North Carolina's 7 Most Festive Downtowns For The Holidays
October may seem early, but it is actually the perfect time to start arranging your holiday plans. In fact, many towns across North Carolina will begin their festive celebrations in just a few weeks! If Christmas-decked train rides, dazzling displays of millions of lights, candlelit tours through historic palaces, and holiday artisan markets sound like your idea of the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit, you will love the festive atmosphere in these seven towns.
McAdenville
Boasting the nickname “Christmas Town USA,” McAdenville is one of the strongest contenders in the state for holiday cheer. The town’s festivities kick off each year on December 1st, during the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, which features a countdown and one child from the local elementary school who pulls the switch!
A few days later, on December 11th, the Yule Log Parade takes place, a town tradition that dates back to 1949. Led by the high school band, the entire community gathers for this cherished tradition, watching as the festive log is paraded through the historic downtown before being placed in the fire at the Memorial Yule Log Fireplace in Legacy Park. Even if you can’t attend one of these special traditions, you can still enjoy the Christmas Light Display downtown between December 1st and 26th, with a magical arrangement of red, green, and white lights shining each evening.
Forest City
Forest City is famous for stringing over one million lights along its Main Street each year, earning it the title of the #1 Christmas town in the greater Asheville area. This year, the town will jump into the holiday season on November 27th, during the annual Lighting Ceremony, in which the mayor and a special guest will flip the switch. The Christmas Parade follows on November 30th, beginning at the Cool Springs Administrative Building and marching along towards the First United Methodist Church. Throughout the month of December, there are several other festive activities to enjoy in town, including carriage rides, hay rides, ice skating, and Santa meet and greets.
Bryson City
Fans of the Christmas classic The Polar Express will love visiting Bryson City during the holidays, renowned for the seasonal Polar Express Train Ride. Hosted by the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, this ride, which departs right from the heart of town, aims to recreate the beloved holiday story, immersing passengers in Christmas cheer with hot chocolate, sweet treats, music, dance, and a stop to pick up Santa himself along the way.
The Smoky Mountain Christmas Light Spectacular is another festive favorite, lighting up the town this year between November 7th and 30th with massive LED displays, holiday-themed exhibits, and drive-thru arches. If you are looking to do some holiday shopping, make sure to stop by the Holiday Market on Saturdays between November 22nd and December 20th, where talented artisans will be selling food, jewelry, artwork, toys, pottery, home decor, and more.
New Bern
New Bern has an extensive list of holiday events going on this year, with one of the most unique being the Candlelight event in Tryon Palace. Taking place inside the historic governor’s mansion, guests move through candlelit rooms while costumed interpreters recount the colonial palace’s history.
If you enjoy listening to holiday tunes, consider buying tickets to the North Carolina Symphony’s Holiday Pops concert, which will occur on December 2nd, presenting both timeless carols and spirited renditions. Travelers with a sweet tooth can also swing by Bear City Fudge Company, where they can enjoy all kinds of decadent fudge, including dark chocolate caramel sea salt, chocolate walnut, and vanilla chocolate swirl, among many other varieties.
Saluda
Saluda begins gearing up for the holidays around the end of November, with the Holiday Pop Up Market being one of the earliest townwide events to take place. During this festive market, shoppers can browse all kinds of arts and crafts while supporting the community’s local businesses in the process. A bit later, on December 12th, the town hosts its renowned Hometown Christmas celebration, which consists of hot chocolate, Christmas caroling, late-night shopping, and sweet treats to embrace the holiday season.
When the weather gets a bit blustery, pop into Wildflour Bakery for a hot coffee and some cinnamon roll French toast. The Orchard Inn is just a short drive away from Main Street as well, putting on a Christmas favorite: Charles Dickens’ Dinners. During these dinners at the inn, a chef prepares a delicious four-course meal, accompanied by readings from Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.
Blowing Rock
Rounding out the season’s holiday cheer is Blowing Rock, where festive shops, holiday strolls, and Christmas in the Park celebrations fill the town with spirit. The Town of Blowing Rock will host its Christmas in the Park & Lighting of the Town event on November 28th, which will offer photo ops with Santa, carnival games, hay rides, live music, and, of course, the tree lighting. The annual Holiday Stroll will take place a couple of weeks later in December, featuring possible activities like a winter art fair, a holiday pop-up shop, late-night shopping, photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and much more. During the event, local shops will compete for the title of 'Best Holiday Glow,' with the public voting to determine which shop has the most impressive holiday display.
Although not located downtown, Blowing Rock’s Tweetsie Railroad is impossible to overlook during the holidays. It offers a Wild West-themed Christmas experience, where passengers can ride a historic train, enjoy sing-along carols, take in twinkling lights, sip hot chocolate, and even visit Santa’s Gingerbread House.
Clemmons
Each year, around 300,000 visitors flock to Clemmons to experience Tanglewood Park’s Festival of Lights. Running from November 14th to January 1st, this festival, which is just a three-minute drive from the town’s center, features miles of dazzling light displays, holiday themes, and storybook scenes, with more than one million lights bringing the atmosphere to life. You can also take a drive through the Village of Clemmons during the holiday season for the annual Light Up the Village Contest, as residents transform their yards with festive lights in hopes of winning one of the decoration categories! Make sure to check out the local boutiques while in town, such as Hip Chics Boutique, which sells candles, drinkware, home essentials, jewelry, and other gifts for your loved ones.
If this article has put you in the holiday spirit, now is the perfect time to start planning your November and December travels! Your holiday experience can vary widely depending on the town you choose, ranging from a scenic holiday train ride to a yule log parade, or even a holiday concert by the symphony. But one thing is certain: You will be filled with Christmas cheer by the end of your getaway!
