Start Your Holiday Season Early in Asheville—A Local’s Perspective
Just five days ago I was doing a little last-minute Halloween shopping, when lo and behold, I found myself amidst a wealth of Christmas wreaths and porcelain Santas. What could I make of this? Had I stepped through a time-warp into late December? Was I subject to some sort of science-fiction, mad-scientist mischief?
Indeed not. Many have remarked upon this so-called Christmas-creep. Year after year, holiday merchandising descends upon our storefronts earlier and earlier. Current projections indicate that by 2027, you’ll be able to buy an inflatable plastic reindeer by February 1st.
But you know, I’m actually not complaining about Christmas-creep. I like the holiday season. I like eggnog; I want to drink more of it.
And there’s plenty of good reasons to start your festive season as early as November. More time in the season means less competition to see the best sites; smaller crowds, in other words. And if you’re out traveling, you can see how the locals celebrate the holidays, while still having plenty of time to go back and enjoy Christmas on the home-front.
It's the best of both worlds, if you ask me. So read on, and discover how to start your holiday season early in Asheville.
The Biltmore Estate has got to be Asheville’s number one tourist destination (after the Blue Ridge Mountains), and for good reason. There’s very few places like it in the States. It’s like being transported to a French Chateau, or an old English manor. It’s historic, by golly, and not only historic, but monumental. The largest privately owned mansion in the entire country, in fact.
All this makes it the perfect backdrop for an evening steeped in Christmas cheer. As early as November 2nd this year, you’ll find the halls bedecked with hundreds of candles, thousands of feet of lights, and a Christmas tree practically around every corner.
A visit here makes for a magical early holiday evening, and then some. I recommend going for the mid-tier ticket, which also grants you entry to the Estate’s grounds the next day, which are worth a visit unto themselves. That’s two day’s worth of holiday outings, for the price of one.
Once you wet your appetite on some Christmas cheer, I imagine the next thing on your mind’s going to be gift shopping. You’ve promised yourself you’ll start early this year, I’m sure. No more last-minute scrambles. Many people tell themselves this, myself included.
But this year, you can in fact get an early start on that Christmas shopping, and there’s no better place for it than downtown’s Grove Arcade. Starting around November 19th, most years, this historic indoor shopping-center will not only shield you from the cold late-autumn winds, but warm your spirit with its stunning holiday décor. Wreaths, lights, trees, the whole nine yards.
My favorite gift stores here include Enter the Earth, for gemstones and jewelry, and the Battery Park Book Exchange, one of the best bookstores in Asheville. As far as dining, I recommend Huli Sue’s Hawaiian barbecue.
Going strong for more than seventy years, this celebration of Asheville’s civic and holiday pride is a yearly tradition for many locals, and for travelers, it's a great way to kick off the holiday season early.
Typically, the route starts on downtown’s Biltmore Avenue, off the corner of the famous Orange Peel concert venue. From there it heads north to Pack Square, where parade-troops stop to give performances. Although competition for the best viewing spots around Pack Square can be fierce, it's certainly possible to grab one if you arrive early.
The whole affair usually kicks off at 11am, with the date somewhere about November 18th, give or take a couple days.
Once the parade’s over, and the crowds start to clear out, I recommend lingering in downtown Asheville. Go ahead and visit the aforementioned Grove Arcade, if you like. Or hunt down one of these awesome places for coffee, tea, or all around holiday cheer.
Every small town has its claim to fame. Largest concrete hot-dog, most prairie dogs per square-mile, and so on. There’s many things a town can be famous for.
But here in Asheville, we’re the proud hosts of the National Gingerbread House Competition, attracting the most talented confectionary-constructors from all across the country.
Held within the spanning halls of the Grove Park Inn, originally constructed in 1913, this monumental mountain lodge is practically brimming with holiday cheer once the Gingerbread House Competition kicks off. And year after year, I find the creativity on display within these candied miniatures to be truly inspiring.
Usually starting around November 19th, within a couple days of the Holiday Parade, I actually prefer visiting this one earlier in the season. Come December, spots fill up fast.
And finally, we have here what could be Asheville’s most well-known celebration of the holiday season. Hosted by the NC Arboretum, this enchanting display pairs the natural beauty of our great outdoors with a stunning light-scape, transforming these gardens into a winter wonderland. And I’ll tell you: the hot-cocoa stands really complete the picture.
Now keep in mind, as I write about this I can practically feel the chill winds fill my nostrils. Which is to say, it's usually much colder in the Arboretum than I anticipate. Wear some mufflers; you’ll be fine. And heck, you wouldn’t want to catch the holiday spirit in a heat-wave, would you? I wouldn’t. I think the cold makes it feel that much more festive.
My final piece of advice: you really do want to visit this one early in the season. Tickets around Christmas time can soar with surge-pricing, and they’re just harder to get. Visit around their grand opening, typically in the vicinity of November 18th. You’ll beat the crowds, and hopefully, find the perfect night, weather-wise. Not too warm, not too freezing.
Businesses Mentioned
Biltmore Estate
(828)-225-1333
1 Lodge Street, Asheville, NC 28803
Grove Arcade
(828)-252-7799
1 Page Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
Omni Grove Park Inn
(800)-438-5800
290 Macon Ave, Asheville, NC 28804
North Carolina Arboretum
(828)-665-2492
100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, NC 28806
