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.
Are you and your child interested in seeing the Nature Center like never before? Join us on a Junior Wild Walk: A Behind the Scenes Tour for Kids!
Junior Wild Walk participants will get to have a close up encounter with an animal, check out how meals are made, and even get to help feed an animal! There’s no other opportunity like this at the Nature Center. Don’t miss out on this amazing experience with some of your favorite wildlife! While this tour is geared towards younger children, adults will still enjoy this experience as well. All children must be accompanied by at least one parent or guardian.
Tour lasts from 12 pm to 1 pm.
Register online, in person at the Friends office, or by calling 828-259-8092. Spaces are limited, so sign up soon! Junior Wild Walk tickets also include admission into the Nature Center for the day.
Visit us at PetSmart in Hendersonville from 12pm-2pm and find your furever friend! Visit PetSmart anytime to meet our adoptable cats through our Business Adoption Ambassador program!
This is your chance to explore 10 lovingly restored homes and carefully crafted new houses in historic style in historic Montford — Asheville’s most historic neighborhood. Located immediately north of downtown, it was developed at the turn of the century for families who could afford its larger lots and tree-lined expanses. The Montford Historic District is Asheville’s oldest and largest, with over 600 buildings reflecting a variety of late 19th and early 20th century styles, and includes a variety of architectural influences reflecting the cosmopolitan character of Asheville during the turn of the 20th century. New construction in Montford is guided by the regulations of the Historic Resources Commission, ensuring that any new houses are compatible with historic Montford. Tickets: $25. Reserve tickets any time at MontfordTour.com (credit card); or in person 12/1 through 12/7 at the Asheville Shop, Asheville Visitors Center, 36 Montford Avenue, Asheville. On Tour Day, bring your ticket reservation to the Visitors Center, 36 Montford Avenue, to pick up your ticket. The ticket is our Keepsake Booklet, which will include a map of home locations for your self-guided tour. This is a rain or shine event. No refunds will be available.
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.
Every Saturday, YWCA of Asheville, in partnership with City of Asheville Parks and Recreation, is offering free Community Open Swim to the public. Fall 2019 hours are Saturdays 1:30-3:30 pm through December 14th. Join us in our solar-heated, indoor pool and bring a friend! You do not need to RSVP or be a member of the YWCA to enjoy community open swim.
Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre presents
The Nutcracker and the Mouse King
ACDT’s Website
A new unique version of a seasonal delight. The Nutcracker and the Mouse King is a story full of adventure, courage and loyalty all performed in a colorful fast-paced dance theatre production.
Kris Kringle, an old man living in a retirement home, gets a job working as Santa for Macy’s where he surprises employees and customers by claiming to be the real Santa Claus. Seen as deluded by Macy’s vocational counselor, he’s thrown into a court case to determine his mental health and, more importantly, his authenticity. Especially at stake is one little girl’s belief in Santa. The whole family will enjoy this funny, poignant and faithful adaptation of the classic 1947 film.
Join us and get in the holiday spirit with Black Mountain’s annual Christmas parade!
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.
Celebrate the holiday season as Tweetsie Railroad transforms into a winter wonderland for Tweetsie Christmas! Enjoy a nighttime train ride among thousands of dazzling lights, meet Santa in his Gingerbread House, larger than life snowglobes to play in, a live Christmas show, and more!
Tickets are for a specific date and train ride time. A limited number of guests are admitted nightly, so advance tickets are strongly recommended. Adults: $44, Children (age 3-12): $38, Children 2 and under: Free
Tickets are $1 each. Tickets are non-refundable.
Bouncy House: 1 ticket per session
Bucking Horse: 3 tickets per ride
Carriage Rides: 5 tickets/child (15 or younger) or 10 tickets per adult
Carousel Rides: FREE!
Face Painting: 3 tickets per painting
Petting Zoo Admission: 1 ticket; Pet Food: 2 tickets
Pony Rides: 5 tickets per ride
S’mores: 4 tickets per kit
The Grinch’s Whoville Village: 1 ticket per person
SANTA’S HOUSE: Free Admission
5 tickets/digital photo or 10 tickets/print framed photo
(cash/debit/credit also accepted at Santa House)
ALL ACCESS NIGHT PASS: $20 per person
Good for unlimited ticketed activities from 5pm-10pm good for one Winterfest night; does not include Santa’s House photo
Click here to see EVERYTHING happening at Tryon Resort this holiday season!
Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland presented by Ingles
Tryon Resort is thrilled to be the newest location on the Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland circuit. This two-mile journey weaves through hundreds of thousands of animated Christmas lights coordinated to music for an estimated 30 minutes of holiday enchantment. The Wonderland also features giant, custom-built displays of Santa and his pals on vacation in the mountains, hang gliding, rock climbing, ice fishing, lounging around the campfire, and more. This playful portion of the show is sure to please everyone, young to old.
