Last month we asked y’all to tell us what holiday topics you want us to cover this year – and an overwhelming number of you responded with “holiday events guide, please.” Ask, and you shall receive, AVLtoday readers.
Pack Square is lit, the animals at the WNC Nature Center have their Santa hats on, the Biltmore has been sitting pretty in Christmas spirit. From the #MustSee shows, kid-approved activities + ringing in NYE, we found 25+ events to get you into the spirit this month.
Keep reading for our full list of events that yule be sorry to miss out on – from the Nutcracker to giant gingerbread houses and everything in-between. (And, don’t forget to snag tickets to your NYE celebration of choice). Your *presents* is requested. ⬇️
Food, fun + ugly sweaters
🎄Free Holiday Movie Night | Monday, December 17 | 7 p.m. | The Orange Peel | Free | Get in the holiday spirit by watching Elf on the silver screen. Come wearing your cozy Christmas PJs or a tacky sweater. Popcorn, candy + drinks will be available. Doors open at 6:30. 🎅
🎄Bounty of Bethlehem Community Christmas Dinner | Tuesday, December 25 | 12:30–5 p.m. | Immaculata Catholic School gymnasium | 711 Buncombe St, Hendersonville | Free | The 36th annual community dinner is a free holiday meal open to anyone + everyone in the community. To volunteer find out more here. 🎄
🎄Miracle on Wall Street | Throughout the month of December | MG Road | 5 p.m–2 a.m. Fri.–Sat., 5 p.m.–midnight + Mon.–Thurs. | Free | Local bar MG Road has been turned into a winter wonderland + is serving up unique holiday-themed drinks all month long. To add to the festivities, there are events + other happenings almost every night.
Protip: Check out other breweries, bars + coffee shops to enjoy a holiday-themed night out in our Holiday Cocktail round up.
Lights + nights out
🎄Lake Julian Festival of Lights | Now–December 23 | 6–9 p.m. | Lake Julian Park | 406 Overlook Rd. | $8 advance, $10 at the gate per car | This anticipated annual drive-through event has become a holiday tradition for many families. Thousands of lights + displays are placed along the drive circling Lake Julian.
🎄Winter Lights | Now–December 31 | 6–10 p.m. | The NC Arboretum | 100 Frederick Olmstead Way | $10+ | Experience Asheville’s brightest light display. Walk through a winter wonderland of landscapes made of more than half a million lights + enjoy a cup of mulled wine, cocoa, or cider.
🎄National Gingerbread House Competition Display | Now–January 4 | after 3 p.m. on Sunday or anytime Monday–Thursday | The Omni Grove Park Inn | This event started in 1992 with only a few gingerbread houses but has now grown into one of the nation’s most celebrated + competitive holiday events. All the entries for the 26th year are on display now.
🎄Christmas at Biltmore | Now–January 5 | 9:15 a.m–9 p.m. | The Biltmore House | 60+ | Biltmore offers a holiday experience like no other. Featuring lights, decorations outside, and thousands of ornaments on over a hundred Christmas trees inside. Enjoy time at the Antler Hill Village + Winery as a part of your visit. Experience the estate during the day or by candlelight during the evening.
Shop ‘til you drop
🎄West Asheville Tailgate Holiday Market | December 11 + 18 | 2:30–6 p.m. | The Mothlight | Free | Buy your weekly groceries + pick up locally made gifts for the family. There will be live music + beverages.
🎄Show + Tell Holiday Pop-Up | Running now–December 19 | 10 a.m.–8 p.m. | The Asheville Masonic Temple | 80 Broadway St. | Free | 125+ local indie makers share their craft, design, food + vintage goods.
🎄Grove Arcade Winter Wonderland | Now–January 6 | 10:30 a.m.–5 p.m. | The Grove Arcade | Free | Fun shopping in one of Asheville’s architectural treasures. View gingerbread houses on display, elaborate decorations + lots of holiday spirit while shopping through local shops. Santa will make an appearance on Sunday, December 16 from 1–5 p.m.
