Labor Day Weekend in Asheville: Shindig on the Green

September 1   Shindig on the Green    Held outdoors at Pack Square Park in the heart of downtown Asheville, this FREE event  was voted the #1 Local Outdoor Concert in the Mountain Xpress "Best of WNC" survey for four years. Bring your instruments, your lawn chair or blanket, family and friends and join the fun eight summer Saturdays. 

Find more Asheville Labor Day Weekend Events on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide

Labor Day Weekend in Asheville: Shakespeare in the Park

August 31    Richard II   will be presented by The Monford Players through their summer "Shakespeare in the Park".  The renowned Asheville thespians present for the first time in their history Shakespeare's tragic history of Richard II. 

The FREE summer productions are performed at the Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre and DONATIONS ARE WELCOME. Bring a lawn chair or blanket; if you’d rather not carry a lawn chair you can call the box office at 828-254-5146 at least 24 hours in advance to reserve chairs in the best seating area for only $2.00 per person.

Get a link for details about Richard II on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

Labor Day Weekend in Asheville: Concerts in the Park

September 1     Concerts in the Park   Biltmore Park Town Square offers FREE live concerts from June through October. Brings a blanket and enjoy the best performers in the area from 60s Oldies to contemporary jazz.  7 PM - 9 PM.  The Kat Williams Trio performs this concert.

Get a link for Concerts in the Park and other Asheville Labor Day Events on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide

Labor Day Weekend Event: Clap! Asheville

August 31 - September 3    CLAP! Asheville    A Labor Day Weekend event Celebrating Live Arts Performances in Asheville with some of the city's best arts group. This inaugural event includes The Monford Park Players, the Lexington Avenue arts and Fun Festival, Shindig on the Green, Symphony in the Park with the Asheville Symphony . Get a link and more details about Clap! Asheville on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

Labor Day Weekend Event: Messiah's Mansion

August 28 - September 3    Messiah's Mansion   An replica exhibit of a tabernacle built over 3,000 years ago in the desert between Egypt and Israel. Each element in the tabernacle had deep significant meaning to the Hebrew people which will be explained in a guided tour.

Tours are offered daily from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM, with tours for special groups in the mornings of August 28-31. The Messiah's mansion tour is broken into five sections, each lasting about 15 minutes.

Asheville Cabins September Special

Book a Carolina Mornings  vacation in September and receive a

$50 gift certificate to Sazerac, a premier downtown restaurant -

Voted best in Asheville!

Offer eligible for new reservations starting Aug. 21 and with
departures by Sept. 30.

Call (877) 882-8310 to receive this special!

And guests of Carolina Mornings have FREE access to
fun outdoor adventures:

With the FREE Mountain Discovery Pass enjoy golf,
whitewater rafting and Asheville tours!

Call (877) 882-8310 to receive this special!

Shindig on the Green Tonight in Asheville

August 25   Shindig on the Green   Held outdoors at Pack Square Park in the heart of downtown Asheville, this FREE event was voted the #1 Local Outdoor Concert in the Mountain Xpress "Best of WNC" survey for four years. Bring your instruments, your lawn chair or blanket, family and friends and join the fun eight summer Saturdays.

Biltmore Concerts Series Presents Alison Krauss

August 24    Biltmore Concert Series   Award-winning musicians perform on the South Terrace and on Biltmore's newest event venue - Diana at Biltmore, an intimate setting on the vista overlooking Biltmore House. This Concert: Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas

Find more of what to do this weekend in Asheville on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide

River Music Concert Series continues this Friday

August 24   River Music Concert Series   Dance under the stars next to the beautiful French Broad River at Asheville's new summer concert series hosted by New Belgium Brewing and RiverLink.  There will be New Belgium beer, a variety of good eats provided by your favorite Asheville food trucks and the waters of the beautiful French Broad flowing right by the stage.

Best of all, these events are FREE to the public. Bring your lawn chair  and enjoy the view of the French Broad River.

Asheville Wine and Food Festival this Weekend

August 23-25   Asheville Wine and Food Festival   The festival features a mixologist contest, a wine competition, culinary demonstrations, the WNC Chefs Challenge, "Sweet", countless opportunities to meet, greet, and learn from area culinary experts, and plenty of tasty products to purchase and take home – plus, a fashion show of designer culinary and dinner apparel.

