This Weekend in Asheville

Weaverville's 20th Annual Candlelight Stroll

Friday, December 12, 5 - 8 p.m.
Downtown Weaverville

Main Street glows for the annual Candlelight Stroll, a community night filled with shopping, music, crafts, storytelling, and festive cheer. Enjoy the tree lighting, hunt for holiday characters, visit Santa, and ride the shuttle between the Community Center, Dry Ridge Museum, and downtown.

2nd Annual Late Night Asheville

Friday, December 12, 6- 9 p.m.
Downtown Asheville

Wander through a twinkling downtown as shops stay open late with treats, special offers, and one-of-a-kind gifts. Musicians and makers bring extra warmth to the streets, creating a feel-good night that celebrates community, creativity, and the holiday magic of Asheville.

Winter's Warmth: A Festive Tea Gathering

Saturday, December 13, 12 - 2 p.m.
Inn at Amaris Farm

Gather with friends for a festive afternoon tea filled with seasonal flavors and holiday charm. Enjoy a welcome glass of bubbly, warming soup, curated winter teas, savory finger sandwiches, and indulgent sweets in a cozy setting at the Inn at Amaris Farms. Reservations required for this limited, seasonal experience.

25th Anniversary Barn Warmer at Hickory Nut Gap

Saturday, December 13, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Hickory Nut Gap

Enjoy an afternoon of food, music, hot cider, bonfires, and visits with Santa, plus sing-alongs with Farmer Graham and even carols for the animals. Guests are encouraged to bring canned goods to support Western Carolina Rescue Mission.

Recurring Events

Christmas at Biltmore

Friday - Sunday, December 12-14, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Biltmore

Experience the magic of Christmas at Biltmore, where wreaths, garlands, and thousands of ornaments transform the estate into a holiday wonderland. Enjoy the Daytime Celebration filled with festive décor or the Candlelight Christmas Evenings glowing with music, warmth, and seasonal splendor.

Winter Lights at the North Carolina Arboretum

Friday - Sunday, December 12-14, 6 - 9 p.m.
The North Carolina Arboretum

Stroll through a dazzling wonderland of more than one million lights at Asheville’s beloved holiday tradition. Enjoy returning favorites like the 50-foot lighted tree and Quilt Garden, along with new displays and a special appearance by six of Dambo’s whimsical trolls exploring the magic for themselves.

Holiday Ice Rink and Winter Wonderland

Friday-Sunday, December 12-14, various times
Asheville Yards

Step into the magic of the season at the Holiday Ice Rink at Asheville Yards. Glide across our real, outdoor ice rink, surrounded by twinkling lights, festive music and holiday vibes. Enjoy a winter market with holiday-inspired craft cocktails, hot-chocolate, and photo-ops.

Holly Jolly Christmas Trolley Tour

Friday-Saturday, December 12-13, various times
Gray Line Trolley Tours of Asheville

Hop aboard this festive trolley tour for a merry ride through Asheville’s most decorated neighborhoods. Sing along with a live musician, hear stories of local holiday traditions, and soak in the sparkling sights of downtown, Montford, and Grove Park.

The National Gingerbread House Competition

Friday-Sunday, December 12-13, 6 - 9 p.m.
The Omni Grove Park Inn

Step inside a world of edible imagination as intricate gingerbread creations take over The Omni Grove Park Inn. This annual event has been a holiday tradition in Asheville for over three decades. Non-guests can visit on Sunday beginning at 6 p.m.

Live Music, Comedy, Dance and Theatre

Warren Haynes Christmas Jam

Friday, December 12:

• Flashback Friday at The Montford Rooftop Bar, 4 p.m.
• Live Music: Mike Hollon at Sweeten Creek Brewing, 6 p.m.
• Improv: Reasonably Priced Babies - Naughty or Nice at Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 6:30 p.m.
• Foreign Film Fridays at Flood Gallery Fine Art Center, 7 p.m.
• Gluten-Free Comedy at Ginger's Revenge, 7 p.m.
• Tanner Burch & the Hill Hippies at Fitz and the Wolfe, 7 p.m.
• Queer Fusion - Yule Tide Pride Winter Ball at AB Tech Mission Conference Center, 7 p.m.
• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at Asheville Community Theatre, 7:30 p.m.
• A Christmas Carol at NC Stage Company, 7:30 p.m.
• The Asheville Ballet presents The Nutcracker at Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30 p.m.
• Live Music: Will Hartz at The Whale Outpost, 8 p.m.
• Improv: Reasonably Priced Babies - Naughty or Nice at Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 9 p.m.
• The Cool Yule Club: Adrian Bundy & His Honky Tonk Hearts at Fitz and the Wolf, 9 p.m.

Saturday, December 13:

• Breakfast with Santa at Twisted Laurel, 8:30 a.m.
• Nutcracker with Ballet Conservatory of Asheville at Pack Memorial Library, 10:30 a.m.
• Jingle and Mingle with the Clauses at Embassy Suites by Hilton Asheville Downtown, 12 p.m.
• Cookbook Signing: Seasoned in Appalachia by Jimmy Proffitt at Mast General Store Asheville, 1 p.m.
• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at Asheville Community Theatre, 2:30 p.m.
• The Asheville Ballet presents The Nutcracker at Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, 2:30 p.m.
• Whitechapel at Orange Peel, 6 p.m.
• The Telling of Iron John: An Interactive Evening of Self-Discovery for Men at The Well, 6 p.m.
• Live Music: Jennifer Alvarado at Sweeten Creek Brewing, 6 p.m.
• Chris Vita at Fitz and the Wolfe, 6 p.m.
• Warren Haynes Presents: THE CHRISTMAS JAM at Harrah's Cherokee Center, 7 p.m.
• A Christmas Carol at NC Stage Company, 7:30 p.m.
• The Asheville Ballet presents The Nutcracker at Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30 p.m.
• Kellin Watson & Friends' Holiday Special ft. Aaron Price at Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 7:30 p.m.
• Josh Goforth at White Horse Black Mountain, 7:30 p.m.
• Graciela Serena at Vintage Kava, 8 p.m.
• The Cool Yule Club: Meschiya Lake's Speakeasy Three at Fitz and the Wolfe, 8 p.m.

