From now until January 2, more than 40 beautiful Christmas trees will be on display at shops and businesses throughout the Swannanoa Valley, as part of the Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry (SVCM) ‘Deck the Trees’ fundraiser. The largest display will be at the Monte Vista Hotel, 308 West State Street, in Black Mountain. The trees have been creatively decorated by individuals, organizations and businesses in the community, around this year’s theme, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” Each tree has a collection box beside it, and you can “vote” for your favorite trees by placing money or a check in the box.

All proceeds from Deck the Trees benefit the SVCM Fuel Fund. With the rising cost of electricity, oil, natural gas, propane and wood, many of our neighbors can’t afford to heat their homes during the cold winter months, and the Fuel Fund is there to help. Since its inception in 2011, Deck the Trees has raised more than $250,000 for the fuel fund. Participating in this annual fundraiser is a way to give back to the community, while enjoying a beautiful holiday display.

To visit the trees in person, look for a Deck the Trees logo in the windows of participating stores and businesses. You can also download a list of tree locations, or see photos of the trees and vote online, at svcmblackmountain.org/deckthetrees.

Spread Joy this Holiday Season: Support a YWCA Family Through Angel Tree.

Our Virtual Angel tree is up for this holiday season. 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 would like to support a family this holiday season please click here or email Holly Olsen, Director of Women’s Empowerment to get the details of how you can fulfill a family’s holiday wish.

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 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.

Immerse Yourself in the Magic

Included with admission—Bask in the glow of a glittering cascade of lights illuminating trees, buildings, and the pathways that connect the unique shops, restaurants, and Winery in Antler Hill Village. Experience this must-see part of the Christmas at Biltmore tradition, which includes festive displays adorning Ciao! From Italy and our relaxing Winery, where complimentary tastings await.

Christmas Daytime Celebration

Candlelight Christmas Evenings

Evenings, across the county
The best thing about being in a small town during the holiday season is that everyone joins in on bringing the holiday cheer! This year, homes and businesses across the county are festively decorated, and welcome visitors to view their holiday displays. Follow the trail for a fun evening with your loved ones, driving to view the best lights the area has to offer. There is no competition here, just a bunch of people who love this time of year! This self-guided tour is free, a suggested route will be available here on December 1st. (Please note, many of the Downtown Hendersonville locations are best viewed by foot. Additionally, some displays may be up beyond December 26th.)

Any and all local homes and businesses are invited to register to be on this year’s trail (registration closes 11/30). Register here.

Daily | November 17-January 1

Load up your vehicle with friends and family and take a cruise through the fan-favorite Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland Drive-Thru Light Show! Featuring hundreds of thousands of dazzling lights dancing to the tune of holiday classics on your car radio, this immersive experience has become a holiday tradition for many. Tickets are per carload, available online or at the gate.

Save the date for our 31st Annual Spring Conference, March 8-10, 2024, at Mars Hill University. Registration opens Wednesday, December 6, 2023.

Friday pre-conferences in 2024 will include full-day workshops from JM Fortier (founder of Jardins de la Grelinette and the Market Gardener Institute), Jeannie Dunne (director of Red Moon Herbs), and Ember Phoenix (Soul Thrive Apothecary).

Our main conference program will feature over 60 classes on 13 learning tracks, including Cooking, Earth Stewardship, Farming Business, Farming Production, Forest Farming, Food Justice, Gardening, Herbs, Living on the Land, Mushrooms, Permaculture, Pollinators & Pests, and Soils. For a deeper dive into these fields, the conference will also include nine half-day classes including speakers like Jesse Frost of the No-Till Market Garden Podcast and workshops exploring fermentation on the farm and in the kitchen, lean farming, seed saving, building your farm brand, fruit tree propagation, and more.

SURPRISE – we’re also having a tree sale to clear out inventory that has gotten too large to be stored in the hoop houses over winter. These are species not typically given away at our adoption events, so here is your chance to add something unique to your home or business.

We need your help and the help of your network to make this holiday drive as successful as possible in putting new books into the hands of Buncombe County elementary and middle school students during the holiday break.

What better way to spread holiday cheer than by donating books? Imagine the joy on a child’s face when they receive a brand-new book. It’s like sprinkling a little bit of magic into their lives!

We’ve partnered with over a dozen local organizations serving K-12 students throughout the county. They’re eagerly waiting for book drop-offs like kids waiting for the first snowfall! 

You can make a positive impact right now by donating directly using the button below, or why not turn giving back into an outing?

Holiday Book Drive 2023 (givebutter.com)

Visit the Barnes & Noble on Tunnel Road at the Asheville Mall to shop in-store and donate them on the spot.

In early 2024, 50 organizations will be awarded $500 in funding and a collection of gardening supplies for their youth garden program.

From now until January 2, more than 40 beautiful Christmas trees will be on display at shops and businesses throughout the Swannanoa Valley, as part of the Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry (SVCM) ‘Deck the Trees’ fundraiser. The largest display will be at the Monte Vista Hotel, 308 West State Street, in Black Mountain. The trees have been creatively decorated by individuals, organizations and businesses in the community, around this year’s theme, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” Each tree has a collection box beside it, and you can “vote” for your favorite trees by placing money or a check in the box.

