Seasonal Guide · Winter Holidays 2026-27
The High Country holiday calendar
Welcome to the holiday season in the North Carolina mountains. From the week before Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve, the towns of Avery and Watauga counties light up with tree lightings, parades, holiday markets, carol sings, concerts, and fireworks, and most of it is free. This calendar collects the season's family-friendly, public events in Beech Mountain, Banner Elk, Boone, Sugar Mountain, Linville, and Blowing Rock, each one linked to its official source so you can confirm times and prices before you drive.
Every listing below is labeled free, tickets required, or believed to be free, and only events confirmed through the town, venue, or official ticketing platform are included. Dates move, so treat the links as the ground truth.
Published November 13, 2026. Confirm with the official source before you drive.
Before Thanksgiving
The season warms up
Before the turkey, two gentle openers: Grandfather Mountain brings its holiday tree up the mountain with Millie the Bear, and App State's Hayes School of Music sings in the season at the Schaefer Center. Both are ticketed, both are worth it.
- Tickets required
Friday · Nov 20 · 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Holiday Tree Arrival at Grandfather Mountain
Grandfather Mountain, Linville
The mountain's mascot, Millie the Bear, escorts the holiday tree through the entrance gate to the Wilson Center while the welcome plaza serves hot chocolate and candy canes, with a snowflake craft table for younger visitors. It is included with regular Grandfather Mountain admission, so book park tickets before you go.
Park holiday page - Tickets required
Friday · Nov 20 · 7:30 p.m.
App State Holiday Scholarship Concert
Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts, Boone
App State's Hayes School of Music opens the holiday season with its 34th annual scholarship concert: the University Singers, Treble Choir, the Appalachian Symphony Orchestra, the Harp Ensemble, the Steely Pan Steel Band, and more filling the Schaefer Center with seasonal music. Tickets are $15, or $10 for students and children, through the official box office, and proceeds support music scholarships.
Hayes School of Music
Thanksgiving Weekend · Nov 27-29
The lights come on
The Friday after Thanksgiving is when the High Country flips the switch: Blowing Rock lights its town tree in the afternoon and Tweetsie Railroad turns on the Christmas trains that night, then both counties hold markets and parades before the weekend is out. Blowing Rock's tree lighting and parade are free, the Holiday Market in Beech Mountain is free, and the Tweetsie evening is the big ticketed night out.
- Free
Friday · Nov 27 · 12:00-7:00 p.m.; tree lighting about 5:30 p.m.
Christmas in the Park & Lighting of the Town
Memorial Park, Blowing Rock
Blowing Rock's holiday kickoff: Santa visits, kids' games, live music, and caroling in Memorial Park through the afternoon, with the mayor lighting the town tree and the Main Street wreaths around 5:30 p.m. Free and open to everyone.
Town event page - Tickets required
Friday · Nov 27 · 5:00-9:30 p.m.; select evenings through Dec 30
Tweetsie Christmas Opening Night
Tweetsie Railroad, Blowing Rock
Tweetsie Railroad turns into a Christmas wonderland on select evenings from November 27 through December 30: a reserved ride on the Christmas train, the Tweetsie Palace Christmas show, Santa in his Gingerbread House, holiday lights, and rides. Tickets are $65 for adults and $45 for children 3 to 12, with ages 2 and under free, and every ticket includes the train ride.
Tweetsie Christmas - Free
Saturday · Nov 28 · 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Blowing Rock Christmas Parade
Main Street, Blowing Rock
The town's holiday parade rolls down Main Street the Saturday after Thanksgiving with floats, bands, and Santa. Main Street closes to parking the night before until just after the parade, so plan to park early and walk in.
Holiday guide - Free
Saturday · Nov 28 · 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Beech Mountain Holiday Market & Parade of Wreaths
Buckeye Recreation Center gym, Beech Mountain
Beech Mountain Parks and Recreation fills the Buckeye Recreation Center gym with 50-plus local vendors selling arts, crafts, jewelry, and food, with live music from noon to 3 p.m., kids' activities, a visit from Mrs. Claus, and the Parade of Wreaths. Admission is free; raffle tickets for a decorated wreath benefit the Camp Buckeye scholarship fund.
Town event page - Believed to be free
Saturday · Nov 28 · Market 12:00-5:00 p.m.; Santa 3:00-5:00 p.m.; parade about 5:00 p.m.
