In a world that’s constantly changing, there’s something to be said about the comfort of tradition. And during the holiday season, no place exudes Christmas cheer quite like the Biltmore in Asheville, which has celebrated the holidays each year for more than a century. 2020 marked the 125th anniversary of when George Vanderbilt first opened Biltmore House to his friends and family.
“He built the house, moved in in October 1895 and December was the first time people came to visit,” explains LeeAnn Donnelly, Biltmore’s senior public relations manager. “You could think of it as a housewarming party.”
The modern-day celebration, which began in 1976, typically attracts some 400,000 guests between November and January. Despite many changes to keep visitors and staff safe this year due to COVID-19 (including mask requirements indoors), the Biltmore still plans to glorify the festive season this year with a theme of an 1895 Christmas.
“Biltmore and the holidays are a match made in heaven – it’s so lovely and beautiful and peaceful here, and I think that people who visit would agree that it’s just a wonderful tradition,” Donnelly says.
See more: Behind the Biltmore Estate: 7 Things You Didn't Know About America's Largest Home
– Kelsey Ogletree
Imbibe Christmas Wine
With special precautions in place around sanitation and social distancing, Biltmore’s winery is open and will debut a special 125th-anniversary sparkling wine in November, made from Chardonnay grape clones grown at the on-site vineyard. It will release two additional wines for Christmas, including a red and a white – a tradition for the past several years. Guests can sample up to 20 wines in the winery tasting room as part of admission.
