High Country Holiday & Winter Guide 2022

We've put together a guide with all the things we love about winter here in the High Country, featuring local holiday events, New Year's Eve celebrations, ski resorts, and outdoor winter activities!

High Country Holiday Events

Festival of Lights

Chetola Resort, Blowing Rock (starting Friday, November 25th) Chetola Resort features a sparkling display of lights each winter season, free and open to the public! This year's Festival of Lights opens on Friday, November 25th and will be open until January 29, 2023. For more holiday light displays, click here.

Boone's Festive First Friday

Downtown Boone, December 2nd 5-8pm
Galleries and shops in downtown Boone are always open for Art Crawl on the first Friday of each month, but December is extra festive. Meet Mrs. Claus and write letters to Santa, ride in a horse-drawn carriage, and enjoy milk and cookies. The Appalachian State Sustainable Energy Society will host a Solar Tree Lighting at the Jones House.

Boone NC Holiday Parade

December 10, 2 pm, King Street, Downtown Boone
The Town of Boone Christmas Parade is an annual holiday tradition for the whole family. Local businesses and organizations show off their holiday cheer with floats, marchers, costumes, and performances. After the parade, be sure to stop by the Jones House for free hot chocolate, holiday treats, and Santa Claus!

Click here for more High Country Holiday Events

High Country Nye Events

Boone Ball Drop at the Horton Hotel

611 W. King Street, Boone, NC, event starts at 4 pm
The Horton Hotel will host their annual New Year's Eve Ball Drop from the rooftop. Sip on drinks from the bar and count down the seconds until midnight on New Year's Eve from the rooftop. You can also bring chairs and bundle up on the lawn of the Jones House across the street to watch the alitterina ball descend.

Nye at Sugar Mountain

Sugar Mountain Ski Resort, December 31st, 9 p.m
A New Year's Eve celebration mountain style! Enjoy the alpine torchlight parade at 11:45 p.m, followed by a fireworks show at midnight. Make your reservations now for the indoor festivities (9 p.m.- 1 a.m.) featuring live music by The Rockabilly's by calling (828) 898-4521 ext. 261.

New Year's Eve Celebration at App Ski Mtn

Appalachian Ski Mountain, December 31st starting at 9 pm
Ring in the new year with a torchlight parade, moonlight ice skating, and a fireworks show. The slopes will be open until 11:30 pm.

Nye Family Celebration at Beech Mountain

Beech Mtn Brewing Co/Beech Mtn Resort, December 31st, starting at 7 pm
Celebrate the arrival of 2023 at the Beech Mountain Brewing Co. Taproom and Grill. Live Music from Irresistible Groove and a Red Bull DJ, a photo booth, and a silent disco downstairs in the Red Baron Room from 7 pm- 1 am. Just before midnight, head outside for the fireworks. The Resort will also be hosting a FREE family-friendly celebration at the lodge cafeteria with DJ Pete, a photo booth, and games for all ages!

High Country Ski Slopes & Winter Activities

The NC High Country is well known for our various ski resorts and other fun winter activities! Not sure which ski resort is the right one for you? Click here to check out the NC High Country Ski Resort Comparison by High Country Host.

App Ski Mountain

This mountain's beginner terrain makes it the perfect place to learn to skil Appalachian Ski Mountain is home to the French-Swiss Ski College, a nationally renowned ski school, offering group and private lessons for skiers and snowboarders, from beginner to expert. App Ski Mountain features 12 slopes including 3 Terrain Parks. You can also visit their refrigerated outdoor ice arena for ice skating. Their Bavarian- style base lodge includes a restaurant, ski shop, and gift shop. Click here to view the slope cam. Click here for the App Ski Mountain Live Cam

Upcoming Events at App Ski Mtn:

• Christmas Day Skiing

December 25th
The slopes at Appalachian Ski Mountain will be open from 1 to 10 p.m. on Christmas Day. The day will serve as a fundraiser for Appalachian Ski Mtn's ski patrol. Purchase your tickets online before midnight on Dec. 24 to receive a 50 percent discount! Click here to reserve your ticket now!

Beech Mountain Resort

Ski Beech is the highest ski area in the east at 5,506' peak elevation! Offering 15 slopes, 7 chair lifts, and a great variety of terrain for skiing and snowboarding. Beech Mountain Resort recently implemented several upgrades to allow plenty of space for guests to enjoy the great outdoors! Some of these upgrades include a pavilion and social area with multiple fire pits and a new food and beverage outlet. Click here for more information. Click here for Beech Mountain's live webcam!

Upcoming events at Beech Mountain Ski Resort

• Santa at the Lodge

December 22nd, 5-8 pm & December 23rd, 11 am-2pm
Santa is coming to Beech Mountain Resort! Tell him what you want for Christmas and take photos of Santa with your family. Santa will be in the Lodge by the fireplace. This event is free and open to the public.

Sugar Mountain Resort

Sugar Mountain Resort is North Carolina's largest ski and snowboard area with 20 slopes from beginner to expert. Sugar rises from 4,100 feet to more than a mile high and features two double chairlifts, offering a breathtaking summit view from Tennessee to Virginia. Sugar Mountain resort also includes a tubing park and guided snowshoe tours! There are ski and snowboard schools for all ages and abilities, rental shops, and two cafeterias. Click here for more information. Click here for Sugar Mountain's live cam!

Upcoming Events at Sugar Mountain:

• SugarFest

December 9th-11th
Enjoy a weekend of winter fun with Sugar Mountain's annual SugarFest. Check out the newest and coolest equipment, a preseason ski clinic, Sugarfeast and more! For a full lineup of events, click here.

• Santa Ski & Snowboard Day

December 14th, 2022
Come dressed as Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus or one of Santa's Elf's and receive a full-day lift/slope ticket for $25l

Hawksnest Snow Tubing

Hawksnest, conveniently located in Seven Devils, NC, is the largest snow tubing park in the southeast with 30 tubing lanes! The park also has conveyors to get you back to the top of the mountain. With a wide variety of terrain, the park offers fun for everyone. Hawksnest's opening date is weather dependent. The tentative opening date is Friday, November 25th, 2022. Click here to book your own snow tubing adventure.

Sledding Hill at Beech Mountain

Enjoy a maintained sledding hill at Beech Mountain, complete with snow-blowing! There's also nearby cafes for hot chocolate and coffee. You can even purchase a sled right across the road at Fred's General Mercantile! For more suggestions on great places for sledding.