Asheville Holiday Event: Dickens Festival in Biltmore Village

November 30 - December 2    Biltmore Village Dickens Festival   Historic Biltmore Village transforms itself into a quaint Victorian village with entertainment for every age and interest. The main stage will be filled continuously with musicians, choral groups, singers, dancers and the Montford Park Players.

This year the Festival will feature more than 300 performers who, after their stage segments, will rove throughout the Village entertaining on the streets and in the shops and restaurants. Friday and Saturday evenings will feature main stage concerts for the entire family. As dusk turns into evening, more than 250,000 white lights outlining the historic Village buildings will combine with the streetlights to enhance the ambiance. Shops stay open evenings until 7 PM with many of the shopkeepers dressed in Victorian-era garb.

In addition, there will be horse-drawn rides through the tree-lined Village streets all day Saturday and Sunday. Chestnuts roasted on an open fire by chestnut roaster Sakshi Gentenbein will be available next to the main stage.

Find Asheville lodging, attractions and more holiday events on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

The American Premier of "Starbuck by Whalelight"

November 29-30 at 7:30 PM and December 1 at 1 PM - The Asheville Theatre Festival  Presents The American Premier of "Starbuck by Whalelight", an adaptation of Moby-Dick with global music by The Free Planet Radio, Daniel Barber and Lois Henrickson, Starring Able Allen as Starbuck & Alex Murphy as Ahab. Music by The Free Planet Radio, Daniel Barber, & Lytingale.

Starbuck by Whalelight is presented at the Masonic Temple, 80 Broadway in Asheville NC.

Asheville Christmas Events: Crafts Holiday Sale at the Folk Art Center

December 1    Guild Artist Holiday Sale   The Southern Highland Craft Guild presents the annual Holiday crafts sale at the Folk Art Center from 10 AM - 4 PM, milepost 382 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Choose from a variety of gift items - at special prices -  including ceramics, jewelry, fiber, paper, glass and wood. 

Buying from artists supports the local economy and promotes the mission of the Guild which is bringing together the crafts and craftspeople of the Southern Highlands for the benefit of shared resources, education, marketing and conservation. An additional date is Dec 8 with different artists participating,

Asheville NC Holiday Events: 30th Annual Bernstein Family Christmas Spectacular

November 28 - December 22  30th Annual Bernstein Family Christmas Spectacular  Starring Tracey Johnston-Crum (recently voted Best Local Actress by in the Mountain Xpress' annual poll) and Darren Marshall, among other local favorites, the beloved and occasionally tasteless sketch comedy Christmas show will once again return to Asheville.

This year, the Bernstein clan is under the able direction of Katie Anne Towner, Associate Artistic Director and Managing Director of The Magnetic Theatre. Last year the Bernsteins sold out nearly every seat of every performance,so advance tickets are recommended for this hilarious, adult sketch comedy Christmas show.

Gingerbread House Competition Opens in Asheville's Historic Grove Park Inn

November 20 - January 2   The National Gingerbread House Competition and Display   Contestants from across the country bring their architectural masterpieces to The Grove Park Inn for display over the holidays. Delight in the imagination shown in these sugar-and-spice creations, strolling through the competition is a sure way to be swept up in the holiday spirit. 


There is no admission charge to view the entries to the National Gingerbread House Competition. In addition to the gingerbread overload, see the beautiful holiday displays throughout the Grove Park Inn and warm by the giant fireplaces in the grand lobby. Pick up a map in the lobby to find the various areas where the entries are displayed.
Get a link and learn more about the Gingerbread House Competition and the grove Park Inn on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

Asheville's Historic Grove Arcade becomes a Winter Wonderland this Week

November 20 - January 2  Winter Wonderland at the Grove Arcade  For the seventh year, the Arcade will display entries from the National Gingerbread House Competition and beautiful holiday décor in a Winter Wonderland setting.

Visitors to the building will notice new flocked trees on the spiral staircases, a beautiful tree and lighted antique deer vignette in the West Arcade entry and much more. Shop the Arcade's shops and galleries for the perfect holiday gift.
 
The Grove Arcade  -  Built by E.W. Grove, the visionary and creator of the Grove Park Inn, the Grove Arcade opened in 1929 and thrived until World War II as one of the country's leading public markets. Asheville's historically renovated Grove Arcade has once again returned as a destination featuring the best the region has to offer from fabulous foods to delicious dining and local crafts. The wonderful design and architecture alone are worth a trip to Asheville. The Grove Arcade is located at 1 Page Avenue, downtown Asheville NC.

