The Holiday season is here and our area offers several events suited for the whole family.
December 1 Different Tempers: Jewelry & Blacksmithing, Guest Curator: Suzanne Ramljak, editor, Metalsmith, The Center for Craft, Creativity & Design, (showcasing the work of fourteen prominent and mid-career metalsmiths, the exhibition will reveal the engaging range of metal work emerging from both the jeweler's bench and blacksmith's forge), Tues. - Sat. 1:00PM-5:00PM, Hendersonville, NC 828-890-2050
http://www.craftcreativitydesign.org/December 1 - 16 Santa’s Palette, Transylvania Community Arts Council, Mon-Fri 10:00AM-4:00PM, sale of local arts & crafts, Brevard, NC 828-884-2787
December 1 - 19 Arts Council of Henderson County presents Holiday Artists Market, Neill Gallery on Main Street, featuring the area’s finest artists and craftspeople, benefits the artists & The Arts Council of Henderson County, Tues.-Fri. 1:00PM-5:00PM, Sat. 1:00PM-4:00PM, free and open to the public, Hendersonville, 828-693-8504
http://www.acofhc.org/December 1 - 31 Henderson County Heritage Museum, Historic Courthouse on Main Street, exhibit Let Freedom Ring (tells the story of the county and its people during the nation’s military conflicts) Wed. - Sat.10:00AM-5:00PM, Sun. 1:00PM-5:00PM, Hendersonville, NC 828-694-1619
http://www.hendersoncountymuseum.org/December 1 -
January 2 Christmas for the Troops, Henderson County Heritage Museum, Wed.-Sun. 10:00AM-5:00PM, Sun. 1:00PM-5:00PM, (Operation Toasty Toes tree is in the lobby, they make and send items to the troops overseas & the Appalachian Mountain Heritage tree), free, Hendersonville, NC 828-694-1619
http://www.hendersoncountymuseum.org/Candlelight Evenings at Biltmore Estate, (America's largest home is decorated with with the glow of candles and fireplaces, dozens of Christmas trees, 100’s of wreaths, poinsettias & miles of evergreen garland), advanced purchase required, Asheville, NC 800-411-3812
http://www.biltmore.com/December 1 - January 3 Christmas at Biltmore Estate Daytime Visits, (America's largest home is decorated with dozens of Christmas trees, 100’s of wreaths, poinsettias & miles of evergreen garland) Asheville, NC 800-411-3812
www.biltmore.comNational Gingerbread House Competition & Display, Grove Park Inn, over 200 incredible gingerbread works of art from all over the country, public viewing, Mon.-Sat 10:00AM-6:00PM, Sun 12Noon-5:00PM, Asheville, NC 800-413-5778
NC Arboretum presents Building Small: American Folk Art Houses and Structures Exhibit , a magical gathering of American folk art buildings reveals much about culture, clever craftsmanship, and our architectural history, Tues.-Sun. 10:00AM-4:00PM, Asheville, NC 828-665-2492
http://www.ncarboretum.org/NC Arboretum presents Winter Solstice and Holiday Plants, a sample of traditional holiday plants with interpretation on how the plants came to be associated with the winter solstice and holiday season, Mon.-Sun.9:00AM-5:00PM,, Asheville, NC 828-665-2492
http://www.ncarboretum.org/December 1 - February 14, 2010Landscapes and Tourists Exhibit, Asheville Art Museum at Pack Place, Tues-Sat 10:00AM-5:00PM, Fri. 10:00AM-8:00PM, Sun. 1:00PM-5:00PM,. Asheville, NC 828-253-3227
http://www.ashevilleart.org/December 2 - 20 Flat Rock Playhouse presents the World Premiere holiday musical It Happened One Christmas, sometimes truth is more miraculous than fiction, Evenings 7:15pm, Matinees 2:15pm, Flat Rock, NC 828-693-0731 or 866-732-8008
http://www.flatrockplayhouse.org/December 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 Historic Courthouse Tours, Main St., every Wednesday @ 2:00PM, tours of the renovated Historic Courthouse, free to the public, Hendersonville, 828-694-5003
December 3 Wreath Making Workshop, Bullington Center, 3:00PM-5:00PM, Linda Beach will guide participates in crafting holiday wreaths with natural greenery, all materials will be provided, $35, Hendersonville, NC 828-698-6104
