Nov. 22, 2012. Earlier this year Blowing Rock was one of a dozen locations selected by Travel and Leisure magazine for inclusion in its list of America’s Prettiest Winter Towns. The magazine’s editors said, “The Blue Ridge Parkway passes by this century-old mountain tow, whose Main Street has shops for antiques, crafts, even dulcimers. Streams trickling through quiet forests banked with snow inspire exploring and reflection.”
As winter sets in, Blowing Rock looks forward to hosting visitors and locals alike for the holiday season. During this holiday interlude the town glows with the warmth of hospitality along its downtown streets, storefronts holiday-lighted and enticing. Once in town, folks can shop, eat, get in the holiday spirit and then choose and cut a Christmas tree at a local farm before heading home.
Details on events and activities in and around Blowing Rock from Thanksgiving through New Years can be found at www.blowingrock.com.
Highlights:
- Blowing Rock’s Christmas in the Park and Lighting of the Town celebration is on Friday Nov. 23, with events starting at 2 p.m. Highlights include a visit from Santa, hayrides through the town, free hot cider and hot chocolate, caroling in the park, lighting of the town and bluegrass Christmas. Chetola will have family cookie decorating, Santa visits and horse-drawn carriage rides through the lights around Chetola lake Nov. 23 and 24. Carriage rides should be booked in advance by calling the resort.
- Saturday’s events include a Christmas parade at 2 p.m., the Thanksgiving kiln opening at Traditions Pottery and a book signing by Bob Timberlake at the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum (BRAHM).
- Mountain House Music (in Boone) will offer A Celtic Christmas on Nov. 24 and An Appalachian Christmas on Dec. 1.
- The Ensemble Stage will present Christmas in Blowing Rock the weekend of Dec. 14 through 16. For more information, visit www.ensemblestage.com.
- BRAHM will host a family Holiday Open House event on Dec. 1 and the Watercolor Society of North Carolina Traveling Exhibit from Nov. 28 through Feb. 10.
- Appalachian Ski Mountain opens for the season on Nov. 16, weather permitting. Sugar opened on Halloween, the earliest opening in its history.
- Choose and cut Christmas tree season runs from mid-November through Christmas week.
- Chetola’s Festival of Lights is ongoing from Thanksgiving through late January.
There are also special culinary and musical events, along with extended shopping hours throughout the holiday period. For more information and updates, go to the Blowing Rock website or call the Blowing Rock Visitor Center at 887-750-4636
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