The Asheville Wine Experience will Launch on New Year's Eve

December 31 - The Asheville Wine Experience is launched with the first in a series of ultimate dining experiences, combining a wine expert with a top chef in a spectacular location to elevate your senses to the utmost. Susi Gott Séguret, of the Seasonal School of Culinary Arts and Bob Bowles of the Asheville Wine & Food Festival join forces to guide Asheville’s sense of taste in an exploration of the very best gustative adventures possible.

Chef Denny Trantham and Wine Expert Kevin Schwartz, both long-time revolutionary presences at the Grove Park Inn, will be joining forces for a luxurious French-style réveillon, each dish corresponding with a sigh for the year behind and a wish for the year ahead, in the exclusive tenth floor suite at the Hotel Indigo.

From 8 PM until midnight, ten courses will be served, along with five exceptional wines, to the musical illustrations of celebrated jazz vibraphonist Paul Babelay. A spectacular view of Asheville will stretch out below you.

The cost is $150, payable on Event Brite, and benefits will go towards creating a scholarship for 12-21 year old youths seeking culinary and taste education. The number of spaces is limited, so reserve quickly.

New Year's Celebration at Asheville's Fun Depot

December 31   New Year's Celebration at The Fun Depot   Celebrate the end of 2012 and the beginning of 2013 with lots of FUN at Fun Depot. You will be able to enjoy 3 hours of unlimited FUN for $15 per person. Both groups and individuals are welcome. The Depot Diner will be open and there will even be a live band and party favors.

New Year's Eve Speical on Asheville Inn Getaway

Save $25 on an Asheville Inn Getaway for New Year's Eve

Choose from a variety of Asheville Inns and Bed and Breakfasts in or near Asheville NC.  Whether you're looking for mountain views  or downtown convenience you'll find just the right Inn for your New Year's Eve Getaway. Ring in the new year in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina and enjoy a stress free beginning for 2013. Reserve online to get the $25 discount.

Get a list of participating Asheville area Inns, see photos and book online HERE

Peace on Earth, Goodwill to ALL!

Winter Wonderland at the Grove Arcade continues until January 2

Now through January 2 is the last chance to enjoy  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. Do you last minute shoping the Arcade's stores and galleries for the perfect holiday gift.

Last Chance to see the Blue Ridge Fiber Show at the North Carolina Arboretum

Now through January 2   Blue Ridge Fiber Show: Into the Gardens  at the North Carolina Arboretum. An international, biennial celebration of fiberarts Sponsored by The Western North Carolina Fibers/ Handweavers Guild, Inc. AN Opening Reception was held October 2 in the Education Center 2nd Floor Gallery.

The North Carolina Arboretum  includes magnificent gardens and miles of woodland trails. The Arboretum hosts continual special events and touring shows. Just as our experience of nature is intimate, visitors to The North Carolina Arboretum connect with plants in personal ways that are as diverse and rich as the land itself. Whether you enjoy strolling through gardens, exploring exhibits, enriching your mind or hiking and biking, the Arboretum offers activities for all age.

The North Carolina Arboretum is located at 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way in Asheville NC.

Holiday WIne Tasting at Asheville's Appalachian Vintner

December 22 -  This Saturday Appalachian Vintner is hosting a huge holiday wine tasting with all the trimmings.  The wine shop is well stocked and ready to help you pick out that perfect bottle of wine or beer, chocolate, jam, coffee, bar goods and a massive wine and beer glass collection. Gift certificates are also available.

Appalachian Vintner is located at 745 Biltmore Avenue, Suite 12 in Asheville NC.

Last MinuteAsheville Cabins and Rentals for Christmas

Downtown Asheville Loft - 1 bedroom, 2 baths, sleeps up to 4. Renovated for comfort and convenience with original hardwood floors and exposed brick walls, upscale furnishings, HDTV, Internet, deck overlooking the city. $200-$250 night, $1050 - $1400 week.  See rental photos, details and availability.

Mountain Manor Vacation Rental with views -  4 bedrooms, 4 baths, sleeps up to 10. Mountain views from every window and 15 minutes to downtown Asheville. Hot tub, pool table, ping pong, HDTV, fireplace, Internet, grill. $285 night, $1850 week.   See photos, details and rental availability


Like staying in a tree house - 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, sleeps 4. Pet friendly "Swiss chalet" only 3 minutes to downtown Asheville.  Gas fireplace,  large picture windows, hardwood floors.       Get cabin photos, details and availability


Walk to downtown Asheville restaurants and galleries- 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, sleeps 4. Restored and renovated for comfort 1920s home with deck and covered porch, HDTV, WIFI. Great Asheville getaway for a weekend or  extended stay. $225 - $395 night, $1195 - $1795 week.   See rental photos, details and availability


Learn more about Asheville cabins, attractions and events on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

Handmade Holiday exhibition at Desert Moon Designs Studios and Gallery

Now through January 3 -  Desert Moon Designs Studios and Gallery celebrates the season of giving handmade with the annual juried Handmade Holiday exhibition. The show and sale includes 25 exceptional artists and artisans. From jewelers to ceramicists, come in to experience local hand-crafted artisanship that is unique and affordable and perfect for last-minute gift giving.