The Festival brings together the finest regional, national, and international wines, exceptional local restaurants, craft beer and spirits, and handcrafted artisanal foods for three days of palate-pleasing indulgence. This highly anticipated event, recognized by the New York Post as one of the best of its kind, is held in the heart of the city’s lively downtown, where festival-goers will find a treasure of independent, farm-to-table restaurants and a colorful street performer on every corner, from musicians to magicians to living statues.

The Grand Tasting on Saturday from 1:30- 5 PM will showcase area chefs, wineries, farmers, and artisan food producers.  General admission ticket holders will have several hours to sip, sample, and shop. Asheville and the surrounding area boast award-winning chefs and restaurants, many whom you’ll have the chance to meet. Wine producers and distributors will be on hand as well, letting guests sample local, regional, and national labels.

Get a link for tickets and more details for the Asheville Wine and Food Festival and other Asheville festivals on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

Goombay Festival in Asheville

July 24-26    31st Annual Goombay Festival A three day African-Caribbean festival, located in downtown Asheville, that lives up to its West African name, meaning rhythm or drum, with rhythmic sounds and colorful sights. The Goombay dancers wear colorful costumes and high headdresses topped with feathers. Located on Eagle Street in downtown Asheville.

Get a link for more information about the Goombay Festival  on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

"Sweet" at the Asheville Wine and Food Festival

August 24   Sweet   The Asheville Wine and Food Festival's most decadent event is an after-dinner fête in the historic Grove Arcade featuring locally-sourced desserts, specialty cocktails, champagne, and elegant live music. Many of the Arcade shops stay open for some after-hours shopping. 

The Grove Arcade  was built by E.W. Grove, the visionary and creator of the Grove Park Inn, and opened in 1929 thriving until World War II as one of the country's leading public markets. Asheville's historically renovated Grove Arcade has once again returned as a destination featuring the best the region has to offer from fabulous foods to delicious dining and local crafts. The wonderful design and architecture alone are worth a trip to Asheville. The Arcade is located at 1 Page Avenue, downtown Asheville NC.

WNC Chefs Challenge Finals this Week

August 23   WNC Chef Challenge Finals   The grand finale will kick off the WNC Magazine Asheville Wine & Food Festival. Chefs battle for the championship and dinner guests will receive six courses (3 from each team) and will participate in scoring the dishes to determine the winner of the Chef Challenge Semifinals. Special wines are selected based on the "Secret" ingredient and are available for purchase along with beers and cocktails. Tickets for the Grand Finale are $99 and include the six plated culinary creations from the chefs and two complimentary drinks (wine or beer.)

Ooh La La Curiosity Market Today in Asheville

August 18  Ooh La La Curiosity Market An outdoor market in Pritchard Park featuring works by local painters, leather smiths, jewelry makers, potters ,up-cycled crafters, and other curious delights, all beneath the colored canopies of large market umbrellas.

In addition to the artists, the market will also feature live local music with up three musical acts performing each Saturday and will include everything from a solo saxophonist to folk, blues, acoustic, and jazz acts.

Shindig on the Green this Saturday

August 18  Shindig on the Green     Held outdoors at Pack Square Park in the heart of downtown Asheville, this FREE event  was voted the #1 Local Outdoor Concert in the Mountain Xpress "Best of WNC" survey for four years. Bring your instruments, your lawn chair or blanket, family and friends and join the fun eight summer Saturdays.

Get more Asheville events and attractions on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

Dog Day Afternoon Festival

August 18   Dog Day Afternoon Festival at Carrier Park   The event kicks off at 10:30 AM with a dog-friendly fun run sponsored by Dr. Kani Nicolls, around Carrier Park and will continue until 4 PM with two bands, dog contests including a Weiner Dog race, "Best Heinz 57", "Most Ear- resistible" and the Fastest Dog in Asheville Competition.

The Companion Dog Training School will also host an agility course and offer training tips for dog owners.  The festival will feature a large cooling tent as well as doggie pools to keep both dogs and humans beat the heat

Get a link for the Dog Day Afternoon Festival and other Asheville events and festivals on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

Downtown After 5 This Friday

August 17   Downtown After 5   The Asheville Downtown Association brings together some of the best musicians in the area and throughout the Southeast. The concert series features biodegradable food and beverage containers, staffed compost and recycling stations, a solar-powered main stage and a complimentary bike corral.

