The First Annual Downtown Decked Out
December 1, 8, 15 & 22

Longer shopping hours December 1, 8, 15 & 22. Look for the "Downtown Decked Out" posters in windows of participating downtown businesses. Posters will include the Saturday Holiday Specials or events that each merchant will be offering. Don't miss out on the downtown holiday fun in Downtown Asheville!

Expect even more sidewalk entertainment than normal: strolling Christmas carolers; groups and solo musicians playing holiday music and much more; unusual musical instruments; Chinese yo-yo; a boom box parade; face painting; mimes; choirs, quartets, duos and solo singers; a bus load of Santa Clauses; hula hoop demos; swing, tango, Mid-Eastern, African and other dancing and surprises.

More than 30 businesses went all out decorating their windows for the Holiday Window Decorating Contest. Winning windows were The Flower Gallery, 46 Haywood St., first place; Minx Boutique, 58 N. Lexington Ave., second place; Ad Lib, 23 Haywood St., third place and honorable mentions went to Zakya Boutique, 61 Haywood St and Write On at 28 N. Lexington Ave. Check out all the beautifully decorated shop windows throughout downtown.

PARKING
Street Parking is free after 6 PM (and all day Sunday).

On Saturdays/Sundays and 7:00 PM - 10:00 AM M-F, the rate is $1 per exit at Rankin and Civic Center parking decks and $2 at the Wall Street parking deck.

M-F from 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM, the rate at the Civic Center deck is first hour free, then $.50 per hour, or portion thereof, with a $4.00 daily maximum. At Rankin and Wall Street decks the first hour is free, then $.75 per hour, or portion thereof, with a $6.00 daily maximum.   There are many other privately owned parking lots and garages throughout town.