Gingerbread House Arrives at Asheville Visitor Center

Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa borrowed the Gingerbread Man’s car and delivered a gingerbread house from their National Gingerbread House Competition to the Asheville Visitor Center. Take the time to check out the peppermint rims and icing adorning the Gingerbread Man’s sweet ride.

Asheville Unveils New Wayfinding Signs

Navigating around Asheville and the surrounding areas just got easier. On Monday, the Buncombe Country Tourism Development Authority (BCTDA) unveiled the first wayfinding sign on Patton Avenue in downtown Asheville. The $1.65 million community-wide signage program is designed to help visitors and residents find their way to nearly 90 attractions, public spaces, historic sites and destination.

The signs feature unique design elements. The vehicular signs boast finials from local artisans Kathleen Doyle and Thomas Reardon of Portfolio Metalwork, Dan Howachyn of Black Mountain Iron Works and Robert Gardner of Studio C Glassworks. The backs of the signs feature quotes from 14 Western North Carolina authors.

More than 300 sign elements will be installed throughout Buncombe County in the coming months. The project is slated for completion in mid-February or early March.

Watch Fireworks in Downtown Asheville

Add a little “bang” to your Saturday night by checking out downtown Asheville’s Seasonal Sizzle firework show on December 12 and 19. Check out last weekend’s fireworks for a sneak peek of what’s to come.

Win a Cookbook--Become a Facebook Fan

Looking for a little holiday treat? Become a Foodtopian Society fan on Facebook, and leave a comment on why you love Asheville for the chance to win a cookbook from the Southern Highland Craft Guild. The cookbook, titled “Artful Eating,” contains nearly 500 entrées, side dishes and desserts from guild artists, staff and volunteers. A winner will be picked on Monday, December 14.

Can’t wait to win? Purchase a copy of the cookbook at the Folk Art Center and Guild Crafts in east Asheville on Tunnel Road, or go online to craftguild.org. Proceeds from the cookbook benefit the guild’s educational programs.

Tickets Still Available for Warren Haynes Christmas Jam

Good news for music lovers everywhere! Tickets are still available for the Warren Haynes Christmas Jam on Saturday at the Asheville Civic Center.

Tickets are only $55 and are available at the Civic Center box office or online at ticketmaster. Asheville-rasised Warren Hayne hosts the annual concert as a way to raise money for Habitat for Humanity.

This year’s line-up includes:
• Warren Haynes and Gov't Mule
• Counting Crows
• Ani DiFranco
• The band moe.
• George Porter Jr.
• Eric Krasno
• Nigel Hall and Adam Deitch
• William Bell
• Aerosmith's Brad Whitford
• Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews
• Jeff Austin
• Mike Barnes
• DJ Logic
• Jackie Greene
• Col. Bruce Hampton
• Jimmy Herring
• Kevn Kinney
• The Xmas Jam Band featuring Fred Eltringham, Audley Freed, Ron Holloway, Robert Kearns and Collective Soul's Ed Roland

Santa Climbs Chimney Rock on Dec. 5 and 12

Ever wonder how Santa Claus makes it down thousands of chimneys in record time on Christmas Eve? He practices on the weekends at Chimney Rock Park to ensure he’s in prime condition on the big day.

Watch the jolly man hone his skills as he climbs down 315-foot Chimney Rock on December 5 and 12, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. After he finishes perfecting his form, Santa and Mrs. Claus will make the rounds in the park and hear Christmas requests from his littlest fans.

This fun-filled event is free with park admission. Dog lovers, take note, the park welcomes four-footed friends, too!

Holiday Family Fun in Black Mountain

This weekend marks the first weekend of December, which means holiday celebrations are popping up everywhere in and around Asheville.

Looking to recapture the feel of small-town America with a charming Christmas celebration? Check out neighboring Black Mountain’s Holly Jolly on Friday, December 4. The fun begins at 2 p.m. and lasts until 11 p.m. The town rolls out the red carpet with holiday snacks and treats, Christmas music from local musicians, entertainment and a visit from jolly Ol’ Saint Nick.

Other festivities during the weekend include the town’s annual Christmas parade on Saturday, December 5, at 4 p.m. followed the Circle of Lights celebration at Lake Tomahawk from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Circle of Lights includes local music, food, hayrides, a toasty bon fire and the stunning sight of Lake Tomahawk lined with luminaries.