Biltmore Movable Feast - Al Fresco Dining at the Estate

August 17   A Movable Feast   at Biltmore 5:30 PM on the Biltmore Estate in the "Walled Garden" - An evening of al fresco dining and wine brought to you by Estate Executive Chef Damien Cavicchi. The event begins with a cocktail reception featuring hors d’oeuvres and live music.

The “Southern French Countryside” menu will be served at a feasting table located on a secluded vista in the Biltmore vineyards. Tickets are $185 per person and include tax and gratuity. In the event of rain, dinner will be held on August 19. For reservations, call (828) 257-5995

Laugh Your Asheville OFF this week

August 14-18:   6th Annual Laugh Your Asheville OFF  One of the largest and most respected stand-up comedy events in the country. The event attracts top comedy producers and representatives that will be in attendance to scout the hottest new comedic talent.

This year over 60 comedians perform in 9 shows for Asheville's biggest ever comedy event. The Laugh Your Asheville Off Comedy Festival is the countries leading non competitive format stand up comedy festival. The philosophy of the festival is to provide the talent with an amazing stage, great audience and an opportunity to deliver.  The goal for performers is to achieve what the festival calls a "Stand out Stand up".

WNC Chef Challenge Semi-finals

August 14  WNC Chef Challenge Semi-finals: Knife and Fork VS L.A.B. (Lexington Avenue Brewery) Chefs battle for the championship and dinner guests will receive six courses (3 from each team) and will participate in scoring the dishes to determine the winner of the Chef Challenge Semifinals. Special wines are selected based on the "Secret" ingredient and are available for purchase along with beers and cocktails. 

August 16   WNC Chef Challenge Semi-finals: Stewart Lyon (Boca), David Ryba (Inn on Biltmore Estate)  

With 10 teams  eliminated in previous competitions, The final 4 teams and competitors are: Returning 2011 Champion Nate Allen (Knife & Fork), Stewart Lyon (Boca), David Ryba (Inn on Biltmore Estate) and Jason Roy (Lexington Avenue Brewery.) The Century Room on the Park, located above Pack’s Tavern on 20 South Spruce Street in Asheville, will serve as host for the dinners on August 14 and 16. Tickets for the Semi-Finals are $49 and include the six plated culinary creations from the chefs, but not  alcohol, tax or gratuities.

The grand finale  competition will kick off the WNC Magazine Asheville Wine & Food Festival on Thursday, August 23 to determine  the “Best Chef in WNC” for 2012.

Get a link for the WNC Chefs Challenge and other Asheville events on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

Biltmore Concert Series continues tonight with Peter Frampton

August 11   Biltmore Concert Series   Award-winning musicians perform on the South Terrace and on Biltmore's newest event venue - Diana at Biltmore, an intimate setting on the vista overlooking Biltmore House. This Concert: Peter Frampton and Grin and Bear it.

Get more information about the Biltmore Concert Series and other Asheville events on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

Asheville Pizza Showdown

August 12, 4 PM - 10 PM at  The Garage at Biltmore, 101 Fairview Road, Suite B in Asheville NC. Head for the Asheville Pizza Showdown and enjoy all-you-can-eat pizza, a mini-beer fest and live music. Tickets are $30 and benefits Manna Food Bank.  Former champions, Anthony Cerrato (from Strada) and Frank's Roman Pizza, will be on hand to defend their supreme pizza title.

Grove Park Inn Hosts Gingerbread House Demonstrations

August 11   Gingerbread House Demonstrations at The Grove Park Inn   Get ready for the annual gingerbread house competition with a day of demonstrations designed to position you for success at the popular event. From design skills and scoring to baking secrets and transportation tips, the experts will with recipes, entry forms and other useful information available at the demonstration.

There will also be special Gingerbread door prizes for some lucky attendees.

Live Mountain Music this Saturday Night at Shindig on the Green

August 11   Shindig on the Green  Held outdoors at Pack Square Park in the heart of downtown Asheville, this FREE event was voted the #1 Local Outdoor Concert in the Mountain Xpress "Best of WNC" survey for four years. Bring your instruments, your lawn chair or blanket, family and friends and join the fun eight summer Saturdays.

