What to Do When You’re in Asheville for the Holidays

There is something magical about experiencing the holidays in the mountains of western North Carolina. Nowhere else in the state will you find such a combination of beautiful scenery, culture, and art combining to transform the area into a winter wonderland.

Add to that the increased probability of snow falling on the ridges and even in the valleys, and it is no wonder people travel from all over to Asheville for the Christmas season.

If you are heading to the Asheville area for the holidays, we want to help make sure you experience the best we have to offer. Here are eight things to do while you’re in the mountains for this magical season.

8 Things to Do in Asheville During the Holidays

gingerbread competition

1) Check Out the National Gingerbread Competition

You might not expect gingerbread houses to take your breath away, but that’s exactly what will happen if you visit the Omni Grove Park Inn between November 28th and January 2nd.

The National Gingerbread Competition will award prizes of up to $25,000 to the winning displays. Make sure you visit this holiday village while you’re in Asheville.

2) Choose and Cut Christmas Trees

Is there anything that embodies the season quite like finding your Christmas tree? There are many choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms throughout western North Carolina. However, they all have limited supplies, so make sure you schedule your trip sooner than later.

3) Visit the Biltmore Estate

The Biltmore Estate is the definition of holiday elegance during the Christmas season.

According to their website:

“Glittering holiday décor adorns each area of the estate from Biltmore House to Antler Hill Village, home to our cozy Village Hotel, four-star Inn, award-winning Winery, shops, and restaurants. With more than 100 decorated trees, 10,000 ornaments, 100,000 twinkling holiday lights, and an array of festive Christmas displays, you’ll want to linger longer to experience all that Christmas at Biltmore has to offer.”

There is nothing quite like Christmas at Biltmore. Make sure you book your reservation sooner than later, as tickets will sell out quickly.

4) Hop On the Polar Express

The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad in Bryson City becomes the Polar Express during the Christmas Season. For over an hour, you will see the Smoky Mountains like never before aboard an old-timey steam engine.

This is a magical train ride for families and adults alike.

5) See Winter Lights at the Arboretum

Walk through one of Asheville’s most magnificent light displays at the North Carolina Arboretum. Beginning on November 19th, from 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm, the 400+ acres of the arboretum become an energy-efficient winter wonderland.

You have until New Year’s day to see Winter Lights, so make sure you schedule your trip soon. They’re very strict about the hours open, so make sure you show up on time or early!

6) Go Shopping

Asheville has some of the best shopping centers in the state. Biltmore Square, the Asheville Outlets, and the Asheville Mall will all have amazing deals throughout the season. However, there are many niche small businesses downtown and in the mountain towns throughout the region.

Whether you know exactly what you’re getting for your loved ones, or you like to browse and allow the perfect gifts to come to you, you will find everything you need in western North Carolina.

7) Visit Downtown Asheville

Downtown Asheville is full of holiday cheer throughout the season. Business owners and the city itself go to great lengths to create a beautiful, welcoming display of kindness and goodwill toward all with our decorations, lights, and open doors. Downtown Asheville has:

Some of the best restaurants in the South
Dozens of microbreweries
Unique retail shops
Talented buskers and incredible musical shows
Wine shops and bars
World-class art
Friendly people

You could spend hours downtown and still have more to explore.

8) Experience Dueling Pianos

For a truly unique holiday experience, you can visit a dueling piano bar. A concept that seems to come right out of the Roaring Twenties, you won’t find something more entertaining than our amazing musicians belting out Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”

The musicians will impress you with their repertoire of thousands of popular songs from the last fifty years. It's an all-request show - let the musicians impress you with their repertoire. It’s a rock-and-roll, sing-along, total party atmosphere.

We have some of the best drinks in the area, as well as the best service you've ever had. Also, the servers and bartenders will likely become part of the performance, so you have to be ready for anything.

If you're celebrating a special occasion, there's a high possibility you'll end up in the show as well! But, whether you're celebrating a birthday, an anniversary, a bachelorette party, or simply want to have a good time, Off The Wagon is the place to be during the holiday season.

Off The Wagon Dueling Piano Bar should be at the top of your holiday season to-do list in Asheville, NC.

Give us a call or just stop by, whether you’re a resident of our amazing area or just here for a holiday getaway.

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22 N Market St, Asheville

Effective 7 July 2022 with NC Senate Bill 470 and NC House Bill 768, we are no longer a private bar. We are a bar and open to the public! No more membership required to come party with us!