http://www.bullingtoncenter.org/Annual Holiday Fashion Show and Luncheon, Champion Hills Country Club, 11:30AM-1:00PM, Tickets $40, models will be accompanied by dogs available for adoption from Blue Ridge Humane Society, benefits Blue Ridge Humane Society, Hendersonville, NC 828-697-0208
http://www.blueridgehumane.org/December 3 - 13 The Montford Park Players A Christmas Carol, Asheville Arts Center, Thurs-Sun, 7:30PM pm, matinee on Sun, Dec. 6 3:00PM, Adults $12, Srs & Students $8, Children 18 & under $6, Asheville, NC 828-254-5146
http://www.montfordparkplayers.org/December 4 Olde Fashioned Hendersonville Christmas, Historic Downtown, 5:00PM-9:00PM (Downtown merchants host an open house with refreshments, entertainment, carriage rides, visit from Father Christmas & carolers - all with a Victorian flair) Hendersonville, NC 828-697-2022
http://www.downtownhendersonville.org/Visitors Information Center Christmas Open House, 201 South Main Street, 5:00PM-9:00PM, open house with entertainment & refreshments, entertainment by the Flat Rock Playhouse YouTheater at 6:00PM, the "Atomic Sisterhood" singing traditional Christmas Carols with a unique twist at 6:30PM and the New Life Ministries at 7:30PM; Hendersonville, 828-693-9708 or 800-828-4244
http://www.historichendersonville.org/Tree of Lights by Four Seasons, Historic Henderson County Courthouse on Main St., 5:30PM-7:00PM, tree lighting ceremony honoring & remembering loved ones and luminaries, Hendersonville, NC for the Hospice Tree call 828-692-6178
Town of Fletcher Tree Lighting & Festival of Carols, Fletcher Community Park, 5:30PM, (storytelling, Santa, caroling, hot chocolate, & lighting of the community Christmas tree) free admission but participants are encouraged to bring a nonperishable food item, Fletcher, 828-687-0751
http://www.fletchernc.org/December 4 & 5 WNC Nature Center, “A Winter’s Tale”, 6:00PM-9:00PM, (activities, presentations of live animals & family games) $6 per person, Asheville, NC 828-298-5600
http://www.wildwnc.org/Transylvania County Handcrafters Guild Holiday Sale, American Legion Hall, 9:00AM-5:00PM, juried Christmas crafts show & sale, Brevard, NC 828-862-8554
December 4 - 6 Hendersonville Little Theatre presents the drama The Lion In Winter, set in 1183 based on historical people and events, Fri. & Sat, 8:00PM, Sun. 2:00PM, Hendersonville, NC 828-692-1082
http://www.hendersonvillelittletheatre.org/December 4 - 31 Christmas for the Troops, Henderson County Heritage Museum, Wed.-Sun. 10:00AM-5:00PM, Sun. 1:00PM-5:00PM, Dec.4 lighting ceremony for Christmas Tree dedicated to America’s Armed Forces @ 4:00PM, (Operation Toasty Toes tree is in the lobby, they make and send items to the troops overseas & the Appalachian Mountain Heritage tree), free, Hendersonville, NC 828-694-1619
http://www.hendersoncountymuseum.org/December 5 Hendersonville Christmas Parade, Main Street (Five Points to Caswell Street), 10:30AM, Hendersonville, NC 828-692-4179
Christmas at the Farm, Historic Johnson Farm-Hwy 191 N,, 12Noon-5:00PM, Adults $5, Students K-12 $3, Preschool free (tour 1880's farmhouse decorated for the season, with music, refreshments, cake sale & wagon rides) Hendersonville, NC 828-891-6585
Celebrate the Season Concert, Blue Ridge Community College Thomas Auditorium, 7:30PM, concert followed by a reception & refreshments, free, Flat Rock, NC 828-694-1743
Flat Rock Village Stroll, 10:00AM-6:00PM, (refreshments, luminaries, merchant’s open house, raffle, and music), Flat Rock, NC 828-697-7719
http://www.flatrockonline.com/Tuba Christmas, Christmas concert presented by 60-70 tubas, euphoniums and baritone horns playing Christmas carols, Polk County High School Auditorium, 1:30PM-3:00PM, free, Columbus, NC 828-894-5850
Brevard Christmas Parade, Downtown, 3:00PM, Brevard, NC 828-883-3700
Twilight Tour Festival, Downtown,4:00PM-9:00PM (vendors, music, & children’s activites) Brevard, NC 828-884-3278
Lipizzaner Stallions, Asheville Civic Center, 2:00PM & 7:00PM, Asheville, NC 828-259-5544
