Asheville Courthouse Christmas Tree. Photo by Zen.

Asheville is known for mild win­ters, snow-capped moun­tains and a cozy down­town full of hol­i­day tra­di­tion, but this year the sea­son will siz­zle with spec­ta­cle, sav­ings and chances to splurge. Below are some of the season’s best hol­i­day events and travel deals for 2009:

Asheville Seasonal Sizzle: 19 Days of Not-So-Silent Nights

Holiday magic will lit­er­ally be in the air as the night sky over Asheville sparkles dur­ing Seasonal Sizzle. Firework dis­plays chore­o­graphed to Christmas music favorites will light up the night on Saturdays at 7 p.m. in December. Downtown streets will hum with car­ol­ers, rov­ing per­form­ers and hol­i­day shop­pers. Local restau­rants will offer “Sizzle Specials,” get­ting guests in and out in time for the fire­works. Shops and gal­leries will stay open late, offer­ing a fes­tive occa­sion to browse decked-out win­dow dis­plays, art gal­leries and Asheville’s whim­si­cal bou­tiques. The lively atmos­phere will go well into the evening — visit AshevilleSeasonalSizzle.com for event info and details about Sizzle after-parties.

• Seasonal Sizzle Firework Dates: Dec. 5, 12, 19 at 7 p.m. — Free
• Holiday Travel Deal:‘Tis the Season-al Sizzle Package — Weekend pack­age includes two nights at his­toric Grove Park Inn, a $50 gift card, twi­light spa passes and appe­tiz­ers at Magnolia Lounge. Watch the fire­works from Sunset Terrace and enjoy the National Gingerbread Competition Display.
• AshevilleSeasonalSizzle.com — hol­i­day events, travel pack­ages, sea­sonal recipes and shop­ping guides

More Top Holiday Events:

• Santa on the Chimney: To ready him­self for clam­ber­ing down chim­neys across the world, Santa will prac­tice on 315-foot Chimney Rock. Dates: Dec. 5 & Dec. 12 from 11 a.m. — 2 p.m.Free with park admission
• Warren Haynes Christmas Jam: Rock leg­end Warren Haynes returns to his home­town bring­ing along his friends for the 21st annual Warren Haynes Xmas Jam fea­tur­ing Counting Crows, Ani DiFranco and Gov’t Mule. Date: Dec. 12
• National Gingerbread House Competition & Display: Culinary con­tes­tants from across the coun­try will bring their edi­ble mas­ter­pieces to The Grove Park Inn this hol­i­day sea­son. Check out the new behind-the-scenes gin­ger­bread tour. Dates: Nov. 18, 2009 to Jan. 3, 2010. Free
• New! Legendary Inns Gingerbread Tour: Take a hol­i­day trol­ley tour to four of Asheville’s his­toric bed & break­fast inns clas­si­cally dec­o­rated and fea­tur­ing an elab­o­rate gin­ger­bread scene from ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. Dates: Saturdays, Nov. 7, 2009 — Jan. 2, 2010 at 5 p.m.
• Singing Santa & Asheville Holiday Parade: Grammy Award win­ner David Holt and Appalachian songstress Laura Boosinger will pre­side over the Asheville Holiday Parade. Always a favorite, Singing Santa croons from atop his float as it winds through his­toric down­town. Date: Nov. 21 at 11 a.m. Free
• Christmas at Biltmore: Holidays arrive at America’s largest home in style. This year, Christmas at Biltmore promises more than 40 Christmas trees, miles of rib­bon, gar­land, lights and hol­i­day music. Dates: Nov. 6, 2009 to Jan. 2, 2010

Photo by Zen

Related posts:

1. Top 10 Holiday Outings in Asheville, North Carolina for 2009
2. Visit the Biltmore Estate and Learn How to Create Your Own Biltmore Christmas at Home
3. Unwrap the Holiday Spirit in Chattanooga, Tennessee
4. Ohio’s 10 Largest Christmas Lights Displays
5. Southwest Airlines Launches Fare Sale