Christmas in Boone
Downtown Boone
A downtown holiday afternoon in Boone: the Christmas Market runs noon to 5 p.m. with vendors, food, and a kids' activities area, Santa appears at the Greenspace stage from 3 to 5 p.m., and the Christmas Parade steps off about 5 p.m. The official listing does not state an admission, so treat it as free to attend; bring cash for vendors.
Event listing - Tickets required
Sunday · Nov 29 · 3:00 p.m.
A Christmas Story on the Big Screen
Appalachian Theatre, 559 West King Street, Boone
The 1983 holiday classic screens Sunday afternoon in the restored Appalachian Theatre, a warm and funny pick for a cold mountain afternoon. Tickets through the theatre's official box office.
Theatre tickets
First Weekend of December · Dec 4-6
Small-town Christmas at its best
The first full weekend of December is the heart of the season: Banner Elk's A Small Town Christmas runs the lights, the parade, and the cookie decorating, Boone lights its solar tree at the Jones House, and the theaters in both towns stage their Christmas shows. The tree lightings, parade, and carol sing are free; the stage shows are ticketed.
- Tickets required
Wednesday · Dec 2 · 7:00 p.m.
Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder Christmas
Appalachian Theatre, 559 West King Street, Boone
Bluegrass royalty brings a Christmas program to the Appalachian Theatre on Wednesday evening, with a pre-show lounge reception for theatre members. Tickets through the theatre's official box office.
Theatre tickets - Free
Friday · Dec 4 · 5:00-8:00 p.m.; tree lighting countdown at dusk
Festive First Friday & Solar Tree Lighting
Jones House Cultural Center, 604 West King Street, Boone
Boone's downtown tree lighting at the Jones House: a menorah lighting at 5 p.m., carolers, Santa and Mrs. Claus, horse-drawn carriage rides, holiday treats, and a countdown for the solar-powered tree on King Street. Free and happily family-sized.
Jones House events - Free
Fri-Sun · Dec 4-6 · Tree lighting Fri 6:30 p.m.; parade Sat at dusk; breakfast Sat 8:30 a.m.
A Small Town Christmas
Downtown Banner Elk
The town's signature holiday weekend: the town tree lights up Friday at 6:30 p.m. in the Corner on Main park, the Christmas Parade of Lights follows Saturday at dusk down Main Street, and Saturday daytime brings a pancake breakfast with Santa at Lees-McRae College at 8:30 a.m., a community carol sing, cookie decorating, ornament making, holiday shopping, and evening mini-train rides through luminaries with Santa. The tree lighting, parade, and carol sing are free; the pancake breakfast is a meal purchase while it lasts.
Town event page - Tickets required
Fri-Sun · Dec 4-6 · Fri 8:00 p.m.; Sat & Sun 1:30 and 5:30 p.m.
A Carolina Snowbelle Christmas
Appalachian Theatre, 559 West King Street, Boone
The Carolina Snowbelles and Project Dance Foundation fill the Appalachian Theatre with five performances over the weekend: Friday night at 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 and 5:30 p.m. Reserved seating runs $18.06 to $40.76 through the theatre's official ticketing.
Show page - Tickets required
Fri & Sun · Dec 4 & 6; then Dec 11-13 and 18-19 · Fri & Sat 7:00 p.m.; Sun 2:00 p.m.
A Banner Elk Christmas
Hahn Auditorium, Historic Banner Elk School, Banner Elk
Ensemble Stage's musical variety show is a Banner Elk tradition: roughly 70 minutes of 35-plus Christmas songs at Hahn Auditorium, with seven shows on December 4, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, and 19. Tickets are $27 for adults and $12 for ages 16 and under through Ensemble Stage's official ticketing.
Show details
Mid-December · Dec 11-13
The resorts join in
Mid-month, the ski areas and the shops get in on it: SugarFest lights the sky over Sugar Mountain on Saturday evening, Blowing Rock's shops host a town-wide Holiday Stroll, and Boone runs its big evening holiday parade.
- Believed to be free
Fri-Sun · Dec 11-13 · Après-ski party Sat 3:00-5:00 p.m.; fireworks Sat about 5:45 p.m.
