A Celebration of Christmas Past

Jacob Marley may have been dead to begin with, but that was a long time ago and we're not going to let it spoil this year's holiday fun. This weekend, Dec. 3-5, we kick off Christmas really old-school with the Dickens in the Village festival, held in historic Biltmore Village.

Join carolers, musicians, mimes, bagpipers, actors in period costume, puppets and even elves for a full weekend of performances and festive holiday shopping. Beginning Friday evening around dusk, the whole village will be illuminated with more than 250,000 white lights. A full schedule of music and merriment can be found here.

And yes, there will be chestnuts roasting on an open fire.

Don't forget about the season's many productions of A Christmas Carol--including a benefit dinner-theater experience with the Montford Park Players--to complete your Dickensian holiday.

For the Shopper Who Has Seen It All... Uniquely Asheville Gifts

Here in Asheville, as in every other city, town and neighborhood in America, we are preparing for the big Turkey (or Tofurkey) Day. (PS: If you haven't made dinner arrangements, there's still time to check out Asheville area restaurants that will be open tomorrow.)

And of course, after The Big Dinner, there is Black Friday and the four weeks that follow, during which time we all race around trying to find the perfect thing for everyone on our list. This year we want to make it a little easier for you by pointing out those special Asheville spots for holiday shopping:

An Art Deco Wonderland
Asheville's art deco shopping destination, The Grove Arcade, is celebrating the holidays in style. This year's Winter Wonderland features displays from the National Gingerbread Competition, a special exhibition of covers from the local Mountain Xpress, live music, photos with Santa, and other family entertainment. Ongoing throughout December, with special events on Dec. 3 & 4 @ The Grove Arcade.

Crafts While They Last

Each year during the shopping rush, the world-class craftsmen and -women of the Southern Highland Craft Guild come together to put on their Annual Holiday Sale. The special part is that their locally crafted wares are 10-50% off, and the selection often includes over-runs, seconds, and discontinued stock. Dec. 4 & 11, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. @ The Folk Art Center.

Gifts With Indie Flair

For the loved one who loves the less conventional, try shopping at the Big Crafty. This creative indie art show fills the hallways of Pack Place and features everything from homemade soaps, to jewelry, to terrariums, to children's clothing--and all with a decidedly Asheville twist. Dec. 5, noon - 6 p.m. @ Pack Place.

Tasty Tailgate Treats
Don't forget that our city's unforgettable tailgate markets transform into holiday markets and bazaars beginning this weekend and the next. Pick up some items for your holiday table, or choose something wonderful for the foodie in your life. Saturdays through Dec. 18 @ Selected Tailgate Markets. Click here for more info.

Happy Hunting!

Santa zip lines through the mountains of Western North Carolina

Happy Holidays from Navitat!

The Curtains Go Up on Holiday Productions

From left: Michael MacCauley, Willie
V.R. Repoley, Maria Buchanan and Rachelle
Roberts. Photo courtesy of Treadshots.

Watch the holiday season come to life in Asheville at one of the many dance and theater productions debuting during the coming weeks. From the traditional to the musical, there's something for everyone:

For a "wonderful" evening:
Take a step back in time to the WVL radio studio on Christmas Eve 1945, in "Live from WVL Radio Theatre: It's A Wonderful Life," presented by Flat Rock Playhouse and the NC Stage Company. This new twist on Frank Capra's classic film breathes new life into Bedford Falls and everyman George Bailey, just in time to kindle some holiday spirit in us all.

For Christmas past, present and future:
Fans of Ebeneezer Scrooge, Jacob Marley and Bob Cratchit have a couple of options this season, including the classic production from the Montford Park Players, now in its 35th year. New to the Dickens scene this year is a musical presentation, produced by Flat Rock Playhouse and their YouTheatre students. Come check out this unique production, with music by Disney's Alan Menken.

