Your goosebumps may begin the minute you drive through the historic entry gate and continue on the drive up the winding, wooded driveway to the magnificent Biltmore House. Every year, teams of local elves spread their holiday magic across the 8,000 acres of the sweeping Biltmore Estate grounds. Visitors come from far and wide to see America’s largest private home transformed with miles of glittering grandeur.
America’s Largest Private Home
Christmas at Biltmore — surrounded by the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in Asheville, North Carolina — is their most popular time of year. Timed-entry tickets sell out quickly. Your team at Inspired Getaway ensures you get tickets and an entry time for this event when you stay at a participating vacation property. Christmas at Biltmore runs from early through the first week in January.
Photo credit via Facebook: @Biltmore
What Is Christmas at the Biltmore Estate All About?
The landmark Biltmore House is the centerpiece of any visit. Built for famed magnate George Vanderbilt and his family, the estate comes alive at Christmastime. During your visit, you’ll experience:
- 250 rooms that offer a step back in time
- Dozens of hand-decorated trees
- A hundred kissing balls
- Thousands of poinsettias
- Strolling musicians
- Choirs and Christmas concerts
The Vanderbilt family Christmas, a tradition that began in 1895, lives on today. You may amble at your own pace through the expansive house, with a complementary audio guide explaining the history of each room. Decorating at Biltmore is different every year. It takes an entire year to plan and execute.
Photo credit via Facebook: @Biltmore
What Can I Expect When I Visit Americas Largest Private Home?
A hallmark of any holiday visit is the immense Christmas tree installed in the grand Banquet Hall. The raising of the tree is the most anticipated event of the season — in 2022, the team purchased a 35-foot Fraser fir, brought from a mountaintop in nearby Avery County.
Dedicated crews pull out all the stops to give you an unforgettable experience. Biltmore House offers two different experiences:
- The Daytime Tour provides stunning mountain views from every window in the house and an optional stroll through the nearby Conservatory and gardens.
- The Candlelight Tour boasts glowing fireplaces and live music.
What Else Can I Do at the Biltmore Estate?
In addition to the grand Biltmore House, your entry ticket to the grounds entitles you to participate in other activities around the Estate, such as:
- Antler Hill Village, to explore the shops and eateries
- Cedric’s Tavern, named after the beloved family St. Bernard
- The award-winning winery culminates in complimentary wine tasting
- A scenic drive through the expansive grounds, which treats you to views of a bass pond, a turtle-filled lagoon, and charming stone bridges
If you’re looking for more to do at Biltmore, packages include lodging, specialty tours, events and spa services. Traveling exhibits occasionally come to the Biltmore House too, such as the Downton Abbey collection in 2020 and the Leonardo da Vinci immersive, multi-sensory exhibit in 2022.
Photo credit via Facebook: @Biltmore
How Much Does It Cost to Visit Biltmore at Christmas?
All tickets to Christmas at Biltmore include complimentary parking, the audio guide, access to the grounds and wine tasting. The prices vary, depending on the date you book and what’s included in the package. Ticket prices begin at $99.
If you’re looking for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, consider a day or a weekend that includes Christmas at Biltmore. Contact Inspired Getaway to recommend the best times to visit and secure tickets to one of America’s time-honored traditions.
April – Summer begins in the Mountains
You know it’s summer when The Biltmore House announces Biltmore Blooms begins April 1st. This annual event is a flowering splendor that runs until May 23rd. It begins with tulips and then changes over to poppies, snapdragons and pansies in May. To see the entire schedule of what is expected to bloom when, click here.
Then on April 6th the NC Arboretum hosts the Orchid Festival (click here for details).
But this is just the beginning. May brings more flowers and more exciting events for visitors and residents to enjoy Asheville, NC.
May 2019 Calendar
- May 3 – Highland Brewing celebrates 25 years. Lots of events around this benchmark celebration.
- May 4th – The Farm at Mills River Event, “Derby Days with Horse Shoes and Great Views” (click here for details).
- May 5th – Cinco de Mayo
- May 5th – Biltmore 5k
- May 9 – 11th – LEAF Festival, Black Mountain, NC. If you don’t know what this is, then you need to find out and quick because tickets always sell out!
- May 11th – COMMENCEMENT! Congratulations to UNC Asheville and Warren Wilson graduates!
- May 12th – Mother’s Day
- May 27th – Memorial Day
With all of these activities, vacation rental reservations will increase (we’re already seeing that happen). So, don’t delay and get your schedule together and book one of our fabulous homes.
Group Lodging
If you’re planning on visiting as a group, we have an exclusive village of clustered short term vacation rentals. Homes are within walking distance to each other, allowing for the convenience of your group to stay together but not “together.” Each family or couple can have their own living and sleeping space, kitchen and baths and yet visit with other members of the group.
The village of vacation rentals is known as “Cedar Cliff Village” .