Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Activities for the weekend of 12/22 - 12/25

"Rediscovering Christmas" Theatre Production

• December 21, 2011 - December 22, 2011
• Location: Black Mountain Center for the Arts
• Address: 225 West State Street, Black Mountain, NC 28711

 Black Mountain's own nationally renowned company Acts of Renewal, featuring professional actors Carol Anderson and Jim Shores whose material has been aired on PBS and other national TV and radio show, in their annual holiday production.  Known for their balance of humor, timing, interpretation, and message, Anderson and Shores have delighted audiences over and over at the holidays.  Original works set in a vignette format with each actor playing more than a half-dozen characters apiece... 

Annual Downtown Asheville Holiday Window Display

• December 1, 2011 - December 31, 2011
• Location: Downtown Asheville
• Address: Downtown Asheville, Asheville, NC 28801

 The Asheville Downtown Association's Holiday Windows Competition creates a wonderful FREE event for people visiting downtown... a Holiday Windows Walking Tour. Just pick a street and get ready to "ooh" and "ah" at the creative and festive windows through the month of December. 

Winter Wonderland at the Grove Arcade

• November 19, 2011 - January 2, 2012
• Location: Grove Arcade
• Address: 1 Page Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801

Make the Grove Arcade a part of your holiday plans.  With wonderful local restaurants and independently-owned galleries and shops, you can enjoy the holidays and downtown Asheville while getting your shopping done.  For the sixth year, the Arcade is partnering with the Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa to display entries from the National Gingerbread House Competition.  The houses are on view Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m.  

19th Century Carolina Christmas

• November 16, 2011 - January 1, 2012
• Location: Smith-McDowell House Museum
• Address: 283 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801

 Celebrate Christmas the old-fashioned way. The Smith-McDowell House Museum's time-line of authentically decorated period rooms showcase the evolution of Christmas celebrations and decorations. 

Biltmore Candlelight Christmas Evenings

• November 11, 2011 - December 31, 2011
• Location: Biltmore
• Address: One Lodge Street, Asheville, NC 28803

 As daylight fades into dusk, candlelight and firelight accent Biltmore House’s extravagant holiday décor, accented by live entertainment and outside illuminations.Candlelight Christmas Evenings tickets are available by reservation only, and include an evening self-guided candlelight tour of Biltmore House, next-day visit to the gardens and Biltmore Winery. Advance reservations are required. 

Home for the Holidays

• December 5, 2011 - December 22, 2011
• Location: Flat Rock Playhouse
• Address: 2661 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock, NC 28731

 A fun-filled, high-spirited send up of the yuletide season.   Presented in a two-act concert format, this personable celebration promises to tickle the funny bone and warm the heart.  You can expect a new look on some old holiday standards peppered with a handpicked selection of new material by contemporary composers and lyricists.  Throw in an audience participation number, a few historical carols with a twist,  a novelty number or two reflecting our current views... 

Lighting of the Green

• December 6, 2011 - December 22, 2011
• Location: AB-Tech
• Recurrence: Recurring daily

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College will host its second annual "Lighting of the Green" December 2 - 22, 2011. Experience the wonder of the holiday season at Fernihurst, an 1870s mansion once the center of social activity for the elite township of Victoria. The house will be open to the public from 6:00 - 8:00pm on December 6, 9, 13, 16, and 20 with entertainment and light refreshments. Outside lights at Fernihurst and Sunnicrest will be on each evening from December 2 - 22.  

Plaid Tidings

• November 30, 2011 - December 22, 2011
• Location: Flat Rock Playhouse
• Address: 2661 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock, NC 28731

 Music and Lyrics by Various Artists?The holidays have never sounded so good! After two hugely successful productions of Forever Plaid, our boys are back to do their Christmas Special. The Forever Plaid sequel is a show for the whole family. Christmas with your favorite four Plaids will feature pop songs from the 50's along with Christmas standards that have all been "Plaid-erized," 

The Polar Express at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

• November 4, 2011 - December 24, 2011
• Location: Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
• Address: 226 Everett Street, Bryson City, NC 28713

Get into the Christmas Spirit by enjoying a 1 hour and 15 minute round-trip journey to the "North Pole" Read along with the magical story and meet Santa himself! Guests will receive warm cocoa and special treats. First Class Upgrade for The Polar Express™ will receive warm cocoa in a POLAR EXPRESS souvenir mug and other treats, all served up in our premium first class seating coaches. Ride The Polar Express™ Christmas Eve Limited for an unforgettable evening and recieve a s...  

National Gingerbread House Competition & Display

• November 16, 2011 - January 1, 2012
• Location: Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa
• Address: 290 Macon Avenue, Asheville, NC 28804

 Contestants from across the country will bring their culinary masterpieces to The Grove Park Inn this holiday season. Delight in the imagination shown in these sugar-and-spice creations, strolling through the competition display is a sure way to be swept up in the holiday spirit.