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L Eimited dition
Bob Timberlake Print

Bob Timberlake is pleased
to make a special offering to
Foothills subscribers of “Clear
Nite,” a signed and numbered
limited edition giclee’ print
of a Christmas scene at the
Guest House at his Studio in
Lexington, North Carolina.
A portion of the sale of each
print will benefit The Empty
Stocking Fund in Lexington
which provides Christmas gifts
to underprivileged children
locally.

Signed and numbered prints
are $300 plus tax with free
shipping. Prints are 13 inches
by 20 inches and arrive with
a certificate of authenticity.
We will also make available 4
framed and matted remarque
prints, which include a small
original drawing by the artist
for $1000 plus tax.

To Order: Visit The Bob Timberlake
Gallery at 1714 East Center
Street in Lexington or call

336.249.4428

foothills
Digest

Foothills Digest Phone: 828.475.1323
E-mail: [email protected]
PO Box 2670
Lenoir, NC 28645 Website: foothillsdigest.com
Christmas 2021 Stock by Adobe Stock

PRINTED IN USA

PARTNER COMPANY: ECKARD PHOTOGRAPHIC

CARMEN ECKARD JON ECKARD JOEY OSBORNE

Editor-in-Chief Principal Photographer Partner

BOB TIMBERLAKE GUEST EDITOR

Contributor Rachel Woodard

DEDICATED TO DONALD ECKARD

This magazine is family owned and operated. The patriarch of
our family was Don Eckard. His inspiration and motivation has
been pivital to our lives and to this magazine. As a family, we’ve
learned much about the world by watching him interact with
it. He was wise and sensible, and we’re happy to carry on his
name and lineage. He died on October 16, 2021, and will be
lovingly missed. We dedicate this issue to Dad/Don/Pawpaw.

Letter from the Editor
Dear Readers,
Merry Christmas, friends! It’s such a wonderful time of year, and I’m
delighted to dedicate a whole issue to celebrating Christmas in the foothills
of North Carolina. From our quirky historical Christmas traditions to the
best places to catch the Nutcracker, this issue is designed to inform your
celebrations, and help you make even more memories.
I’m also positively bubbling over with excitement to work with acclaimed
artist Bob Timberlake to bring you a limited edition, signed and numbered
print of the artwork on the cover of this issue. We met Mr. Timberlake
when we interviewed him for this magazine two years ago, and in the
time since then, he’s become a dear friend. “Clear Nite” is my favorite
of all of his paintings, and I’m so thrilled to be able to share it with you.
Below, I’m pictured with him and our mutual friend Santa Claus, who is
also hoping you have a Merry Christmas. He requests that you leave him
some cookies and a glass of milk on Christmas Eve.
I hope this season finds you happy and healthy. However you celebrate,
here’s hoping this issue can enrich the holiday for you and yours.
All my love,

5

CTable of ontents
3 ”Clear Nite” Information
5 Letter from the Editor
8 Breaking Up Christmas
20 Christmas Fiddlin’
22 North Carolina Fraser Firs
32 Tree Farm Directory
34 Santa Climbs Chimney Rock
38 Christmas at Biltmore
44 Van Gogh Alive
46 National Gingerbread House Competition
48 Nutcracker
50 Parades
54 Nativities
56 Dazzling Lights
62 Polar Express
64 Recipes

76 Christmas Cocktail Recipes
82 Sparta Candle Company
88 Pomanders
90 Craft Fairs
94 Granny Eckard
96 Christmas Cheer
98 Christmas Plays & Treat Bags
100 Christmas with Bob Timberlake
120 Fireflies at Grandfather
124 Yes, Virginia...
127 Subscribe

8

Breaking Up Christmas
and other

Peculiar Local Customs

Christmas has always been the most celebrated holiday in the
foothills of North Carolina. It heralds the onset of winter, and
folks here have always known the importance of gathering
with your family and friends before the weather and the
short days make coming together more difficult.

People here celebrated “Old Christmas” much longer
than most societies. For many many years, everywhere
Christmas was celebrated, Christmas was on January 6th.
The Gregorian Calendar changed that, and Christmas
moved to December 25th. It was the middle of the 18th
century when most of Europe adopted the new calendar, but
it took longer to reach the states, and even longer to reach
the mountain settlements.

