$76–$106
- Access to Biltmore House & Gardens
- Audio Guide of Biltmore House including personal Vanderbilt stories and archival details
- Access to Antler Hill Village & Winery
- Wine Tasting (limited availability)
- Complimentary parking
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.
Thursday, October
28, 2021
Carolina Shine Moonshine Experience
“Shine and Dine” on the railway! We cordially invite you to hop on board The Carolina Shine, GSMR’s All-Adult First Class Moonshine Car! We will be proudly serving hand crafted, triple-distilled, craft moonshine. Some of the smoothest tasting moonshine in the Carolinas!
Offered on the Nantahala Gorge excursion, this shine and dine experience begins in a renovated First Class train fleet car, The Carolina Shine. The interior features copper lined walls filled with the history of moonshining in North Carolina. Learn about the proud tradition that the Appalachians established when bootlegging was an acceptable way of life and local home brews were the best in town. Read about Swain County’s very own Major Redmond, the most famous mountain moonshine outlaw of the 19th century.
Once your appetite for knowledge is satisfied, enjoy sample tastings of flavors like Apple Pie, Blackberry, Blueberry, Cherry, Peach, and Strawberry moonshine. If the samples are not enough, there will be plenty of Moonshine infused cocktails like Copper Cola or Moonshiner’s Mimosa available for purchase. GSMR is excited to feature multiple craft NC based distilleries to serve our guests only the best! Each jar is handcrafted and authentically infused with real fruit, the way moonshine was meant to be made. Passengers will also enjoy a full service All-Adult First Class ride with an attendant and a specialty boxed lunch. During the month of October. 9am and 2pm departures. 9am will feature the option of a delicious Sausage & Bacon Quiche or Cheesy Ham Hash Brown Casserole. The 2pm departure will be serving the popular BBQ meal.
| Diesel | $109.00 ($114.00 October) | Not Permitted |
| Steam | $119.00 ($126.00 October) | Not Permitted |
| Locomotive | Adult (21+ Only) | Under 21 |
|---|
How to Purchase
You can purchase your tickets online or call our reservations department at (800) 872-4681. Or, you can purchase your tickets the day of in the Bryson City Depot. No matter how you purchase tickets, they’ll be waiting at will call.
Friday, October
29, 2021
Driving Tour with Smith-McDowell House
Experience Fall at Biltmore
Private Caboose Party
Victoria: The Forgotten Town Walking Tour
Carolina Shine Moonshine Experience
PEANUTS™ The Great Pumpkin Patch Express
 |
| The residents of the Smith-McDowell House and grounds were woven in to the fabric of Asheville.
This driving tour begins at the Smith-McDowell House Museum on the campus of A-B Tech and continues through historic sites related to early occupants of the house. |
EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCE
$284–$314
- Access to Biltmore House & Gardens
- Immersive 90-minute guided small group tour of America’s Largest Home®
- Experience the house as one of the estate’s very first guests
- Hear estate history and inside stories about Vanderbilt guests’ impressions of Biltmore
- Visit rarely-accessed areas: Louis XVI Room, Library balcony, more
- Access to Antler Hill Village & Winery
- Wine Tasting (limited availability)
- Complimentary parking
Ride in style on the historic Great Smoky Mountains Railroad aboard your very own restored Caboose. These are great for family reunions, birthday parties, private meetings, corporate field trips or just any time!
Our cabooses accommodate up to 15 people with seating on the main level and in the cupola. (And, remember, babies are people, too!) The cabooses feature heat, private bathrooms, windows that can be opened, and open air vestibules at each end for unobstructed views. Advanced reservations are required and availability of caboose rentals are limited.
A platter of cheese and crackers, and an assortment of 15 bottled Coca-Cola products are included. Plus, the caboose is the only place where you can bring your own food and drink (please, no alcohol) in picnic baskets or coolers.
