Calendar of Events
Upcoming events and things to do in Asheville, NC. Below is a list of events for festivals, concerts, art exhibitions, group meetups and more.
Interested in adding an event to our calendar? Please click the green “Post Your Event” button below.
Directed by Clay Hopper
HOLIDAY | ORIGINAL MUSIC | FRESH TAKE ON A CLASSIC
This two man adaptation is a fast-paced and imaginative production that combines Dickens’ brilliant original text with both traditional and unexpected Christmas music, along with old-fashioned Foley-style sound effects. These dynamic performers beautifully impart this epic, timeless story of discovery of the heart, appealing to both adults and children in a fresh way.
Performances of A Christmas Carol: A Play with Music will be held on the days and times listed below. The lobby and concessions area will open one hour prior to showtime. Concessions may be taken into the theatre for your enjoyment during the performance.
December 11 – December 21, 2025
Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 7:30pm
Friday December 12 at 7:30pm
Friday December 19, 2pm AND 7:30pm
Sundays at 2pm
November 28 – December 21
It’s like a big, warm holiday HUG! The tradition everyone loves continues with the same great holiday cheer to put you in the Christmas spirit. All new renditions of your holiday favorites will help you get those sleigh bells jinglin,’ and chestnuts roasting! There is truly no better way to kick off your holiday season. So, hurry on over with your family, friends, and loved ones to share in the joy and excitement of this seasonal spectacular that will have you feeling merry and bright!
Event Times: 2:00 PM & 7:30 PM
Ticket Prices: $60 / $70 / $80
Child Pricing Available (17 & under)
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical
December 5 – 21, 2025
Thursdays, Fridays, & Select Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Saturdays & Sundays at 2:30 PM
December 5 – 21, 2025
Thursdays & Fridays at 7:30 PM and Saturdays & Sundays at 2:30 PM
Based on the animated television special – Adapted by Robert Penola, Music & Lyrics by Johnny Marks
Sponsored by: Mast General Store
The beloved TV classic soars off the screen and onto the stage! Join Rudolph, Hermey the Elf, Yukon Cornelius, and all your favorite characters as they come to life in this heartwarming holiday musical. Featuring iconic songs like “Holly Jolly Christmas” and “The Most Wonderful Day of the Year,” this show celebrates the 61st anniversary of the cherished Christmas special. Perfect for the whole family!
Run Time: 90 minutes with one 15-minute intermission.
Accessibility: Accessible wheelchair/scooter seating and Listening Devices are available for all Mainstage performances.
Content Awareness: This show is suitable for all audiences.
2 South Pack Square
Asheville, NC 28801
Every Third Thursday, the Museum comes alive with an evening filled with music, tours, art making, special cocktails in their rooftop café, and more!
This month features music in the Atrium with the Altamont Jazz Ensemble, a tour of the Lasting Legacies exhibition with Asheville architect Bruce Johnson, and a special, seasonal Makerspace creating unique holiday cards and journals.
The Altamont Jazz Group is Asheville-based quintet playing timeless jazz standards with a twist—featuring Steve Johnson on keyboards, John Reaume on double bass, Jeremy Ward on tenor saxophone, Glenn Brothers on violin, and Mike Figura on drums.
Thursday, December 18, 2025
5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Cost: Free for Members or included with Museum admission
Get set to experience an incredible night as Thievery Corporation dominates The Orange Peel in Asheville, North Carolina, on Thursday, December 18, 2025! This famous venue, celebrated as one of Rolling Stone’s Top 5 Rock Clubs in the US, guarantees an epic vibe for this outstanding show.
The lively duo, famous for their alluring mix of electronic, dub and world music, are on their 2025 North American Tour, bringing fresh tracks from their recent album alongside classic hits like “The Mirror Conspiracy” and “Lebanese Blonde.”
