Designed with an artistic aesthetic, Winter Lights features beautifully lit displays and glowing landscapes nestled along the Arboretum’s woodland edge and garden areas. As part of the show’s redesign, visitors will enjoy several new nature-themed displays, including winter wildlife, colorful butterflies, a special insect lantern exhibit and a giant daisy “garden.” Celebrate the holiday season with the entire family at Winter Lights.
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.
Friday, November
20, 2020
Candlelight Christmas Evenings at Biltmore
Winter Lights at The N.C. Arboretum
Candlelight, firelight and live music bring holiday warmth to Biltmore House’s extravagant holiday décor during these nighttime tours. Candlelight Christmas Evenings include a self-guided candlelight tour of Biltmore House, next-day visit to the gardens, Antler Hill Village and Biltmore Winery. Evening guests can also take advantage of Antler Hill Village & Winery to enjoy free wine tastings.
Tickets may be purchased at www.biltmore.com or by phone (800-411-3812).
Winter Lights at The N.C. Arboretum
November 20, 2020 – January 10, 2021
5:30 – 10:30 p.m. Nightly
Experience Asheville’s BRIGHTEST holiday tradition at Winter Lights at The North Carolina Arboretum. This year, guests are invited to take a dreamy ride through the Arboretum’s enchanted forest and attend Winter Lights safely within their own vehicles. In light of COVID-19, the Arboretum has converted its popular event into a drive-thru show, allowing guests to navigate through a one-mile stretch of the Arboretum’s campus and see unique exhibits covered in thousands of holiday lights. As the Arboretum’s largest fundraising event of the year, proceeds generated from Winter Lights will directly support the Arboretum’s mission-driven programming.
Saturday, November
21, 2020
Asheville Holiday Parade Canceled for 2020
Asheville Independent Restaurant Holiday Hours
Black Friday + Small Business Week Asheville Art Museum
Flat Rock Playhouse Community Champion Giveaway
Shop Small Save + Win BIG Asheville Small Business Week
Thanksgiving 2020 Safety Tips
United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County Holiday Book Drive
North Asheville Tailgate Market/The Holiday Bazaar
A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas A Virtual Production On Sale Now
Free (and distanced) Photos with Santa + Mrs. Claus
Free (and distanced) Photos with Santa + Mrs. Claus
Candlelight Christmas Evenings at Biltmore
Winter Lights at The N.C. Arboretum
The decision to cancel the parade was based on North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper’s September 30th announcement moving North Carolina into Phase 3. Phase 3 continues to limit outdoor gatherings to 50 people and provides capacity limits for outdoor spaces. The uncertainty of COVID-19 conditions and public safety protocols in effect at the time of the parade drove the decision.
There are thousands of people in the parade and as many as 20,000 have come to watch in previous years, so it’s just not responsible to move forward in the midst of a public health crisis.
The Asheville Downtown Association took over production of the Asheville Holiday Parade in 2008. The parade first marched, danced and rolled through downtown Asheville in 1946, meaning 2020 would have marked the 74th annual parade.
The Asheville Downtown Association is planning to host free photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus on Saturday, November 21 at Rabbit Rabbit in downtown Asheville. Families will register for a time slot to maintain social distancing, and children and families will also remain distanced from Santa and Mrs. Claus for photos.
The Asheville Downtown Association will also continue to host its annual Downtown Holiday Windows Contest. More information on both of the above opportunities to come.
Make your holidays merry, bright and a culinary delight with the Asheville Independent Restaurant Association. Before you go out or order in for your special holiday evenings, make sure that your favorite restaurant is open for business! Check the AIR Holiday Hours – a complete list of AIR restaurant’s special holiday hours from Thanksgiving to ringing in the New Year! These will be updated often, so please check in throughout the season! View Holiday Hours here –
The Museum Store joins the Asheville Downtown Association and local shops during Small Business Week. Receive 10% off all Asheville Art Museum logo items in-store and online, and 10% off any one item in-store (excludes artist consignment items). Shoppers receive one raffle ticket per $25 spent in the Museum Store to enter to win one (or more) of five $20 gift certificates to select local businesses.
This holiday season, we are profoundly grateful to the community members who have worked tirelessly during this challenging year to keep their families, friends, and neighbors safe, fed, and cared for. That’s why Flat Rock Playhouse is spreading some extra holiday cheer with a Community Champion Giveaway!
Nominate an exceptional individual who has gone above and beyond to help others this year. Once completed, your nominee will be entered to win one complimentary link to A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas: A Virtual Production running Nov. 30 – Dec. 20. Contest runs for one month: 11/13 through 12/13.