All proceeds from Deck the Trees benefit the SVCM Fuel Fund. With the rising cost of electricity, oil, natural gas, propane and wood, many of our neighbors can’t afford to heat their homes during the cold winter months, and the Fuel Fund is there to help. Since its inception in 2011, Deck the Trees has raised more than $250,000 for the fuel fund. Participating in this annual fundraiser is a way to give back to the community, while enjoying a beautiful holiday display.

To visit the trees in person, look for a Deck the Trees logo in the windows of participating stores and businesses. You can also download a list of tree locations, or see photos of the trees and vote online, at svcmblackmountain.org/deckthetrees.

Spread Joy this Holiday Season: Support a YWCA Family Through Angel Tree.

Our Virtual Angel tree is up for this holiday season. 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 would like to support a family this holiday season please click here or email Holly Olsen, Director of Women’s Empowerment to get the details of how you can fulfill a family’s holiday wish.

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 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.

Immerse Yourself in the Magic

Included with admission—Bask in the glow of a glittering cascade of lights illuminating trees, buildings, and the pathways that connect the unique shops, restaurants, and Winery in Antler Hill Village. Experience this must-see part of the Christmas at Biltmore tradition, which includes festive displays adorning Ciao! From Italy and our relaxing Winery, where complimentary tastings await.

Christmas Daytime Celebration

Candlelight Christmas Evenings

Evenings, across the county
The best thing about being in a small town during the holiday season is that everyone joins in on bringing the holiday cheer! This year, homes and businesses across the county are festively decorated, and welcome visitors to view their holiday displays. Follow the trail for a fun evening with your loved ones, driving to view the best lights the area has to offer. There is no competition here, just a bunch of people who love this time of year! This self-guided tour is free, a suggested route will be available here on December 1st. (Please note, many of the Downtown Hendersonville locations are best viewed by foot. Additionally, some displays may be up beyond December 26th.)

Any and all local homes and businesses are invited to register to be on this year’s trail (registration closes 11/30). Register here.

Twirl and glide into the holidays with the Ice Skating Rink in the renowned Tryon Stadium! Whether you’re holding hands with a special someone, skating side by side with friends, or helping a child take their first wobbly steps on the ice, the experience is sure to create cherished memories that will last a lifetime.

Twirl and glide into the holidays with the Ice Skating Rink in the renowned Tryon Stadium! Themed skates, live music and more will make each experience special.

Reservations include one hour of skating time, with skate rentals included. Outside skates are permitted as well. Open to ages 4 and up. Reserve skating time slots in advance online, or purchase at the gate as available.

Daily | November 17-January 1

Load up your vehicle with friends and family and take a cruise through the fan-favorite Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland Drive-Thru Light Show! Featuring hundreds of thousands of dazzling lights dancing to the tune of holiday classics on your car radio, this immersive experience has become a holiday tradition for many. Tickets are per carload, available online or at the gate.

Save the date for our 31st Annual Spring Conference, March 8-10, 2024, at Mars Hill University. Registration opens Wednesday, December 6, 2023.

Friday pre-conferences in 2024 will include full-day workshops from JM Fortier (founder of Jardins de la Grelinette and the Market Gardener Institute), Jeannie Dunne (director of Red Moon Herbs), and Ember Phoenix (Soul Thrive Apothecary).

Our main conference program will feature over 60 classes on 13 learning tracks, including Cooking, Earth Stewardship, Farming Business, Farming Production, Forest Farming, Food Justice, Gardening, Herbs, Living on the Land, Mushrooms, Permaculture, Pollinators & Pests, and Soils. For a deeper dive into these fields, the conference will also include nine half-day classes including speakers like Jesse Frost of the No-Till Market Garden Podcast and workshops exploring fermentation on the farm and in the kitchen, lean farming, seed saving, building your farm brand, fruit tree propagation, and more.

SURPRISE – we’re also having a tree sale to clear out inventory that has gotten too large to be stored in the hoop houses over winter. These are species not typically given away at our adoption events, so here is your chance to add something unique to your home or business.

We need your help and the help of your network to make this holiday drive as successful as possible in putting new books into the hands of Buncombe County elementary and middle school students during the holiday break.

What better way to spread holiday cheer than by donating books? Imagine the joy on a child’s face when they receive a brand-new book. It’s like sprinkling a little bit of magic into their lives!

We’ve partnered with over a dozen local organizations serving K-12 students throughout the county. They’re eagerly waiting for book drop-offs like kids waiting for the first snowfall! 

You can make a positive impact right now by donating directly using the button below, or why not turn giving back into an outing?

Holiday Book Drive 2023 (givebutter.com)

Visit the Barnes & Noble on Tunnel Road at the Asheville Mall to shop in-store and donate them on the spot.

In early 2024, 50 organizations will be awarded $500 in funding and a collection of gardening supplies for their youth garden program.