Christmas in Hendersonville NC Guide
- Holiday Shopping in Downtown Hendersonville
- Hendersonville Tree Lighting Ceremony & Carriage Rides (Nov 29)
- A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas (Nov 29-Dec 21)
- Peppermint Bear Scavenger Hunt (Nov 29-Dec 23)
- Christmas Tours at Historic Johnson Farm (Dec 4-20)
- Olde Fashioned Christmas & Carriage Rides (Dec 6)
- Hendersonville Christmas Parade (Dec 7)
- Holiday Tour of Inns & Cookie Caper (Dec 8)
- Holly Jolly Train Rides on Main Street/Holiday Llamas (Dec 21)
- New Year’s Eve Apple Rise
READ MORE: The 15 Best Christmas Towns in North Carolina
1. Holiday Shopping in Downtown Hendersonville
Did you know that for every $1 you spend at a small business, 67¢ stays in the local economy? So Christmas shopping in Hendersonville is a great way to help local businesses struggling to recover after Hurricane Helene.
Our favorite Hendersonville shops include All Nations Trading (which specializes in Native American jewelry and art), Art Mob Studios & Marketplace (featuring the work of 85+ local artists & crafters), Wild Mountain Trading Co. (an awesome, eclectic gift shop), and Off the Wall Books N Cafe.
You can also find great gift ideas at the Hendersonville Toy Company, La Vida Loca Women’s Boutique (classic & contemporary fashion), the Moonshine & Magnolias Gift Shop, and Sweet Magnolia Gallery (upscale jewelry).
READ MORE: Help Western NC: Shop Online (Henderson County)
2. Hendersonville Tree Lighting Ceremony & Carriage Rides (Nov 29)
Hendersonville’s Home For the Holidays celebration kicks off at 5PM on Nov 29 with the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Historic Courthouse on Main Street.
Once Santa arrives, the jolly old elf will flip the switch to illuminate the town’s massive Christmas tree and fill Downtown Hendersonville with the festive spirit of the holidays.
There will also be live Christmas music, hot cocoa, tasty treats from local restaurants, deals on holiday shopping, and free visits with Santa & Mrs Claus.
Don’t miss a chance to take a horse-drawn carriage ride through one of the most picturesque Christmas towns in North Carolina!
READ MORE: The 20 Best Things to Do in Hendersonville NC
3. A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas (Nov 29-Dec 21)
With roots in Hendersonville dating back to 1940, the Flat Rock Playhouse was named the State Theatre of North Carolina by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1961.
They now host 100,000+ visitors each year, and the Christmas-themed song-and-dance revue, “A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas,” is always one of their most popular productions.
Expect innovative new adaptations and medleys of some of your favorite Christmas songs, with top-notch professional performers and high quality production values.
Performances at their theater (2661 Greenville Hwy in Flat Rock NC) run on select dates from Nov 29 to Dec 21, with afternoon matinees and evening shows available.
READ MORE: The 30 Best NC Christmas Events
4. Peppermint Bear Scavenger Hunt (Nov 29-Dec 23)
Running from Nov 29 to Dec 23, the Peppermint Bear Scavenger Hunt is an ingenious (and fun!) way to keep the kids entertained while you’re shopping in Downtown Hendersonville.
The game starts at the Hendersonville Welcome Center (201 South Main St), where you can pick up brochures for the “bear hunt.” Peppermint Bear needs help finding her lost cubs, who are hiding in downtown businesses.
As kids find the cute, cuddly stuffed bears, they can ask the shopkeepers to punch their brochure. Once they find at least 12 cubs at the 28 participating Hendersonville businesses, they can win cool prizes!
To enter, simply submit an image of their completed brochure via their online entry form by scanning the provided QR code by Dec 23.
READ MORE: The 15 Best Places to See Christmas Lights in North Carolina
5. Christmas Tours at Historic Johnson Farm (Dec 4-20)
Anyone with an interest in North Carolina history will enjoy a visit to Hendersonville’s Historic Johnson Farm, one of the oldest brick structures in Henderson County.
The halls of this 1880 farmhouse will be decked with Christmas decorations of the period, and guided tours are available at 10:30 AM on weekdays from Dec 4-20.
