Christmas in Chimney Rock Village: The Western NC spot will reopen — for one day only
Western North Carolina’s Chimney Rock Village, while still recovering from the catastrophic flooding and devastation of Hurricane Helene, will open to the public for a one-day holiday event that not only offers a day of joy and community engagement but also highlights the enduring spirit of the beloved riverside town as it rebuilds and revitalizes.
The Chimney Rock Christmas celebration will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 14, giving visitors the chance to see the progress that’s been made over the last few months. The event is sponsored by CityServe and Spokes of Hope — two of the many organizations that have helped rebuild the village.
“They’ve been up here organizing volunteers, collecting donations, helping rebuild businesses and homes, and now they want to bring a little bit of Christmas spirit to the village,” said longtime Chimney Rock Mayor Peter O’Leary, owner of Bubba O’Leary’s General Store. “We want to show the world that, while we’re nowhere near finished with this multi-year project, we’ve made some great progress and initial repairs. We are on the road to recovery.”
Chimney Rock Village: Photos with Santa, free food and more
Activities during the holiday celebration include pictures with Santa, Christmas music, free food and free items from newly renovated shops. The stores, O’Leary warns, won’t look like they have in the past. They’re still mostly gutted buildings with bare bone walls and floors as rebuilding continues.
Attendees should park at the Lake Lure beach area and take a shuttle into Chimney Rock Village. The road into the village remains blocked except for local traffic.
“As mayor, I’m so thankful to welcome people back to Chimney Rock,” O’Leary told CharlotteFive. “This event will give us hope and the strength to go forward. Old Chimney Rock is gone but the new Chimney Rock will rise again, and we are so excited about the potential.”
The holiday event also serves as a fundraiser to help with restoration efforts. For those looking to extend their support beyond the event, the nearby Tryon Equestrian Center remains open and includes vendors from Chimney Rock and other parts of Western North Carolina.
This story was originally published December 4, 2024 at 1:45 PM with the headline "Christmas in Chimney Rock Village: The Western NC spot will reopen — for one day only."