🎄Artisan Holiday Craft Fair | Sunday, December 16 | noon–8 p.m. | Living Arts Foundation | 51 Old Candler Rd. | Free | Find unique gifts for the whole family + support local artists. 🎨
Must-see shows
🎄Snowbound | Now–December 19 | 7:30–9:30 p.m. | Asheville Community Theater | 35 E. Walnut St. | $12+ | A revival of 2016’s premiere of this holiday family crowd-pleaser. It’s Christmas Eve in 1955 at a small town train depot where the snowy weather has caused some delays. Over the course of the evening, strangers become friends, friends become family, and the warmth of human connection is deepened through stories and songs.🎭
🎄The 12 Dates of Christmas | December 12–December 30 | Wed.–Sat. at 7:30 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. | NC Stage Co. | 15 Stage Ln. | $17+ | A tragicomedy about dating in the holiday season. 🎭
🎄The Nutcracker | Saturday, December 15 | 3 p.m. | Thomas Wolfe Auditorium | 87 Haywood St. | $28 | Watch the Moscow Ballet bring The Nutcracker to life. 💃
🎄A Swannanoa Solstice | Saturday, December 15 | 2 + 7 p.m. | The Diana Wortham Theatre | 18 Biltmore Ave. | $48 | A holiday tradition featuring Grammy award-winning artists + musicians. 🎶
🎄Asheville Gay Men’s Chorus | Saturday, December 15 | 4–6 p.m. | Grace Covenant Church | 789 Merrimon Ave. | $25+ | A choral performance of holiday standards + Appalachian favorites. 🎶
#ForKids
🎄Iceless Ice Rink | Now–January 1 | noon–7 p.m. | Hendersonville Visitor Center | 201 St. Main St. | $5+ at the door | Don’t miss out on ice-skating in WNC this holiday season. The new larger and improved iceless rink + holiday games nearby provide endless family-friendly fun. Skate rental included in admission price ❄️
🎄9th Annual Polar Express Pajama Party | Tuesday, December 18 | 6:30–8 p.m. | The Hop North | 640 Merrimon Ave. | Free | Sing Christmas carols, eat ice cream + get into the Christmas spirit. Carolers of all ages welcome. 🎅
🎄Science of Winter Holiday Mini-Camp | Thursday, December 20, Friday, December 21, Thursday, December 27 + Friday, December 28 | 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m. | Asheville Museum of Science | 43 Patton Ave. | $60 per day | This day camp will teach kids about the science behind snowflakes, make snow + talk about why seasons exist. Ages 5-13. A great opportunity for kids to get out of the house this holiday break.
To ring in #NYE2019
🍾Ring In the New Year | December 31 | 4 p.m. | District Wine Bar | 37 Paynes Way #009 | Champagne, 2019 countdown, wine + a dinosaur. Fun you don’t want to miss.🥂
🍾New Year’s Eve Massacre | December 31 | 8 p.m. | 27 Club Asheville | 180 Patton Ave. | $10 | 21+ only | Music, drinks, fun + more.
🍾Asheville Movie Guys Screening: 2001 A Space Odyssey | December 31 | 7 p.m. | Fine Arts Theatre | 36 Biltmore Ave. | $6.50+ | A movie and discussion for the 50th anniversary screening of the iconic Kubrick film. ✨
🍾Capella on 9’s Midnight Masquerade | December 31 | 9 p.m. | Capella on 9 | 10 Broadway St. | $55+ | Cocktails, masquerade + festivities.
🍾Popping Bottles NYE Party | December 31 | 9 p.m. | Timos House | 5 Biltmore Ave. | 21 + only | Dance and pop bottles of champagne with DJ Deacon and DJ Drew.
🍾New Year’s Eve with the Asheville Symphony | Monday, December 31 | 8–10 p.m. | Thomas Wolfe Auditorium | 87 Haywood St. | $32 | Ring in the new year with classical + popular standards and acrobatic performance arts from Cirque Musica. 🎶
🍾New Year’s Eve Black & White & Rockin’ All Over Party | 8:30 p.m.–12:30 a.m. | Gastro Pub at Hopey | 45 S French Broad Ave. | Free | Spend the night dancing to a rock-based mix. Black and white dress code enforced.
While we give you a monthly calendar of what’s happening here in the #828, we were pretty shocked to see this many events dedicated to holiday fun.
Between ice cream PJ parties, festive lights, giant gingerbread houses, holiday pop up shops, specialty cocktails + more – your month of December will hopefully be filled with yuletide fun. Have an event not on this list? Where do you go to see the lights, take photos with Santa, enjoy festivals + NYE events? Comment below and let us know.
Have a holly jolly holiday, AVL.
