Asheville-area Holiday Happenings
Parades
Saturday: Fletcher at 10:30 a.m. (along U.S. 25, 687-0751, visit www.fletcherparks.org), Marshall at noon (townofmarshall.org), Sylvaat 3 p.m.Saluda at 2 p.m., Newland at 6 p.m., Dec. 14: Tryon at 5 p.m.
Season long events
Christmas at Biltmore, through Jan. 1, Biltmore Estate. House and grounds decorated for the season. Candlelight Christmas Evenings, offering evening candlelight tours of Biltmore House, take place through Dec. 31. Visits with Santa on Saturdays through Dec. 18 plus the Friday after Thanksgiving. Local choirs and small musical ensembles stationed in the Winter Garden will perform music of the season as guests enter Biltmore House. String quartets and other musicians will perform throughout the house as guests wander among the decorated rooms. 877-BILTMORE. www.biltmore.com.
19th Century Carolina Christmas, through Jan. 4. Smith-McDowell House, at 283 Victoria Road, Asheville, is decked in Victorian holiday decor. Candlelight tours available by reservation for groups. $10 for adults, $6 for college students, $5 for ages 8-18. Call 253-9231 or visit www.wnchistory.org.
Holidays for Hospice, through Dec. 27. Asheville Mall hosts the CarePartners Garden of Memories, a quilt-themed contemplative space with books listing names of those remembered and honored through Memorial Ornaments. Outside Dillard”s Men’s Store and Hallmark. For details on ornaments, visit www.carepartnersfoundation.org. Call 277-4815.
“The Polar Express,” through Dec. 24, Bryson City. Read along with t he story “The Polar Express” on Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. Meet Santa, enjoy caroling, hot cocoa and a treat. Times and dates vary. Tickets start at $39 for adults, $26 for ages 2-12. Visit www.gsmr.com or call 800-872-4681.
National Gingerbread House Competition, on display through Jan. 1. The Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa hosts its 19th annual National Gingerbread House Competition. Community viewing Monday-Thursday only. At 290 Macon Ave., Asheville. Call 800-438-0050, ext. 1281.
“Stories of Gingerbread” guided tours, through Jan. 1. Go behind the scenes and learn about entries in the Grove Park Inn’s gingerbread competition. Hourlong tours at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays. Adults $12, children 12 and younger $6. Reservations required; call 800-438-5800.
Holiday Fest, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., through Dec. 24, at Tom Sawyer’s Christmas Tree Farm and Elf Village, Glenville/Cashiers. Free. Visit www.tomsawyerchristmastreefarm.com.
Dec. 9-15
“Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol,” through Dec. 24, Asheville Masonic Temple, 80 Broadway St., Asheville. Montford Park Players’ 35th annual production. Performances at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays, 2:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Dec. 8 and 15 performances are “pay what we’re worth nights,” where patrons see the show then decide what to pay. Call 254-5146 or visit www.montfordparkplayers.org.
“Return to Bethlehem,” Friday-Sunday, Groce United Methodist Church, 954 Tunnel Road, Asheville. Takes you through the experience of the Bethlehem marketplace as it might have appeared during Christ’s birth. Donations requested. Call 298-7647.
“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” Friday-Sunday, Brevard Little Theater. Performances at 8 p.m. Friday, and 3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Adults $16, students $10. Call 884-2587 or visit www.brevardlittletheatre.com.
Hendersonville Children’s Choir concert, 6:30 p.m. Friday. At Covenant Presbyterian Church. Adults $5, students $2.50. Call 696-4968.
Christmas Candlelight Stroll, 6-9 p.m. Friday, downtown Weaverville. Luminaries, entertainment, carriage rides, refreshments and Santa. Visit www.visitweaverville.com.
Appalachian Christmas Celebration,Friday-Sunday Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center. Performances by Lake Junaluska Singers on Friday-Saturday, and concert by David Holt at 8 p.m. Saturday. Craft show on Saturday. Worship service is Sunday. Visit www.lakejunaluska.com/christmas or call 800-222-4930.
Annie Moses Band Christmas Show, 7:30 p.m. Friday. At Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, Franklin. Adults $20, students $10. Call 273-4615 or visit www.greatmountainmusic.com.
Asheville Ballet’s “The Nutcracker,” 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Dec, Diana Wortham Theatre, Pack Place, downtown Asheville. Call 257-4530 or visit www.dwtheatre.org or www.ashevilleballet.com.
Dillsboro Festival of Lights and Luminaries, Friday-Saturday, downtown Dillsboro. Live music, carolers, holiday treats and Santa from 5-8 p.m. Free. Call 800-962-1911 or visit www.visitdillsboro.org.
Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday, “A Carolina Christmas” concert at Blue Ridge Conference Hall. Adults $30, students $5. Visit www.hendersonvillesymphony.org.
Bullington Center open house and holiday sale, 1-4 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Sale includes premium amaryllis, locally crafted evergreen sprays and wreaths, decorations and other gifts. Henderson County 4-H will sell crafts and Operation Toasty Toes will sell knitted items. Refreshments. At 95 Upper Red Oak Trail, Hendersonville. Call 698-6104.
Guitarists Ed Gerhard and Bill Mize 18th annual Christmas concert, 8 p.m. Friday, Jubilee!, 46 Wall St., Asheville. $20. Tickets available at Jubilee! or Malaprop’s on Haywood Street. 252-5355.
Annual holiday bazaar, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Dec Madison County Arts Council, 90 S. Main St., Marshall. Paintings, pottery, jewelry, botanicals, books, more. Free cider and raffle. 649-1301, www.madisoncountyarts. com.
Just Flute: Kate Steinbeck “Alone, Dancing,” 6-7 p.m. Saturday, Grovewood Gallery, 111 Grovewood Road (next to Grove Park Inn), Asheville. Free.
Santa on the Chimney 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Chimney Rock Park. Santa practices on 315-foot Chimney Rock. Regular admission.www.chimneyrockpark.com.
Holiday Origami Party for Kids, 1-3 p.m. Saturday. North Asheville Library hosts a drop-in party. Make an origami ornament to take home. Free for all ages. Call 250-4752 or email northasheville.library@buncombecounty.org.
Flat Rock Tailgate Christmas Market, 2-5 p.m. Saturday, in front of Hubba Hubba Smokehouse, Flat Rock. Call 697-7719.