Breaking Up Christmas
Breaking Up Christmas is peculiar to just a few counties in our
region. People celebrated from the 25th of December until January
6th, traveling from one house to another, making merry everywhere
they went. They would dance, sing and fiddle. In fact, there’s a popular
traditional fiddle tune called Breaking Up Christmas that celebrates the
festivities. The melody is older than the lyrics, but they are:

Hooray Jake, hooray John
Breakin’ up Christmas all night long
Santa Claus come, done and gone
Breaking up Christmas right straight along
Don’t you remember a long time ago
The old folks danced the doesey-doe

You can celebrate Old Christmas yourself by visiting downtown Mount Airy
on January 2 for a Breaking Up Christmas Dance featuring The New Smokey
Valley Boys. This annual event is helping to keep the idea of Breaking Up
Christmas alive in the foothills.

Crickets on the Hearth
For millennia, seeing a cricket on your
hearth has heralded good luck and
prosperity. This is first documented
in China, but it spans many cultures
and many centuries. In Appalachia, it’s
taken hold. A cricket on your hearth in
western North Carolina is considered
a very good omen, and if it happens
on Christmas, your whole next year
will be lucky.

Sewing a Pillow Case
When the family wasn’t visiting the
neighbors to Break Up Christmas, the
women were likely sewing pillowcases.
It was tradition to sew them between
Old Christmas and new Christmas.

Usually, coins would be sewn into the
hems of the pillowcase, as this was
thought to bring good luck during the
new year.

Singing
Traditional caroling was popular,
as was singing Christmas hymns in
church. Listen to foothills legend Doc
Watson singing the traditional tune
Christmas Lullaby by using the QR
code below.

Serenading
Serenading was a much loved tradition
in the region. It’s a lot like caroling,
except more fun and much more
mischievous. The idea was to dress
up on Christmas Eve, sneak up on
families, then startle them with a lot

Museum of Appalachia in Tennessee

Feeling of noise. This could include singing, but
Nostalgic? was usually closer to screaming, loud
banging and crashing. If they heard
We have a curated the youth coming, a warning shot
collection of: would be fired and the teens would
scatter. If, however, the serenaders
Vintage Toys were successful, the family owed them
Ads a treat. It’s thought that the tradition of
serenading began in England. “The Day
Antiques of Misrule” was celebrated annually by
Collectibles servants and their children, who could
Vintage Ornaments go door to door and ask for food and
Christmas Decorations treats. Serenading developed out of
Antique Tools that tradition, and it felt much more like
And More! trick-or-treating than caroling.

West Main Lloyd Fish remembers in a first hand
account in A Foxfire Christmas: “The
294 West Main Ave night before Christmas was always the
Ta y l o r s v i l l e big night back when I was a growing up.
We’d get firecrackers and cowbells and
(828) 352-9500 shotguns and we’d just go from one house
to another. We called it serenading. Did you
ever hear tell of that? Yeah, we’d just go
and slip up on a home. We’d wait till they
went to bed, you see, before we started.
And we’d slide up in the yard, because if
they run out and beat you and hollered
“Christmas gift” we had to have something
to give them. But if we slid into the yard
and went to shooting those firecrackers
and ringing them cowbells-that big old bell
that you could hear all over the mountains-
and holler and whooping until they got up
and then they brought us in and had to
treat us with fruits and candies and stuff
and maybe then some of them joined us
and we’d go on to the next house.”

Christmas Bonfire
A raucous night of serenading was
capped off by a large bonfire, usually on
a hill so that it could be seen for miles.
The young people from the community
would gather at the fire for hours in the
earliest of hours on Christmas morning.



Hearing a Cat’s Meow
Hearing a cat meow on
Christmas Eve attracts evil spirits
to you for the duration of the
year, according to many old-time
Appalachian residents.

Santa’s Letters
Appalachian children wrote
letters to Santa, like many other
children in the world. However,
it was difficult to get to a post
office, so children were taught to
burn their letters in the fireplace.
Fairies would then carry the
letter to Santa Claus.

Christmas Baking
It was said that any baking you
did on Christmas day would be
imbibed with healing powers.
Because of that, women baked
dense, preservable items on
that day that could enjoyed
throughout the year.

