NC Arboretum in Asheville Hosts Carolina Craft Day

September 28, 11 AM to 4 PM   Carolina Craft Day at the NC Arboretum   A day to celebrate Southern Appalachian traditions as they come alive at The North Carolina Arboretum. The event, now in its seventh year features craft demonstrations,  juried art and craft vendors and plant sales at the Arboretum's Education Center. 

Admission to Carolina Craft Day is free for members or with the parking fee of $8 per personal vehicle.

This year's participating craft vendors include:
BearWallow Wild - Native Plant Species
CC Allen Pottery  - Crystal Coates Allen
Celtic Soul Craft: Felting Art - Jude Lally
Ceramic Artist - Rose Tripoli Mueller
ChaloSulky and Bamboo Farming USA - Daphne Lewis
Clay Alchemy - Anita Walling
Dreamwind Flutes - Lee Entrekin
Funke Originals - Carol Funke
Gardens By Sylvia & Hypertufa Containers - Sylvia Elwyn
Green Grass Flutes - Geri Littlejohn
Mountain Brushworks - Patti H. Best
Nate Barton Works - Nate Barton
Plaid Sheep Yarn Shop - Johnetta Heil
Red Bandana Jewelry - Meghan Roach
Richard Hall Woodcrafts - Richard Hall
Saralola Studio - Sara Day Hatton and Louise Turner
Shelley’s Family Jewels - Shelley Johnston
Stonefly Woodcrafts - Jonathan Marchal
The Twig Diva - Francine Menor
Yoyo Moore - Yolanda Moore

Diavolo Dance Theater Returns to Asheville - Get your Tickets NOW!

October 8-9, 8 PM at the Diana Wortham Theatre  Diavolo Dance Theater  returns by popular demand.  With a wizardry all its own, internationally renowned modern acrobatic dance company Diavolo Dance Theater incorporates thrilling stunts with incredible interactive props in its one-of-a-kind performances. Gasp out loud at the performers' sense of daring in this eye-popping, jaw-dropping presentation.

This renowned company includes dancers, gymnasts and actors who redefine dance with their magnificent sets, daring feats and dramatic movement which make their audiences gasp aloud. Students will enjoy a "meet the dancers" session, a discussion of trust and teamwork, and a Question and Answer period. There is also an opportunity for some students to come on stage and work with the dancers.

Individual Tickets: $8;  Groups of 11 or more: $7 (1 free teacher ticket per every 10 students)

Visit the Asheville City Market this Weekend in Two Locations

September 21   Asheville City Market   Find the the freshest, best-tasting food around plus local artisan products in two locations for your convenience: downtown and South Asheville. Debit and credit cards are accepted. Also enjoy live music, cooking demonstrations and food tastings from local chefs, Kids Corner Market activities, and more.

Eliada's Annual Corn Maze Now Open for the Season in Asheville

September 6 - October 27 -   Eliada's Annual Corn Maze   The maze will open September 6th and remain open each Friday, Saturday and Sunday through October 27th. The maze will open from 4-8 on Fridays, 10-8 on Saturdays, and 11-7 on Sundays.

Eliada’s annual corn maze is a 12 acre maze with 2 unique trails cut out of a field of corn. Accompanying maps with check points help guide you through 4 miles of maze trails. Also cut into the corn field are two Storybook Trails for children. These trails take you on a fun adventure as you read the stories of Spookley the Square Pumpkin and Ciderella and the Little Glass Sipper! Spookley and Ciderella merchandise are also for sale for children and families to continue to enjoy the stories and characters at home.

This year, Eliada is partnering with the Asheville Grown Business Alliance to create a “Love Asheville Give Local” theme in the maze.  A giant heart, with this familiar slogan creates the maze trails and celebrates Eliada as a local charity in the region.  The Asheville Grown Business Alliance’s mission is to support independently owned businesses in the community.  “Local Independent Businesses cycle 3 times more money back in to the local economy and give greater support to a community’s non-profit and civic needs” (http://ashevillegrown.com/).

In addition to the corn maze, there are attractions like corn cannons with pumpkin men targets, a cow train, hayride, pumpkin patch, giant sandbox filled with corn kernels, haybale maze, spider-web net climb on, and giant slides.

Founded in 1906, Eliada Homes, Inc. is a non-profit agency serving the children and families of Western North Carolina.

Get links for Asheville lodging, visitor information and other local attractions on the Asheville NC Guide.

Final Asheville Downtown After Five this Weekend

September 20   Downtown After Five   Truth & Salvage Co. and The Blue Rags will be closing out the 25th anniversary season of Downtown After 5. Headliners, Truth & Salvage Co. got their start in Asheville as Scrappy Hamilton in 1999, and recorded their 2013 album, "Pick Me Up" at Echo Mountain Studios. The Blue Rags have been a local favorite since the late 1990s and helped to put Asheville on the musical map.

They have since played with a number of notable acts, while occasionally reuniting for a great show. Local brews from Highland Brewing Company, Pisgah Brewing, Asheville Brewing Company and French Broad Brewing Company, plus, regional favorites Sierra Nevada and SweetWater Brewing as well as national brands from Budweiser of Asheville and Empire Distributing will be on tap. Wine and water will also be available for purchase

Get links for more Asheville events and festival on the Asheville NC Guide.

