The pastures go gold, then silver with frost, and the morning coffee steams a little longer on the porch. This is one of our favorite stretches of the year on the farm, and we’d love to share it with you.
We’re in Weaverville, 15 minutes north of downtown Asheville, on 16 quiet acres. That means you can spend your days at Biltmore, the Grove Arcade, or Main Street, then come home to a dark sky and a quiet room. Here’s how we’d spend each part of the season, from early November through New Year’s.
November: the quiet start of the season
November is when the leaves come down, the crowds thin out, and Asheville starts lighting up for the holidays. It’s our favorite time to slow down.
- Weaverville Art Safari, November 7 and 8. Local artists open their studios to visitors for a free, self-guided tour, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Many of the studios are a short drive from the farm.
- Christmas at Biltmore, from November 6. The house is dressed in more than 100 decorated trees and nearly 2,000 poinsettias. Candlelight Christmas Evenings need a separate ticket, so book ahead.
- Winter Lights at the North Carolina Arboretum, from November 13. More than a million lights along a one-mile garden walk, with cocoa and s’mores along the way. Tickets are sold per car.
- Cold Mountain release weekend at Highland Brewing, November 13 to 15. Asheville’s favorite winter ale comes back, with live local music.
- Asheville Holiday Parade, Saturday, November 21. Downtown, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Holiday Ice Rink at Asheville Yards, opening November 20. Outdoor skating downtown, with a holiday market and hot chocolate. Non-skaters get in free.
Thanksgiving week: November 26
Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26 this year, and the long weekend is one of the best times to be here. Book your Thanksgiving dinner reservation early, since local favorites fill up. Our Area Dining page has the places we send guests.
- Grove Arcade Holiday Tree Lighting Block Party, Saturday, November 28. A free downtown celebration with live jazz, the Asheville Ballet, and an outdoor holiday market.
- Winter Wonder Walk, Friday, November 27. A family storybook walk through twinkling lights at the Adventure Center of Asheville.
- National Gingerbread House Competition at the Omni Grove Park Inn. On display from November 17. Non-guests can visit Monday through Thursday, or after 6 p.m. on Sundays. It’s closed to the public on Thanksgiving Day.
- Small Business Saturday. Our Holiday Shopping Guide covers Weaverville’s Main Street, the Grove Arcade, Biltmore Village, and the River Arts District.
Christmas: the run-up to the holidays
The days before Christmas are full of music, lights, and old traditions, and the farm is at its coziest.
- The Asheville Ballet’s Nutcracker, Sunday, December 13. The final performance of the weekend at the Wortham Center.
- Lake Julian Festival of Lights, nightly through December 23. A drive-through loop of lights reflected on the lake in Arden, 6 to 9 p.m., $10 per car.
- Handel’s Messiah with the Asheville Symphony, Saturday, December 19. At First Baptist Church of Asheville, 2 and 8 p.m.
- A Swannanoa Solstice, Sunday, December 20. A longtime Asheville tradition of mountain music for the longest night, at the Wortham Center.
- Storytime with Appalachian Santa, Sunday, December 20. Pajamas encouraged at Montgomery Sky Farm, 7 to 9 p.m.
- Candlelight Christmas Evenings at Biltmore and Winter Lights both run through the holidays. Book Biltmore evenings well ahead.
The Gingerbread House display at the Grove Park Inn is closed to the public December 23 through 26, so plan that visit earlier in the week.
New Year’s: a quiet start to 2027
The week between Christmas and New Year’s is our favorite secret. The rush is over, but the lights are still up, and the farm is at its quietest. Ring in the new year somewhere you can actually hear yourself think.
- Christmas at Biltmore runs through January 10, with Candlelight Christmas Evenings through January 9.
- Winter Lights stays open through January 3.
- Holiday Ice Rink at Asheville Yards runs through January 18.
- The Holly Jolly Christmas Trolley keeps rolling through December 30, with carols on board and stories of local lore.
The Gingerbread House display is closed to the public December 30, 31, and January 1, and open again January 2 and 3.
Back at the farm
However full your days get, the evenings here are slow on purpose.
- Six rooms, each with a private bath. Simmental, Shetland, and Gloucester have fireplaces, and Gloucester has a soaking tub. See them all on our Guest Rooms page.
- A homemade breakfast every morning from Daniel. In November that means pumpkin smoothies, baked apples stuffed with oatmeal, cranberries, and cinnamon, and apple tartlets.
- Our loose-leaf tea bar for a cup by the window on a cold afternoon.
- Sixteen acres for a frosty morning walk before the day begins.
Plan your holiday stay
We’re booking now for November, Thanksgiving week, the days before Christmas, and New Year’s. With only six rooms, the holiday weekends go first.
Looking for a gift instead? A stay on the farm makes a lovely one. Gift certificates are available any time.
We hope to see you this season.
Erica and Daniel