Name: The Asheville Ballet's Nutcracker at the Wortham Center
Start: 2026-12-11T14:30:00.000-05:00
End: 2026-12-11T22:00:00.000-05:00
Location: Wortham Center for Performing Arts

The Asheville Ballet's Nutcracker at the Wortham Center

The Asheville Ballet's Nutcracker has been a holiday tradition in town for half a century, and this year's run is only four shows. Follow Clara to the Lands of Snow and Sweets with the Sugar Plum Fairy, the Snow King and Queen, and the full Tchaikovsky score.

It's at the Diana Wortham Theatre on Friday, December 11 at 7:30 PM, Saturday, December 12 at 2:30 and 7:30 PM, and Sunday, December 13 at 2:30 PM. The seats are reserved.

Tickets are $30 to $60, and $20 for kids 12 and under. Buy them through the Wortham Center box office before they're gone.

The Wortham Center is Asheville’s downtown home for performing arts, a multi-venue setup where you can catch everything from sharp theatre pieces and dance shows to live music and comedy. It features a classic 500-seat main theater that’s perfect for both nationally touring acts and local productions, along with smaller black box and studio spaces for experimental performances and workshops.

 The center’s vibe is intimate and welcoming, making you feel like you’re part of the show rather than just a spectator. Plus, it’s right in the mix downtown with easy access to great restaurants and after-show hangouts.

For locals, Wortham isn’t just a theater. It’s a gathering spot to experience the arts in all their forms. Fans rave about the consistently professional productions, the stunning restored seats from Radio City Music Hall, and community-focused programs that bring art education and performance opportunities to all ages. 

The addition of smaller venues expanded the kind of performances you can see, from indie plays to dance workshops, making it a hotspot for creative energy year-round. Regulars highlight the friendly staff and refreshingly chill vibe for something so fancy.

Wortham Center for Performing Arts

Looking for live music in Asheville tonight? Find venues and show schedules downtown, on the South Slope, in West Asheville and the River Arts District. Almost all post shows as Scoops on Dig Local, so check a profile before you go. Downtown, [The Orange Peel](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1298-the-orange-peel) on Biltmore Avenue and [Asheville Music Hall](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/695-asheville-music-hall) on Patton Avenue book touring bands, [Jack of the Wood](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1404-jack-of-the-wood-pub) has hosted Celtic and bluegrass nights since 1997, and [Hotel Eve](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/4555-hotel-eve-jazz) does live jazz on Lexington Avenue. The South Slope has [Eulogy](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/2479-eulogy) on Buxton Avenue, [Revival](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/4294-revival) on Asheland Avenue and outdoor concerts at [Asheville Yards](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/2006-asheville-yards-amphitheater) on Coxe Avenue. Along Haywood Road in West Asheville, catch a set at [The Odd](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1413-the-odd-eclectic-dive-bar-music-venue-oddities-museum), [Fleetwood's](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/2073-fleetwood-s) or [The Double Crown](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/4855-the-double-crown), or a quieter show at [AyurPrana Listening Room](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/4533-ayurprana-listening-room) and [Story Parlor](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/4550-story-parlor). The River Arts District has [The Grey Eagle](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/17-the-grey-eagle-music-hall-taqueria) on Clingman Avenue and full album sides on vinyl at [Joyful Noise](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/4610-joyful-noise-listening-lounge-kitchen). [Hellbender by The Orange Peel](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/4690-hellbender-by-the-orange-peel) puts outdoor shows on the Swannanoa River. Head east to Black Mountain for [White Horse](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1558-white-horse-black-mountain), [Town Pump Tavern](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/3998-town-pump-tavern) and [Pisgah Brewing](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/886-pisgah-brewing-company)'s outdoor stage, or north to [JuneBug Retro Resort](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/4756-junebug-retro-resort) in Weaverville. For theater and orchestra, see the [Wortham Center](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1402-wortham-center-for-performing-arts), the [Asheville Symphony](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/4723-asheville-symphony-orchestra) and free Shakespeare from [Montford Park Players](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/2252-montford-park-players). For weekly jams, venue sizes and answers to common questions, see our Dig Deeper guides to [Asheville live music venues](/asheville-nc/dig-deeper/6-the-amazing-live-music-scene-in-asheville-nc-venues-festivals-shows) and [weekly bluegrass jams](/asheville-nc/dig-deeper/13-bluegrass-jams-asheville-nc).

