 1. Christmas at Biltmore Estate: Our biggest holiday event is Christmas at Biltmore. Starting on November 4, America's largest home is decked out in festive finery. Candlelight Evenings are especially magical. Continues through January 1.
See our Christmas at Biltmore Guide. And see exclusive photos of Christmas decorations inside Biltmore House for 2011.
2. Shop Downtown Asheville: Make holiday shopping more fun and relaxing while finding truly special gifts. Browse through more than 200 shops, 30 art galleries and a dozen antique stores - all locally owned. No cookie cutter chain stores here. And if you need a break, stop at one of the 50 restaurants or many coffee shops. Tour the fascinating Thomas Wolfe Home for only a buck! See our Downtown Asheville Guide. For more great local shops with unique gifts, explore the quaint downtowns of nearby Brevard, Hendersonville and Waynesville. Take a carriage ride in downtown Hendersonville (Carolina Horse and Carriage).
3. Gingerbread Houses at Grove Park Inn: For a real treat, see the amazing display of gingerbread houses from the National Gingerbread House Competition at the famous Grove Park Inn Resort on November 16, 2011-January 1, 2012. Guests at the resort can view the display at anytime. If you're not a guest, visit on Sundays-Thursdays. It's free to tour the display and see the other elaborate decorations at the grand hotel. See our Grove Park Gingerbread House Display Guide.
 4. Shop Biltmore Village: What a charming area for holiday shopping! Located across from the entrance to Biltmore Estate, the Village is home to more than 40 unique shops and 10 cafes and restaurants. Most businesses are housed in historic cottages and buildings. Tree-lined streets, brick sidewalks and period architecture make it a delight to stroll through and explore. (Dickens in the Village, Dec 2-4) See our Biltmore Village Guide.
5. And More Art: Asheville is a mecca for artists, so this is the place to find one-of-a-kind gifts. With more than 100 galleries and even more artist studios, you will need plenty of time for exploring. In addition to the galleries downtown and Biltmore Village, head to the Folk Art Center and the River Arts District. See our Gallery Guide.
6. Antiques: The best area in Asheville to find antiques is the Biltmore Antiques District with 13 stores within a mile and a half of the Biltmore Estate. Included is the local long-time favorite, the Antique Tobacco Barn. See our Antique Shopping Guide.
 7. Pick your Christmas Tree: North Carolina is the number two state in the country for growing Christmas Trees! Go to a "choose and cut" Tree Farm to pick the perfect one for your home. Many farms offer hayrides and other holiday-related events. See our Asheville Christmas Tree Farms Guide.
8. Great Outdoors: For the best views of the year, take a winter hike. With leafless trees, cool temperatures, less crowds and frequent bright blue skies, it may become your favorite time of the year to hit the trail. See our hiking guide for our top picks. See a snowy hike on Roan Mountain. And don't forget to find some of our spectacular waterfalls. Most area ski resorts open by early December. Photos of Early Winter Mountain Snow. Or zip line on the new Asheville Canopy Tours near downtown (open on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, except open everyday Dec 26-Jan 1, closed Dec 24 & 25).
9. Stay in Holiday Style: Stay in a home away from home, complete with the sights, sounds and smells of the holidays, at one of the elegant bed and breakfast inns. See our complete list of romantic bed and breakfast inns in the area. Many of them have special holiday packages and specials. For a quiet retreat from the holiday madness, escape to a romantic cabin or cottage. See photos of decorated bed and breakfast inns.
 10. LaZoom Comedy Bus Tours: Their new Happy Jollidays Tour will take you on a fun guided tour of the city. You'll meet a real fruitcake, a traveling snowman and a turkey that simply defies explanation! Instead of busting your gut at the holiday table this year, enjoy a side splitting good time. The Happy Jollidays Tours only roll November and December so be sure you get your tickets early so you can get your turkey stuffed, your halls decked and your bells carolled with the lovable LaZoom Crew! See our LaZoom Tours Guide.