Minced Meat Pies
People did a lot of visiting during
the holidays, and serving minced
meat pies to your holiday
guests was an absolute must.
Nowadays, there is not meat in
the pies, but originally they were
made most often of mutton,
but also beef, rabbit, pork or
game. Apple Stack Cakes would
also suffice. It was good luck to
serve your guests these treats.
To ensure the best possible
luck throughout the year, it was
important to have visits from
twelve neighbors on Christmas
day.

14

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The Weather on Christmas
Appalachian farmers thought that the
weather on Christmas day could predict
the weather for the coming year. If it
was windy, it would be a good year for
growing. If it was green, it would snow on
Easter, and a warm Christmas signaled a
cold Easter.

Double Yolks on Christmas
The women spent a lot of time in the
kitchen in preparation for Christmas. One
tradition held that if a woman found two
yolks in an egg she broke for Christmas
food, she’d have twins in the coming year.
Modern statistics say that about one in a
thousand eggs has a double yolk and one
out of 250 natural pregnancies results
in twins. We like this superstition much
better than the Norse version. They think
a double-yolked egg means an impending
death in the family.

Animals Kneeling
Some Appalachian people swore that
animals knelt at midnight on Christmas
Eve, and that they talked. It was bad luck
to hear them talking, though, so don’t try
to sneak up on your animals!

Listening to the Pigs
It was said that if a single girl wanted to
know about the man she’d eventually
marry, she should visit pigs at midnight
on Christmas. The first one to make a
sound was meant to represent her future
mate. A fat pig represented wealth, and
a young pig represented a young, virile
man.

Rooster Crowing on Christmas Eve
It was a tremendously good omen to hear
a rooster crowing on Christmas Eve. It’s
said to ward off evil spirits all year long.



Moonshine
Moonshine is an Appalachian staple
and it’s never been unpopular. But
historically, Christmas sales put all
other sales to shame. Moonshine
was not only the drink of preference
for most people’s holiday events, it
was also a very popular gift. Even
bosses gave moonshine to their
employees.

Firing Shotguns
In Kentucky, people used canons
to ring in Christmas, but in North
Carolina, shotguns were the noise-
maker of choice. Gun shots rang
out all across the country side. This
was one of the most common ways
to celebrate.

Bringing Home the Meat
These days, we have a lot of
“traditional” meals that we make
during the holidays, but our
ancestors cooked what they
hunted. The Christmas hunt was
important, and hunters were most
keen to find wild boars. Turkeys
were also an excellent find, as was
deer. If they didn’t successfully hunt
these animals, they would kill one
of their hens or use a preserved
country ham.

You can still find hints of these
traditions in the way we celebrate
today. Themes of community and
family are the thread weaving
together Christmases past and
present.

fD



20

Christmas Fiddlin'’

“Breaking Up Christmas,” played by Tara Nevins
“Christmas Eve,” played by Jerry Correll

“The Yule Fiddler,” by Patty Gurdy feat. Fiddler’s Green

“On Christmas Eve,” by Roger Howell

“Away in a Manger,” by Tigar Bell
“Fiddle for Christmas,” by Glen Duncan

“Christmas Morning,” by Lee Hammons
“Christmas Fiddle Medley: Good King Wenceslas / Boil Them

Cabbages / Redwing / Jingle Bells,” by the Miller Family

21

22

North CaRolina

FRasER Fir

Each year, some 4 million Christmas trees are sold in North Carolina. 99.4%
of those trees are Fraser firs, the “Cadillac of Christmas Trees.” Fraser firs
earned this illustrious nickname because they have soft, pleasant-to-touch
needles, incomparable needle retention, long-lasting aroma, and more
pliable yet stronger branches for heavy ornaments. The popular Christmas
trees are sold to people in every US state, plus the Caribbean Islands, Mexico,
Canada, Bermuda, Japan, and other countries.

Fraser firs were discovered by John Fraser, a Scottish botanist who explored
the southern Appalachian Mountains in the late 1700s. The species is very
similar to balsam firs, but their geographical areas do not overlap. Locally,
Fraser firs are sometimes called “she balsams.” This is because the trees
have resin filled blisters on the trunks that can be “milked.”