Christmas at Biltmore

November - January 1:  America's largest home, Biltmore, has once again decked its halls with a look and spirit of Christmas as remarkable as the the "castle" itself. A 35 foot Christmas tree greets you as you enter Biltmore, followed by miles of lights, garlands and every manor of holiday decorations.

During Christmas at Biltmore your standard admission includes:
• Self-guided visit of Biltmore House
• Access to our gardens and Antler Hill Village
• Access to the new exhibition, The Vanderbilts at Home and Abroad
• Complimentary wine tasting and guided tour at the Winery

SAVE up to $10 on Biltmore tickets through November 21 when you purchase tickets 7 days in advance.

Additional activities for Christmas at Biltmore include:

Holiday Decorating Sessions
Visit A Gardener's Place below the Conservatory for these daily craft sessions beginning November 1:

• Traditional wreaths at 11 AM and 2 PM
• Tabletop decorating at 1 PM. and 3 PM

Santa at Antler Hill Village
Santa Claus comes by the village on the weekends to meet the kids and hear Christmas wishes. Visit with him on Saturdays and Sundays, November 10–December 23, 1 p.m.–5 p.m., and also on Friday, November 23.


Learn more about Christmas at Biltmore on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide. 

 

Asheville Symphony Orchestra Performs Bizet, Rachmaninoff and Beethoven

November 17 - The Asheville Symphony begins this evening's performance with unforgettable melodies and music of great color and vitality. It's young composer Georges Bizet's joyous score from his L'arlesienne Suite - a Parisian's take on the spirit and stories of southern France.

Van Cliburn medalist Joyce Yang joins the Symphony to play Rachmaninoff's popular and virtuosic work for piano and orchestra - his Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. From the cat-and-mouse chase of Variation 4 to the deeply emotional Variation 18, this is a work that tests the mettle and musical depth of any great pianist.

The concert concludes with Beethoven's brilliant Symphony No. 4. After his watershed ‘Eroica' Symphony, Beethoven had found his own heroic voice. With its mysterious introduction, contemplative adagio, off-kilter scherzo, and frisky finale, the ‘Fourth' marks a special place among Beethoven's enormously creative symphonies.

Asheville's Navitat Canopy Tours ends 2012 Season this month

November is the last month of the 2012 season to experience an adventure on Navitat Canopy Tours located at 242 Poverty Branch Road in Barnardsville NC, 20 minutes north of Asheville.

Navitat is a 100% tree-based adventure zipline canopy tour allowing participants to experience a secluded mountain cove from high in the treetops. The Tour includes:

• 10 ziplines, ranging from 120 to 1100 feet in length
• 2 rappelling experiences, 2 suspended sky bridges, 3 short hikes
• Beautiful long-range views of the Blue Ridge Mountains from artfully crafted tree platforms
• Zipping through the forest from 2 feet to over 200 feet in the air
• An approximately 3.5-hour tour on well over one mile of suspended cable
• 8 guests maximum per tour,  accompanied by 2 professionally trained Canopy Guides
• An all-weather adventure, exhilarating rain or shine

Get a link and more details for the Navitat Canopy Tours on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

JingleFest in Downtown Asheville

November 17   Downtown JingleFest   An afternoon of free fun and entertainment from 1 - 4 PM at Roger McGuire Green in Pack Square Park, downtown Asheville. Get an autograph from an Olympic athlete, get a close look at Window World’s custom silver St. Jude Dream Bike, enjoy a special performance by Asheville High School’s Marching Band, and be entertained by dance troupes from the Parade, jugglers, singers and more.

Once Santa makes his way through the Parade, he and Mrs. Claus will be at JingleFest so all the boys and girls can tell Santa what they want for Christmas. There will be a bounce house and other inflatables to keep the young kids busy while they’re waiting, too. Plus hot cider and goodies, and some good old-fashioned caroling.

Paula Pounstone Performs at Diana Wortham Theatre

November 16, 8 PM at Diana Wortham Theatre, 2 South Pack Square in Asheville NC - Paula Poundstone, one of today wittiest and most entertaining comedians, can be see for one night only in Asheville's Diana Wortham Theatre.

Appearing on stage with a stool, a microphone, and a can of Diet Pepsi, Paula Poundstone is famous for her razor-sharp wit and spontaneity. The Boston Globe said, "Poundstone improvises with a crowd like a Jazz musician...swinging in unexpected directions without a plan, without a net." Paula is so quick and unassuming that audience members at her live shows often leave complaining that their cheeks hurt from laughter and debating whether the random people she talked to were "plants".

Poundstone is a regular panelist on NPR's popular "Wait, Wait Don't Tel Me" aired on Saturday mornings in all 50 states.

