This is the 15th year of this popular, free and elaborate Christmas display where you can bring the family, pets and your own camera to take your holiday
pictures in a beautiful Christmas setting.

Immerse yourself in a Winter Wonderland with Santa and his elves and of course, Santa’s reindeer at Carolina Ace Hardware. Bring the whole family and take your Christmas pictures in the magical Christmas display in the Garden Center. Free to the public. Bring your cameras.

Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) is pleased to welcome regional school choral groups and local musicians to the airport as part of our annual Sounds of the Holidays program. The musicians and students will perform festive music for the enjoyment of those arriving and departing from AVL this holiday season.

Following is a schedule of choral performances: Thursday, December 15 11:20am East McDowell Middle School Chorus Friday, December 16 12:45pm Erwin Combined Choirs Following is a schedule of Music in the Airport performances: Mike Anderson Mondays in December 10:30am Thursday December 15 5:30pm Phil Okrend Thursdays in December 11:00am Saturday December 15 5:30pm Joseph Olschner Fridays in December 10:00am and 2:00pm Saturdays in December at 11am Bill Cozzens-Bryant Tuesdays in December 11:00am Wednesdays in December 10:30am Jenna Jaffe Sunday December 18 11:30am Saturday December 24 2:00PM Sunday December 25 10:00am

see the beautiful holiday decorations and lights. Plus find lots of great gifts at the many local shops and businesses

THE POLAR EXPRESS™ with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad is back in 2022! The 1¼ hour round-trip passenger excursion comes to life as the train departs the Bryson City depot for a journey through the quiet wilderness for a special visit at the North Pole. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, guests on board will enjoy warm cocoa and a treat while listening and reading along with the magical story. Children’s faces show the magic of the season when the train arrives at the North Pole to find Santa Claus waiting. Santa will board THE POLAR EXPRESS™, greeting each child and presenting them with a special gift as in the story, their own silver sleigh bell. Christmas carols will be sung as they return back to the Bryson City Depot.

Weather

We encourage guests to plan ahead and stay apprised of the latest weather developments. Cancellations of a POLAR EXPRESS departure because of inclement weather are very rare. If you’re staying in the Gatlinburg/Sevierville, Tennessee area, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Service announces road closures and openings on Twitter, or call (865) 436-1200 extension 631 for a recorded message. In such case Highway 441 is closed through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Interstate 40 typically remains open. Use 45 Mitchell Street, Bryson City, North Carolina 28713 as your destination to find an alternate route.

Step back into Hollywood’s Golden Era! The package includes two tickets to the New Year’s Eve Heritage Glitz & Glam Dinner, entertainment from a live Rat Pack-era band, two nights of accommodations, two tickets to the Omni Grove Park Inn’s Sunday night Comedy Show, and two admission wristbands to the New Year’s Eve Party.

• Luxurious accommodations
• Two tickets to our Glitz & Glam New Year’s Eve Dinner
• Two admission wrist bands to the New Year’s Eve Party, All That Glitters Is Grove Park
• Two admission tickets to the Comedy show on 1/1
• Daily Breakfast Buffet in the Blue Ridge per day, per registered adult
• Overnight valet or garage self-parking, one vehicle per room, per night

*Classic cocktail attire encouraged. 

All events are available for registered guests 21+ and each guest must hold a valid ticket/wristband.

Say Goodnight To Hunger
Stay with Omni. Help End Hunger in America.
When you stay at Omni, we’ll make a donation to Feeding America.

New Year’s Eve Apple Rise Family Celebration, 5-7pm, The New Year’s Eve Apple Rise is the 4th Annual New Year’s Eve
celebration at the Historic Courthouse, with a family-friendly countdown to the Greenwich Mean Time (London) midnight (7 PM
local time), hot cocoa will be given out while supplies last, a DJ will play the top hits of the year, warming stations, crafts, games
available.

A family-friendly celebration to ring in 2023. Hendersonville pays homage to its status as North Carolina’s Apple Capital by raising a giant apple on the plaza of the Historic Courthouse.

The free event features New Year’s Eve swag giveaways, a DJ dance party, hot cocoa, games and craft vendors. All leading up to the apple rise countdown at 7 p.m. Perfect for families with young children or those who wish to enjoy an early, alcohol-free celebration.

