Season’s eatings: holiday food adventures for the family

The Asheville area’s holiday offerings include a multitude of palatable family-friendly events. Indulge your family’s senses in holiday spirit with the smells and tastes of local, seasonal fare. Even the littlest bellies will find edible holiday cheer in abundance. The appeal occasionally draws our favorite visitor from the North Pole to dine and mingle with his gracious fans, especially, it seems, when there are pancakes to be had.

Black Mountain Holly Jolly
5 – 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6. Cost: Free.
Join Santa in visiting stores in downtown Black Mountain as they open their doors and offer refreshments to the public.  Like trick-or-treating for Christmas goodies. Check out Spice it Up for a great selection of homemade treats.
Downtown Black Mountain.
Details here.

Breakfast with Santa
9 – 11 a.m.  Saturday, Dec. 7.  Cost: Free.
Chow down on some pancakes with the big guy in red. 
Fun Depot, 7 Roberts Rd, Asheville.
Details here or call (828) 277-2386.

Make gingerbread houses
11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7.  Cost: Free.
Construct gingerbread walls with sugary mortar.  Ages 5 and older.
Fairview Library, 1 Taylor Road, Fairview.
Details: fairview.library@buncombecounty.org or (828) 250-6484

Decorate gingerbread people
10:30 a.m. – noon Saturday, Dec. 7. Cost: $5 Non-owners, $3 for Owners.
Drop-in for dye and additive-free gender-neutral cookies and decorations.
Hendersonville Community Co-op, S. Grove St., Hendersonville.
Details here.

Holiday Marketplace at Blue Ridge Food Ventures 
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.; 4 – 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11.  Cost: Free. 
Foodie families can nibble on samples from Asheville Brew Bites Brownies, Blue Blaze Soda, Sugar and Snow Gelato along with many other locally-produced delicacies from Blue Ridge Food Ventures, the largest food business incubator in the Southeast.
1461 Sand Hill Rd., Asheville.
Details here.

Breakfast with Santa by Asheville Parks and Recreation 
First seating 8:30 a.m.;  second seating 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14.  Cost: $8/person.
Come feast on pancakes and sausage with Jolly Old St. Nick, craft holiday ornaments, and make those twinkle toes merry with a holiday dance workshop led by LEAF.  Bring a camera for a Santa photo-op. Ages 2-9.
Dr. Wesley Grant Sr., Southside Center, 285 Livingston St., Asheville.
Register here or call (828) 259-5800.

Workshop: Marshmallows and Ginger Bears
10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14. Cost: $30, plus $10 supply fee
Sip hot cocoa while learning to make homemade marshmallows and ginger bears. Bring a container to take home your cookies! Ages 4 and older with adult.
To be held in Cheflang’s kitchen. Directions provided with registration.
Details: cheflang@yahoo.com or (651) 357-8477

Workshop: Iced Sugar Cookies
2-4:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15. Cost: $30, plus $10 supply fee.
Make and decorate sugar cookies, learn to make royal icing and pipe with a pastry bag. Bring a container for your finished cookies. Ages 4 and older with adult.
To be held in Cheflang’s kitchen. Directions provided with registration.
Details: cheflang@yahoo.com or (651) 357-8477

Decorate ice-cream-cone Christmas trees
11 a.m.  Monda,y Dec. 16.
Asheville Stay At Home Moms’ Playgroup on meetup.com is hosting this activity.
For ages 3 and older.
For details, join the playgroup here. 

Visions of Sugar Plums: B&B and Country Inn Cookie Tour
2 – 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15 and Sunday, Dec. 16. Cost: $12 for Adults, $5 Children 5-16 years, Free for under 5.
Tour inns in the Black Mountain area and receive a unique, home-baked cookie with recipe at each inn visited.
Details here or call (828) 669-2300

Movie party and decorating Christmas cookies
4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18.
Asheville Stay At Home Moms’ Playgroup on meetup.com is hosting this activity.
For ages 3 and older.
For details, join the playgroup here. 

Make a gingerbread house
2 – 3:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20. Cost: $8 non-members, $2 for members.
Gingerbread house workshop for kids ages 8 and older (younger children may attend if accompanied by an adult).
Hands-On! A Child’s Gallery, N. Main St #3, Hendersonville.
Register at (828) 697-8333. Details here.

Workshop: Christmas Cookie Decorating
2 – 4 p.m.  Saturday, Dec. 21. Price: $35.
Sneak some last-minute shopping for stocking stuffers in while Chef Heather teaches kids the fine art of Christmas cookie decorating. Ages 8 and up.
Dough, 372 Merrimon Ave., Asheville.
Register here or call (828) 975-9444.

Decorate gingerbread cookies 
10 a.m. – noon.; 2 – 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 23.  Cost: $8 Non-members, $2 for
members. 
Drop-in to adorn organic gingerbread cookies provided by the Hendersonville Community Co-Op.
Hands-On! A Child’s Gallery, N. Main St. #3, Hendersonville.
Details here.

Christmas at Connemara
10:30 a.m. – noon Saturdays Dec. 7 – 28 Cost: Free. 
Enjoy piping hot cider and Christmas cookies while enjoying the traditional holiday storytelling and sing-alongs of Carl Sandburg’s family home.
81 Carl Sandburg Ln, Flat Rock.
Details here.

Asheville City Market’s Holiday Market
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.  Saturdays Dec. 7 – Dec. 21. Cost: Free
Come enjoy a smorgasbord of local delicacies and holiday treats.
161 S. Charlotte St., Asheville
Details here.

Holiday Bazaar
Noon – 4 p.m.  Saturdays Dec. 7 – Dec. 21. Cost: Free.
Bring the family out to explore tasty selections from local famers and artisans.
UNC-Asheville Campus. Founders Dr, Asheville.
Details here.

 

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