Although things in Western North Carolina haven’t exactly returned to normal for Christmas 2024, those NC mountain towns that have recovered enough are set to celebrate the holiday season full steam ahead.
These towns DESPERATELY need visitors to help make up for the millions in lost revenue Hurricane Helene caused during their peak Fall leaf-peeping season.
Quite a few of this year’s NC Christmas events kick off on Thanksgiving weekend, with everything from Turkey Trot 5K runs to Christmas tree lighting ceremonies and holiday markets.
Honestly, it’s a great time to come support Western North Carolina, have a beautiful weekend in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and get into the Christmas spirit right as December arrives.
Whether you visit the Great Smoky Mountains, Pisgah National Forest, or the NC High Country, a WNC Christmas celebration is sure to be festive.
Check out our guide to 20 Western NC Christmas celebrations worth visiting on Thanksgiving weekend!
READ MORE: 40 NC Mountain Towns Officially Open to Visitors
WNC Thanksgiving Weekend Guide
- Asheville
- Banner Elk
- Beech Mountain
- Black Mountain
- Blowing Rock
- Boone
- Brevard
- Bryson City
- Cashiers
- Cherokee
- Elkin
- Forest City
- Franklin
- Hendersonville
- Hickory
- Highlands
- McAdenville
- Sylva
- Tyron
- Waynesville
READ MORE: 20 Ways to Celebrate Christmas in the Blue Ridge Mountains
1. Asheville NC
Asheville just got access to safe drinking water this week, but the Christmas carousel will be spinning around town this year. There’s tons of good stuff going on Thanksgiving weekend.
Christmas at the Biltmore will be underway. Shops in Biltmore Village and Downtown Asheville will be stocked and ready for Black Friday and Small Business Saturday.
Thanksgiving weekend is also one of the most popular times for heading to pick your Christmas tree at nearby tree farms.
Other events to check out are Winter Lights at the NC Arboretum, the Gingerbread House Competition normally at Grove Park Inn (replaced 2024 with a “Sugar & Spice Stroll Through Asheville”), and the Holiday Tree Lighting Block Party at Grove Arcade.
READ MORE: 18 Festive Ways to Celebrate an Asheville NC Christmas
2. Banner Elk NC
With this being Thanksgiving week, we’re thankful for the news that Banner Elk has reopened and is back to being the adorable little North Carolina mountain town we love this holiday season.
Our favorite Banner Elk shops are welcoming Christmas gift-buyers. Banner Elk restaurants will be serving up helpings of holiday cheer to go with their food, which has made the town a culinary hotspot in the NC High Country.
The hotspots just outside of town can also help on this holiday mission. Snow Skiing season at Sugar Mountain Resort and Beech Mountain Resort officially begins Thanksgiving weekend, with real snow falling as we write this!
And of course the NC High Country has some of the best Christmas tree farms in North Carolina for selecting choose-and-cut Christmas trees.
READ MORE: The 6 Best North Carolina Ski Resorts to Visit
3. Beech Mountain NC
Nothing makes Thanksgiving weekend smack of yuletide cheer quite like a pile of snow.
Beech Mountain will be opening their ski slopes on Friday, Nov 29. Winter activities such as snow tubing, sledding, snowboarding, and snow skiing will be in full swing.
On Nov 30, the Buckeye Recreation Center will be hosting its Annual Parade of Wreaths, and participants will have the opportunity to decorate their own Christmas wreaths.
The Holiday Market will also be running at BRC on Saturday. It’s the perfect place for buying ornaments, artwork, pottery, crafts, soaps, woodwork, jewelry and more!
READ MORE: The 15 Best Christmas Towns in North Carolina
4. Black Mountain NC
Black Mountain really suffered badly from Hurricane Helene, but the community is coming back strong this holiday season. Regular Christmas events will be underway on Thanksgiving weekend.
