Black Mountain NC Holiday Events: November and December 2026

Most folks think of Black Mountain in October, when the leaves turn. But ask anyone who lives here, and they’ll tell you November and December are some of the best weeks of the year. The crowds thin out, the mountain views open up and the whole town gets ready for the holidays together.

Black Mountain sits about 15 miles east of Asheville at about 2,400 feet. Over these two months you can hike in the cool air, hear live country music, shop small at holiday markets, watch a hometown Christmas parade and help keep a neighbor warm, all within a few blocks of each other. Here’s why late fall and the holidays are the perfect time to come.

November: Quiet Trails, Long Views and Live Music

November is Black Mountain at an easy pace. Once the leaves come down, you can see farther from the trails and overlooks than you can all summer. Mornings are crisp, afternoons are good for hiking and the downtown sidewalks are calm enough to stop and chat with shop owners.

There’s still plenty going on:

• Saddle & Song Country Music Festival, Saturday, November 14. White Horse Black Mountain fills the afternoon and evening with live country music, from Nashville harmonies to Appalachian roots. There’s even an hour of line dancing from 4 to 5 p.m. for all levels, beginners included, and no partner needed. Tickets run from $40 for a standing-room dance ticket to $100 for luxury seating with table service. (details)
• Black Mountain Tailgate Market. The main season runs Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon at 130 Montreat Road through November 21. It’s a good stop for local produce, baked goods and handmade gifts.
• Holiday Bazaar in Old Fort. Just down the road, this indoor market opened November 6 with gifts from more than 15 Western North Carolina artists at 78 Catawba Avenue, with more dates into December.
• Small Business Saturday, November 28. The Saturday after Thanksgiving is a great day to get a head start on your gift list at the locally owned shops downtown, before the Holly Jolly crowds arrive.

November is also when the big holiday light shows nearby get started, so you can see the lights in the evening and come back to a quiet mountain town for the night.

December: A Hometown Christmas

December is when Black Mountain really shines. The holiday season kicks off the first weekend of the month and keeps going right through New Year’s Day.

Holly Jolly Night: Friday, December 4

Holly Jolly is the biggest night of the season. Starting at 5 p.m., downtown shops stay open late, carolers stroll the sidewalks and there’s cocoa and Santa for the kids.

While you’re out, stop by the Holly Jolly Christmas Markets at White Horse Black Mountain, 105 Montreat Road, for gifts from local makers.

Christmas Parade: Saturday, December 5 at 4 p.m.

Floats, marching bands and local groups head down State Street, and Santa rides in at the end on his sleigh. Come for lunch, do a little shopping, then grab your spot along the curb. See our Holly Jolly Weekend Guide for parade tips.

Circle of Lights: Saturday, December 5

Lake Tomahawk is ringed with luminaries on the first Saturday of December. Check the events calendar for times.

Deck the Trees: December 4 Through January 1

Dozens of decorated Christmas trees fill businesses across Black Mountain and Swannanoa for the 16th year of Deck the Trees. Stroll from tree to tree and vote for your favorites with a donation, $1 per vote.

Every dollar goes to the Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry Fuel Fund to help local families heat their homes this winter. Find the trees on the SVCM tree map.

Holiday Markets

You can shop local makers almost every weekend in December:

• Holly Jolly Christmas Markets at White Horse Black Mountain, 105 Montreat Road, on December 4, 5, 12 and 19.
• Small Business Saturday on November 28, a good day to get a head start on gifts at the locally owned shops downtown.
• Holiday Pottery Market at the Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 West State Street, with handmade mugs and bowls from the Center’s clay studio, opening in early December.
• Swannanoa Winterfest at Grovemont Park, a free European-style holiday market with local vendors, caroling and kids’ activities. Date coming soon.

Shop Small, Then Take a Short Drive

Almost every shop downtown is locally owned, and the person ringing you up is often the owner. Between the galleries, shops and holiday markets, you’ll find handmade work from more than 100 local artists and makers. A mug from a potter down the road or a painting of the ridges you can see from Cherry Street makes a gift with a story behind it, and every dollar stays here in the valley. For ideas before you come, see our Holly Jolly Gift Guide.

Black Mountain also makes an easy home base for the area’s best-known holiday events:

• Christmas at Biltmore, about 25 minutes away, runs from early November through January 10. Book candlelight evening tickets early.
• Winter Lights at the NC Arboretum, about 35 minutes away, runs nightly November 13 through January 3. Weekend times sell out, so buy ahead.
• Gingerbread Houses at the Omni Grove Park Inn, about 25 minutes away, are on display November 17 through January 3. Check viewing times for non-guests before you go.

Tips for Planning Your Visit

• Book early for Holly Jolly weekend. Places to stay within walking distance of downtown fill up fast. See our guide to Where to Stay in Black Mountain.
• Come Thursday if you can. Friday night of Holly Jolly is the busiest night of the season.
• Want it quieter? Come in November or the second or third week of December. The trees, windows and markets are still up, and it’s easier to find a parking spot and a table for lunch.
• Walk instead of drive. Parking fills up fast on Holly Jolly Friday and parade Saturday.
• Dress warm. It gets cold quickly once the sun goes down.

Whether you come for the long views in November or the parade and twinkling trees in December, you’ll find a small town that still does the holidays together. For the full list of what’s happening, check our events calendar and A Black Mountain Christmas: Your 2026 Holiday Guide. We hope to see you downtown.