Fraser firs are gorgeous trees which grow into symmetrical cones up to
80-feet-tall. Their branches grow upward, creating a nice, compact shape
that works well for a Christmas tree. About 1,300 North Carolina farms are
responsible for the 4 million trees sold here annually.

Farming Fraser firs is slow work. It takes about twelve years for a Fraser fir
to grow to 10 feet tall. After a full year of growing, the tree is only about the
size of a quarter. It takes seven years for the tree to become conical. This
slow growth cycle means that growing Fraser firs requires a lot of land.

23

24

Interestingly, the Fraser fir grows only The Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel is
in very localized areas of the Southern endangered and hyper-local. They are
Appalachian Mountains. They only grow nocturnal animals and they nest in the
naturally above 4,500 feet elevation but Fraser firs.
can be cultivated at 2,500 feet. The cool
temperatures and rainfall in the North Weller’s Salamanders are also very
Carolina High Country are what causes the localized. They are mostly found near
Fraser fir to keep its needles throughout Grandfather Mountain and have unique
the Christmas season. metallic spotting. They thrive in the cool
weather in western North Carolina. They
The map at left shows the places that live in spruce and fir forests and farms,
Fraser fir grows naturally. In North and the abundant Fraser firs are helping
Carolina, our Christmas trees are located the species survive.
in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe,
Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Unfortunately,
Madison, Mitchell, Swain, Transylvania, Fraser firs are being
Watauga and Yancey Counties. threatened by a tiny
invader. The threat
In addition to being a very important is severe, in fact,
industry for North Carolina, Fraser firs and Fraser firs are
are a vital habitat for some rare animals. an endangered

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species. The balsam woolly adelgid, a Even though the Fraser firs are
tiny furry insect, is responsible for the endangered, they are incredibly popular
deaths of great swaths of Fraser fir and well-loved.
trees. When the non-native insect was
first introduced in the 1980s, it killed A full 25% of live Christmas trees in
up to 80% of mature trees. The areas the nation are grown right here in our
where the trees died were replanted, home state.
and the trees are maturing nicely,
however, when they are mature, there This Christmas, skip the artificial tree
is no guarantee that the insects will and visit a tree farm! See the tree farm
not attack them again, so the future guide at the end of this article for a full
of the industry is a bit unstable. Most listing of western Carolina tree farms.
scientists are hopeful, and some of the
forests have grown to maturity and
have not been attacked by the insect.

The Southern Appalachian spruce–fir
forest encompasses much of western
North Carolina, and it’s the natural
habitat of the Fraser firs. It is classified
as a temperate rain forest. The regrowth
of Fraser firs in the natural forests are
a great indicator that the species is
bouncing back.

27

The White House has had
more Christmas trees
from North Carolina
than anywhere else. Each
year a contest is held to
select the tree for the
White House, and North
Carolina often wins.
Excitingly, this year, a
North Carolina tree has
been chosen again!

2018, 2012, 2008, 2007,
2005, 1997, 1995, 1993,
1990, 1984, 1982, 1973,
and 1971 featured North
Carolina Fraser firs in the
Blue Room of the White
House.

When this happens, it’s
an event to celebrate,
and the delivery of the
Christmas tree is quite an
event.

It is delivered from North
Carolina in a large tractor
trailer and brought to
the White House on a
horse-drawn wagon. The
media meets watches as
the first lady accepts the
Christmas tree.

In the picture bottom
left, First Lady Laura
Bush gave a short speech
as the Christmas tree
arrived. She said, “We’re
so thrilled that this

28

beautiful tree and huge
Fraser fir behind me --
you can see how big it is
-- is from Mistletoe Farm
in North Carolina, from
Joe Freeman and Linda
Jones are the growers of
it, and it’s a tree that he’s
been growing there at
the farms for the last 19
years.”

She continued, “We’re all
thrilled that it’s going to
be here in the Blue Room.
As you all know, we have
to remove the chandelier
from the Blue Room
because the tree is so
big. And the decorators
are all inside right now,
the florists who come
from around the country
to decorate every year
at the White House. And
so they’ll be ready to set
the tree up as soon as it
gets moved in and to start
decorating the tree.”

