[Updated November 2, 2024] It’s no secret that Asheville is one of our favorite Blue Ridge Mountain towns, thanks to its art deco architecture, excellent restaurants, progressive culture, an array of outdoor activities, and proximity to the Blue Ridge Parkway.
With its wildflowers in spring, nearby waterfalls to explore in summer, and stunning fall colors every autumn, Asheville is one of the best North Carolina mountain towns to visit at any time of year.
But Christmas in Asheville NC is truly a magical time, with historic landmarks like the Biltmore Estate, Omni Grove Park Inn, and Grove Arcade decked with twinkling lights, evergreens, and festive holiday decor.
Read on for our guide to 15 festive ways to celebrate an Asheville NC Christmas, including all the best Christmas light displays, Christmas events, and unique holiday experiences the bustling Blue Ridge hotspot has to offer.
READ MORE: The 20 Best Places to Celebrate Christmas in NC
Asheville NC Christmas Guide
(Arranged geographically)
- Biltmore Estate Christmas
- Explore Antler Hill Village
- National Gingerbread Competition at Omni Grove Park Inn
- Winter Lights at NC Arboretum
- Christmas Jam at Harrah’s Cherokee Center-Asheville (Canceled for 2024)
- Guild Holiday Makers Sale at the Folks Arts Center
- Hop on the Holly Jolly Christmas Trolley
- Go On the Jingle Bell Trolley Train on the Craggy Mountain Line (TBD)
- Shopping at the Grove Arcade
- Victorian Christmas at the Asheville Museum of History (TBD)
- Winter Tree Carnival at Rabbit Rabbit (Canceled for 2024)
- Christmas at Montgomery Sky Farm
- Deck the Trees in Black Mountain NC
- Hendersonville Home for the Holidays
- Lake Julian Park Festival of Lights
- See Santa Rappel at Chimney Rock State Park (Canceled for 2024)
- Visit the Boyd Mountain Christmas Tree Farm
- Weaverville’s Candlelight Stroll
READ MORE: 20 Awesome Things to Do for Winter in North Carolina
Christmas in Asheville NC
1. Biltmore Estate Christmas
1 Lodge St, Asheville NC • (800) 411-3812
If you’re planning to spend Christmas in Asheville, experiencing Christmas at the Biltmore is a bucket list item that proves well worth the admittedly pricy investment (2024 tickets range from $125 to $400+).
Christmas at Biltmore runs from November 3rd to January 7th.
With 250 rooms encompassing over 135,000 square feet (not to mention 75 acres of gorgeously landscaped gardens), the Biltmore Estate Christmas is the biggest North Carolina Christmas celebration you’ll find.
The largest privately owned home in America is filled with classic Christmas decorations, including 50+ decorated Christmas trees (including a 35-foot Fraser Fir in the Banquet Hall), 225+ fresh wreaths, 3,120 feet of evergreen garlands, 1,200+ poinsettias, and around 600 handmade bows.
There are daytime and candlelit nighttime Biltmore Christmas tours to choose from, with self-guided audio tours and expert-guided group tours.
All tours include free parking, access to the Biltmore Gardens and Grounds, a visit to Antler Hill Village, and a complimentary wine tasting at the Antler Hill Winery.
Whichever tour you choose, be sure you stick around to watch the sunset at Biltmore, when the luminaries and Christmas trees on the lawn make the Estate look even more magical!
READ MORE: Inside the Biltmore House Christmas in Asheville NC
2. Explore Antler Hill Village
225 Winery Rd, Asheville NC • (800) 411-3812
If visiting the Biltmore Estate is part of your Asheville NC Christmas plans, Antler Hill Village is a great place to spend some time before or after your tour.
This more modern part of the estate’s property features numerous restaurants, shopping, and free wine tastings at one of the most popular North Carolina wineries.
For kids, there are games and arts and crafts demonstrations at The Barn, plus friendly farm animals, rock climbing, and a sandy play area at the Farmyard’s Pisgah Playground.
At night the entire area is illuminated by thousands of Christmas lights, with “waterfall” lights hanging from the trees and oversized ornaments stretching across the walkways.