www.ashevillenc.gov/departments/civic_centerChristmas Candlelight Tours of Vance Birthplace, 4:00PM-7:00PM, free, (tour the pioneer farmstead of Zebulon Baird Vance, he was Civil War officer, North Carolina governor, and U.S. senator), Weaverville, NC 828-645-6706
www.nchistoricsites.org/vance/vance.htmDecember 5 & 12 Santa on the Chimney!, Chimney Rock Park, before Santa climbs down chimneys around the world, he practices on 315’ Chimney Rock, also visits with Santa & Mrs. Claus, 11:00AM-2:00PM, park admission, Chimney Rock, NC 828-625-9611, 800-277-9611
http://www.chimneyrockpark.com/December 6 Hendersonville Community Band 'Tis the Season Concert, Blue Ridge Community College Conference Hall, 3:00PM, Adults $10, Students free, Hendersonville, NC 828-696-2118
http://www.hcbmusic.com/Transylvania Choral Society Holiday Concert, Porter Center at Brevard College, 3:00PM, free, Brevard, NC 828-883-4422
UNC Asheville's Holiday Concert, 4:00PM, UNC Asheville's Lipinsky Auditorium, $5 (students free with ID), Asheville, NC 828-251-6432
December 7 Pearl Harbor Commemorative Ceremony, patriotic program including school bands, color guards, and the overall county winner of the Pearl Harbor Day essay contest reading their essay; Historic Courthouse on Main St., 11:00AM, Hendersonville, NC 828-697-9026
December 10 Holiday Open House, Bullington Center, 1:00PM-4:00PM, learn about the Bullington Center, holiday treats prepared by the Forrest Women's Club, & annual Amaryllis sale; Hendersonville, NC 828-698-6104
http://www.bullingtoncenter.org/North Carolina Symphony Orchestra Holiday Pops Concert, 8:00PM, UNC Asheville's Lipinsky Auditorium, Asheville, NC 828-232-5000
December 10 - 12 Bethlehem Drive Through, Beulah Baptist Church on Willow Rd., 6:30PM-9:00PM, donation accepted, Hendersonville, NC 828-891-3670
December 11 Hometown Christmas, Downtown, 6:00PM-6:00PM, festive music & refreshments, Saluda, NC 828-817-2876
December 11 & 12 Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra presents Carolina Christmas with The Carolina Concert Choir, Blue Ridge Community College Conference Hall, Dec. 11 7:30PM, & Dec. 12 4:00PM, Flat Rock, NC 828-697-5884
http://www.hendersonvillesymphony.org/December 11 & 13 The Blue Ridge Performing Arts Center presents TV celebraity - recording artists Timothy O'Keefe, Dec 11 7:30PM, Dec 13 3:30PM, he will perform romantic favorites as well as Christmas specials featuring a guest singer and a small children's choir, Tickets $15, Hendersonville, NC 828-693-0087
http://www.blueridgepac.com/December 11 - 13 Christmas Pageant, Mud Creek Baptist Church (a powerful drama of the beloved Christmas story, featuring a multi-voice choir) 7:00PM, free ticketed event, for tickets call the church office, 7:00PM, Hendersonville, 828-692-1262
www.mudcreekchurch.org/christmasMills River Methodist Church presents Only Love, A Christmas Musical, Dec. 11 (dress rehearsal open to the public) 7:00PM, Dec. 12 7:00PM, Dec. 13 9:00AM & 10:55AM, Mills River, NC 828-891-7788
http://mrumc.com/The Asheville Ballet presents The Nutcracker, Diana Wortham Theatre at Pack Place, professional production of the full original ballet from Empirical Russia, Asheville, NC 828-257-4530
http://www.dwtheatre.com/December 12Christmas at Connemara, Carl Sandburg Home, National Historic Site; celebrate Christmas with the holiday traditions of the Sandburgs with holiday decorations & holiday music, 10:00AM-3:00PM, Flat Rock, NC 828-693-4178
www.nps.gov/carlGuided Bird Walk, Jackson Park, 9:00AM, Cosponsored by ECO & Henderson County Bird Club, Hendersonville, NC 828-692-0385
http://www.eco-wnc.org/The Blue Ridge Performing Arts Center presents “A Carolina Mountain Christmas” featuring Terry Wetton & Angela Heatherly, (Me & The Boys), Tom Fisch and guest humorist, historian & columnist Louise Bailey, Tickets $15, Hendersonville, NC 828-693-0087
http://www.blueridgepac.com/Town of Fletcher Christmas Parade (floats, musical groups & Santa) Hwy. 25 between Old Airport Rd. & Town Hall, 10:30AM, Fletcher, NC 828-687-0751