Each year, this holiday
tradition follows the same
steps, and it’s often that
North Carolina tree farms
are honored by having
their tree selected by
the National Christmas
Tree Growers, who hold
a contest each year to
choose the best tree for
the White House.

29

First Ladies
Laura Bush and
Michelle Obama
with their trees,
and Trump’s 2018

tree.

All trees are
shown in the
Blue Room of the
White House.

30

31

tREe

Farms

There are 1,300 Fraser fir farms in
western North Carolina. We can’t list
all of them, but these are some of our
favorite pick-your-own Christmas tree

farms.

Appalachian Evergreens, Inc.
828.264.1609

620 Sampson Road Boone

Avery Farms / Trinity Tree
Company

828.733.5052
615 Avery Lane

Plumtree

Bear Valley Farm
828.736.1405

231 Bee Tree Rd
Glenville

Boyd Mountain Tree
Farm

828.926.8888
445 Boyd Farm Rd Waynesville

C & J Christmas Trees
828.386.6221

1999 Brookshire Rd Boone

Cartner Christmas Tree Farm
828.733.1641

901 Balsam Drive Newland

32

Christmas Corner Lil’ Grandfather Choose &
CNC Cut

828.733.4850 336.372.9613
204 White Pine Rd 15371 NC Hwy 18 South

Newland Laurel Springs

Circle C Tree Farms WMehaffey Tree Farm
828.265.7504 828.476.8505

372 Will Cook Road 24 Corner Drive
Boone Waynesville

Clawson’s Tree Farm Mistletoe Meadows
828.719.6395 Christmas Trees
336.465.9754
4805 194 N Boone
583 Burnt Hill Road Laurel
Cranberry Creek Farms Springs
336-908-5439
Panoramic View
1777 N Burnt Hill Rd Laurel Christmas Tree Farm
Springs
828.719.6395
Dutch Cove Tree Farm 368 Panoramic Lane Boone
828.400.0806
Pressley Tree Farm LLC
280 Setzer Drive Canton 828.743.2275

Fir Heaven Sake Tree Farm 770 Shirley Pressley Rd.
828.361.4350 Glenville

40 Fir Heaven Sake Lane Reece Farm
Topton 828.898.5642
241 John Jones Rd Elk Park
Frosty Trees
828.656.8100 Sandy Hollar Farms
13623 Hwy 212 828.683.3645

Marshall 63 Sandy Hollar Lane
Leicester
Frosty’s Choose
& Cut Smoky Mountain
Christmas Tree Farm
800.238.8733
2152 Beaver Creek 828.400.2933
756 Hemphill Road
School Rd West
Jefferson Waynesville

Helms Christmas Tree Snow Creek Christmas
Farm Trees

704.276.1835 828.385.2388
6345 Christmas Tree Lane 447 Wilson Rd Bakersville

Vale fD

Jonas Ridge Tree Farm
828.733.4654

8040 Joe Poore Rd Jonas Ridge

33

Santa

Cclimbs
himney
Rock

For over 20 years, Santa has

been preparing for his big night by
climbing down one of the largest
natural chimneys in the world.

Photo by Jerry Wolford
and Scott Muthersbaugh

34

35

Chimney Rock is a 315-foot-tall granite

monolith located in Rutherford County, North
Carolina. The towering landmark is surrounded
by an 8000+ square foot state park called
Chimney Rock State Park. The monolith is
affectionately called “The Rock.”

This year, the festive tradition will continue on
December 4th and 11th from 11am to 2pm. Come
watch Santa make his descent with assistance
from his special helpers at Fox Mountain Guides
and enjoy an afternoon of holiday fun.

Santa will rappel down The Rock. Rappeling
means to descend a rock face or other near-
vertical surface by using a doubled rope coiled
around the body and fixed at a higher point.
Visitors to the park throughout the year can also
experience rappelling. The park offers private
instruction from AMGA (American Mountain
Guides Association) Certified Instructors and
Guides.

An assortment of other activities will be offered,
including guided hikes with elves, a visit from
live animal ambassadors, making s’mores over
a bonfire, and holiday shopping at the gift shops.
Warm snacks and holiday treats will also be
available for purchase.

