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 hosts Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair this Weekend

October 30, 31, November 1, 2015     Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair  This annual Fair is hosted by the  Western North Carolina Agricultural Center, in the McGough Arena,  The event includes 100’s of animals, crafters, workshops and demonstrations.  See spinning, knitting, weaving, felting and much more. 
 Join a workshop class to improve your skills or just enjoy browsing and shopping the beautiful and unique apparel and wearable art at SAFF.  

The Fair is open Friday and Saturday from 9:00AM-6:00PM, Sunday from 9:00AM-4:00PM.  Admission is $3 per person, Youth under 13 years are free.

 

photo courtesy of SAFF

Asheville's RiverMusic Series Final Concert for 2015

October 9, 2015    RiverMusic Concert Series    This is a Series of five Friday nights of live concerts by the French Broad River in the River Arts District. This concert is the final in the 2015 series and fourth season.


5:30 PM - Opening act: Lyric
6:30 PM - The Lee Boys
8:00 PM - Headliners Fred Wesley and The New JB’s

Gates open at 5 PM and the first performance starts at 5:30 PM. Head for the river and enjoy a top-notch mix of acts at the RiverLink Sculpture and Performance Plaza in the River Arts District of Asheville NC.  The Series is hosted by RiverLink, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the environmental and economic development of the French Broad River. 

What to do this weekend in Asheville

June 19, 2015    Downtown After Five   Free live music entertainment in downtown Asheville. Headlining this month is Corey Harris. The celebration is every third Friday, May through September, with the goal of encouraging locals and visitors to enjoy downtown Asheville NC and support local businesses and entertainers.  

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

Annual Comic Classic Weekend at the Grove Park Omni Inn

March 13 - 15, 2015    26th Annual Comedy Classic Weekend at the Grove Park Inn   Join the Grove Park Inn for two days and nights full of laughter as they celebrate this 26th Annual Comedy Classic Weekend. Package holders get access to all of the weekend's laugh-out-loud events including preferred seating for Friday and Saturday comedy shows. 

Friday's headliner will be comedian Gary Gulman and Saturday's headliner will be comedian John Heffron. 

Check Grove Park Inn availability and current rates HERE

What to do this Weekend in Asheville: River Arts District Studio Stroll

November 8 - 9, 2014   River Arts District Studio Stroll    The first, largest, and most walkable tour of working artists' studios in the region, the River Arts District Studio Stroll takes place in 19 historic buildings along the French Broad River. There will be artists' demonstrations and hands-on activities throughout the weekend. An Information Booth will be located at the 5-points intersection of Depot St. across from the Clingman Café.

River Arts District  is open year around - meet 150+ artists in their studios, visit craft galleries and shops and stop to re-energize at one of the cafes or restaurants.. Schedules are available online. Twice a year, every second weekend in June and November, Asheville’s River Arts District opens to the public for two days of festivities known as the STUDIO STROLL. 

On SECOND SATURDAYS artists welcome you into their studios to talk with them, see their latest artwork, watch demonstrations, and experience for yourself the magic hidden inside the time-worn factories and warehouses along the French Broad River. Click HERE for a map of the River Arts District and how to get to there.  

 

Carolina Bonsai Expo this Weekend in Asheville

October 11 - 12, 2014   Carolina Bonsai Expo   The juried work of bonsai enthusiasts from bonsai clubs in a six-state region of the United States is on exhibit. Every year the Expo includes free educational programming, workshops, a bonsai marketplace featuring plants, pots, tools and books for sale, ikebana displays and a live auction of bonsai and bonsai-related items. 

This year's guest artist is David DeGroot. The Expo is held annually at the North Carolina Aboretum, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Wayin Asheville NC. The expo is free for Arboretum Society members or with the standard parking fee ($12 per personal vehicle).

Downtown Art Walk tonight in Asheville

June 6, 2014    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. 25 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.

Find complete visitor information on the Asheville NC Guide.

 

 

MLK Annual Peace March and Rally in Asheville

January 20  The  Annual Peace March and Rally  celebrating Martin Luther King Jr Day will take place beginning 11:30 AM at St. James AME Church at Martin Luther King Boulevard and Hildebrand Street and continuing to City-County Plaza in Pack Square Park.

