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.
About This Trip
Over 90,000 guests rode THE POLAR EXPRESS™ with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in 2018 and we hope to see you in 2019! The 1¼ hour round-trip 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.
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ begins November 8, 2019, and operates through December 31, 2019.
- Hop on board the Holly Jolly Christmas Trolley for a fun and festive celebration of the season featuring the sights and soundsof the holidays!
- This seasonal favorite features an entertaining blend of holiday storytelling and traditional Christmas caroling. Enjoy stories of local lore and holiday traditions, then join-in with our on-board musician singing classic carols and songs of Christmas. And all the while the Holly Jolly Trolley is rolling past festive holiday decorations in downtown Asheville, Biltmore Village and the Montford and Grove Park neighborhoods.
The Black Mountain Center for the Arts Theatre proudly presents…The Santaland Diaries, written by David Sedaris and adapted for the stage by Joe Mantello.
PLOT SUMMARY: When a down-on-his luck wannabe actor arrives in New York City at the end of the year, the only employment he can find is at Macy’s department store — working in Santaland for the holiday season, as a reluctant, but relentlessly cheerful, elf. Newly christened “Crumpet”, our clever anti-hero shares his observations of the mayhem in front of and behind the scenes during one chaotic December, from aggressive parents and drunken Santas, to flirtatious actors, poor hygiene, and the racially charged hazards of being a “Pointer Elf.” Will Crumpet find a moment of pure Christmas spirit? Will he end up in Santa’s cottage with Snowball the elf? Will he escape with his life on Christmas Eve before being torn apart by enraged customers?
This show contains mature content and is for adults only.
Evening performances on Friday and Saturdays at 7:30 pm and matinees on Sundays at 2:00 pm.
Edvard Tchivzhel, Conductor
Diane Penning & Paul Langford, Vocalists
The “most wonderful time of the year” can only mean one thing…Holiday at Peace! Making their Greenville debut are the universally praised vocal duo, Diane Penning and Paul Langford. You and your family will be swept into the season spirit with Diane and Paul’s heartfelt vocals and magical chemistry. Music and merriment abound in our holiday pops concert, perfect for the entire family.
“In this bilingual romantic comedy, circumstances both hilarious and tragic bring together a young Israeli woman, who has little command of English, and a young American man, who has little command of romance. Is their inevitable love an accident … or is it destiny, generations in the making?”
“a hilarious and heartwarming romantic comedy” – The New York Times
An Asheville Holiday staple!
Special Event – Join the Bernsteins for their final year of the raucous holiday fun.
The Bernsteins have thrilled and cracked up Asheville audiences with their antics for a decade. With an all-star cast of local acting talent, the show features Best of WNC Award Winner Tracey Johnston-Crum, well-known Lazoom personality Glenn Reed, Erik Moellering, Sarah Felmet, and Darren Marshall, who has played both Santa Claus and Baby Jesus for all ten years of the Spectacular. Directed by Lucia Del Vecchio, the show is sure to be a rollicking comedy romp, that is most certainly not suitable for all audiences.
December 5 – 21, 2019
Thursdays & Fridays at 7:30 p.m.
Saturdays at 7:30pm & 10 p.m.
Note: Groupons are not accepted for The 10th Annual Bernstein Family Christmas Spectacular.
Wednesdays and Thursdays 2:00PM and 7:30PM
Fridays 8:00PM
Saturdays 2:00PM and 8:00PM
Sundays 2:00PM
A family tradition has come home for the holidays. An all-new production. Sure to delight and entertain. Join us for the celebration
Geoff Tate is most likely watching “Cheers” right now. A Cincinnati-based comedian, he has appeared on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and regularly tours with Doug Benson and Doug Stanhope. He made his television debut on Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham, and is a regular on Doug Loves Movies, as well as Getting Doug with High. He has performed at music and comedy festivals like Bonnaroo, South by Southwest, Limestone and he has two albums available at the Doug Stanhope store and he’s the host of the popular geofftate’s MSHD PODCASTO, in which he discusses topical Cheers-related issues, gets his dad to try things, talks to people he graduated with and just has a good time.
Tickets $10 advance, $12 day of
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-geoff-tate-tickets-80584156381
An Asheville Holiday staple!
Special Event – Join the Bernsteins for their final year of the raucous holiday fun.
