Candlelight Christmas Evenings at Biltmore – Holiday Magic

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Candlelight Christmas Evenings at Biltmore is a magical, festive way to enjoy Biltmore’s beauty covered in a blanket of holiday cheer. This annual event offers an enchanting Christmas experience that harkens back to the first Christmas at the estate in 1895. 

Doing a tour in the evenings has a whole different feel than during the day.  I think it’s perfect for the Christmas season.  Just the special glow of the lights and candles adds to the magical feeling of the holiday season.

I’m sure all of you are aware of the impact Hurricane Helene had on so many areas, including Asheville.  Thankfully The Biltmore has reopened for the Christmas season, but there’s still a lot of work to do in the area. 

The First Biltmore Christmas

It took six years for the 250-room French Renaissance chateau, the Biltmore, to be fully realized. During that time, the massive home and surrounding estate took shape, growing into the iconic historic site we know today. The Biltmore was officially opened to friends and family on Christmas Eve of 1895 when the first Biltmore Christmas was held. 

I feel knowing the home opened on Christmas Eve, it makes touring the Biltmore a bit more special during the Christmas season.  Although, touring at any time of the year is lovely.

Candlelight Christmas Evenings

You know it’s going to be a spectacular tour when your entry looks like this.

In their 40^th year, these Candlelight Christmas Evenings tours seem to take you back in time to the first Christmas at the estate, giving them a glimpse into the past and a big dose of old-fashioned holiday spirit. 

The Banquet Hall with 70′ ceilings and a 35′ Christmas Tree – a tradition.

There are several ways of taking a tour.  We did a self-guided tour which will allow you to go at your own pace.  These tours are usually sold out so it will be crowded.  You are provided with an audio guide to hear about each area as you pass through. 

If you are hoping for photos without other people, that might be near impossible.  That’s what photo editing is for. 

 

Guided Tours Available for Candlelight Christmas Evenings

You can book a guided tour also.   This holiday package features a 90-minute guided tour with a Biltmore estate expert. During that time, guests will enjoy stories of the Vanderbilt family, their guests, and staff during the holiday season, insight into the estate’s seasonal decor, and access to parts of the house not seen on other tours.

Find all the tour and package information and prices HERE.  Please make a reservation as soon as your plans are made.  Remember to find any local shops, restaurants, and hotels around the Asheville area to support them.

Trees and Mantels Oh My!

I wish I knew how many there were on display, but let’s just say a lot.  Large formal ones, those made with red berries, or an exhibit of trees and antique toys are just beautiful and give you inspiration for your own home.

Most mantels aren’t used for heating as back in the day, but each is decorated with greenery, florals, and things from nature, as it might have been during the first Christmas at Biltmore.

 In addition to the tour, Candlelight Christmas Evenings also gives guests access to the beautifully decorated Biltmore grounds, including their renowned Antler Hill Village Illumination installation.  

Don’t forget to stop by the winery for a free tasting.

Here’s a few more of my favorite photos I wanted to  share with you.

The Massive Gingerbread House

The Conservatory, which usually features live musc

It’s amazing how different the home looks after dark.

The bedrooms of Mr. and Mrs. Vanderbilt

The breakfast room

The Billards Room

 

And of course, The Library, where a lot of A BILTMORE CHRISTMAS took place

More than Biltmore House to Tour

Of course, the beauty of Christmas isn’t limited to just the estate and Antler Village. Visitors will be able to take in all manner of gorgeous lighting and Christmas decorations as they make their way from one area of the grounds to the next. 

Because this package also offers a daytime portion, guests will also be able to enjoy the magic of the season all around the famed Biltmore Gardens, where they’ll find beautiful colors and foliage, including a sea of perfectly placed poinsettias. Even the winery is holly and jolly in addition to its normal spirited atmosphere. 

For those looking for a full Biltmore experience, Candlelight Christmas can be combined with the Chihuly exhibition currently on display, creating a full holiday experience that they’ll never forget. 

We visited CHIHULY in the Spring.  It’s such a magnificent exhibit.

An Old-Fashioned Christmas for All

Candlelight Christmas Evenings is currently open at Biltmore and will run through January 4th, 2025. This family-friendly event is open to visitors aged ten and up, so it’s the perfect way to enjoy some wholesome holiday fun. From massive fireplaces with garland and bows and Christmas trees decorated in all manner of ornaments in the home to the beautiful lights dotting the property, even the bright colors of the Chihuly exhibit which somehow seem to fit right into the holiday feel, Candlelight Christmas Evenings is an unforgettable way to experience the magic and joy of the holiday season.

If you can’t make it during the evening, or have smaller children, consider the daytime tours.  You still see all of the magnificent Christmas magic.  Plus, during the day, you get wonderful views of the estate from several windows and patios.

 

You can’t go wrong with any tour or package you choose.  Let me know if you visit and what you enjoyed.

I enjoy visiting and writing about the Biltmore and Asheville.

Don’t forget to visit one of the gift shops found on the grounds.  I always collect an ornament in my travels.

 

CHIHULY at The Biltmore

A BILTMORE CHRISTMAS – a Hallmark movie filmed entirely on the estate

SPRINGTIME AT THE BILTMORE

My hotel choice not on property – DOWNTOWN CAMBRIA ASHEVILLE

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