Biltmore House glows with candlelight and firelight during this nighttime tour, changing the daytime visit’s mood and experience. Candlelight Christmas Evenings in Biltmore House allows guests to step back in time with an experience reminiscent of the Vanderbilt’s first Christmas spent in Biltmore House in 1895. Musicians stationed throughout the house perform seasonal favorites. Setting the scene is a 55-foot Norway spruce encircled by illuminated evergreens and shrubs sparkling in the center of the front lawn.

Enjoy a five-course dinner by Avenue M chef Andrew McLeod with Kermit Lynch wine pairings by Advanced Sommelier Nick Demos. One seating only. Space is limited.

Winter Lights is a spectacular open-air walk-through light show made from over one million lights! Located at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, North Carolina, this year’s event features favorites like the famously tall 50-foot lighted tree and the Quilt Garden, along with enchanting new details designed to delight and surprise.

  The Lights!

This year’s show features over a million lights and mixes enchanting new displays with old favorites like the 50ft tree and Quilt Garden. Winter Lights is a walk-through light show with countless opportunities for photos. Use our hashtag #NCWinterLights22 to share the magic!

View the photo gallery here. 

   Live performances

Live performances are scheduled nightly at the Education Center, near Bent Creek Bistro. View the music schedule here.

  Rocky Cove Railroad*

During Winter Lights, our beloved g-scale model train offers nightly service to the North Pole. All aboard!

  Storytime at Woodland Cove

Visit the Education Center for a whimsical window display that follows a young bear’s journey to discover new habitats. This is an educational exhibit that will delight the whole family.

  Gift Shops

Still have a bit of shopping to do for the holidays? our Connections Gallery Gift Shop in the Baker Visitor Center and Winter Lights Shop in the Education Center are open 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. daily, and from 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. nightly, during Winter Lights.

  S’mores and Firepits*

If the winter nights turn a bit chilly, cozy up to the fire pits and heaters throughout the gardens.

S’mores kits are available for purchase at the Bent Creek Bistro, where there’s an especially large fire pit for all your marshmallow-roasting needs!

 Wishing Trees

A favorite Winter Lights tradition, the Wishing Trees return this year in a new location! Look for them near Rocky Cove Railroad, and make sure to leave a wish for the coming year.

  Eat and Drink**

Looking for something to warm you up while you stroll? Cocoa, beer, and wine are available at both the Cocoa Shack and Bent Creek Bistro.

View the menu for Bent Creek Bistro

Bent Creek Bistro Hours: Full menu: 6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. | Snacks: 9:30-10:00 p.m.

*The Rocky Cove Railroad and the fire pits cannot run in certain weather conditions, and may be closed without notice.

**Alcohol purchased on-site may only be consumed in the event area and is not permitted in the parking lot or on the trails. Outside alcohol is prohibited at all times, on all parts of the property. This includes the parking lot and trails.

Bring in 2023 with the one of the area’s most successful modern rock bands. Dance the night away to your favorite tunes, and stick around for the FREE champagne toast, and INCLUDED Buffet! 21+ ONLY Tickets are $20 – Champagne Toast & Food Included with your ticket. Free parking onsite.

We are having a BOTTLE RIOT DISCO BALL and you are invited! Ring in 2023 with us by going back in time to Studio 54 disco fabulosity with live DJs to get everyone on the dance floor!

Go into 2023 laughing with Caleb Synan!

Caleb Synan is one of the hottest young comics in the country. (Funny AND good looking!) His unique background as a preacher’s kid from a small southern town gives him the ability to relate to any and every crowd — even though he’s a big old millennial who lives in LA. Want proof? He’s performed on CONAN (twice!), Last Comic Standing (once!), Bill Burr’s stand up show “The Ringers” on Comedy Central, and his first Comedy Central special “30” in 2022 (You can watch it on YouTube!)

He’s also entertained our troops in South Korea and Japan. What a guy! It’s no wonder he won the title of “Wittiest” in Franklin County High School’s 2009 Yearbook. He even wrote this bio himself. And he’ll have a margarita with you if you play your cards right.

featuring Jenny Jennings

ages 21+ (must have ID with you)

Bring your own skates and roll bounce with us to your favorite soundtrack at the Carrier Park Skate Rink.

THIS IS THE ONE PARTY YOU DONT WANT TO MISS!!
Bring in 2023 at the historic GROVE HOUSE

• ONE Combined EPIC NYE Bash
• THREE Dance Floors, FOUR DJ’s, THREE Balloon Drops
• SIX Bar Tend Stations
• Balloon drops over ALL THREE dance floors, stuffed with OVER $1000 in Cash & Prizes!!!
• Complimentary party favors
  (hats, tiaras, noisemakers, horns, leis, etc.)

