g Calendar of Events

Festival of Flowers at the Biltmore Estate.

Ongoing Events

STAY INFORMED Due to the ever-changing nature of events and festivals (as well as local and state mandates) in this current time and place, please be sure to check for updates by the hosting organizations, new safety protocols implemented, and so on.

• Late Winter/Spring — Festival of Flowers at

Biltmore Estate in Asheville. Enjoy the beauty of tulips, azaleas, and countless flowers as spring takes over this historic site.

• April-December — Art After Dark,

Waynesville. First Friday of the month. Evening stroll of galleries, restaurants, and breweries in downtown.

• May-September — Downtown After 5,

Asheville. Monthly concert series on Lexington

Avenue featuring local and national acts.

• May-September — Rhythm & Brews

Concert Series, Hendersonville. Monthly series featuring an array of local and regional acts. featuring local and regional acts from all genres.

• June-August — Brevard Music Center

Concert Series. A wide-array of outdoor events at the center featuring some of the finest national and international classical, opera, and string performers on the beautiful mountain campus.

• Early June-Labor Day — Pickin’ in the Park,

Canton. Weekly jam session showcasing local and regional musicians.

• Mid-June-Late October — Art in the Park,

Asheville. Dozens of artisan vendors, with live demonstrations. traditional music concerts held outdoors in downtown.

• Early November-Jan. 1 — Christmas at

Biltmore Estate. The grand estate puts on a show every holiday season with lighting, lit fireplaces inside, special musical performances, and other events.

• Mid-November-Early January — National

Gingerbread House Competition viewing at the

Grove Park Inn. Walk through the inn and see hundreds of intricate gingerbread creations and the award winners.

• Early to Mid-December — Dillsboro

Luminaries & Lights. Jackson County town is lit with luminaries, stores host open houses,

Santa, children’s activities, horse and buggy rides, music.

Shindig on the Green.

Upcoming Events

STAY INFORMED Due to the ever-changing nature of events and festivals (as well as local and state mandates) in this current time and place, please make sure to regularly check the websites listed to see any updates by the hosting organizations, new safety protocols implemented, and so on.

January

• Winter Warmer Beer Festival, Asheville.

February

• Comedy Classic Weekend, Grove Park Inn,

Asheville.

March

• Southern Conference Basketball

Championships, Asheville.

April

• Greening Up the Mountains, Sylva. A kickoff to the spring season, the festival features a day of music, crafts, and more.

May

• Lake Eden Arts Festival, Black Mountain.

LEAF aims to connect cultures and create community through music and art in the great outdoors. Music, poetry, dancing, camping, kids activities, and more. • French Broad River Festival, Hot Springs.

A weekend filled live music, outdoor recreation, craft beer, and more, all along the mighty French Broad River and nearby

Appalachian Trail. • Asheville Beer Week. A weeklong event celebrating the craft beer scene in Asheville and greater Western North Carolina. • White Squirrel Festival, Brevard.

Weekend event of live music, craft beer vendors, and more. • Beer City Festival, Asheville. Featuring

dozens of local, regional, and national craft breweries. • Sandburg Folk Music Festival, Carl

Sandburg Home, Flat Rock. • Saluda Arts Festival. Outdoor market of arts and crafts vendors, demonstrations, and live music. • Hook, Line, & Drinker Festival, Sylva.

Celebrating the WNC Fly Fishing Trail, the event features a day of live music, craft vendors, and more.

June

• Cold Mountain Music Festival, Lake

Logan. Two days of regional and national touring musical acts in the mountains of

Haywood County.

• Brevard Blues N’BBQ Festival. Serving up fine southern barbecue and blues music. • Art Trek Tryon. Dozens of artisan studios open to the public.

July

• Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands,

Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville. • Folkmoot USA, Waynesville. Two-week international dance and music festival.

Headquartered in Haywood County, but events also held at venues throughout

Western North Carolina. • LEAF Downtown Asheville. A weekend of live music, dance, and culture put on by the

Lake Eden Arts Festival. • The Big Crafty, Asheville. Over 150 artisan crafters, live music, and food vendors.

August

• Sourwood Festival, Black Mountain.

Music,dancing, arts and crafts,super food, kid's rides and games, face painting, andmore in an alcohol-free environment, along with gourmet sourwood honey. • Mountain Dance & Folk Festival, Diana

Wortham Theatre, Asheville. Since 1928, mountain fiddlers, banjo pickers, dulcimer sweepers, dancers, balladeers, and others have gathered the first weekend in August at the event. • Laugh Your Asheville Off. Weekend comedy festival featuring local, regional, and national comedians. • Mount Mitchell Crafts Fair, Burnsville.

Dozens of craft vendors in a picturesque small mountain town. • Smoky Mountain Folk Festival, Stuart

Auditorium, Lake Junaluska. Two nights of the finest traditional music and dancing in the region. • Canton Labor Day Celebration. Live music, vendors, rides, and children’s activities. • The NC Mountain State Fair, Western

North Carolina Agricultural Center, Fletcher.

Celebrating mountain traditions with rides, exhibits, art, food, concerts, and more. • The North Carolina Apple Festival is held annually overLabor Day Weekendin

Hendersonville. Visitors enjoy four days of fun including one of the most best known Street

Fairs in the Carolinas with freshly picked apples, arts & crafts, festival food, and free

Entertainment at the Historic Courthouse on

Hendersonville’s Main Street. • Mountain Song Festival, Brevard Music

Center. Nationally touring bands, local artists, children’s activities, nature exhibits, and more. • Greek Festival, Asheville. Sample traditional foods while enjoying Greek music, dance, and culture. • Mountain Heritage Day, Cullowhee.

Annual celebration featuring live Appalachian music and dance, with artisan crafters and demonstrations.

October

• Taste of Sylva. Culinary event showcasing restaurants in downtown and around the community. • Maggie Valley Oktoberfest. Live music, craft beer, and food vendors. • ColorFest, Dillsboro. Local artisan demonstrations. • Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands,

Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville. • Lake Eden Arts Festival, Black Mountain,

LEAF aims to connect cultures and create community through music and art in the great outdoors. Music, poetry, dancing, camping, kids activities, and more. • Church Street Art & Craft Show,

Waynesville. Over 20,000 visitors pass through this festival throughout downtown. Dozens of artisan booths, food vendors, as well as live

Appalachian music and craft demonstrations. • HardLox Festival, Pack Square, Asheville.

Jewish food and entertainment. • Oktoberfest, Asheville. Live music, craft beer and food vendors. • Apple Harvest Festival, Waynesville. Live artisan demonstrations, Appalachian music/clogging and dozens of craft booths and food vendors. Over 40,000 people stroll through downtown during the celebration.

November

• WNC Pottery Festival, Dillsboro.

Featuring master potters, the daylong event includes live demonstrations and craft booths. The festival was named a “Top 20

Event” by the Southeast Tourism Society. • Tryon Beer Fest. Celebrating all things craft beer.

December

• Warren Haynes Christmas Jam. A popular all-day concert fundraiser in Asheville, presented by Haynes (guitarist for Gov’t Mule and The Allman Brothers Band). • Balsam Range Art of Music Festival,

Lake Junaluska. Two days of nationally acclaimed bluegrass and Americana groups in the legendary Stuart Auditorium. • “A Night Before Christmas,” Waynesville.

A family holiday celebration in downtown, filled with live music, caroling, old-fashioned wagon ride, storytelling, and a special appearance by Santa. • First Night Asheville. Entertainment, games, and fireworks in an alcohol-free atmosphere.

Mountain Song Festival. Concerts on the Creek in Sylva.