Asheville Beer City Festival this Weekend

June 2, 12 PM - 6 PM   Asheville's 3rd  Beer City Festival The first ever Asheville Beer Week includes ten days of celebrating beer and Beer City, USA, and will culminate at Asheville's third Beer City Festival. The ABA (Asheville Brewers Alliance) teams up with the folks from Brewgrass for Beer City Festival. It’s the brewer’s beer festival! Tickets are available at local breweries, Bruisin’ Ales and Barley’s. Get your tickets NOW! $40 (cash only).

Asheville Historic Bed and Breakfast Inn

The Lion and the Rose  is an Asheville restored mansion bed and breakfast offering rooms and suites with fireplaces, fridge, full GOURMET breakfast, WIFI, 24hr guest pantry and robes. It's one of the most comfortable and well-appointed inns you'll find anywhere. Located in the historic Monford District you may walk to downtown for dining, shopping and entertainment.  A great value at $135 - $225 per night.

River Arts District Celebrates Clingman Circle Enhancement

June 5    Clingman Circle Celebration and Ribbon Cutting   A celebration, a dedication, a representation and a completion in the River Arts Distrtict.  The gathering begins at 5:30 PM at the Hilliard and Clingman intersection, followed by a ribbon-cutting at 6 PM for the recent completion of the $1.2 million Clingman Avenue streetscape enhancement project.

Then the party moves down the hill into the River Arts District. Join Mayor Bellamy, community leaders and supporters for a celebration of the enhancement project in the River Arts District. Top the night off with a benefit, music and silent auction at the Grey Eagle for the "RAD ONE Neighborhood Benefit." 

Asheville Downtown Gallery Association Art Walk this Weekend

June 1   Asheville Downtown Gallery Association Art Walk   Enjoy the fine art and craft of the Asheville Downtown Gallery Association and see on of the reasons Asheville has been voted #1 small city in the country by the readers of American Style Magazine 2 years running. 23 downtown venues participate with a complete Downtown Gallery Guide and a map available at any participating downtown gallery, the Chamber of Commerce, or Pack Place.

Featured Gallery Shows:

Mermaid Series at Mountain Made   5:00pm - 8:00pm at Mountain Made
Opening Reception for ArtEtude Gallery   6:00pm - 8:00pm at ArtEtude Gallery
Urban as featured in New American Paintings   7:00pm - 10:00pm at ZaPow!

Asheville Summer Program "Homegrown in Pritchard Park" begins this week

May 31  Homegrown in Pritchard Park Presented by 98.1 the River, Pritchard Park will host local singer-song writers all summer long. Stroll through the park on Thursday evenings this summer and enjoy local talent, the beautiful weather and some great fun. The concert series is offered FREE from Memorial Day, May 31st, through Labor Day, September 6. Events are weather permitting.

Asheville Vacation Rental

Mountain view and only 3 miles to downtown - 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, sleeps up to 8.  Short range views from every window, decks and screened porch, wood-burning fireplace, flat panel TVs, WIFI. $190 - $250 night, $1251 - $1400 week.   See photos and rental details

Memorial Day Event: Carl Sandburg Folk Music Festival in Flat Rock

 May 28   Carl Sandburg Folk Music Festival   The grounds of the Carl Sandburg National Historic Site in Flat Rock NC come alive with folk music which was an important part of Carl Sandburg's life along with his guitar playing and singing as well as his writing. Live entertainment will include instrumentals, folk ballads and spiritual songs.

May 27 - June 3    LaZoom "Sunday Beer Run" for Asheville Beer Week   Bruisin' Ales and LaZoom Comedy Tours have teamed up for an epic tour of Asheville's beer culture during Asheville Beer Week. For the Sunday Beer Run, the LaZoom team is writing a very special tour for beer fans. Canned beers on board will be provided by Asheville Brewing and Catawba Valley Brewing Co. You may also bring your own beers on board.

There are two tour options, one at the start of Beer Week, another at the end: Sunday, May 27th, 1:00 p.m. Sunday, June 3rd, 1:00 p.m. Hop on LaZoom’s iconic purple bus and find the funny side of Asheville Beer. Our city wide afternoon tours are historical and hysterical, feature outlandish comedy skits, entertaining tour guides, loads of Asheville information and … beer! You’ve never taken a tour like this before – it’s a show on wheels! So bring your Sunday hangovers, some beer to drink, and do what the locals do… “Get on the Big Purple Bus!” Standard tour length is two hours with a (2) 20-minute stops at Green Man Brewery and Wedge Brewery.