For the Nutcracker enthusiast:
Whether you prefer ballerinas in tutus or mermaids afloat in a sea of taffy, Asheville-area theaters have enough Nutcracker for every week in the month of December. Diana Wortham Theatre alone is offering three different productions beginning early in the month. Check out Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre's version, "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King," based on the original story from 1861, or plan to see traditional presentations from the Asheville Ballet and the Ballet Conservatory of Asheville. And on Dec. 21, Thomas Wolfe Auditorium welcomes the Moscow Ballet's "Great Russian Nutcracker" for one night only.

Check out our event calendar for more performance listings...

Hundreds of Edible Masterpieces on Display at The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa

Hundreds of gingerbread houses crafted in 20 different states made their way to Asheville for the 18th National Gingerbread House Competition at The Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa. Judges have picked winners and you can see the houses on display now through January 2 at The Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa as well as the historic Grove Arcade shopping market.

• More details about the National Gingerbread House Competition and Display…
• Create your own gingerbread cookie masterpieces with The Grove Park Inn’s chefs and staff…

Holiday Farmers Tailgate Markets in Asheville

Area holiday tailgate markets have everything you need to eat local and give local this season, and there’s no shortage of them this year. These markets offer the chance to get in the holiday spirit while interacting directly with local farmers and artisans.

Just what can you expect to find? Look for late-season produce, meats and cheeses, wreaths and Christmas trees, baked goods, and locally made gifts—from handmade crafts to clothing and even recycled bicycles.

Asheville City Market
Dates: Saturdays November 27 and December 4, 11, and 18 (closed November 20 for parade)
Time/Venue: 10 am-2 pm; 161 S Charlotte
Sample Offerings: Christmas trees and wreaths, holiday baked goods, and late-season vegetables. Live music November 27 with Red Hot Sugar Babies, December’s music TBA; Recycle-a-Bike Event to benefit Asheville Bike Recyclery Saturdays in December.


Black Mountain Tailgate Market
Date: Saturday November 20

Time/Venue: 10 am-1 pm; 130 Montreat Rd

Sample Offerings: Pasture-raised meats, produce, breads, chocolates, pies, pottery, candles, calendars, jewelry, fiber arts, woodworking, lotions, and greeting cards.

North Asheville Tailgate Market / 9th Annual Holiday Bazaar
Dates: Saturdays December 4, 11, and 18

Time/Venue: 11 am-4 pm; UNCA campus

Sample Offerings: Produce, crafts, gifts, meats, cheese, baked goods, chocolate, cider, coffee, and more.

West Asheville Tailgate Market
Date: Tuesday December 7
Time/Venue: 2:30-5:30 pm; 718 Haywood
Sample Offerings: Produce, meats, cheeses, baked goods, and artisan craft items. 



Learn more about these and other Asheville Tailgate Markets...

Holiday Shopping and Fall Crafts in Asheville

Christmas shopping should be fun! In Asheville, you can avoid tension, bad attitudes and long lines by strolling our pedestrian-friendly shopping districts and visiting independent, locally-owned boutiques and galleries. Find one-of-a-kind gifts for everyone on your list from the outdoor adventurer to the eclectic collector to the farm-to-table foodie.

The Big Crafty Holiday Show Returns!
Hosted by the Asheville Art Museum Sunday, December 5, 2010

Voted Best Arts/Crafts Fair in Western North Carolina in Mountain Xpress’s Best of WNC, The Big Crafty Holiday Show returns Sunday, December 5, 2010 from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Pack Place! In addition to the over 100 amazing artists and crafters, there will be food, music and fun! Admission to this event is free.

Get more details about the Big Crafty...

Explore Asheville Shopping by Category

• Arts and Crafts
• Antiques
• Children’s Shops
• Outfitters
• All Shopping

Exploring Fall Craft Adventures
With the days growing cooler and fall foliage brightening every peak, autumn allows locals and visitors to soak in the area’s vibrant arts and crafts scene. In Asheville, it’s hard to go a block without finding an artist, shop or gallery, museum, or art class exuding creativity and artistic inspiration.