You can charter the caboose on:
Best value for small groups and private parties up to 15 passengers. Available by phone only. Book now by calling 800-872-4681.
 |
| Contained by its larger growing neighbor (Asheville), the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, and the Southern Railway line, the Town of Victoria existed from 1887 until 1905, when it was absorbed into Asheville. The community—which included the Smith-McDowell House and Fernihurst mansion—originally incorporated into a town to prevent unwanted development (particularly from the Vanderbilts). |
“Shine and Dine” on the railway! We cordially invite you to hop on board The Carolina Shine, GSMR’s All-Adult First Class Moonshine Car! We will be proudly serving hand crafted, triple-distilled, craft moonshine. Some of the smoothest tasting moonshine in the Carolinas!
Offered on the Nantahala Gorge excursion, this shine and dine experience begins in a renovated First Class train fleet car, The Carolina Shine. The interior features copper lined walls filled with the history of moonshining in North Carolina. Learn about the proud tradition that the Appalachians established when bootlegging was an acceptable way of life and local home brews were the best in town. Read about Swain County’s very own Major Redmond, the most famous mountain moonshine outlaw of the 19th century.
Once your appetite for knowledge is satisfied, enjoy sample tastings of flavors like Apple Pie, Blackberry, Blueberry, Cherry, Peach, and Strawberry moonshine. If the samples are not enough, there will be plenty of Moonshine infused cocktails like Copper Cola or Moonshiner’s Mimosa available for purchase. GSMR is excited to feature multiple craft NC based distilleries to serve our guests only the best! Each jar is handcrafted and authentically infused with real fruit, the way moonshine was meant to be made. Passengers will also enjoy a full service All-Adult First Class ride with an attendant and a specialty boxed lunch. During the month of October. 9am and 2pm departures. 9am will feature the option of a delicious Sausage & Bacon Quiche or Cheesy Ham Hash Brown Casserole. The 2pm departure will be serving the popular BBQ meal.
| Diesel | $109.00 ($114.00 October) | Not Permitted |
| Steam | $119.00 ($126.00 October) | Not Permitted |
| Locomotive | Adult (21+ Only) | Under 21 |
|---|
How to Purchase
You can purchase your tickets online or call our reservations department at (800) 872-4681. Or, you can purchase your tickets the day of in the Bryson City Depot. No matter how you purchase tickets, they’ll be waiting at will call.
Returning 2021 – Guests will hear a narration of Schulz’s “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” as the train travels to the Pumpkin Patch. Upon arrival, passengers will be greeted and have a photo opportunity with Charlie Brown, Lucy, and Snoopy. During your 1 hour and 30 minute layover, your activities to enjoy at The Great Pumpkin Patch will include:
- campfire marshmallows
- coloring station
- temporary tattoos
- trick or treating
- bouncy house (weather permitting)
- wagon rides
And kids, don’t forget to wear your Halloween costumes! There will be plenty of PEANUTS™ merchandise at the GSMR Gift Store and Train Museum! Each child will also select their own pumpkin from The Great Pumpkin Patch to take home.
Saturday, October
30, 2021
Driving Tour with Smith-McDowell House
Experience Fall at Biltmore
Private Caboose Party
Victoria: The Forgotten Town Walking Tour
2021 Home and Garden Show
4th Annual Beaverdam Studio Tour
Carolina Shine Moonshine Experience
PEANUTS™ The Great Pumpkin Patch Express
Public Tour at Asheville Art Museum: Intersections in American Art
PEANUTS™ The Great Pumpkin Patch Express
|
| The residents of the Smith-McDowell House and grounds were woven in to the fabric of Asheville.