The Bernsteins have thrilled and cracked up Asheville audiences with their antics for a decade. With an all-star cast of local acting talent, the show features Best of WNC Award Winner Tracey Johnston-Crum, well-known Lazoom personality Glenn Reed, Erik Moellering, Sarah Felmet, and Darren Marshall, who has played both Santa Claus and Baby Jesus for all ten years of the Spectacular. Directed by Lucia Del Vecchio, the show is sure to be a rollicking comedy romp, that is most certainly not suitable for all audiences.
December 5 – 21, 2019
Thursdays & Fridays at 7:30 p.m.
Saturdays at 7:30pm & 10 p.m.
Note: Groupons are not accepted for The 10th Annual Bernstein Family Christmas Spectacular.
Known for its monumental scale of traditional holiday décor and dazzling lights, this year Biltmore’s annual Christmas at Biltmore celebration will offer even more than ever before.
A yuletide feast for the senses, Christmas at Biltmore begins Nov. 1, 2019. One week later, on Nov. 8, the estate will welcome Downton Abbey: The Exhibition, an immersive experience that celebrates the global hit television series and new feature film.
Biltmore House aglow with five dozen Christmas trees
Biltmore House interiors will shine with the sparkle of more than 50 hand-decorated Christmas trees, ribbons and garlands measured by the mile, and thousands of lights. A majestic 35-foot Fraser fir in the Banquet Hall is the home’s holiday centerpiece. For the first time, hand-decorated Christmas trees will be displayed on the balcony that wraps around the home’s two-story Library.
Candlelight Christmas Evenings
During Candlelight Christmas Evenings, candlelight, firelight, and live music will create a magical environment that elevates seasonal celebrations inside Biltmore House. A 55-foot Norway Spruce on the home’s front lawn lit with 55,000 lights will greet guests as they arrive to enter Biltmore House.
The warm welcome continues at Antler Hill Village & Winery with a constellation of holiday lights leading to the Winery and estate restaurants. A towering tree of lights will illuminate the Village Green, with a sea of lighted grapevine spheres nestled in the landscaping. Lights cascading from the trees that surround the bonfire area near Antler Hill Barn will offer a unique touch to the experience.
Downton Abbey: The Exhibition
Downton Abbey: The Exhibition will feature interactive elements that connect fans to their favorite characters, fashions, locations, and historic events of the era. Showcased in two estate locations, the exhibition pairs seamlessly with the real-life story of the Vanderbilt family at Biltmore. Amherst at Deerpark will host multimedia presentations and some of the series’ most recognizable sets—including Mrs. Patmore’s hectic kitchen and the gossip-fueled servants’ quarters. At The Biltmore Legacy in Antler Hill Village, a gallery of more than 50 costumes from the series will be on view.
The exhibition will run through April 7, 2020. Access to Downton Abbey: The Exhibition is included with daytime admission, Candlelight Christmas Evenings admission, or an overnight stay that includes daytime admission.
Christmas at Biltmore 2019 Event Calendar
- Christmas at Biltmore daytime experience – Nov. 1, 2019, through Jan. 5, 2020
- Candlelight Christmas Evenings nighttime experience – Nov. 1, 2019, through Jan. 4, 2020
- Illumination of Antler Hill Village – Nov. 1, 2019, through Jan. 4, 2020, 5:30 p.m. to midnight
- Downton Abbey: The Exhibition at Biltmore’s Amherst and the Biltmore Legacy in Antler Hill Village – Nov. 8, 2019, through April 7, 2020
- A Gardener’s Place How-to Seminar: “Illuminated Holiday Tablescapes” – daily Nov. 1 through Dec. 31, 2019, at 1:30 p.m.
- Conservatory’s annual seasonal display – Nov. 1, 2019, through Jan. 5, 2020
- Complimentary wine tasting at Biltmore Winery. Winery specialty tours available with additional price and reservations required – Nov. 1, 2019, through Jan. 5, 2020
- Bonfires in Antler Hill Village with s’mores kits available for purchase at The Creamery – Nov. 1, 2019, through Jan. 3, 2020, select dates, 3 to 10 p.m.
- Roving Holiday Carolers in Antler Hill Village – select dates
- Candlelight Winery Tour with a look into the winemaking process and tasting with light cheese pairing. Additional price and reservations required.
- Visits with Santa at the bandstand in Antler Hill Village – select dates
- The Inn on Biltmore Estate’s Annual Gingerbread House Tea – additional price and reservations required – Dec. 14 through 22, 2019, select dates, 1 to 3 p.m.
