The holiday season is in full swing and it’s so nice to know that there are a lot of exciting and fun things to do and see at this time of year here in our neck of the woods.
This past Saturday, we had the chance to go back to the Victorian era at the Historic Biltmore Village in Asheville when we attended “An Old Fashioned Dickens of a Christmas Festival.” The event started on Friday and ended on Saturday. There was a tree lighting, concerts, plays, horsedrawn carriage rides and even chestnut roasting on an open fire.
Biltmore Village is such a beautiful part of Asheville and one that is considered historic. George Vanderbilt, one of the heirs to the great Vanderbilt fortune, built the village as a “company town” for the people who worked on his massive estate; and the village is located right near the entrance to the Biltmore Estate. It was declared as a historic area in 1989. The village consists of buildings that display the qualities of English country village with bricked pathways and tree-lined streets. It was a self-contained community having a hospital, shops, a school and a railroad depot. There was also a church which is still active today, the Episcopal Cathedral of All Souls. Nowadays, there are plenty of shops in the village and restaurants that offer good food for different palates.
It is also in the Historic Biltmore Village where you can see the most unique of all McDonald’s buildings. The building’s design was ensured to match the historic architecture of the village. And it is the only McDonald’s that I’ve been too that has a player grand piano and fireplaces.
We got there at almost around 1 o’clock in the afternoon and this was the first show that we watched. It was a segment of a stage play they’re now performing through the Christmas season, Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, and they were all dressed in Victorian costumes.
We’ve seen the movie a few times, but it was our first time to see it done as a play. The performing group was The Montford Park Players, North Carolina’s longest running Shakespeare Festival who do live performances of the Bard of Avon’s works on an outdoor stage in the historic Montford section of Asheville. When they had finished their bit, several groups came onstage and did Christmas carols. One of the most moving pieces was Silent Night done by a group of young students playing flutes and piccolos.
There were a bunch of us who enjoyed the play which happened in that little tent that they put up as the stage.
It was such a fun and very entertaining show and I’m really glad we got to see it. Afterwards, we spent the rest of our time browsing around in all the unique shops. A perfect family outing; a good time was had by all!
I love festivals like this and I think this one is even better because of the vintage theme! Glad you had fun!
It sounds like a fun show! I love The Christmas Carol it is one of my favorite all time stories! Its classic and fun!
Oh, I would have loved to see that performance! What a great experience, especially with the historical significance!
This sounds like so much fun! When it comes to an old fashioned Christmas, Dickens really had it nailed.
This sounded really nice. I’d love to see some of those old-fashioned buildings. It must have been great seeing the Christmas Carol performance.
This looks like so much fun! I would love to see a Dickens Christmas festival. I love this time of year.
This looks like so much fun…I love these types of festivals!
That looks like fun family holiday fun! Looks like a great time to put you in the spirit!
This is great. I love things like this to do with my family. We recently moved to a smaller town than we were used to and it is kind of like this during Christmas time.
Wow.. beautiful tree and fun show. We just missed a big Christmas event last week 🙁
I have seen the movie, but I didn’t know it is rendered as a stage play. I bet you had a great time watching it live.
I haven’t watched Christmas Carol before. I didn’t even know they have a stage play for it. Now, I really should watch it.
I’m so glad that you had fun in Festival, I remember before when we went to a Christmas Festival it was fun.
Must have been a great show to watch. I loved that book, A Christmas Carol and seeing it done as a play would be an experience to remember.
Wow that is a huge pine/christmas tree. It’s nice that there’s a lot of festival there in your area sis.
This sounds like such a cool thing to do before the holidays! I just wish I was closer and could go!!
This looks like a lot of fun! My best friend would have loved something like this.
I love Christmas festivals. This looks like a fun and beautiful show. The pine Christmas tree is so pretty.
Wow! That Christmas tree is so beautiful, we love festivals like that 😀
It sounds like you all had a blast. I would love to go here some day because it sounds amazing. The McDonald’s sounds extremely unique and would be something in itself to see. Thanks for sharing your experience.
This sounds like a fun event. We missed the Christmas festival last weekend due to other commitments. The tree is beautiful.
It is festivals like this that help me get into the Christmas spirit. I would love to go to this one.
Christmas just isn’t Christmas without A Christmas Carol. This festival looks super fun and a great way to get into the holiday spirit!
What a cute post. I really love that tree with all the bows on it. I just love Christmas and festivals.
Looks like a fun pre-holiday activity that families would greatly enjoy 🙂
Sounds like fun, I love the spirit the holiday brings.
I would love to attend something like this with my family. What a wonderful thing to be able to do locally.
Sounds like a cool place to visit. Love the pictures and the clear blue sky too.
I saw the Biltmore from afar but haven’t been inside. I would have LOOOOVED to go to this! Need to put it on the list for next year!
I love festivals. For sure this one is full of surprises and fun,.
Christmas festivals are so much fun and the perfect way to get you in the holiday spirit. It would be really cool to see A Christmas Carol in authentic costumes like this.
The village looks so lovely! I would really love to visit it someday!
How fun and exciting! I have never been to a Christmas festival before, but it sounds like something my family and I’d enjoy.
Silent Night really is very moving when it’s done right. i love Christmas. 🙂
This looks like such a fun place to go! Love stuff like that, especially around Christmas 🙂
So glad you had a great time! We have similar things around here! Every year, we do different things!
That looks like a fun time! Love how the community gets together like this to celebrate Christmas!
That sounds like an awesome festival. My town does something similar to this and my girls love it.
It sounds like a really nice event and you your family enjoyed the show. Thanks for sharing.
Nice Tree 🙂