The following light displays are located just a quick drive from the city. If you have the extra time, I recommend checking them out. There are a lot of cute small towns located with a quick half hour drive. Many of these are home to charming Main Streets where you can step back in time, dine at old time cafes and browse antique shops. It’s so much more fun than shopping at a typical mall.

Hendersonville Main Street

Hendersonville is home to a charming Main Street which is lined with independent shops and restaurants. The popular “Home for the Holidays” event lineup draws visitors from around the WNC region. There is a big beautiful tree by the courthouse and some fun photo opps.

This is one of my favorite small towns in WNC. I love the beautiful lights on Main Street and we had a great time at their annual Christmas parade. The large wreaths hanging from the lanterns and small town shops give the Main Street a “Hallmark-like” vibe.

A few recommendations:

  • Stop for a coffee at Black Bear. They serve delicious Counter Culture coffee (a renowned roaster which started in Durham) and I love the gorgeous Nutcracker and tree decorations.
  • Shop for old time gifts at Mast General Store – so many fun novelty gifts and a big old time candy bar.
  • Hendersonville Pinball Museum. I love the all-you-can play deal. It’s similar to the arcade in Asheville, only less crowded.
Christmas tree on Main Street in Hendersonville

Monte Vista Hotel in Black Mountain

Black Mountain is a cute mountain town located just 15 minutes from Asheville. This small community is also considered an artist’s haven and foodie hotspot. Plenty of unique restaurants and shops line the historic Main St. The main holiday attraction in the region is the Deck the Halls festival, held annually at the Monte Vista Hotel. More than a dozen decorated trees are displayed for all to view for free at this hotel and throughout businesses downtown.

More to do:

  • Stop by the Dripolator, a cozy local coffeehouse before or after your visit.
  • Veranda Cafe is a delicious lunch choice – I love their soup (especially the potato) and sandwiches.
  • Antique shopping – there are many great shops on the Main St. I love Europa fine gifts – they sell the most amazing cuckoo clocks.
Deck the Trees festival in Black Mountain, North Carolina

Downtown Greenville

It’s an hour daytrip, but worth it as the hub of the Upstate SC region is home to the most charming Main St. in the south. I lived here for a year and absolutely love dining and shopping on this tree-lined district. There are so many fabulous local coffeehouses and restaurants.

Plus, there is lots of pretty lights and festive events to enjoy over the holiday season. Another bonus is the real ice rink in the center of downtown. I love daytripping here in December as I love ice skating and Asheville doesn’t have an outdoor rink, unfortunately. You can check out my holiday guide to fun for more details on the best of Greenville this time of year.

Pretty Christmas lights in downtown Greenville, South Carolina

Also, while you are in town, I recommend:

  • Checking out the gorgeous Reedy River waterfall (right in the center of downtown). It’s gorgeous!
  • Stopping for lunch or dinner at Greektown Grill. Their pitas and spanakopita are amazing.
  • Picking up some gourmet popcorn at Poppington’s. They also sell the cutest holiday gift sets.

Forest City

If you really want to see an overload of Christmas cheer, then Forest City is the place to go. This small town is located about an hour southeast. I’ve seen it on a lot of TV specials as one of the most over-the-top displays. Over a million lights line the small Main Street.

The holiday windows are adorable, the decor is old-fashioned, and there are many unique photo opps. Stop for a drink at the Twisted Pear and treat yourself to dinner at a local restaurant (Mario’s is a good choice for anyone seeking comfort style Italian food).

Forest City, North Carolina Christmas lights

McAdenville

While “Christmas Town” is a bit far clocking in at almost 2 hours, it’s worthy of a look if you happen to be visiting Charlotte for the day. This small community’s over-the-top light display has earned it the nickname ”Christmas Town.” Many prestigious sources including Travel Channel have spotlighted the town. The 1.3 mile drive takes you through over half a million lights, including beautiful decorated homes, a synchronized show on the lake, and over 200 festive Evergreens.

While in Charlotte, also check out the wonderful ice skating rink at the US Whitewater Center, Holiday Lights at Daniel Stowe, and The Panthers tree in Uptown. Carowinds theme park also hosts an amazing Winterfest celebration with over 5 million lights and the most incredible holiday shows. This is probably my favorite event in either of the Carolinas.

Fountain holiday light show in McAdenville
McAdenville Christmas Town
Carowinds Winterfest in North Carolina
The gorgeous 700 foot tree at Carowinds

Note: I’ve left out Christmas at the Biltmore and NC Arboretum (I really love this place for a daytime visit – the hiking trails are awesome) as I feel they are overpriced for what you get.