New Year’s as a holiday is a little polarizing – while I know lots of people who love other holidays more, I personally count New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day as my favorite holidays. There’s something so refreshing about getting an opportunity for a new start in the middle of our everyday lives. The key to celebrating New Year’s in Asheville is to figure out what matters to you about this holiday and focus on that! 

The reactions to New Year’s are varied, from staying at home, cozy with family, and waking up early to go run the downtown Resolution Run, over to the glitzy parties, fun concerts, and excitement of staying up late and counting down to the new year complete with a kiss. 

Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Asheville, and you can find all of these options. Here are some ways to make this holiday special for you while celebrating in a way that is unique to Asheville.

Don’t forget to check out our web story: The 13 Best Ways to Celebrate New Year’s in Asheville

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New Year’s Eve Concerts in Asheville

In a city that recently launched its own huge music festival in the fall and which has many spots for listening to great live shows, a concert is a wonderful way to ring in the new year in Asheville. 

Here are just a couple coming up as we ring in 2024 – the same venues are likely to book concerts for NYE in future years, so check them out if you’re reading in anticipation of a future New Year’s Eve.

1. Experience Soulful Tunes with the Asheville Symphony

This year, celebrate with the Asheville Symphony’s salute titled “She’s Got Soul” in the main arena of the Harrah’s Cherokee Center. Pieces by Whitney Houston, Gladys Knight, Adele, and Chaka Khan will all electrify the audience, voiced by vocalist Capathia Jenkins. 

You’ll hear classics of soul with great depth from the excellent Asheville Symphony’s many talented musicians. The concert is at 8 pm, leaving you time to get an early dinner first at a downtown restaurant and to grab a midnight nightcap after the show. 

Location: 87 Haywood Street, Asheville.

2. See The Infamous Stringdusters at The Orange Peel

For excellent mountain music with an acoustic/bluegrass bent, you’ll be hard-pressed to find better than The Infamous Stringdusters. Calling themselves “Jamgrass,” you’ll find the iconic Orange Peel a great place to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Asheville with peppy music and great vibes all around. 

I love the hometown feel of this music venue, plus the benefit of a fairly large but still indoor theater on a chilly NYE is high. Grab a local brew at The Orange Peel’s bar and dance the evening away with friends and strangers alike! 

Location: 101 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville.

3. Eat Great and Party on at The Grey Eagle

Between a top-notch taqueria, a fun bar area, and plenty of space for a jammin’ good time, The Grey Eagle is a favorite venue in town. Now, you can do your New Year’s Eve the Grey Eagle way with the Blue Rags show.

This is a revivalist, ragtime boogie-woogie band, bringing both modern fun and an old-timey homage and mystique to their shows. They were an influence on popular artists like the Avett Brothers (who I once saw on New Year’s Eve, which was a great show!) and Old Crow Medicine Show. Cut a rug till midnight with this exciting standing-room-only show. 

Location: 185 Clingman Ave, Asheville.

New Year’s Eve Parties in Asheville

While going to a concert is an appropriately Asheville way to celebrate, maybe what you want is glamour, glitter, or just a rousing good time. Where can you find the party in Asheville? While most bars and restaurants will have some kind of NYE festivity, here are some of the standout parties planned for NYE welcoming 2024. 

4. Make a Weekend of It at the Grove Park Inn

I’m a big fan of New Year’s Eve, but even I don’t usually live it up the way you can live it up at the Omni Grove Park Inn if you join in on their elegant and busy weekend. Start with a comedy show on the night of the 30th – that’s right, this party starts more than 24 hours before 2024 does! 

Enjoy all that the Inn has to offer, from cozy spaces to explore, shopping on-site, magnificent views, and the sumptuous spa, then meet up for the cocktail hour and Heritage plated dinner in the Heritage Ballroom. 

Afterward, an after-party called Casablanca at Grove Park will feature a live band, a special silent DJ area, and a toast at midnight, as you’d expect. In the morning, treat yourself to the incredible Blue Ridge breakfast buffet. Come see what all the hype is about at one of the most beautiful and historic places to celebrate New Year’s in Asheville.  

Location: 290 Macon Ave, Asheville.

5. Spend New Year’s Eve at the Inn at Biltmore Estate

While tickets often sell out quickly, spending New Year’s Eve at the opulent Inn at Biltmore Estate is a great experience. Not only do you have access to the largest private residence in the United States on the days you visit and buy a pass, but the Inn itself throws quite the shindig for the holiday. 

A four-course New Year’s Eve dinner starts the fun, and then party favors, midnight fireworks, and a toast at midnight all make the day extra sweet and special. When you wake up in the Inn on New Year’s Day, you can take advantage of spa and wellness offerings themed around “New Year, New You” to continue the luxury with some pampering.

Location: 1 Antler Hill Road, Asheville.

6. Masquerade at the Observatory’s Rooftop Party

Ever since The Restoration hotel began construction in the heart of downtown Asheville across from Pritchard Park, I’ve been impressed by its beauty and versatility. 

Their rooftop bar, The Observatory, has a classy selection of botanical-inspired drinks and small plates inspired by the natural world around Asheville, with floor-to-ceiling windows to let in all the panoramic views you could want, as well as lush plants all around the space. 

