Biltmore’s 2022 Christmas Décor by the Numbers

Christmas décor at Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, is nothing short of magical. From America’s Largest Home® to Antler Hill Village, our Winery, and beyond, our incredibly talented Floral team members somehow manage to outdo themselves year after year. In honor of the national celebration of landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted’s 200th birthday, the team selected “Winter Landscapes” for this year’s Christmas décor theme. 

Let’s take a look at just how much Christmas décor it takes to bedeck George Vanderbilt’s 8,000-acre estate.

The massive Fraser fir Christmas tree (left) in the Banquet Hall is traditionally the largest in Biltmore House.

Christmas Trees

• There will be 67 decorated Christmas trees inside Biltmore House for the 2022 celebration.
• The smallest tree is a tabletop tree in the Morland Room.
• The largest tree inside Biltmore House is, of course, the Vanderbilt traditional fresh 35-foot-tall Fraser fir in the Banquet Hall. It requires about 50 staff members to carry in, raise, and secure it.
• A lit 55-foot-tall Norway spruce encircled by 36 illuminated evergreens decorates the Front Lawn of Biltmore House for Candlelight Christmas Evenings.
• A total of 45 additional decorated Christmas trees are at other estate locations, including our Winery, Antler Hill Village, and The Inn on Biltmore Estate®. The Conservatory features decorated with “trees” made of potted plants and other natural materials.  

The amount of Christmas décor used in the Banquet Hall requires all hands on deck!

Lights & Candles

• There are around 45,000 lights and 250 candles inside Biltmore House. Another 850,000 lights illuminate the rest of the estate.    
• More than 55,000 lights illuminate the Front Lawn tree with an additional 32,000 lights on the surrounding trees and shrubs.
• Hand-lit at dusk, 400 luminaries line the Esplanade in front of Biltmore House every night for Candlelight Christmas Evenings.
• About 5,000 lights hanging in our magical waterfall light display in Antler Hill Village. 

This year’s theme of “Winter Wonderland” can be spotted in even the tiniest details of our Christmas décor.

Ornaments

• The Banquet Hall tree boasts 500 ornaments and 500 LED Edison bulb-style electric lights along with an abundance of gift boxes.
• There are 13,870 ornaments used on the other trees inside Biltmore House, and that many again around the estate to add sparkle and seasonal interest.

Did you know that many of the poinsettias and other holiday blooms used in our Christmas décor are grown on the estate?

Poinsettias & Other Holiday Blooms

• More than 1,960 traditional poinsettias are found amid the Christmas décor throughout the estate, 150 of which are in Biltmore House. 
• Additional seasonal plants include 4,265 amaryllises, Christmas cacti, bromeliads, orchids, peace lilies, cyclamen, begonias, and kalanchoes.

All of the wreaths on display in Biltmore House and throughout the estate are handmade by our Floral team.

Wreaths

• There are 205 fresh wreaths and sprays along with 90 faux pieces around the estate during the season.
• Wreaths are made of fresh white pine and Fraser fir, ornamented with golden arborvitae, holly, or other natural materials such as twigs and cones.  Artificial bases are decorated with ornaments, berries, faux flowers, and ribbon.

This lush and festive garland decks the halls of Mr. Vanderbilt’s Bedroom this holiday season.

Garlands & Swags

• Our Floral team cuts fresh evergreens on the property every week to create handmade swags to decorate the Grand Staircase in Biltmore House.
• Around 1,000 feet of fresh and faux garlands decorate Biltmore House, and around 1,200 feet are used in other areas.

Our floral team’s hand-tied bows comprise the majority of the ribbon used in this year’s Christmas décor.

Ribbons & Bows

• There are 7,370 yards of ribbon in the Christmas décor in Biltmore House and throughout the estate—primarily in the form of hand-tied bows. 
• Our team uses everything from narrow cording to 8-inch-wide ribbon and they decorate with velvets, metallics, satins, burlap, and printed cottons.
• It takes 5 yards of ribbon to create the festive bows worn by the marble lions at the front door of Biltmore House.
• It takes close to 15 yards of ribbon required to make a tree-topper bow for the 16-foot-tall Christmas trees in the Library.
• Any ribbon that is used year to year is starched and ironed so that it is wrinkle-free and perfect!

Congratulations to all of our teams across the estate who assist with making Christmas at Biltmore happen!

Staff

• Our Floral team consists of 10 full-time and 5 part-time floral designers.
• Multiple departments across the estate also help implement the grand plans for Christmas décor at Biltmore each year, including our Engineering, Housekeeping, Museum Services, Horticulture, Guest Services, Security, and Events teams.

We invite you to see the beauty of Biltmore’s Christmas décor for yourself. Plan your visit today!