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.
Thursday, December
3, 2020
Sand Hill Artists Collective Virtual Holiday Gallery Tours!
Winter Lights at The N.C. Arboretum
Lake Julian Festival of Lights
Registration for Christmas Lights with the Town of Fletcher
Town of Canton: Stay and Play Drive-Thru Holiday Parade
It’s A Wonderful Life
Virtual Cast Party with A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas
Virtual Cast Party with
Ten Asheville area art galleries. A new gallery experience online daily from 5-6 pm each weekday beginning December 2nd through December 15th.
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.
- $10 for personal vehicles (standard cars/vans)
- $25 for sprinter vans, trailblazers, and conversion vans
- $50 for buses and motorcoaches
- 20% of the proceeds benefit Special Olympics Buncombe County
Lake Julian Festival of Lights has become a tradition for many mountain families and visitors. Visitors are invited to watch the lights twinkle over the lake and to turn on Rewind 100.3, the local station playing holiday hits from Thanksgiving to Christmas.
Lake Julian Festival of Lights takes place nightly from December 1-23 from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Please check our Facebook page for information on closings due to winter weather.
We hope you can join us for the annual Town of Canton Christmas Parade December 3, 2020 at 6:0pm. This is a drive thru parade with stationary entries. Spectators will drive through the route to view all the entries. At the end of the route, all kids will get a treat bag while supplies last.
*Ticket sales will end at 12 pm on the day of each performance*
What if Immediate Theatre Project had to present their annual broadcast of It’s A Wonderful Life in the middle of a pandemic that prevented the actors from getting together to rehearse? The lines between real life and live theater blur in this virtual version of this classic holiday offering. In a year unlike any other, join us for a reminder that when we believe in each other nothing is impossible.
Virtual Cast Party with
A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas
Join us for a special party with cast members of A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas, A Virtual Production. Get to know more about the behind the scenes stories of filming our holiday production and ring in the holidays with a caroling sing-a-long. Cast members include Ethan Andersen, Scott Treadway, and Jason & Kathleen Watson. Available Thursday 12/3 or Thursday, 12/10 from 7:30 – 8:30 PM, via Zoom for 50 people per event.
Friday, December
4, 2020
2020 Harvest Conference Recordings Available
Asheville Holiday Parade Canceled for 2020
Asheville Independent Restaurant Holiday Hours
Bullington Gardens Holiday Greenery Sale
Flat Rock Playhouse Community Champion Giveaway
Homemade Holiday A Gift Guild from Asheville Makers
Keep the Cheer Contest Shop and Dine
Shop Local: Consider what it means to shop Amazon
Show and Tell Holiday Pop Up Shop
Spread Holiday Cheer: Join our Letters to New Friends Program
United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County Holiday Book Drive
Virtual Angel Giving Tree
Claxton Giving Tree Online!
Winter Wonderland at Grove Arcade
Christmas at Connemara Thanksgiving to January 6
Donate at The Blood Connection
Flat Rock Playhouse 2021 calendar!
Monte Vista Hotel: Deck The Trees
Live Glassblowing Demos – Handcrafted Christmas Ornaments
In person or Virtual: Visit Santa at the Asheville Mall
Asheville Angel Tree
Candlelight Christmas Evenings at Biltmore
Hollyday Artisan Market
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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 online Holiday Craft Sale features nature-themed, handcrafted items, including ornaments, jewelry, textiles, quilts and holiday decor. Wreaths and swags enhanced with botanicals gathered on the Bullington Garden grounds and created by volunteers are ready for your home. Our delightful holiday garden gnome, standing 30 inches tall, adds a whimsical touch to your front porch. Locally-grown premium amaryllis, poinsettias, cyclamens and Christmas cactus plants are also available.
Bullington’s “Buzzington” bee products are offered including BeeKind ornaments, bee-themed gift items and beeswax candles.
The Holiday Greenery Sale features premium, freshly-cut Fraser fir trees ranging in height from five to eight feet. These native trees come from the Western North Carolina mountains and are wrapped for protection during transport. Also available are premium garlands in a 25-foot length, plus unadorned 12-inch wreaths. Holiday greenery must be ordered by Tuesday, Nov. 24.
Bullington Gardens is a proud supporter of our veterans, and believes all service members should be honored for their sacrifice. In partnership with local veterans and volunteers, Bullington Gardens offers Veteran’s Wreaths. Your $17 donation to honor a fallen veteran provides a 12-inch wreath, decorated with a hand tied red bow, and placed on a gravesite at the State Veteran’s Cemetery in Black Mountain, NC.
Shop our Bullington Gardens store online at www.bullingtongardens.org and fill your virtual cart with unique gift items and greenery. You can also place your order by phone at 828-698-6104 or in person at Bullington Gardens. Shipping or delivery is not available.
Bullington Gardens is located at 95 Upper Red Oak Trail in Hendersonville. For more information, call Bullington Gardens at 828-698-6104 or visit www.bullingtongardens.org.
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.
