Celebrate the Holidays in Beautiful Hendersonville NC

There’s just something special about strolling through a Dickens novel during the holidays. Hendersonville, North Carolina beams with the charm of a small town and is alive with the spirit of community every day of the year. Nestled in the enchanting beauty of North Carolina’s far western mountains less than 25 miles south of Asheville, Hendersonville is a close-knit town of about 15,000, steeped in 1800s-era history.

One of the most popular regions in the country to find homes in the mountains, Hendersonville’s pride and joy is its impeccably restored historic Main Street, part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Street Program. Planter boxes chock full of vibrant flora dot this lively, six-block downtown area flanked by more than 100 unique stores, art galleries, and nearly 30 restaurants serving all manner of delectable eats. Insider tip: Don’t miss the circa 1883 Mast General Store for a fun step back in time.

With that kind of shopping experience, gastro delights, drop-dead gorgeous scenery, and close-by conveniences; it’s no wonder Hendersonville is one of the country’s most popular retirement living communities.

But it’s extra special at Christmas time. Come see untold thousands of lights in a Crayola palette of lights and the enormous Christmas tree at the courthouse. You can’t beat hot chocolate and sleigh rides, and a hometown Christmas parade past streetlamps bedecked with decorated wreaths. The air really is filled with the spirit of the season and with its Olde Fashioned Christmas tradition, Hendersonville is one of best places in the Carolinas to see Christmas lights.

But there’s more. Nearby Asheville hosts an annual Winter Lights celebration at the North Carolina Arboretum, with a half-million lights glowing throughout the gardens and seasonal displays. Made even better with Christmas music in the background and warm cider, the event runs from mid-November through New Year’s Day. At the same time is the National Gingerbread House Competition Display at Omni Grove Park Inn. Head over to see amazing holiday creations that look good enough to eat!

Biltmore Village, another Hendersonville, NC area community, is the place to be the first weekend of December when the Annual Dickens Festival starts off with a celebratory tree lighting. After that, you can enjoy caroling, horse-drawn carriage rides, and lots of Christmas goodies. Indeed, the whole town becomes a holiday postcard come to life.

For those looking for North Carolina mountain homes for sale, another popular adult community is Flat Rock, home to wildly popular Flat Rock Playhouse and part of the Holiday Gallery Hop in mid-December. Visitors can tour the historic downtowns of Flat Rock and Hendersonville and 15 arts and crafts galleries with fascinating exhibits from artists all over the region.

The Flat Rock Playhouse first began presenting performances in 1940 and today brings renowned talent to the stage year-round with everything from upbeat comedies to Broadway musicals.

Looking for more? Don’t miss Asheville’s annual popular events and go-to destinations such as the Bearfootin’ Art Walk & Auction, Rhythm & Brews concert series, the Tails in Town day to celebrate our favorite dogs, and the Local Market on Main Street; a wonderful collection of locally-grown or sourced specialty foods. If you’re an apple fan, mark your calendar for the North Carolina Apple Festival in late August, Hendersonville’s largest street festival and parade that attracts crowds upwards of 60,000 and is great fun for the whole family. Arts and crafts, kid’s games, and live music are all part of the day. Who can resist a freshly coated caramel apple? Best of all, the apple was picked from an orchard right down the road!

Hendersonville is home to other lively street festivals as well, like the Garden Jubilee Festival on Memorial Day weekend, July 4th parade, Fiesta Hendersonville, and Art on Main.

With so much to offer, it’s easy to see why people from all over the country, and indeed the world, choose the Hendersonville region when looking for North Carolina real estate for sale. It’s all about the people here, who appreciate living in communities offering endless options to maintain active lifestyles in close neighborhoods laced with peaceful parkways and the incomparable feel of a mountain village.

Communities such as Carriage Park boast calendar-worthy mountain vistas with that way-out-there sense of remoteness and yet only three miles from Hendersonville’s charm and conveniences we’ve all come to expect in the places we call home.

Look no further than Hendersonville for wonderfully livable retirement communities. It will feel like home from the day you move in and likely no more so than the holiday season when Home for the Holidays celebrates life here in the mountains with town and neighborhood events from Thanksgiving all the way through New Year’s.