Thanksgiving week in the High Country is when the whole family finally lands in one place. Grandparents fly into Charlotte, college kids come home from App State, and the cabin in Banner Elk or Blowing Rock fills up for five days. In 2026, Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26, and the mountains kick off the holiday season the same weekend: ski slopes open, town trees light up, and the tree farms open their fields.
This guide covers what is happening in Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk and the surrounding towns that week, plus how to move a big family around without three cars and a designated driver.
Getting Everyone Here
The hardest part of the week is often the first two hours: the drive up from the airport after a long flight, with early dark, holiday traffic and a car full of luggage. We run private rides from CLT, TRI, AVL, GSO and RDU to homes, cabins and rentals across the High Country, and we track each flight so family members arriving at different times are all covered. See our Thanksgiving and Christmas airport shuttle page for the busiest travel days and how to book.
The Weekend Before: Trees, Lights and Ski Openings
Holiday Tree Arrival at Grandfather Mountain (Friday, November 20)
Grandfather Mountain welcomes its holiday tree on Friday, November 20, from 11 a.m. to noon, with Millie the bear escorting the tree, hot chocolate and crafts. Grandfather Mountain is open daily through the winter but has closed on Thanksgiving Day in past seasons, so plan your visit for another day of the week.
Newland Christmas Tree Festival (November 20 and 21)
Avery County growers fill the Newland town square with lighted Christmas trees, and visitors vote for Best of Show. The trees stay lit through New Year’s, so the square is worth a drive-by any evening of the holiday season.
Ski Season Opening
Appalachian Ski Mountain is targeting Friday, November 20 for its 2026 opening, and Beech Mountain Resort is targeting Saturday, November 21, both weather permitting. Sugar Mountain lists a November opening. For families who want a first ski day over the holiday, Thanksgiving weekend is often the first chance of the season.
Thanksgiving Weekend: The Season Officially Begins
Christmas in the Park and Lighting of the Town, Blowing Rock (Friday, November 27)
Memorial Park fills with Santa, carolers and music on the day after Thanksgiving, and the town tree is lit around 5:30 p.m.
Blowing Rock Christmas Parade (Saturday, November 28)
The parade steps off on Main Street at 10 a.m. Main Street parking disappears early on parade morning, which makes a drop-off the easiest way in.
Chetola Festival of Lights (from November 27)
Lakeside light displays at Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock run nightly from dusk, from November 27, 2026 through January 31, 2027. You can drive through or walk the displays.
Tweetsie Christmas (opens November 27)
Tweetsie Railroad’s evening holiday event opens Thanksgiving weekend, November 27 through 29, and returns on select nights through December 30. Expect a train ride, lights and shows, and plan on a late night with young kids.
Beech Mountain Holiday Market (Saturday, November 28)
Beech Mountain’s holiday market and Parade of Wreaths runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, a good stop before an afternoon on the slopes.
Choose-and-Cut Christmas Trees
Thanksgiving weekend is the busiest of the year at the tree farms. Several Watauga and Ashe County farms, including Clawson’s near Boone and Long’s near West Jefferson, were open on Thanksgiving Day last season. Our guide to choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms in the High Country covers more farms and what each one offers.
Easy Outings for a Multi-Generation Group
- Lights after dark. Chetola, the Newland square and the Blowing Rock town tree all look best after sunset, when mountain roads are at their trickiest.
- Tree farm morning. Hayrides, cocoa and a few hours outside. Farm lanes are often gravel and parking is in a field.
- Wine country. Several mountain and Yadkin Valley wineries are open Thanksgiving weekend. See our guides to holiday wine tours in the Yadkin Valley and winter wine tours in the NC mountains.
- Downtown strolls. King Street in Boone, Main Street in Blowing Rock and downtown West Jefferson all dress up for the season.
Why Families Book a Driver for the Holiday
- One vehicle, everyone together. Our 14-passenger vans keep grandparents, parents and kids in one place instead of a caravan that splits up at the first light.
- No one stays behind as the driver. Enjoy a glass of wine at the tasting room or a cocoa at the parade without worrying about the drive home.
- Dark, winding roads are our job. Our drivers work US-221, NC-105 and US-321 year-round.
- Drop-off at the door. Skip the hunt for parking on parade day and lighting night.
Ashe County Livery runs private group excursions and day outings across the High Country. If your family is coming together for Thanksgiving, request a quote or call (336) 484-1350 before the holiday weekend fills up.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Thanksgiving in 2026?
Thursday, November 26, 2026. App State has no classes on Wednesday, November 25, and Lees-McRae’s Thanksgiving break runs November 25 through 27.
Is Grandfather Mountain open on Thanksgiving Day?
Grandfather Mountain has closed on Thanksgiving Day in past seasons. It is open daily the rest of the winter, weather permitting, so check its hours before you go.
Will the ski slopes be open Thanksgiving weekend?
Appalachian Ski Mountain and Beech Mountain Resort are targeting openings the weekend before Thanksgiving, weather permitting. Opening dates depend on temperatures and snowmaking.
Can you drive our family to events during Thanksgiving week?
Yes. We run private outings for families and groups, from a single evening at the lights to a full day of stops, along with airport rides at the start and end of the trip.
Related holiday reading
- Choose-and-Cut Christmas Tree Farms Near Boone, West Jefferson and Banner Elk
- High Country Christmas Events 2026
- Holiday Wine Tours in the Yadkin Valley
- Winter Wine Tours in the NC Mountains
🍷 Visiting the NC High Country? Add a Wine Tour!
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