This driving tour begins at the Smith-McDowell House Museum on the campus of A-B Tech and continues through historic sites related to early occupants of the house. |
$76–$106
- Access to Biltmore House & Gardens
- Audio Guide of Biltmore House including personal Vanderbilt stories and archival details
- Access to Antler Hill Village & Winery
- Wine Tasting (limited availability)
- Complimentary parking
EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCE
$284–$314
- Access to Biltmore House & Gardens
- Immersive 90-minute guided small group tour of America’s Largest Home®
- Experience the house as one of the estate’s very first guests
- Hear estate history and inside stories about Vanderbilt guests’ impressions of Biltmore
- Visit rarely-accessed areas: Louis XVI Room, Library balcony, more
- Access to Antler Hill Village & Winery
- Wine Tasting (limited availability)
- Complimentary parking
Ride in style on the historic Great Smoky Mountains Railroad aboard your very own restored Caboose. These are great for family reunions, birthday parties, private meetings, corporate field trips or just any time!
Our cabooses accommodate up to 15 people with seating on the main level and in the cupola. (And, remember, babies are people, too!) The cabooses feature heat, private bathrooms, windows that can be opened, and open air vestibules at each end for unobstructed views. Advanced reservations are required and availability of caboose rentals are limited.
A platter of cheese and crackers, and an assortment of 15 bottled Coca-Cola products are included. Plus, the caboose is the only place where you can bring your own food and drink (please, no alcohol) in picnic baskets or coolers.
You can charter the caboose on:
Best value for small groups and private parties up to 15 passengers. Available by phone only. Book now by calling 800-872-4681.
|
| Contained by its larger growing neighbor (Asheville), the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, and the Southern Railway line, the Town of Victoria existed from 1887 until 1905, when it was absorbed into Asheville. The community—which included the Smith-McDowell House and Fernihurst mansion—originally incorporated into a town to prevent unwanted development (particularly from the Vanderbilts). |
Join us for a self-guided tour of artists’ studios in North Asheville’s beautiful Beaverdam Valley
25 artists working in Beaverdam Valley—plus 5 guest artists—are excited to welcome visitors to their studios and homes to see their work, talk with them, and purchase handmade art and craft. Media include ceramics, painting, jewelry, sculpture, textiles, paper art, photography, and more.
Beaverdam Studio Tour 2021
Saturday, October 30 10am to 5pm
Sunday, October 31 noon to 5pm
All studios are off Beaverdam Road which is off Merrimon Avenue in North Asheville
Download the 2021 Map PDF
Download the 2021 Brochure PDF
“Shine and Dine” on the railway! We cordially invite you to hop on board The Carolina Shine, GSMR’s All-Adult First Class Moonshine Car! We will be proudly serving hand crafted, triple-distilled, craft moonshine. Some of the smoothest tasting moonshine in the Carolinas!
Offered on the Nantahala Gorge excursion, this shine and dine experience begins in a renovated First Class train fleet car, The Carolina Shine. The interior features copper lined walls filled with the history of moonshining in North Carolina. Learn about the proud tradition that the Appalachians established when bootlegging was an acceptable way of life and local home brews were the best in town. Read about Swain County’s very own Major Redmond, the most famous mountain moonshine outlaw of the 19th century.
Once your appetite for knowledge is satisfied, enjoy sample tastings of flavors like Apple Pie, Blackberry, Blueberry, Cherry, Peach, and Strawberry moonshine. If the samples are not enough, there will be plenty of Moonshine infused cocktails like Copper Cola or Moonshiner’s Mimosa available for purchase. GSMR is excited to feature multiple craft NC based distilleries to serve our guests only the best! Each jar is handcrafted and authentically infused with real fruit, the way moonshine was meant to be made. Passengers will also enjoy a full service All-Adult First Class ride with an attendant and a specialty boxed lunch. During the month of October. 9am and 2pm departures. 9am will feature the option of a delicious Sausage & Bacon Quiche or Cheesy Ham Hash Brown Casserole. The 2pm departure will be serving the popular BBQ meal.
| Diesel | $109.00 ($114.00 October) | Not Permitted |
| Steam | $119.00 ($126.00 October) | Not Permitted |
| Locomotive | Adult (21+ Only) | Under 21 |
|---|
How to Purchase
You can purchase your tickets online or call our reservations department at (800) 872-4681. Or, you can purchase your tickets the day of in the Bryson City Depot. No matter how you purchase tickets, they’ll be waiting at will call.
