High Country Christmas events fill almost every weekend from mid-November to New Year’s, from small-town parades to festivals of lights. Here is a town-by-town calendar for the 2026 season in Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, Boone, West Jefferson and the nearby mountain towns. Dates come from each organizer’s own listings; times can change, so confirm with the organizer before you go.
November
- Saturday, November 14 – West Jefferson Christmas Parade. Downtown West Jefferson, 2 to 4 p.m.
- Friday, November 20 – Holiday Tree Arrival, Grandfather Mountain. 11 a.m. to noon, with Millie the bear, hot chocolate and crafts.
- Friday, November 20 – App State Holiday Scholarship Concert. The Hayes School of Music’s annual concert at the Schaefer Center in Boone, 7:30 p.m.
- November 20 and 21 – Newland Christmas Tree Festival. Lighted trees from local growers fill the Newland town square, with a public Best of Show vote. The trees stay lit through New Year’s.
- Friday, November 27 – Christmas in the Park and Lighting of the Town, Blowing Rock. Santa, carolers and music in Memorial Park, with the tree lighting around 5:30 p.m.
- Friday, November 27 – Chetola Festival of Lights opens. Lakeside displays at Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock, nightly from dusk through January 31, 2027.
- November 27 to 29 – Tweetsie Christmas opens. Tweetsie Railroad’s evening holiday event, with more nights in December.
- Saturday, November 28 – Blowing Rock Christmas Parade. Main Street, 10 a.m.
- Saturday, November 28 – Beech Mountain Holiday Market and Parade of Wreaths. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
December
- Friday, December 4 – Festive First Friday and Solar Tree Lighting, Boone. At the Jones House downtown, 5 to 8 p.m., with the tree lit at 6:30 p.m.
- Tweetsie Christmas, select nights. December 4 to 6, 11 to 13, 18 to 23 and 26 to 30.
- First weekend of December – A Small Town Christmas, Banner Elk. A weekend of holiday events in Banner Elk, including a tree lighting.
- Saturday, December 5 – Banner Elk Christmas Parade of Lights. Main Street at dusk.
- Friday, December 11 – Blowing Rock Holiday Stroll. Shops stay open late on Main Street, 4 to 8 p.m. (confirm the date with the organizer).
- Saturday, December 12 – Boone Holiday Parade. A night parade on King Street at 6 p.m. (confirm the date with the organizer).
- Tuesday, December 22 – Beech Mountain Christmas Parade. 4 to 6 p.m., followed by Santa’s Workshop with cookies and cocoa.
- Sundays in December – Santa at Mast General Store, Valle Crucis. Last season Santa visited the original store and the Annex on Sundays from late November to just before Christmas.
- December – Crazy Christmas at Mystery Hill, Blowing Rock. An elf hunt and holiday light walk.
- Thursday, December 31 – New Year’s Eve on the mountain. Sugar Mountain and Beech Mountain have both marked past New Year’s Eves with fireworks.
Plan Around the Parking
Most of these events happen in small downtowns with very little parking. Main Street in Blowing Rock and Banner Elk and King Street in Boone close for parades, side streets fill early, and the drive home after an evening event is on dark, winding mountain roads, sometimes with ice.
- Get dropped off. A driver drops you near the action and picks you up when you are ready.
- Stack events. Pair a morning tree farm with an evening lighting, or Tweetsie with the Chetola lights.
- Keep the group together. One 14-passenger van carries a whole family or office group.
Ashe County Livery runs private group excursions and evening outings across the High Country, and our holiday airport shuttle brings family up the mountain for the season. Request a quote or call (336) 484-1350.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Blowing Rock Christmas parade in 2026?
Saturday, November 28, 2026, at 10 a.m. on Main Street, the day after the town’s Christmas in the Park and tree lighting.
When is the Banner Elk Christmas parade?
The Banner Elk Christmas Parade of Lights is on Saturday, December 5, 2026, at dusk, during the town’s Small Town Christmas weekend.
How long do the Chetola lights run?
The Chetola Festival of Lights runs nightly from dusk, November 27, 2026 through January 31, 2027.
Can you drive our group to a parade or holiday lights?
Yes. We run private evening outings and day trips for families and groups, with drop-off and pickup at each stop.
Related holiday reading
- Thanksgiving Week in the High Country: A Family Guide
- Choose-and-Cut Christmas Tree Farms Near Boone, West Jefferson and Banner Elk
- Holiday Wine Tours in the Yadkin Valley
- Winter Wine Tours in the NC Mountains
🍷 Visiting the NC High Country? Add a Wine Tour!
Make your High Country trip unforgettable with a private chauffeured wine tour. Visit award-winning mountain wineries, enjoy stunning Blue Ridge views, and leave the driving to us.
Serving Banner Elk, Blowing Rock, Boone, and all NC High Country destinations • (336) 484-1350
You Might Also Like