• Craft Trail Drives
• Craft Fairs and Festivals
• Local Craft Classes
• Craft Galleries and Shops

Asheville’s Rich Architectural History

Asheville was a little more than a primitive outpost in 1797. Frontiersmen such as Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett traveled through in the early days.

The railroad transformed Asheville and Buncombe County into a resort and therapeutic health center when it arrived in 1880. Asheville quickly became a Mecca for visitors searching for a mountain escape, its population climbing to nearly 30,000 seasonal residents in 1890.

Rich Architecture
Asheville had no money to invest in urban renewal projects that were so popular in other cities following Black Monday. The magnificent buildings built during the boom years were spared the bulldozer as a result of Asheville commitment to repay its debt.

This is why Asheville is a snap shot of what an American boomtown looked like during the turn of the century. It isn’t unusual to find quaint mom and pop shops in elegant surroundings.

Learn more about Asheville’s rich history…

Get Your "They Built Asheville" 2011 Calendar
Discover the secrets behind twelve of Asheville’s most iconic downtown buildings. The “They Built Asheville” 2011 calendar produced by the Western North Carolina Historical Association is available for purchase at the Asheville Convention and Vistitors Bureau at 36 Montford Avenue in Asheville. Get yours today!

The Holidays Begin at Biltmore

Biltmore's Christmas tree is truly a spectacle each year. Last week, Biltmore raised a 35-foot Fraser fir inside the Vanderbilt mansion. The 25-year old tree was delivered by horse and carriage, just as it would have arrived when the Vanderbilts lived here. Using a system of ropes and pulleys, crews hoisted the majestic giant with ease before decorating with holiday ornaments.

Celebrate the holiday season in Asheville...

Asheville Fall Color Report for November 5

Still Plenty of Fall Color in Asheville
If you're traveling this way, there is still plenty of fall color in Asheville and the surrounding area. Leaves have fallen at the highest elevations, opening up views that had previously been obscured. Meanwhile, nature continues to paint the trees in Asheville with her fall palette.

Biltmore's director of horticulture Parker Andes observes, "Sugar Maples, Sweet Gums and Sourwoods around Asheville are center stage, showing all the fall colors imaginable - yellow, orange and every shade of red."If you're traveling this way, there is still plenty of fall color in Asheville and the surrounding area. Leaves have fallen at the highest elevations, opening up views that had previously been obscured. Meanwhile, nature continues to paint the trees in Asheville with her fall palette.

Leaf color in the lower elevations near Asheville such as Hickory Nut Gorge and Chimney Rock Park are peaking now. See tall canyons and waterfalls from a unique perspective. While you’re here, find great photo opportunities for fall color at Biltmore, the NC Arboretum or Pack Square Park downtown.

Continue reading this fall color report...

Free Range Turkey? Thanksgiving Eats

Have a stress-free Thanksgiving. Let the Asheville foodies do all the work this year.

There are several restaurants open and serving Thanksgiving dinner, and they range from casual family eateries serving up classic southern cuisine to upscale AAA four-diamond restaurants. You don’t have to slave over a stove all day to have a delicious Thanksgiving dinner.

Check out this list of restaurants serving Thanksgiving dinner.

Take it a step further by selecting a Thanksgiving inspired travel package.

Find out which Thanksgiving package could have you eating like a Vanderbilt…

Stroll Among the Artists in the River Arts District

Get a behind the scenes, up close and personal look at the artists and art studios that make up Asheville’s River Arts District.

Twice a year, every second weekend in June and November, Asheville’s River Arts District Artists open their studios to the public for two days of festivities known as the Studio Stroll. The next Studio Stroll is taking place on Saturday and Sunday, November 13-14 from 10am – 6 pm.

Visit more than 140 working artist studios and galleries in Asheville's River Arts District. Painters, potters, sculptors, weavers, photographers, jewelers, woodworkers, great food & more…all in revitalized old factories and warehouses along the French Broad River, just minutes from downtown.

Ride free on the Asheville Historic Trolley between Studio Buildings