On Friday, the Asheville Amblers Walking Club’s #OptOutside event is still scheduled. Registration is at 12:30 PM, with the step-off starting 30 minutes later.
The next day shops in Black Mountain’s Town Square will be open for Small Business Saturday, and on Sunday, Holiday Stay-N-Play gets going at Christmount Christian Assembly.
Can’t make it? Holly Jolly and the Christmas Parade in Black Mountain will be the first Saturday in December!
READ MORE: The 10 Best Christmas Parades in North Carolina
5. Blowing Rock NC
Blowing Rock NC is a fun place to be all year round, but the town is particularly magical around Christmas time.
It really gets going with Christmas in the Park, starting on Friday, Nov 29. It includes photos with Santa, carnival games, hayrides, live music, and the lighting of the town.
Saturday morning continues the party with the Blowing Rock Christmas Parade, with its floats, animals, and holiday cheer.
Other draws include carriage rides at Chetola Resort, as well as visiting choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms to find an authentic Christmas centerpiece.
READ MORE: The 20 Best Places to Celebrate Christmas in NC
6. Boone NC
Boone NC is ready to roll this Christmas, and the festivities this Thanksgiving weekend will leave little doubt that “It’s the Holiday Season.”
Located between Boone and Blowing Rock, the Tweetsie Christmas celebration will begin on Nov 29. It includes open-air Christmas train rides, family activities, sing-alongs, s’mores by the fire, and other holiday treats.
The Festival of Lights at Chetola Resort is free to the public, and open nightly from 5 to 10 PM. In addition to thousands of Christmas lights, there are numerous charming holiday scenes to enjoy.
If you’re in the mood for a Scottish Yuletide Spectacular, check out the Highland Holiday Show at The Appalachian Theatre on Saturday night.
READ MORE: The 12 Best Boone NC Christmas Tree Farms
7. Brevard NC
A small town in NC that functions as a weekend gateway for both Pisgah National Forest and Dupont State Forest, Brevard is a hub of tourism all year-round.
It has all the charm you need for a quaint, Hallmark-style Christmas.
On Thanksgiving weekend, Brevard’s ATOM Aluminum Christmas Tree Exhibit will still be underway, and the Cedar Mountain Holiday Artisan Market will be just a few miles up the road.
But the big draw in town that weekend is the Holiday Window Competition, which will close a week later, with winners announced Jan 2, 2025.
READ MORE: The 10 Best Restaurants in Brevard NC for Foodies
8. Bryson City NC
Christmas gets crazy in Bryson City NC, one of the most popular hubs for holiday celebrations in Western North Carolina. The shopping, the chilly mountain air, and the prevailing spirit are just part of what’s going down.
The Great Smoky Mountain Railway runs Polar Express Christmas train tours through the Great Smoky Mountains throughout November and December.
If those tickets are sold out (or just too pricy for your budget), try the Drive-Through Smoky Mountain Christmas Light Spectacular, now in its 2nd year.
On the Friday after Thanksgiving, the Holiday Market will open, and the Downtown Light Display (with an oversized Christmas tree) will be lighting up the Downtown square.
READ MORE: 10 Reasons to Ride the Bryson City Polar Express Train for Christmas
9. Cashiers NC
For those closer to the southernmost part of Western North Carolina, Cashiers NC might be the place to explore on Thanksgiving weekend.
Their Village Green will be decorated with all the trimmings, and all activities are family-friendly and free for visitors.
Highlights include Santa On The Green on Friday from 1 to 4 PM, Lights On The Green Friday evening, and a Mistletoe Market all day long on Friday.
It’s a good idea to reserve space with Santa, which can be done online here.
READ MORE: The 30 Best North Carolina Christmas Events
10. Cherokee NC
Heading to a Native American-run town on Thanksgiving weekend may not be seem like the most PC way to address a somewhat controversial holiday.
However, the town of Cherokee NC in the Qualla Boundary loves the Christmas spirit!
