Asheville Holiday Magic, Community Care, and Local Updates

Good morning, this is your Asheville Local Frequency for Wednesday, November 26, 2025. Temperatures are dipping in Asheville as we approach Thanksgiving, so the city has activated Code Purple, expanding shelters for those in need. Entry begins at 6pm for both women’s and men’s shelters, without sobriety or ID required, and free ART transit is offered to shelter sites this evening. Keep in mind, there will be no bus service on Thanksgiving Day, but shelter sites have special plans in place to support residents through the holiday. If you’re hitting downtown this morning, bundle up! The weather is clearing after last night’s rain, with chilly conditions sticking around. In the spirit of the season, city offices will be closed Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving, so plan ahead for any municipal business. For those celebrating or visiting, Asheville is rolling out an impressive lineup of holiday events. Pick up your race packet today for the Asheville Turkey Trot, at Fred Anderson Subaru between 3 and 6pm. The family-friendly Gobble Wobble one-mile fun run and the classic Turkey Trot 5K take off tomorrow morning in Pack Square, with registration and free metered parking for runners. Festivities kick into high gear this weekend. Glide into the holiday mood at the outdoor Holiday Ice Rink at Asheville Yards and browse a winter market complete with craft cocktails and hot chocolate. If you’re after a quirky holiday experience, hop aboard the LaZoom comedy tour’s holiday edition for laughs and local lore with a festive twist. On Friday, head to Black Mountain for the tree lighting of North Carolina’s tallest lit Christmas tree at Peri Social House, where a holiday market and snowstorm party round out the family fun. Saturday brings the Grove Arcade’s all-day Holiday Tree Lighting Block Party, featuring markets, performances, and plenty of photo ops with Santa. Adventure Center of Asheville is hosting its Winter Wonder Walk, an immersive outdoor storytelling adventure through a magical, wooded kingdom. Over at the Biltmore, Christmas décor transforms the estate for daytime and candlelight tours, while Winter Lights at the Arboretum returns nightly with more than a million dazzling bulbs and whimsical troll sculptures. Local music lovers can catch David Wilcox’s Thanksgiving concert at the Grey Eagle Friday night or tap along to the Asheville Drum Circle at Pritchard Park. Saturday spotlights the Fleetwood Mac tribute Rumours ATL at the Orange Peel and the crowd-pleasing “Leftovers” post-Thanksgiving comedy showcase at Ginger’s Revenge. If you’re shopping local, Asheville City Market opens Saturday morning on North Market Street, and the North Asheville Tailgate Market returns at UNCA. Don’t miss the Small Wonders Art Show at RADA Outpost or Glassy Holiday Gathering at Lexington Glassworks to pick out some unique, handmade ornaments and gifts. For those needing some indoor activities, the Asheville Art Museum is open today with limited hours, clos This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.