Their first-ever New Year’s Eve party promises to be exciting with their masquerade theme – dress up, wear a mask, enjoy the full band and passed hors d’oeuvres, and sip a glass of bubbly with your besties at midnight. If you want the most Instagrammable New Year’s Eve, or just a totally memorable night out, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better backdrop!

Location: 68 Patton Ave, Asheville.

7. Celebrate a Foodie New Year at the Red Stag Grill

Known for truly extraordinary European-inspired dishes with a signature Appalachia twist, Red Stag Grill is the restaurant of the Grand Bohemian Hotel, an imposing structure near Biltmore Estate that you’re sure to recognize if you’ve ever driven through the Biltmore Village area. 

If you and yours are more interested in remembering great food and conversation rather than staying up to midnight, the ticketed five-course dinner at the Red Stag Grill might be the right fit. You can still dress up and toast with the included glass of champagne, but the stories you’ll remember will be from the many flavorful dishes you shared together. 

Location: 11 Boston Way, Asheville.

8. Don’t Pay a Cover at the Banks Avenue NYE Party

Banks Avenue is a tried-and-true bar in South Slope. It’s focused on a good time, from pool to a full bar, a friendly and social crowd, and excellent service. People come here on quiet nights for corn hole, darts, and hanging out on the patio. 

However, they also have the no-cover New Year’s Eve Party, which is particularly good if you’re not looking to pay a steep ticket price and instead want to tip your bartender as you enjoy your evening with friends. While it’s likely to be a bit crowded on such a big day, the regulars swear by this as a good spot to have fun and enjoy dancing with a crowd that skews both local and tourist. 

Location: 32 Banks Ave Unit 101, Asheville

Less Traditional New Year’s Celebrations in Asheville

While official, ticketed events are great, many come with a substantial price tag or are just not everyone’s cup of tea. One of the nice things about a holiday that doesn’t have a specific, standard way to celebrate it is that you can start your own tradition. Make New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day your own in Asheville!

9. Go for a NYE or New Year’s Day Hike

Often, it can be hard to reflect on the big picture and find the goals you care about most in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Getting out of the city to Pisgah National Forest, DuPont State Forest, or any of the many hikes on the Blue Ridge Parkway is a great way to re-center your mind and think about your plans for the coming year. 

If there’s anything you want to leave behind in 2023, a cleansing hike up a trail can be just the way to commemorate a new beginning. 

10. Get Late-Night Eats and Live Music

Many restaurants won’t announce a big ticketed event but instead will have a New Year’s Eve special, some live music, or an extended night so you can drink bubbly at midnight among the regulars. 

These events are often not announced until right before they happen, so follow your favorite restaurants on Facebook or Instagram to get notified when they set the schedule. This can be a more affordable option while still bringing some notable celebration to the experience of NYE in Asheville.

11. Walk Through the Winter Lights at the Arboretum

With over a million lights designed in fanciful shapes to decorate the NC Arboretum, this open-air walk-through light show is a highlight of the holiday season in Asheville. It also shuts down on January 1st, so it’s a great kid-friendly option for making a New Year’s Eve memory. 

Ticketing is based on how in-demand the date is as well as how large your vehicle is, so consider how you can fill your vehicle to the brim with excited attendees and buy tickets online for a discount – members also receive a discount! Enjoying how this display sets the arboretum apart at night is one of my favorite holiday activities in Asheville. 

Location: 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville.

New Year’s Day in Asheville

The national pastime of New Year’s Day tends to be a bit more relaxed, sleeping in after a late night and maybe spending time with family, but you can make your own traditions. While many places close shop for the New Year’s holiday, consider joining in with one of a few special New Year’s Day events in Asheville.   

12. Start With Resolve at the Resolution Run 5K and 10K

You might initially think, “Planning to run a race outside on the first day of the year? No thanks!” but having tried the Resolution Run last year, I recommend you at least consider it – especially if you love running anyway, but honestly even if you are a bit of a doubter. I found that signing up for the Resolution Run before the holiday season got into gear was just a little extra kick in the pants to get to the gym, even when life got busy with festivities. 

Not only is there a real energy to this run, but the weather in Asheville has a good enough chance of being mild that you might not even be ultra-cold (I say that now, and we’ll definitely get a blizzard, but the numbers don’t lie – on average, Asheville winters are mild!). 

Make it a memorable day by starting it with accomplishing your first goal of getting across the finish line. The event starts in Pack Square, where you can also cheer on runners if you aren’t interested in personally participating.

Location: 80 Court Plaza, Asheville.

13. Make Intentions Clear at the Ring in Love Event 

While many yoga centers around the city may choose to have events that are focused on the start of the New Year, and many other fitness centers launch a major initiative for those who are working to get into shape for the new year, one event that is happening on the first day of 2024 at Asheville Yoga Center is called Ring in Love.

This event is a combination event that offers yoga, live music, mantra, and meditation as a way to center yourself and get ready for the new year’s needs with intention. If the wisdom of the yoga tradition speaks to you, signing up for this event could be a great way to start your year off right! 

Location: 211 S Liberty Street, Asheville.

There you have it. Our picks for the best ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Asheville. What’s your favorite way to spend New Year’s in Asheville? Let us know in the comments below.

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