There’s a special kind of magic that settles over Black Mountain every December. Tucked into the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, our town glows with twinkling lights, cozy storefronts, and a warm, welcoming energy that feels straight out of a Hallmark movie. If you’re dreaming of the perfect holiday escape in 2025, Black Mountain is the place to be—and Holly Jolly weekend is the moment the whole town shines its brightest.
Holly Jolly kicks off on Friday, December 5, and it’s truly one of the most festive nights of the year. Downtown shops stay open late, the streets fill with families and friends sipping cocoa or cider, and each storefront sparkles with its own holiday decorations. You can browse for local gifts, tap your foot to live music, watch kids’ faces light up when Santa appears, or simply soak in the glow of the holiday lights. It’s relaxed, joyful, and irresistibly charming.
Downtown merchants will be competing in a holiday window display contest, making your evening stroll feel like a cheerful tour of Christmas creativity. The new Holly Jolly Passport program invites visitors to stop into participating businesses for fun activities like ornament coloring, reindeer food making, holiday crafts, and quick Santa visits.
The celebration continues on Saturday, December 6 at 4 p.m. with the annual Black Mountain Christmas Parade. This is one of the biggest parades in the region, complete with elaborate floats, twinkling lights, classic cars, performers, and plenty of holiday spirit. It’s the kind of parade you remember from childhood—heartwarming, lively, and filled with community pride.
Pair all of that with the Holly Jolly Holiday Market Series at White Horse Black Mountain, where you can browse handcrafted goods from dozens of regional artisans. Everything is required to be locally made and locally crafted you won’t find big box store items here! From jewelry and artwork to knitwear, baked goods, decor, and unique gifts, these markets make holiday shopping feel fun and meaningful. You’ll also find festive drinks, friendly faces, live music Santa visits and plenty of small-town warmth.
For even more handcrafted treasures, the Holiday Pottery Market at the Black Mountain Center for the Arts offers Sip & Shop evenings and a beautiful selection of locally made ceramic pieces.
And don’t forget to stroll through town to enjoy Deck the Trees, a holiday tradition where beautifully decorated Christmas trees appear all throughout Black Mountain and Swannanoa—each one uniquely themed and guaranteed to spark a smile. It’s a feel-good way to take in the season and support a local fundraiser.
But the magic doesn’t stop in Black Mountain. One of the bonuses of staying here is that you’re just minutes from some of Western North Carolina’s most iconic holiday attractions.
Make a day trip to the Biltmore Estate to experience its world-famous Christmas decorations—towering trees, glowing fireplaces, and elaborately adorned rooms that feel as grand as they are festive.
Spend an evening at the NC Arboretum’s Winter Lights, a dazzling walk-through light display that transforms the gardens into a glowing winter wonderland. And don’t miss the Grove Park Inn Gingerbread Competition, where the country’s most talented gingerbread artists create jaw-dropping, edible masterpieces displayed throughout the historic hotel.
With so much to see and do, Black Mountain becomes the perfect home base for your holiday adventure. You get the peaceful charm of a small mountain town, complete with friendly faces and streets that look like they were made for holiday strolling—while still being close to world-class attractions, stunning winter views, and endless seasonal experiences.
