The North Carolina Arboretum hosts a Southern Appalachian Christmas throughout the month of December. Weekend events and activities add to the beauty of the natural landscape, decorated trees and holiday quilt exhibit.

The weekend of Dec. 1-2 features a craft show in which talented local artists and craftspeople will offer pottery, jewelry, sculpture, ornaments, paper and much more. Artists from the John C. Campbell Folk School will provide entertainment while families take advantage of drop-in handcraft activities and a visit from Santa.

On Dec. 8 and 9 artists and crafters from the John C. Campbell Folk School will host a series of storytelling and crafts demonstrations, including spinning and dyeing, paper-making, broom-making and quilting. Demonstrators will offer their works for sale.

The Visitor Education Center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The Arboretum is closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. For more information on this event or general Arboretum activities, visit the website www.ncarboretum.org.

A Southern Appalachian Christmas is generously underwritten by Asheville Savings Bank.

The Arboretum is located next to the Blue Ridge Parkway entrance ramp at Milepost 393, 2 miles south of Exit 2 (Highway 191/Brevard Road), off I-26. Arboretum grounds are open 7 days a week, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., except Christmas. The Visitor Education Center is open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Admission to the Greenhouse, Visitor Education Center, grounds and gardens is free.

Calendar of Events at the North Carolina Arboretum:

° Dec.1-Dec. 16 — A Southern Appalachian Christmas exhibit within the Visitor Education Center that features decorated trees, a quilt exhibit and special activities each weekend, including a craft fair and entertainment by John C. Campbell Folk School artists Dec. 1 and 2, demonstrations by John C. Campbell Folk School Dec. 8 and 9.

° Daily — A Family Nature Hike offers self-guided tour to discover the trails and gardens of the Arboretum in the winter season. Pick up materials from the Information Desk at the Visitor Education Center.

° Wed., Dec. 5, from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. — Fresh evergreen wreaths workshop in which participants craft one large or two small wreaths from a variety of natural materials and decorations. All materials provided. $30 Members, $35 Public. (Registration required)

° Sat., Dec. 8, from 9:30 a.m.-noon — Papermaking and printmaking for the holidays. A family workshop using natural materials to craft handmade and hand-printed paper items for the holidays. $8 for members, $10 general admission, $4 for children under 12 (registration required).

° Wed., Dec. 12, from 1-2 p.m. — Holiday Houseplant Care. Demonstration on best care techniques for both traditional and unusual holiday plants such as poinsettia and amaryllis. $3 for members, $5 general admission. (Registration suggested)

° Fri., Dec. 14, from 1-4 p.m. — Crafting natural topiary centerpieces workshop in which participants create tabletop topiary holiday decorations from citrus, evergreens and herbs. All materials provided. $16 for members, $19 general admission (Registration required).

 

Back to Top
The Smoky Mountain News