Oconaluftee Island is transformed into a winter wonderland of light displays, holiday music, and seasonal decorations. This year it officially opens on Saturday, November 30.
Activities available at the Enchanted Island of Lights include ice skating, a food truck rodeo, visits with Santa, hot cocoa by the campfire, and plenty of festiveness. The Cherokee Christmas Parade kicks off on Dec 14.
READ MORE: 20 Ways to Celebrate Christmas in the Smoky Mountains (NC & TN)
11. Elkin NC
Located in the fertile Yadkin Valley, Elkin is a small North Carolina mountain town that offers historic buildings, artisanal Appalachian traditions and loads of outdoor recreation options.
Christmas in Elkin starts with the Cypress Trails Festive Forest Winter Light Show, which is open on select nights from Nov 28 to Dec 2. It has 3 different themed walking trails, a fire pit, a HUGE ornament photo opp, and a new lighted maze.
Thanksgiving weekend also includes the Holly Jolly Marketplace (Nov 13-Dec 21), a fundraiser for local scouts, and Trim a Tree for Charity, which begins Nov 29 and features decorated trees in the lot beside the Heritage Center.
The town’s main Christmas event, Light Up Elkin, starts at 5PM on Dec 6, with Santa’s arrival, late night holiday shopping, hayrides, train rides, live entertainment, holiday market vendors, a live nativity, and more!
READ MORE: The 15 Best Things to Do in Elkin NC & the Yadkin Valley
12. Forest City NC
Rutherford County was absolutely shellacked by Helene, so it’s a miracle that the area is welcoming visitors to celebrate this Christmas. In our experience, Forest City is always one of the top Christmas Towns for holiday cheer in Western NC!
Located about 25 miles east of Lake Lure & Tryon, the town starts its Christmas festivities on Thanksgiving night with the annual Forest City tree-lighting ceremony.
There will be an ice-skating rink and visits with Santa at the Pavilion on Park Square, Christmas carols sung by a local quartet, and a DJ spinning festive Christmas tunes.
The weekend culminates with the Forest City Christmas parade at 3PM on Sunday, Nov 30.
READ MORE: The 15 Best Places to See Christmas Lights in North Carolina
13. Franklin NC
The town of Franklin NC will be holding a serious Christmas celebration on Saturday, Nov 30.
Along with Small Business Saturday, with loads of independent shops hawking their holiday wares, Franklin NC will hold its annual Winter Wonderland event.
This beloved community event goes from 5 to 8PM, with free carriage rides and wagon rides as well as an opportunity to meet Santa. Live music will also be offered at the gazebo on the town square.
In the evening, the Tree Lighting ceremony begins at 7 PM, with a Candlelight Service shortly thereafter.
READ MORE: The 10 Best Things to Do in Franklin NC & Macon County
14. Hendersonville NC
Hendersonville NC offers a pleasant mixture of small-town loveliness with city-inspired restaurants and shops. The town’s Main Street is delightfully pedestrian, yet the population is stout enough to support real businesses.
Thanksgiving weekend has lots going on in town. Their Hendersonville Tree Lighting Ceremony runs from 5 to 8PM on Friday, including the lighting of Downtown and carriage rides.
In nearby Flat Rock, A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas offers a professional song-and-dance production of timeless holiday classics and modern favorites.
Herdersonville’s Home For the Holidays celebration also includes A Peppermint Bear Scavenger Hunt, Wine in Winter Wonder at Marked Tree Vineyard, the Hendersonville Christmas Parade on Dec 6, and more.
READ MORE: Celebrating Christmas in Hendersonville NC: Home For the Holidays
15. Hickory NC
The town of Hickory has us moving towards the NC Piedmont, but it has to make this year’s list because their “Holidaypalooza” celebration is just too darn enticing to miss.
Although the Hickory NC Christmas parade and tree lighting ceremony are held the weekend before Thanksgiving, the following weekend has a heap of holiday fun on offer.
