While you're making your list, and before you start checking it twice, be sure to add a trip to Asheville, North Carolina, to the top of your holiday to-do's. Why? Asheville takes the holidays to the next level with these five can't-miss things to do and see.
1. Santa Claus’s Favorite Holiday Hangout
Santa and his helpers may make their home at the North Pole, but Asheville is where Saint Nick comes to get ready for the Big Night. Santa has been spotted showing off his break-dancing moves and soaking in the weekly drum circle as he unwinds with his own Blue Ridge Mountain vacation.
2. A Gingerbread Wonderland Like No Other
The contestants in the National Gingerbread House Competition, held annually at The Omni Grove Park Inn, take the sweet art of holiday baking to a whole new level. Each year, judges score more than 150 gingerbread creations, which must be made entirely of edible items and which come in every size, shape and theme imaginable. You can view the entries during the public display (November 18, 2025-January 4, 2026). See our guide to the National Gingerbread House Competition display in Asheville, NC for important information to know before you go.
3. Christmas Magic at America’s Largest Home
When you're America's Largest Home, the only way to do the holiday is to do it big! Biltmore first opened its doors to guests on Christmas Eve in 1895. Biltmore still wows visitors today during the Christmas at Biltmore celebration (Nov. 1, 2025 - Jan. 4, 2026) with more than 60 decorated trees, thousands of feet of garland and hundreds of poinsettias, not to mention a 35-foot Fraser fir that stretches to the ceiling of the great Banquet Hall.
Feel the excitement during Candlelight Christmas Evenings, where your epic tour will be accompanied by music, stories and flickering fireplaces.
4. Stroll Through a Sparkling Winter Wonderland
Asheville's brightest winter tradition brings the holidays to life with thousands of energy-efficient LED lights throughout the nationally-known gardens of the North Carolina Arboretum. The Winter Lights celebration (Nov. 15, 2025 - Jan. 4, 2026) enhances the natural beauty of the Arboretum's manicured grounds. This year, six of Thomas Dambo’s larger-than-life wooden trolls will join the display, adding a whimsical new layer of wonder to the sparkling landscape.
5. Cheers Over Holiday Beers
Speaking of beer, the many breweries in Beer City USA feel especially festive at this time of the year and serve up holiday-inspired beers. Try specialty beers such as Asheville Brewing Company's Ninjabread Porter and Highland Brewing Company's Cold Mountain.
