This Weekend in Asheville

Black Mountain Holly Jolly Celebration & Parade

Friday - Saturday, December 5-6, various times
Downtown Black Mountain

Ring in the season in Black Mountain as shops stay open late with festive displays, treats, music, and visits with Santa. The celebration continues the next day with a lively downtown parade featuring floats, performers, and plenty of holiday cheer.

The Big Crafty

Saturday - Sunday, December 6-7, 12- 6 p.m.
Harrah's Cherokee Center - Asheville

Discover one of Asheville’s most beloved arts traditions as hundreds of makers fill Harrah’s Cherokee Center with handmade goods, creative energy, and community spirit. Browse everything from fine craft to quirky treasures and meet the artists who bring this vibrant holiday marketplace to life.

Krampus Cat Lounge Takeover, Parade, and Night Market

Saturday, December 6, 12 - 11p.m.
House of Black Cat Magic

Get your holiday mischief on with photos of Santa, Krampus, or both inside the cat lounge surrounded by friendly housepanthers. Enjoy fifteen minutes of cuddles and unlimited photo ops, then step outside for the Krampus Parade, Night Market, and costume contest that carries the revelry down Haywood Road into the evening.

Recurring Events

Christmas at Biltmore

Friday - Sunday, December 5-7, 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 5-7, 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 5-7, 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 5-6, 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 5-7, 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

The Orange Peel

Friday, December 5:

• Flashback Friday at The Montford Rooftop Bar, 4 p.m.
• Patty M – Eclectic. Acoustic. FUN! at Turgua Brewing, 5:30 p.m.
• Live Music: Tim McWilliams at Sweeten Creek Brewing, 6 p.m.
• Asheville Drum Circle at Pritchard Park, 6 p.m.
• Live Music: Andy and Graham Ferrell at Ginger's Revenge, 6 p.m.
• Foreign Film Fridays at Flood Gallery Fine Art Center, 7 p.m.
• YMI Banjul-Banjo Series Presents Jazz & Soul Sessions, 7 p.m.
• Movie Night! “Christmas Jars” at Center for Spiritual Living Asheville, 7 p.m.
• Asheville Drag Bingo: Pajama Party Fundraiser for Asheville Gay Men's Chorus at Hilltop Event Center, 7 p.m.
• OK Go at Orange Peel, 7 p.m.
• Juniper Bends December Reading at Story Parlor, 7 p.m.
• Asheville Choral Society Presents, Yuletide Candlelight at Central United Methodist Church, 7 p.m.
• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at Asheville Community Theatre, 7:30 p.m.
• The Comedy Zone: Helen Hong at Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, 8 p.m.
• Scuttlebutt: Farewell Show at LaZoom Room, 8 p.m.

Saturday, December 6:

• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at Asheville Community Theatre, 2:30 p.m.
• BRO Revels! 2025: A British Holiday, 1st Performance at First Baptist Church, 3 p.m.
• What's Shaking Music presents: Jingle Bell Jam (for kids and their adults) at The Mule, 3 p.m.
• Asheville Choral Society Presents, Yuletide Candlelight at Central United Methodist Church, 4 p.m.
• Live Music: Waylon Hamilton at Sweeten Creek Brewing, 6 p.m.
• Zakk Sabbath at Orange Peel, 7 p.m.
• Asheville Community Square Dance at Haw Creek Commons, 7 p.m.
• Eyes Up Here Comedy: Winter Witches Edition at Ginger's Revenge, 7 p.m.
• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at Asheville Community Theatre, 7:30 p.m.
• The Nutcracker and the Mouse King at Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30 p.m.
• Christmas Concert at Montreat College, 7:30 p.m.
• Miss Vee's Freakshow at The Mule, 8 p.m.
• Tree People at Vintage Kava, 8 p.m.
• Hell Hounds: Dark and Dirty Comedy at The Hound, 10 p.m.

Sunday, December 7: 

• The Nutcracker and the Mouse King at Wortham Center for the Performing 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.
• Jazz Jam Sundays at Ginger's Revenge, 2:30 p.m.
• BRO Revels! 2025: A British Holiday, 2nd Performance at Warren Wilson Presbyterian Church, 3 p.m.
• PAN HARMONIA: Holiday Variety Show benefiting Working Wheels! at First Presbyterian Church, 3 p.m.
• BARLEYWINE with Vic Varner-Ella Thomas-Andy Preston at Turgua Brewing, 3 p.m.
• Robert's Totally Rad Trivia at DSSOLVR, 4 p.m.
• One Love Sundays - Live Reggae at One World West, 7 p.m.
• Freshen Up Comedy Open Mic at VOWL Bar, 7 p.m.
• The Nutcracker and the Mouse King at Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30 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:

• Season of Celebration at Hello Gorgeous!, Fri. - Sat. 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
• Holiday Sip & Shop at Grovewood Gallery, Fri. - Sat. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Holly Jolly Christmas Markets at White Horse Black Mountain, Fri. - Sat. various times
• Uncommon Holiday Market at Battery Park Hall, Sat. - Sun. 10 a.m. - 4 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.
• Warrior Winter Market at Clyde A. Erwin Middle School, Sat. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• 2025 Holiday Pop-Up Shop at Asheville Mall Food Court, Sat. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
• Owen Middle Holiday Craft Fair at Charles D. Owen Middle School, Black Mountain, Sat. 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Holiday Craft Market at Odyssey School, Sat. 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.
• Krampus Night Market at The Well, Sat. 5:30 - 11 p.m.
• Fairview Handmade Market at Turgua Brewing, Sun. 11:30 - 4:30 p.m.
• December Craft Fair at Sweeten Creek Brewing, Sun. 12 - 4 p.m.
• BIPOC Farmers Market 2025 with Southside Community Farm at New Belgium Brewing, Sun. 1 - 4 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 

NC Glass Center

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:

• Evening Reception: A Few of Our Favorite Things at American Folk Art & Framing, Fri. 5 - 8 p.m.
• Downtown Asheville Gallery Walk Nov/Dec, Fri. 5 - 8 p.m.
• Opening Reception: Of Nature and Humans at Pink Dog Creative, Sat. 4 - 8 p.m.
• Small Wonders Art Show at RADA Outpost, through Dec. 28
• NEW: 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
• NEW:  "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
• NEW: 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
• NEW: 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
• NEW:  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.

• Troll Seekers in you Element
• Smoky Mountain Grapple Group Discount
• Summits to Sauna with Asheville Wellness Tours