READ MORE: The 15 Best Christmas Towns in North Carolina
3. National Gingerbread Competition at Omni Grove Park Inn
(Canceled for 2024)
290 Macon Ave, Asheville NC • (800) 438-5800
One of the most popular Christmas activities in Asheville, the National Gingerbread Competition at the Omni Grove Park Inn has been around for 32 years.
It’s by far the largest gingerbread house competition in the USA, and 2023 contestants had more than $40,000 in cash and prizes to compete for.
This year’s competition has been temporarily replaced by a “SUGAR & SPICE STROLL THROUGH ASHEVILLE,” due to Hurricane Helene.
For 2024, 45+ talented bakers will bring stunning gingerbread creations to be displayed for visitors and locals alike, both at the resort and other local businesses throughout the community.
Gingerbread entries will be on display from Saturday, November 23 through Sunday, January 5. See their detailed map of the display locations here.
Admission is free, but self-parking for day guests is $25, or $20 for overnight guests. A portion of the parking proceeds benefit local community non-profit organizations.
READ MORE: The 15 Best Hotels in Asheville NC to Visit
4. Winter Lights at NC Arboretum
100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville NC • (828) 665-2492
*NOTE: The North Carolina Arboretum experienced dramatic impacts from Hurrican Helene.
Winter Lights is The North Carolina’s Arboretum’s largest fund-raising event of the year, and ticket sales for the event directly provide for employee salaries and improvements to the grounds, of which there will still need to be many.
So please know that, by attending Winter Lights, you are directly supporting this important resource and those employees who make it beautiful.
Second only to the Biltmore among the best places to see Asheville Christmas lights, seeing Winter Lights at the North Carolina Arboretum is one of our favorite things to do in Asheville NC in winter.
This North Carolina Arboretum offers an enchanting walk-through light show, with over a million Christmas lights, festive music, shopping for unique Christmas gifts, and roasting S’mores on the fire pit.
The Winter Lights event at the North Carolina Arboretum runs from November 15 through December 31.
All tickets are timed (with entry into the event from 6-9 p.m., the final show closes at 10 p.m.) and are sold per vehicle rather than per person. Flex-timed tickets are also available.
Ticket prices vary depending on the date you want to visit and the size of the vehicle, from $40-$70.
READ MORE: The 12 Best Places to See Christmas Lights in North Carolina
5. Christmas Jam
(Canceled for 2024)
87 Haywood St, Asheville NC • 828-259-5736
On December 9, Warren Haynes Presents Christmas Jam 2023 to benefit the Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity. Ticket info is still to be determined, so keep an eye on their website for updates.
An annual Asheville Christmas event since 1988, this beloved music festival has a long history of doing great work for the local community, offering performers an opportunity to give back during the holiday season.
To date, 50+ houses have been built by Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity using the proceeds from Christmas Jam.
This year’s performers include Slash & Myles Kennedy, Billy F. Gibbons, Gov’t Mule, Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Event, Clutch, American Babies, Karina Rykman and many more.
READ MORE: The 25 Best North Carolina Music Festivals
6. Guild Holiday Makers Sale at the Folk Art Center
382 Blue Ridge Pkwy, Asheville NC • 828-298-7928
If you find yourself on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville, don’t skip out on a stop at the Folk Art Center!
Since 1930, the Southern Highland Craft Guild has advocated for and helped craftspeople produce and sell high-quality crafts, both traditional and modern.
There’s a permanent collection of over 250 works dating from the pre-Civil War era to the late 20th century, including woodcarvings, textiles, furniture, baskets, and other Southern Appalachian crafts.
For Christmas, the Folk Art Center has a shop packed with impressive work from local artists.
Their Holiday Seconds Sale held the first two Saturdays in December from 10am-4pm offers a great chance to get some special gifts that support local crafters and traditional craft practices for the people on your Christmas list.
READ MORE: 30 Fun Facts About Appalachian Scots-Irish History & Culture
7. Hop on the Holly Jolly Christmas Trolley
5 Boston Way, Asheville NC • (828) 251-8687
One of the most fun holiday activities to look forward to this winter is riding the Holly Jolly Christmas Trolley.