Directed by Clay Hopper
HOLIDAY | ORIGINAL MUSIC | FRESH TAKE ON A CLASSIC
This two man adaptation is a fast-paced and imaginative production that combines Dickens’ brilliant original text with both traditional and unexpected Christmas music, along with old-fashioned Foley-style sound effects. These dynamic performers beautifully impart this epic, timeless story of discovery of the heart, appealing to both adults and children in a fresh way.
Performances of A Christmas Carol: A Play with Music will be held on the days and times listed below. The lobby and concessions area will open one hour prior to showtime. Concessions may be taken into the theatre for your enjoyment during the performance.
December 11 – December 21, 2025
Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 7:30pm
Friday December 12 at 7:30pm
Friday December 19, 2pm AND 7:30pm
Sundays at 2pm
November 28 – December 21
It’s like a big, warm holiday HUG! The tradition everyone loves continues with the same great holiday cheer to put you in the Christmas spirit. All new renditions of your holiday favorites will help you get those sleigh bells jinglin,’ and chestnuts roasting! There is truly no better way to kick off your holiday season. So, hurry on over with your family, friends, and loved ones to share in the joy and excitement of this seasonal spectacular that will have you feeling merry and bright!
Event Times: 2:00 PM & 7:30 PM
Ticket Prices: $60 / $70 / $80
Child Pricing Available (17 & under)
Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Asheville. Get your tickets now to discover Christmas inspired music at Asheville Masonic Temple under the gentle glow of candlelight.
General Info
Venue: Asheville Masonic Temple
Dates and times: select your dates/times directly in the ticket selector
Duration: 60 minutes. Doors open 45 minutes before the show and close 5 minutes prior to the start. Late arrivals will not be permitted
Age requirement: 8 years old or older. Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult
Accessibility: this venue is ADA compliant
View the FAQs for this event here
Seating is assigned on a first come first served basis in each zone
If you would like to book a private concert or buy regular tickets for a large group (+30 people), click here
Check out all the Candlelight concerts in Asheville
To treat your friends and family to a Candlelight gift card, click here
Tentative Program
Holiday Medley – Various
“Hark the Herald Angels Sing”
“The First Noël”
“Deck the Halls”
“O Holy Night” – Adolphe Adam
“Ma’oz Tzur” – Traditional Hanukkah Song
“The Snow is Dancing” – Claude Debussy
“The Seasons, Op. 37a” – Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
I. January. “By the Hearth”
XII. December. “Christmas”
“The Skaters’ Waltz, Op. 183 (Les Patineurs)” – Émile Waldteufel
“Greensleeves (What Child is This)” – Traditional
Holiday Medley
“Joy to the World”
“Angels We Have Heard on High”
“Away in a Manger”
“The Nutcracker, Op. 71” – Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Miniature Overture
Act I, Scene II: No. 2, “March”
Act II: No. 12d, Divertissement. “Trepak, Russian Dance”
Act II: No. 13, “Waltz of the Flowers”
Act II: No. 14c, Pas de Deux. Variation II, “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy”
Performers
Opal String Quartet
Seating Map
Four days before Christmas in Tinsel, Texas, a colorful parade of eccentric guests arrive at the Snowflake Inn and deck the halls with holiday hilarity. Trina, the harried yet upbeat innkeeper of this B&B, has more than she can handle coping with these nuttier-than-a-fruitcake lodgers. Hoyt and his sister, Donna Jo, make the mistake of trying to end a thirty-year feud between their curmudgeonly aunts, Ennis and Della, with sidesplitting results. Ainsley and Lenora, self-involved actors from a lower-than-low-budget touring production of A Christmas Carol, descend on the Inn to fulfill a promise, leaving comedic chaos in their wake. Add to this Yuletide mayhem an ill-advised romantic rendezvous between Mrs. Claus and one of Santa’s elves. This demanding guest refuses to leave, not to mention a tipsy housekeeper, and it will take more than a kiss under the mistletoe to keep Trina’s spirits merry and bright. But a spur-of-the-moment Christmas Eve wedding that brings together the fabulous Futrelle sisters—Honey Raye, Twink, Frankie, and Rhonda Lynn—and their best friend, Raynerd, takes a surprising and delightful turn that leads to a laugh-’till-your-sides-ache climax, changing all their lives forever.