Holiday & Christmas Events in and near Asheville
November 3, 2012–January 1, 2013: Christmas at Biltmore
November 16-January 1: National Gingerbread House Competition
November 17, 2011: Taste of Asheville
November 18-December 4, 2011: Dashing Through the Snow, A Christmas Comedy in Two Acts, By Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten, at Asheville Community Theatre in downtown. Take a trip to Tinsel, Texas for the latest comedy from Asheville’s favorite playwriting trio. In this family-friendly Christmas comedy, a colorful parade of eccentric guests arrives at the Snowflake Inn and proceeds to deck the halls with holiday hilarity! This play will be more fun than a joy ride in a one horse open sleigh.
 November 19, 2011: Asheville Holiday Parade, downtown, 11 AM. A fun and creative parade that kicks off Asheville's holiday season with marching bands, floats, dance & theater troupes, walking groups and Santa Claus himself. All public parking lots and decks are open. The parade will line up along South Charlotte Street which will be closed to traffic beginning at 7:00 AM. The parade kicks off from Charlotte Street and then turns up Biltmore Avenue towards Pack Square. The parade will then turn left onto Patton Avenue and ends at North French Broad Street. Read more about the Asheville Holiday Parade.
More about Thanksgiving Weekend
November 26-December 4, 2011: It's a Wonderful Life by NC Stage Company. Already becoming an Asheville tradition, this new imagining of the uplifting story of George Bailey is the perfect antidote to today's commercialized and stress-fueled holiday season.
November 25-26, 2011: Hard Candy Christmas Fine Art & Craft Show in Cullowhee with more than 100 artisans will fill Western Carolina University's Ramsey Center arena.
November 30-December 22, 2011: Plaid Tidings, the Forever Plaid sequel, presented by Flat Rock Playhouse, State Theatre of NC. One of the "Top Ten Theaters in the Country.
December 2, 2011: Asheville Downtown Gallery Art Walk. Galleries stay open late with special exhibits and artist mingling.
December 2-4, 2011: Historic Biltmore Village transforms into a quaint Victorian village on the first weekend of December for Dickens in the Village. Horse-drawn carriages will trot along decorated streets as carolers, storytellers and instrumentalists stroll the village in period costumes. Watch live excerpts from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol performed by the Montford Park Players while enjoying fresh roasted chestnuts. Read more.
November 30-December 2, 2012: Toe River Studio Tour, About an hour north of Asheville, tucked in the lush green mountains is one of the finest collections of artists and craftsmen in the world and the acclaimed Penland School of Crafts. A unique blend of contemporary and traditional cultures. More than 100 fine artists and crafts people in every medium open their studios for a free, self-guided cultural adventure.
 Dec. 2-3 and 9-10, 2011: Dillsboro Festival of Lights & Luminaries. Journey back to the days of yesteryear as Dillsboro presents its annual Festival of Lights and Luminaries. Experience the magic as the entire town is transformed into a winter wonderland of lights, candles, laughter and song! Shopkeepers provide live music and serve holiday treats with hot cider and cocoa.
December 2 & 3, 2011: Winterfest: Songs for the Season with the Asheville Choral Society at Arden Presbyterian Church, 2215 Hendersonville Road, Arden (South Asheville). Selections from Fahrner's Winterfest and from Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors, begin the evening, setting the tone for a magical, musical festival of celebration. Songs from Irving Berlin's and a carol sing-a-long, present opportunities for you to lift your voice along with the chorus – so be ready to sing!
December 3: “Christmas in Appalachia” Fundraising Concert for Shindig on the Green. 7 PM in the Upper Anderson Auditorium at Montreat Conference Center, features The Cockman Family, AppalachiaSong and clogging and buck dance demos. For more information visit www.folkheritage.org.
December 3: Holiday Twilight Tour in downtown Brevard.
This downtown annual holiday event is now a daytime street festival. The downtown businesses will be "open-housing" all day, providing refreshments, entertainment and a preview of holiday gifts. The streets will be closed and many holiday activities have been planned, 11 AM until 5:30 PM.
December 3: Non-Profit Sale Day at the Burnsville Town Center, 9 AM-3 PM. Support charities and get some great gifts for Christmas. Then you can step out to watch the Chamber's Christmas Parade come around the square, beginning at 3 PM. Downtown shops stay open late. Go to the Yancey County Chamber website for more.
