The One Thing to Do in North Carolina Before the End of the Year

Before the year winds to an end, the holiday season emerges and fills our calendars with events to look forward to. Nothing is better than celebrating Christmas in a small town in North Carolina, and experiencing the magic of the holidays surrounded by community, festivities, and lots of good cheer. 

A Banner Elk Christmas

Banner Elk is a charming mountain town located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, which is just as stunning in the winter as any other time of year. Visiting Banner Elk, which was one of the many areas of North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene in September of 2024, is just another way you can support local communities this holiday season. 

Get in the swing of the holidays in early December with “A Small Town Christmas in Banner Elk,” taking place December 5 to 7 in Banner Elk. This weekend-long event offers fun for Christmas lovers and people of all ages to enjoy a host of traditional holiday activities that showcase the town’s festive spirit. 

Kicking the Weekend off With Christmas Tunes 

The weekend full of activities will kick off in full gear with a Christmas tree lighting and caroling in the Corner on Main Park on Friday, where you can indulge in some hot chocolate and belt out your favorite Christmas carols while watching the town's tree light up in all of its glory.

For those who enjoy Christmas-themed shows and tunes during the holidays, “A Banner Elk Christmas” will feature dozens of songs and fun choreography put on by the local professional theater group as a homage to the television holiday musical variety shows of the '60s and '70s.

Festivities for the Whole Family 

If you have any kids in tow, be sure to encourage them to get on Santa’s ‘nice’ list by having some breakfast with Santa at Lees-McRae College, followed by a festive Reindeer Run 5K where you can dress all-out in your favorite Christmas gear. Other events on Saturday include a holiday crafts market, Christmas ornament making and decorating, and a Christmas Parade of Lights followed by luminary-lighted train rides, music, holiday light viewings, and more.

The kids can even share their Christmas wishes to Santa by writing letters to submit to Santa's Mailbox at the Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce during business hours.

All weekend long, you can choose to embark on a Christmas-themed walking tour of Apple Hill Alpaca Farm, which is located just outside of Banner Elk. For a small fee, you can learn about and interact with a number of animals such as alpacas, llamas, horses, donkeys, and more, with stunning views of the farmland dotted with apple trees.

What’s even better is that you and your family can celebrate all of these Christmas festivities and pick up your Christmas tree on the same weekend. Head over to Avery Country tree farms on Sunday to pick out and cut your own special Christmas tree, with an added bonus of lodging packages available for out-of-town visitors.

A Jolly Good Time Awaits 

You haven’t been immersed in small-town Americana Christmas culture until you’ve been to Banner Elk. Make your life feel like it's a Hallmark movie by visiting Banner Elk before the end of the year to experience Christmas joy like never before!

Learn more about A Small Town Christmas weekend’s full list of events and times on the Banner Elk website. For more Christmas events in North Carolina and help with planning your trip to Banner Elk, consult Only In Your State’s AI-powered itinerary planner.