Grove Arcade's Deck the Halls Lighting Celebration is Nov. 21st

Kicking off Grove Arcade’s 2014 Winter Wonderland

Friday, November 21^st from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. The Historic Grove Arcade on Battery Hill decks its halls and lights the building for its 2014 Winter Wonderland. Sing holiday carols with the Asheville Symphony Chorus. Make holiday ornaments. View gingerbread houses from Omni Grove Park Inn National Gingerbread House competition. Have photos with Santa and listen to holiday stories. Enjoy hot cider and refreshments. “It promises to be a memorable evening,” says Darr Conradson, President of Grove Arcade’s Merchants Association. “It will be a signature Asheville evening!”

It’s an evening of holiday cheer. For a $1 donation to MANNA Food Bank’s Back Pack Program, children make a holiday ornament to decorate a Grove Arcade Christmas tree or to take home. Mountain Made and artists organized by the Asheville Area Arts Council help design and make these ornaments. A continuing tradition, a selection of gingerbread houses from the Omni Grove Park Inn’s annual National Gingerbread House competition are at the Grove Arcade through January 4. No Winter Wonderland is complete without Santa! He visits the Grove Arcade; advising children on their wish lists, reading stories, and having photos taken. The Asheville Symphony Chorus is the evening’s main event! Over forty chorus members are on hand to celebrate the evening with traditional and contemporary carols. The chorus sings for approximately 45 minutes, finishing with a rousing version of the classic Hallelujah Chorus. “We are so excited to be a part of this celebration, our music will soar in the Arcade-what a thrill!” says Asheville Symphony Chorus’s Cynthia Sprau. All the while, visitors can enjoy cider and cookies.

Deck the Hall and light the lights November 21^st. Winter Wonderland runs through January 4, 2015. Santa also visits the Arcade November 29 and 30, and December 7, 14, and 21 from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.