Biltmore celebrates start of 2018 Christmas season with tree raising ceremony

ASHEVILLE, NC (WLOS) — The 2018 Christmas season has begun at Biltmore Estate, marked by the annual tree raising ceremony.

A crowd of people gathered on the estate lawn on Thursday morning to watch the arrival of the 35-foot Fraser fir that will be on display in the Banquet Hall.

A marching band preceded the horse-drawn carriage carrying the tree and Santa Claus to the front door of Biltmore House.

The Biltmore crew muscled the tree through the front door then into the Banquet Hall. The tree was then hoisted into place with careful maneuvering around a chandelier.

Crews then began decorating the tree with hundreds of ornaments.

The Christmas at Biltmore begins Saturday, Nov. 3 and runs through Jan. 6, 2019.