It’s not just Small Business Saturday, it’s Small Business Week! This allows shoppers to spread their shopping out over several days so we can stick to social distancing. Some businesses are also offering Small Business Week raffles and the prizes include gift cards to downtown businesses. The more you spend, the better your chances. Check out who’s offering special deals and hosting raffles here.
With COVID-19 hotspots surging around the country, check out guidance from Buncombe County Health and Human Services to stay safe and avoid risky activities this Thanksgiving.
The eighth annual Holiday Book Drive is taking place November 1-December 12, 2020 thanks to the generous support of Capstone Health Alliance and Barnes & Noble Asheville. Despite the challenges of this year, United Way’s Women United is once again joining forces with our volunteer center, Hands On Asheville-Buncombe, to collect books for elementary and middle school youth for the holidays and show them what we’re able to do when we come together and Live United. All donated books will be distributed to programs serving diverse, underserved communities throughout Buncombe County.
Last year 2,800 books were collected both online and through our wonderful program partner Barnes & Noble Asheville. Since the drive’s inception nearly 13,000 books have been collected to support our local students thanks to your generosity and care.
Even though it’s getting colder, you can still find fresh, local food at area farmers tailgate markets. Several markets in Buncombe County will offer holiday markets or extended seasons in November and December. In addition to seasonal produce, meats, cheeses, and bread, these markets feature local artists and handmade goods, such as wreaths, pottery, jewelry, and more.
The tradition continues with A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas. For the past four years, we have been able to celebrate the holidays with our community and beloved patrons through our Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas productions. This year, we are all celebrating the holidays a little differently, so we’re bringing the Christmas show to your home! Experience the magic and merriment with your favorite Vagabonds on stage and around town. This year’s one-of-a-kind production was filmed on the Rock and in Hendersonville and captures the spirit of the holidays like never before with dancing on Main Street, fireside singing, stunning performances on stage, and a virtually connected chorus. Featuring favorites old and new like “White Christmas,” “O Holy Night,” “Carol of the Bells,” “This Christmas,” and many more.
A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas, A Virtual Production was filmed on location at Carl Sandburg National Historic Site, Flat Rock Playhouse, Kanuga Conference Center, and Main Street in Hendersonville. Filming adhered to all state and county guidelines regarding Covid-19.
Even Santa has to social distance this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t capture that special family photo. Join the Asheville Downtown Association at Rabbit Rabbit located at 75 Coxe Avenue in Downtown Asheville for free photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Three sessions will be offered including Saturday, November 21 from 11:30am-1:30pm; Saturday, November 21 from 3-5pm; and Sunday, November 22 from 12-2pm.
Note: For both Saturday sessions, we will have professional photographer Max Ganly. Photos from Saturday will be posted to the Asheville Downtown Association website the following week, and you can download your image for free. We will not have professional photography on Sunday, November 22, but you’re welcome to snap your own pictures.
To ensure social distancing, families are asked to RSVP for a FREE time slot and table for their group size. Groups will be asked to stay at their assigned table and be called up in the order they arrived. Face coverings or masks are required for all participants (even Santa and Mrs. Claus!).
Session 1: To register for Saturday, Nov. 21 from 11:30am-1:30pm, click here. Doors will open at 10:30am.
Session 2: To register for Saturday, Nov. 21 from 3-5pm, click here. Doors will open at 2pm.
Session 3: To register for Sunday, Nov. 22 from 12-2pm, click here. Doors will open at 11:30am.
Guests do not need to arrive right as doors open. We will seat groups throughout the sessions.
Even Santa has to social distance this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t capture that special family photo. Join the Asheville Downtown Association at Rabbit Rabbit located at 75 Coxe Avenue in Downtown Asheville for free photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Three sessions will be offered including Saturday, November 21 from 11:30am-1:30pm; Saturday, November 21 from 3-5pm; and Sunday, November 22 from 12-2pm.
Note: For both Saturday sessions, we will have professional photographer Max Ganly. Photos from Saturday will be posted to the Asheville Downtown Association website the following week, and you can download your image for free. We will not have professional photography on Sunday, November 22, but you’re welcome to snap your own pictures.
To ensure social distancing, families are asked to RSVP for a FREE time slot and table for their group size. Groups will be asked to stay at their assigned table and be called up in the order they arrived. Face coverings or masks are required for all participants (even Santa and Mrs. Claus!).
Session 1: To register for Saturday, Nov. 21 from 11:30am-1:30pm, click here. Doors will open at 10:30am.
Session 2: To register for Saturday, Nov. 21 from 3-5pm, click here. Doors will open at 2pm.
Session 3: To register for Sunday, Nov. 22 from 12-2pm, click here. Doors will open at 11:30am.
Guests do not need to arrive right as doors open. We will seat groups throughout the sessions.