Thursday, 12/11 at 7:30 (pay what you can available 11/27)
Fridays at 7:30
Saturday at 3 pm
Sundays at 3 pm
Director: Abigail Dover Thomas
Approximate Run Time: 2 hours, 35 minutes
Rating: PG due to adult content and mild language.
This two-day wrestling tournament will field teams across the region competing on eight mats on the floor of the Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville in Downtown Asheville. This is an individual tournament, double elimination format with wrestle backs to 6th place. This event is hosted by the Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville and the Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission in conjunction with our local high schools.
We will have a Girls Invitational Division this year. Because this is a new division, it is important to get the girls registered early. We are excited about this new division and the promotion of girls wrestling.
PAN HARMONIA: Yuletide!
Now an annual tradition, Kate Steinbeck and Jessica Schaeffer bring the soothing, light-filled sounds of flute and harp to the darkest days of the year. Enjoy a blend of traditional carols and lesser-known works; we also celebrate founder Kate Steinbeck’s birthday this day!
with Kate Steinbeck Flute and Jessica Schaeffer Harp
Friday, December 19, 12 pm · St. Matthias Church, Asheville
Friday, December 19, 4 pm · East Asheville Library
As ever, PAN HARMONIA offers Donation-based, Pay-as-You-Can Community
Concerts. All are welcome!
panharmonia.org
828.242.1077
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical
December 5 – 21, 2025
Thursdays, Fridays, & Select Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Saturdays & Sundays at 2:30 PM
December 5 – 21, 2025
Thursdays & Fridays at 7:30 PM and Saturdays & Sundays at 2:30 PM
Based on the animated television special – Adapted by Robert Penola, Music & Lyrics by Johnny Marks
Sponsored by: Mast General Store
The beloved TV classic soars off the screen and onto the stage! Join Rudolph, Hermey the Elf, Yukon Cornelius, and all your favorite characters as they come to life in this heartwarming holiday musical. Featuring iconic songs like “Holly Jolly Christmas” and “The Most Wonderful Day of the Year,” this show celebrates the 61st anniversary of the cherished Christmas special. Perfect for the whole family!
Run Time: 90 minutes with one 15-minute intermission.
Accessibility: Accessible wheelchair/scooter seating and Listening Devices are available for all Mainstage performances.
Content Awareness: This show is suitable for all audiences.
December 19th, Vienna Light Orchestra Christmas Tour 2025 is coming to The Thomas Wolfe Auditorium in Asheville, NC! Born from the spirit of Vienna, the birthplace of orchestral music and home to some of the most celebrated Christmas concerts in the world, The Vienna Light Orchestra Christmas Tour 2025 is a global concert experience that blends sweeping symphonic sound with theatrical beauty. Join us for this magical holiday experience, over 2,000 flickering candlelights illuminate world-class musicians & vocalists, and a few Christmas surprises along the way—creating a nostalgic atmosphere with the most treasured Christmas Classics. A holiday evening with your loved ones you’ll never forget! (Limited Seating – Best Seats Won’t Last!)
** Two shows**3pm and 7pm**
PAN HARMONIA: Yuletide!
Now an annual tradition, Kate Steinbeck and Jessica Schaeffer bring the soothing, light-filled sounds of flute and harp to the darkest days of the year. Enjoy a blend of traditional carols and lesser-known works; we also celebrate founder Kate Steinbeck’s birthday this day!
with Kate Steinbeck Flute and Jessica Schaeffer Harp
Friday, December 19, 12 pm · St. Matthias Church, Asheville
Friday, December 19, 4 pm · East Asheville Library
As ever, PAN HARMONIA offers Donation-based, Pay-as-You-Can Community
Concerts. All are welcome!
panharmonia.org
828.242.1077
Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Asheville. Get your tickets now to discover the music of Coldplay & Imagine Dragons at Asheville Masonic Temple under the gentle glow of candlelight.
