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.