Spread some mountain magic and holiday cheer with these unique gifts from Asheville’s artisans and makers. Shop from over 50 local vendors or share your love of Asheville by giving the gift of travel this holiday season.
Shop & Dine HC
Enter the KEEP THE CHEER HERE Contest hosted with WTZQ!
What is Shop & Dine HC?
Shop & Dine HC is a collaborative movement designed to remind the public of the benefits and importance of spending their dollars with our local businesses. Local businesses lay the framework for a strong community and we want Henderson County to shop local, spend local, save local.
Why does shopping locally matter?
When you shop locally:
- $0.02 of every $1 stays in the community through the Sales Tax. These dollars support county and municipal budgets for schools, law enforcement, infrastructure, and more.
- you help create and retain jobs for existing businesses as they succeed and grow, and create a successful business community that attracts other businesses and entrepreneurs.
- those same businesses you are supporting will give back to our community through donations to non-profits, civic clubs, youth programs, and more.
Simply put – our local businesses make our community better.
Want to get involved?
Be part of the conversation!
Join the Shop & Dine Facebook Group
Businesses – Take the #SafeHendo Pledge!
We celebrate businesses that are committed to the safety of our community in these extraordinary times. Check out the #SafeHendo pledge and let your customers know their safety is your focus.
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.
Things are looking a little different this winter holiday season. Show & Tell has gone virtual, bringing the holiday pop up shop you know and love Home For the Holidays!
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Although we are going to miss decking the halls, we are so excited to reach a wider audience with our online presence and are thrilled to showcase the best in handmade, vintage, fair trade, and packaged bites from Asheville, NC and beyond.
Holidays will be a little tougher this year, but we have a way to brighten your day and someone else’s too! We’re upgrading our Letters to New Friends program for the holidays, working along with our community partners, the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, Council on Aging, Meals on Wheels, Mountain Area Residential Facility, the Charles George VA Hospital, and people like you.
All you have to do is write a letter, make a card, draw a picture, and bring it to any library or drop it in the library book drop. This is a great project for families to work on together, all ages are welcome to participate. We’ll collect the cards and disperse them to our partners who will pass them along to folks who might need a little extra cheer.
If you’d like a reply, you can include your address, but a one-time note is fine too. Please share this with others — the more the merrier.
Spread hope and happiness, and we can all help to make the holidays a little brighter for our neighbors.
Brought to you by Buncombe County Public Libraries and the Buncombe County Communications and Public Engagement Team.
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.
This holiday season we are reimaging traditions for a safer, socially distant world and our Angel Tree is going virtual. This gift tree provides our broader YWCA community a path to join us as we aim to support our program participants and their families with a holiday season full of love and support.
If you are able to, please select a gift from our Amazon wish list. Gifts from the list will be mailed directly to our building and will be sorted and distributed by our YWCA elves. All items on the list have been selected by the families and are items they are wishing for or are in need of this holiday season.
If you would like to go further and adopt a family this holiday season please email our Director of Women’s Empowerment Kelley Hubbell to get the details of how you can fulfill a family’s holiday wish.
All gifts must be ordered by December 11.
Programs Served by the Angel Tree
MotherLove
YWCA’s MotherLove program supports pregnant and parenting teens throughout Buncombe County. Our goals are to help young parents to stay in school and graduate, access higher education and vocational training, develop the skills and knowledge needed to become strong parents and delay another teen pregnancy.
Getting Ahead In a Just Getting By World
YWCA’s Getting Ahead program aims to provide financial empowerment for low-income women of all ages and backgrounds to make choices that positively impact themselves, their families and their community.
Early Learning Program
YWCA’s Early Learning Program provides 5-star childcare for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. Our experienced and compassionate teachers not only provide exceptional care for little ones, but they also prepare young children to succeed cognitively, physically, socially, and emotionally. We prioritize families using childcare vouchers or caring for children in the foster care system.
Empowerment Childcare
The YWCA provides up to 12 hours of free childcare per week for parents who are in transition, continuing their education, accessing social services, or looking for employment. ECC works closely with the Family Justice Center, Buncombe County Health and Human Services, A-B Tech, Green Opportunities, and Mary Benson House.
Asheville Community Theatre is Seeking Santas!
We team up with Claxton Elementary each year to find folks who’d love to provide gifts for students who would otherwise go without. If you’re looking for a way to give back this season, these children need you!
Once you sign up, we will match you with a child and email you a printable ornament with their sizes and wish list!
You can drop off gifts from 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM (M-F) at Claxton Elementary School.
More specific details will be included in an email after you sign up.
Grove Arcade is thrilled to announce the return of its annual Winter Wonderland holiday celebration.
The Arcade has transformed into a wreath-bedecked showcase for Asheville’s finest local craftspeople and retailers. Smells of pine and holly will greet visitors as they tour—at a proper social distance!—Asheville’s stunning art deco gem to discover one-of-a-kind, handcrafted local gifts, enjoy holiday-themed beverages and dining specials, and winter-y feels within the warm Grove Arcade halls. Specially curated Christmas standards and the most extravagant holiday decorations in town will transport visitors to a truly unforgettable winter paradise.