The tour finishes in Tryon Resort’s Winterfest Village filled with more fun for the whole family. The tour is $25 per carload with additional pricing for group vans and buses available. Tickets are available online in advance or at the exhibit entrance, and discount tickets are available at any Ingles location. Tours are self-driven and open from 6pm-10pm seven days a week beginning November 15, 2019 and ending on January 5, 2020.
Experience Asheville’s BRIGHTEST holiday tradition at Winter Lights at The North Carolina Arboretum. Open nightly November 22, 2019 – January 4, 2020, from 6 to 10 p.m. Walk through an outdoor winter wonderland and see the Arboretum’s gardens and landscapes dressed in more than half-a-million holiday lights. Listen to the sounds of your favorite holiday tunes or enjoy a cup of holiday-inspired cocoa, cider or beer.
$18-$8. See website for tickets and specials.
Specials
Friends & Family Discount Night – Tuesdays
Tickets are reduced to $15 for adults and $10 for children. Arboretum members receive an additional $2 off each ticket. (Excludes Christmas Eve & New Year’s Eve.)
Available on Thursdays through Saturdays only, this special ticketed event offers visitors the chance to enjoy a holly, jolly ride from downtown Asheville or Biltmore Village to Winter Lights courtesy of The Trolley Company. Upon arrival, guests will receive a complimentary cup of hot chocolate and access to the Winter Lights. Pick-up is at 6:00 p.m. from the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Asheville and 6:15 p.m. from the DoubleTree Hotel in Biltmore Village. Guests will be dropped back off at 9:00 p.m. Tickets are $29.50 per person (children 4 & under are free) and can be purchased through The Trolley Company’s website here. (Note: Arboretum member discounts do not apply for this tour). For additional questions, please call Eva Ritchey at The Trolley Company at 828.606.8606.
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.
All proceeds benefit Eliada Homes, a local non-profit supporting the children of WNC.
Experience this contemporary rendition of the beloved Nativity story beautifully told through the gospel according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, George and Ringo. Travel with Mary and Joseph down the “Long and Winding Road” to Bethlehem while savoring dozens of classic Beatles hits. This entertaining Christmas event profoundly reminds us – “All you need is Love”.
- Fri Dec 6th 7:30pm Opening night / Reception following
Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre presents
The Nutcracker and the Mouse King
ACDT’s Website
A new unique version of a seasonal delight. The Nutcracker and the Mouse King is a story full of adventure, courage and loyalty all performed in a colorful fast-paced dance theatre production.
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.
Buncombe County Public Libraries have a fantastic program to give library card holders access to free passes for local museums and attractions. It’s called a ZOOM pass, and you can check one out with your library card.
What You Need to Know
Use our online reservation system to reserve a one-day pass for the location of your choice. Passes may be reserved up to one month in advance and most passes are family passes that will admit several adults and children. You can pick up your pass at any library the week before your visit.
In addition to the Asheville Art Museum, we currently have free passes for the WNC Nature Center, the NC Arboretum, the Asheville Museum of Science and the Greenville Zoo.
Check out our ZOOM page and your passes to area attractions today!
Most passes are family passes for multiple adults and kids, but be sure and read the instructions on each pass to see who is covered. Then pick up your ZOOM pass at the library and enjoy your day!
This program was funded by Buncombe County and the Buncombe County Friends of the Library. Please contact your local library for more information or visit buncombecounty.org/library.
Spend some time with your family detoxing naturally in the Salt Cave. Adults $25, 4-12 years old $15, 3 and younger are free.
Children with special needs are invited to share a magical moment with Santa Claus at Asheville Mall. From 9am – 11am on Sunday, December 8, we’re hosting our annual Santa Cares event, a compassionate, sensory-friendly experience exclusively for families of children with special needs. The mall entrance near ULTA and Barnes & Noble is the recommended entrance.
During the event, accommodations are made to support sensory, physical, and developmental needs of our attendees, including muting mall music and keeping lights dimmed or off entirely.
Santa Cares is held in partnership with Autism Speaks, a leading autism science and advocacy organization. The event is free, but space is limited and families are encouraged to reserve their spot in advance at https://santa-cares-ash.eventbrite.com. Photo packages will be available for purchase during the event.
The JCC Hanukkah 8K is a community-wide celebration of the 8-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights. Proceeds of the JCC Hanukkah 8K will benefit Shalom Children’s Center.
For more information about the Hanukkah 8K, email [email protected].
In conjunction with the Hanukkah 8K, the annual FREE kids’ race, the Latke Loop, where kids are challenged to run 8 laps around the JCC parking lot, is adorable and fun! For information about how you can register your child to run this year’s Latke Loop, email [email protected].
You can also sponsor your little Latke Loop runners by visiting our donation page online here. Chose your donation amount and select the 2019 Hanukkah 8K and Latke Loop from the drop down menu. All children who raise $25 or more in Latke Loop sponsorships receive a Latke Loop T-shirt!
“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.