Can you feel it in the air? Festival season is returning to Asheville this spring and summer, and there is a palpable sense of elation around town. Laura here, and you best believe the second I’m fully vaccinated that I will be throwing on my flowiest pair of pants + funkiest dancing shoes and diving headfirst into the festivities.
To make it easy for you to join in on the fun, we rounded up a list of regional festivals that will be returning (or debuting) in the Asheville area for 2021. |
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Asheville Spring Herb Festival | 📆May 1 – 2 |📍Asheville, WNC Ag Center |💸 Free | Known as the largest herb festival in the Southeast, this event showcases plants, books, soaps, herbal crafts, medicinal herbs, dried flowers, baked goods + much more.
LEAF Retreat | 📆 May 13 – 16 |📍Black Mountain |💸 $116+ | This iconic local camping festival, which is operating at one-fifth of its regular crowd capacity this season, features culturally diverse music, workshops, panel discussions + other activities at the magical Lake Eden campground. Note: LEAF membership is required to purchase a ticket.
SpringSkunk Music Fest | 📆 May 13 – 15 |📍Greer, SC |💸 $50+ | A camping festival nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains that features bluegrass, Americana, folk, and alt country artists such as Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters, Tyler Ramsey, Jon Stickley Trio + more. Peep the full lineup here.
Psychedelic Jam Fest | 📆 June 11 – 13 |📍Asheville, Sly Grog Lounge |💸 $90 | Explore the educational aspects of psychedelics with music, art, dancing, and live visuals from local artists and musicians.
AsheJam Music Festival | 📆 June 25 – 27 |📍Asheville, WNC Ag Center |💸 $20+ | This 3-day festival is put on as part of the Southern Atlantic Hemp & Arts Expo and features an impressive lineup of funk, jam bands, bluegrass + Americana, including Perpetual Groove, Mad Professor, Interstellar Echoes, and more.
Grandfather Mountain Highland Games | 📆July 8 – 12 |📍Linville |💸$15+ | Immerse yourself in the spirit of the Scottish Highlands with 4 days of bagpipes, kilts, dancing, Celtic music, traditional athletic competitions + much more.
LEAF Downtown | 📆 Aug. 27 – 28 |📍Downtown Asheville |💸Free | A joyful celebration of Asheville’s rich local music tradition that includes soul, old time, folk, hip hop, Americana, blues, Appalachian roots, and new music by up-and-coming artists. Stay tuned for the lineup drop. |
Share with all your friends who are excited to blow off some steam this festival season.
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Weather
○ 65º | Mostly sunny | 10% chance of rain
Civic
○ At its Tues., April 20 meeting, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners will consider a partnership with the United for Youth Network that would address the achievement gap between white and Black students in the public school system. The network is made up of 18 community partners and would be coordinated by the United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County. (Mountain Xpress)
Community
○ Just Economics will host an 8-week virtual Voices for Economic Justice Training that starts on April 21. The free workshop will focus on providing education + skills for folks who consider themselves low-income or low-wage workers. To register, email organizer Carmen Ybarra.
○ Due to construction, a connector ramp from I-40 East to I-240 East in West Asheville will be closed through April 26. Traffic will be detoured to exit 53B where it will be directed to I-240 West to reach all exits from I-240. In addition, I-26 West traffic will be narrowed to one lane after it crosses I-40. (WLOS)
Cause
○ Asheville chefs are participating in a dance off to raise money for local nonprofit Food Connection. Through April 28, watch local chefs + restaurant staff dance in this compilation video and vote for your favorite with a $10 donation. Participants may vote an unlimited amount of times. 💃
Coronavirus
○ Check out the latest COVID-19 stats for NC from the Department of Health and Human Services here. As of Friday afternoon, 16,911 cases and 311 deaths have been reported in Buncombe County. See more Buncombe County-specific info, including waitlist numbers and vaccines distributed, here.
Outdoors
○ The Blue Ridge Parkway’s new superintendent, Tracy Swartout, will be the first woman to lead the park in 86 years. The 21-year National Park Service veteran will take the reins on May 23 and will face challenges like ever-increasing visitation + crumbling infrastructure. (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Dish
○ Table Right Here restaurant (formerly known as Table) is gearing up to reopen in the coming weeks with a new downtown space on 18 Lexington Ave. Catch up on more of the latest food news here. 🍔
Learn
○ Early-bird registration opens today for UNC Asheville’s Great Smokies Young Writers Workshop, discounted through April 30. Meeting July 12-23 via Zoom, the program is open to rising 9th graders through first-year college students. Featured classes this year are Black Poets of the 20th & 21st Century and Writing for Audio Drama. Learn more. ✍️ Ⓟ
Click the button below for local resources regarding the coronavirus.
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Spring fever is hitting Asheville hard, and we’re stoked over the new hangout spots popping up all over town. Say welcome to the latest spot on our radar — Flora Asheville’s new outdoor cafe (428 Haywood Rd.), which is hidden around the back of the shop.
Next time you’re bopping around West Asheville, we recommend stopping by for a refreshing beer, wine or coffee beverage while you search for your favorite new plant. The cafe is open from 11-7 p.m. on Thurs-Sat and 10-5 p.m. on Sundays.🪴 |
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Show
○ Blue Monday | Mon., Apr. 19 | 7-9 p.m. | The Joint Next Door, 1185 Charlotte Hwy., Fairview | Free | Mr. Jimmy plays the blues. 🎶 ○ Open Mic Night | Mon., Apr. 19 | 7-9 p.m. | Oklawaha Brewing Co., 147 1st Ave. E., Hendersonville | Free | Belt out your best tunes. 🎤
Trivia
○ Totally Rad Trivia | Mon., Apr. 19 | 6-8 p.m. | Highland Brewing Company, 12 Old Charlotte Hwy. | Free | Test out your current event + geography knowledge. 🌎
PlanAhead
○ Love Stream Virtual Concert | Tues., Apr. 20 | 6:30 p.m. | Virtual | Free | Join this virtual party featuring Mad Mike Martinez + friends. 🎸 ○ Taco & Tequila Crawl | Sat., Apr. 24 | 2-8 p.m. | South Slope, Downtown Asheville | $19.99+ | Stroll through downtown Asheville, eat tasty tacos, sip margaritas + more. 🌮 ○ Pisgah Legal’s Run for Justice Virtual 5K | Sat., May 29-Sat., Jun. 12 | 5 a.m.-3 a.m. | Presented Online | $25| Walk or run the route of your choice during our virtual 5k to support access to justice in our community. Ⓟ
Find more of this week’s local events in our April PlanAhead.
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Disclaimer: It is up to readers’ discretion to determine whether they feel comfortable participating in any mentioned events based on COVID-19 protocols and precautions. If you have questions, please contact the event’s organizers directly.
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