Candlelight, firelight and live music bring holiday warmth to Biltmore House’s extravagant holiday décor during these nighttime tours. Candlelight Christmas Evenings include a self-guided candlelight tour of Biltmore House, next-day visit to the gardens, Antler Hill Village and Biltmore Winery. Evening guests can also take advantage of Antler Hill Village & Winery to enjoy free wine tastings.
Tickets may be purchased at www.biltmore.com or by phone (800-411-3812).
Winter Lights at The N.C. Arboretum
November 20, 2020 – January 10, 2021
5:30 – 10:30 p.m. Nightly
Experience Asheville’s BRIGHTEST holiday tradition at Winter Lights at The North Carolina Arboretum. This year, guests are invited to take a dreamy ride through the Arboretum’s enchanted forest and attend Winter Lights safely within their own vehicles. In light of COVID-19, the Arboretum has converted its popular event into a drive-thru show, allowing guests to navigate through a one-mile stretch of the Arboretum’s campus and see unique exhibits covered in thousands of holiday lights. As the Arboretum’s largest fundraising event of the year, proceeds generated from Winter Lights will directly support the Arboretum’s mission-driven programming.
Designed with an artistic aesthetic, Winter Lights features beautifully lit displays and glowing landscapes nestled along the Arboretum’s woodland edge and garden areas. As part of the show’s redesign, visitors will enjoy several new nature-themed displays, including winter wildlife, colorful butterflies, a special insect lantern exhibit and a giant daisy “garden.” Celebrate the holiday season with the entire family at Winter Lights.
Sunday, November
22, 2020
Asheville Independent Restaurant Holiday Hours
Black Friday + Small Business Week Asheville Art Museum
Flat Rock Playhouse Community Champion Giveaway
Shop Small Save + Win BIG Asheville Small Business Week
Thanksgiving 2020 Safety Tips
United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County Holiday Book Drive
“Harvest Feast Round-up Campaign” to benefit MANNA
Free (and distanced) Photos with Santa + Mrs. Claus
Candlelight Christmas Evenings at Biltmore
Winter Lights at The N.C. Arboretum
Make your holidays merry, bright and a culinary delight with the Asheville Independent Restaurant Association. Before you go out or order in for your special holiday evenings, make sure that your favorite restaurant is open for business! Check the AIR Holiday Hours – a complete list of AIR restaurant’s special holiday hours from Thanksgiving to ringing in the New Year! These will be updated often, so please check in throughout the season! View Holiday Hours here –
The Museum Store joins the Asheville Downtown Association and local shops during Small Business Week. Receive 10% off all Asheville Art Museum logo items in-store and online, and 10% off any one item in-store (excludes artist consignment items). Shoppers receive one raffle ticket per $25 spent in the Museum Store to enter to win one (or more) of five $20 gift certificates to select local businesses.
This holiday season, we are profoundly grateful to the community members who have worked tirelessly during this challenging year to keep their families, friends, and neighbors safe, fed, and cared for. That’s why Flat Rock Playhouse is spreading some extra holiday cheer with a Community Champion Giveaway!
Nominate an exceptional individual who has gone above and beyond to help others this year. Once completed, your nominee will be entered to win one complimentary link to A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas: A Virtual Production running Nov. 30 – Dec. 20. Contest runs for one month: 11/13 through 12/13.
It’s not just Small Business Saturday, it’s Small Business Week! This allows shoppers to spread their shopping out over several days so we can stick to social distancing. Some businesses are also offering Small Business Week raffles and the prizes include gift cards to downtown businesses. The more you spend, the better your chances. Check out who’s offering special deals and hosting raffles here.
With COVID-19 hotspots surging around the country, check out guidance from Buncombe County Health and Human Services to stay safe and avoid risky activities this Thanksgiving.
The eighth annual Holiday Book Drive is taking place November 1-December 12, 2020 thanks to the generous support of Capstone Health Alliance and Barnes & Noble Asheville. Despite the challenges of this year, United Way’s Women United is once again joining forces with our volunteer center, Hands On Asheville-Buncombe, to collect books for elementary and middle school youth for the holidays and show them what we’re able to do when we come together and Live United. All donated books will be distributed to programs serving diverse, underserved communities throughout Buncombe County.
Last year 2,800 books were collected both online and through our wonderful program partner Barnes & Noble Asheville. Since the drive’s inception nearly 13,000 books have been collected to support our local students thanks to your generosity and care.
Even Santa has to social distance this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t capture that special family photo. Join the Asheville Downtown Association at Rabbit Rabbit located at 75 Coxe Avenue in Downtown Asheville for free photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Three sessions will be offered including Saturday, November 21 from 11:30am-1:30pm; Saturday, November 21 from 3-5pm; and Sunday, November 22 from 12-2pm.
