2024 Holiday Itinerary: Warm Your Heart in Downtown Asheville
The spirit of holiday travel takes on a deeper meaning this year. In the wake of Hurricane Helene, Asheville area artists, makers, chefs, performers and shop owners are welcoming you to be part of the comeback.
What better time or place to return than Asheville to kick off a most meaningful holiday season? An open and festive spirit awaits downtown, while holiday markets, events and new traditions of giving feature the resilient artists, makers and innovators of Appalachia.
With dozens of beloved downtown restaurants open now and on Thanksgiving Day, a wealth of local, handcrafted shopping options for Black Friday and beyond, and a vibrant creative arts scene, there are plenty of options to shop, sip and celebrate the season.
Here's a sample itinerary to make the most out of your holiday kickoff in Downtown Asheville:
Eat, Drink and Be Merry
One of your many options for holiday feasting is Bargello, open from noon to 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day (and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on every other day). This upscale yet lowkey Italian eatery is located on the ground floor of the Kimpton Hotel Arras in the heart of downtown Asheville and is offering a four-course Thanksgiving with a Mediterranean-inspired, family-style menu from Chef Tyler Slade.
Check out the long list of Asheville area restaurants open for Thanksgiving here. >>
Refuel with Coffee & Art
For post-Thanksgiving coffee, stop by Old Europe Pastries right across the street. In addition to being Asheville’s oldest coffee shop, Old Europe is the site of an intriguing new public art installation by local artist Tony Bayles, who is crafting environments out of the remnants of evergreen trees felled by Hurricane Helene. Inspired by traditional European woven fences, Bayles is literally transforming debris into spaces for people to connect with natural elements and each other. You can find other installations in Pack Square, Pritchard Park and Beaver Lake.
See what's open in downtown Asheville here. >>
Browse Inspiring Galleries
Speaking of art, galleries across downtown are open and ready to inspire. Be sure to stop by Bender Gallery where you’ll find abstract oil paintings by Asheville artist Linda Gritta, a swirling glass sculpture by internationally renowned Dale Chihuly (whose work is also on display at Biltmore Estate through February 5) and new work by Japanese-Mexican Surrealist Yui Sakamoto.
Hop on the Big Purple Bus
Perhaps you’d rather sit down for a few belly laughs after a holiday meal? Hop on the big purple bus! Local comedy troupe LaZoom has launched their seasonal Hey Asheville: Holiday Tour that fuses holly jolly with its tried-and-true brand of zany sightseeing adventure to keep guests laughing all the way.
Sip With Santa
After a long day of eating, laughing, and art-gazing, you might need a nightcap – luckily, the Tiki Easy Bar is right around the corner. A mythical island speakeasy hidden behind Hi-Wire’s South Slope Specialty Brewing, Tiki Easy boasts the largest selection of rare and historic rums in North Carolina. Tiki Easy is celebrating their reopening with the Sippin’ Santa Holiday Pop-Up, a tropical twist on the holiday season that will feature a bevy of special events and a Secret Santa menu only available for those in-the-know enough to ask (that’s you!).
See more open bars serving wine &craft beverage here. >>
Or, check out the open list of breweries & cideries here. >>