Returning 2021 – Guests will hear a narration of Schulz’s “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” as the train travels to the Pumpkin Patch. Upon arrival, passengers will be greeted and have a photo opportunity with Charlie Brown, Lucy, and Snoopy. During your 1 hour and 30 minute layover, your activities to enjoy at The Great Pumpkin Patch will include:
- campfire marshmallows
- coloring station
- temporary tattoos
- trick or treating
- bouncy house (weather permitting)
- wagon rides
And kids, don’t forget to wear your Halloween costumes! There will be plenty of PEANUTS™ merchandise at the GSMR Gift Store and Train Museum! Each child will also select their own pumpkin from The Great Pumpkin Patch to take home.
Dorothea A. Dreier, Interior with Chinese Lantern, before 1923, oil on board, 7 ½ × 9 ¾ inches; frame 12 ½ × 14 ½ inches. Asheville Art Museum.
Today’s public tour is led by Susan Coleman, touring docent.
Join docents for tours of the Museum’s Collection and special exhibitions. No reservations are required.
Returning 2021 – Guests will hear a narration of Schulz’s “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” as the train travels to the Pumpkin Patch. Upon arrival, passengers will be greeted and have a photo opportunity with Charlie Brown, Lucy, and Snoopy. During your 1 hour and 30 minute layover, your activities to enjoy at The Great Pumpkin Patch will include:
- campfire marshmallows
- coloring station
- temporary tattoos
- trick or treating
- bouncy house (weather permitting)
- wagon rides
And kids, don’t forget to wear your Halloween costumes! There will be plenty of PEANUTS™ merchandise at the GSMR Gift Store and Train Museum! Each child will also select their own pumpkin from The Great Pumpkin Patch to take home.
Sunday, October
31, 2021
Driving Tour with Smith-McDowell House
Experience Fall at Biltmore
Private Caboose Party
Victoria: The Forgotten Town Walking Tour
2021 Home and Garden Show
Carolina Shine Moonshine Experience
PEANUTS™ The Great Pumpkin Patch Express
PEANUTS™ The Great Pumpkin Patch Express
|
| The residents of the Smith-McDowell House and grounds were woven in to the fabric of Asheville.
This driving tour begins at the Smith-McDowell House Museum on the campus of A-B Tech and continues through historic sites related to early occupants of the house. |
$76–$106
- Access to Biltmore House & Gardens
- Audio Guide of Biltmore House including personal Vanderbilt stories and archival details
- Access to Antler Hill Village & Winery
- Wine Tasting (limited availability)
- Complimentary parking
EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCE
$284–$314
- Access to Biltmore House & Gardens
- Immersive 90-minute guided small group tour of America’s Largest Home®
- Experience the house as one of the estate’s very first guests
- Hear estate history and inside stories about Vanderbilt guests’ impressions of Biltmore
- Visit rarely-accessed areas: Louis XVI Room, Library balcony, more
- Access to Antler Hill Village & Winery
- Wine Tasting (limited availability)
- Complimentary parking
Ride in style on the historic Great Smoky Mountains Railroad aboard your very own restored Caboose. These are great for family reunions, birthday parties, private meetings, corporate field trips or just any time!
Our cabooses accommodate up to 15 people with seating on the main level and in the cupola. (And, remember, babies are people, too!) The cabooses feature heat, private bathrooms, windows that can be opened, and open air vestibules at each end for unobstructed views. Advanced reservations are required and availability of caboose rentals are limited.
A platter of cheese and crackers, and an assortment of 15 bottled Coca-Cola products are included. Plus, the caboose is the only place where you can bring your own food and drink (please, no alcohol) in picnic baskets or coolers.