SugarFest at Sugar Mountain
Sugar Mountain Resort, Sugar Mountain
Sugar Mountain's December festival weekend: gear demos on the slopes, and an après-ski party with live music Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m., capped by fireworks over the mountain around 5:45 p.m. presented by the Village of Sugar Mountain. The music and fireworks are outdoors and believed free to watch; lift tickets, demos, and rentals are paid.
SugarFest page - Free
Friday · Dec 11 · 4:00-8:00 p.m.
Blowing Rock Holiday Stroll
Downtown Blowing Rock, Main Street
Shops across downtown Blowing Rock stay open late for a town-wide holiday open house with specials, treats, and discounts, plus caroling and activities along the glowing, decorated Main Street. Free entry; the shopping is optional.
Stroll page - Free
Saturday · Dec 12 · 6:00 p.m.
Boone Holiday Parade
King Street, downtown Boone
Boone's holiday parade rolls east down King Street through downtown at 6 p.m., with floats, bands, and Santa in an evening parade that lights up the street. Free.
Holiday events
Christmas Week · Dec 15-24
Gentle days, Santa nights
Christmas week stays busy but calm: Santa sets up at Sugar Mountain for most of the week, and Beech Mountain closes it out with a hometown parade and a free Santa's Workshop at Town Hall.
- Believed to be free
Tue-Sun · Dec 15-24 · Daytime hours
Santa at Sugar
Sugar Mountain Resort, Sugar Mountain
Santa visits Sugar Mountain nearly every day from December 15 through 24, skiing, riding, and stopping to talk with children around the slopes. Visiting Santa is believed to be free; ski and slope access is paid.
Resort event - Free
Tuesday · Dec 22 · 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Beech Mountain Christmas Parade & Santa's Workshop
From Beech Mountain Resort to White Wolf Lodge and Town Hall
The parade departs from Beech Mountain Resort and follows Beech Mountain Parkway to White Wolf Lodge, ending at Town Hall for Santa's Workshop with free crafts, cookies, cocoa, and photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Free, and a favorite with the mountain's families.
Town event page
New Year's Eve · Dec 31
Fireworks over the snow
Both ski towns ring in the new year with free outdoor family fireworks, and both keep the after-9 parties on the adult side. Bundle up, park once, and watch the sky over the mountain.
- Free
Thursday · Dec 31 · 7:00 p.m.-12:30 a.m.; fireworks at midnight
Beech Mountain New Year's Celebration & Fireworks
Beech Mountain Resort, Beech Mountain
Family Night at the Lodge is free from 7 p.m. with a DJ, family games, a photo booth, face painting, and a balloon artist, and the mountain's midnight fireworks are free to watch from anywhere on the hill. The Beech Mountain Brewing Company hosts a separate 18-and-up ticketed party on its own.
Town event page - Free
Thursday · Dec 31 · Torchlight parade 11:45 p.m.; fireworks at midnight
Sugar Mountain New Year's Eve
Sugar Mountain Resort, Sugar Mountain
At midnight the slopes light up with a free alpine torchlight parade at 11:45 p.m. and fireworks at midnight, visible from the base area. An 18-and-up indoor party runs 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. with live music and requires reservations, so the family show is the one outside.
New Year's page
Running Through the Season
Events that repeat all season
Three of this season's biggest draws are not one-night events: they run across several weeks, so they carry their own section here.
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Tweetsie Christmas
Select evenings November 27 through December 30, 5:00-9:30 p.m., at Tweetsie Railroad, Blowing Rock. Tickets required: $65 adults, $45 children 3 to 12, ages 2 and under free.
-
A Banner Elk Christmas
Seven shows December 4, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, and 19 at Hahn Auditorium, Banner Elk. Tickets required: $27 adults, $12 for ages 16 and under.
-
Santa at Sugar
December 15-24 at Sugar Mountain Resort. Believed free to visit Santa; slope access is paid.
Confirm Before You Drive
Times, lineups, and prices move at smaller venues, and snow changes everything. Every link above goes to the official town, venue, or ticketing source. The official calendars below cover the rest of the season as new dates are confirmed.
Plan Around It
Bring the holidays to the mountains
Between the lightings and the parades, the season is made for slow days: sledding on Beech Mountain, a cold walk on a quiet trail, and windows lit warm along the town streets. The winter guide has the full seasonal picture, and the free and dog-friendly guide covers the walks that stay open in the cold.