 December 3 & 10, 2011: Santa on the Chimney at Chimney Rock State Park. Watch Santa practicing for his world-wide chimney-dropping tour on Christmas Eve. Only his "practice chimney" is 312 feet tall! Santa Claus will rappel down the 535-million-year-old monolith known as Chimney Rock, wearing his traditional red suit and hat, and a rope, of course. Read more.
December 3 & 10, 2011: Guild Artist Holiday Sale at the Folk Art Center: This popular event has expanded to two dates this year! The Guild Artist Holiday Sale provides an opportunity for individual members and the organization to sell over-runs, discontinued stock and studio seconds in a festive atmosphere during the holiday season. 10am-4pm.
December 8-23, 2011: A favorite holiday play, A Christmas Carol, by Montford Players in Asheville Masonic Temple downtown.
December 8, 2011: Hometown Holiday Jam XI at The Orange Peel, downtown Asheville, benefiting: Mission Children's Hospital and Manna Food Bank featuring: Sons of Ralph, The Nova Echo, Mike Barnes & Friends, Marc Keller Band, The Campaign 1984, Rory Kelly’s Triple Threat, McTaggart Garrett & De Bruhl , Full Plate O' Blues Band, plus Special Guests: Jack & Jim Mascari of The Stripp Band...and many others. Tickets: $10 plus donation of one canned food. Show starts at 8pm
December 10, 2011: Christmas Jam by Warren Haynes
December 10-12, 2011: The Nutcracker. A holiday tradition in Asheville for 37 years by the Asheville Ballet. This all-time favorite story of Clara’s magical midnight trip to the Land of Sweets is classical ballet at its best.
December 9, 2011: Candlelight Stroll in downtown Weaverville, 6-9 PM, shopping, music, tree lighting, plus horse and carriage rides.
December 10, 2011: Christmas at Connemara, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM. This free festive celebration will honor Carl Sandburg and the family holiday tradition of music. Featured artists are: The Southern Appalachian Chamber Singers from Mars Hill College, Guitarist Pat Corn, Cherokee Indian Storyteller Black Feather, The Pearls a contemporary folk ensemble and others. The house will be decorated in the style of the Sandburg's with poinsettias and a traditionally decorated Christmas tree from December 6th until January 6th.
December 10, 2011: 16th Annual Montford Home Tour: Explore Asheville’s oldest, most historic neighborhood with roving Shakespearian actors, courtesy of The Montford Park Players and feast on homemade baked goods from the kitchens of Montford residents. 1-5 PM.
December 17, 2011: Christmas on the Mountain: An Evening with Sheila Kay Adams at Thomas Wolfe Memorial. Two performances: 6 and 7:30 PM. $10 General Admission. Seating is limited.
December 17, 2011: Open House & Christmas Past Festival 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 18, 2011: Holiday Pops by Asheville Symphony, enjoy favorite music from the Holidays with the glowing voices of the Asheville Symphony Chorus and the Asheville Symphony Children's Chorus. Thomas Wolfe Auditorium (downtown at Civic Center) 3 PM. See ticket info.
December 18, 2011: A Swannanoa Solstice is headlined by world renowned musicians Al Petteway, Amy White, and Robin Bullock playing guitar, mandolin, fiddle, Appalachian dulcimer, piano, harp, and world percussion. These performances are enhanced further by the voices and talents of special guest musicians, storytellers, dancers, and host Doug Orr. Plan now to gather with family and friends for one of the two performances offered to accommodate ticket demand for this holiday tradition. 2 PM and 7 PM. See ticket info.
December 23, 2011: LaZoom Joy Ride with the Krektones, just $10, departs 8, 9 and 10 PM. The Krektones play and sing on the purple bus with DJ Laura, French Broad Brewery Wee Heavier and ice cream from The Hop! More about LaZoom Tours.
December 31, New Year's Eve: Head downtown Asheville for many choices for dining and music or dancing afterwards. See our New Year 2012 Celebrations and Things to Do.
January 1: Take the chilly plunge at the Polar Plunge at Lake Lure!
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