Handmade Holiday Exhibit at Desert Moon Designs

December 3 - January 7   Handmade Holiday Exhibit at Desert Moon Designs   Celebrate a season of giving handmade. From jewelers to ceramicists, clothing to handmade soaps, you will experience local hand-crafted artisan works that are unique and affordable. With some amazing one-of-a-kind gifts, Desert Moon Designs Studios is a great place for holiday shopping and connecting with our local community. The gallery supports non-profits all year with each sale.

Get a link for Handmade Holiday At Desert Moon Designs and other Christmas Craft Shows and events on the NC Events Calendar.

Christmas on the Mountain in Asheville

December 21   Christmas on the Mountain at The Thomas Wolfe Memorial   Experience the wonder of Appalachian storytelling with balladeer and folklorist Shelia Kay Adams. Participants will be filled with the holiday spirit after listening to her humorous and sentimental stories of ‘Old Christmas' in Madison County. Sheila K. will also play her banjo and sing mountain tunes. Space is limited so call to reserve tickets. ($10.00)

The Thomas Wolf Memorial Site is located at 52 North Market Street in downtown Asheville NC.

Asheville Jingle Bell Trolley Train Rides

December 21   Jingle Bell Trolley Train Ride   Santa and Mrs. Clause will be there to meet the children and hot chocolate and cookies will be served for everyone. Train rides will start on the hour, from 4 PM. to 8 PM. Tickets are $10 for this special Christmas train ride. Kids 3 and under get free admission.

Purchase tickets on the day of the event. Reservations recommended as seating is limited. Call 828-808-4877 or 828-808-4630 for more information. Craggy Mountain Line, 111 North Woodfin Avenue in Asheville NC.

Asheville Community Theatre Presents The SantaLand Diaries

December 19 – 21 The SantaLand Diaries at the Asheville Community Theatre   When an out-of-work slacker takes a job as an elf in Macy’s Santaland, his hilarious observations of the shoppers and employees are much more naughty than nice. This one-man one-act can only be described one way: crazy funny. Asheville Community Theatre’s favorite holiday tradition is back for its 12th year in a row.

ACT is located at 35 East Walnut Street in downtown Asheville NC.

Classic Christmas Concert by the Asheville Symphony

December 15, 3 PM at the US Cellular Center (Civic Auditorium) in downtown Asheville – The Asheville Symphony performs a Classic Christmas Concert. Handel Selections from the Messiah will be included along with Classical Christmas Favorites.

The Symphony presents seven full orchestra concerts per year in the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium in Asheville’s US Cellular Center. Each concert features a performance by a guest artist. The Symphony’s programming reflects a desire to present both the “old favorites” as well as more recent works. In addition to the regular subscription series, the orchestra presents a Classical Christmas.

United States Dog Agility Association (USDAA) Agility Trial this Weekend in Asheville

December 14 - 15   The Blue Ridge Agility Club of Western North Carolina will host a United States Dog Agility Association (USDAA) agility trial. Spectators are welcomed to attend and admission is free. Over 150 purebred and mixed bred dogs, from throughout the southeast, will compete at various levels of difficulty. Spectators, please leave your dogs comfortably at home.

The event is held at he Western North Carolina Agriculture Center, on Fanning Bridge Road in Fletcher NC, a suburb of Asheville.

Grove Park Inn GIngerbread House Display a Favorite Asheville Christmas Event

Adult Grand Prize, Kimberly Thalman

This year's  National Gingerbread House Competition and Display is available for view now through January 2, 2014. Contestants from across the country have brought their architectural masterpieces to The Grove Park Inn and the Grove Arcade for competition and display. 

Adult 2nd place, Glenda Tant

You will delight in the imagination shown in these sugar-and-spice creations, and strolling through the competition is a sure way to be swept up in the holiday spirit. There is no admission charged to view the entries to the National Gingerbread House Competition which is open to non-guests Sunday through Thursday. There is a parking charge of $10.

Teen 1st, Courtland High School German Club

In addition to the gingerbread overload, enjoy the beautiful Christmas decorations displayed throughout the inn and warm yourself 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.

Adult 2rd, Jennifer Elmore & Michael Willaur

Get a link for the Gingerbread House Display and other Christmas events on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide. 

Annual Holiday Tours of Home in Asheville's Historic Monford District

December 14   Annual Monford Holiday Tour of Homes   Montford, Asheville's most historic neighborhood, showcases another offering of homes and holiday cheer this year. Explore eclectic architecture that has been lovingly restored or carefully constructed to reflect the neighborhood's historic past. Enjoy homes both old and new, and experience all the Holiday warmth and hospitality that Montford has to offer.

Festive treats and entertainment will be on offer throughout the tour. This is a self-guided tour. With your ticket you will receive a map to all tour locations & information about the individual properties.

Get a link for the Monford Tour of Homes and other Holiday events on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide. 