You can charter the caboose on:
Best value for small groups and private parties up to 15 passengers. Available by phone only. Book now by calling 800-872-4681.
|
| Contained by its larger growing neighbor (Asheville), the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, and the Southern Railway line, the Town of Victoria existed from 1887 until 1905, when it was absorbed into Asheville. The community—which included the Smith-McDowell House and Fernihurst mansion—originally incorporated into a town to prevent unwanted development (particularly from the Vanderbilts). |
“Shine and Dine” on the railway! We cordially invite you to hop on board The Carolina Shine, GSMR’s All-Adult First Class Moonshine Car! We will be proudly serving hand crafted, triple-distilled, craft moonshine. Some of the smoothest tasting moonshine in the Carolinas!
Offered on the Nantahala Gorge excursion, this shine and dine experience begins in a renovated First Class train fleet car, The Carolina Shine. The interior features copper lined walls filled with the history of moonshining in North Carolina. Learn about the proud tradition that the Appalachians established when bootlegging was an acceptable way of life and local home brews were the best in town. Read about Swain County’s very own Major Redmond, the most famous mountain moonshine outlaw of the 19th century.
Once your appetite for knowledge is satisfied, enjoy sample tastings of flavors like Apple Pie, Blackberry, Blueberry, Cherry, Peach, and Strawberry moonshine. If the samples are not enough, there will be plenty of Moonshine infused cocktails like Copper Cola or Moonshiner’s Mimosa available for purchase. GSMR is excited to feature multiple craft NC based distilleries to serve our guests only the best! Each jar is handcrafted and authentically infused with real fruit, the way moonshine was meant to be made. Passengers will also enjoy a full service All-Adult First Class ride with an attendant and a specialty boxed lunch. During the month of October. 9am and 2pm departures. 9am will feature the option of a delicious Sausage & Bacon Quiche or Cheesy Ham Hash Brown Casserole. The 2pm departure will be serving the popular BBQ meal.
| Diesel | $109.00 ($114.00 October) | Not Permitted |
| Steam | $119.00 ($126.00 October) | Not Permitted |
| Locomotive | Adult (21+ Only) | Under 21 |
|---|
How to Purchase
You can purchase your tickets online or call our reservations department at (800) 872-4681. Or, you can purchase your tickets the day of in the Bryson City Depot. No matter how you purchase tickets, they’ll be waiting at will call.
Returning 2021 – Guests will hear a narration of Schulz’s “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” as the train travels to the Pumpkin Patch. Upon arrival, passengers will be greeted and have a photo opportunity with Charlie Brown, Lucy, and Snoopy. During your 1 hour and 30 minute layover, your activities to enjoy at The Great Pumpkin Patch will include:
- campfire marshmallows
- coloring station
- temporary tattoos
- trick or treating
- bouncy house (weather permitting)
- wagon rides
And kids, don’t forget to wear your Halloween costumes! There will be plenty of PEANUTS™ merchandise at the GSMR Gift Store and Train Museum! Each child will also select their own pumpkin from The Great Pumpkin Patch to take home.
Returning 2021 – Guests will hear a narration of Schulz’s “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” as the train travels to the Pumpkin Patch. Upon arrival, passengers will be greeted and have a photo opportunity with Charlie Brown, Lucy, and Snoopy. During your 1 hour and 30 minute layover, your activities to enjoy at The Great Pumpkin Patch will include:
- campfire marshmallows
- coloring station
- temporary tattoos
- trick or treating
- bouncy house (weather permitting)
- wagon rides
And kids, don’t forget to wear your Halloween costumes! There will be plenty of PEANUTS™ merchandise at the GSMR Gift Store and Train Museum! Each child will also select their own pumpkin from The Great Pumpkin Patch to take home.
