Starting in November, the Biltmore Estate begins preparing for the holiday season. The raising of a huge Christmas tree in the Grand Hall is a newsworthy event, and leads the local news that day every year. There is not a lot of decorating on the outside of the mansion, just some tiny lights in the potted trees and wreaths around the necks of the guardian lions. There was a huge, 55-foot tree on the lawn, that is lit at night. Inside are 67 Christmas trees from full size to tiny tabletop trees, decorated with 45,000 lights. We were able to see it in January this past season, snagging tickets on the last day. I saved the photos for you until now, so let’s look at some of the wonderful decorations for the holiday season.
In the atrium, garlands of greenery with tiny white lights adorn the hanging lights. Potted poinsettias add color to potted evergreen trees and lanterns.
This dining room has a plum color theme to match the walls and upholstery, with frosted faux plums in the fireplace garland and floral centerpiece. White candles on the dining table are surrounded with fresh greenery. The place settings are all white, with little wrapped gifts at each one.
In this sitting area, a golden tree with red bows complements the blue colors in the room. In the window lined hallway behind, you can make out swags of greenery on the tops of the windows accented with red bows. Wrapped gifts in gold paper with red bows are set here and there, waiting for someone to open.
Stunning glass ornaments in red and long, clear glass icicles adorn another tree.
In the Tapestry Gallery, the trees are adorned in gold and blue, with a large blue bow on the top. The sconces on the walls also have blue bows.
This fireplace was blazing with a fire, welcome on a cold day. Festooned with garland and pine cones, it has a rustic feel.
In the library, garlands of greenery with red bows are swagged across the railings on the upper balcony. The large tree is covered in lights and interesting tinsel-like decorations.
More of those are on the fireplace corners with red bows. A warm and inviting fire was in this room as well.
I take pictures of this fireplace in the red bedroom every time I go to the estate. I am just enamored with the hand painted, red rose tiles. Green garland with burgundy bows is draped over the top, while the mantle has small red floral arrangements. The tree is mostly burgundy and pink, crowded with ornaments.
The Grand Staircase had a very tall tree, reaching almost to the greenery draped chandelier accented with red bows.
Ornaments had a theme of time, with tiny clocks and watches, and likely over 1000 white lights.
Going down to the kitchens, there was a delightful surprise. The Biltmore House was recreated in gingerbread. The detail was amazing, with tiny wreaths on the windows, and the suggestion of snow on the roofs.
Close up, the architectural details are amazing.
Saving the best for last, the largest tree in the Grand Hall is 35-feet tall, with literally thousands of lights and huge ornaments. It takes 40-50 people to get it inside, and they tie it up in an oval shape to get it through the doors.
The tree has 500 ornaments and 500 LED Edison bulb-style electric lights. We were in the lucky time slot where the organist was playing the amazing pipe organ, and enjoyed classical holiday music while we admired the decorations.
This green ornament is at least 2 feet in length. The huge red ball behind it was the size of a soccer ball.
The period correct toys and games from the early 1900s at the base were just wonderful, sitting unwrapped like Santa just left them the night before.
An old timey horse on wheels sits near a vintage drum with toy soldiers.
Another vintage horse pulls a wicker carriage full of dolls. The child size bicycle has the large front wheel of an early design.
A sweet doll with a carrying suitcase sits among a wooden train set and a pull toy.
The decorations are amazing, and if you ever have a chance to come to Asheville during the holidays, this tour is a holiday treat. I hope you enjoyed the tour!
Are there special holiday home tours where you live?
From My Carolina Home 
Great photos, Carole. We visited Biltmore the first of December a few years ago and had a night tour which was wonderful. We had been before during the summer and enjoyed the gardens!
Perfectìon!..I so enjoyed my visit years ago..What amazed me was I could actually see myself living there..It is grand but livable.
