Answer Woman: Will Biltmore's Christmas tree-raising ceremony reopen to pass holders?

ASHEVILLE - A reader makes a holiday wish for the tree-raising ceremony at Biltmore House to reopen to pass holders. Got a question for Answer Man or Answer Woman? Email Executive Editor Karen Chávez at KChavez@citizentimes.com, and your question could appear in an upcoming column.

Question: In past years (pre-pandemic) the Biltmore tree raising was open to pass holders. We would gather on the front lawn of the House and enjoy a local marching band and the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus, along with the tree being unloaded and brought into the House. Will that tradition ever return to Biltmore? So many fond memories of ‘kicking off’ the holiday season with the tree raising.

Answer: Hold on to those memories because there are no plans to make the tree-raising ceremony public again. At least, not right now.

Every year, Biltmore revives a tradition that dates to the first Christmas celebrated by famed entrepreneur George Vanderbilt at Biltmore House.

A 35-foot-tall Christmas tree is chopped down in Western North Carolina and transported to the estate to become the grand centerpiece in the Banquet Hall for the Christmas at Biltmore series that involves decorating the 250-room landmark home with holiday decorations and hosting special, themed tours.

It’s the most popular tourism season for Biltmore, and the tree-raising kicks off the beginning of what some people (and songs) would call “the most wonderful time of the year.”

People come from near and far to see the decorations and lights that span across the estate, from the main gate to Antler Hill Village to Biltmore House.

While there are many things for day pass visitors and pass holders to experience, the actual event of bringing in and raising the tree is no longer one of them.

“We do not have immediate plans to bring back the in-person tree-raising event on the front lawn of Biltmore House,” Biltmore spokesperson Marissa Jamison said in an email.

This year, the tree-raising was on Nov. 1, which was open to Biltmore staff and media. Christmas at Biltmore officially kicked off for guests on Nov. 3.

“We invite media outlets to cover the raising of the tree in the Banquet Hall for the public. In place of the in-person event, we have been documenting the raising of the tree and other preparations that our team makes in order to put on Christmas at Biltmore,” Jamison said. “These mini-documentaries give those interested an even closer look, with glimpses behind the scenes and stories about the people who make tree raising day and Christmas at Biltmore possible.”

Watch “Behind the Magic” on Biltmore’s YouTube channel, youtube.com/c/biltmore.

“We do understand that attending tree raising day in person had become a beloved tradition for many,” Jamison said. “We value this feedback, and in-person opportunities will continue to be considered in our long-term planning.”

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Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow her on Instagram @PrincessOfPage. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Will Biltmore's Christmas tree-raising event reopen to pass holders?