Christmas in July

Tucked away in a world of its own, Ashe County and the town of West Jefferson, NC will be celebrating again this year, “Christmas in July”.

The event began twenty-four years ago and continues to be an annual fun filled event in downtown West Jefferson. People from far and near look forward to this annual event.

It is a time that everyone comes together and visits with friends whom they haven’t seen since the previous year. Many Ashe County natives choose this time to come home and enjoy the festivities with their families.

It is an exciting event enjoyed by both the local people and the thousands of visitors who come to spend the day in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

The first festival in 1987 was sponsored by the Ashe County Christmas Tree Growers Association to promote Ashe County Christmas trees. Over the years, the event has become more diversified but still focuses on the tree industry.

When is This Event?

The festivities will begin on Friday evening, July 2 at 7 p.m. with music, food vendors and a street dance. It will re-open at 9 a.m. Saturday morning, July 3 and will continue until 8 p.m. Saturday evening. The Backstreet in West Jefferson will be the location for the booths and food vendors. The Pocket Park will be available for picnicking.

There will be mountain folk art, pottery, jewelry and almost anything imagnabile found in vendors booths. The tree growers will give a demonstration on growing Christmas trees. There will be activities for the children, and the merchants of West Jefferson will offer their best goods. It is a time for relaxing and having fun.

Traditional Blue Ridge Mountain Music

If you love mountain music, you will find both local and regional entertainers bringing some of the best of Appalachia Mountain Music to be found.

The ballad and folk singers will perform by singing treasured melodies of the mountains handed down through generations along with traditional old time blue grass with banjo and fiddle players and others stringed instruments.

It is a time to celebrate Appalachia music; it is our mountain heritage.

West Jefferson Town Park

West Jefferson Park will host the re-enactment of a civil war camp and the Battle of Boone will be re-enact by members of the Washington Rifles of 1st, Virginia Cavallry Company D from Abingdon, Virginia. There will also be music along with telling the history of that period.

The Land of Christmas Trees

Ashe County, is North Carolina’s largest producer of Christmas trees and is second in the nation in production.

Ashe County offers a wide variety of different species of Christmas trees, but due to the Fraser Firs strong boughs, long needle retention and the fragrance, the Fraser Fir is the most desirable. Ashe County has the perfect enviroment for growing the Fraser Fir.

Video of Past Christmas in July

There is a short segment in this video showing downtown West Jefferson during last year’s “Christmas in July”.

This video of Ashe County, including West Jefferson and “Christmas in July” was produced by Ashe High Country Realty for the enjoyment of those who enjoy the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

Come join us for the weekend. It will be fun!

Ashe High Country Realty Team

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