Local poet Eddie Cabbage will also be available
to help kids put together their Christmas wish
lists. Using his vintage typewriter, Cabbage will
type up a one-of-a-kind, personalized wish list
that kids can either mail to Santa or keep as a
memento. Holiday tunes will also be provided by
local musicians.

Santa on the Chimney is included with Park
admission which is $17 for adults, $8 for youth
ages 5-15, and free for children under 5.

36

ENJOYING THIS ISSUE?

YOUR FRIENDS WILL TOO!

Check out our Christmas specials online at foothillsdigest.com.

Subscriptions are the gift that gives 4 different times. Our Christmas specials

include cards that announce the subscription that can be mailed to you or to

your loved one. (828) 43775-1323

BiltmoreCHRISTMASAT

38

Story by Carmen Eckard 39
Photography provided by the
Biltmore Estate

On Christmas Eve in
1895, George Vanderbilt
welcomed friends and
family to his newly built
home, the Biltmore
Estate. The home
was marvelously and
luxuriously decorated for
Christmas, and it featured
four acres of floor space,
including 35 bedrooms,
43 bathrooms, and 65
fireplaces. It was lavish,
opulent, and lush by any
standard. In fact, it was
the largest private home in
the world. The 250 room
palace was filled with art
and furniture from around
the world. It also featured
magnificent 16th century
tapestries, a library
with 10,000 volumes, a
Banquet Hall with a 70-
foot ceiling, an indoor pool,
and a bowling alley. The
house also featured 19th-
century novelties such as
electric elevators, forced-
air heating, centrally
controlled clocks, fire
alarms, and a call-bell
system, as well as an
electric generator that
could create AC or DC
power.
While most people in the
Appalachian mountains
were still using outhouses
and spring boxes, the
Biltmore Estate stood as
an oasis of luxury.

Biltmore Estate is no longer a private advantages, the evening experience
residence, but it’s known as America’s is positively magical. Between the
Largest Home®. Now, the estate is open flickering fireplaces and the twinkling
for tourists, with tickets available at lights, you’ll feel like a guest at the
www.biltmore.com. While the estate original 1895 opening.
is beautiful all year round, with many We wondered how a tree could last from
things to do, Christmas is when it shines November to January without drying
the brightest. Literally. out. It turns out, it doesn’t. About half

There are way through, the tree
135,000 lights isn’t looking its best.
around the estate, A new tree is brought
with 45,000 more in, in the middle of
in the house, the night, and staffers
as well as 250 work through until
candles. 250 opening, replacing
luminaries line the all 500 ornaments.
walk to the house, The staff members stay
and the result busy during the season.
is a beautiful, Each evening they must
twinkling scene. light 250 luminaries,
then extinguish them
There are 62 at closing. 1,000
Christmas trees seasonal plants, plus
inside Biltmore, over 1000 poinsettias
but there’s one require special care
that gets most of and attention.
the attention: a Each week, evergreens
35 foot tall Fraser on the property are cut
fir that is in the to make fresh swags to
Banquet room, decorate the Grand
shown on these Staircase and other places. There are
pages. about 1,000 feet of swags and garland
throughout the house. Over 200 wreaths
It takes about 50 Biltmore staff members must also be kept fresh throughout the
to bring in the tree, which must be season.
hoisted to its final position before being The estate hires 10 full-time floral designers
decorated. There are 500 ornaments and and 5 part-time floral staff members. Other
500 lights on this tree. The decorated departments assist the floral department
tree is breathtaking. during the Christmas season.
Biltmore Estate has always depended
This year the festivities run from
November 8th to January 8th. Tickets
are for a daytime OR an evening
experience. While both have their

40

41



on a robust staff. From its 43
earliest years, Biltmore
was considered an
excellent place to work.
The family paid New York
wages for North Carolina
work and took excellent
care of their staff, building
churches and schools
and providing housing.

Fortunately, George
Vanderbilt was also
concerned about the state
of the forests he loved so
much. He was an excellent
steward of the land and he
hired Gifford Pinchot and
later Carl Alwin Schenck as
professional foresters, and
in 1898 Schenck opened
the country’s first forestry
school on the property.

George Vanderbilt died
in 1914. The estate was
first opened to the public
in 1930, and it became a
popular tourist destination
very quickly. In 1963, it was
designated as a National
Historic Landmark. In
1971, the family added a
vineyard which is now the
most visited vineyard in the
nation. Annually, 1.4 million
people visit the home.

