This December, the calendar is packed with festive performances, major concerts, and spirited community events designed to celebrate the season across every town and county we cover.
Whether you are looking for a traditional holiday spectacle or high-energy destination shows, use this curated guide to find the perfect indoor activity to enrich your plans.
The mountains of Western North Carolina transform into a vibrant cultural landscape in December.
The region offers major concerts, classical ballet, and intimate community theatre, primarily taking place indoors.
The holiday calendar spans Asheville, Cherokee, Franklin, Hendersonville, Waynesville, and Dillsboro.
This guide provides the essential details for making holiday plans, whether you seek high-octane rock for a cause or a classic Nutcracker performance.
Asheville (Buncombe County): The Major Events Engine
Asheville functions as the epicenter of large-scale holiday entertainment.
The cultural scene is anchored by major venues like the ExploreAsheville.com Arena and the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts.
The Arena: Charity, Concerts, and New Year’s Eve
The ExploreAsheville.com Arena secures the season’s biggest indoor draws:
Warren Haynes’ 33rd Annual Christmas Jam: On December 13, this iconic charitable concert returns featuring major acts, including Stone Temple Pilots and a Phil Lesh tribute.
The event consistently benefits local non-profits, such as Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity.
A Classic Holiday Spectacle: The Vienna Light Orchestra – Christmas Tour 2025 brings a popular classical crossover performance to the arena on December 19.
New Year's Eve Blowout: The venue is the regional destination for ringing in the new year, hosting The Avett Brothers on December 31.
The arena and local venues also host significant indoor shopping festivals:
The Big Crafty provides a large-scale indoor craft market (Dec 6–7) at the ExploreAsheville.com Arena.
The 10th Annual Holiday Craft Bazaar provides free entry and features over 27 local vendors and live music by Ten Mile Ride across both floors of the Asheville Music Hall and The One Stop on December 6.
The Wortham Center: Two Takes on The Nutcracker
Asheville’s December theatrical calendar is uniquely robust, hosting two distinct, concurrent versions of the holiday’s most famous ballet:
The Contemporary Version: The Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre (ACDT) presents The Nutcracker and the Mouse King on December 5–6.
This adaptation steps away from the traditional ballet, focusing instead on the darker, original 1816 story by E.T.A. Hoffman.
The Traditional Classic: The Asheville Ballet presents the full-length, classical Nutcracker from December 12–14.
Tickets range from $20 to $60.
Other performances at the Wortham Center include:
Stand-up comedy with The Comedy Zone: Helen Hong (Dec 5–6).
A Hawaiian Christmas featuring Billy Cardine on December 1.
Family Favorites: The Asheville Community Theatre presents an extended run of Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical from December 5 through December 21.
Destination Entertainment (Cherokee)
The Harrah’s Cherokee Resort Event Center specializes in attracting major commercial touring spectacles, offering high-production value.
The event schedule appeals directly to resort guests and regional visitors:
Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland: This high-energy theatrical show is scheduled for December 6, with tickets starting from $58.00.
Country Concert: John Morgan: Friends Like That Tour performs on December 13, with tickets available starting at $46.00.
Seasonal Respite: The Enchanted Island of Lights (Nov 29 - Jan 4) is a large-scale outdoor light display that features indoor amenities for family comfort, such as "visits with Santa Claus and hot cocoa by the fire".
Traditional Arts Hub (Franklin, Macon County)
Franklin’s Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (SMCPA) anchors the western counties.
The center specializes in traditional and roots-based holiday shows, securing significant economic impact for Macon County.
Major ticketed shows at SMCPA include:
Irish Christmas In America: Experience traditional music, song, dance, and stories of seasonal Irish traditions on December 12 at 7:00 pm.
Gospel and Bluegrass: Close out the season with Christmas With the Isaacs on December 19 at 7:00 pm.
Tickets for The Isaacs are priced between $22 and $38.
For those seeking free community spirit, local music events are hosted at the First United Methodist Church:
The annual Brasstown Ringers handbell concert (Dec 5).
The Mountain Voices Community Choir concert (Dec 11) (donations appreciated).
Community Stages and Local Charm (Hendersonville, Waynesville, Dillsboro)
Hendersonville (Henderson County)
Hendersonville offers affordable and accessible community theatre options throughout the season:
Community Comedy: The Hendersonville Theatre is running the comedy Dashing Through The Snow from December 11 through December 21.
The production features a highly accessible pricing structure, ranging from $5 to $36.
A "pay what you can" option is available for the opening performance on December 11.
Professional Productions: The county also hosts the professional production of A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas, running through December 21.
Holiday Farm Music: Jeter Mountain Farm’s Christmas at the Farm (Dec 6–7) highlights live Christmas jazz music and festive beverages in their designated indoor gathering spots.
Waynesville (Haywood County)
Haywood County centers its indoor activities on local stage productions:
Family Classic: The HART Theatre is staging the beloved holiday classic The Best Christmas Pageant Ever over two weekends, running from December 12 through December 21.
