconnect with old friends, make new ones, and prepare our hearts for a weekend of service.
Saturday, April 24 | A Day of Service
After breakfast at 8:00 AM, we’ll gather for our morning devotion and project assignments before beginning work at 9:00 AM.
Projects will range from simple, family-friendly tasks to more advanced, skill-based improvements. Whether you’re painting, landscaping, cleaning, building, or lending a hand wherever needed, there’s a place for everyone to contribute!
Lunch will be served at noon, and projects will wrap up around 4:00 PM, leaving time to clean up and relax before dinner at 5:30 PM.
We’ll finish the evening with games, fellowship, a special evening vesper service, and another campfire under the stars!
Sunday, April 25 | Worship & Farewell
We’ll share breakfast together at 8:00 AM before packing up and checking out of our lodging.
All participants are warmly invited to join us for Sunday morning worship at Banner Elk Presbyterian Church, one of Holston Center’s longtime church partners, as we conclude our weekend in fellowship and faith.
Who Can Attend?
Everyone is welcome! Whether you’ve been volunteering at Holston for decades or are looking for your first opportunity to get involved, we’d love to have you join us!
Holston Helpers is especially well suited for:
- Church youth groups looking for a meaningful service retreat with programming already planned.
- Families and individuals who want to give back, reconnect with camp, and enjoy a weekend in the mountains.
- Sunday School classes and church groups seeking opportunities for fellowship and hands-on ministry.
- College organizations and civic groups interested in serving their community while building relationships.
Projects are available for a variety of ages and skill levels. Elementary, middle, and high school students are welcome to participate, with adult supervision required for participants under 18.
Cost & Accommodations
Holston Helpers is completely free to attend!
All meals, overnight accommodations, service projects, worship, and scheduled activities are provided at no charge. Donations are gratefully accepted to help cover the costs of meals, lodging, and project materials, allowing us to continue offering this special opportunity to our community.
Whether you’re joining us for the entire weekend or just coming to help on Saturday, we’d love to have you!
Registration & Ways to Get Involved
Advance registration is required for all participants, whether attending for the full weekend or just the day. Registration helps our team prepare projects, purchase materials, plan meals, and arrange lodging so that everyone has a wonderful experience.
Register for Holston Helpers — Sign up as an individual, family, or group to join us for this special weekend of service and fellowship.
Support a Project — Can’t attend in person? Consider making a donation to help cover meals, lodging, and supplies for the projects our volunteers will complete.
Spread the Word — Invite your church, youth group, family, or friends to experience a weekend of meaningful service at Holston!
For questions about group participation, lodging, or volunteer opportunities, please contact Madeline Chandler at mchandler@holstoncenter.org.
Help Us Prepare for Another Summer of Ministry!
Holston Helpers is more than a volunteer workday. It’s an opportunity to build relationships, grow in faith, care for God’s creation, and help prepare a place where children, families, and retreat guests will experience belonging, adventure, and the love of Christ.
The meals are planned, the projects are ready, and the campfires are waiting. All we need is YOU!
Join us April 23–25, 2027, and help make the next chapter of Holston Center’s story possible!
JOY Camp
October 22-25, 2027
Who says camp is just for kids? JOY Camp Just Older Youth is a weekend designed for adults and alumni who want to experience the fun, friendship, and renewal of camp all over again.
Spend a beautiful fall weekend in the mountains reconnecting with old friends, making new ones, and enjoying the simple joys of camp life. Fill your days with as much adventure or relaxation as you’d like with optional activities including zip lining, archery, crafts, hiking, campfires, s’mores, songs, worship, and more. Whether you grew up at Holston Center or are experiencing camp for the first time, JOY Camp offers a welcoming place to laugh, reflect, worship, and create new memories.
All campers will stay in our cabins that are furnished with bunk beds. Everyone will be assigned to a bottom bunk, and will need to bring linens as well as toiletries.
