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When George W. Vanderbilt chose Asheville, NC, as his home, no one would have thought of him as a farmer living off the land. In a sense, though, that�s exactly what he was. Vanderbilt�s dream of leaving the social whirl of New York City behind to create a self-sufficient lifestyle culminated in the creation of Biltmore Estate at the turn of the nineteenth century. While the then 125,000-acre property had a spectacular 250-room ch�teau as its centerpiece, much of Vanderbilt�s focus was on the land and the farm that supplied his kitchens. He had a dairy operation, livestock, vegetable gardens, fields and forests all intended for the support of the estate. This rich agricultural heritage is explored during Michaelmas: A Celebration of the Harvest held through October 24, 2004. During the four-week event�which has expanded this year to include activities every day�guests can join in the fun with crafters, farm-life displays, music, dancing, children�s activities, and great food and wine.
�Restoring the barn opened up a whole new world for exploration on the estate, so we�ve opted to expand our festival offerings for 2004. In the past, activities were limited to weekends, but with the addition of our farm-life focus this year, we�re delighted to be able to bring our guests something interesting to see or do every day from October 2 through the 24th.� While Biltmore House will always be the focal point of the estate, guests can now learn about the practical side of operating what was basically�and still is�a really big farm. While it may be difficult to imagine the Vanderbilts milking cows or cutting hay, they were certainly involved in day-to-day agricultural operations. The estate�s archives even include photos of Mrs. Vanderbilt on a tractor.
At Biltmore House, visitors will find music from the British Isles along with daily craft demonstrations during Michaelmas. Guests can see talented artists at work carving stone, hand-hammering pewter, or working with stained glass. Court jesters accompanied by strolling musicians or dancers also make daily appearances and are sure to coax a smile from younger guests with their impromptu performances.
In addition, tours of the estate�s 75-acre vineyard are offered daily from 4 � 5:30 PM for $15.00. Space is limited�register in the Winery Welcome Center. Michaelmas is a perfect base for exploring the spectacular fall color of Western North Carolina. Guests can enjoy brilliant color on extensive estate trails or in the four-acre Walled Garden where pattern beds mirror the surrounding foliage with a vibrant display of chrysanthemums. Those who prefer a guided tour can take a 90-minute Guided Garden Walk offered daily for $10.00. These overview tours of the gardens discuss history, answer questions, and identify plants. Sign up at Guest Services locations across the property. The Explore Biltmore Estate program offers a variety of more adventurous ways to enjoy Biltmore�s fall glory as well. Try riding a bike on paved trails along the scenic French Broad River or head out on horseback for a stunning view of Biltmore House. For those seeking a more leisurely activity, carriage rides offer views and information about the forest while float trips are a relaxing way to see the estate either with a guide or on your own. There�s even the new Land Rover Experience Driving School for the truly adventurous. Guests at Biltmore Estate during Michaelmas and throughout the year can also take advantage of accommodations on the historic property at Inn on Biltmore Estate. The 213-room Mobil Four-Star, AAA Four-Diamond inn offers several packages that allow guests to experience the property as a guest of the Vanderbilts. Call 800-922-0084 for more information or to make reservations. Michaelmas: A Celebration of the Harvest is held daily from October 2�24, 2004. All guests with general admission tickets or Biltmore Estate passholders are welcome to attend most of the fall festivities at no additional cost. For further information about Biltmore Estate, contact The Biltmore Company at 828-225-1333 or 877-324-5866, or visit Biltmore Estate�s web site at www.biltmore.com. (Images provided by the Biltmore Estate)
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�We opened the Historic Horse Barn earlier this year as a venue for interpreting Biltmore�s agricultural side for the first time,� said Senior Vice President Randy Fluharty. 
Today, Biltmore�s farm includes beef cattle, sheep, a Kitchen Garden that supplies fruits and vegetables to estate restaurants, and vineyards that produce grapes for the property�s award-winning wines. During Michaelmas, all of this abundance is celebrated at the Historic Horse Barn from noon � 6 PM each day with bluegrass music and talented artisans including a blacksmith and woodworker. On weekends, the barn also hosts folk dancing and farm-life demonstrations. The nearby Kitchen Garden lets visitors learn about the harvest first-hand while the Farmyard offers access to animals such as horses, lambs, calves, and baby chicks. 
On weekends, activities in the gardens include calligraphy and fencing demonstrations as well as children�s crafts. Be sure to join in as Saint George rescues a fair maiden from a 15-foot puppet dragon�little ones are called upon to help save the day. Then stick around for performances that showcase the fancy footwork involved in Celtic dancing.
To celebrate the 2004 grape harvest, Biltmore Estate Winery offers Jazz Harvest Weekends in conjunction with Michaelmas. Complimentary offerings each weekend include: 