After recovering relatively quickly from Hurricane Helene, the North Carolina mountain town of Murphy (and surrounding Cherokee County) is making the most of the holiday season.
Inspired in part by their Cherokee County Holiday Itinerary Guide for this Winter, we’ve decided to put together our own guide for celebrating Christmas in Murphy NC.
This slice of small town Blue Ridge Mountain life offers a joyous mix of nostalgic Christmas celebrations, including parades, tree lightings, and meetings with Santa.
But there are also more contemporary events, such as cultural holiday happenings at the oldest/largest folk school in the USA, selfie scavenger hunts, and art walks.
In other words, kids, adults, and grandparents alike will all find activities to satisfy their needs, and the beautiful mountain setting will be like a chocolate-covered cherry on top.
Read on to discover what’s on the Christmas calendar in Cherokee County NC this year!
READ MORE: The 15 Best Christmas Towns in North Carolina
Christmas in Murphy NC Guide
- Andrews Christmas Parade
- Holiday Craft Extravaganza Art Walk
- Holiday Happenings at John C. Campbell School
- Meet Santa at the Tree
- Murphy Christmas Parade
- Murphy Christmas Tree Lighting
- Photos with the Grinch
- Selfie Scavenger Hunt
- Shop Small Saturdays in Downtown Murphy
- Storytime with Santa
READ MORE: The 20 Best Places to Celebrate Christmas in NC
1. Andrews Christmas Parade
Andrews NC is a darling little town (population under 2,000) in Cherokee County, just south of Valley River. It was incorporated in 1905, and built an industry around furniture production.
The charming Main Street in Andrews is postcard-worthy, and it’s all lit up for Christmas, starting with November’s “Christmas on Main” event.
Downtown will also host the annual Andrews Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 14 from 6 to 7:30PM.
That leaves plenty of time to explore the business district and do some shopping and dining before enjoying the parade!
READ MORE: The 10 Best Christmas Parades in North Carolina
2. Holiday Craft Extravaganza Art Walk
Murphy NC is the county seat of Cherokee County. The “MAC” (Murphy Arts Center) is a major hub for cultural events, and it’s the home of the Valley River Arts Guild.
On Friday, December 6, The MAC (along with Downtown Murphy) is hosting their Holiday Craft Extravaganza Art Walk.
Over 100 vendors will be showing off their best holiday-themed crafts inside an array of downtown shops, on the Murphy town square, and at the MAC.
The Art Walk has extended hours from 1 to 8PM, and the Murphy Christmas tree lighting will take place at 5:30PM on the same day!
READ MORE: The 15 Best Places to See Christmas Lights in North Carolina
3. Holiday Happenings at John C. Campbell Folk School
Located in Brasstown NC, the John C Campbell Folk School opened in 1925 and remains the oldest and largest folk school in the USA.
They offer year-round classes in folk arts, including crafting, music, dance, and more. Most classes are weeklong or weekend workshops.
In December, the school is hosting a heaping helping of “holiday happenings” to capture the Christmas spirit all month long.
Noteworthy events include a Holiday Concert by the Brasstown Ringers (Dec 6), a Community Song Circle with Carols (Dec 9), “A Christmas Carol” Reading (Dec 11), a Fireside Sale (Dec 14), and a Kids Christmas Party (Dec 21).
READ MORE: Visiting Southern Highland Craft Guild Folk Art Center in Asheville
4. Meet Santa at the Tree
The culmination of the Murphy Mountain Christmas is a visit with Santa Claus on Santa Saturday. Kids and adults alike are invited to meet-and-greet the jolly ol’ elf on December 21 from 1 to 4PM.
Santa will be waiting in his sleigh for visitors to come by and meet him near the town Christmas tree. This event is free to the public.
Photos with Santa are obviously a big part of the event: Guests should come equipped with their own camera or smartphone to snap some festive shots!
There will also be free photos with Santa available at The Mason Bar after the Christmas Tree Lighting in downtown Murphy.