Desert Moon Design Studios and Gallery is located in Asheville's River arts District at 372 Depot St in Asheville NC.

Take a Trolley Tour of Asheville

Asheville Historic Trolley Tours See the best of Asheville NC from aboard a vintage trolley. Enjoy a fully narrated tour covering all major points of interest in Asheville including The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa, Historic Biltmore Village, the downtown shopping and restaurant district, Thomas Wolfe Memorial, the Asheville Art Museum and art gallery district, The Asheville Visitor Center and much more.

Step off the trolley at any of the convenient stops to shop, dine or sightsee, then re-board and continue the tour. 

Vadim Bora Retrospective Catalog available at the Asheville Art Museum Store

The late NC artist Vadim Bora is celebrated in a new Collector's Book (catalog) now available at the Asheville Art Museum's store ( a great place for last minute Christmas shopping). The retrospective catalog was compiled from the recent Warren Wilson College exhibit,  “Vadim Bora - A Visual Legacy of Expressive Freedom: From Initial Spark to Final Form”.

The catalog includes 50 fully illustrated pages plus accompanying text by his wife and curator of the exhibit, Constance Richards (Bora) and co-curator, Professor Dusty Benedict of Warren Wilson College. 
 

Bora  moved to Asheville NC in 1993 and made significant contributions to the local art scene including “Cat Walk” for the Asheville Urban Trail, “On the Mend” (a 10-piece life-sized figurative sculpture) for Mission Hospital’s Reuters Children’s Outpatient Center and “Cornelia and Cedric”,  a bronze sculpture of Cornelia Vanderbilt and the Vanderbilt family dog Cedric at Biltmore’s Antler Hill Village visitor area. 

Re-Discovering Christmas Performed at the Black Mountain Center for the Arts

December 21-22   Re-discovering Christmas at the Black Mountain Center for the Arts A fun evening of professional theatre and down home Christmas music in an intimate theatre setting in downtown Black Mountain NC.

Jim and Carol Shores of Acts of Renewal Theatre Co. bring a series of vignettes that welcome young and old to rediscover the hilarity, the mystery, the wonder of Christmas. The evening concludes with a finale about an irrepressible Jamaican wiseman who retells the Christmas story like you've never heard it before. Music by the Holly Hoppers will bring rousing fun to an already great night.

Asheville NC Holiday Event: Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol

December 19-30    Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol  performed by The North Carolina Stage Company   What happened to Scrouge's business partner Marley? Is he truly past redemption, or does every person deserve a chance to change, to do better?

In this darkly funny and deeply touching holiday play by Tom Mula, see Jacob Marley’s heroic efforts to save Scrooge’s soul – and in the process, save his own.

Learn more about Asheville theatre and entertainment on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

Swannanoa Solstice Celebrates Appalachian Holiday Traditions

December 16   Swannanoa Solstice  A tapestry of joyful and thoughtful seasonal reflection beautifully woven from the mountains' Appalachian, Scots-Irish and world influences. Celebrate winter's allure at a special 10th anniversary edition of this beloved holiday tradition.

Bring family and friends to delight in each moment, from sharing a cup of wassail, to enjoying an enormous breadth of acoustic performers gathered on one stage. Headlined by internationally renowned musicians Al Petteway, Amy White, and Robin Bullock playing guitar, mandolin, fiddle, Appalachian dulcimer, piano, harp, and world percussion, these performances are enhanced further by the voices and talents of special guest musicians, storytellers, dancers, and host Doug Orr.

Performed at the Diana Wortham Theatre.

24th Annual Christmas Jam in Downtown Asheville

December 15 - The 24th Annual Christmas Jam at the Emerald Longe and Downtown Music Hall.   Warren Haynes will perform with both his Warren Haynes Band and an additional special set along with the legendary Blind Boys of Alabama.

Sheryl Crow will make her first Christmas Jam appearance performing with her band which includes the Christmas Jam "regulars" Audley Freed, Robert Kearns and Fred Eltringham.  The String Cheese Incident will also perform at the Jam,  as well as Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue who will surely raise the roof with their high energy "supafunkrock."

The Christmas Jam will air live on AXS TV. Warren Haynes Presents: The 24th Annual Christmas Jam at the US Cellular Center in Asheville, NC is officially SOLD OUT. But if you didn't get a ticket early, for the first time in the event's long history, the entire show will be broadcast live on AXS TV, the premier source on television for 100% live music. So tune in Saturday December 15th at 6:30p EST and see the action as it unfolds in The Civic Center.

