NC Holiday Event: Blue Ridge Christmas Crafts Show

December 1 - 24   Blue Ridge Artisans Show and Sale  An annual event open daily inside the McDowell Arts Council's Gallery. Free admission and you'll find a huge selection of textiles, wood, clay, silver and other mediums ranging from functional pieces to jewelry and decorative items plus books penned by local authors.

Hours are 10-6 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and Wednesday and Saturdays between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM.

Get a link and more details about the Blue Ridge Artisans Craft Show and Sale on the Marion NC Visitor Guide.

NC Holiday Event: Dickens Festival in Biltmore

November 30 - December 2   Biltmore Village Dickens Festival  begins today.  Historic Biltmore Village transforms itself into a quaint Victorian village with entertainment for every age and interest. The main stage will be filled continuously with musicians, choral groups, singers, dancers and the Montford Park Players.

This year the Festival will feature more than 300 performers who, after their stage segments, will rove throughout the Village entertaining on the streets and in the shops and restaurants.

 Friday and Saturday evenings will feature main stage concerts for the entire family. As dusk turns into evening, more than 250,000 white lights outlining the historic Village buildings will combine with the streetlights to enhance the ambiance.

Shops stay open evenings until 7 PM with many of the shopkeepers dressed in Victorian-era garb. In addition, there will be horse-drawn rides through the tree-lined Village streets all day Saturday and Sunday. Chestnuts roasted on an open fire by chestnut roaster Sakshi Gentenbein will be available next to the main stage.

Get a link for details about the Biltmore Dickens Festival on the
Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

Mountain Spirits: Beer tasting and Wine Tasting at Hops and Vines in Asheville

Beer tasting and wine tasting at  Beer Hops and Vines, 797 Haywood Rd, Ste 100 in Asheville NC -

November 30,  5 - 7 PM   FREE beer tasting:  Taste the lastest from Terrapin Brewing - the new release of the Side Projects, limited brews that won't be around for long.

Liquid Bliss - One of the most interesting side projects we've seen in the store, this is thier peanut butter and jelly porter, made with real peanut butter and chocolate, with natural flavors.

So Fresh and So Green Green - This is a beer that celebrates the hop! You can’t get fresher or greener than this. Made with freshly picked, whole leaf, “wet hops” these off-the-vine beauties will encourage you to DRINK FRESH, DRINK LOCAL, and DRINK NOW!

Terrapin “Moo-Hoo” Chocolate Milk Stout proudly uses cocoa nibs and shells from Olive and Sinclair Chocolate Company to give this beer its great taste! An appetizing cold weather treat this sweet stout is rich creamy and uniquely satisfying. Beer and Chocolate together they truly make one of life’s great indulgences.

December 1, 3 PM - 6 PM:   FREE wine tasting of French Wines  from the Loire and the Langeudoc

Monmousseau Vouvray 2011: This soft white wine is made from 100% Chenin Blanc that is grown in the area of Vouvray in the heart of the Central Loire Valley. Excellent as an apereritif it will also perfectly fit with fish, seafood, poultry, as well as cream sauces. $12.99/750ml

Le Grand Bouqueteau Chinon 2009: This wine also hails from France's Loire valley and is made of 100% Cabernet Franc. With proud acidity, this perfumed wine offers notes of tobacco and dried fruit, and hits a balance that pairs well with both red and white meats. $15.99/750ml

Domaine De Fontsainte Corbieres 2009: This wine from southern France's Corbieres AOC is a hearty, rich blend of 60% Carignan, 30% Grenache, and 10% Syrah. Full bodied with ample blackfruits and an approachable velvety finish, this is an awesome value to keep warm with this winter. $12.99/750ml

NC Mountains Tasting Rooms:

Biltmore Winery, located on the Biltmore Estate, Asheville NC. Daily tasting and tours with Estate admission. Special events and tastings throughout the year.

Old North State Winery, 308 North Main Street, Mount Airy NC. Hours of operation are: Monday-Wednesday 11am-6pm, Thursday-Saturday 11am-9pm, and Sunday 12pm-6pm. Sample wines and browse the gift shop featuring wine related and gourmet gift items.

RagApple Lassie, 3724 Ragapple Lassie Lane Boonville NC Tours are "on demand" noon to six PM daily. Tastings are available noon to six PM daily and include up to 11 varieties of wine.