General Info
Venue: Asheville Masonic Temple
Dates and times: select your dates/times directly in the ticket selector
Duration: 60 minutes. Doors open 45 minutes before the show and close 5 minutes prior to the start. Late arrivals will not be permitted
Age requirement: 8 years old or older. Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult
Accessibility: please contact us for more information on accessibility
View the FAQs for this event here
Seating is assigned on a first come first served basis in each zone
If you would like to book a private concert or buy regular tickets for a large group (+30 people), click here
Check out all the Candlelight concerts in Asheville
To treat your friends and family to a Candlelight gift card, click here
Tentative Program
Coldplay – Clocks
Coldplay – Something Just Like This
Imagine Dragons – Radioactive
Coldplay – Adventure of a Lifetime
Coldplay – Fix You
Imagine Dragons – Natural
Imagine Dragons – Next to Me
Coldplay – The Scientist
Imagine Dragons – Follow You
Imagine Dragons – Bad Liar
Coldplay – Viva la Vida
Imagine Dragons – Believer
Coldplay – Sky Full of Stars
Coldplay – My Universe
By Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jamie Wooten
Presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection. (www.dramatists.com)
December 11-21, 2025
Thursday, 12/11 at 7:30 (pay what you can available 11/27)
Fridays at 7:30
Saturday at 3 pm
Sundays at 3 pm
Director: Abigail Dover Thomas
Approximate Run Time: 2 hours, 35 minutes
Rating: PG due to adult content and mild language.
Four days before Christmas in Tinsel, Texas, a colorful parade of eccentric guests arrive at the Snowflake Inn and deck the halls with holiday hilarity. Trina, the harried yet upbeat innkeeper of this B&B, has more than she can handle coping with these nuttier-than-a-fruitcake lodgers. Hoyt and his sister, Donna Jo, make the mistake of trying to end a thirty-year feud between their curmudgeonly aunts, Ennis and Della, with sidesplitting results. Ainsley and Lenora, self-involved actors from a lower-than-low-budget touring production of A Christmas Carol, descend on the Inn to fulfill a promise, leaving comedic chaos in their wake. Add to this Yuletide mayhem an ill-advised romantic rendezvous between Mrs. Claus and one of Santa’s elves. This demanding guest refuses to leave, not to mention a tipsy housekeeper, and it will take more than a kiss under the mistletoe to keep Trina’s spirits merry and bright. But a spur-of-the-moment Christmas Eve wedding that brings together the fabulous Futrelle sisters—Honey Raye, Twink, Frankie, and Rhonda Lynn—and their best friend, Raynerd, takes a surprising and delightful turn that leads to a laugh-’till-your-sides-ache climax, changing all their lives forever.
Directed by Clay Hopper
HOLIDAY | ORIGINAL MUSIC | FRESH TAKE ON A CLASSIC
This two man adaptation is a fast-paced and imaginative production that combines Dickens’ brilliant original text with both traditional and unexpected Christmas music, along with old-fashioned Foley-style sound effects. These dynamic performers beautifully impart this epic, timeless story of discovery of the heart, appealing to both adults and children in a fresh way.
Performances of A Christmas Carol: A Play with Music will be held on the days and times listed below. The lobby and concessions area will open one hour prior to showtime. Concessions may be taken into the theatre for your enjoyment during the performance.
December 11 – December 21, 2025
Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 7:30pm
Friday December 12 at 7:30pm
Friday December 19, 2pm AND 7:30pm
Sundays at 2pm
November 28 – December 21
It’s like a big, warm holiday HUG! The tradition everyone loves continues with the same great holiday cheer to put you in the Christmas spirit. All new renditions of your holiday favorites will help you get those sleigh bells jinglin,’ and chestnuts roasting! There is truly no better way to kick off your holiday season. So, hurry on over with your family, friends, and loved ones to share in the joy and excitement of this seasonal spectacular that will have you feeling merry and bright!
