The holiday season in the Blue Ridge Mountains ushers in an unmistakable sense of merriment and adventure. At Elk River Club, family traditions add a sweetness to the days, from picking out the perfect Christmas tree at a local tree farm to the joy of tubing at Seven Devils, holding on tight as you go sledding at Beech Mountain or skiing down Sugar Mountain. There is no shortage of memory-making magic this time of the year. For residents of our charming mountain town, A Small Town Christmas is a beloved holiday event filled with family fun. This year’s highly anticipated event takes place Friday, December 3 – Sunday, December 5. Keep reading for details about the festivities, and refer to the Banner Elk website for the latest developments.
Event Launch: Friday, December 3
The sparkling lights of the town tree signal the festivities have begun—the lighting of the tree serves as the official kickoff of A Small Town Christmas. The lighting is slated for 6:30 pm on Friday, December 3, along with Christmas caroling at the corner of Main Park. Soon after, music lovers head to the holiday variety show at the Historic Banner Elk School—A Banner Elk Christmas begins at 7 pm, thanks to Ensemble Stage. Ensemble Stage describes the performance: “Patterned after the Andy Williams and Bing Crosby television Christmas specials of the 60’s and 70’s with lots of costume changes, and lots of singing and dancing have made this show a family tradition for hundreds of residents and visitors alike.”
A Jolly Day: Saturday, December 4
Plan for a full day of holiday fun from morning ‘til night! Jot down the details on these joyful happenings:
9 am: 5K YMCA Reindeer Run (Tate-Evans Park)
9 am-10:30 am: Pancake Breakfast with Santa (Stonewalls Restaurant)
10:30 am: Storytime with Santa and a firetruck tour (Banner Elk Fire & Rescue)
10:30 am-2:20 pm: Christmas at Apple Hill Alpaca Farm (tour purchase required)
11 am-4 pm: Holiday market and kids crafts activities at the Cultural Arts Center at Historic Banner Elk School (times may vary)
3 pm: Community Carol Sing (Banner Elk Presbyterian Church)
6 pm: Luminary-lighted train rides, synchronized Christmas light show, Christmas movie at the amphitheater, hot chocolate and more (Tate-Evans Park)
All day: Letters to Santa (Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce)
Wrapping up the Celebration: Sunday, December 5
Sunday is all about finding the perfect Christmas tree, and thanks to a number of cut tree farms in our region, you’re sure to bring home a beauty. The day also features another performance of the musical variety show, A Banner Elk Christmas.
All day: Choose & Cut Christmas Trees (Avery County tree farms, get a free tree with Choose & Cut lodging package)
10:30 am-2:20 pm: Christmas at Apple Hill Alpaca Farm (tour purchase required)
2 pm: A Banner Elk Christmas musical variety show (Historic Banner Elk School)
A Handmade Holiday
There are also opportunities to pick up one-of-a-kind holiday gifts, thanks to the artisans and craftsmen selling gifts throughout the weekend. So, remember your Christmas list and leave some free time to browse the Christmas goodies.
Reminder
The schedule of events is subject to change. Please refer to the Banner Elk website for the latest updates or contact the Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce at 828-898-8395.
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