Lucky you. You just found AVLtoday’s Plan Ahead, a list of some of the biggest events that are taking place throughout Asheville each month.
Take out your calendar, grab your day planner, or text all your friends — these are the top events we recommend heading into December. Psst: Don’t forget to bookmark this page and come back; we update our guide monthly.
Markets + shopping
Show & Tell’s Holiday Pop Up Shop | Monday, Dec. 1-Wednesday, Dec. 24 | Times vary | Asheville Mall | Free | Find gifts from spice blends to seasonal decor at this pop-up shop featuring 120+ local vendors.
SoulKu’s 12th Annual Holiday Shopping Party | Thursday, Dec. 4 | 4-8 p.m. | Hatch Event Space | Free | Browse the brand’s beautiful jewelry along with a stellar selection of gifts for everyone on your list.
Uncommon Holiday Market | Saturday, Dec. 6-Sunday, Dec. 7 | Times vary | Battery Park Hall | Free | Knock out all your holiday shopping in one place, with vendors offering handmade toys, art, jewelry, housewares, and more.
The Big Crafty | Saturday, Dec. 6-Sunday, Dec. 7 | 12-6 p.m. | Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville | $0+ | One of Asheville’s biggest art markets is back, welcoming 180 artists selling everything from baskets and beanies to prints and pottery.
Krampus Cat Lounge Takeover, Parade, and Night Market | Saturday, Dec. 6 | 12-11 p.m. | House of Black Cat Magic | $15 | Snap picks in the cat lounge with Santa or Krampus, spread cheer along Haywood Road during the parade, and shop from vendors during the night market.
WNC Farmers Market Holiday Market | Saturday, Dec. 6 | 3-7 p.m. | WNC Farmers Market | Free | The market is spreading holiday cheer with local food, live music, and plenty of talented artisans on site for outdoor shopping.
Show & Tell’s Holly Jolly Night Market | Wednesday, Dec. 10 | 5-9 p.m. | The Orange Peel | Free | The music venue will transform into a magical marketplace filled with handmade goods, bevs, and tunes from DJ Molly Parti.
Haywood Road Holiday Market | Friday, Dec. 12 | 2-8 p.m. | 387 Haywood Rd. | Free | Visit the cottage for real trees and garlands, holiday treats and drinks, flash tattoos, and festivities.
Craft + Comfort: A Holiday Gathering | Friday, Dec. 12 | 5-7 p.m. | Center for Craft | Free | Shop handmade goods over a spread of seasonal refreshments and enjoy complimentary gift wrapping.
Late Night Asheville | Friday, Dec. 12 | 6-9 p.m. | Downtown Asheville | Free | Local shops will stay open late, welcoming you with treats, exclusive offers, and wonderful treasures.
Vessels Holiday Market at Short Sleeves Coffee | Saturday, Dec. 13 | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. | Short Sleeves Coffee, Swannanoa | Sip on holiday beverages while exploring items from more than a dozen local vendors.
Holiday Sales Market in the Folk Art Center Auditorium | Saturday, Dec. 13 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Folk Art Center | Free | Guild artists are offering handmade work at special studio prices on select days this holiday season.
Holiday Market and The Old Chevrolet Set | Saturday, Dec. 13 | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | French Broad Brewing | Free | Pick up unique gifts and sip on a local brew — $1 from every pint benefits RiverLink.
Yule Tide Pride - Holiday Market Convention | Saturday, Dec. 13 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | AB Tech Mission Conference Center | $1+ | Nonprofit Asheville Phoenix Fire is bringing Pride into the holiday season with festive gifts, live music, coffee + treats, and a special afterparty.
Alpaca Wonderland Winter Artisan Market | Saturday, Dec. 13 | 12-5 p.m. | Durrant Farms Estate, Leicester | Free | Celebrate the season with a magical day on the farm, featuring unique local gifts, holiday treats, and plenty of alpaca cheer.
Winter Wonderland Pottery Sale | Saturday, Dec. 13 | 3-7 p.m. | AVL Clay | Free | Find gorgeous clay creations while supporting MANNA FoodBank.