Note: For both Saturday sessions, we will have professional photographer Max Ganly. Photos from Saturday will be posted to the Asheville Downtown Association website the following week, and you can download your image for free. We will not have professional photography on Sunday, November 22, but you’re welcome to snap your own pictures.
To ensure social distancing, families are asked to RSVP for a FREE time slot and table for their group size. Groups will be asked to stay at their assigned table and be called up in the order they arrived. Face coverings or masks are required for all participants (even Santa and Mrs. Claus!).
Session 1: To register for Saturday, Nov. 21 from 11:30am-1:30pm, click here. Doors will open at 10:30am.
Session 2: To register for Saturday, Nov. 21 from 3-5pm, click here. Doors will open at 2pm.
Session 3: To register for Sunday, Nov. 22 from 12-2pm, click here. Doors will open at 11:30am.
Guests do not need to arrive right as doors open. We will seat groups throughout the sessions.
Candlelight, firelight and live music bring holiday warmth to Biltmore House’s extravagant holiday décor during these nighttime tours. Candlelight Christmas Evenings include a self-guided candlelight tour of Biltmore House, next-day visit to the gardens, Antler Hill Village and Biltmore Winery. Evening guests can also take advantage of Antler Hill Village & Winery to enjoy free wine tastings.
Tickets may be purchased at www.biltmore.com or by phone (800-411-3812).
Winter Lights at The N.C. Arboretum
November 20, 2020 – January 10, 2021
5:30 – 10:30 p.m. Nightly
Experience Asheville’s BRIGHTEST holiday tradition at Winter Lights at The North Carolina Arboretum. This year, guests are invited to take a dreamy ride through the Arboretum’s enchanted forest and attend Winter Lights safely within their own vehicles. In light of COVID-19, the Arboretum has converted its popular event into a drive-thru show, allowing guests to navigate through a one-mile stretch of the Arboretum’s campus and see unique exhibits covered in thousands of holiday lights. As the Arboretum’s largest fundraising event of the year, proceeds generated from Winter Lights will directly support the Arboretum’s mission-driven programming.
Designed with an artistic aesthetic, Winter Lights features beautifully lit displays and glowing landscapes nestled along the Arboretum’s woodland edge and garden areas. As part of the show’s redesign, visitors will enjoy several new nature-themed displays, including winter wildlife, colorful butterflies, a special insect lantern exhibit and a giant daisy “garden.” Celebrate the holiday season with the entire family at Winter Lights.
Monday, November
23, 2020
Asheville Independent Restaurant Holiday Hours
Black Friday + Small Business Week Asheville Art Museum
Flat Rock Playhouse Community Champion Giveaway
Shop Local: Consider what it means to shop Amazon
Shop Small Save + Win BIG Asheville Small Business Week
Make your holidays merry, bright and a culinary delight with the Asheville Independent Restaurant Association. Before you go out or order in for your special holiday evenings, make sure that your favorite restaurant is open for business! Check the AIR Holiday Hours – a complete list of AIR restaurant’s special holiday hours from Thanksgiving to ringing in the New Year! These will be updated often, so please check in throughout the season! View Holiday Hours here –
The Museum Store joins the Asheville Downtown Association and local shops during Small Business Week. Receive 10% off all Asheville Art Museum logo items in-store and online, and 10% off any one item in-store (excludes artist consignment items). Shoppers receive one raffle ticket per $25 spent in the Museum Store to enter to win one (or more) of five $20 gift certificates to select local businesses.
This holiday season, we are profoundly grateful to the community members who have worked tirelessly during this challenging year to keep their families, friends, and neighbors safe, fed, and cared for. That’s why Flat Rock Playhouse is spreading some extra holiday cheer with a Community Champion Giveaway!
Nominate an exceptional individual who has gone above and beyond to help others this year. Once completed, your nominee will be entered to win one complimentary link to A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas: A Virtual Production running Nov. 30 – Dec. 20. Contest runs for one month: 11/13 through 12/13.
Did you know that Amazon’s net sales for Q4 are expected to be $121 Billion and to grow 38% compared with fourth quarter 2019 numbers? Clearly in this pandemic, they are the big winner. Y’all… there has NEVER been a more critical year to SHOP LOCAL! Please show your love and support of our amazing local business community which truly has all you could ever need- a vintage dress, wall tapestry, piece of pottery, growler of beer or endless gift cards to your favorite Asheville restaurants. Get some ideas here: shops , restaurants , breweries , and more.
It’s not just Small Business Saturday, it’s Small Business Week! This allows shoppers to spread their shopping out over several days so we can stick to social distancing. Some businesses are also offering Small Business Week raffles and the prizes include gift cards to downtown businesses. The more you spend, the better your chances. Check out who’s offering special deals and hosting raffles here.