There’s nothing quite as magical as spending the holidays in the Smokies. When you’re here, if you listen, you can hear the joyful sounds of the season echo through the valleys, and the Christmas spirit starts to come alive all around you. As a small Smoky Mountain town, Franklin embraces this holiday experience and provides numerous opportunities for everyone to enjoy it. We have a calendar full of things to do in Franklin this December, and we’ve put together a list of just a few of our favorites here.
The Bethlehem Experience and Live Nativity
December 6-8 & 13-14
For the past 15 years, Cartoogechaye Baptist Church has been perfecting their Christmas production of a Live Nativity and Town of Bethlehem experience. This free event is an inspiring display of the Town of Bethlehem from the time of Jesus, complete with live animals, actors, and a custom-built set. This year, visitors can enjoy the traditional drive-through tour December 6-8 or a brand new walk-through experience December 13-14. No matter which you choose, this evening experience is sure to bring comfort and joy to all who visit.
10th Annual Cowee Christmas and Balsam Bee
December 7
The Cowee Christmas and Balsam Bee is truly an event for everyone to enjoy this holiday season. Cowee School uses both education and entertainment to preserve the culture of the region, and this event will offer both. Dozens of vendors fill the Cowee School building, offering a variety of unique holiday gifts including hand quilts, embroidered pillows filled with aromatic balsam tree needles, fabric arts, pottery, jewelry, wood crafts, and more. The event also features children’s activities, dancing elves, art displays, live music, and a visit from Santa himself.
A Celtic Christmas Ceili
December 19
Macon County, North Carolina has a heritage founded in many cultures, including German, French, Dutch, Scottish, and Irish. This holiday season, the community is celebrating some of those cultural contributions with a Celtic Christmas Ceili. This traditional holiday event – pronounced “kay-leigh” – will feature live music with fiddles, pipes, singers, drums, Irish banjos, and mandolins and be accompanied by Celtic dancing and storytelling. So bring a donation and come enjoy good food, great company, and a celebration of our region’s history at the Otto Community Building.
Main Street in Historic Downtown
Main Street in Franklin is a destination year ‘round. But at Christmas time, this historic downtown district transforms into a scene right out of a Hallmark movie. Every light pole, every store window, and every corner of the entire downtown square becomes the perfect backdrop for making holiday memories. Enjoy the 22-foot lighted Christmas Tree surrounded by themed photo ops. There’s the life-size gingerbread sleigh, a couple of friendly polar bears, and a larger-than-life postcard from yours truly: Franklin, NC! And as you stroll, you’ll of course find plenty of opportunities to eat, drink, and shop all along Main Street. Of course, on Dec. 7, Winter Wonderland returns to the downtown area. On top of all the holiday festivities, the town’s social district will be open, meaning adults can sip and stroll and shop. Click here for parking, shopping, sipping and food options.
Be sure to check out these special events and more during the holiday season here in Franklin. Maybe you’ll even find a magical experience that we haven’t listed in this blog. If you do, be sure to share it and tag us on Facebook or Instagram.