Get a link for La Zoom Tours and other local information on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

Kenilworth Art Studio Tour this Memorial Day Weekend in Asheville

May 26 -27   Kenilworth Art Studio Tour   Twenty-two artists invite you into eleven neighborhood studios & galleries. Browse and/or purchase original artwork. Kenilworth Artists Association is a community of artists in one of Asheville's oldest neighborhoods, with a lovely mix of grand homes, modest bungalows and mature gardens.

Kenilworth Artist Michael Robinson

Over forty aspiring and professional artists live in the five square mile neighborhood just minutes from downtown. Each year, many of these artists open their doors to the public for a festive tour that attracts shoppers and art lovers alike. 10 AM - 5 PM both days.

Get a link for this Asheville event and other local information on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

Memorial Day Weekend Event: AKC Dog Agility Trials

May 25-27  AKC Dog Agility Trials The Blue Ridge Agility Club of Western North Carolina is hosting an American Kennel Club Dog (AKC) dog agility trial. Spectators are welcomed to attend and admission is free. Over 300 purebred dogs, from throughout the southeast, will compete at various levels of difficulty.

The Trials are held at the WNC Agricultural Center, 1301 Fanning Bridge Road in Fletcher, NC ( a suburb of Asheville). Get a link and more local information on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

Asheville Beer Week

May 24 - June 3:  The first ever Asheville Beer Week includes ten days of celebrating beer and Beer City, USA, and will culminate at Asheville's third Beer City Festival on June 2. The Week will offer many different styles of beer and variations on those styles; beer pairings with a smorgasbord of delicious foods; an opportunity to learn about and explore beer in all its delectable complexity; and, most of all, a week of  fun drinking beer in the brewery-centric mountains of Asheville, NC.
The Beer Week events will include seminars, tastings, dinners, and special activities with "beer celebrities" from around the country and the world. More than 40 breweries are slated to appear at Beer City Festival already. Organized by a beer-loving bunch of regional beer industry folks, Asheville Beer Week will offer a variety of events and include as many bars, restaurants and breweries as possible.

Get a link for Asheville Beer Week and other local events on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

WNC Chef's Challenge in Asheville

May 22    WNC Chefs Challenge   Knife & Fork vs. Never Blue Tapas Bar and Grill   Food and sport combine for the ultimate food fight. The Challenge brings together 14 leading chefs from the region and one secret ingredient in weekly battles each Tuesday from March 20 - May 22. 

Diners enjoy six plated culinary creations (three from each team) that incorporate the secret ingredient and score each dish. The votes from the audience and a panel of professional chefs, journalists, and culinary experts are tallied. A winner is announced at the end of the night and continues to the next round of competition.

Last Minute Memorial Day Asheville Cabin

Great mountain view cabin - 3 bedrooms, 2 baths sleeps up to 8. Two fireplaces, WIFI. Newer cedar cabin located in quiet mountain setting yet close to downtown and the Blue Ridge Parkway. $175-$195 night, $1000-$1150 week.   See cabin photos and availability calendar

Find more Asheville Cabins HERE

Asheville's WNC Chef's Challenge

May 22 WNC Chefs Challenge Knife & Fork vs. Never Blue Tapas Bar and Grill Food and sport combine for the ultimate food fight. The Challenge brings together 14 leading chefs from the region and one secret ingredient in weekly battles each Tuesday from March 20 - May 22.

Diners enjoy six plated culinary creations (three from each team) that incorporate the secret ingredient and score each dish. The votes from the audience and a panel of professional chefs, journalists, and culinary experts are tallied. A winner is announced at the end of the night and continues to the next round of competition.

Get a link for the Chef's Challenge and other Asheville events on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide

Today's Featured Event: 9th Annual Monford Music and Arts Festival

May 19  - Rain or Shine, Head for the 9th Annual Monford Music and Arts Festival  today in downtwon Asheville NC. This is the largest one-day FREE music and arts festival in WNC. The event is held on two streets- Montford and Soco- with over 100 vendors of art, crafts, plants and food.

Two stages offer non stop entertainment from 20 groups and a children’s area. Located down from Asheville Visitors Center in Historic Montford with on street parking and bike corral.

Find additional local information on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

Asheville's Downtown After 5 This Friday

May 18   Downtown After 5   Free live music entertainment in downtown Asheville every third Friday, May through September, with the goal of encouraging locals and visitors to enjoy downtown Asheville and support local businesses and entertainers. Location on North Lexington Avenue (between Hiawassee and the I-240 overpass). Food and beer vendors available.

