2023 Festival & Event Guide - November & December

Food and drink! Music and artworks! Seasonal celebrations galore! Pick your favorite festival theme and start planning.

NOVEMBER

Nov. 2-5- Mistletoe Market comes to Abingdon, Virginia.

Nov. 3-5 – Foothills Craft Guild Tennessee Showcase of Fine Artisans comes to Knoxville, Tennessee.

Nov. 3-12 – New South Comedy Festival arrives in Greenville, South Carolina.

Nov. 3-Jan. 7 – Christmas at Biltmore enters the Biltmore at Asheville, North Carolina.

Nov. 4 – Find the Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup Festival in Strasburg, Virginia.

Nov. 4 – In Townsend, Tennessee, come see the Townsend Grains and Grits Festival to find southern spirits and gourmet grub.

Nov. 4 – The little town of St. Paul, Virginia, hosts the Chili Chili Bang Bang – a chili cook-off.

Nov. 4-Jan. 6 – Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas celebrates the holidays at the Pigeon Forge park with thousands of lights.

Nov. 4-5 – Of These Mountains Fall Marketplace comes to Clayton, Georgia.

Nov. 4-5 – In Tennessee, see more than 5,100 competitors ages 14-89 representing 29 states and countries from Chattanooga’s riverfront at the Head of the Hooch Regatta.

Nov. 4-5 – Sinkland Farms' inaugural wine festival takes place in Christiansburg, Virginia.  

Nov. 10-12 – Toe River Arts Studio Tour comes to Burnsville, North Carolina & Spruce Pine, North Carolina.

Nov. 10-12 – Get a head start on holiday shopping by attending Dalton, Georgia’s first ever Christmas Made in the South event.

Nov. 17-Dec. 31 – Speedway in Lights comes to Bristol Motor Speedway with ice skating, food and Santa in Bristol, Tennessee.

Nov. 18 – Christmas in Dawsonville returns to Georgia with their Jingle Market, Christmas parade, tree lighting and more.

Nov. 20-Dec. 31 – Winterfest comes to Sevierville, Tennessee, and nearby cities of Sevier County, Tennessee.

Nov. 20– Jan. 1 – Farragut Light the Park comes to Knoxville, Tennessee.

Nov. 22-26 – Fantasy of Trees comes to Knoxville, Tennessee.

Nov. 23-Dec. 23 – Mountain Country Christmas in Lights brings a holiday light show, festive music, food, Santa Claus and much more to Hiawassee’s Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds.

Nov. 23-Jan 1– High Country Lights comes to Galax, Virginia. 

Nov. 24-25 – Blowing Rock Christmas in the Park steps into Blowing Rock, North Carolina.

Nov. 24- Dec. 30 – Tweetsie Christmas makes steam rise in a loving way at Tweetsie Railroad in Blowing Rock, North Carolina.

Nov. 24 – Celebration of Lights comes to Knoxville, Tennessee.

Nov. 24 – Travelers Rest Holiday Hop arrives in Travelers Rest, South Carolina.

Nov. 24- Jan. 8 – Downtown Elf on the Shelf Scavenger Hunt comes to Knoxville, Tennessee.

Nov. 24-25 – Festival of Trees & Holiday Art Show comes to Clayton, Georgia.

Nov. 24-Dec. 16 – Christmas in the Village at the Heritage Center comes to Townsend, Tennessee.

Nov. 24 – Jan. 3 – Holidays on Ice comes to Knoxville, Tennessee.

Nov. 25 – Christmas in Clayton comes to Georgia.

Nov. 25 – Light Up Blue Ridge & Christmas Parade marches into downtown Blue Ridge, Georgia.

Nov. 26 – Light Up Lakeshore comes to Knoxville, Tennessee.

Nov. 30-Dec. 2 – Santa Mouse Christmas House showcases the work of the Blount County Arts and Crafts Guild in Tennessee with a show at Maryville.

Nov. 30-Dec. 3 – Merry Marion brings a Christmas craft market to Marion, Virginia.

DECEMBER

Dec. 1 – Chamber Holiday Festival transforms Luray, Virginia, into the North Pole with vendors, Christmas carols and hot chocolate.

Dec. 1 – Christmas Parade comes to Knoxville, Tennessee.

Dec. 1 – Light Up Elkin,North Carolina, rings in the holiday season by lighting up Main Street and offering train rides for kids, photos with Santa and more.

Dec. 1-2 – Christmas at the City comes to Greer, South Carolina.

Dec. 1-3 – Fayetteville’s Gingerbread Festival comes to West Virginia.

Dec. 1-3 – A Small Town Christmas rings in Banner Elk, North Carolina.

Dec. 1, 8, 15 – Come to Roanoke, Virginia, on Fridays to discover Dickens of a Christmas with music, crafts and holiday lights.

Dec. 1-31 – Winterfest brings ice skating and children’s activities to Pikeville, Kentucky.

Dec. 2 – Winter Wonderfest includes a cookie tour plus  horse and carriage rides at downtown Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Dec. 2 – Main by 24 features 24 hours in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Dec. 2 – Sevierville’s Christmas Parade comes to Historic Downtown Sevierville, Tennessee.

Dec. 2 – Poinsettia Christmas Parade arrives in Greenville, South Carolina.

Dec. 2 – Tempt your tastebuds at Longwood Park’s Gingerbread Festival at Salem, Virginia.

Dec. 5 – Dickens of a Christmas slips into Spartanburg, South Carolina, with holiday cheer, Christmas markets, live performances, food and drinks.

Dec. 6 –Spirit of Christmas Parade jingles at Fountain Inn, South Carolina.

Dec. 9 – The Very Merry Local Christmas Market arrives in Travelers Rest, South Carolina.

Dec. 9 – Girls Day Out arrives in Lewisburg, West Virginia.

Dec. 9 – Holiday Jamboree on the Mountain comes to Black Rock Mountain State Park in Mountain City, Georgia.

Dec. 9-10 – Kringle Holiday Village makes merry in Greenville, South Carolina.

Dec. 9-17 – DeHart Festival of Lights comes to Stuart, Virginia.

Dec. 10  – Take a drive to Jonesville and Elkin, North Carolina, for the Yadkin Valley Christmas Parade.

Dec. 31 – New Year’s at the Sunsphere comes to Knoxville, Tennessee.

Dec. 31 – Party at the New Year’s Eve Extravaganza at App Ski Mountain near Boone, North Carolina.

Dec. 31 – The New Year’s Celebration comes to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, with a midnight parade.

Dec. 31 – Ring in the new year with fireworks, live music, craft vendors and tasty food at the fairgrounds in Hiawassee, Georgia.

Discover More Great 2023 Mountain Festivals & Events:

The story above first appeared in our May / June 2023 issue. For more like it subscribe today or log in with your active BRC+ Membership. Thank you for your support!