Monday, November
1, 2021
Experience Fall at Biltmore
$76–$106
- Access to Biltmore House & Gardens
- Audio Guide of Biltmore House including personal Vanderbilt stories and archival details
- Access to Antler Hill Village & Winery
- Wine Tasting (limited availability)
- Complimentary parking
EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCE
$284–$314
- Access to Biltmore House & Gardens
- Immersive 90-minute guided small group tour of America’s Largest Home®
- Experience the house as one of the estate’s very first guests
- Hear estate history and inside stories about Vanderbilt guests’ impressions of Biltmore
- Visit rarely-accessed areas: Louis XVI Room, Library balcony, more
- Access to Antler Hill Village & Winery
- Wine Tasting (limited availability)
- Complimentary parking
Tuesday, November
2, 2021
Experience Fall at Biltmore
$76–$106
- Access to Biltmore House & Gardens
- Audio Guide of Biltmore House including personal Vanderbilt stories and archival details
- Access to Antler Hill Village & Winery
- Wine Tasting (limited availability)
- Complimentary parking
EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCE
$284–$314
- Access to Biltmore House & Gardens
- Immersive 90-minute guided small group tour of America’s Largest Home®
- Experience the house as one of the estate’s very first guests
- Hear estate history and inside stories about Vanderbilt guests’ impressions of Biltmore
- Visit rarely-accessed areas: Louis XVI Room, Library balcony, more
- Access to Antler Hill Village & Winery
- Wine Tasting (limited availability)
- Complimentary parking
Wednesday, November
3, 2021
Experience Fall at Biltmore
$76–$106
- Access to Biltmore House & Gardens
- Audio Guide of Biltmore House including personal Vanderbilt stories and archival details
- Access to Antler Hill Village & Winery
- Wine Tasting (limited availability)
- Complimentary parking
EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCE
$284–$314
- Access to Biltmore House & Gardens
- Immersive 90-minute guided small group tour of America’s Largest Home®
- Experience the house as one of the estate’s very first guests
- Hear estate history and inside stories about Vanderbilt guests’ impressions of Biltmore
- Visit rarely-accessed areas: Louis XVI Room, Library balcony, more
- Access to Antler Hill Village & Winery
- Wine Tasting (limited availability)
- Complimentary parking
Thursday, November
4, 2021
Experience Fall at Biltmore
PUBLIC TOUR Modernist Design at Black Mountain College
$76–$106
- Access to Biltmore House & Gardens
- Audio Guide of Biltmore House including personal Vanderbilt stories and archival details
- Access to Antler Hill Village & Winery
- Wine Tasting (limited availability)
- Complimentary parking
EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCE
$284–$314
- Access to Biltmore House & Gardens
- Immersive 90-minute guided small group tour of America’s Largest Home®
- Experience the house as one of the estate’s very first guests
- Hear estate history and inside stories about Vanderbilt guests’ impressions of Biltmore
- Visit rarely-accessed areas: Louis XVI Room, Library balcony, more
- Access to Antler Hill Village & Winery
- Wine Tasting (limited availability)
- Complimentary parking
Mary “Molly” Gregory, Lazy-J Chair, circa 1945, stained ash, leather, and brass, 26 ¾ × 17 ⅛ × 24 ½ inches. Black Mountain College Collection, gift of Barbara Beate Dreier and Theodore Dreier Jr. on behalf of all generations of the Dreier family, 2017.12.02. © Mary Gregory, image David Dietrich. Mary “Molly” Gregory, Stool, circa 1941–1945, stained oak, 15 ½ × 18 × 15 inches. Black Mountain College Collection, gift of Barbara Beate Dreier and Theodore Dreier Jr. on behalf of all generations of the Dreier family, 2017.12.05. © Mary Gregory, image David Dietrich
Today’s public tour is led by Joey Gigliotti, touring docent.
PUBLIC TOURS
Join docents for tours of the Museum’s Collection and special exhibitions. No reservations are required.