Asheville's Downtown Holiday Windows Competition

Every year, the Asheville Downtown Association organizes the Downtown Holiday Windows Contest. This year’s theme is “Holiday Magic” and there will be about 30 businesses participating,  creating a delightful experience for everyone who walks around downtown.

Judging will be Tuesday, December 5th with 

Walking Tours continuing through the end of the year. 

 

Find more Asheville Holiday Events on our 

Asheville NC Visitor Guide

 

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.

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.

Poinsettias on Display this Weekend at Van Wingerden International

November 9  Van Wingerden International Open House   10:00AM-3:00PM you'll find acres of poinsettias in full bloom with employees on hand to share how the plants are grown using environmental friendly technology as well as answer your questions.

The greenhouses are located on Highway 191 (Haywood Road) in Mills river NC (between Asheville and Hendersonville). See the ocean of Christmas Poinsettias and other flowering plants before they are shipped to retail stores for the holidays. There will also be live music, educational displays, and refreshments.

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.