Closed Thanksgiving Day.

Things to do at Sky Top

Current Girls on the Run program participants DO NOT need to register for the 5K. Program registration includes entry into the 5K.

Please determine if you are running as a Running Buddy or a Community 5K member:

Running Buddy* Categories:

If you are an adult (over 16 years old) and are running with a GOTR girl (or team) to help guide and motivate her through the event select ‘Running Buddy’ 

(Ex: Parent running alongside GOTR girl participant. Family friend running alongside GOTR girl participant. Teacher running to support school’s GOTR team.)

If you are registering someone 15 years old or younger to run alongside a GOTR girl or team select ‘Jr. Running Buddy.’

(Ex. Younger sibling running alongside GOTR girl participant. Best friend running to support her friend participating in GOTR. GOTR alumni under 15 years old running to support their old GOTR team.)

*Note: Every GOTR Girl is required to have at least one registered Running Buddy (16 years or older) to run alongside her at the event. All Running Buddies must be invited/appointed by GOTR girl’s primary caretaker. All unfamiliar Running Buddies will be subjected to a background check.

Community Runners:

If you are a community member not attached to a specific GOTR girl or team select ‘Community 5K’. 

(Ex: Community member supporting GOTR Upstate SC with no relation to a particular GOTR girl.)

On exhibit Saturdays and Sundays from 12 – 4 p.m., Rocky Cove Railroad is a G-Scale (garden scale) model train that demonstrates the coming of trains to western North Carolina at the turn of the 20th century. The exhibit is located below the Grand Promenade. Please note, Rocky Cove Railroad will not operate in rainy or wet conditions.

We will be hosting a special event at the bookshop for Children’s Grief Awareness Day on Saturday, November 20th, at 2PM with 11-year-old author Seldon Peden. We will be discussing his book, The Good Mourning, which he wrote to help other children understand the process of grief while providing coping mechanisms. The author will be donating part of his book proceeds to the Foundation for Camp Hands of Hope.

The Good Mourning

by Seldon Peden II

• • •

The Good Mourning is a kid’s support guide for grief and mourning death. The book helps other boys and girls deal with the loss of a parent, grandparent, other close relative, or friend. The Good Mourning is an easily read book that helps children process, from a peer’s perspective, the broad range of emotions, thoughts, and pain experienced after the loss of a loved one. In a warm and conversational manner, the young author, whose mother died just before his 5th birthday, is supportive, uplifting, informative and transparent. This book was written by a kid who experienced loss and grief… for kid’s who are experiencing loss and grief. The Good Mourning is a conversation among peers that adults are welcomed into, as it is also for invaluable to any adult who raises, cares for, or loves a child in grief and mourning. It is age-appropriate, understandable, relatable, and applicable. More importantly, it equips its readers with tools to help them take control of how they mourn. This book helps children grieving the death of a parent, grandparent, or other loved one, understand more, process better, become stronger, and Get to Their Good Mourning!

Seldon Peden, II is a 5th grader at A.J. Whittenberg Elementary School in Greenville, SC. He is an honor roll student, 3-sport athlete, and avid history buff. Seldon’s mother passed away when he was 4 years old. However, he continues to overcome, and has established himself a leader among his peers. He has received the United States Congressional “I’m An Achiever” Award, as well as other academic and leadership awards from his school. Seldon is also a leader in his school’s Grief Group, made up of students who’ve lost a parent or close family member. Seldon is an outgoing, fun-spirited pre-teen who loves playing sports, spending time with his family, and making new friends.

Select Evenings in November and December | 5:00–9:00pm

Experience Columbia’s longest running holiday tradition.

THE POLAR EXPRESS™ with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad is back in 2021! The 1¼ hour round-trip passenger excursion comes to life as the train departs the Bryson City depot for a journey through the quiet wilderness for a special visit at the North Pole. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, guests on board will enjoy warm cocoa and a treat while listening and reading along with the magical story. Children’s faces show the magic of the season when the train arrives at the North Pole to find Santa Claus waiting. Santa will board THE POLAR EXPRESS™, greeting each child and presenting them with a special gift as in the story, their own silver sleigh bell. Christmas carols will be sung as they return back to the Bryson City Depot.

Winter Lights returns to the gardens November 19-January 1

Tickets are now sold PER VEHICLE, not per person.

We are thrilled to announce that the 2021 Winter Lights holiday event will welcome members and guests back into the gardens as it returns to the traditional outdoor walk-through open-air show format. The famously tall 50-foot lighted tree and the Quilt Garden will be back, outfitted with new designs in lights, while throughout the gardens, popular arrangements will mingle with ones never seen before.

You can find everything you need to know about Asheville’s Brightest Holiday Tradition at the tabs above, and be sure to secure your tickets now.

We hope you will join us this holiday season!

Winter Lights is the Arboretum’s largest annual fundraiser, and supports many parts of its mission driven programming.

THE POLAR EXPRESS™ with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad is back in 2021! The 1¼ hour round-trip passenger excursion comes to life as the train departs the Bryson City depot for a journey through the quiet wilderness for a special visit at the North Pole. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, guests on board will enjoy warm cocoa and a treat while listening and reading along with the magical story. Children’s faces show the magic of the season when the train arrives at the North Pole to find Santa Claus waiting. Santa will board THE POLAR EXPRESS™, greeting each child and presenting them with a special gift as in the story, their own silver sleigh bell. Christmas carols will be sung as they return back to the Bryson City Depot.

THE POLAR EXPRESS™ with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad is back in 2021! The 1¼ hour round-trip passenger excursion comes to life as the train departs the Bryson City depot for a journey through the quiet wilderness for a special visit at the North Pole. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, guests on board will enjoy warm cocoa and a treat while listening and reading along with the magical story. Children’s faces show the magic of the season when the train arrives at the North Pole to find Santa Claus waiting. Santa will board THE POLAR EXPRESS™, greeting each child and presenting them with a special gift as in the story, their own silver sleigh bell. Christmas carols will be sung as they return back to the Bryson City Depot.