Christmas at Biltmore

By Cary Magazine

From now through Jan. 3, 2010, help celebrate the Vanderbilt’s 114th Christmas at the Biltmore House and admire the historical home on display in all of its grandeur.

The Biltmore House is elaborately decorated for Christmas and has one of the largest holiday displays in the Southeast. To be exact, 100 Christmas trees will be decorated; hundreds of wreaths and bows; hundreds of poinsettias; 30,000 lights in the house with another 150,000 lights used around the estate; 10,000 feet of fresh garland; and more than 25,000 ornaments.

Daytime tours of Biltmore House include the Gardens, the Winery with complimentary wine tasting, River Bend Farm and Barnyard. Candlelight Christmas evenings show off luminaries and a brilliant display of twinkling lights on the Front Lawn. New this year will be ballroom dancers in vintage costume gliding across the floor in the Winter Garden. A story teller will regale visitors with readings from traditional holiday tales such as The Little Match Girl, The Gift of the Magi and Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Choirs will perform European carols, with musicians providing seasonal music.

If you’d like to duplicate the Biltmore’s decorating style in your home, sign up for free holiday seminars on how to create the Vanderbilt-inspired style. Reservations for the seminars are not required; however, space may be limited so guests should arrive early. Here is the seminar schedule:

• Centerpieces for Holiday Entertaining — daily, now through Jan. 2: 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at A Gardener’s Place in the Conservatory.
•  Decorating a Christmas Wreath — daily, now through Jan. 2: Learn how to turn an ordinary silk Christmas wreath into an elegant and interesting design. 1 and 3 p.m. at A Gardener’s Place in the Conservatory.
• Red Wine and Chocolate — daily, now through Jan. 2: Discover why chocolate and red wine is a match made in heaven by pairing Biltmore Estate wine with several varieties of chocolate. 2, 3, 4 and 6 p.m. at the Winery.

Santa Claus will visit River Bend Barn on Saturdays now through Dec. 20. Guests may enjoy a festive meal at Bistro, Deerpark Restaurant, Stable Café or The Dining Room at Inn on Biltmore Estate. Stay the night at the four-star Biltmore Inn. Several packages for holidays, including special New Year’s Eve packages, are available.

Do some holiday shopping at the Biltmore’s many retail shops and take a cozy horse and carriage ride (blankets provided) to explore acres of landscaped gardens.

For ticket and booking information, call 877-BILTMORE or visit www.biltmore.com.