Sunday, December 14: 

• Served by Sev Drag Brunch at The Mule, 12:30 p.m.
• A Christmas Carol at NC Stage Company, 2 p.m.
• Tales of Chanukah at Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 2 p.m.
• Suns of Stars at One World Brewing West, 2 p.m.
• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at Asheville Community Theatre, 2:30 p.m.
• The Asheville Ballet presents The Nutcracker at Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, 2:30 p.m.
• Jazz Jam Sundays at Ginger's Revenge, 2:30 p.m.
• Celtic Music at Archetype Brewing, 3:30 p.m.
• Robert's Totally Rad Trivia at DSSOLVR, 4 p.m.
• Jessica Kirson at Orange Peel, 7 p.m.
• Freshen Up Comedy Open Mic at VOWL Bar, 7 p.m.
• One Love Sundays - Live Reggae at One World West, 7 p.m.
• Totally Radical Comedy at The RAD Brew Co. 7 p.m.
• Rage @ The Stage: A Frenzied Evening of (Holiday!) Improv Comedy at NC Stage Company, 7 p.m.
• The Secret Sisters at Grey Eagle, 8 p.m.

Tailgate & Specialty Pop-Up Markets

Shop local at the Asheville area's numerous farmers, tailgate, and holiday markets. Here's a look at some of the markets you can visit this weekend:

• Holiday Market at Trackside Studios, Sat. & Sun. 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
• Holiday Makers Market at rEvolve buy-sell-trade, Sat. & Sun. 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
• North Asheville Tailgate Market's 2025 Main Season at UNCA, Sat. 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
• Asheville City Market at North Market St in Downtown Asheville, Sat. 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
• Holly Jolly Christmas Markets at White Horse Black Mountain, Sat. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Guild Holiday Sale Market at Folk Art Center, Sat. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Yule Tide Pride - Holiday Market Convention at AB Tech, Sat. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Winter Whiskerland at Asheville Humane Thrift Store, Sat. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Lookout's Annual Holiday Market at Lookout Brewing Company, Sat. 12 - 5 p.m.
• 7th Annual Winter Market at Honey & the Hive, Sat. 3 - 6 p.m.
• Winter Wonderland Pottery Sale at AVL Clay, Sat. 3 - 7 p.m.
• FirePink Clay Collective Holiday Sale, Sun. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Vegan Market Asheville at Bridge and Tunnel Cafe, Sun. 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Holiday Makers Market at Leveller Brewing Co. Sun. 2 - 6 p.m.
• Holiday Pop Up Shop at Asheville Mall, Daily through Dec. 24
• WNC Farmers Market at 570 Brevard Road, open 7 days a week, year-round, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.    

Visit an art studio or art exhibition 

Asheville is home to hundreds of artists, galleries and studios making creative expression a way of life here in the mountains. Here is a look at some of the current art exhibitions in the city:

• Craft + Comfort: A Holiday Gathering at Center for Craft, Fri. 5 - 7 p.m.
• Jeffrey Burroughs Holiday Party! Sat. 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
• Holiday Open House at Blue Star Gallery, Sat - Sun. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Holiday Open Studio Party with Shopping & Special Guest Artist at Loom Imports, Sat. & Sun. 12 - 4 p.m.
• Small Wonders Art Show at RADA Outpost, through Dec. 28
• A Few of Our Favorite Things at American Folk Art & Framing, through Dec. 30
• Artful Living: The Spirit of the Craftsman Style at Grovewood Gallery, through Dec. 31
• 7th Annual Vessels of Merriment at Grovewood Gallery, through Dec. 31
• Ornament Tree in the Stairway Gallery at Trackside Studio, through Dec. 31
• Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures at Biltmore, through Jan. 4, 2026
• "Art From the Heart" - Exhibition at UpMarket Gallery, through Jan. 9, 2026
• Points in Space: Performance at Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center, through Jan. 10, 2026
• Lasting Legacies: Architecture in Asheville at Asheville Art Museum, through Jan. 18, 2026
• Trolls: A Field Study by Thomas Dambo at The North Carolina Arboretum, through Feb. 17, 2026
• Look Homeward, Angel: Letterio Calapai’s Wood Engravings at Asheville Art Museum, through Feb. 22, 2026
• Modern Bestiary: Creatures from the Collection at Asheville Art Museum, through Mar. 25, 2026
• Highwater: Ceramics from the Gail & Brian McCarthy Collection at Asheville Art Museum, through Apr. 26, 2026
• Our Changing World at Asheville Museum of Science, through Apr. 30, 2026
• Women of the Pacific Northwest at Asheville Art Museum, through May 17, 2026

Packages and Deals

Save some money this weekend with these special offers from area attractions and accommodations.

• Winter season savings! Book by December 31, 2025 for this offer! at Oakland Cottage Bed and Breakfast
• Troll Trek Package at Engadine Inn and Cabins
• Turn It Up to Eleven: Laugh Louder, Stay Longer, Save More at LaZoom Tours