Downtown After Five this Weekend in Asheville NC

August 19, 2016    Downtown After Five   Free live music entertainment in downtown Asheville.  The celebration is every third Friday, May through September, with the goal of encouraging locals and visitors to enjoy downtown Asheville and support local businesses and entertainers.  

Headlining this month:  the Asheville All-Stars. Bringing together some of Asheville’s best musicians, the All-Stars show has quickly become a favorite of the summer. Audiences will be treated to a mix of original songs and fun covers. This year's line up includes: Peggy Ratusz, Suzanna Baum, CaroMia Tiller, Whitney Moore, Andrew Scotchie, Josh Phillips, Matt Williams, Josh Blake, Juan Holladay, Zack Page, Ryan Reardon, Chuck Lichtenberger, Simon Thomas George, River Gruegarian, Patrick Thomas, Derrick Lee Johnson, Je Widenhouse, Jonathan Scales.

Lots of local beers will be on tap along with  plenty of local taste treats from food vendors: D.O.G.S., Gypsy Queen Cuisine, Kernel Mike's Kettle Corn and Snow Cones, Moe's Original BBQ, Rosetta's Kitchen, Simply Nuts, Taste & See Food Truck and Ultimate Ice Cream Company

The event is located on North Lexington Avenue (between Hiawassee and the I-240 overpass) in downtown Asheville NC. Food and beer vendors will be available.

Asheville NC Hosts 89th Annual Mountain Dance and Folk Festival

August 4 - 6, 2016    89th Annual Mountain Dance and Folk Festival   This is the nation’s longest running folk festival. The 89th annual edition of this three-day event showcases the best of the region’s old-time and bluegrass musicians, mountain dance groups, cloggers, and ballad singers. 

Enjoy a different show every night, beginning at 7:00 PM nightly at the Diana Wortham Theatre at Pack Place in downtown Asheville NC.

Final Week of The Swanannoa Gathering

July 31 - August 6, 2016   Swanannoa Gathering - Mando and Banjo Week and Fiddle Week  One of the finest programs of its kind anywhere, staffed by some of the world’s best players and instructors.  

Mando & Banjo Week features classes in two of the instruments that are at the core of several of the most popular folk genres, including bluegrass, old-time, Irish and Scottish, as well as some of the more adventurous blendings of traditional and jazz flavors known as ‘new acoustic’ music.

photo courtesy of Swanannoa Gathering

Mando & Banjo Week has been paired with our Fiddle Week, offering classes in similar styles, to encourage students from both programs to jam with each other, and with guitar classes in both programs to provide rhythm players, the possibilities for impromptu bands and jam sessions are rich, indeed.

There will be concerts throughout the week featuring our world-class staff, and the optional Student Showcase at week’s end will be an opportunity for students to show what they have learned.

 

LEAF Downtown Returns to Asheville NC this Weekend

July 30 - 31, 2016     Annual LEAF Downtown AVL   Celebrate community, creativity, diversity, and family in the heart of downtown Asheville NC in Pack Square Park. 

Enjoy two days filled with music, art, workshops, great food and drinks and a variety of family activities all with an emphasis on local talent. 

Event hours are 8/1, Noon - 10 PM and 8/2 10 AM - 6 PM. The 5K LEAF Art Dash begins at 9 AM and travels through downtown and surrounding areas while roaming artists perform on the sidelines. 

photo courtesy of LEAF

LEAF Downtown AVL celebrates music, art and culture presenting a powerful “Soultown” theme bringing the very best soul, funk, R&B and world music talent to one and ALL – for FREE! Get ready for a fully immersive experience, welcoming families and all walks of life to gather as one community in rhis beautiful mountain city. LEAF Downtown AVL will feature a wealth of community partner programming including the return of the Voices of Asheville tent, dozens of family activities, three stages featuring local, regional and national talent, 80+ local culinary and craft arts vendors curated in part by Asheville Grown, roaming performers galore, a one-of-a-kind VIP experience and the second annual LEAF Art Dash 5K.

 

Ooh La La Curiosity Market this Saturday in Asheville NC

July 16, 2016  - 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.

Get more Asheville NC weekend events on our Asheville Visitor Guide.