Christmas Tree in downtown Asheville
More great holiday events are coming soon in Asheville and the western North Carolina mountains! For more details and happenings, go our Top 10 Asheville Holiday outings.
In addition to the two biggest events in town, Christmas at Biltmore House and the Gingerbread House Competition at Grove Park Inn, here are our favorites for the next week or so:
Now through December 23, 2012: Lake Julian Festival of Lights drive-thru show with more than 50 animated light displays and thousands of colored lights from the comfort of your vehicle.
Now through January 2, 2013: Carolina Christmas at Smith-McDowell House museum with decorations from the Victorian period.
December 15, 2012: Santa on the Chimney at Chimney Rock State Park. Watch Santa practicing for his world-wide chimney-dropping tour on Christmas Eve.
December 11, 2012: Celebrate Hanukkah with Chanukah Live at the Renaissance Hotel ballroom in downtown Asheville. Hosted by The Chabad House, it includes the Billy Jonas Chanukah Show, grand menorah lighting, holiday crafts, gourmet kosher dinner. Festival admission is free, but tickets will be sold at the door for food and attractions.
December 13-16, 2012: The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris at Asheville Community Theatre. They’re revamping the entire production after a highly successful 10 year run! This holiday tradition is much more naughty than nice!
December 15, 2012: “A Victorian Candlelight Christmas” at Thomas Wolfe Memorial. Discover some of the oldest Christmas customs in an authentic Victorian home in downtown Asheville with two special guided tours (5 & 5:30 PM) and an open house of the Thomas Wolfe home, a Queen Anne-style boardinghouse run by our most famous native son’s mother, Julia Wolfe.
December 15, 2012: Holiday Homecoming at Oconaluftee Visitor Center in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 10 AM-2 PM. Located near Cherokee, see old time crafts being demonstrated. Learn by observing the practical arts of quilting, weaving, and basket and doll making, apple cider and apple butter. Free.
December 15, 2012: Warren Haynes Christmas Jam in downtown Asheville with a stellar line-up: Warren Haynes Band, Blind Boys of Alabama, Sheryl Crow, The String Cheese Incident and Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue.
December 16, 2012: A Swannanoa Solstice is a tapestry of joyful and thoughtful seasonal reflection beautifully woven from the mountains’ Appalachian, Scots-Irish and world influences. Celebrate winter’s allure at a special 10th anniversary edition of this beloved holiday tradition.
December 19-30, 2012: Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol by NC Stage Company. We know what happens to Scrooge, but what about his old business partner Marley?
Plan a holiday getaway and see current vacation packages and specials at RomanticAsheville.com Travel Guide.
Asheville NC Mountain Travel Tips 