Light It Up!

With four distinct seasons, Western North Carolina provides the perfect backdrop for residents and travelers alike as they plan celebrations year-round.  Arguably, the most magical season of this region is winter, with its frosty morning views of towering pine trees glistening in the crisp mountain air. Although December marks the official start of winter, many find themselves dreaming of ornaments, garlands, and tinsel as soon as crimson, gold, and copper dominate the autumn leaves.  And for the employees of Asheville, NC’s Biltmore Estate, nothing provides more holiday inspiration than the arrival of the traditional centerpiece of Christmas at Biltmore, a majestic 35-foot-tall Fraser fir weighing 2,500 pounds.

“My Christmas begins when they place the tree in the Banquet Hall,” shares Bethany Trent, a Marketing Project Specialist for Biltmore. Trent’s excitement for the season echoes the sentiments of Chase Pickering, Biltmore’s vice president of guest experience and great-great-grandson of George Vanderbilt. “It’s deeply meaningful to see how the spirit of hospitality and wonder that my great-great-grandfather envisioned continues to thrive after 130 years. Christmas at Biltmore has always been about creating joy, connection, and memories that last a lifetime, and it’s an honor to see that legacy carried forward each year.”

Biltmore’s Floral Displays Manager, Lizzie Whitcher, traveled in August to Andrews Tree Farm in Avery County, NC, to handpick the tree in preparation for this year’s milestone celebration of 130 years of Christmas at Biltmore. Estate employees searched the archives, discovering a wealth of inspiration to recreate the grandeur of 1895. “Newspaper accounts from the 1890s described the Vanderbilts’ first Christmas as one filled with 'soft lights, tastefully draped garlands of evergreen and mistletoe, and the shining leaves and red berries of holly.’”

Each member of the design team takes ownership of one room, crafting historic details that transport visitors to another time.  Whitcher’s interpretation comes to life in her design of the Banquet Hall, where guests can search for the “little hidden lobster,” an homage to the 200 lobsters Vanderbilt served his first holiday guests.  “We are designers, so we are always scrutinizing. We are detail people, and I love it when I see guests notice those touches that we actually put a lot of thought into.”

For the designers who were in the midst of holiday preparations last year when Hurricane Helene hit the area, this year’s process has been extra meaningful.  “I think as we’ve been decorating, we have all been going back to where we were last year because Helene hit while we were installing Christmas…even just driving through the lodge gate this morning, thinking back to where we were a year ago with our monument sign having been rebuilt and new trees planted.  It does feel like this Christmas we’ve come so far, and Christmas is a time to celebrate that.”

With almost 50 people orchestrating the placement of the massive Fraser Fir, every detail matters.  Trip Hudgins from Biltmore’s Engineering Services has overseen the navigation and placement of the tree for the past 15 years.  Despite his experienced leadership, he admits it’s a relief to see the tree in its final place after maneuvering it around the Winter Garden and into the Banquet Hall. “It’s a couple of sleepless nights getting ready, not knowing whether it’s going to rain, how the tree is, how it’s tied up...” but ultimately, “It starts the Christmas season in the Asheville area. It’s a magical time.  It’s wonderful to be here, and I’m grateful to be a part of it.  It’s a great thing to be a part of the history that Biltmore is.”

Jennifer Bishop Smith, a WNC native, appreciates her family’s personal connection to Biltmore’s history.  “The history, architecture, and grandeur have always been alluring to me!  I had a great aunt who worked as a laundress on the property while George and Edith lived there.”  As a child, Smith dreamed of one day visiting the Estate. “My Aunt Mary took me when I was 12, and it is a core memory of my childhood. She bought me a tiny wooden mirror in the gift shop, and I still have it to this day.” Like many local children, Smith once again visited Biltmore as part of a middle school field trip, an experience that would later come full circle when she would chaperone her own fourth-grade students to the Estate.  Memories and moments that solidify Biltmore as an indelible part of her life, but none more memorable than December 2002, when her husband proposed to her on the front lawn of Biltmore. Smith has taken her own children twice and plans to visit again this December.  “Honestly, there is something magical about the estate wrapped up in the holiday.  The decor certainly elevates an already extravagant atmosphere.”

Biltmore’s 2025 Design Team decorated 36 trees inside the house and a 55-foot Norway spruce on the front lawn, surrounded by 40 illuminated evergreens.  Looking at "Christmas by the Numbers" on the Estate's website, there is no doubt that lavish details and thoughtful touches await this year’s visitors at every turn: 45,000 lights and 442 candles inside Biltmore House, 400 luminaries lining the driveway and Esplanade, a 25-foot light tree, over 45,000 lights in Antler Hill Village, and 30,000 “waterfall” suspended lights promise a magical wintry glow to all who visit.

Asheville resident and outdoor adventurer Jennifer Pharr-Davis encourages everyone within driving distance to consider the benefits of purchasing annual passes.  “With 20 miles of trails to explore, it’s like having a private national park in Asheville.”  Pharr-Davis especially emphasizes the family-friendly atmosphere of the grounds, where her children play “hide and seek in the bamboo forest, run around the lagoon, and search for wildlife, once even spotting a peregrine falcon.”

Inspired by the magical lights of the season, Pharr-Davis shares that they have begun a new tradition with their children, taking them to Biltmore on a December evening as the sun goes down to sit on the lawn in front of the Diana sculpture, looking up at the trees surrounding the house and the sky, and painting the scene as the luminaries provide a soft glow.  As locals, Pharr-Davis and her husband Brew also appreciate the convenience of visiting Biltmore House on Christmas Day, “It feels like you have it all to yourself, and it gives the kids a chance to get outside and play as well. Biltmore is a good neighbor to locals, offering lots of opportunities to visit throughout the year.”

As guests plan their holiday visits to Biltmore, there are two ticket options to consider: The Christmas at Biltmore daytime experience runs Nov. 1 through Jan. 4, 2026. Candlelight Christmas Evenings runs Nov. 1 through Jan. 3, 2026. Candlelight, firelight, and live music bring warmth to the extravagant holiday décor of Biltmore House.  Seasonal savings can also be found at Biltmore.com:

» Up to $30 off select midweek tickets

» Free next-day access to the estate with select ticket purchases

» Kids ages 9 and under receive free admission

The celebration continues across the 8,000-acre estate with special displays at the Conservatory, Winery, and Antler Hill Village. Santa makes appearances on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m., as well as on additional dates around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Guests can also explore the limited-time exhibition Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures. Luxury accommodations at the Village Hotel on Biltmore Estate, The Inn on Biltmore Estate, and private cottages offer guests the opportunities to extend and elevate their holiday visits, making them unforgettable adventurers worthy of Biltmore’s 130th anniversary.