Departing from Olde World Christmas Shoppe in Asheville’s historic Biltmore Village, the 75-minute tour (which is on an enclosed, heated trolley) mixes local folklore, holiday storytelling, and Christmas caroling.
It’s a good old-fashioned family-friendly holiday experience, with joyous songs and festive Christmas decorations in Downtown Asheville and the Grove Park and Montford Area Historic District neighborhoods.
Note that while you will see Christmas light displays along the way, they are not the focus of the tour.
Also, reservations are recommended, but walk-ups are welcomed on a space-available basis. Tickets are $33 for adults and $17 for kids.
The Trolly runs from November 15th through December 30th.
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8. Go On the Jingle Bell Trolley on the Craggy Mountain Line
(Opening TBD)
111 North Woodfin Avenue, Asheville NC • (828) 808-4877
One of the lesser-known Asheville Christmas events, the Jingle Bell Trolley is a unique experience for anyone with an interest in NC train rides and the area’s transportation history.
Operated by the Craggy Mountain Line Railroad, this is a 7-mile ride along what remains of Asheville’s once-great (but now mostly defunct) rail network, which opened up 19th-century travel through the Appalachian Mountains.
The route winds through the forest and along the picturesque French Broad River, as classic Christmas carols play over the speaker and the conductor shares facts about the railway’s history.
The open-air train ride includes snacks, hot cocoa, and a stop at a park with a riverside playground. You’ll also visit a nearby 1926 railroad car, where you’ll get a chance to meet (and take photos with) Santa and Mrs. Claus!
Tickets are $15 per person, and children ages 3 and under ride free. Group rates are also available.
READ MORE: Festive Fun at Tweetsie Railroad Christmas in Blowing Rock NC
9. Shopping at the Grove Arcade
1 Page Avenue, Asheville NC • (828) 252-7799
If you’re looking to do some Christmas shopping in Asheville NC, the historic Grove Arcade offers a more artful, upscale, and locally focused alternative to the Asheville Outlets.
Located in the heart of Downtown Asheville, the enduring architectural landmark was created by pioneering local developer Edwin Wiley Grove.
Completed in 1929, the art deco exterior is now filled with an eclectic mixture of shops and restaurants, including the critically acclaimed Asheville Proper, Huli Sue’s BBQ & Grill, and Well-Bred Bakery & Café.
Its halls are decked to the nines with classy Christmas decor, with trees, garlands, wreaths, and twinkling lights illuminating stores like Asheville NC Home Crafts, Mountain Made Art Gallery, and Serenity + Scott Apothecary.
There’s also a Maker’s Market on the Battery Park end of the Grove Arcade, with local artisans selling everything from handmade jewelry and soap to musical instruments, local honey and farm products, and more.
READ MORE: Help Western NC Stores by Shopping Online (Haywood Co Edition)
10. Victorian Christmas at the Asheville Museum of History
(Event TBD)
283 Victoria Rd, Asheville NC • (828) 253-9231
Though this event will not be happening in the 2023 holiday season, it is planned to be brought back in the holiday season of 2024, and the museum will continue to be open during normal hours.
Formerly known as the Smith McDowell House, the new Asheville Museum of History opened on October 25, 2023.
But their annual Victorian Christmas is a must-see for anyone with an interest in Asheville history.
The 4-story Smith-McDowell House is the oldest surviving house in Asheville and is widely regarded as the best example of brick antebellum architecture in the North Carolina mountains.
Built 21 years before the start of the Civil War for businessman James McConnell Smith and his wife Mary “Polly” Patton, the house remained in his family until 1881.
Subsequent owners commissioned landscape design by Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. and a new carriage house that may have been designed by Richard Morris Hunt, architect of the Biltmore House.
Since being restored, the house has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Today, it’s fully furnished with authentic antiques, and the Victorian Romance Christmas Celebration includes antique and reproduction decorations, including 4 live trees with handmade Appalachian decorations.
Group tours led by docents in period costumes may be arranged for an additional charge.
READ MORE: The 20+ Best NC Christmas Events in Asheville, Bryson City & Beyond
11. Winter Tree Carnival at Rabbit Rabbit
(Canceled for 2024)
75 Coxe Avenue, Asheville NC • (828) 398-1837
If you don’t want to make the short drive to Black Mountain for a “Festival of Trees” experience, the 2nd annual Winter Tree Carnival at Rabbit Rabbit is a great daytime activity for Christmas in Asheville.