Holiday Open Studio Party with Shopping & Special Guest Artist | Sunday, Dec. 14 | 12-4 p.m. | Shared Language Studios | Free | Explore an eclectic selection of home decor, accessories, pottery, and vintage clothing.
Leo’s Holiday Makers Market | Sunday, Dec. 14 | 12-6 p.m. | Leo’s House of Thirst | Free | Sip on something delicious and shop something local at this laid-back market of pottery, jewelry, and home goods.
Holiday Sapphic Market & Mingle | Sunday, Dec. 14 | 2 p.m. | Ben’s Tune Up | Free | Shop small from local queer-owned businesses, grab brunch from Tiger Bay Cafe, and mix and mingle at this holiday market.
Holiday Makers Market | Sunday, Dec. 14 | 2-6 p.m. | Leveller Brewing Co., Weaverville | Find fantastic gifts from local vendors with a beer in hand.
Billy Strings Watch Party - Live from Austin, TX + Holiday Market | Sunday, Dec. 14 | 4 p.m. | Third Room | Free | Order food and shop from 10 local vendors, all while watching an immersive Billy Strings performance projected onto the walls.
Flora’s Winter Holiday Mini Market | Friday, Dec. 19 | 6-8 p.m. | Flora | Free | The plant shop welcomes local artists for this intimate night market — the cafe will be pouring wine and hot drinks.
Mingle and Jingle: Holiday Craft Market | Saturday, Dec. 20 | 10 a.m. | The Grey Eagle | Free | If you’re cutting it a bit close with gifting, this market is for you.
Green Man Holiday Maker’s Mart | Saturday, Dec. 20 | 12-4 p.m. | Green Man Brewery | Free | Local artists abound at this market, including Owendale Art Pet Portraits.
DayTrip Vintage + Handmade Holiday Market | Saturday, Dec. 20 | 12-5 p.m. | DayTrip | Free | Sip on special cocktails and find unique gifts for everyone on your list.
Asheville Vintage Market Holiday Market | Saturday, Dec. 20 | 12-6 p.m. | Funkatorium | Free | Shop from 15+ vintage vendors to find the perfect, unique gift for the fashionista in your life.
Festivals + fairs
Asheville Poké Card Show | Saturday, Dec. 6 | 9 a.m.-4 p.m. | Salvation Army | $5 | This whole day is dedicated to all things Pokémon, from cards to collectibles to community activities.
Dickens Christmas in the Village | Saturday, Dec. 6-Sunday, Dec. 7 | Times vary | Historic Biltmore Village | Free | Step back in time as the village comes alive with roaming performers, live music, and warm cocoa and cider.
Asheville Anime-Fest | Saturday, Dec. 13 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Haywood Park Hotel, Ascend Hotel Collection | $23 | Immerse yourself in a world of anime characters, activities, panels, and plenty of pop-culture fanfare.
Theatre + comedy
“Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” | Friday, Dec. 5-Sunday, Dec. 21 | Times vary | Asheville Community Theatre | The TV classic will come to life on stage for a family-friendly performance filled with beloved characters like Rudolph, Hermey the Elf, and Yukon Cornelius.
Napoleon Dynamite Live! | Sunday, Dec. 7 | 7:30 p.m. | Thomas Wolfe Auditorium | $59+ | See a full screening of the cult classic film, followed by an interactive Q&A with the cast.
NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet | Tuesday, Dec. 9 | 7 p.m. | Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville | $47+ | See the holiday ballet unfold on stage, set to Tchaikovsky’s iconic scores.
The Asheville Ballet Presents: “The Nutcracker” | Friday, Dec. 12-Sunday, Dec. 14 | Times vary | Wortham Center for the Performing Arts | $20+ | The local company will grace the stage to perform the tale of Clara’s midnight adventure to the Land of Sweets.
Concerts
Asheville Symphony: Cirque De La Symphonie | Thursday, Dec. 4 | 7 p.m. | Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville | $20+ | The symphony’s holiday performance will be accompanied by amazing acrobatic talent.
