Haywood transforms during the holiday season. Head to this scenic corner of the Great Smoky and Blue Ridge Mountains for a holiday getaway filled with classic activities and a heavy dose of nostalgia.
There’s something special about spending the holidays in the mountains.
Gather around a warm fireplace as frost blankets the landscape, venture out to a glowing night market, stroll downtown with a glass of steaming cider, and check off everything on your wishlist—Christmas in Maggie Valley, Waynesville, Canton, Clyde, and Lake Junaluska is straight out of a feel-good movie.
Saturday, December 12 | 6-9 P.M.
Experience a magical night filled with holiday cheer! Meet Santa and his elves to share your wish list, explore the Elf Trail, and stop by craft stations hosted by Main Street businesses. Tuck into a spread of s’mores and hot cocoa, or order from one of the onsite food vendors. The streets will be aglow with festive luminaries to light the path for horse-drawn carriage rides. This beloved annual celebration promises holiday fun and enjoyment for all ages!
When: Thursday, December 3, 2026 | 6 P.M.
Kick off the holiday season with a classic, small-town style Christmas parade in Canton! Featuring a fun new theme every year, watch a stream of fully decorated floats make their way around downtown. Local businesses, organizations, students, and more create unique floats to surprise and delight onlookers, in addition to horse-pulled carriages and a vintage car show.
When: Monday, December 7, 2026 | 6 P.M.
Bundle up for this all-out display of Waynesville’s creativity! On the first Monday of each December, Main Street turns into a lively lane of holiday floats, marching groups, performers, and local organizations as they compete for recognition as the year’s most creative, on-theme display.
When: Mid-December
In Lake Junaluska, Christmas is showered in multi-day merriment. All aboard the Holly Jolly Trolley for a joyful trip to see the Lake’s Christmas decorations as you sip hot cocoa and sing to holiday songs. Shop the Holiday Craft Market for unique gifts while the rest of your crew makes holiday crafts, and receive a special keepsake ornament to take home.
When: Friday, December 4, 2026 | 3-7 P.M.
Wrap up your gift shopping at this open-air event in downtown Canton. Shop over 50 local vendors with handcrafted goods, snap a photo with Santa, and grab a hot beverage from an onsite food truck to enjoy while you soak in that warm, fuzzy feeling of a small-town holiday season.
For all the magic of holiday lights, winter nights can dip below freezing. Remember to bring your winter gear for evening outings.
Swap the big box stores for small businesses run by folks who craft their products with care. Make the pledge to shop Haywood first with Elk Bucks!
Restaurants fill up quickly throughout the holiday season, especially during downtown events. Reserve your table in advance to get ahead of the crowd
Discover how the season unfolds from the first holiday festivities through mid-winter adventures on Haywood’s slopes.
Find your centerpiece in the snowy high country, where generations of mountain tradition guide your search.
Take in panoramic views as you hand-select a beautiful tree straight from the fields tended with decades of family pride.
Find a Fraser Fir pruned to perfection and bring that nostalgic holiday scent straight to your living room.
Cozy up in mountain magic with fireside cabins, historic inns adorned for the season, and festive stays in the heart of Haywood.
