There’s no place like the Swannanoa Valley for the Holidays
Deck the Trees, Holly Jolly, the Black Mountain Christmas Parade and more will get you in the spirit
Fred McCormick
Columnist
The Valley Echo
November 29, 2022
Santa Claus is coming to town twice this weekend, when he will attend Holly Jolly in downtown Black Mountain on Dec. 2 before participating in the Black Mountain Christmas Parade on Dec. 3. Photo by Fred McCormick
It’s quite possible the ubiquity of Perry Como’s 1954 classic, “(There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays” has caused the lyrics to kind of get lost among the random thoughts bouncing around my head at any given time. But the brain is funny, and for some reason they came sharply into focus in the strangest way on Sunday, as I was stuck in standstill traffic with my family on I-26 in the last few hours of a long drive back from my native state of Florida.
I couldn’t help but think, “gee, the traffic really IS terrific, Perry.”
My frustration kept me from fully appreciating the humor at the time, but I started thinking about the rest of the song, and realized it’s downright prescient for this weekend in the Swannanoa Valley.
The tune, which was written by Al Stillman, composed by Robert Allen and recorded by Como, Ray Charles, Garth Brooks, Cyndi Lauper and Norah Jones and even the Muppets, concludes that you can’t beat home sweet home for the Holiday Season, and some upcoming local traditions truly demonstrate why it remains relatable today. Some might even say the Holiday Season brings out the best of the Valley, and it would be hard to disagree.
One of my personal favorite ways to get into the spirit kicks off, Friday, Dec. 2, when Deck the Trees returns for its 12th year. The annual fundraiser, which supports the Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry Fuel Fund, not only brings dozens of creatively inspired trees to the community, it helps keep families in our community warm throughout the cold winter months.
Forty-one Swannanoa Valley businesses and organizations are participating in 2022, with 21 trees being displayed in the historic Monte Vista Hotel and 20 at locations around town. Participants can vote for their favorite entries by donating a dollar to the Fuel Fund, and are encouraged to vote as often as they wish. The trees will remain on display through Tuesday, Jan. 3.
Organized by a committee of dedicated volunteers, Deck the Trees has raised around $200,000 for the nonprofit organization’s heating assistance fund since its 2011 debut. I was fortunate enough to attend a few of the group’s meetings this year, and it’s obvious that their collective energy and enthusiasm for this project have established a tradition that the Valley should be proud of.
Deck the Trees, an annual fundraiser that has collected nearly $200,000 for the Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry Fuel Fund since 2011, returns to the Monte Vista Hotel for its 12th year on Dec. 2. The historic hotel will host 21 trees, decorated by local businesses and organizations, while 20 additional trees will be on display throughout the community. Photo by Fred McCormick
Another annual celebration of the season returns to downtown Black Mountain this Friday at 5:15 p.m., when the Owen High School Warhorse Regiment marching band makes its way down Cherry Street to kick off Holly Jolly. Since its inception three decades ago, the evening of shopping and entertainment has served as a festive kickoff to the Holiday Season. Merchants host extended hours, allowing residents and visitors an opportunity to check items off their holiday shopping lists while supporting local businesses, and performances by the Excel Academy, Black Mountain Center for the Arts Dancers, Owen High School Dance Team and the Montreat College Cheer and Dance Team offer family-friendly fun.
If the kids can’t wait to let Santa know what they want for Christmas, they can find him at Holly Jolly, from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., on the west side of the Old Depot. As someone who has attended this event at least a dozen times, Holly Jolly has always reminded me of a real life Norman Rockwell painting. However, it’s interesting to note that on at least three separate occasions, I’ve heard random revelers comment that it reminds them of the fictional Stars Hollow in the long-running series, “The Gilmore Girls.” While I am personally unfamiliar with this reference, my wife and daughter have assured me it is a fitting one.
It’s not uncommon for people to leave Holly Jolly full of sweet treats, apple cider and holiday cheer, but make sure to leave room for a busy day of festive fun on Saturday, Dec. 3, beginning with Owen MIddle School’s 19th Annual Holiday Craft Fair, from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. More than 40 vendors will bring hand-crafted goods to the gym in Swannanoa, creating a one-stop shop for the Holidays. The event will also include baked goods, books and more.
Kilwin’s, which will feature two trees in the 2022 Deck the Trees, was among the winners of the annual fundraising contest a year ago. The tradition will return, Dec. 2, when 41 trees decorated by local businesses and organizations will be on display in the Swannanoa Valley. Photo by Fred McCormick
Back in Black Mountain, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., the Red House Studio will host its free “Create & Take” workshop for kids. Young artists will have access to supplies that allow them to design personalized cards for the Holidays, while shoppers can choose from gifts designed by local artists.
The culmination of merrymaking will cruise west along State Street, from Flat Creek to Cragmont Road, at 4 p.m., as the Black Mountain Christmas Parade returns to downtown. The Valley tradition, which became an annual event in 1972 and is presented by the Black Mountain Swannanoa Chamber of Commerce, will feature around 60 Holiday-themed entries with more than 1,000 participants.
The parade shares its theme — “Let Heaven & Nature Sing” — with Deck the Trees.
This year’s procession will be led by Grand Marshal Belvadene Joliff, a resident of Givens Highland Farms since 2015. The Breckenridge, Missouri native was born in 1921, and worked in an aircraft assembly plant, in a role symbolized by the cultural icon Rosie the Riveter during World War II.
"We are proud to honor someone who served in the war effort during WWII," Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sharon Tabor said of Joliff. "So few of the Greatest Generation remain, and we wanted to take this opportunity to provide Mrs. Joliff with a belated recognition for her efforts. She was born in the same era as Black Mountain's formative years, and 14 businesses in Black Mountain have been in operation for 100 or more years. Mrs. Joliff represents the generation that laid the foundation for our town and community."
The Black Mountain Christmas Parade will mark the culmination of a weekend filled with Holiday festivities in the Swannanoa Valley. The parade will take place on State Street, between Flat Creek and Cragmont Roads, at 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3. Photo by Fred McCormick
Following the grand marshal will be a pair of state champions representing Owen High School, as the Warhorse cross country and soccer teams celebrate their recent title runs in parade.
Once Santa Claus, who will be on the last float, comes to town, another local tradition will take place at Lake Tomahawk, where the Town of Black Mountain will host Circle of Lights, from 6 - 8 p.m. The free gathering, first held in 1985, will include sweet treats and warm drinks from Four Sisters Bakery, and luminaries surrounding the lake.
Capping the evening, at 7 p.m. in the Anderson Auditorium, Montreat College will host its annual Christmas Concert. The free event will feature a live orchestra of students and community members and include performances by Montreat students, alumni, faculty and staff. While there is no fee to attend the concert, donations supporting the local college’s music program will be accepted during the event.
We have great traditions in the Valley, and those are among the many things that make this place so special, but this particular weekend is always a favorite of mine. While visitors might see it as a wonderful way to take in the small town charm and Holiday spirit of the Swannanoa Valley, natives and longtime residents tend to see it as much more.
I believe it’s a time of year that our community shines a little brighter, and locals catch up with people they haven’t seen as much during the busy spring, summer and fall. To me, this season is always when we feel most like a small town, with friends and neighbors finding time to get together.
And while I used far more colorful adjectives than “terrific” to describe the traffic heading back to the mountains last weekend, Perry Como was right, there really is no place like home for the Holidays.