- Festive holiday meals prepared by award-winning chefs served in all of the estate’s restaurants – ongoing
Giving Challenge Issued: Gifts to Pisgah Legal Services Matched Through Dec. 31
To help meet the needs here in our mountain region, generous donors have created the “Campaign for Justice in WNC” Giving Challenge. All gifts made to Pisgah Legal Services by December 31st will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, up to $150,000.
Giving online is fast, easy and secure at www.pisgahlegal.org/give or contact Development Director Ally Wilson by phone at 828-210-3444 or via email: [email protected].
If you need help, call Pisgah Legal Services at 828-253-0406 or toll free at 800-489-6144 or visit www.pisgahlegal.org.
Across the country, schoolchildren place their hands over their hearts and recite “with liberty and justice for all,” an ideal in the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance professing that justice should be accessible to everyone. In criminal cases, legal assistance is a right. Unfortunately, there is no such right to counsel in civil legal matters, and most low-income Americans are forced to go it alone.
A recent study by The Pew Charitable Trusts shows that about 1 in 3 households in the U.S. faced housing, family or debt issues in 2018, suggesting that Americans could benefit from more assistance with civil legal issues. Those numbers increase dramatically for low-income people. A 2017 study shows that 86 percent of civil legal problems reported by low-income Americans received inadequate or no legal help.
Pisgah Legal Services Stands for Justice for People in Western North Carolina (WNC)
For more than 40 years, nonprofit Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) has provided free civil legal aid to help low-income people seek justice and meet their basic needs.
“Folks who live in low-income households regularly experience problems that can be addressed with a civil legal aid attorney by their side: stopping domestic violence, accessing veterans’ benefits, escaping poor housing conditions, and securing health care for example,” says Pisgah Legal Executive Director Jim Barrett.
He continues, “Lawyers are powerful allies who can tackle the issues that keep people locked into poverty, trapped in abusive situations and living in substandard conditions, but we need support from the community to do so. We hope folks will make a gift to help their neighbors in need by the end of the year, because at Pisgah Legal we believe that justice is for everyone, not just those who can afford it.”
Last year PLS served more than 16,800 people across the mountain region. The nonprofit’s main service area includes eight WNC counties, with offices in Asheville, Brevard, Hendersonville, Marshall, Rutherfordton and Spruce Pine. PLS has 27 attorneys on staff and relies heavily on the pro bono legal services of more than 300 volunteer attorneys.
November 29
Downtown Street Lighting & Santa’s Arrival
5:00pm
The lighting of downtown holiday lights and Santa’s arrival kick off the holiday season in Downtown Hendersonville. The evening features entertainment, sing-along, hot chocolate and a visit from Santa Claus at the Historic Courthouse on Main Street. Click for more information Downtown Hendersonville
November 8 – 17
Flat Rock Playhouse presents: “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe”
Four kids travel through a wardrobe to the land of Narnia and learn of their destiny to free it with the guidance of a mystical lion! The play was based on the novel by C. S. Lewis. 828-693-0731 Click for tickets Flat Rock Playhouse
November 29 – December 23
Peppermint the Bear Scavenger Hunt
Free
Peppermint Bear will take you on a fun-filled bear hunt through downtown Hendersonville looking for her cubs. As you search for the cubs, visit at least 12 of the 22 downtown participating businesses to be eligible for prizes. Complete the entry form in the brochure and drop it in Peppermint’s mailbox, located in front of the Visitor Center, by December 23rd. For more details about the Scavenger Hunt, stop by the Visitor Center at 201 South Main Street.
December 7
Hendersonville Christmas Parade
10:00am
A traditional hometown Christmas parade travels along Main Street from Five
Points to Caswell Street. Sponsored by the Hendersonville Merchants & Business Association. This year’s theme is the “The Magic of Christmas”. Visit the Hendersonville Merchants & Business Association web site to download a Parade application. 828-692-4179
November 29 – December 22
Flat Rock Playhouse Mainstage presents: “A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas”
An all-new Christmas production follows up last year’s smash holiday hit. This original musical revue performed by your favorite Flat Rock Playhouse singers and dancers is filled with holiday cheer. Celebrate the holidays Vagabonds style! Click for tickets Flat Rock Playhouse
December 6
Olde Fashioned Hendersonville Christmas
Main Street / 5pm – 8pm
The Downtown merchants open their doors and invite holiday shoppers in with a festive window displays, decorations, caroling, music, and refreshments. 828-697-2232.