Taste of Asheville 2012 this Week

November 15 - 2012 Taste of Asheville   Asheville's top culinary talent is showcased at this annual event hosted by Asheville Independent Restaurants (AIR).  Celebrate 40 of Asheville's most talented chefs during one of the largest foodie events of the year. The event will take place in  downtown Asheville at The Venue and kicks off at 7PM.

Tickets to Taste of Asheville includes small plate tastings of 40 local, independent restaurants as well as beer and wine sampling. In addition, AIR’s new Taste of Asheville Passport for the year 2013 will be available for purchase on-site, a coupon booklet representing over $1000 in dining savings at AIR restaurants, for the cost of $50. Passports will be available for sale after the event at www.airasheville.org.

Participating restaurants include:

• Acropolis Pizza 
• Avenue M 
• Blue Water Seafood Co. 
• Boca 
• Bouchon 
• Burgerworx
• Carmels
• Chai Pani 
• City Bakery Café
• Corner Kitchen
• Creperie Bouchon 
• D.I. Hospitality
• Edna's Of Asheville
• Frankie Bones
• French Broad Chocolate Lounge 
• The Green Sage
• Homegrown 
• Jack of Hearts 
• Jack of the Wood 
• Jerusalem Garden Café 
• Karen Donatelli Café
• Laughing Seed
• Lexington Avenue Brewery
• Luella's BBQ
• Mamacitas Baja Kitchen 
• Mela
• Neo Burrito 
• Neo Cantina 
• Pack's Tavern 
• Plant
• Pomodoros
• Sazerac
• Scully's 
• Strada
• Sunny Point Café 
• The Local Joint
• The Glass Onion 
• Tupelo Honey Café 
• Ultimate Ice Cream 
• Vincenzos
• Vinnie's Neighborhood Italian

Asheville Holiday Event: 66th Annual Asheville Holiday Parade

November 17   66th Annual Asheville Holiday Parade   The parade begins at 11 AM with bands, dancing, characters, and of course, our Olympic Silver Medalist Grand Marshals, Lauren Tamayo and Manteo Mitchell. Look for the patriotic float sponsored by Deerfield Retirement Community.

Santa Claus himself will close the parade atop his float sponsored by Express Employment Professionals.

Womansong - Asheville's Women's Community Chorus

November 10-11   Womansong 25th Anniversary Concert   Asheville's oldest and largest women's community chorus, a seventy-five member community chorus and village. The concert will celebrate women coming together from ancient times until today, to sing, gather strength and support, and to change the world through their united efforts.

It will honor role models from "herstory" and connect women's experiences across time and cultures to our own lives, weaving together global, local, and personal aspects of life as women. Held at the Diana Wortham Theatre in downtown Asheville.

The Diana Wortham Theatre is located at 2 South Pack Square in downtwon Asheville NC.

Win Accomodations and More in Asheville's Pinterest Contest

New Pinterest Contest: Spice up Your Holidays.

This year, spice up your holiday season with a little help from Asheville and Pinterest. We've put together a cornucopia of amazing holiday recipes and do-it-yourself Christmas tips from Asheville's holiday taste-makers. Build your own pin board based on these Asheville-inspired tips and you could score a free trip to Asheville!

GRAND PRIZE

• Accommodations for two nights at the Homewood Suites by Hilton Asheville
• A foodie prize pack from Blue Ridge Food Ventures
• Tupelo Honey Cafe Cookbook
• Plus! A few surprises thrown in for good measure

The contest runs from now through December 14. Visit ExploreAsheville.com/spice to learn more and for the official contest rules. May the best pinner win!

Enter Here!

Asheville's Bow-Wowhaus this Saturday

In Asheville,  the influence of art is everywhere - including Fido's home-sweet-home. 

 

The Asheville Section of the American Institute of Architects has created The Asheville Bow-Wowhaus, a project involving about dozen area AIA Asheville Members and other professionals to create one-of-a-kind dog houses. The creations, now on display at Aloft Asheville Downtown hotel, will be auctioned for at a gala party and fundraiser at the Asheville Art Museum on Saturday, November 10. Tickets for the event are $37.

More than ten Asheville architects have participated in the event. “The doghouses are each so different and unique”, says Mary Fierle, AIA Asheville Executive Assistant. “There is a home appropriate for a teacup Chihuahua to a Rhodesian Ridgeback, and every kind of mutt in between!” 

Some of the houses have been designed for indoor use, others are made for use in the yard. Many of the architects collaborated with businesses and craftsmen including carpenters, interior designers, a metal worker, faux finisher, technology expert, a jewelry designer and others. Materials used in the doghouses range from recycled cherry slats, stucco, MDF, Plexiglas, beer cans, and an old surfboard.  