We will be hosting a local MANNA Food Bank Drive! Drop-off barrels will be placed around several areas of the Arcade to be collected and distributed by MANNA to help during these uncertain times.
For the enjoyment and safety of everyone, Grove Arcade will be taking appropriate COVID-19 precautions during Winter Wonderland. All visitors and employees will be required to follow the CDC’s health recommendations, including social distancing and mask wearing.
Enjoy a safe and jolly visit to Grove Arcade’s Winter Wonderland! And from all of us at Grove Arcade, Happy Holidays!
The house will be decorated in the simple style of the Sandburg’s with poinsettias and a traditionally decorated Christmas tree throughout December until January 6th, 2021.
We’re proud to call Western North Carolina home. Our dedicated staff work and live in the area, just like you. Whether you’re here for the breath-taking mountain views or the cooler weather, we’re glad you’re here to help us save the lives of your neighbors.
Our centers are the perfect places to give back and kick back. Open every day, yes weekends too, makes it easy to fit donating into your schedule.
You could probably use a little peace, and every Blood Connection center offers that. Clean, spacious, and comfortable, a center getaway may be exactly what you need…it’s exactly what 3 blood recipients need too.
Every donation has the power to save up to 3 lives. Every 2 seconds, someone in the U.S. is in need of a life-saving blood transfusion. You’re 1 person who can make a difference!
Start the year off right with a Flat Rock Playhouse 2021 calendar! This beautiful image of our Mainstage was taken by longtime Vagabond and Flat Rock Playhouse favorite, Scott Treadway. Enjoy the view of the Rock all year round in your office, on the kitchen wall, or above your desk. This quality printed calendar is 20″x16″ and supports the arts in North Carolina.
Deck The Trees is a fun and festive December Holiday Happening in Black Mountain. This event is a fundraiser for the Fuel Fund of the Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministries. Trees decorated in the theme And A Star Appeared will be displayed in the Monte Vista Hotel and many businesses throughout Black Mountain. Trees may be voted on by placing cash/check in the box corresponding to your favorite tree. All money collected goes directly to the Fuel Fund. For more information about Deck The Trees and to support your favorite tree(s) contact svcmblackmountain.org.
A Wonderful Family Holiday Tradition … Handcrafted Christmas ornaments by Master Scientific Glassblower Jason Probstein.
Since 2010, the Mountain Made art gallery, in downtown Asheville, has been proud to host live glassblowing demonstrations by scientific glass blower, Jason Probstein.
This year Probstein will be demonstrating from 10:30 AM – 4:00 PM on these 3 days: Fridays, Saturdays & Mondays … starting November 20 to December 21, 2020 … Or until his gas tanks run dry!
He will be creating his unique handcrafted Christmas tree ornaments – while you watch. We invite you to bring the entire family and come by Mountain Made to watch this master scientific glassblower at work!
To learn more this and other holiday events, visit our website for more information. Or if you are in downtown Asheville, we invite you to just come by Mountain Made gallery, located at 1 Page Ave – Inside the Grove Arcade (Suite #123) to see for yourself just how great Jason and his ornaments are.
We are excited to continue the tradition of hosting Santa to meet and greet all kids and kids-at-heart. Santa is doing many things differently this year, and because of that we are providing multiple options for you and your loved ones to see Santa.
In person visits will still be available, but you will have to reserve a special time to see Santa. Click here to reserve your spot now. These visits will be contactless, and hand sanitizing stations will also be available. Scroll further down the page to learn more about available dates, times, photo package pricing and more. Face masks are required to visit Santa for children age 2 and up as well as adults, so remember to bring your festive holiday mask or face covering.
For those unable to see Santa in person or who want additional memorable experiences, we are now offering several online options. You can continue to Create Holiday Magic from the comfort of your home, and celebrate Christmas throughout the season with things like Story Time with Santa, Photos with Santa (including pets), a live zoom call and more! Click here to learn more.
In an effort to meet an increased need due to COVID-19, Archetype will be a prime location for Angel Tree adoptions and Angel Tree gift deliveries. The proximity of The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs and Archetype brewing, both nestled on Haywood Road in the heart of West Asheville, creates ease for locals wanting to pour into their communities this holiday season.
This year, in light of the challenges posed by COVID-19, quarantine, and social-distance measures, the needs are greater than ever, and we can only meet this challenge with support from our community.
Our goal is to meet essential needs for our families that do not have the means to provide for themselves or for their children.
In order to #RescueChristmas we must stand in the gap of need and create resources for these children so they do not go cold, hungry, or without hope.
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).
Help us spread some Holiday cheer by spending local this year! On Friday, December 4th we’ll be hosting a “Hollyday Artisan Market.” You’ll be able to shop handmade pottery, art, and ornaments made by BMCA students and artists.
We’ll also be unveiling the next exhibit in our gallery, our annual “Ceramic Arts Student Show” featuring pieces made in our Clay Studio by BMCA students. You’ll be able to enjoy treats on our beautiful balcony and get all your shopping done in one night!