This is a great treat, Christmas in July for sure. I enjoyed last year’s Hallmark Christmas movie at the Biltmore but wished I could have seen the decorations up close & now you made it possible! We have Christmas markets & house tours. Some tours have tree decorating contests & you can bid on the tree to win all the ornaments. There are also gingerbread house competitions, again with a bid to win feature. 2nd half of the year already, won’t be long before this all happens again.
Oh my! I’ve been to Biltmore House once — and not at Christmas. Oh, what I missed! This is beyond fabulous — you know I’m a Christmas nut. I think I would be both over the moon and possibly apopleptic with all the beauty. The details — the color schemes, the thoroughness of the decor and design would be fabulous. Your photos tell the story well and I’m sure you had a hard time picking which to choose. (I love that fireplace, too!) Wow — thanks for this one!
your pictures were beautiful and the comments really brought the pictures to life. We visited the Biltmore several years ago with friends and noticed how it had changed from the time we visited it when they were restoring the pipe organ. My husband is an old engine collector and we got to visit the basement area where the engine was that ran the generator that provided electricity for the estate.
Thanks for the inside tour of the Biltmore mansion. I will be making my first visit in December on a bus tour from Florida with a group of friends. So excited! The Chilhully display will be an extra plus for sure.
Beautiful pictures!
“hand painted, red rose tiles. Green garland” – I feel a quilt coming out of this! I’m GOBSMACKED. The entire tour was so amazing!!!! Thank you for sharing this! We do have a neighboring town that has a “house walk” Nothing this grand, but still so lovely to see! I’ll go back to the photos many times I’m sure – so much to see! Thank you!!!!!
What an amazing place, Carole! The Christmas decorations are over the top. 67 trees – I can’t imagine! We’ve enjoyed holiday historical home tours in a couple different places. One of my favorites was the Buffalo Bill Cody ranch in North Platte, Nebraska, where are our son lives. They had done a great job decorating it for Christmas!
Wowed by the decorations! I’ve never seen ornaments scaled up in size like the 2 foot long ornament! The pictures are jaw dropping. Such opulent decorations!
One of the municipalities in our county has Christmas vignettes done in lights. Some are 2 stories high. They are spectacular. A local casino has a gingerbread village with 3 foot high buildings and it smells so good!
Thanks for sharing your pictures and experience!
Jo Anne
Christmas at the Biltmore is a wonderful distraction from this sweltering heat. Thank You. That gingerbread house is fantastic. Thinking of Gingerbread houses, I think the Grove Park Inn has a gingerbread contest (display) during the Holidays. I have seen pics of a friend that was fortunate to attend. Both are on my bucket list.
What an amazing place! And so beautifully decorated in a gorgeous vintage way. The beautiful building looks so terribly British, thanks for sharing the photos, looking at them was a lovely start to my morning.
This really is a treat Carole, thank you for saving it until now!
I enjoyed your photos. We saw the Christmas decorations several times, and they are spectacular.
I love Biltmore at any and all times, but it is extra special/magic at Christmas! ❤
Another historic NC home that gets dolled up special for Christmas is the quirky and extremely unique Korner’s Folly in Kernersville – a tiny fraction of the size of Biltmore, it’s still a fun festive meander.
I have been to the Biltmore, in November just after they had finished decorating for Christmas. The pictures above don’t do it justice, but they do show how it is SO beautifully decorated with antique toys and period clothes it is definitely a place to visit.
Thank You for sharing The decorations are beautiful and just right. Love the toys under the tree.
Marilyn,Joan and Marion
Love it! I’ve visited the Biltmore, so I can just imagine it all from your photos. Thank you, Carole!!!
When my Dad passed away in 2010, Mom & I took a bus trip to the Biltmore in November. It was an amazing trip with various stops along the way — Nashville, Pigeon Forge, and more. I remember the carolers singing and offering hot chestnuts. I’d never tried them before. We loved this trip and also would heartily recommend it to anyone interested.
Thanks for the 2nd trip! Memory Lane is a great place to visit too. Lol!
Having seen Biltmore a couple of times now, I would love to come back at Christmas to see it. Wow!