http://www.fletchernc.org/Holiday Tour of Homes, tour homes in Brevard & Transylvania County, 9:30AM-4:00PM, $30, Brevard, NC 828-884-2787
December 13 The Messiah Part 1, First United Methodist Church, 8:30AM & 10:55AM worship services, (Handel’s Messiah Part, 1 performed by the chamber and chancel choirs & orchestra), free, Hendersonville, NC 828-693-4275
December 18 Ballet Conservatory of Asheville presents The Nutcracker, Diana Wortham Theatre at Pack Place, Asheville’s new Conservatory makes it’s debut with this timeless holiday classic, Asheville, NC 828-257-4530
http://www.dwtheatre.com/December 18 - 20 United States Dog Agility Association (USDAA) Dog Agility Trial, Western North Carolina Agricultural Center McGough Arena (dogs jump hurdles, race through tunnels and climb over A-frames at high speed) 8:00AM-3:00PM, free admission & spectators are welcome, Sponsored by Blue Ridge Agility Club, Fletcher, NC 828-697-2118
www.agr.state.nc.us/markets/facilities/agcenters/westernDecember 19 & 20 Home for the Holidays, Great Room at FENCE (Foothills Equestrian Nature Center), 7:00PM, $10, (Christmas caroling, special musical concerts, & programs), Tryon, NC 28782828-859-9021
http://www.fence.org/December 19 - 21 Hendersonville Little Theatre presents the drama G.I. Holiday Jukebox, sequel to G.I. Jukebox with music of the 1940’s, Sat. 8:00PM & 2:00PM, Sun. 2:00PM, Mon. 8:00PM, Hendersonville, NC 828-692-1082
http://www.hendersonvillelittletheatre.org/December 19, 26, 30 & January 2 Apple Valley Model Railroad Club Open House, Historic Hendersonville Depot, a HO scale model railroad that occupies 420 square feet of space with over 600 feet of track,Dec. 19 & 26 10:00AM-4:00PM, Dec. 30 & Jan 2 10:00AM-2:00PM, free, Hendersonville 828-698-5465, 828-890-8246
http://www.avmrc.com/December 20 Mainstage Series at Diana Wortham Theatre at Pack Place, presents A Swannanoa Solstice, a concert with guitars, mandolins, fiddle, Appalachian dulcimer, piano, harp, bagpipes and world percussion, 2:00PM & 7:00PM, Asheville, NC 828-257-4530
http://www.dwtheatre.com/December 21 Winter Solstice Hike, 7:00PM-9:00PM, DuPont State Forest, quietly welcome the return of the sun to the northern hemisphere as we celebrate the darkness of the longest night, a 1/4-mile moderate trail to Hooker Falls, bring flashlights (we'll use them sparingly) and a warm drink to toast the Winter Solstice, meet at Hooker Falls parking lot on DuPont Rd., Hendersonville, NC 828-692-0385
http://www.eco-wnc.org/December 22 Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker, Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, 7:30PM, Asheville, NC 828-259-5544
http://www.ashevillenc.gov/departments/civic_center/default.aspx?id=2816December 25 Bounty of Bethlehem Dinner, Immaculata Catholic School, Christmas community dinner - everyone is welcome, (Christmas dinner, entertainment, gifts, and a visit from Santa), 1:00PM-5:00PM, free, Hendersonville, NC 828-693-5115
http://www.bountyofbethlehem.org/December 26 Kwanzaa, Union Grove Family Life Center, 3:00PM-6:00PM (festive celebration of African-American culture with food, entertainment, & fellowship) Hendersonville, NC 828-697-9698, 828-696-0772, 828-697-5748
December 26 - January 9 Christmas Tree Recycling, Jackson Park, trees may be dropped off at designated site, Saturday, January 9 from 9:00AM-2:00PM, trees will be chipped into mulch, bring a box or bag to mulch, rain or shine, Hendersonville, NC 828-692-0385
http://www.eco-wnc.org/December 31 New Year's Eve Experience, Season's at Highland Lake Inn, 6:00PM-1:00AM, $75 per person, Flat Rock, NC 828-696-9094
http://www.hlinn.com/December 31 - January 3 C-4 Rodeo, Western North Carolina Agricultural Center, $10-$15, Fletcher, NC 828-687-1414
www.agr.state.nc.us/markets/facilities/agcenters/westernCall phone number listed on each event to confirm dates. times, location & possible cancellations