McDowell County Christmas: Upcoming holiday season celebrations

OLD FORT, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Destination McDowell, McDowell County’s tourism board, has prepared a list of holiday celebrations in the region from now to the new year. From Christmas parades to ice sculptures, check out what’s coming up in Marion, Old Fort, Little Switzerland and more.

Here are the events on the Destination McDowell calendar:

A Very Marion Christmas Parade – 3 p.m., Nov. 23, downtown Marion

“When looking to jump start the holiday spirit, look no further than the City of Marion’s annual Christmas Parade. Set for 3 p.m. on Nov. 23, downtown Marion’s beautiful historic architecture provides a scenic backdrop to twinkling floats, the McDowell High School marching band, pageant queens, dogs and their humans in their holiday finest, and dance troupes all promenading along Main Street. Santa and Mrs. Claus close out the procession, seated and waving from atop their float on their reindeer-powered sleigh. This year’s parade theme is ‘A McDowell Strong Christmas,’ with Pastor Jerry Lewis from Grace Community Church serving as the 2025 Marion Christmas Parade Marshal.”

“A Swiss-Mas to Remember” in Little Switzerland – Dec. 1-31, Switzerland Inn, Little Switzerland

“For the first time in its 115-year history, Switzerland Inn – known for its spectacular 360-degree views of the Blue Ridge Mountains – will be open for the holidays. Through Dec. 31, the Inn will celebrate ‘A Swiss-Mas to Remember,’ with holiday treats for guests that include a special Milk and Cookies Turndown Service, ‘straight from Santa’s plate,’ and a keepsake ornament. Also planned for Christmas is the Inn’s Peppermint Pub Pop-Up. The Inn’s cozy Fowl Play Pub & Taproom will transform into a holiday jewel box when the Peppermint Pub debuts on Dec. 1. Filled with twinkling lights and over-the-top seasonal decor, the temporary makeover will feature a Mistletoe & Mugs Menu of festive cocktails and seasonal bites. This extension of the calendar is a prelude to the Inn’s plans to remain open all year ‘round heading into 2026.”

A Christmas Photo Adventure with Santa & Co. – 5-6:30 p.m., Dec. 4, downtown Marion

“From 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 4, families and friends are invited for a festive evening of photo ops with Santa and other holiday characters. Participating businesses in downtown Marion will host themed photo stops. More information is here.”

Christmas for All – A Holiday Benefit – Noon to 6 p.m., Dec. 6, Asheville Mall

“Christmas for All is a free event presented by Hometown Pro Wrestling, an organization based in Marion, dedicated to celebrating grassroots wrestling, small-town pride, and building family-friendly entertainment. Set for noon to 6 p.m., Dec. 6 at the Asheville Mall, the event features live pro wrestling matches with Buff Bagwell, KC Thunder, Moonshine Express and Luke Fury. Jason Redick, a celebrated Master Bladesmith, known for his appearance on the History Channel series, ‘Forged in Fire,’ will participate in a Meet & Greet, as well as Panhead Cooter McClure, the Moonshiner Master Distiller himself. This event is a benefit to help families impacted by Hurricane Helene. More information is available here.”

Pet (and People) Photos with Santa – Noon to 2 p.m., Dec. 6, Switzerland Inn, Little Switzerland

“Gather at the fireplace in the main lobby of Switzerland Inn in Little Switzerland from noon to 2 p.m. to share wish lists with Santa, snap a festive photo and soak up some holiday cheer with your furry babies. Free and open to the public. Friendly, leashed pets only.”

Ugly Christmas Sweater Party & Christmas Fest Drawing – 6 p.m., Dec. 18, City Stage, Marion

“Set to start at 6 p.m. on Dec. 18 at City Stage in downtown Marion, this cheerful competition is a chance for attendees to bring out their best ugly sweaters and compete for the coveted Ugly Sweater Trophy and $50 cash prize. The Christmas Fest Drawing also takes place during the event and awards holiday prize baskets to those who shop at participating Marion businesses from Nov. 20 through Dec. 14. Details are available here.”

Family-Friendly New Year’s Eve in Marion: The Annual Nugget Drop and a Ton of Neon – 6:30 p.m., Dec. 31, Main Street, Marion

“This year’s family-focused end-of-year celebration – ‘Neon New Year’s Eve’ – will transform downtown Main Street into a glowing night of fun. The festivities kick off at 6:30 p.m. with a Glow Up Station where participants may get glowing face paint, glow sticks, glow hair spray, and more to glam-up their look. The evening’s schedule includes carriage rides, a DJ, a Kids Train, Magic Bubbles and a Laser Show, and a Roller Skating Rink. At 8 p.m., to ring in the new year, the annual Gold Nugget Drop takes place, with an Apple Juice Toast and a 4-Foot Donut from Mr. Bob’s Donuts. After that, at 8:30 p.m., a Scavenger Hunt starts, followed by the 9 p.m. All Things Geeky Costume Contest and The Neon 5-K. Food vendors will be serving throughout the evening.”

A glitzy Great Gatsby-themed New Year’s Eve party – 7-10 p.m., Dec. 31, Tabletop Inn, Marion

“Tabletop Inn in Marion will host a fancy Great Gatsby-Themed New Year’s Event from 7 to 10 p.m. on Dec. 31. In celebration of the 100th anniversary of ‘The Great Gatsby,’ F. Scott Fitzgerald’s most famous work, the party will feature discussions from the creators of The Asheville Literary Tour about Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald’s connections to Western North Carolina. More details are available at www.tabletopinn.com.”

Ice Sculptures at the Lake James State Park Ice Festival – 5-9 p.m., Jan. 10, Lake James State Park

“After ringing in 2026, Lake James gets ready for its annual Ice Festival. Around 40 intricate and whimsical ice sculptures created by World Ice Art Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist Aaron Costic will be on display at the Lake James State Park on Jan. 10 at the Lake James Visitor Center in Paddy’s Creek Recreational Area. This year’s theme is “Down on the Farm,” and is a tribute to Fonta Flora and Whippoorwill Dairy. Guests will be able to walk among the sculptures, and observe Costic and his team doing live ice carving demonstrations. The event is set for 5 to 9 p.m. More information will be available at this link.”

For more information, visit https://www.destinationmcdowell.com.