Asheville Seasonal Sizzle

Get ready for a sizzling holiday season in Asheville! This year we are kicking it up a notch with free fireworks, live entertainment, seasonal appetizer specials at local restaurants, and extended hours of evening shopping in downtown Asheville’s eclectic boutiques and craft galleries.

After the fireworks, visitors are encouraged to enjoy live music, theater and dance performances including the Warren Haynes Christmas Jam, Asheville Ballet’s Nutcracker and holiday theater performances at North Carolina Stage Company, Diana Wortham Theater and Asheville Community Theater.

For more information, visit www.AshevilleSeasonalSizzle.com.

Tail End of Leaf Season

Some fall color still remains in the trees here in Asheville, but leaf season is winding down. While the color show has moved through the Asheville area, the vibrant color continues into lower elevations as Mother Nature's annual show slowly comes to an end.

The Mighty Dogwood

It's not too late to spend a day at The North Carolina Arboretum, where the diversity of plant life and seasonally landscaped gardens ensure a brilliant fall experience. At Biltmore Estate, red oaks continue to display a bold red. Along with them stand maples and sweetgums with a mix of reds, dark purples, and oranges. The most colorful tree is the dogwood, with its blazing orange red leaves.

Chimney Rock

Vivid colors can also be found at nearby Chimney Rock Park, which peaks late in the season due to its lower elevation. Located in scenic Hickory Nut Gorge, Chimney Rock Park is home to many hiking trails that offer incredible views. Make the most of your hike with these fall hiking tips.

Enjoy Asheville

When the sun goes down, warm up in one of Asheville's numerous cozy cafes or gourmet restaurants. Whatever you're in the mood for, Asheville's got you covered. Check out our extensive list of places to eat. Take a look at the upcoming Asheville Seasonal Sizzle as we gear up for the holiday season.

Insider Tips

Fall Harvest Tailgate Flavors of the Week: At the markets this week you will find fresh squashes, potatoes, mixed greens, pastured pork and lamb, free-range chicken, grass-fed beef, and farm-raised rainbow trout.
Budget Tip: Want to know one of the best ways to save money and find a room in the Asheville area in the fall? Make your first stop the Asheville Visitor Center in downtown Asheville at 36 Montford Avenue.

Holidays in Asheville

There’s nothing quite like Christmas at Biltmore. Watch this video to see what’s in store this holiday season.



And that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Asheville’s holiday festivities. This December we combine fireworks, food, and all kinds of fun with Asheville Seasonal Sizzle. Check out holiday packages to help you make the most of your visit.

Brilliant Fall Colors as Foliage Peaks in Asheville

Leaf season is at its peak in Asheville while lower elevations are just beginning to see signs of the annual show. In Asheville, red oaks have joined the parade, looking absolutely gorgeous with a deep red hue. Japanese maples are far from subtle with leaves ranging from orange to crimson. Beeches and hickories continue to display a golden yellow, while dogwoods and sourwoods hold strong with their own shade of red. Now is a great time to visit because not only can you see great color, but you can also get into the early holiday spirit as annual events like Christmas at Biltmore begin this weekend.

Choice Viewing Locations

Two excellent places to view fall color in Asheville are Biltmore Estate and the North Carolina Arboretum, due to the exceptional diversity of plant life, seasonally landscaped gardens and stunning scenic vistas. The Arboretum's Director of Horticulture Alison Arnold notes that many colors are brightening the landscape, including brilliant reds from maple trees, blazing oranges from black gum and persimmon trees, and glittering gold from a variety of shrubs and perennials. Maples are showing a full spectrum of reds, yellows and oranges. The beautyberry shrubs have turned royal purple, basking in the bronze orange of the dawn redwood and bald cypress.

Late Bloomers

Lower elevations are privy to reaching peak late in the leaf season. At Chimney Rock Park, located in the scenic Hickory Nut Gorge, the foliage is expected to last through mid-November. Chimney Rock offers an incredible vantage point of Lake Lure and Bills Mountain, both surrounded by spectacular fall color. Lake James, also set at the foot of the mountains, is another great place to view the foliage.

Scenic Joyrides

Experience a brilliant spectrum of fall color on the drive to Chimney Rock along Highway 74. Another fun road that is bursting with fall color is the Asheville corridor of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Even at higher elevations where leaves have fallen, the absence of leaves makes for stunning views of the foliage at lower elevations. Nearby Black Mountain is also at its peak, with incredible yellows and vivid reds.

Updates

Foliage experts and attractions from around the region are providing weekly updates for leaf peepers. Check back soon for updates on where to find the best color in Western North Carolina. And, as you’re out this fall in the Asheville area, share your fall photos with us.

Insider Tips

Fall Harvest Tailgate Flavors of the Week: At the

markets this week you will find fresh squashes, potatoes, mixed greens, pastured pork and lamb, free-range chicken, grass-fed beef, and farm-raised rainbow trout.

Budget Tip: You don't have to spend a lot of money to have an enriching vacation experience in the Asheville area. In fact, you can enjoy time with your family and friends this fall at many area attractions without spending a penny. For more information, check out our free fall activities.