Note that reservations are highly recommended, but drop-ins are accommodated if there is space on the tour. Self-guided tours are also available on weekdays from 1 to 3PM.
It’s a great chance to see how Christmas in the Blue Ridge Mountains was celebrated in the late 1800s and early 1900s. You can also shop for unique gifts at the Heritage Weavers & Fiber Artists gift shop.
READ MORE: 30 Fun Facts About Thanksgiving History & Traditions
6. Olde Fashioned Christmas & Carriage Rides (Dec 6)
If you’re looking for a quaint, small town Christmas celebration that feels like something out of a Hallmark movie, you won’t want to miss the Olde Fashioned Christmas event in Hendersonville.
Taking place from 5 to 8PM on Friday, Dec 6, this is a great opportunity to explore all the things Historic Downtown Hendersonville has to offer.
Many of the shops and galleries will stay open later than usual and serve holiday treats. Christmas carolers will be spreading festive holiday cheer, and Santa * Mrs Claus with greet kids on the courthouse plaza.
There will also be opportunities to take horse-drawn carriage rides through the streets of downtown, offering a great chance to see all the beautiful Christmas lights and decorations.
READ MORE: The 10 Best Small Towns Near Asheville NC
7. Hendersonville Christmas Parade (Dec 7)
Nothing says “small town Christmas” like a community-focused Christmas parade.
The Hendersonville Christmas Parade starts at 6PM on Dec 7, with local businesses and organizations going all out to decorate the most eye-catching lighted vehicles and festive floats.
Hosted by the Hendersonville Merchants & Business Association, the seasonal celebration will also feature marching bands strolling through the dazzling Downtown Christmas lights.
And of course the highlight/grand finale will be an appearance by old St. Nick himself!
READ MORE: The 10 Best Christmas Parades in North Carolina
8. Holiday Tour of Inns & Cookie Caper (Dec 8)
No matter how old you get, sweets always seem to remain one of the most beloved parts of the holiday season.
Hendersonville’s annual Holiday Tour of Inns & Cookie Caper offers visitors and locals alike a chance to take a self-guided tour of 4 historic B&Bs, each of which has been decked to the nines with festive holiday decor.
Brightwaters Vacation Rentals (built in 1923), The Echo Mountain Inn (1896), The Elizabeth Leigh (1893), and The 1898 Waverly Inn will each greet visitors with sweet treats and Southern hospitality.
Note that tickets for the Dec 8 event (1 to 4PM) cost $20 and are available at the Hendersonville Welcome Center, with proceeds benefitting the Hendersonville Historic Preservation Commission.
READ MORE: The 20 Best Romantic Getaways in NC (Hotels, Inns & Resorts)
9. Holly Jolly Train Rides on Main Street/Holiday Llamas (Dec 21)
The Bryson City Polar Express may be the most elaborate train ride in North Carolina, But the Holly Jolly Train Rides offered during Home For The Holidays offers festive fun without the exorbitant price tag!
From 5 to 8PM on Dec 21, Mountain Fresh Orchards (one of the best apple orchards in Hendersonville) will offer free mini-train rides departing from the Historic Henderson County Courthouse square.
Visitors can also snap unique holiday photos, posing on a Christmas sleigh with festively dressed llamas from Hendersonville’s Ellaberry Llama Farm.
Additionally, this enchanting evening will include holiday crafts, educational displays, face painting, and a pop-up market featuring fresh baked goods and other treats from Mountain Fresh Orchards.
READ MORE: The 7 Best Train Rides for Christmas in the Blue Ridge Mountains
10. New Year’s Eve Apple Rise
Winding down their Home For the Holidays celebration, Downtown Hendersonville offers a chance to ring in the New Year a little early, with their family-friendly New Year’s Eve Apple Rise.
Paying tribute to the area’s many excellent apple orchards, the alcohol-free event kicks off at 5PM and ends at 7PM, making it great for people with young kids (or later plans).
Held at the Historic Hendersonville Courthouse, the free event will feature a DJ dance party, games, craft vendors, swag giveaways, and more.
But the highlight– the raising of a giant apple on the Courthouse plaza- is also a great tribute to Henderson County’s status as the Apple Capital of North Carolina! –by Bret Love; lead image by Derek DiLuzio