Bright Star Theatre is putting on “Holidays Around the World,” and the town is embracing Shop Small Saturday. The Hickory Museum of Art is having a special sale on Friday, and the Winter Farmers Market is open on Saturday.
Downtown Hickory has really upped its game in recent years, and the holidays are a great time to check it out!
READ MORE: 30 Western NC Non-Profits Helping with Helene Relief & Recovery
16. Highlands NC
The Christmas activities in Highlands NC occupy most of Thanksgiving week, not just Thanksgiving weekend.
November 25 has ice skating in the park, and Nov 27 has Walking Wednesday on Whiteside Mountain Trail.
On the weekend proper, The Bascom Center for Visual Arts hosts a Gingerbread Workshop, and Mark O’Connor’s Appalachian Christmas will be performed at the Highlands Performing Arts Center.
On Saturday, Nov 30, Light Up The Park and Santa in Highlands is scheduled from 6 to 8PM, offering holiday fun for families and elves of all ages!
READ MORE: 20 Awesome Things to Do for Winter in North Carolina
17. McAdenville NC
Known nationally as Christmas Town USA, McAdenville NC has very little left to prove regarding its prowess as a premier Christmas destination. In fact, it has such clout that the big events require a long Thanksgiving weekend!
While the Christmas Town 5K will take place on Saturday, Nov 30, most of the Charlotte suburb’s holiday events start on Monday, Dec 2.
On Monday night, Downtown McAdenville will light up for the first time this holiday season, and the Tree Lighting ceremony will take place at 5:30 PM. Shops and restaurants will open, and Christmas merriment will ensue.
Note that while it is possible to drive the entire route to see all the town’s colorful lights, walking offers the best personal experience, with time for photo opps and free hot cocoa.
READ MORE: Christmas Town USA: 10 Ways to Celebrate in McAdenville NC
18. Sylva NC
The little town of Sylva NC in Jackson County will be hosting a full-on Christmas party on Thanksgiving weekend.
Friday, Nov 29 brings the official Christmas Tree lighting for the town, a holiday concert, and a dazzling fireworks display.
On Saturday, small businesses will be open throughout Downtown Sylva so that shoppers can support the community.
Starting at 3PM on Sunday, the final event of Thanksgiving weekend will be the Sylva Christmas Parade, with this year’s theme of “Memories of Christmas Past.”
READ MORE: The 15 Best Things to Do in Sylva NC & Dillsboro NC
19. Tyron NC
Just east of the I-26 as it cuts down into South Carolina, Tyron is a well-known town for equestrian enthusiasts. As it turns out, Christmas is pretty huge there, too.
Tyron International hosts a Christmas Market all of Thanksgiving weekend, with a Winterfest Fun Run (through a Christmas light show!) on Friday evening and Breakfast with Santa on Saturday.
There will also be a drone show on Friday and Saturday night, and Shadrack’s Drive-Through Lightshow will be open every night. The Bobcat Ice Skating Rink is open Friday through Sunday as well.
Winterfest Village provides an immersive holiday experience, with classic Christmas characters, cookies with Mrs. Claus, and The Whoville Experience.
READ MORE: The 25 Best Places for Horseback Riding In/Near Asheville NC
20. Waynesville NC
In Waynesville NC and surrounding Haywood County, there’s an eclectic collection of holiday activities, holiday shopping, and events to enjoy.
Santa Holiday Fun Farm Tours at Winchester Creek Farm are running from Nov 29 through Dec 23. There’s a “Small Works” Art Exhibit at Haywood Handmade Gallery in Waynesville from Nov 19 to Dec 31.
On Sunday, Dec 1, Classic Hikes of the Smokies is leaving from Maggie Valley for a community trek. And on Monday, Dec 2, the Waynesville Christmas Parade is taking over Main Street.
Lastly, a fun choice for all ages is to join the Haywood Country Arts Council’s Holiday Card Collection Series, making some crafty Christmas cards! –by Jonathon Engels
