Hendersonville, NC – In a season known for giving presents, the biggest gift visitors can offer Hendersonville this year is simply their presence.
The annual Home for the Holidays celebration will be the town’s first large-scale event after reopening following the damage from Hurricane Helene. Activities take place from late November to New Year’s Eve, and an influx of visitors would bring tidings of great joy.
“If there was ever a year for believing in the magic of Christmas, this is the year for Western North Carolina,” says Hendersonville tourism director Michelle Owens.
Home for the Holidays has dozens of events for making spirits bright, from Main Street carriage rides to Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas shows to the Holiday Tour of Inns & Cookie Caper.
Festivities kick into high gear Black Friday (Nov. 29) with the Holiday Tree Lighting. Santa arrives at the Historic Courthouse to illuminate the town tree and the lights along Main Street. The evening includes carriage rides, live music, sweet treats and shopping.
The following Friday night (Dec. 6), Main Street again comes alive with an Olde Fashioned Christmas. Stores and galleries extend hours to serve holiday treats, and choirs and carolers stroll the sidewalks. Santa visits with kids on the courthouse plaza, while carriage rides return to Main Street. The llamas of Ellaberry Llama Farm dress in their holiday finest for festive photo ops.
On Dec. 21, chug on down to Main Street for Holly Jolly Train Rides, plus more photo ops with the Ellaberry llamas, while enjoying freshly baked goods from Mountain Fresh Orchards.
Other Home for the Holidays events include the Land O’Sky Garden Club Christmas Bazaar (Dec. 7), Hendersonville’s Christmas parade (Dec. 7), Holiday Tour of Inns & Cookie Caper (Dec. 8), Jingle Mingle Ugly Sweater Party with DJ and karaoke (Dec. 19) and the family-friendly New Year’s Eve Apple Rise in the early evening of Dec. 31 at the Historic Courthouse.
Season-long activities include the musical revue, “A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas,” taking center stage for 24 performances from Nov. 29-Dec. 21, Daytime Christmas Tours at Historic Johnson Farm weekdays from Dec. 2-20, and Peppermint Bear Scavenger Hunt, Nov. 29-Dec. 23, a fun-filled downtown search for Peppermint’s lost cubs, who are hiding in shops and stores.
New this year are Christmas festivities at Jeter Mountain Farm and Grandad’s Apples. Also new is Dry Falls Brewing’s 12 Beers of Christmas, a daily beer release from Dec. 13-24.
Back for a second year is the Wine in Winter Wonder at Marked Tree Vineyards (Nov. 29-Dec. 31). Guests enjoy a modern lit holiday landscape driving to the tasting room and can sit by fire pits or take a stroll amidst twinkling lights while savoring award-winning wines.
For a full list of events during Hendersonville’s Home for the Holidays, call (828) 693-9708 or go to: www.VisitHendersonvilleNC.org/home-for-the-holidays.
Photo credit: Todd Bush.
