Tis the season and a great way to spend the evening, viewing festive holiday light shows! Here are the places where you can see some of the prettiest shows around!

NC Arboretum Winter Lights

This year’s show features over a million lights and mixes enchanting new displays with old favorites like the 50ft tree and Quilt Garden. Winter Lights is a walk-through light show with countless opportunities for photos.

https://www.ncarboretum.org/winter-lights/

Lake Julian Festival of Lights

The Festival of Lights will be open December 2-23, 2022, operating nightly from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, with special walk-through nights Dec. 2-3. The drive circling the park becomes a magical journey through tunnels of dazzling, animated, and stationary light displays. Visitors are invited to watch the lights twinkle over the lake and to turn on Rewind 100.3, the local station playing holiday hits from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

https://www.asheville.com/lake-julian-festival-of-lights/

Black Mountain Deck the Trees

Come experience the charm of Black Mountain and get in the Christmas spirit. You will discover beautifully decorated Christmas trees at the Monte Vista Hotel and in stores and businesses throughout Black Mountain and the Swannanoa Valley area. Each tree, uniquely decorated around the theme: Let Heaven and Nature Sing, will be created by businesses, organizations, or individuals to help raise funds for the Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry Fuel Fund.

https://www.svcmblackmountain.org/uploads/1/3/1/0/131071527/dtt_flyer_2.0__17_.pdf

Christmas at Biltmore

From the moment visitors see the lighted Lodge Gate at the entrance to Biltmore, they know they are in for a treat. What awaits inside the gate is a classic Christmas that hearkens back to the days of the Vanderbilts. A giant 55-foot Norway spruce strung with 55,000 lights on the front lawn leads the way into the home where 60 more intricately-decorated treeshighlight the Christmas at Biltmore celebration. The 30,000 lights and 150 candles inside the home are particularly magical at night during the Candlelight Christmas Evenings at Biltmore tour. Christmas at Biltmore begins with the annual tree raising ceremony. Christmas at Biltmore officially runs from November 4, 2022, through January 8, 2023. 

https://www.biltmore.com/things-to-do/events/christmas/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA1sucBhDgARIsAFoytUvBtOK2CT-rOJgdM3pddDavC1Jg8CqpkNWMY9vLb0poNrrtYPDDSsUaAopKEALw_wcB

12 Days of Gingerbread

It all began with a small group of gingerbread houses built by community members in 1992 as another way to celebrate the holiday season with no plans to continue the following year. There was no possible way to know that more than two decades later The Omni Grove Park Inn National Gingerbread House Competition™ would be one of the nation's most celebrated and competitive holiday events. The Gingerbread Display has grown in more than just entries; it has become a true family holiday tradition. From the very young to the very young at heart, the reaction to this magical experience is the same - one of wonder, awe and delight. The hotel is also decked out in Christmas splendor!

https://www.omnihotels.com/hotels/asheville-grove-park/things-to-do/gingerbread/national-gingerbread-competition

The Pinnacle Speedway in Lights

And if you are looking for a real Christmas Carnival, this one is so much fun! Located a short drive away in Bristol, TN take a ride through the 4 mile trek culminating with a lap around the speedway track with a stop in the infield. Enjoy the rides, hot chocolate, caramel corn, and games! A truly fun holiday experience!

https://www.bristolmotorspeedway.com/events/the-pinnacle-speedway-in-lights/