Purchase tickets in advance or at the door
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/5666838%3Cbr

Join us in welcoming 2023 on South Slope at Catawba Brewing! Performance by world famous DJ Jut Rut. Kicking off at 8pm and partying down till closing time.

Step back a century and join us for a speakeasy-style soirée in the heart of downtown Asheville. Live music and entertainment, 1920s style decor, and surprises throughout the evening. We’ll see you on the dance floor!

TICKETS: Can be found here on Eventbrite. Print at home or save to your phone (QR code must be visible). No tickets or refunds will be issued at the door.

DRESS CODE: 1920s-style dress is encouraged (but not required)

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

• Tickets are $65 per person
• 2nd floor of Grove Arcade will be open for visitors to explore
• Music and Entertainment to be announced soon!
• Cash/card bar
• Coat check
• Free WiFi
• Beware of ticket scammers

A ENTERTAINING AND HILARIOUS NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION:

What people are saying about Sandy and Richard Riccardi:

“Musical Genius” ~ NY Magazine

“Brilliant” ~ The London Evening Standard

“Parody we never knew we needed”~ NowThis Politics

“Together, Sandy and Richard Riccardi made one hell of a rib-tickling and satisfying cabaret night out.” ~Peter Leavy, Cabaret Scenes Magazine

December 31, it’s a New Year’s Evening of comedy cabaret with Sandy and Richard Riccardi, and jazzy standards by guitarist Tim Doyle and his combo in-between! Sandy and Richard have taken their all-comedy, politically snarkastic show all over the country, having racked up over 100 million views on social media for their original blend of San Francisco sophistication and “Fizzy Fun” (Baltimore Cabaret Scenes Magazine).

Randy Rainbow is their secret love child but won’t admit it. Scream with laughter and tap your toes to their sparkling cabaret songs describing their cracked and bushwhacked road to marital bliss, social consciousness and menopause.

…….New songs, New jokes and old favorites!

—————————-

Tim Doyle is a 23-year veteran of the guitar and holds degrees from the University of North Carolina Greensboro and Indiana State University. He has worked as a professional performer and music educator in Austin, Texas, and throughout the Midwest for the past fifteen years. Tim is also an active composer, and recorded and produced a CD of original compositions for guitar in 2009.

Tim also developed and directed the summer Jazz camps and the annual resident Rock Camp for the ISU Community School of the Arts. Tim has also served as a bandleader and member of several local and touring groups, including The Leonard Washingtons and Lunes Domingo.

The celebration begins at 9pm and the party goes on til midnight.

PLUS All guests will receive FREE champagne for a midnight toast to ring in the New Year.

Sandy and Richard are huge favorites here at White Horse and we are thrilled to have them on board to help ring in the New Year with Joy and Laughter.

Buy Your Tickets Early !!!!!!

————————–

TICKET PRICES:

$30 (includes the free champagne and 3 hours of entertainment)

(Tickets purchased in Advance of the day of the show are on sale for only $28)

Go into 2023 laughing with Caleb Synan!

Caleb Synan is one of the hottest young comics in the country. (Funny AND good looking!) His unique background as a preacher’s kid from a small southern town gives him the ability to relate to any and every crowd — even though he’s a big old millennial who lives in LA. Want proof? He’s performed on CONAN (twice!), Last Comic Standing (once!), Bill Burr’s stand up show “The Ringers” on Comedy Central, and his first Comedy Central special “30” in 2022 (You can watch it on YouTube!)

He’s also entertained our troops in South Korea and Japan. What a guy! It’s no wonder he won the title of “Wittiest” in Franklin County High School’s 2009 Yearbook. He even wrote this bio himself. And he’ll have a margarita with you if you play your cards right.

featuring Jenny Jennings

ages 21+ (must have ID with you)

Tickets $18 advance, $22 day of

Come bring in the New Year with your VK family! Campfire starts at dark and DJ GruntWerk will be spinning live beats through the New Year starting at 10PM!

New York City drops a ball, Atlanta drops a peach, and Miami drops an orange. In Asheville, we drop a keg! Ring in the New Year as we welcome 2023 with our Annual New Year’s Eve Keg Drop Celebration at Thirsty Monk Biltmore Park in South Asheville, NC.

The Keg Drop Celebration is free to attend and ample parking is available for guests.