This holiday season, Asheville is bursting with sparkle, cheer, and a whole lot of holiday magic.
Streets twinkle with lights, shops are brimming with festive goodies, and the mountains are dressed in a winter wonderland just waiting for you to sip, shop, and celebrate. Here are eight merry ways to fill your holidays with warmth, wonder, and a little Asheville magic this year.
What are fun ways to celebrate the holidays in Asheville?
1. Kick Off the Season in Downtown Asheville
The Grove Arcade transforms into its own holiday winter wonderland throughout the season. This shopping and dining hub features a gorgeous giant lighted tree outside and lights strewn in the trees lining the sidewalk. Inside, string lights and decorated trees complement the stunning architectural details, leading the eye to the ceiling of skylights. A stroll through this gem feels like a step into a holiday fairytale, with seasonal displays leading your gaze up to the magnificent skylights.
Grove Arcade's Holiday Tree Lighting Block Party (Nov. 28, 2026, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.) is a free, family-friendly celebration featuring live jazz, Asheville Ballet performances, street entertainment, and an outdoor holiday market.
Also in Downtown Asheville, the Asheville Holiday Parade takes over the streets on Saturday, November 21, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with floats, school groups, neighbors and nonprofits turning out together for a free, family-friendly morning. The Holiday Ice Rink at Asheville Yards opens for outdoor skating under strung lights, running November 20, 2026 through January 18, 2027.
2. Stroll Through a Winter Light Show
As night falls, the North Carolina Arboretum's 434 acres will once again glow with the magic of Winter Lights, a beloved annual tradition running from November 13, 2026 to January 3, 2027. Beloved favorites like the 50-foot Tree of Light and the illuminated Quilt Garden anchor the show, with new nature-themed displays throughout.
3. Step Into Biltmore’s Holiday Splendor
See Biltmore in a different, opulent light with its annual Christmas at Biltmore event (November 3, 2026 to January 10, 2027). Biltmore staff deck the halls, lawn, and select estate locales with candlelight, firelight, and holiday lights. Guests can choose between touring festive décor with a daytime visit, or an elegant evening with live holiday music and historic rooms glowing in the soft light of fireplaces with a Candlelight visit. Nighttime passes include daytime admission (either same or next day) to Antler Hill Village & Winery, shops, grounds, and gardens.
4. See Gingerbread Creations Around Town
No holiday season in Asheville is complete without the National Gingerbread House Competition at The Omni Grove Park Inn, running from November 17, 2026 to January 3, 2027. Founded in 1992 with a handful of community entries, the National Gingerbread House Competition has grown into a premier event that attracts elite pastry artists, culinary visionaries, and enthusiastic hobbyists alike. Fridays and Saturdays are reserved for registered resort guests and confirmed dining reservations only. Sundays after 6 p.m. and Monday–Thursday during resort hours are open to non-guests.
5. Find Unique Gifts at Asheville’s Holiday Markets and Shops
Find unique gifts for friends and family, and do your holiday shopping in the land of all things local and handmade. Downtown’s Grove Arcade sparkles with holiday light displays, as does Asheville’s bustling Biltmore Park shopping district to the south. Pop in and out of Downtown Asheville's galleries and independent stores featuring one-of-a-kind items for everyone on your list, and then stop by The River Arts District to find original arts and crafts made by Asheville artisans.
For the largest gathering of local makers under one roof, plan around The Big Crafty on December 5 and 6, 2026, at ExploreAsheville.com Arena. Independent artists and craftspeople sell work they made themselves, from ceramics and prints to jewelry and textiles, and a single afternoon can cover most of a gift list.
6. Take a Festive Trolley Ride
Hop aboard the Holly Jolly Christmas Trolley with Gray Line Tours for a fun and festive celebration of the season. The tour includes live music, storytelling and caroling. All the while, the Holly Jolly Trolley rolls past the decorations and lights in downtown Asheville and the Montford and Grove Park neighborhoods. The Trolley is heated and enclosed with clear vinyl roll-down curtains.
7. Catch a Holiday Performance
Asheville has had no shortage of holiday performances to dazzle you, from the classic Nutcracker to a sidesplitting, adults-only Christmas sketch comedy.
Find the event that speaks to you on our roundup of top holiday festivals and events, or search our Asheville events calendar by date for even more fun happenings.
8. Discover Small-Town Holiday Charm
A short drive from downtown Asheville, you’ll find Asheville’s Norman Rockwell-esque neighbors with their own holiday traditions. Black Mountain’s Deck the Trees fundraiser fills Downtown Black Mountain with over 40 “Winter Wonderland”-themed trees to support the Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry’s Fuel Fund (dates and location TBA).
The Town of Black Mountain hosts their annually Holly Jolly on Friday, December 4, 2026, where Black Mountain's downtown shops stay open past dark, the windows go bright, carolers take the sidewalks, and Santa holds court for the kids.
Weaverville’s Candlelight Stroll on Friday, December 11, 2026 also lights up the season with music, horse and carriage rides, carolers, and children’s activities along Main Street.