Rabbit Rabbit is an artful outdoor event space in Downtown Asheville that’s used for everything from live music and movie screenings to private events.
Though details of the 2023 Winter Tree Carnival were not available by our deadline, last year’s inaugural event featured 50+ unique trees decorated by local businesses and non-profit organizations.
One of the newer Asheville Christmas events, the carnival also included free holiday movies (including Elf, Christmas Vacation, and The Polar Express), festive Christmas music, and craft markets for Christmas shopping.
We also enjoyed the food trucks serving hearty tacos, burritos, poke bowls, and more, plus holiday craft cocktails, hot apple cider, and hot chocolate!
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Christmas Near Asheville NC
12. Christmas at Montgomery Sky Farm
336 Turkey Creek Road, Leicester NC • [email protected]
*Note: Montgomery Sky Farm in Leicester, NC is home to Final Run Rescue, a 501c3 charitable organization. In response to the Helene’s devastation, they launched the “Appalachia Restore and Rescue” program which travels to communities throughout the affected Appalachian areas feeding meals to people and pets in need.
If you’re looking for unique things to do in Asheville in December, a visit to see Appalachian Santa at the 50-acre Montgomery Sky Farm would certainly fit the bill.
Owned by Taylor Montgomery (a critically acclaimed Executive Chef at two Greenville SC restaurants) and his wife Fran, the farm focuses on sustainable agriculture, preservation breeding, and animal rescue.
On Friday, December 6th, and Monday, Friday 13th, there is Gingerbread decorating in the barn with Santa and on Saturday, December 23rd there will be story time with Santa!
Guests can reserve a spot on Saturday December 21st for a three-course candlelight Chef’s tasting menu.
Guests can also schedule an hour-long farm tour with a private luxury Christmas picnic set up next to the highland cow pasture during December.
All Christmas activities are by reservation only. To purchase tickets, email [email protected].
READ MORE: The 6 Best North Carolina Ski Resorts to Visit
13. Deck the Trees in Black Mountain NC
308 W State St, Black Mountain NC • (828) 669-8870
Located just 15 minutes from Downtown Asheville, the small town of Black Mountain is a great place to celebrate Christmas in North Carolina December 6th – January 6th.
With 30 restaurants, a history museum, an art center, 3 breweries, and dozens of shops selling everything from handmade furniture to Appalachian quilts, the charming town offers something for everyone.
It’s also home to one of our favorite NC Christmas events, Deck the Trees. Local individuals and businesses will artfully decorate Christmas trees around this year’s theme, “Winter Wonderland.”
You can find the festive trees at the Monte Vista Hotel and a variety of other businesses in Black Mountain and the Swannanoa Valley area. There’s no cost to attend, but charitable donations are appreciated.
The annual Christmas event raises funds for the Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry Fuel Fund, which helps struggling members of the community pay heating costs during the winter. Last year they raised $66,000+!
READ MORE: The 15 Best Christmas Towns in Georgia to Visit
14. Hendersonville Home for the Holidays
Welcome Center, 201 South Main St, Hendersonville NC • 828-693-9708
*NOTE: Home for the Holidays will be Hendersonville’s first large-scale event following the damage from Hurricane Helene. Please pack additional patience this year as things might not run as smoothly. Just know the spirit of season is what matters most.
Head to Downtown Hendersonville NC this Christmas to join in what is quickly becoming a beloved holiday tradition. From mid-November to New Year’s Day, the town of Hendersonville invites one and all to come “Home for the Holidays.”
The vibrant main street comes more alive than ever at Christmas, with all of the shops decorated to the nines in holiday cheer. This charming Christmas town looks like something from a Hallmark movie!
There are carriage rides, a Christmas parade, holiday-themed productions at the Flat Rock Playhouse, and the always-popular Peppermint Bear Scavenger Hunt.
Be there the day after Thanksgiving to see jolly ol’ St. Nick turn on the Christmas lights for the 30-foot tree.
Check out their website for more details on the huge list of Christmas events happening in this fine Blue Ridge mountain town in 2024.
