Seasonal Sizzle Fireworks: Holiday magic will literally be in the air as the night sky over Asheville sparkles during Seasonal Sizzle. Firework displays choreographed to Christmas music favorites will light up the night on Saturdays at 7 p.m. in December. Dates: Dec. 5, 12, 19 at 7 p.m. FREE Santa on the Chimney: To ready himself for clambering down chimneys across the world, Santa will practice on 315-foot Chimney Rock. Santa will rappel down the 535 million-year-old rock face and then head back to the top to do it all over again. Mrs. Claus will greet children and oversee the festivities.
Dates: Dec. 5 & Dec. 12 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. FREE with park admission Warren Haynes Christmas Jam: Rock legend Warren Haynes returns to his hometown bringing along his friends for the 21st annual Warren Haynes Xmas Jam for charity, featuring Counting Crows, Ani DiFranco, Gov’t Mule and more. This year, the jam will toast the holidays with its first official Christmas Jam White Ale brewed locally by Asheville Brewing Company.
Date: Dec. 12 from 7 – 11:45 p.m. National Gingerbread House Competition & Display: Culinary contestants from across the country will bring their edible masterpieces to The Grove Park Inn this holiday season. Delight in the imagination shown in these sugar-and-spice creations. Strolling through the competition display is a sure way to be swept up in the holiday spirit. Check out the new behind-the-scenes gingerbread tour.
Dates: Nov. 18, 2009 to Jan. 3, 2010 FREE New! Legendary Inns Gingerbread Tour: Take a holiday trolley tour to four of Asheville’s historic bed & breakfast inns, all dressed in glittering lights and classically decorated for the holiday season. Each stop will feature an elaborate gingerbread house scene telling the story of the beloved poem ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. Visitors will enjoy songs of the season, holiday treats and history as Asheville’s Grey Line Trolley carries them from inn to inn.
Dates: Saturdays, Nov. 7, 2009 — Jan. 2, 2010 at 5 p.m. Singing Santa & Asheville Holiday Parade: Grammy Award winner David Holt and Appalachian songstress Laura Boosinger will preside over the Asheville Holiday Parade as the grand procession winds through historic downtown. A local tradition for more than 60 years, parade highlights range from cultural to quirky. Always a favorite, Singing Santa croons from atop his float and later appears in Pritchard Park where kids can whisper their holiday wishes or drop a letter in the North Pole Express mailbox.
Date: Nov. 21 at 11 a.m. FREE Christmas at Biltmore: Holidays arrive at America’s largest home in style. More than a century ago, George Vanderbilt chose this magical season as the time to unveil his new home to family and friends. This year, Christmas at Biltmore promises more than 40 Christmas trees, miles of ribbon, garland, lights and holiday music.
Dates: Nov. 6, 2009 to Jan. 2, 2010 Biltmore Village Dickens Festival: Located just outside of Biltmore Estate, historic Biltmore Village transforms into a quaint Victorian village on the first weekend of December. Horse-drawn carriages will trot along classically decorated cobblestone streets as carolers, storytellers and instrumentalists stroll the village in period costumes. Enjoy fresh-roasted chestnuts, live music performances and excerpts from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol performed by the Montford Park Players.
Dates: Dec. 4-6 FREE | 
I talked about the Grove Inn in the entry form … here I’ll talk about another of my favorites … Christmas at Biltmore. Imagine being in the most luxurious home in the nation … a home filled with antiques and lovely decor … a home surrounded by manicured gardens. Now imagine that this spectacular setting is totally, over-the-top decorated for the holidays. It is like stepping into a holiday fantasy. That’s Christmas at Biltmore … Holiday Magic!
I am looking forward to the downtown fireworks this season!
The Biltmore Village Dickens Festival looks like some great fun!!!
I’m looking forward to Biltmore Village Dicken’s Festival this year!
What I want for Christmas is to bring my friend to Asheville and show her all the sights… seeing the Biltmore House at Christmas is a great treat!
The Warren Haynes Christmas Jam sounds fantastic! What better way to capture the heart of Asheville’s culture than with good music and good brews?
Love the downtown fireworks in the holiday season!
I hope to get to Asheville to see the gingerbread houses this year. The houses are always inspirational, and the Grove Park at the holidays is just perfect!
The Dickens Festival sounds amazing!!!
I’ve never had the opportunity to spend the holidays in Asheville but it isn’t far away. I can only imagine that the Biltmore is breathtaking during the holiday season!!
One of my favorite events is seeing the gingerbread houses at the Grove Park. Not mentioned in the story but also one of my favorite things to do in the area is the Holly Jolly festival in Black Mountain just down the road.
I love Asheville’s downtown. Fireworks sounds fabulous!
The Biltmore house by candlelight is beyond compare!
I would love to see the Gingerbread Competition at Grove Park Inn!
Warren Haynes Christmas Jam, for sure. My Atlanta girlfriends and I have always wanted to attend, but have never been able to make it. (I know, not the typical idea of a girls getaway…but it’s our idea of a fun weekend!)
one of the best things in the world is the Biltmore during Christmas. If you haven’t been then run…don’t walk!!!
Biltmore Candlelight Tour — expensive but such a beautiful tradition
Christmas at Biltmore!
There’s nothing else quite like it.
I was going to say Christmas at the Biltmore, but after reading about Warren Haynes Christmas Jam, I think that would be my favorite because it benefits charity. 🙂
National Gingerbread House Competition & Display sounds like so much fun!
I want to bring my daughter to Asheville. My oldest is at college and unable to get home. My youngest daughter is 16 and thsi will be the 1st Xmas morning she will wake up with out her sister. I am well aware that when she goes off to College in a few months the holidays as we know then will change,,forever. I think a wonderful , fun, quirky trip to Asheville would be a great memory for us both.
I think that the Seasonal Sizzle Fireworks would be an awesome sight to see. Asheville at night is terrific as is, but to see it with the sky all lit up would be super cool.
I LOVE the GIngerbread House Displays! They look so awesome! We LOVE Asheville!
I live close to Asheville and the Christmas At the Biltmore is my favorite. I can imagine how beautiful it must be.
It would have to be the Gingerbread contest at the Grove Park Inn. I have always admired and been amazed at the many talents behind designers and creators of those houses. They always made my Christmas extra special. Wish I could get back up there to see them again.