Family togetherness is a special part of the Christmaas season. Traveling to a special event as a family can create a tradition that will be remembered after the Christmas lights have dimmed. The entire Southeast region has a bounty of fun activities for all ages.
For a listing of the top Christmas events in the Southeast, view the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events in the Southeast at www.southeasttourism.org.
Southeast Events
Nov. 1–Jan. 1: Old Salem Holiday Season, Winston-Salem, N.C.; 1-888-653-7253, www.oldsalem.org.
Historic Old Salem presents festivities featuring candlelight evening tours, themed weekends and holiday workshops. Visitors can learn how to make Moravian Christmas home decorations Nov. 10. Children will enjoy A Child’s Celebration of Christmas Dec. 17 with activities throughout Old Salem including games on Salem Square and wagon rides.
Nov. 4–Jan. 1: Christmas at the Biltmore Estate, Asheville, N.C.; 1-800-624-1575, www.biltmore.com.
The Christmas eve celebration in 1895 was a joyous event at the home of George Vanderbilt.
Today the tradition continues with a celebration in the 250-room house museum that includes holiday music, miles of evergreen garland, hundreds of poinsettias, wreaths and dozens of Christmas trees. Ask about the candlelight Christmas evening tour. Call for reservations and times of operation.
Nov. 3–Feb. 28: Winterfest, Pigeon Forge, Tenn.; 1-800-251-9100, www.mypigeonforge.com.
Voted festival of the year three times by the Southeast Tourism Society, brilliant displays of more than 5 million lights adorn the city. The Trolley Tour of Lights is a great way to view the animated displays of eagles in flight, dancing bears and twinkling snowflakes. Reservations are required for the trolley tour.
Nov. 5–Dec. 30: Smoky Mountain Christmas, Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.; 1-800-Dollywood, www.dollywood.com.
The event features a 3 million twinkling light display and parade. The country’s tallest German Christmas pyramid towers 45 feet above Dollywood revealing intricate carvings depicting the nativity. “O Holy Night,” a stirring musical, tells the true meaning of Christmas. Visit the Robert F. Thomas Chapel to hear guest performances by area choral groups.
Nov. 12–Dec. 18, weekends; Dec. 19–30, evenings: A Stone Mountain Christmas, Stone Mountain Park, near Atlanta; 1-800-401-2407, www.stonemountainpark.com.
Millions of lights illuminate the park. The magic of a small-town Christmas comes alive at this event with the 1870s town of Crossroads filled with entertainers and skilled artisans.
Families will enjoy seeing the night snowfall, as well as a laser show. The scenic railroad is also popular for the entire family.
Nov. 18–Dec. 31: Fantasy in Lights, Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Ga.; 1-800-225-5292, www.callawaygardens.com.
Known as one of the largest holiday light shows in the South, there are more than 8 million lights that light up the night.
The custom-designed scenes are larger than life and play musical arrangements. The show is situated along a five-mile drive through the woodland.
The Nativity and The Night Before Christmas are 10-mintue light and sound shows incorporating narration, music and choreographed lights. You may drive your car through the lights or ride in an open-air Jolly Trolley. The lights are turned on at 6 p.m. The Christmas Village opens at noon daily.
Dec. 2–3: Belhaven Singing Christmas Tree, Belhaven College in Jackson, Miss., 7:30 p.m.; 601-965-7026, http://arts.belhaven.edu/schedule.htm.
For nearly 75 years, the Belhaven College choir has been treating the public to an outdoor candlelight Christmas concert on campus.
The performance begins with a candlelight procession around a lake and ends with 100 voices forming a lighted “human” Christmas tree.
Dec. 2–4: Christmas Candlelight Tour, Historic Brattonsville in McConnells, S.C.; 803-684-2327, www.chmuseums.org/HBCalendar.htm.
More than 80 costumed interpreters re-enact historic holiday fun, including 19th century dance lessons, caroling and storytelling.
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