Get more Asheville information on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide

Last Minute Mother's Day Weekend Getaway in Asheville

Beautiful mountain views - 3 bedrooms, 3 baths sleeps up to 8. Covered and open decks, gas grill, hot tub, fire pit, game room with pool table, WIFI. Located in the community of Fairview, 15 minutes to Asheville or Chimney Rock. $225 - $275 night, $1500 week.   See rental photos and confirm availability

The Vanderbilts at Home and Abroad on Exhibit at Biltmore

Now through  Dec 31  The Vanderbilts at Home and Abroad A new display focusing on the lives and personalities of George, Edith and Cornelia Vanderbilt, takes center stage in Biltmore's Antler Hill Village Legacy building. The exhibit offers a close-up look at exotic and rare items they collected throughout their lives, including an extraordinary collection of Samurai armor and an intricate Cartier vanity and lipstick case encrusted with diamonds and jade.

An early Harley-Davidson motorcycle representing the Vanderbilt’s love of motorized transportation will be displayed. The fascinating story of the fateful decision that saved the Vanderbilts from perishing on Titanic will also be told.

Mother's Day Weekend Events: River Arts District Studio Stroll

 May 12     2nd Saturday Studio Stroll in the River Arts District   A day of artist demonstrations, classes, open studios and fun. Spend the day hopping from studio to studio, stop for refreshment at one of the many dining experiences including the District's brewery. 80 or more artists will be open - just look for the open studio signs.

May 12      Oh Mother!  at the Odyssey Center   A celebration of Mother's Day at the center for ceramic arts in the River Arts District. 10 AM - 6 PM all day events include Raffle to win a piece of art by Michael Parry; Delicious Refreshments;  Over 40 featured Artists;  Gifts for Mom complete with flowers and wrapping. Live music by Maggie and the Romantics.

Get more local information on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide

Don't Miss the Weaverville Art Safari this Weekend

May 12-13   Weaverville Art Safari A free, self-guided tour of artists' home studios in the scenic area surrounding the villages of Weaverville and Barnardsville, North Carolina. Weaverville is located just 10 minutes north of Asheville. Visitors are granted direct access during Safari weekends to the home studios of a wide variety of local artists and a few visiting artists. The Art Safari will be preceded, as usual, by a gala preview party & silent auction on Friday night, May 11.

Comedy Parody of Shakespeare Performed in Asheville

May 10-26   Complete Works of Wm. Shakespeare (abridged) Three guys cover 37 Shakespeare plays in less than two hours. Really. Fresh and updated every year, this fast-firing comedy parodies all of the Shakespeare plays (plus the sonnets!) with only three performers in two acts. The play is full of energy as the characters run across the stage and keep you guessing how they will pull off the next play. “If you like Shakespeare, you’ll like this show. If you hate Shakespeare, you’ll love this show!”

Help make Asheville NC Beer City USA - Vote Now!

The polls are now open to vote for Asheville in the Beer City USA poll. According to a recent Asheville Citizen-Times article, there are differing opinions on whether Asheville should continue to fight for the title. From a destination marketing standpoint, a win is good for national press (and business) and a useful calling card as Asheville continues to promote its culinary and craft beer attributes. Most local businesses and residents are in favor of continuing to pursue the title.

The competition is a bit tougher this year with other NC cities now on the ballot.  Current poll standings show a new contender Grand Rapids, MI, inching ahead. With a population almost 3 times larger than Asheville, the city's fans will have to dig deep this year.

Help Asheville stay #1 and take a moment to vote. Then share the link with family, friends and colleagues. Only one vote per email/IP address  is allowed- so  forward this to your personal email and vote from your home computer or mobile phone, and feel free to share it on your Facebook and Twitter pages.

VOTE HERE

Looking for a taste? Check out the  Asheville Bruise Cruise. Take a tour of Asheville's award-winning beer scene with a guided tour of 3 to 4 of the 10 local breweries. The behind-the-scenes tour include the processes involved in brewing as well as generous samples of each brewery’s fresh and delicious brews.  Get a link on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide

Boca vs 12 Bones Smokehouse in this week's WNC Chet's Challenge

May 8   WNC Chefs Challenge   Boca vs. 12 Bones Smokehouse   Food and sport combine for the ultimate food fight. The Challenge brings together 14 leading chefs from the region and one secret ingredient in weekly battles each Tuesday from March 20 - May 22.  Diners enjoy six plated culinary creations (three from each team) that incorporate the secret ingredient and score each dish. The votes from the audience and a panel of professional chefs, journalists, and culinary experts are tallied. A winner is announced at the end of the night and continues to the next round of competition.