December 8
Holiday Tour of Historic Inns and Cookie Caper
1pm-4pm
$20
The Holiday Tour of Historic Inns and Cookie Caper is a self-guided tour of several inns and the Cookie Caper part of the tour is a delicious Christmas treat at each inn. The inns on tour include the 1898 Waverly Inn, Charleston Inn, Mill House Lodge, Echo Mountain Inn and Brightwaters Guesthouse. 828-697-3010
December 18 – January 1
Iceless Skating Rink
Regular Hours 11am-6pm, EXCEPT Christmas Eve 11am-3pm, Christmas Day Closed, New Year’s Eve 11am-3pm, and New Year’s Day from 1pm-6pm
Admission: $10, Children 10 & under $5 (payment by cash or check only)
Enjoy ice-skating in Downtown Hendersonville this holiday season. The iceless rink is located at the Visitor Center on South Main Street. The synthetic surface is made from special polymers that does not require liquid, so it can be enjoyed year-round in any temperature. A curling lane is also available. Curling involves players sliding stones on the ice towards a target. Play a variety of free games while you wait your turn on the ice. Skate rental included in admission price. Admission: $10, Children $5 for ages 10 & under, with group rates available for groups of 10 or more, but must call to reserve a time for groups, $5 for for 30 minutes of curling. Regular Hours 11am-6pm, EXCEPT Christmas Eve 11am-3pm, Christmas Day Closed, New Year’s Eve 11am-3pm, and New Year’s Day from 1pm-6pm. Operates weather permitting. Benefits the Henderson County America In Bloom Program, 828-768-4413 To learn more go to: Henderson County America in Bloom
December 20 – 22
Main Street Holiday Hayrides
5pm – 8pm
Free
Take a magical hayride through Historic Downtown Hendersonville among its twinkling lights and festive decorations. Board the tractor-drawn wagon ride at the Visitor Center, located at 201 South Main Street. Reservations are not accepted, first-come, first-served basis.
Peppermint the Bear is a special friend of Santa and she needs your help finding her missing cubs! They were sent out to get holiday decorations and a tree, and have not come home. Find Peppermint at the Visitor Center, and then head out to shops along Main Street to look for her cubs. If you help her find 12 of her cubs, you will be eligible to win a prize. The scavenger hunt is available from 11/29-12/23, so that the bears will be home in time for Christmas!
More information can be found at the Visitor Center.
’Tis the season — to recycle!
Seriously, between now and the end of the year… Asheville, we love you, and you are going to generate a lot of….STUFF. You know, all those boxes and bags, tinsel and tags.
As part of the City’s sustainability and trash-reduction goals, we certainly want to keep as much of these materials out of the landfill as possible.
Stay on Santa’s nice list with these holiday recycling tips.
What can go in the Big Blue Cart?
YES
- Wrapping paper (except foil wrapping paper)
- Gift boxes
- Cardboard
- Paper gift bags (remove strings)
- Holiday cards and envelopes
- Catalogs, newspaper, and junk mail
NO
- Tissue paper
- Ribbons and bows
- Plastic gift bags
- Bubble wrap and Styrofoam
- Puffy mailing envelopes
- Used paper plates and cups
- Napkins and paper towels
- Christmas lights or electronics (Residents can take Christmas lights to Biltmore Iron & Metal for recycling.)
Disposing of your Christmas tree
The City of Asheville Sanitation Division will collect natural Christmas trees on their regular brush collection routes. Christmas trees must be free of all lights, ornaments, tinsel, stands, and other materials. Place trees at the curb by 7 a.m. on the Monday of your regular brush collection week. The trees will be taken to Riverside Stump Dump and recycled into mulch.
Residents can also drop off Christmas trees for recycling at the following locations:
- Buncombe County Landfill (81 Panther Branch Road)
- Private yard waste facilities
Artificial trees in reusable condition can be donated to Goodwill or other reuse organization. Artificial trees that can’t be donated should be called in for bulky trash collection to 828-251-1122.
