Last Updated on December 3, 2024
Bright lights, festive decorations, and happy memories! Feel the holly, jolly spirit when you take in some of the best and brightest holiday events in and around Boone and Blowing Rock, NC.
Christmas at Apple Hill Farm
November 15–January 4, 2025
Head to Apple Hill Farm in Banner Elk for a guided educational tour of the working alpaca farm while all decked out in holiday decor! Learn about the animals who live and play at Apple Hill Farm, as well as the jobs and purpose they all have. Many are rescues and have cool stories, as well! Tours are generally about 45 minutes long.
Tweetsie Christmas: A Wild West Holiday Adventure
November 29–December 30 (select evenings)
Step into a Wild West Christmas town at Tweetsie Railroad’s unforgettable holiday experience! Guests of all ages can enjoy a real train ride behind a historic steam locomotive, twinkling lights, sing-along carols, and festive family activities. Santa’s Gingerbread House is where kids can share their holiday wishes and take photos with Santa himself. Enjoy holiday treats like hot chocolate and roast s’mores by the fire, and be transported by the joyful sounds of carolers and our special Christmas show.
Festival of Lights at Chetola Resort
November 29–January 25, 2025 @ 5:00–10:00 PM
Tour the Chetola Resort all decked out with a sparkling display of lights each winter season. The Festival of Lights is free and open to the public, and you are invited to enjoy thousands of dazzling illuminations throughout the resort. As you drive or stroll around Chetola Lake, view glittering ice skaters, “Rudolph” reeling in a big fish, strolling carolers, and many more captivating holiday scenes.
BRAHM’s Winter Art Markets
November 30–December 15 (select dates)
Give the gift of local art this holiday season. The Blowing Rock Art & History Museum is hosting three weekend markets featuring local artisans for all your gift giving needs. The markets will take place in BRAHM’s community gallery on November 30–December 1, December 7-8, and December 13-15. The December 13 market will run from 5:00–8:00 PM as part of Blowing Rock’s Holiday Stroll.
Blowing Rock Holiday Stroll
December 13 @ 4:00–8:00 PM
Blowing Rock’s Holiday Stroll is a town-wide celebration of winter and the Christmas season. See all the shops decorated for Christmas and enjoy refreshments along the way. Shops are open late, and a number of special guests and activities will make the glowing streets even more festive. Check out the Winter Art Fair at Blowing Rock Art & History Museum, live nativity scene at Rumple Memorial Church, and self-guided tours of the 1888 Museum and Edgewood Cottage Museum
Boone Holiday Parade
December 14 @ 6:00–8:00 PM
The Boone Holiday Parade is slated for the evening this year. Watch and wave on marching performances, decorated floats, Christmas costumes, and Santa himself! Community groups of all kinds, including businesses, nonprofits, religious organizations, and performing groups, take part in this annual holiday tradition.
Holiday Midnight Blast Nights at Appalachian Ski Mtn.
December 26–31 @ 8:30 PM–12:00 AM
Appalachian Ski Mtn. offers the region’s only late-night skiing with special “Midnight Blast” sessions, offered every Friday and Saturday night all season long, with bonus holiday sessions the week after Christmas. Enjoy soaring down the slopes until midnight each night. The exception is December 31, when the slopes close at 11:30 PM to prepare for the annual New Year’s Eve Torchlight Show & Fireworks Celebration.
Additional holiday activities in and around Boone and Blowing Rock
- Visit with Old Saint Nick each weekend in December at the Blowing Rock Attraction, which is offering free kid’s admission during event hours!
- Participate in the Western Youth Network’s Festival of Trees auction.
- Vote on the best holiday window display in downtown Blowing Rock.
- Shop local from dozens of vendors at the 5th Annual Artisan Holiday Market at Mustard Seed Market in Blowing Rock.
- Choose and cut your own tree at a nearby Christmas tree farm.
- Hit the slopes and enjoy the wide-open space of the outdoors!
- Wrap up the holiday season with torchlight skiing and fireworks at Appalachian Ski Mountain on New Year’s Eve.
About Allen Tate Realtors
Allen Tate is the Carolinas’ largest real estate company with more than 70 offices and 1,800 Realtors in the Charlotte, Triad, Triangle, High Country, Upstate SC, Highlands/Cashiers and Asheville/Mountain regions. Allen Tate is a partner of Howard Hanna Real Estate, the largest privately held real estate broker in the U.S., with 500 real estate, mortgage, insurance, title, and escrow service offices and 15,000 sales associates and staff across 13 states. For more information, visit www.allentate.com and www.howardhanna.com.
