Craft Arts Entertainment and Music Events

Celebrate an Appalachian Christmas at Lake Junaluska

Christmas at Lake Junaluska

The Cockman Family

Lake Junaluska’s 16th annual Appalachian Christmas, featuring a craft fair and concerts, will take place Friday, December 9, and Saturday, December 10. The event will be held at the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center.

“We strive to make this an authentically Appalachian event,” says Jack Ewing, Lake Junaluska’s executive director, “and each year we try to keep beloved traditions alive while mixing in new elements.”

The celebration will begin Friday at 7:30 p.m. with Handel’s Messiah, performed by a regional choir and orchestra. Soloists will include the Metropolitan Opera’s Joyce Guyer, Appalachian State professor Mary Gayle Greene, voice teacher Randall Outland and vocalist Ed Davis. They will be accompanied by strings, trumpet, organ and chorus, with participation expected from members of Haywood Community Chorus, Givens Estates and area church choirs.

On Saturday, December 10, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., visitors can purchase crafts made by local artisans, including pottery, natural soaps, jewelry and stained glass. The Cockman Family, known for their bluegrass-gospel sound, will play a matinee concert at 2 p.m. The show will feature Christmas classics, the group’s own original Christmas songs and traditional mountain tunes.

“We’ve participated in Lake Junaluska’s Appalachian Christmas since 1998,” says John Cockman, the group’s leader, and father and grandfather of the band members. “It has become the highlight of our year and a beautiful family tradition.”

At 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, multi-platinum country-gospel group Point of Grace will perform a special Christmas concert. The group, known for its vocal range and inspiring melodies, has two Grammy nominations and 13 Dove awards.

Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center is located at 91 North Lakeshore Drive, in Waynesville. Lodging packages, including meals, tickets to all three concerts and two tickets to Christmas at Biltmore, are available. Individual concert tickets are $18. Learn more or purchase packages and concert tickets at lakejunaluska.com/christmas or by calling 800.222.4930.

Leave a Comment