And truly, it’s easy to
understand why. The home
is beautiful, breathtaking
and decadent. It’s a must
see for every Foothills
resident.

fD

Van Gogh

Alive

at Biltmore Estate

November 5, 2021 - March 5, 2022

His masterworks have been displayed around the world for over a century…
but never like this. Described as “an unforgettable multi-sensory experience,”
Van Gogh Alive is a powerful and vibrant symphony of light, color, sound,
and scent that compels you to leave the world behind and immerse yourself
in Van Gogh’s paintings. Simultaneously enchanting, entertaining, and
educational, Van Gogh Alive stimulates all the senses and opens the mind.

Explore the work and life experiences of this prolific artist during the period
1880 to 1890. Interpret his thoughts, feelings and state of mind during his
time in Arles, Saint Rémy and Auvers-sur-Oise, the locations where he created

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many of his timeless masterpieces.
See these works in hyper-fine
detail, with special attention paid
to key features, allowing you time
to study color and technique.
Photographs and video have also
been augmented with Van Gogh’s
works to demonstrate his sources
of inspiration.

Synchronized to a powerful
classical score, Van Gogh images
at enormous scale create a thrilling
display that fills giant screens,
walls, columns, ceilings and even
the floor – immersing you entirely
in the vibrant colors and vivid
details that constitute Van Gogh’s
unique style.

Available during Christmas at
Biltmore, access to this exhibition
is included with either Audio-
Guided Visit Plus or Expert-Guided
Plus admission.

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national gingErbREad

House COmpetition

This year marks the 29th annual National Gingerbread House Competition
at the Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville, North Carolina. Entries will be
submitted from all over the world, and they must adhere to the following
rules: except for the base, entries must be constructed of edible materials.
The main structure should be at least 75% gingerbread, some of which
should be exposed. Edible materials are not limited to candies and icings.

Entries are judged on five criteria: overall appearance, originality and
creativity, difficulty, precision, and consistency of theme. The competition
will be held on November 22nd. Winners will be displayed from November
28th to January 2nd, and the top twelve finalists’ houses will be shared on
social media, one per day, from December 1st to the 12th.

Shown above is the work of Beatriz Muller. She’s based in Ontario Canada,
and she competes in the competition each year. Above, from left to right,
are her 2019 entry (2nd place), her 2016 entry (1st place) and her 2017
entry (3rd place).

Omni Grove Park Inn also offers a series of gingerbread making
classes that you can access online at www.omnihotels.com/hotels/
asheville-grove-park/things-to-do/gingerbread/baking-spirits-bright.

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The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker is a beloved Christmas ballet, and it’s performed
each year at several locations in western North Carolina. It is,
perhaps, the most recognizable ballet for most Americans, and
it’s a holiday tradition for so many families.

The Great Russian Nutcracker is at www.blumenthalarts.org.
the can’t miss performance of
the year. The Moscow Ballet is Don’t miss the Asheville Ballet
a top-tier ballet company, and Company’s take on the classic.
their international tour can’t The organization is the oldest
be beat. Catch it in Charlotte, ballet nonprofit in the state,
Winston-Salem, Greensboro, and the performances are
or Asheville. Check the December 10th-12th. Find out
schedule and buy tickets more at www.ashevilleballet.
at www.nutcracker.com/ com.
buy-tickets/north-carolina.
The Nutcracker Ballet is wildly
The University of North popular and in any given year,
Carolina’s School of the Arts you can find dozens of dance
also puts on an impressive studios and schools producing
performance each year. their own versions of the play.
The show runs December Your own small town likely has
10-19 and you can find out a performance. Check them
more at www.uncsa.edu/ out! You may be watching
performances/nutcracker. future stars. We are particularly
keen on Studio K’s production
In Charlotte, at the Belk each year at the Schaefer
Theatre at Blumenthal Arts Center for the Performing Arts.
Center, you’ll find another
annual performance. It’s Listen to the
very well attended and runs full musical
throughout most of the month score by
of December. The Charlotte scanning this
Symphony Orchestra provides QR code.
the live music. Find out more

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