Calaboose Cellars, 565 Aquone Road, Andrews NC. Closed for the winter - re-open March 22, 2012Tasting room summer hours: Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from Noon to 5:00. This week check out the "Warden's White".

South Creek Vineyard and Winery, 2240 South Creek Road, Nebo, NC

Daily Tastings at Wedge Brewing Company, 125 B Roberts St. Asheville NC. Micro-brewery regular Tasting room hours: Monday - Thursday 4 PM - 10+ PM; Friday 3 PM - 10+ PM; Saturday and Sunday 2 PM - 10+ PM.

Daily Tastings at Greenman Brewery, 23 Buxton Ave., Asheville NC. The tasting room is open seven days a week at 4 o'clock, or maybe earlier

NC Christmas Event: Holiday Crafts Sale at the Folk Art Center

December 1   Guild Artist Holiday Sale   The Southern Highland Craft Guild presents the annual Holiday crafts sale at the Folk Art Center from 10 AM - 4 PM, milepost 382 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Choose from a variety of gift items - at special prices -  including ceramics, jewelry, fiber, paper, glass and wood. 

Buying from artists supports the local economy and promotes the mission of the Guild which is bringing together the crafts and craftspeople of the Southern Highlands for the benefit of shared resources, education, marketing and conservation. An additional date is Dec 8 with different artists participating,
The Guild Artists’ Holiday Sale is held on December 1 and again on December 8. 70+ Members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild will be on hand in the center’s auditorium on these two Saturdays, with different artists each day,  to sell select work 10-50% off regular retail.

While at the Folk Art Center, be sure to visit all three galleries showcasing the work of current Guild members and collections from the Guild’s history.  Member work is also available at Allanstand Craft Shop, the nation’s oldest craft gallery, located within the Folk Center.

Learn more about NC mountain crafts and artists on the NC Mountain Crafts Guide.

Participating Artists include:

December 1 Participants

Lin Oglesby, fiber

Ed & Kate Coleman, pottery

Harriet Smith, polymer clay

I & K Leather Goods, leather

Mary Mikkelsen & Henry Pope, clay

Ann Gleason, Clay

Maud Boleman, clay

Tyrone & Julie Larson, clay

Ruthie Cohen, jewelry

Portfolio Metalwork, jewelry

Tom & Pat Bauman, jewelry

Diana Gillispie, clay

Judy Simmons, fiber

Jen Swearington, fiber

Q Evon, jewelry

Kelsey Schissel, clay

Cat Jarosz, clay

Janice Maddox, fiber

Buzz Coren, wood

Debbie Littledeer, paper

Charlie Patricolo, mixed media

Walt Cottingham, wood

Sandy & Ann Batton, clay

Ann Gleason, clay

Troy Amastar, clay

Dianna Gillispie, clay

Earth2 Art Pottery, mixed media

Diannah Beauregard, jewerly

Betsy Gray, clay

Rebecca Owen, fiber

Kathryn Faille, clay

Phillip Nolley, glass

Hamilton Williams, clay

John Gunther, fiber

Hank Goodman, clay

Martine House, fiber

Jason Green, wood

Nhia Lo, fiber

December 8 Participants

Patte Vanden Berg, fiber

Julia Gaunt, fiber

Magruder Glass, glass

Linda Caristo, jewelry

Rita de Maintenon, fiber

Jeff McKinley, glass

Marc Tickle, glass

Michael Rutkowsky, clay

Perry Holbrook, mixed media

Kathy Spencer, fiber

Allen Davis, wood

Bart Vinsh, wood

Chris Kamm, wood

Michael Hatch, glass

Robert Levine, glass

Nancy Darrell, paper

Laurey-Faye Long, clay

Rob Levin, glass

Steven Forbes-deSoule, clay

Doug McCubbins, leather

David Grant, clay

York Haverkamp, clay

Cheryl Hevrdeys, glass

Pat Poole, fiber

Maggie Jones, clay

Kathrin Weber, fiber

Martha Biggar, clay

K4 Glassart, glass

Jan Brooks, fiber

Susan Taylor, fiber

Peggy Whitted, fiber

Judy Brater, clay

Louis & Christine Colombarini, clay

Kristin Schoonover, clay

Cindy Riccardelli, mixed media

Friendswood Brooms, natural materials

Janet Taylor, fiber

Don Duncan, wood