Franklin Town Hall. Meet Santa, enjoy cookies and write a letter to Sanata and place it in a special mailbox. Visit www.holidaysinfranklin.com. Ole Timey Christmas, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 30. Christmas wreaths, fresh greenery, crafts, demonstrations, music, carriage rides, more, at Henderson County Curb Market in downtown Hendersonville. Call 692-8012 or visit www.curbmarket.com.
Dec. 1-7
This year’s Grove Park Inn Gingerbread House Competition judging is Nov. 18 and display opens on Nov. 20. /CITIZEN-TIMES PHOTO “The Polar Express,” Nov. 8-Dec. 29, Bryson City. Travel through the wilderness to the North Pole on Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. Santa will board the train, greet each child and give children a silver bell as in “The Polar Express.” Times and dates vary. Tickets start at $40 for adults, $26 for ages 2-12. Visit www.gsmr.com or call 800-872-4681. Holiday Fest, Nov. 23-Dec. 23, Tom Sawyer’s Christmas Tree Farm and Elf Village, 240 Chimney Pond Road, Glenville. Elf Village open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Tree farm open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Free. Kids listen to elf tales, create crafts, write wish lists or tell it to Santa in person, Christmas tree maze. Visit www.tomsawyerchristmastreefarm.com or call 743-5456. Christmas at Connemara, 10 a.m. Saturdays, Nov. 30-Dec. 28, Carl Sandburg Home, Flat Rock. Celebrate Christmas with the traditions of the Sandburgs with holiday decorations, which will be up from Nov. 29-Jan. 6. Music or storytelling at 11 a.m. Crafts from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. free with house tour admission. Call 693-4178 or visit www.nps.gov/carl.
November
Van Wingerden International open house, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 9. See acres of poinsettias in bloom while touring greenhouses. At 4112 Haywood Road, Mills River. Visit www.natures-heritage.com or call 226-3597. Mannheim Steamroller Christmas, 8 p.m. Nov.
20, Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, U.S. Cellular Center. Visit www.ticketmaster.com for tickets. Biltmore Park Town Square tree lighting, 6-8:30 p.m. Nov. 22, Biltmore Park, South Asheville. Santa Claus leads the lighting at 6:30 p.m. With strolling carolers, magicians, crafts, storytellers, refreshments. Visit www.biltmorepark.com. Henderson County Toy Run, Nov. 23, at Fletcher Community Park, Howard Gap Road. $10 or new, unwrapped toy. http://on.fb.me/18AsaSZ Christmas Ornament Festival, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 23, Burnsville Town Center. Free. 11th-annual event where local artists showcase work, with many one-of-a-kind items and ornaments available. Visit www.yanceychamber.com. Waynesville Holiday Open House, noon-4 p.m. Nov. 24, downtown Waynesville. Visit www.downtownwaynesville.com. Chanukah Live 2013, 4-7 p.m. Nov. 24. Renaissance Hotel, 31 Woodfin St., Asheville. Hosted by The Chabad House. The Billy Jonas Chanukah Show and Grand Menorah lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. Festival admission is free but tickets cover food and attractions. 505-0746 or www.chabadasheville.org. Franklin tree lighting, 7 p.m. Nov. 29. Free wagon rides, candlelight service, refreshments. On the square in downtown Franklin. Visit www.holidaysinfranklin.com. Hendersonville tree lighting, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Nov. 29 at Downtown Hendersonville Historic Courthouse. Visit www.downtownhendersonville.org. Call 233-0304. Cookies with Santa, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Nov. 30,
W N C PA R E N T. C O M
The Big Crafty, noon-6 p.m. Dec. 1, at Asheville Art Museum in Pack Place and on Pack Square. Stock up for the holidays at this independent craft fair. Visit www.thebigcrafty.com. “A Christmas Story,” Dec. 4-22, Flat Rock Playhouse, Flat Rock. Based on the motion picture classic and on the book “In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash,” by Jean Shepherd. The story of Ralphie and his Christmas wish for a Red Ryder BB rifle. Tickets $35. Visit www.flatrockplayhouse.org. “A Christmas Carol,” Dec. 5-22, Asheville Masonic Temple, downtown. Montford Park Players present the holiday classic. Performances at 8 p.m., or 2:30 p.m. Sundays. Dec. 5 is “Pay What We’re Worth Night,” see the show then pay what you think it’s worth. Visit www.montfordparkplayers.org. Festval of Lights, 6-9 p.m. Dec. 6-23, Lake Julian Park, off Long Shoals Road, Asheville. Call 684-0376 or visit www.buncombecounty.org. Blue Ridge Ringers holiday concert, 3 p.m. Dec. 6, Henderson County Library, Hendersonville. Community handbell group. Call 697-4725. Winter Wonderland, 5-8 p.m. Dec. 6, downtown Franklin. Free. Wagon rides, refreshments, live music, live window displays. Visit www.holidaysinfranklin.com. Holly Jolly, 5-9 p.m. Dec. 6, downtown Black Mountain. Refreshments, stores open late, Santa and more. Free. Visit www.visitblackmountain.com. Olde Fashioned Hendersonville Christmas, 5-8 p.m., Dec. 6, downtown Hendersonville, from Allen Street to Seventh Avenue. Visit www.downtownhendersonville.org. Fletcher tree lighting, 6-7 p.m. Dec. 6 at Fletcher Community Park. Free. Visit www.fletcherparks.org. Santa Under the Sea, 6-7:30 p.m. Dec. 6 and 1-3 p.m. Dec. 7, Team ECCO Ocean Center & Aquarium, Hendersonville. Visit with Santa and the Team ECCO mermaids, open to all ages, free photo disc of your time with Santa provided by local photographer Byron Collins. $3, children younger than 4 free. Visit www.teamecco.org Dillsboro Festival of Lights and Luminaries, Dec. 6-7 and 13-14, downtown Dillsboro. Live music, carolers, holiday treats from merchants, horse and buggy rides (added cost plus tip) and Santa at Town Hall. Starts at dusk. Free. Call 800-962-1911 or visit www.visitdillsboro.org.
Continues on Page 28
27