News

Raising of Fraser fir signals opening of Christmas at Biltmore

By Lightning Reports, Published: November 7, 2020

Days before Christmas at Biltmore begins, estate employees collaborated this morning to welcome a 35-foot tall Fraser fir tree into Biltmore House, where it will reside in the Banquet Hall as the estate’s grand holiday centerpiece.

The ceremonial arrival and raising of this Christmas tree is one of the most beloved Biltmore holiday traditions, attracting visitors to the home’s front lawn to see it make its way up to Biltmore House on a horse-drawn carriage. Because of Biltmore’s commitment to the health and safety of its guests and employees, the tree-raising event took place without the usual onlookers and fanfare. However, a small crew was on hand to capture video of this morning’s activity, which will be offered as part of Christmas at Biltmore: Virtual Tree Raising.

Christmas at Biltmore: Virtual Tree Raising is a short documentary featuring an insider’s look at how the massive Christmas tree comes to life. Highlights include stories from the people who create the magic of Christmas at Biltmore, and the months-long planning and preparation that takes place for the holiday season.

Christmas at Biltmore: Virtual Tree Raising will debut online today at 5 p.m. EST on Biltmore’s Facebook and YouTube channels. The virtual event is free for viewers to watch from the comfort of their own homes. The video will remain on these social media channels for future viewing after today’s premiere.

Visit information
Christmas at Biltmore and Candlelight Christmas Evenings will be held from Nov. 6, 2020, through Jan. 10, 2021. To plan a visit to see the Banquet Hall Christmas tree and to experience estate-wide holiday happenings, click here for visit information, including reservations, overnight accommodations, dining and more.

Understanding that holiday travel is different this year, the health and safety of our guests and employees remains top priority. Biltmore is following CDC guidelines and the state of North Carolina’s recommendations for preventing the spread of COVID-19. This includes limited capacity of guests inside Biltmore House and other buildings, reservations for house tours, and mandatory face coverings. For complete information on the estate’s safety protocols, please click here.

About Biltmore
Located in Asheville, N.C., Biltmore was the vision of George W. Vanderbilt. Designed by Richard Morris Hunt, America’s largest home is a 250-room French Renaissance chateau, exhibiting the V