Live Music in Asheville, NC: Venues, Shows and Events

The easiest way to learn Asheville is to let a local show you around. [LaZoom Comedy Tours](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1366-lazoom-comedy-tours) runs comedy bus tours on its purple bus from Biltmore Avenue, [Gray Line Trolley Tours](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1465-gray-line-trolley-tours) makes hop-on hop-off stops from the Visitor Center, and [Asheville Food Tours](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1027-asheville-food-tours) has led downtown tasting walks since 2009. Downtown, the [Moogseum](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/2393-moogseum) lets you play theremins and synthesizers on Broadway, and the [Asheville Art Museum](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/2071-asheville-art-museum) on Pack Square has welcomed visitors since 1948. For a night out, catch a play at [Asheville Community Theatre](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/997-asheville-community-theatre) or [North Carolina Stage Company](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/780-north-carolina-stage-company), or a show at the [Wortham Center](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1402-wortham-center-for-performing-arts). In West Asheville, [Asheville Retrocade](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1217-asheville-retrocade) has restored 80s and 90s arcade games and a full bar. Out east, the [WNC Nature Center](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1066-wnc-nature-center) has black bears, wolves and red pandas, and [Hickory Nut Gap](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/743-hickory-nut-gap-farms) in Fairview has been a family farm since 1916. In Black Mountain, [Black Mountain Escape](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/2003-black-mountain-escape) has three themed escape rooms, the [Swannanoa Valley Museum](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/904-swannanoa-valley-museum) sits in a 1921 firehouse and [Oak and Grist](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1301-oak-and-grist-distilling-company) pours its own whiskey. [Two Trees Distilling](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/2530-two-trees-distilling) has tastings in Fletcher, and [Urban Escape Vehicles](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1940-urban-escape-vehicles) rents campervans for a road trip. Every spot below has hours, photos and directions.

Tours in Asheville, NC: Food, Trolley, Walking and Pub Tours

Asheville's art scene runs from Pack Square museums to River Arts District studios. Downtown, the [Asheville Art Museum](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/2071-asheville-art-museum) focuses on American art with deep Western North Carolina roots, [Blue Spiral 1](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1479-blue-spiral-1) fills three floors on Biltmore Avenue with work from more than 100 artists, and [Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/5185-black-mountain-college-museum-arts-center) on College Street is free. In the River Arts District, [Pink Dog Creative](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1054-pink-dog-creative) has about 35 artist studios in a former textile building on Depot Street. The [Southern Highland Craft Guild](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/656-southern-highland-craft-guild) has shown Appalachian handcraft since 1930, at its Tunnel Road shop and the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway. To make something yourself, [Claying Around](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1106-claying-around) in South Asheville has drop-in pottery painting for all ages. For the stage, [Asheville Community Theatre](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/997-asheville-community-theatre) has put on shows since 1946, [North Carolina Stage Company](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/780-north-carolina-stage-company) does professional theatre on Stage Lane, and the [Wortham Center](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1402-wortham-center-for-performing-arts) hosts dance, theatre and music. The [Blue Ridge Orchestra](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/603-blue-ridge-orchestra) is the city's all-volunteer community orchestra, [AyurPrana Listening Room](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/4533-ayurprana-listening-room) books acoustic and world music in a West Asheville church, and [IamAVL](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/924-independent-arts-and-music-of-asheville-iamavl) records and streams local bands. Every spot below has hours, photos and directions.

The Asheville Ballet's Nutcracker at the Wortham Center

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