Ring in 2020 with Burntshirt Vineyards at their “Decade Party,” where you dress in the attire of your favorite decade! The event will be held in The Summit at Burntshirt Vineyards, and the evening will feature DJ GetVocal, Hors d’Oeuvres, a Champagne Toast with party favors at midnight, raffles and Burntshirt wine! The tickets are $60 per person ($55 for Wine Club Members). **Club members, please contact the Wine Club Manager, Emily for your ticket: [email protected]**
“Dressing for the Occasion” offers visitors a window into the style, culture, and feel of mid-century America. The family’s clothing and accessories weave together the roles of Carl Sandburg as a prominent writer, celebrity, father, and husband. This temporary exhibit offers an exciting opportunity for the public to view objects that are normally in storage or in the possession of Sandburg family members. Tours of the Sandburg Home are offered daily from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. Tickets are available first come, first served, each day from the visitor information area in the ground level of the Sandburg Home.
Nearly every room in the historically furnished house museum will be included in the exhibit. Visitors will see the characteristic scarves Carl Sandburg wore as he played his guitar and sang folk songs to entertain his family and guests, the dress Lilian Sandburg wore to meet President Lyndon B. Johnson, and many other mid-century pieces worn by the Sandburgs and their daughters. Historic photographs, paired with the clothing, will provide context.
Named for two years by Explore Asheville as one of the top 5 events in the Swannanoa Valley at Christmas, you are invited to come experience 25 Christmas trees that bring joy to the whole community. The public is invited to view the trees and then vote with money for their favorite tree. Every cent raised through Deck The Trees goes to the Fuel Fund for Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry. Be a part of creating something beautiful that also gives back to the community. Prizes are awarded for the tree that raises the most money and for the tree that most represents the theme.
Calendar of Events:
Dec. 6, 2019 – Jan. 6, 2020
Visit Deck The Trees from 10 AM to 9 PM
Dec. 9, 4:30 – 7:00 PM
Photos and a Visit with Santa Claus
$15.00 per photo
Dec. 10, 2:00 to 4:00 PM
Deck The Tree Christmas Tea with Highland Farms
January 6, 2020 6:00 to 8:00
A Final Celebration
-Which tree most represents the theme?
-Which tree raised the most money for the Fuel Fund for Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry?
Just hear those sleigh bells jingling all the way to Asheville Mall! Santa Claus is on his way to Asheville, and we’re celebrating his arrival on Saturday, November 16. Your little elves-in-training are invited to visit Santa at Center Court, near Barnes & Noble and ULTA, to share their Christmas lists and holiday wishes.
Santa will be available from November 16th to December 24th, when he begins his holiday trek around the world. Your elves-in-training can visit with Santa Monday through Saturday from 10am to 1pm, 2pm to 5pm, and 6pm to 9pm; and Sundays from noon to 3pm and 4pm to 6pm.
This year’s Christmas display theme is “Winter Wonderland.” Come take your family photos at this magical display. Santa will be available on special dates, contact store for more details! Display also open when Santa is not there.
Wrap your gifts at Asheville Outlets (ShopAshevilleOutlets.com) for a good cause! Guests are invited to bring their purchases and visit the gift-wrapping station in the Food Court this holiday season. $5 minimum donation suggested. Donations to benefit Enka Marching Band Program. Located inside Food Court.
Gift Wrapping Hours:
December 6-8, 13-15 and 19-22, 2019 – 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Sundays, 12 noon to 6 p.m.
November 16 through December 24, 2019
11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Saturday, Sundays, 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. and Christmas Eve, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. inside Food Court
FREE Santa Photos are back! From November 16th through December 24th, every family who visits Santa will receive two FREE 4”x6” Santa photo prints and a digital download of a single image. Additional photos and Christmas merchandise are available for purchase. FREE Santa Photo is located inside the Food Court and is sponsored by N.C. Arboretum Winter Lights.
For the last 17 years, A Swannanoa Solstice has delighted local audiences with a world class display of folk, becoming a beloved holiday tradition that’s ushered in the winter season and drawn more devoted fans each year. With renowned recording artists like Al Petteway, Amy White, Robin Bullock, Grammy-winner David Holt and special guests Ellie Grace, Doug Orr, Phil Jamison and E.J. Jones, this selection of creative Celtic, American-roots and world-influenced music will dazzle both local and visiting audiences with the annual Asheville event — reflecting the heritage of the hills and spreading a peaceful, united and uplifting message perfect for the holiday season.
The Black Mountain Center for the Arts Theatre proudly presents…The Santaland Diaries, written by David Sedaris and adapted for the stage by Joe Mantello.
