Asheville holiday lights 2026: Winter Lights at the arboretum Nov. 13 to Jan. 3, Christmas at Biltmore from Nov. 3, the Grove Park Inn gingerbread houses and Santa.

Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Dates come from each organizer’s own site, linked below. The Asheville Holiday Parade has its own page: Christmas parade and tree lighting.

Asheville’s holiday season starts early. Christmas at Biltmore opens Nov. 3, Winter Lights at The North Carolina Arboretum opens Nov. 13 and the Omni Grove Park Inn’s gingerbread houses go on display Nov. 17. All three run into January. Biltmore Park Town Square adds a tree lighting, holiday markets, Santa and a trolley to Winter Lights.

What this means for you

  • Winter Lights and Biltmore’s Candlelight Christmas Evenings both sell timed tickets; the arboretum says peak dates sell out.
  • Free to see: the gingerbread houses at the Grove Park Inn (Monday to Thursday, and Sunday after 6 p.m.) and the Biltmore Park tree lighting Nov. 20.
  • Santa: Biltmore Park, 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5.

Light displays

Display Where Dates
Christmas at Biltmore Biltmore Estate, 1 Lodge St. Nov. 3, 2026, to Jan. 10, 2027
Winter Lights The North Carolina Arboretum, 20 Frederick Law Olmsted Way Nov. 13, 2026, to Jan. 3, 2027
National Gingerbread House Competition The Omni Grove Park Inn, 290 Macon Ave. Nov. 17, 2026, to Jan. 3, 2027

Winter Lights. A walk-through display of more than one million lights on a one-mile trail through the arboretum’s gardens, with live music, cocoa and s’mores, according to the arboretum, 828-665-2492. Tickets are on sale now, and peak dates sell out. On Friday and Saturday nights from Nov. 27 to Dec. 26, the Winter Lights Trolley leaves Biltmore Park Town Square every 30 minutes from 5:30 p.m., so you do not have to drive to the arboretum. Prices by night, the trolley dates and the rules: our Winter Lights page. Cutting your own tree: Christmas tree farms near Asheville.

Christmas at Biltmore. Biltmore lists the daytime Christmas season from Nov. 3 to Jan. 10, 2027, and sells Candlelight Christmas Evenings on a separate ticket through Jan. 9, according to Biltmore. The time on an admission ticket is the Biltmore House entry time, and Biltmore says buying online guarantees entry on your date and saves $10 a ticket. Biltmore: 800-411-3812.

Gingerbread houses at the Grove Park Inn. The National Gingerbread House Competition entries are on display Nov. 17 to Jan. 3, 2027. Non-guests can visit Monday to Thursday during resort hours and Sundays after 6 p.m., parking permitting; Fridays and Saturdays are reserved for resort guests and dining reservations. The display is closed to the public on Nov. 26; Dec. 6, 23, 24, 25, 26, 30 and 31; and Jan. 1, according to the event listing.

Tree lightings and Santa

  • Town Square Tree Lighting and Holiday Market, Biltmore Park. Friday, Nov. 20, 4 to 8 p.m.; the tree is lit at 6:30 p.m. Local makers, seasonal treats and family activities, according to Biltmore Park.
  • Santa in the Square, Biltmore Park. Saturday, Dec. 5, 3 to 7 p.m., with Santa from 3 to 6 p.m. A professional photographer takes each family’s picture with Santa and the digital photo is free, according to Biltmore Park.
  • Asheville Mall runs Santa photos each season; 2026 dates and times will be on the mall’s Santa page.
  • Downtown tree lighting and the Holiday Parade: see Christmas parade and tree lighting.

Hanukkah

Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown Friday, Dec. 4. Chabad House of Asheville has held a public menorah lighting, Chanukah Live, each year; 2026 details will be on Chabad House of Asheville’s site and on this page when announced.

City holiday programs

Asheville Parks and Recreation runs a December series of holiday programs at its community centers. Last year’s series included a candy cane flashlight hunt, cookie contests, holiday camps and calls from Santa. 2026 dates will be on the city’s recreation registration site.

Plan your visit

Frequently asked questions

When is Winter Lights in Asheville in 2026?

Winter Lights at The North Carolina Arboretum runs Nov. 13, 2026, to Jan. 3, 2027. It is a walk-through display of more than one million lights on a one-mile trail; the arboretum says peak dates sell out.

When does Christmas at Biltmore start in 2026?

Biltmore lists its daytime Christmas season from Nov. 3, 2026, to Jan. 10, 2027. Candlelight Christmas Evenings are booked separately and run to Jan. 9, 2027.

Can I see the gingerbread houses at the Grove Park Inn without staying there?

Yes. Non-guests can see the National Gingerbread House Competition display Nov. 17 to Jan. 3 on Monday to Thursday and after 6 p.m. Sunday, parking permitting; Fridays and Saturdays are for resort guests and diners, according to the event listing.

Where can kids see Santa in Asheville?

Biltmore Park Town Square holds Santa in the Square from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, with a free digital photo, according to Biltmore Park.

When is the Asheville Christmas parade?

The Asheville Holiday Parade is Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026, downtown. Details are on our Christmas parade and tree lighting page.