Brewgrass Festival in Asheville

September 21   Brewgrass Festival   40 American breweries gather to showcase more than 120 different beers. Live entertainment includes a great lineup of national and regional bluegrass musicians that, in the past, has included such notables as Cadillac Sky, Carolina Chocolate Drops, The Infamous String Dusters, Dry Branch Fire Squad, J.D. Crowe, The Osborne Brothers, Norman Blake, Tony Trischka, Jim Lauderdale, Valerie Smith, Tony Furtado, Yonder Mountain String Band, and Sons Of Ralph. The event also features a variety of area food vendors and plenty of water.

Diana Wortham Theatre Presents "Jazz in the Forum with Steinway Artist Michael Jefry Stevens"

September 14, 7:30 PM -at the Diana Wortham Theatre, 2 South Pack Square in downtown Asheville.  Jazz in the Forum with Steinway Artist Michael Jefry Stevens.   Over the past 40 years Pianist/Composer Michael Jefry Stevens has been associated with some of the most important figures in modern jazz including Dave Douglas, Mark Feldman and his long time bassist and collaborator Joe Fonda.

Mr. Stevens has been in the forefront of the NYC and international improvised music scene. He has released over 75 cds of his original music and composed over 400 works for various ensembles, including big band, string quartet, music for voice, music for solo instruments and various small group compositions.

Tickets: Adults $20 in advance or $25 day of show, Students & Children 12 & Under $15, Package for entire 3 concert series $51.

Montford Market Today at the Visitors Center

September 11 - Montford Farmers Market is a fantastic mid-week market in a convenient downtown location.  We are a producer-only market that provides an array of local, hand crafted products.  MFM offers sustainably grown fruits and vegetables, baked goods, wood-fired breads, an amazing selection of meats, goat cheese, handmade soaps and more. 2 PM - 6 PM.

The Asheville Visitors Center is located at 36 Montford Avenue in downtown Asheville NC

Ooh La La Curiosity Market in Asheville

September 14   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.

5th Annual Garden Stroll this Weekend in Asheville

September 14   5th Annual West Asheville Garden Stroll   This event showcases 15 gardens with this year's Stroll theme, "Garden to Table". Gardens on view will display a variety of gardening styles producing vegetables, fruits, eggs, honey, and flowers for the table. 11 AM to 4 PM, beginning at Hall Fletcher Elementary School , 60 Ridgelawn Avenue, at 10:30 with a short presentation by longtime residents about the role of gardening in the community's history.

Get links for more Asheville events this weekend on the Asheville NC Guide. 
 

RiverMusic Concert Series features The Alan Evens Trio

September 13   RiverMusic Concert Series    The Alan Evans Trio, Bubonik Funk and more. This is a Series of five Friday nights of live concerts by the French Broad River in the River Arts District of Asheville, NC. RiverLink has teamed up with Heira Productions to assemble a top-notch mix of quality national acts and local favorites.

There will be 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.

Get links for more Asheville news, visitor information and attractions on the Asheville NC Guide. 

 

The North Carolina Mountain State Fair begins this weekend in Asheville

September 6 to 15 The  North Carolina Mountain State Fair,  held at the WNC Agricultural Center,  is the third largest fair in North Carolina and celebrates the heritage of the Blue Ridge Mountains, including agriculture, music, crafts, art, food, entertainment, display of livestock, competitions, and midway amusement rides.

This year's Music Line Up includes: Lyric, The Vinyl Brothers Big Band, Nikki Talley, City Limits, Kontained, Carolina Rex, Emily Bodley, Free Flight, Greywolf, Joe Lasher Jr., 96.5 House Band, Leigh Glass, Sharkadelics, Contagious, Ryan “RnB” Barber, Kayla McKinney, Michelle Leigh, Jody Medford, plus many more.

The Fair Schedule offers special promotions and discount days:
 Friday, September 6th
FREE Gate Admission for students until 6pm for Grades K-12
Friday Night Frenzy: 9:00 pm till 1:00 am - One price admission includes unlimited rides $20.00

Monday, September 9th
Unlimited Rides all day for $20

Tuesday, September 10th
Kids 12 and under - Unlimited Rides all day for $20

Wednesday, September 11th
Ingles Day - FREE Gate Admission with five cans of Laura Lynn brand foods from Ingles supermarket.

Thursday, September 12th
Unlimited Rides all day for $20

Friday, September 13th
FREE Gate Admission for seniors 65 & older
Friday Night Frenzy: 9:00 pm till 1:00 am - One price admission includes unlimited rides $20.00

Regular ticket prices:
$8.00 Adult (Advance Discount Tickets $6.00)
$4.00 Children 6 - 12 years of age. (Advance Discount Tickets $2.00)
$4.00 Senior 65 years and older. (Advance Discount Tickets $2.00)
Children 5 years and under FREE
Groups (30+ people) Advance discount price $5.00
“Family Fun Pack” - $35. The Family Fun Pack includes 5 Gate Admission tickets, 4 Ride tickets, plus vendor coupons.
Purchase advance discount tickets at Ingles, the WNC Ag Center and the WNC Farmers Market.

The WNC Agricultural Center is located at 1301 Fanning Bridge Rd. in Fletcher, NC (a suburb of Ashevile)