PLOT SUMMARY: When a down-on-his luck wannabe actor arrives in New York City at the end of the year, the only employment he can find is at Macy’s department store — working in Santaland for the holiday season, as a reluctant, but relentlessly cheerful, elf. Newly christened “Crumpet”, our clever anti-hero shares his observations of the mayhem in front of and behind the scenes during one chaotic December, from aggressive parents and drunken Santas, to flirtatious actors, poor hygiene, and the racially charged hazards of being a “Pointer Elf.” Will Crumpet find a moment of pure Christmas spirit? Will he end up in Santa’s cottage with Snowball the elf? Will he escape with his life on Christmas Eve before being torn apart by enraged customers?
This show contains mature content and is for adults only.
“In this bilingual romantic comedy, circumstances both hilarious and tragic bring together a young Israeli woman, who has little command of English, and a young American man, who has little command of romance. Is their inevitable love an accident … or is it destiny, generations in the making?”
“a hilarious and heartwarming romantic comedy” – The New York Times
Directed and Conceived by Shelia Sumpter
The Performing Arts Main Stage
Join us as our KIDS AT HART celebrate the holidays in this festive musical review.
The Holidays have never felt so magical! Get on Asheville’s homegrown purple bus tour and experience a sightseeing history tour injected with enough seasonal cheer to make your belly laugh like a bowl full of jelly. We explore Downtown, the South Slope, Historic Montford, and the River Arts District. This 90 minute holiday extravaganza only happens in December. Get your tickets now!
HIGHLIGHTS + FEATURES
Collectively, this specially curated lineup of experiences is a welcoming space for ALL, while centering the celebratory and gratitude-based culture that we know to be Kwanzaa. As a cultural tradition reflective of those from the African diaspora, Kwanzaa took root in the United States in 1966, and for many is more than simply a 7-day holiday, but also a reflection of the way we would like to build community year-round. Event features + highlights include ::
- Community event rooted in art, culture, and heritage co-organized by adé PROJECT, Southside Rising + friends!
- Celebration of the original Black Nativity: Liberation Holiday team + cast, along with an unveiling/viewing of a featured film on this community production.
- Special holiday meal prepared by The Ettison Group, available at the event and to residents of the Asheville public housing communities.
- Showcasing of Southside Stories, a short film about the changes, people and culture of Asheville, NC’s historic black Southside neighborhoodproduced, produced by youth from Word on the Street/La Voz de los Jovenes
- Cultivating support for the Stephanie Maeweather Clothes Closet by accepting gently used winter coats (and clothes) on site..and more!
About This Trip
Over 90,000 guests rode THE POLAR EXPRESS™ with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in 2018 and we hope to see you in 2019! The 1¼ hour round-trip 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.
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ begins November 8, 2019, and operates through December 31, 2019.
At least 7 Fairytale Princesses and Santa Clause will take the stage for a Mini Concert, Dance Party, Christmas Storytime, Karaoke, Crafts, and Memories that will last a lifetime.
2 Professional Photos: Each child will receive a Professional Photos with the Princesses by award winning and nationally recognized photographer Ivana Desancic Photoart as well as a Professional Photo with Santa by another on of our favorite and award winning photographers, 10th Moon Photoagraphy.
Other festivities included with VIP ticket are: Visit Santa, 2019 Christmas Ornament making to commemorate your day, Build-Your-Own Snoman, other Crafts, and 2 FREE ‘Princess Vouchers’ good toward your choice of Princess Makeovers, Glitter Tattoos, or Balloon Wands.
Every attendee needs a ticket. Children 1 and under are free.
Beverages, Beer and Wine will be available for purchase through the Crowne Plaza. Songs Sealed Delivered does not profit from these offerings. There will be refreshments served in the Green Room before the Show from 4-5pm.
SCHEDULE
- Check-in is at 3:30 Doors open at 3:45
- 3:45-4:30Portraits with the Princesses
- 3:45-4:45 Crafts, and Vouchure Activities
- 4-4:30 Karaoke with Rapunzel(Sign-up sheet by stage)
- 4:30-5 Mini-Concert hosted by MC Punz: featuring our Frosted Sister, Our Island Warrior and a few of their fairytale friends. Santa may even pop in for a song!
- 5-5:45 Princess Christmas Dance Party, and Visits with Santa
- 5:45 Santa reads a Night Before Christmas
- Farewells and Christmas Wishes: a poem by the princesses
We are pleasesd to announce we will also have a quiet room designated for breast-feeding mothers, and children with sensory issues during the show. Additionally we will have light refreshments available before the show.