Winter Lights — Attraction in Asheville

My wife and I visited early (11/15/24 at 6:30pm) this year, because our out-of-town family and friends are declining to Holiday in Asheville this year. We went before Thanksgiving to bolster our spirits, increase happiness, and feel the loving energy of the Arboretum, its art, mother nature, staff and fellow participants. For the very first time in our Arboretum visitation history there was no line at the vehicle gate, the volunteer welcoming us was knowledgeable, kind, and freely sharing the spirit of goodness. We loved our time under the full moon, enjoying the music, lights, theme, and safety of Winter Lights. Thank you for posting the Lady near the outside exterior door of the Visitor Center on the second floor. She was peaceful, a kind listener, respectful of the current Asheville post Helene climate, and easily recognizable as a friend (wearing a safety vest, with clipboard) looking ready to help at a...

We love visiting the NC Arboretum. Unfortunately the Winter Lights experience was extremely disappointing. It is only drive through due to COVID, which would be fine if they had put more thought into the execution. The light exhibit opens at 5:30 PM. We approached the Arboretum from Brevard Rd as instructed and found a line of cars already waiting. We took our place in line (estimate we were 1 mile from the turn into Arboretum) and then inched along for 2 hours! After 2 hours of waiting, we still hadn’t made it to the right turn into the Arboretum, so we gave up and went to dinner instead as the natives in my vehicle were getting restless and many needed to use the restroom! Very poor planning by the people running this event. Sell timed tickets to help control the crowds or something! It was a hellish experience, typical of 2020. The only light we saw were...

This seasonal display of lights throughout the formal gardens at the NC Arboretum is a winter must-see. I have been the past four years, and each year there are new additions and surprises. There are outdoor fire pits to warm yourself by. The outdoor railroad is lit up and features Polar Express trains. The Bistro serves lovely holiday fare and there are even smores kits to make the fireplaces even more enjoyable! The creativity of the Arboretum staff really shines during Winter Lights. This is a walking exhibit, so dress in layers and prepare for the cool night air. Dogs are not allowed at this even though they are typically allowed on leash at the Arboretum. Also, there are discounts for annual...