Christmas at Biltmore…it’s here! #BiltmoreTreeRaising
The holiday season really is the most wonderful time of the year, and the folks at Biltmore Estate are keeping the holidays alive and well in 2014. On Wednesday, I had the opportunity to attend the tree raising for their main Christmas tree in the Banquet Hall of the massive home.
For those not familiar with Biltmore, it’s the largest private estate in America. George Vanderbilt built the Asheville home between 1889 and 1895 and it opened to the public in 1930.
I love the tree raising tradition at Biltmore. The 35-foot tall tree that is displayed in the Banquet Hall is pulled on horse-drawn carriage in front of the house, and a team of between 30 and 40 people use poles to lift the tree off the carriage and onto a cart that they then have to get through the massive (but seem small during this quest) doors. It’s truly a team effort.
This year, visitors will find 60 trees inside the Biltmore house. When was the last time you saw 60 Christmas trees in someone’s home?
The numbers:
135,000 – LED and mini lights around the Estate
30,000 – lights in the Biltmore House
15,000 – candles in the Biltmore House
500 – the number (each) of gift boxes, ornaments and lights (in the Edison bulb style this year) on the Banquet Hall Tree
360 fresh wreaths and sprays around the estate
130 – faux pieces around the estate
But this tree. This tree is massive. It’s 35-feet tall. (My artificial tree seems puny, clocking in at 7.5-feet tall in my living room.) While the crowds watched, you could hear the tree creak as workers pushed the tree through the doorway. It took two tries to pull it up this year. Crowds cheered as it was pulled into place (and they managed to miss hitting the chandelier – a job I definitely don’t want to be responsible for!)
A lot of work goes into Christmas at Biltmore. It really is a magical time of the year. Could you imagine being a child in this 250-room home? And to think that George Vanderbilt originally built this house to be a country home.
I’ve done the candlelight tour, and toured the house several times at Christmastime – and I never get tired of the tours. I love this time of year, and how Biltmore celebrates and continues holiday traditions.
Christmas at Biltmore begins today and runs through January 3, 2015. I did attend the Christmas tree raising event earlier this week, but have not been compensated for this post. All opinions are my own.
Be sure to check back next week. I am joining forces with Susanna to bring you a pretty cool giveaway.
I would absolutely LOVE to experience the Biltmore Estate at Christmas time some day. It looks gorgeous.
So exciting Jaime! It looks like you guys had a great time!
I honestly just squealed! Hooray! & love your pictures.
OMGOOOOOOOOOODNESSSSSSSSSSSSSS that would be an amazing experience!!! How very cool.
I would love to see this display in person. The Biltmore at Christmas sounds like my kind of place. I enjoy decorating, but not to this degree.
What an awesome place to visit!! I love the horses!
I just drove by the Biltmore exit today and wanted to stop so badly and visit. Now I’m really disappointed I didn’t squeeze in a visit to today’s travel time.
Wow! That would be incredible to see. I love Christmas, LOVE it. So this is something I would love and cherish!
I’m so NOT ready for Christmas. No. No. No.
BUT these pictures make me happy. I’ve yet to get to the Biltmore estate. Someday.
Maybe with the fam. Next fall. Or something!
I was there a few months ago, but I would just love to go at Christmas. I can only imagine how spectacular it must be!
Great photos of Biltmore! I can’t wait to visit in the future!
That is an awesome thing to watch. Love the pics.
I have always ALWAYS wanted to visit Biltmore at Christmas. It is so beautiful.
This is lovely, what a beautiful and HUGE tree. I Love Christmas so much and seeing lights, trees, just the smell of Christmas makes me smile. Yet, I do not like snow. The cold. Or anything else associated with Christmas, so weird!
That is one huge tree. It will look so pretty when it is all decorated and lit up. I would love to go and take a tour of Biltmore.
That would be fun to watch the tree raising. So not ready for the holidays though.
Wow, that looks amazing! I would love to be able to tour that place. Maybe someday.
I would love to be there for this! I still haven’t made it to the Biltmore!
I have never seen 60 Christmas trees in any one place except a Christmas Tree Farm. It sounds very nice!
Definitely looks like such a fun way to start the season. MY kids would have loved seeing this!
My family and I watched a Christmas special on Netflix last year and it included the Biltmore Estate. We began discussing how one of these years we needed to take a family vacation and see it.
I visited the Biltmore once and I loved it so much. I had just started to walk again and walking from the parking lot to the gardens was all I got to do. I tried to make it through the house and realized I’d have to try again. I’m definitely ready to go back. It was so beautiful.
The Biltmore isn’t that far from us here in GA, but we have never been. I need to remedy that, since it looks so beautiful in all the photos I have ever seen – including these!!
What a beautiful event! I would love to watch a tree lighting or Christmas event. I’m so ready!