Speakers at the Rally, which coincides with President Obama’s second inauguration ceremony, will present readings from the Emancipation Proclamation, Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream” speech, and President Obama’s famous 2008 address to the nation on race.

The 2014 Candlelight Service is 6:00 PM at Nazareth First Baptist Church.  These are all FREE events.

Find local lodging and attractions on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

Asheville Downtown Gallery Association Art Walk

November 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.

25 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.

Get additional links for Asheville Art Galleries and craft shops on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide. 

Ooh La La Curiosity Market Today in Asheville

July 6   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.

What to do this weekendin AsheivlleL Stories on Asheville's Post

July 6   Stories on Asheville's Front Porch   Stories from the Heart: Travel and Travail.  The Tellers are Gwenda Ledbetter, Sherry Lovett, Nancy Reeder, and VixiJill Glenn. This event is FREE!

Rain or Shine and held in Pack Place Rhino Courtyard - enter under the Diana Wortham marquee on Biltmore Avenue. Event Sponsors: Creperie Bouchon, Clark Communications, Asheville Storytelling Circle ,Pack Place, JMonet, White Pine Acupuncture. 10:30 - 11:30 AM

Asheville Mardi Gras Events

February 7 - 12   Mardi Gras in Asheville   Enjoy a variety of events filled with music, dance and costumes during Asheville's Mardi Gras:

February 7 - LaZoom Mardi Gras Tour. Get on the purple bus for a humorous twist on a city tour. The creators of LaZoom hail from New Orleans so they know first hand how to throw an authentic Mardi Gras celebration. Take part in one of two Mardi Gras tours where you can enjoy performances by David Earle and the PlowShares.
February 8 - Running of the Winos Asheville Mardi Gras annual traditions of “wine hopping” downtown to spread the Asheville Mardi Gras spirit!
February 9 - Zapow Gallery Steamboat Punk Carnival Show from 7-9 with music by The Extraordinary Contraptions.
Scandal’s Night Club – Krewe Party/Drag Show Party.
Toy Boat – Seduction Side Show with After Party to Follow.
Olive or Twist – Zydeco Dancing.
February 10 - Mardi Gras Grand Parade at 3:05 p.m. in downtown Asheville. This event will happen rain or shine. They'll be dancing in the streets of Asheville.
6th Annual Queen’s Ball: Immediately following the Parade at Pack’s Tavern’s Century Room, Free and open to the public. Music by Bayou Diesel
Fat Tuesday February 12 - Mardi Gras Day

Get a link for details about Asheville's Mardi Gras events on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

Asheville Winter Warmer Beer Festival this Weekend

January 26   Winter Warmer Beer Festival   Shake off the Winter Blahs at the 6th Annual Asheville Winter Warmer Beer Festival from 3:00 - 7:00 PM. Co-hosts are ThreeSheets:Design, Brews Cruise, Inc., and French Broad Brewing Co. This year's venue,  the arena floor level of Asheville's Civic Center, allows for an even larger attendance. More than 30 local and national brewers will be serving up their brews.
 
This year the Festival will "share the love" and offer the opportunity to support the Western North Carolina Alliance (WNCA). For 30 years, the Western North Carolina Alliance has been a trusted community partner, marshaling grassroots support to keep the forests healthy, the air and water clean and the mountain communities vibrant. Utilizing a combination of policy advocacy, scientific research and community collaboration, the Alliance and its chapters throughout Western North Carolina unleash the power of citizens’ voices to protect the natural heritage of the greater Asheville region so that people and the environment can thrive.

Advanced ticket purchase is recommended as the previous 5 years' festival have sold out.

Asheville Weekend Event: Eliada'a Corn Maze

Friday, Saturday and Sunday the "Fields of Fun" are open for kids of all ages. Eliada's Corn Maze offers a 12 acre maze cut out of a field of corn plus corn cannons, hay rides, the cow train, a giant sandbox filled with corn, giant tube slides, the storybook trail, and more

Admission to the maze is just $9 for adults 12 and over and $6 for children ages 4-11. Group admission is $7 for adults and $5 for children; a group is considered 20 or more. Groups must pay as a group. The Maze will be open weekends through October 28.

Eliada's Corn Maze is located at 2 Compton Drove in Asheville NC. Get a link for details and directions on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.