Asheville's River Arts District Studio Tour for CHristmas Crafts Shopping

December 14   River Arts District Second Saturday   Asheville’s River Arts District Artists open their studios for a day of family friendly fun, educational experiences, live demonstrations and to share their creations. Visit dozens of artists working in all types of media, available for viewing or purchase.

Find more information about Asheville arts, cabins and inns and attractions on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

 

Guild Artist Holiday Sale at The Folk Art Center

December 14   Guild Artist Holiday Sale   Don't miss the last chance for the best prices of the year on NC Crafts at The Folk Art Center, Milepost 382 on The Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville. There will be a different group of craftspeople participating this Saturday than last weekend.

Find handcrafted jewelry, pottery, glass, fiber, wood and more by members of the Southern Highlands Craft Guild with 10 - 50% off regular retail prices.

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

The Nutcracker Ballet at Diana Wortham Theatre

December 13-15  The Nutcracker Ballet   Asheville's classical Ballet Conservatory breathes new life into every child's favorite holiday tradition, emphasizing elegant ballet on a mysterious December's eve. Share an affordable family holiday experience with the Ballet Conservatory of Asheville performed at the Diana Wortham Theatre

Make "Holiday Gifts from the Heart" at Diana Wortham Theatre Intersections Craft Group

December 10, 6 PM at The Diana Wortham Theatre, 2 Pack Square in downtown Asheville NC - The Theatre's Intersections Craft Group continues with  "Holiday Gifts from the Heart".  The Group is led by Artist Ruth Ingram with a $30  fee for class+materials.

Make this holiday a Handmade one.  Spend the evening creating your own unique gifts for the special people on your list.

Projects include vibrant pot holders and coffee cozies, sure to brighten up any kitchen. A perfect project for both beginning and experienced sewers. Participants are encouraged to bring their own sewing machines if possible. A few machines will be available for group use.

Registration is required.

Asheville Area Cider is "Hard" to Resist

This post submitted by the Asheville Travel Blog

Did you know that North Carolina produces 80 million bushels of apples each year? (That's more than 15 Olympic-sized swimming pools full!)

Now, three new local companies are using an old recipe to turn some of those apples into Asheville's next hot beverage--hard cider.

Noble Cider was the first on the scene this past summer. They have already increased their production capacity tenfold and can be found on tap at several area restaurants.

Urban Orchard Cider Company followed up with a taproom opening in hip West Asheville this fall, and Black Mountain Ciderworks is close behind, with one variety on tap locally and work on their own taproom moving along nicely.

Dry or sweet, hot or cold, cider is a festive holiday treat. Mix up a pitcher of this fruity sangria for your next gathering, or sample some of Noble Cider's handiwork at their Wassailing Party on December 14. Cheers!

Hard Cider Sangria
Delicious, light holiday punch. Adapted by Joanna Baker of Noble Cider from Food & Wine magazine, October 2012

• 1 cup quartered and thinly sliced unpeeled green, yellow and red apples
• 1 navel orange—quartered and thinly sliced crosswise
• 1 cup fresh cranberries
• 1 cup apple juice, chilled
• 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup apple brandy
• One 22-ounce bottle (or a little less than one full 750 ml bottle) hard apple cider, dry variety, chilled
• Ice

In a pitcher or punch bowl, combine fruit with apple juice, lemon juice and brandy. Let sit covered for at least one hour and up to overnight. Just before serving, mix in the hard cider. Serve in tall glasses over ice.

Weaverville Christmas Parade this Weekend

December 7   Weaverville Christmas Parade   At 1 PM the Annual parade begins at the intersection of North Main Street and Dula Springs Road, travels through downtown Weaverville, and ends at the intersection of South Main and Yost Streets. Join us on Main Street along with local bands, floats, marching units, local dignitaries and of course Santa.

Weaverville NC is located just 10 minutes north od Asheville.

Lake Julian Light Festival Begins this Weekend in Asheville

December 6 - 23  Lake Julian hosts its 12th annual holiday light spectacular.  The drive through show is open  nightly from 6 - 9 PM.  The park is brightly lit with thousands of colored lights and over 50 animated and stationary light displays. The road circling the park becomes a magical journey through tunnels of dazzling lights.

Get a link for Lake Julian on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide. 

 

Asheville hosts Dickens Festival in Biltmore Village

December 6-8  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. Enjoy chestnuts roasted on an open fire by chestnut roaster Sakshi Gentenbein will be available next to the main stage.

Find Christmas Crafts and Gifts at this Friday's Asheville Gallery Walk

December 6   Asheville Downtown Gallery Association Art Walk    Come explore the fine art and craft of the Asheville Downtown Gallery Association and see one of the reasons Asheville has been voted #1 small city in the country by the readers of American Style Magazine 2 years running. 25 downtown venues participate with a complete Downtown Gallery Guide and a map available at any participating downtown gallery, the Chamber of Commerce, or Pack Place.

Get links for more Asheville galleries, crafts and artists on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.