Event Times: 2:00 PM & 7:30 PM
Ticket Prices: $60 / $70 / $80
Child Pricing Available (17 & under)
Four days before Christmas in Tinsel, Texas, a colorful parade of eccentric guests arrive at the Snowflake Inn and deck the halls with holiday hilarity. Trina, the harried yet upbeat innkeeper of this B&B, has more than she can handle coping with these nuttier-than-a-fruitcake lodgers. Hoyt and his sister, Donna Jo, make the mistake of trying to end a thirty-year feud between their curmudgeonly aunts, Ennis and Della, with sidesplitting results. Ainsley and Lenora, self-involved actors from a lower-than-low-budget touring production of A Christmas Carol, descend on the Inn to fulfill a promise, leaving comedic chaos in their wake. Add to this Yuletide mayhem an ill-advised romantic rendezvous between Mrs. Claus and one of Santa’s elves. This demanding guest refuses to leave, not to mention a tipsy housekeeper, and it will take more than a kiss under the mistletoe to keep Trina’s spirits merry and bright. But a spur-of-the-moment Christmas Eve wedding that brings together the fabulous Futrelle sisters—Honey Raye, Twink, Frankie, and Rhonda Lynn—and their best friend, Raynerd, takes a surprising and delightful turn that leads to a laugh-’till-your-sides-ache climax, changing all their lives forever.
Thursday, 12/11 at 7:30 (pay what you can available 11/27)
Fridays at 7:30
Saturday at 3 pm
Sundays at 3 pm
Director: Abigail Dover Thomas
Approximate Run Time: 2 hours, 35 minutes
Rating: PG due to adult content and mild language.
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical
December 5 – 21, 2025
Thursdays, Fridays, & Select Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Saturdays & Sundays at 2:30 PM
December 5 – 21, 2025
Thursdays & Fridays at 7:30 PM and Saturdays & Sundays at 2:30 PM
Based on the animated television special – Adapted by Robert Penola, Music & Lyrics by Johnny Marks
Sponsored by: Mast General Store
The beloved TV classic soars off the screen and onto the stage! Join Rudolph, Hermey the Elf, Yukon Cornelius, and all your favorite characters as they come to life in this heartwarming holiday musical. Featuring iconic songs like “Holly Jolly Christmas” and “The Most Wonderful Day of the Year,” this show celebrates the 61st anniversary of the cherished Christmas special. Perfect for the whole family!
Run Time: 90 minutes with one 15-minute intermission.
Accessibility: Accessible wheelchair/scooter seating and Listening Devices are available for all Mainstage performances.
Content Awareness: This show is suitable for all audiences.
By Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jamie Wooten
Presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection. (www.dramatists.com)
December 11-21, 2025
Thursday, 12/11 at 7:30 (pay what you can available 11/27)
Fridays at 7:30
Saturday at 3 pm
Sundays at 3 pm
Director: Abigail Dover Thomas
Approximate Run Time: 2 hours, 35 minutes
Rating: PG due to adult content and mild language.
Four days before Christmas in Tinsel, Texas, a colorful parade of eccentric guests arrive at the Snowflake Inn and deck the halls with holiday hilarity. Trina, the harried yet upbeat innkeeper of this B&B, has more than she can handle coping with these nuttier-than-a-fruitcake lodgers. Hoyt and his sister, Donna Jo, make the mistake of trying to end a thirty-year feud between their curmudgeonly aunts, Ennis and Della, with sidesplitting results. Ainsley and Lenora, self-involved actors from a lower-than-low-budget touring production of A Christmas Carol, descend on the Inn to fulfill a promise, leaving comedic chaos in their wake. Add to this Yuletide mayhem an ill-advised romantic rendezvous between Mrs. Claus and one of Santa’s elves. This demanding guest refuses to leave, not to mention a tipsy housekeeper, and it will take more than a kiss under the mistletoe to keep Trina’s spirits merry and bright. But a spur-of-the-moment Christmas Eve wedding that brings together the fabulous Futrelle sisters—Honey Raye, Twink, Frankie, and Rhonda Lynn—and their best friend, Raynerd, takes a surprising and delightful turn that leads to a laugh-’till-your-sides-ache climax, changing all their lives forever.