READ MORE: Christmas Town USA: 10 Ways to Celebrate in McAdenville NC
15. Lake Julian Park Festival of Lights
37 Lake Julian Rd, Arden NC • (828) 684-0376
Lake Julian’s Festival of Lights is a long-standing mountain tradition and is immensely loved by many families.
The annual festival features dozens of dazzling Christmas lights along an enchanted drive around Lake Julian Park, one of the area’s most popular recreational lakes.
Tickets must be purchased online in advance, but they are not date-specific, and 20% of all proceeds are donated to the Buncombe County Special Olympics.
There are two walk-through nights, December 2-3 from 6-8 p.m. where there will be hot chocolate, snacks, holiday crafts, s’mores and toasty campfires. The walkthrough night is only $5 for adults. Anyone 16 and younger gets in free.
On December 4, the drive-through nights begin, and they roll till the 23rd of December. Tickets for those nights cost $10 for standard cars and vans, $25 for sprinter ad conversion vans, and $50 for buses and motor coaches. The drive-through event takes place from 6-9 p.m.
READ MORE: 20 Ways to Celebrate Christmas in the Blue Ridge Mountains
16. See Santa Rappel at Chimney Rock State Park
(Canceled for 2024)
431 Main St, Chimney Rock NC • (828) 625-9611
Located about 25 miles southeast of Asheville, Chimney Rock is one of the most iconic North Carolina State Parks, thanks in large part to the iconic rock formation for which it is named.
The park is also home to one of the most unique things to do for Christmas in Asheville– the annual “Santa On The Chimney” celebration– which is now in its 24th year!
It’s a day filled with family-friendly fun, including an Elf-guided hike to Hickory Nut Falls (one of our favorite waterfalls near Asheville), up-close animal encounters with a park naturalist, ornament making, holiday crafts, and S’mores.
But the event’s highlight is watching jolly ol’ St. Nick preparing for his big day by rappelling down the park’s massive “chimney,” which happens hourly from 11am, 12pm, 1pm, and 2pm on December 2nd and 9th.
It’s a great chance to celebrate the season at one of our favorite state parks in NC.
READ MORE: The 25 Best Places to Visit in North Carolina
17. Visit the Boyd Mountain Christmas Tree Farm
445 Boyd Farm Rd, Waynesville NC • (828) 926-8888
If you see an Asheville Christmas tree, it was most likely grown in High Country towns like Boone or Blowing Rock, which are about two hours away.
But the Boyd Mountain Christmas Tree Farm in Waynesville is just over 30 minutes west of Asheville, making for a fun holiday day trip.
The pet-friendly farm has been in the Boyd family for more than 100 years and choosing one of their cut-your-own NC Christmas trees has become a popular local Christmas tradition.
They provide bow saws to cut your perfect tree, then their helpful staff will trim it, bale it, and tie it to your vehicle so you can transport it safely.
You can also grab a bite from the food truck or take photos with Santa on November 23rd 24th, 29th, 30th or December 1st.
Their 2024 dates are from November 21st through December 8th, excluding November 25th and December 2nd. They are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
READ MORE: 20 Ways to Celebrate Christmas in the Smoky Mountains (NC & TN)
18. Weaverville Candlelight Stroll
Main Street & the Community Center, Weaverville NC
Located approximately 9 miles north of Downtown Asheville, Weaverville NC is one of our favorite small towns we’ve visited in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.
It’s got a charming downtown area with great shops and restaurants, two excellent parks with hiking trails (which are lined with wildflowers), historic sites, and a wealth of natural beauty all around.
On Friday, December 6, 2024, from 5-8 p.m., locals and visitors alike will gather on Main Street and at the Community Center to celebrate the spirit of Christmas for the annual Weaverville Candlelight Stroll.
The festivities will include kid-friendly arts and crafts, luminaries, a scavenger hunt, storytelling, food, Christmas caroling by local school choirs, and horse-drawn carriage rides.
There will also be opportunities to take photos with Santa, and to make donations to the Cops For Kids program, which benefits children who might not get any presents for the holidays otherwise. –by Bret Love; lead image of Christmas at Biltmore by Bret Love & Mary Gabbett