Asheville Choral Society presents: “Yuletide Candlelight” | Friday, Dec. 5-Saturday, Dec. 6 | Times vary | Central United Methodist Church | $25 | The 130 singers of the Asheville Choral Society will delight crowds with new renditions of classic carols and new compositions for Hanukkah.
NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition | Tuesday, Dec. 9 | 7 p.m. | The Grey Eagle | $30+ | Root for the two locals competing in this internationally recognized songwriting competition — the winner gets to record a six-song EP and have it pressed at Citizen Vinyl.
Warren Haynes Presents: Christmas Jam | Saturday, Dec. 13 | 7 p.m. | Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville | $+ | Asheville rocker Warren Haynes will share the stage with the Stone Temple Pilots, MJ Lenderman, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, and many more during this annual fundraising show.
Have Yourself a Swingin’ Little Christmas | Sunday, Dec. 14 | 7:30-10 p.m. | Highland Brewing Company | $30+ | Russ Wilson and His Famous Orchestra bring back classic holiday TV magic with this show full of family fun + festive cheer.
Thievery Corporation | Thursday, Dec. 18 | 8 p.m. | The Orange Peel | $57 | Hear the duo’s unique mix of jazz, reggae, hip hop, and electronica with support from City of the Sun.
Vienna Light Orchestra Christmas Tour 2025 | Friday, Dec. 19 | 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. | Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville | $42+ | Soak in the strings and sweeping, symphonic sound of one of the most popular holiday tours in the world.
A Swannanoa Solstice | Sunday, Dec. 21 | 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. | Diana Wortham Theatre | $35+ | Musicians and storytellers come together for a heartwarming tribute to Appalachian culture, filled with holiday cheer.
Music of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” | Tuesday, Dec. 23 | 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. | Diana Wortham Theatre | $20+ | Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the entire Peanuts gang will be brought to life through the sounds of The Constellations Orchestra and Dr. Bill Bares.
Billy Jonas Band “Welcome the New Year!” Family Concert | Wednesday, Dec. 31 | 12 p.m. | The Grey Eagle | $13.56+ | The whole fam will be delighted by the music made with plenty of homemade percussion.
The Avett Brothers | Wednesday, Dec. 31 | 8:30 p.m. | Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville | The Americana band will be joined by The Infamous Stringdusters for their special New Year’s Eve show.
RJD2 | Wednesday, Dec. 31 | 9 p.m. | The Orange Peel | $46 | Ring in the new year in style, dancing to electronica and instrumental hip hop.
Holiday activities
Winter Wonder Walk | Friday, Dec. 5-Sunday, Dec. 14 | 5:45-8:30 p.m. | Adventure Center of Asheville | $20+ | This immersive walk is filled with characters and glistening lights, straight out of a storybook — add on a pass through the Treetops Adventure Park Glow Trail for the ultimate adventure.
Grove Park Inn 2025 Gingerbread Display | Through Sunday, Jan. 4 | Times vary | Omni Grove Park Inn | Free | The stunning display of sweets returns after taking a pause last year — there are different viewing hours for the public and hotel guests, so be sure to check before you go.
Winter Lights | Through Sunday, Jan. 4 | 6-10 p.m. | The North Carolina Arboretum | $45+ | See the spectacular light display, including six of Thomas Dambo’s trolls — this year, you can also ride in on a trolley from Biltmore Park Town Square.
Lake Julian Festival of Lights | Through Tuesday, Dec. 23 | Times vary | Lake Julian Park, Arden | $15+ | See Buncombe County’s drive-thru light show for its 25th year — bonus: locals get free entry on Dec. 9 and 16.
Holiday Ice Rink and Winter Wonderland | Through Monday, Jan. 19 | Times vary | Asheville Yards | $15+ | Hit the ice, then enjoy hot chocolate and photo ops in the winter market — check the full schedule for special days like locals nights and movie screenings.
Have an event of your own you want to share with us? Follow these easy steps to add your events to our calendar:
- Go to our Events page.
- Click “Add Event” in the top right-hand corner.
- Make sure to include a link and fill out important information like the date, time, location, and price of your event.
- Click “Submit,” and you’ve just added an event to our website calendar.