Blue Ridge Betty’s Holiday Party!
Holiday Attire Encouraged
WNCW New tunes at 2 “We love discovering new regional acts here, and the latest is this band out of Asheville, with this debut recorded in Weaverville. Singer/songwriter Lindsey Wall, who also plays fiddle and mandolin, has this to say about their debut: “This album captures a period of time filled with uncertainty, longing, and hope. After Hurricane Helene ravaged our community in Western NC, feelings that I never confronted before came bubbling to the surface. I coped by writing songs.”
Check out their album Firefly on Spotify
Celebrate the holiday season with the might and emotional weight of Handel’s iconic Messiah. One of our biggest performances of the season, the Asheville Symphony Chorus shares the stage with four incredible soloists and your Asheville Symphony.
Darko Butorac, conductor
Jessica Beebe, soprano
Clifton Massey, countertenor
Jacob Perry, tenor
Kenneth Overton, bass
Asheville Symphony Chorus
Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Asheville. Get your tickets now to discover the music of Christmas Carols on Strings at Asheville Masonic Temple under the gentle glow of candlelight.
General Info
Venue: Asheville Masonic Temple
Dates and times: select your dates/times directly in the ticket selector
Duration: 60 minutes. Doors open 45 minutes before the show and close 5 minutes prior to the start. Late arrivals will not be permitted
Age requirement: 8 years old or older. Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult
Accessibility: this venue is ADA compliant
View the FAQs for this event here
Seating is assigned on a first come first served basis in each zone
If you would like to book a private concert or buy regular tickets for a large group (+30 people), click here
Check out all the Candlelight concerts in Asheville
To treat your friends and family to a Candlelight gift card, click here
Tentative Program
12 Days of Christmas
Angels from the Realms of Glory
Angels We Have Heard On High
Away in a Manger
Carol of the Bells
Deck the Halls
Ding Dong! Merrily on High
Do You Hear What I Hear
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Good King Wenceslas
Greensleeves (What Child Is This)
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
In the Bleak Mid-Winter
Joy to the World
O Christmas Tree (O Tannenbaum)
O Come All Ye Faithful
O Holy Night
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Silent Night
The First Noël
Performers
Opal String Quartet
Seating Map
Directed by Clay Hopper
HOLIDAY | ORIGINAL MUSIC | FRESH TAKE ON A CLASSIC
This two man adaptation is a fast-paced and imaginative production that combines Dickens’ brilliant original text with both traditional and unexpected Christmas music, along with old-fashioned Foley-style sound effects. These dynamic performers beautifully impart this epic, timeless story of discovery of the heart, appealing to both adults and children in a fresh way.
Performances of A Christmas Carol: A Play with Music will be held on the days and times listed below. The lobby and concessions area will open one hour prior to showtime. Concessions may be taken into the theatre for your enjoyment during the performance.
December 11 – December 21, 2025
Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 7:30pm
Friday December 12 at 7:30pm
Friday December 19, 2pm AND 7:30pm
Sundays at 2pm
November 28 – December 21
It’s like a big, warm holiday HUG! The tradition everyone loves continues with the same great holiday cheer to put you in the Christmas spirit. All new renditions of your holiday favorites will help you get those sleigh bells jinglin,’ and chestnuts roasting! There is truly no better way to kick off your holiday season. So, hurry on over with your family, friends, and loved ones to share in the joy and excitement of this seasonal spectacular that will have you feeling merry and bright!