READ MORE: The 28 Best NC Christmas Tree Farms to Visit
5. Murphy Christmas Parade
Nothing captures quintessential small town holiday cheer quite like a Christmas parade. This year the town of Murphy NC will be holding theirs from 6 to 8PM on Saturday, December 7.
The Murphy Christmas Parade route runs from the Valley Village Shopping Center to the L&N Depot, a historic railroad stop established in 1887.
Community members and organizations decorate a collection of festive floats, tractors, cars, and trucks for this fun, free event. Candy will be tossed about, and holiday lights will be twinkling.
It’s a great family outing, with safe places to watch the parade throughout the route.
READ MORE: The 7 Best Train Rides for Christmas in the Blue Ridge Mountains
6. Murphy Christmas Tree Lighting
On Friday, December 6 (the night before the Christmas Parade), the town will hold its official Christmas tree lighting.
The Murphy Christmas Tree Lighting is scheduled to last from 5:30 to 6:30PM, with live entertainment and a Christmas carol sing-a-long before the tree is lit.
Before and after the lighting, visitors can do a little Christmas shopping in Downtown Murphy, or maybe grab a bite to eat in one of the Downtown Murphy restaurants.
Check out Downtown Pizza Co, Crafted Dough, Chevelle’s Restaurant & Bar 66, Cherokee Cellars, Buck Bald Brewing, or one of the many other locally-owned restaurants.
READ MORE: The 30 Best North Carolina Christmas Events
7. Photos with the Grinch
For those who love Dr. Seuss and the Grinch, there are opportunities to get family photos with the iconic character, both in the town of Andrews and in Murphy NC.
On December 6, the Grinch will be making an appearance on Main Street in Andrews.
There will be a free meet-and-greet from 6 to 8PM, with free gifts, hot chocolate, and snacks provided for children (while supplies last).
From 11AM to 2PM on December 7, the Grinch will be at the Vintage Therapy Shop in Murphy. Family sittings for photos will be $20, and will be handled by photographer Kristopher Squibb.
READ MORE: 20 Ways to Celebrate Christmas in the Blue Ridge Mountains
8. Selfie Scavenger Hunt
From Thanksgiving to December 14, the Murphy Business Association will be hosting a Selfie Scavenger Hunt to draw folks into local shops as part of a competition to win $500 in prizes.
To play, shoppers must pick up a postcard from any participating Murphy business, the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce Welcome Center, or the Murphy Visitor Center.
Players will use clues to find a local spot at which to take a selfie. Once all these special selfies have been taken, you’ll go to the photo booth at the Mill Building for a final selfie.
The competition ends at 5PM on December 14, and winners will be announced on December 18.
READ MORE: 20 Ways to Celebrate Christmas in the Smoky Mountains of NC & TN
9. Shop Small Saturdays in Downtown Murphy
“Shop Small Saturday” has become a regular event on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, helping independent local shops to garner some of those vital Christmas shopping dollars.
Retailers on Main Street in Murphy had kicked off their Selfie Scavenger Hunt to celebrate the event on November 30, but the party/shopping bonanza didn’t stop there.
Every Saturday leading up to Christmas, Downtown Murphy will be holding special events, and the shops will be having special sales.
It’s a great way to shop locally and support a community working to get back on its feet after a devastating Fall leaf-peeping season.
READ MORE: Fall in North Carolina: 25 Great Places to See Fall Colors in NC
10. Storytime with Santa
Meeting Santa has delighted children for decades, and childhood pics with Santa are something we all grow to treasure. The memories might run even deeper if Saint Nick read us a story!
Storytime with Santa is happening at the Mill Building in Murphy at 11AM on Saturday, December 14, when he’ll be reading, “How to Catch Santa Claus.”
After the story, photos with Santa taken by Between the Pines Photography and Katie Wood Photo Co will be available for $25 cash from noon to 2PM on a first-come, first-served basis.
Sponsoring businesses include Narrative Books + Records, The Mill Building, Studio Sol, and Gray Matters Boutique. –by Jonathon Engels