Cool Crafts Holiday Edition this weekend in Asheville

December 14-16  HandMade in American hosts special Holiday Edition of "Cool Crafts".  Buy handmade for the holidays! Three days and 25 artists will be selling their handmade crafts. Come and find the perfect gift this season. VIP Preview Party: December 14, 5:00-8:00 PM.

Lake Julian Park Festival of Lights

Lake Julian Park Festival of Lights  This is the 12th year for the annual holiday spectacle. The drive through show began on Friday, December 7 and continues nightly from 6 - 9 PM through Sunday, December 23. 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.

USDAA Dog Agility Trial this Week in Asheville

December 14-16   USDAA Dog Agility Trial   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. Held at the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center.

NC Holiday Event: The Nutcracker Ballet Performed in Asheville

December 12 - 14  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

Get a link and more information about the Nutcracker Ballet, Diana Wortham Theatre and other Asheville events and attractions on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

Christmas Parade Today in Fletcher

December 8   Fletcher Christmas Parade   The Town of Fletcher Christmas Parade features floats, musical groups and Santa traveling along Highwya. 25 between Old Airport Rd. and Town Hall. The parade begins at 10:30 AM.

Fletcher is an Asheville suburb located on route 25 heading south.

Asheville Art Walk Tonight - Christmas Shopping Made Easy!

December 7   Asheville Downtown Gallery Association Art Walk   Enjoy the fine art and craft of the Asheville Downtown Gallery Association and see on 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.

Learn more about Asheville art and crafts events and galleries HERE.

Asheville's River Arts District Second Saturday this Weekend

December 8  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.

Asheville Holiday Event: Guild Artist Holiday Sale at Asheville's Folk Art Center

Robert Levine, glass artist

December 8   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 Holiday 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.
Learn more about Asheville Holiday and Christmas events on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

Asheville Holiday Windows Walking Tour

You can enjoy viewing all the participants in the Asheville Holiday Windows Contest throughout this holiday season. Window World of Asheville was the 2012 sponsor. Click here to download a Google locator interactive Map.

All the participants present wonderful Holiday widow displays and the contest winners include:

Judge's Favorite: Sensibilities Day Spa at 59 Haywood Street

Best Interpretation of Theme: Bloomin’ Art at 60 Haywood Street

Best Use of Merchandise: The Dog Door Behavior Center & Doghugger Outfitters at 51 Broadway Street

Honorable Mentions: Mobilia at 43 Haywood Street and Van Dyke Jewelry and Fine Craft at 29 Biltmore Avenue

Learn more about Ahseivlle lodging, attractions and Holiday events on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

Asheville Chocolate and Arts Festival

Date: December 8  Asheville Chocolate and Arts Festival  A multicultural arts event featuring performers, musicians and dancers from Asheville and beyond. Experience local artisans, baskets and basket weaving demonstrations by Gullah artisans, cultural arts and education by members of the Cherokee Nation, Bellydancing, African dance, Argentine Tango, Hip Hop, and local chocolate tasting by Asheville's finest chocolatiers and dessert-makers.

Performers will also be teaching classes in: Drumming, Bellydance, Tango, West African Dance, and digeridoo throughout the day which are all included in your ticket price. This is a family friendly event with Local children's performance artists Juan Halladay and the Secret B-sides, balloon twisting, face painting, and dance workshops. 25% of proceeds will be donated to Urban Arts Institute and Odyessy School to fund multicultural arts education for Asheville youth.

Find Christmas Crafts at the Asheville Downtown Gallery Association Art Walk

December 7   Asheville Downtown Gallery Association Art Walk   Enjoy the fine art and craft of the Asheville Downtown Gallery Association and see on  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.

A Christmas Carol" is performed by The Monford Players this month

December 6 - 23   "A Christmas Carol"  performed by the Monford Avenue Players at the newly remodeled Asheville Masonic Temple Theatre. Celebrate Charles Dickens’ 200th birthday with his seasonal tale of human kindness and redemption.

This story is sure to warm your heart and put you in the holiday spirit. Performances Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 PM; Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30 PM. Thursday, Dec. 6 is “Pay What We’re Worth” Night - see the show, THEN pay what you think we’re worth!

Find more Asheville holiday events on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide

Asheville Christmas Events: Lighting of the Green

December 4 - 22  Lighting of the Green  Celebrate the holidays with the Lighting of the Green, featuring historic homes on the Asheville campus of A-B Tech. Fernihurst, a restored 1870s mansion, and Sunnicrest, a former rental property of George Vanderbilt, will be decorated for the holidays. Fernihurst, an 1870s mansion once the center of social activity for the township of Victoria, will be open to the public from 6 to 8 PM. Dec. 4, 13, 16 and 20 for free tours, light refreshments and entertainment.