Wood Day at the Folk Art Center - An Annual Favorite Asheville Event

August 11   Wood Day at the Folk Art Center   An annual celebration of wood crafts including craft demonstrations and hands-on activities. The Twelfth Annual Carve Off Competition takes place between 1 - 3 PM.

For the contest, participants have two hours to turn a simple block of wood into a work of art. Carvers must sign up by 12:30 to participate. Demonstrations include flute making, wood turning, broom making and furniture design and construction. FREE admission.

Celebrate the French Broad River at Riverfest

August 11, 1 PM - 7 PM  RiverFest 2012   Celebrate the French Broad River with an exciting lineup of music with Asheville's own Nikki Talley leading off the afternoon, followed by Mountain Feist, and RiverFest 2012 headliner The Galen Kipar Project. There will also be kids activities, food, beer, crafts, and of course, the Anything That Floats Parade of rafts.

Anything That Floats Parade Teams of adults and/or youths build anything that floats without a motor with creativity, innovation and zaniness are encouraged. Rafts can represent a business, organization, group, or any personal theme. The parade begins at Hominy Creek Park and finishes at Jean Webb Park. The home-made crafts will be competing for the titles of Most Creative, Green Machine, Ugliest, Funniest, and Most Unique Design.

Get more information about the French Broad River and Asheville attractions on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide

Vance Birthplace hosts Civil War Encampment

August 11-12  Civil War Encampment at the Vance Birthplace   Experience the everyday life of a North Carolina soldier during the American Civil War during this encampment of Company F of the 16th North Carolina Regiment. Try on a knapsack, shoulder a musket or sample some army rations during this two day living history event at the birthplace of North Carolina's Civil War governor. Civil War author and historian, Michael Hardy, will also appear for a book discussion and signing

Zebulon B. Vance Birthplace is the restored pioneer childhood homestead of North Carolina's Civil War governor and reconstructionist senator. Nestled in the picturesque Reems Creek Valley below the mountains, just a few miles from downtown Weaverville, the Vance Birthplace makes an excellent family outing to explore the old grounds, house, outbuildings, seasonal events and visitor center. The Birthplace is located just north of Asheville at 911 Reems Creek Road in Weaverville NC.

Biltmore Concert Series Features the Steve Miller Band

August 9    Biltmore Concert Series   Award-winning musicians perform on the South Terrace and on Biltmore's newest event venue - Diana at Biltmore, an intimate setting on the vista overlooking Biltmore House. This Concert features the Steve Miller Band.

Art and Craft Festival this Weekend in Biltmore Village

August 4-5  40th Annual Village Art and Craft Festival   This annual event held in historic Biltmore Village offers  high quality art and crafts from 100+ exhibitors. Held on the grounds of The Cathedral of All Souls. 

Vote Asheville "Best Mountain Town"

Asheville has been featured in a new online poll by Blue Ridge Outdoors for Best Mountain Towns and Outdoor Cities. There are three categories and Asheville is listed under mid-size mountain cities.  Asheville is currently in the lead for its category but with online voting, anything can happen. Only one vote per category per network address.

Other NC mountain cities in the small cities category include Brevard, Bryson City, Cashiers, Cherokee, Hot Springs, Sylva and Waynesville.

Winners will be featured in the Novemeber issue of Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine.
 

CLICK HERE to Vote

Lake Logan Multisport Festival

August 4-5  Lake Logan Multisport Festival  This multisport event has become one of the most popular race weekends in the Southeast. It attracts elite and regular triathletes from across the U.S. for the international distance triathlon on Saturday and the sprint triathlon and aquathon (swim/run) on Sunday. Lake Logan is located in Canton, just west of Asheville.

Ooh La La Curiosity Market this Saturday

August 4  Ooh La La Curiosity Market   An outdoor market in Pritchard Park  featuring works by local painters, leather smiths, jewelry makers, potters ,up-cycled crafters, and other curious delights, all beneath the colored canopies of large market umbrellas. In addition to the artists, the market will also feature live local music with up three musical acts performing each Saturday and will include everything from a solo saxophonist to folk, blues, acoustic, and jazz acts.