Hi, Asheville. Brook here, and I’m pumped that there are so many holiday events happening this weekend. Whether you want to fully immerse yourself in seasonal offerings or you want something festive sans Santa, there are plenty of opportunities for fun.
Here are 12 fabulous events happening this weekend, Fri., Dec. 9-Dec. 11:
Friday, Dec. 9
Marble an Ornament | Fri., Dec. 9 | 1-2:30 p.m. | Majik Studios, 348 Depot St., Studio 140, Asheville | $25-$35 | Christen your tree with your own dipped and painted handmade ceramic ornament.
Jingle Bell Trolley Train Run 2022 | Fri., Dec. 9 | 3-6 p.m. | Craggy Mountain Line, 111 North Woodfin Ave., Asheville | $19 | This nostalgic holiday tradition includes a 25 minute, 2 mile, round-trip ride in an open air trolley, plus hot chocolate and cookies.
Santa Experience at Montgomery Sky Farm | Fri., Dec. 9 | 1:30-5:30 p.m. | Address hared after booking, Leicester | $250 | Create sweet holiday memories and mementos with this 20 minute photography session that includes 15-20 digital images, a meet and greet with Santa, cookies, and adorable farm animals.
Taste of NC | Fri., Dec. 9 | 6-8 p.m. | The Asheville Masonic Temple, 80 Broadway St., Asheville | $35 | Sample a variety of North Carolina wines paired with bites from Tar Heel restaurants, caterers, and food trucks.
Saturday, Dec. 10
25th Annual Santa on the Chimney | Sat., Dec. 10 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Chimney Rock State Park, 431 Main St., Chimney Rock | $8-$17 | Watch Santa prepare for his global gift-delivering duties by rappelling down one of the world’s largest chimneys.
Asheville Vaudeville | Sat., Dec. 10 | 8 p.m. | The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave., Asheville | $20-$25 | Be delighted by WNC’s longest-running variety event, which features comedy, juggling, burlesque, clowns, and puppetry.
Celebrating Emily Dickinson on Her Birthday: A Benefit for Our Voice | Sat., Dec. 10 | 3 p.m. | St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 337 Charlotte St., Asheville | Donation based | This year’s benefit performance — the first since 2019 — features Chautauqua performer Carol Kessler as Emily Dickinson along with the Asheville Flute Choir.
Great Bird Adventure | Sat., Dec. 10 | 10 a.m. | Carolina Avian Research and Education, 109 Olivia Trace Dr., Fletcher | Price varies | Indulge your senses with a guided tour of CARE and its 65 exotic and rare resident birds.
In Plain Sight - Dance Party | Sat., Dec. 10 | 10 p.m.-2 a.m. | Asheville Beauty Academy, 28 Broadway St., Asheville | Price varies | Shake off your stress by boogieing down at this dance party.
Special Fall Event With Oris and Matt Hranek | Sat., Dec. 10 | 2-5 p.m. | Chemist Spirits, 151 Coxe Ave., Asheville | Free entry | Get a jump on your holiday shopping by enjoying a glass of Chemist Spirits and perusing the latest pieces from independent Swiss watchmaker Oris and WM Brown magazine founder Matt Hranek.
Sunday, Dec. 10
Winterfest at The Salt Spa of Asheville | Sun., Dec. 11 | 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. | The Salt Spa of Asheville and Himalayan Salt Cave Sanctuary, 473 Hendersonville Rd., Suite B, Asheville | Free entry | Enjoy refreshments while shopping for locally made wares, including jewelry, wood art, and candles.
Breakfast with Santa | Sun., Dec. 11 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | The Farm, A Gathering Place, 215 Justice Ridge Rd., Candler | $15-$35 | Young and old alike will delight in breakfast, crafts, hot cocoa, and a visit from Santa.
Hi-Wire Holiday Pop-Up! Market | Sun., Dec. 11 | 12-6 p.m. | Hi-Wire Brewing, 2A Hunstman Pl., Asheville | Free entry | Shop arts, crafts, and artisanal products from 30+ local vendors while you enjoy food vendors, live music, and a visit from Jolly Old St. Nick.
Local food pantry Loving Food Resources has released a reverse advent calendar. A fun way to ensure the holidays are bright for WNC residents living with HIV/AIDS or in home hospice, each day suggests a food so that at month’s end, you’ve created a box of healthy eats. 🥫
Coming Soon
Voodoo Roux, a new Veteran-owned and operated Cajun street kitchen, is preparing for launch in the Black Mountain area. The food truck offers a variety of po’ boys, plus chicken wings, beignets, and croissant breakfast sandwiches. Check out the menu and follow the biz on Facebook for updates.
Ranked
The Bitter Southerner has released its list of the Best Southern Albums of 2022. Ashevillian Angel Olsen came in at the number one spot with her album, Big Time. Also noteworthy? Local MJ Lenderman’s record Boat Songs came in at number nine. Let’s hear it for these local musicians.
GREAT ESCAPES
Our guide to Key West, FL
Great Escapes: Our guide to Key West, FL
Be surrounded by the crystal clear oceans of the Florida Keys. | Photo by 6AM City
No matter how you like to spend a day, Key West is theperfect place to get away from it all (especially in the winter). Just watch out for iguanas.
You can’t go to the Keys and not try a slice of Key lime pie. Every restaurant has its own twist on this classic, but I’m partial to the one at Blue Heaven topped with sky-high layers of meringue.
Key West was discovered in the 1500s, so it’s got a long, spooky history. Learn about its past with a ghost tour on a trolley — and say hello to Robert the Doll.
Bonus message from our partner: If you’re looking to book this trip, Scott’s Cheap Flights offers all the affordable flight hacks from your home airport. Sign up here.*
SHOP
Wellness
If you work from home like us, you’ve likely become accustomed to having stiff muscles at the end of a workday due to prolonged sitting. Combat this with a little office upgrade — an electric standing desk paired with a sleek under desk treadmill. Oh, and don’t forget to stay hydrated.*
Sports
Now’s the time to buy the sports lover in your life a holiday present,because Fanatics is offering sitewide sales. Easily find licensed sportswear and collectibles like jerseys, hoodies, and outerwear for the world’s most popular sports teams and win the holidays.*
Travel
Calling all globetrotters. If exploring bucket list destinations while meeting like-minded travelers is one of your 2023 goals, consider booking a small group trip with Encounters Travel. See one of the seven wonders of the world on the Jordan & Egypt Explorer Trip or snorkel among diverse marine life on the Maldives Uncovered Tour. ✈️ *
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