High Country Thanksgiving & Holiday Guide 2022

If you're thinking about coming to the High Country for Thanksgiving, now is the time to plan your trip! We've put together a list of places to stay, options for Thanksgiving dinner, and some of our favorite Thanksgiving weekend events to kick off the holidays.

Plan Your Stay

Blue Ridge Mountain Rentals is the High Country of North Carolina's leading vacation rental company, making it their mission to help guests find their perfect getaway in the beautiful mountains. Enjoy the largest selection of vacation homes in the NC Mountains, from budget to luxury options. Their website makes it easy to find exactly what you're looking for. Click here to book your mountain vacation home!

Carolina Cabin Rentals

Search for vacation cabins by location, amenities or cabins near popular attractions. Carolina Cabin Rentals will help you plan the vacation of your dreams. Click here to visit their website or give their reservation team a call today at (828) 295-6000.

Vacasa Vacation Rentals

Vacasa makes it easy to search vacation rentals by popular areas, such as Sugar Mountain, Banner Elk, Blowing Rock and more. Explore a wide variety of condos, houses and cabins and enjoy a seamless stay.

Thanksgiving Dinner Options

Dine-In options for Thanksgiving Day

Dan' Boone Inn (Boone, hours: 11 am-9 pm)

Family-style Thanksgiving menu. (Reservations available for groups of 15 or more).

The Gamekeeper (Boone)

Reservation-only ticketed event. Four-course meal with seatings offered at 12 pm, 2:30 pm, 5 pm, and 7:30 pm. Adults: $110, Children 12 and under: $55

Timberlakes Restaurant at Chetola (Blowing Rock)

Four-course plated meal by reservation only. (click here to view the menu) Family style curbside to-go also available (click here for Thanksgiving to-go menu).

Stonewalls Restaurant (Banner Elk)

Traditional Thanksgiving dinner served from 12-7 pm. Call for reservations: (828) 898-5550

Take-Out Options:

Reid's Cafe (Sugar Mountain)

Traditional Thanksgiving dinner take-out. Pre-order only November 17th, pick up by November 23rd

Stick Boy Bread Company

Pre-order freshly baked pies and breads for pickup on November 23rd. (Must place order by November 14th at noon).

Be Natural Market (Boone)

Fresh free-range, organic Turkeys available for pre-order and pickup the week of Thanksgiving.

Click here for more Thanksgiving Day Dinner options.

Thanksgiving Weekend: Holiday Events & Activities

Blowing Rock Christmas in the Park and Lighting of the Town

Memorial Park, Blowing Rock (Friday, November 25th, 12 pm)

An annual holiday event, held every year on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Kick off your holiday spirit with games, live music, and visits with Santa. Hot cocoa will be available from local vendors right next to the park on Main Street. Click here to see the full schedule.

Blowing Rock Christmas Parade

Main Street, Blowing Rock (Saturday, November 26th at 10 am)

Another holiday tradition is the Blowing Rock Christmas Parade. Enjoy fun costumes, floats, animals, and more!

West Jefferson Hometown Christmas

Downtown West Jefferson (Friday, November 25th at 5 pm)

Watch the official lighting of the West Jefferson NC Christmas tree and enjoy thousands of lights around downtown West Jefferson. Stay for a while and explore the shops and restaurants!

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.

Choose and Cut Christmas Trees

Choosing your own Christmas tree is a tradition still alive in the High Country and it makes for a memorable experience for the entire family! The Fraser Fir is the nation's most prized Christmas tree, native only to the High Country of northwestern NC and adjacent summits.

Thanksgiving weekend is the perfect time to kick off the holiday season and pick out a Christmas tree!