Appalachian Dance: The Folkmoot Center of the Arts hosts the J Creek Cloggers on December 5 at 6:30 pm, showcasing high-energy Southern Appalachian clogging and square dancing indoors.
Dillsboro (Jackson County)
Dillsboro’s Lights & Luminaries event (Dec 5–6 and 12–13) is a dual experience relying on outdoor candles and indoor commerce:
The town’s merchant shops stay open late (5 PM to 9 PM) to offer warmth and holiday retail opportunities.
These shops offer "free refreshments" to visitors.
Musicians and singers perform in individual shops, transforming them into micro-venues that enhance the festive atmosphere and drive holiday retail.
WNC December 2025 Indoor Entertainment Planner
Use this consolidated calendar to plan your outings for the holiday season:
Dec 1: A Hawaiian Christmas
Venue/Town (County): Wortham Center, Asheville (Buncombe)
Genre/Type: Music/Theatrical
Notes & Ticket Detail: Featuring CarolinAloha & Billy Cardine
Dec 3: Bonnie “Prince” Billy
Venue/Town (County): Grey Eagle Music Hall, Asheville (Buncombe)
Genre/Type: Concert/Indie
Notes & Ticket Detail: Indoor Music Venue
Dec 5: Brasstown Ringers Handbell Concert
Venue/Town (County): FUMC, Franklin (Macon)
Genre/Type: Traditional Music
Notes & Ticket Detail: Free Admission; Donations Welcome
Dec 5–6: The Comedy Zone: Helen Hong
Venue/Town (County): Wortham Center, Asheville (Buncombe)
Genre/Type: Stand-Up Comedy
Notes & Ticket Detail: Multiple Performances
Dec 5–6: The Nutcracker and the Mouse King (ACDT)
Venue/Town (County): Wortham Center, Asheville (Buncombe)
Genre/Type: Contemporary Ballet
Notes & Ticket Detail: Original E.T.A. Hoffman story
Dec 5: J Creek Cloggers
Venue/Town (County): Folkmoot Center, Waynesville (Haywood)
Genre/Type: Traditional Dance/Music
Notes & Ticket Detail: 6:30 pm performance
Dec 5–21: Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical
Venue/Town (County): Asheville Community Theatre
Genre/Type: Theatre/Musical
Notes & Ticket Detail: Extended run
Dec 6: Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland
Venue/Town (County): Harrah's Cherokee Resort Event Center
Genre/Type: Cirque/Theatrical
Notes & Ticket Detail: Tickets from $58.00
Dec 6: 10th Annual Holiday Craft Bazaar
Venue/Town (County): Asheville Music Hall & The One Stop
Genre/Type: Indoor Festival/Music
Notes & Ticket Detail: FREE ENTRY; Feat. Ten Mile Ride
Dec 11: Mountain Voices Community Choir
Venue/Town (County): FUMC, Franklin (Macon)
Genre/Type: Choral Music
Notes & Ticket Detail: Donation Appreciated
Dec 11–21: Dashing Through The Snow
Venue/Town (County): Hendersonville Theatre
Genre/Type: Community Theatre/Comedy
Notes & Ticket Detail: $5–$36 (Pay-what-you-can 12/11)
Dec 12: Irish Christmas In America
Venue/Town (County): SMCPA, Franklin (Macon)
Genre/Type: Traditional Music/Dance
Notes & Ticket Detail: 7:00 pm performance
Dec 12–14: The Nutcracker (Asheville Ballet)
Venue/Town (County): Wortham Center, Asheville (Buncombe)
Genre/Type: Classical Ballet/Theatre
Notes & Ticket Detail: Tickets $20-$60
Dec 12–21: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Venue/Town (County): HART Theatre, Waynesville (Haywood)
Genre/Type: Community Theatre/Family
Notes & Ticket Detail: Multiple performances
Dec 13: Warren Haynes' Christmas Jam
Venue/Town (County): ExploreAsheville.com Arena
Genre/Type: Concert/Charity Jam
Notes & Ticket Detail: Features Stone Temple Pilots, Phil Lesh tribute
Dec 13: John Morgan: Friends Like That Tour
Venue/Town (County): Harrah's Cherokee Resort Event Center
Genre/Type: Concert/Country
Notes & Ticket Detail: Tickets from $46.00
Dec 19: Vienna Light Orchestra
Venue/Town (County): ExploreAsheville.com Arena
Genre/Type: Music/Classical
Notes & Ticket Detail: Christmas Tour
Dec 19: Christmas With the Isaacs
Venue/Town (County): SMCPA, Franklin (Macon)
Genre/Type: Concert/Gospel/Bluegrass
Notes & Ticket Detail: Tickets $22-$38
Dec 31: The Avett Brothers (New Year's Eve)
Venue/Town (County): ExploreAsheville.com Arena
Genre/Type: Concert/Rock/Folk
Notes & Ticket Detail: Major year-end event
Note to Readers: All times and dates listed are subject to change due to circumstances such as weather, venue scheduling, or artist cancellations. Please confirm event details directly with the venue before finalizing your travel plans.
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