River Arts District Studio Stroll this weekend in Asheville

November 10-11   River Arts District Studio Stroll   The largest and most walkable tour of working artists' studios in the region, the River Arts District Studio Stroll takes place in 19 historic buildings along the French Broad River. There will be artists' demonstrations and hands-on activities throughout the weekend.

The Stroll is easily accessible by car from Downtown, West Asheville and Biltmore Village, and there is plenty of parking. Catch the trolley at Riverview Station or any of the stops listed on the map. An Information Booth is located at the 5-points intersection of Depot St. across from the Clingman Café.

Learn more about Asheville art and crafts and galleries on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

Diana Wortham Theatre Presents "Mountain Heart"

November 9 at 8 PM the Diana Wortham Theatre, 2 S. Pack Square in Asheville NC - Mountain Heart, winners  or nominees of  Grammys, IBMAs, CMAs, ACMs, performs for one evening in Asheville NC.  Don't miss one of the most highly awarded and virtuosic acts in progressive bluegrass and American roots music in the world as they return to the Diana Wortham stage this week.

 

Mountain Heart's Asheville performance is made possible by Performance Sponsors Arby's and Dianne & David Worley, and by Mainstage Music Series Sponsors BMW of Asheville and Henry LaBrun, with additional support from Media Sponsors WNC magazine and WNCW 88.7 FM.

Children's Film Festival this week in Asheville

November 2-11   Asheville International Children's Film Festival   The largest children's film festival in the Southeast, this event celebrates the best and brightest in international children's cinema with a 10-day extravaganza of more than 70 films.

The 2012 Festival includes live performances, animation, features, shorts, historical films and fantastic hands-on workshops for the filmmakers of tomorrow.  Get a link to learn more about the Asheville International Children's Film Festival on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide

The Smith-McDowell House Museum Celebrates 19th Century Carolina Christmas

November 14 -January 2  19th Century Carolina Christmas  Celebrate Christmas the old-fashioned way at The Smith-McDowell House Museum. The museum's time-line of authentically decorated period rooms showcase the evolution of Christmas celebrations and decorations.

This yearly exhibit, began in 1981, is a tradition for many regional families and tour groups. The mansion and local history museum will again be authentically decorated with fresh trees, garlands, ornaments and toys of the Victorian Period. Seven period rooms will be decked out with gold, silver and glassware from the Museum's permanent collections.

Candlelight Evenings at Biltmore begin this week in Asheville

November 9 - December 31  29th Annual Candlelight Evenings at Biltmore   As daylight fades into dusk, candlelight and firelight accent Biltmore House’s extravagant holiday décor, accented by live entertainment and outside illuminations.
Biltmore House glows with holiday spirit, appearing much as it would have at the turn of the 19th century. Carols from choirs and ensembles fill the halls with festive sounds. Candlelight Christmas Evenings tickets are available by reservation only, and include a self-guided candlelight tour of Biltmore House, next-day visit to the gardens, Antler Hill Village and Biltmore Winery. Advance reservations are required.

Learn more about Biltmore and the Annual Candlelight Evenings on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

Ooh La La Curiosity Market today in Asheville

November 3   Ooh La La Curiosity Market   An outdoor market in Pritchard Park featuring works by local painters, leather smiths, jewelry makers, potters ,up-cycled crafters, and other curious delights, all beneath the colored canopies of large market umbrellas. In addition to the artists, the market will also feature live local music with up three musical acts performing each Saturday and will include everything from a solo saxophonist to folk, blues, acoustic, and jazz acts.

Asheville Antiques Fair this Weekend

November 2-4  66th Annual Asheville Antiques Fair   The oldest antique fair in the Southeast is held this year at the at the Exposition Center of The Crowne Plaza Resort. 40 antique dealers from across the country will be participating and this year's Fair will host the "Heirloom Road Show" with expert evaluations of antiques and an expert lecture series and exhibition celebrating the heritage of the Appalachian Mountains.

The Asheville Antiques Fair is a non-profit organization staffed by volunteers with proceeds donated to historical project within Buncombe County.

Find more Asheville NC information on the Asheville Visitor Guide

Asheville Area Named Clean Cities Coalition

The U.S. Department of Energy on Monday, October 29, 2012 named the Asheville area a Clean Cities Coalition for its promotion of alternative fuels, clean cars and better air quality. The greater Asheville area has over 1,700 gas/electric and 1,300 alternative vehicles registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles. Read the full article reported in the Asheville Citizen Times newspaper.