Event Times: 2:00 PM & 7:30 PM
Ticket Prices: $60 / $70 / $80
Child Pricing Available (17 & under)
Wortham Presents A Swannanoa Solstice
Sun, Dec 21 • 2 pm & 7 pm
Celebrate the season at the beloved local tradition that has captivated audiences for over 20 years! Experience a dynamic mix of new and returning artists, bringing you a festive variety of Celtic, American roots, and world-influenced music. This winter, join a heartwarming tribute to Appalachian culture, filled with holiday cheer.
Featured artists:
John Doyle & Mick McAuley
Becky Stone, emcee
Zoe & Cloyd
Josh Goforth
EJ Jones & the Piper Jones Band
Elizabeth McCorvey
Sun, Dec 21 • 2 pm & 7 pm
Celebrate the season at the beloved local tradition that has captivated audiences for over 20 years! Experience a dynamic mix of new and returning artists, bringing you a festive variety of Celtic, American roots, and world-influenced music. This winter, join a heartwarming tribute to Appalachian culture, filled with holiday cheer.
Featured artists:
John Doyle & Mick McAuley
Becky Stone, emcee
Zoe & Cloyd
Josh Goforth
EJ Jones & the Piper Jones Band
Elizabeth McCorvey
Spotlight on A Swannanoa Solstice:
John Doyle was a founding member of the Irish-American supergroup Solas where Mick McAuley became a long-standing member of the band
Elizabeth McCorvey—a musician and mental health therapist—is making her A Swannanoa Solstice debut
Emcee Becky Stone has performed various Chautauqua characters including Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, and Josephine Baker
Four days before Christmas in Tinsel, Texas, a colorful parade of eccentric guests arrive at the Snowflake Inn and deck the halls with holiday hilarity. Trina, the harried yet upbeat innkeeper of this B&B, has more than she can handle coping with these nuttier-than-a-fruitcake lodgers. Hoyt and his sister, Donna Jo, make the mistake of trying to end a thirty-year feud between their curmudgeonly aunts, Ennis and Della, with sidesplitting results. Ainsley and Lenora, self-involved actors from a lower-than-low-budget touring production of A Christmas Carol, descend on the Inn to fulfill a promise, leaving comedic chaos in their wake. Add to this Yuletide mayhem an ill-advised romantic rendezvous between Mrs. Claus and one of Santa’s elves. This demanding guest refuses to leave, not to mention a tipsy housekeeper, and it will take more than a kiss under the mistletoe to keep Trina’s spirits merry and bright. But a spur-of-the-moment Christmas Eve wedding that brings together the fabulous Futrelle sisters—Honey Raye, Twink, Frankie, and Rhonda Lynn—and their best friend, Raynerd, takes a surprising and delightful turn that leads to a laugh-’till-your-sides-ache climax, changing all their lives forever.
Thursday, 12/11 at 7:30 (pay what you can available 11/27)
Fridays at 7:30
Saturday at 3 pm
Sundays at 3 pm
Director: Abigail Dover Thomas
Approximate Run Time: 2 hours, 35 minutes
Rating: PG due to adult content and mild language.
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical
December 5 – 21, 2025
Thursdays, Fridays, & Select Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Saturdays & Sundays at 2:30 PM
December 5 – 21, 2025
Thursdays & Fridays at 7:30 PM and Saturdays & Sundays at 2:30 PM
Based on the animated television special – Adapted by Robert Penola, Music & Lyrics by Johnny Marks
Sponsored by: Mast General Store
The beloved TV classic soars off the screen and onto the stage! Join Rudolph, Hermey the Elf, Yukon Cornelius, and all your favorite characters as they come to life in this heartwarming holiday musical. Featuring iconic songs like “Holly Jolly Christmas” and “The Most Wonderful Day of the Year,” this show celebrates the 61st anniversary of the cherished Christmas special. Perfect for the whole family!
Run Time: 90 minutes with one 15-minute intermission.
Accessibility: Accessible wheelchair/scooter seating and Listening Devices are available for all Mainstage performances.
Content Awareness: This show is suitable for all audiences.