Get a link for the WNC Chef's Challenge and other Asheville events and attractions on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide

Blue Ridge Orchestra Pops Symphony Season Finale Tonight

May 5, 7:30 PM at the White Horse, 105C Montreat Road in Black Mountain NC - The  Season Finale Pops Concert will feature Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with UNCA jazz pianist Dr. William Bares, selections from the Phantom of the Opera, the musical Chicago, Broadway tunes, a Salute to the Big Apple and a selection from Mexico in honor of "Cinco de Mayo".

The Blue Ridge Orchestra ends its first season under the direction of Dr. Milton Crotts the way it began, with a rousing pops concert at the White Horse in Black Mountain. Tickets are $15 adults; $5 student and are available at the door or online.

Asheville Tourists will Deliver First Pitch Via Zipline

Asheville Tourists Baseball is offering a May Contest, "Zip to the Moon". Now you can soar across the tree tops with a dramatic view of downtown Asheville. The Tourists are giving away four passes for a zipline experience at the Asheville Zipline Canopy Adventures. Plus you will also win tickets to see an Asheville Tourists baseball game. Click here for details and to enter the contest.

The Asheville Tourists baseball team, in partnership with the Asheville Zipline Canopy Adventures, have created an unprecedented way to deliver the first pitch. At each one of their home games, one lucky fan will ride a zipline from behind third base to home plate, where Tourist mascot, Mr. Moon, awaits their arrival.

Get a link and earn more about Asheville Tourists Baseball Team on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide

Asheville Getaway for Mother's Day Weekend

Quiet romantic getaway for two -  1 bedroom, 2 baths, sleeps 2. Plush king bed, hot tub, fireplace, WIFI. Wooded setting between Asheville and Hendersonville. $149 night, $750-$850 week. See photos and reserve online

Find local information on the Asheville Visitor Guide

NEW - Shop Online from the Asheville Visitor Center

Looking for some great Asheville souvenirs? During your Asheville visit, you can find a wide selection of items at the Asheville Visitor Center. However, if you didn't get a chance to stop by the Center, you can still get  some great Asheville branded merchandise through their new online store.

Items currently available are hoodies, t-shirts, mugs and art. New items will be added to the list over time so, check the site often.  Get a link for the Online Shop on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide

Supercross Superfunk Cinco de Mayo with The Fritz! at Altamont BRewing CO.

May 5, 9:30 PM - Altamont Brewing Co.  1042 Haywood Road, Asheville NC.   Supercross Superfunk Cinco de Mayo with The Fritz! Free Event. Watch the last Supercross race of the season and get down with the sounds of Asheville funk band The Fritz.

NC Aboretum Hosts Party Your Asana Off Fund Raiser

May 3, 6 - 9 PM: “Party Your Asana Off”, a fundraiser benefitting Asheville Community Yoga. The events will inlcude  an amazing array of entertainment, food and drinks - all guaranteed to last all night. Upon entry, enjoy the sounds of strolling fiddler Cailen Campbell. Then dance the night away with music provided by Asheville’s top DJ’s from Sound Extreme; making dance a key element of the party. Clan Destiny Circus will ramp up the fun with performances by their acrobalancers, stilt walkers and hoopers. Town Mountain Massage will offer donation based chair massages. 

Food, beer and wine are included with your ticket price - enjoy beer from Catawba Valley Brewing Company, Alamos wine and tables full of food from a variety of generous donors including Hickory Nut Gap, Zen Sushi and Roots. Bring your checkbook! There will be a raffle with over forty awesome items on which to bid.

Tickets are only $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Attendance is limited to 300 and a sellout is likely. This year, you need to purchase your tickets in advanced to receive the discount. Click Here to buy your tickets now. RSVPs on Facebook will not give you the discount at the door. Together we can help keep Asheville Community Yoga sustainable by attending this event, because 100% of the proceeds goes directly to the nonprofit.

The NC Arboretum is located on Brevard Road (Hwy 191), just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville NC. Parking is free for attendees.

Pet Friendly Asheville Rentals with May Special

Bring the Whole Family!
Pet Fees Waived in May - That's a Savings of $85 - $120!



Now your four-legged friends don't have to miss out on all of the family fun! Check out one of Carolina Morning's  pet-friendly vacation rentals for your family vacation and bring the whole family.

For new reservations made in May, bring your pup with you and we'll waive the pet fee - that's a savings of $85-$120!*

Call today!  (877) 882-8310
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