No matter what time of year you visit Asheville, there’s a good chance you’ll find a festival or event taking place either in the streets of downtown, by the banks of the French Broad River or tucked away in a remote mountain meadow.
We Ashevillians love a good party, and our event calendar is chock-full of the best mountain music jamborees, foodie-fueled fiestas, and artsy adventures you’ll find in the area. Check out the seasonal highlights below to get an idea of how we like to get down!
Spring
- Asheville Fringe Arts Festival, March 16-23, 2025: Asheville Fringe continues to ask artists to explore the edges of their work, to collaborate across genres and to bring new and innovative performances to culturally adventurous audiences. We strongly suggest that you see more than one Fringe show because of the incredible variety of artists and types of work.
- Biltmore Blooms, March 21 - May 22, 2025: Nothing says spring quite like the tens of thousands of blooms bursting on the grounds of Biltmore, America’s Largest Home. The two-month spring flower celebration kicks off with orchids in the conservatory and 50,000 tulips of all shades and hues. April brings irises, roses and azaleas. Pink and white mountain laurel and rhododendrons close the show. Biltmore will introduced a new exhibit, Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures, beginning March 21, which will be the perfect complement to the Blooms.
- Asheville Orchid Festival, March 28-30, 2025: Hundreds of orchids will fill The North Carolina Arboretum this spring at the Asheville Orchid Festival. Hosted by the Western North Carolina Orchid Society, guests can purchase orchid plants, view dazzling orchid displays and attend classes and lectures.
- Asheville Herb Festival, April 25 - April 27, 2025: The largest herb festival in the United States and Canada is now in its fourth decade. Learn from herb growers, herbalists and related businesses while also seeing demonstrations from experts on natural gardening and landscaping.
- Get in Gear Fest, April 26, 2025: Connect with some of Western North Carolina's top gear makers and brands with a full day of outdoor recreation and experiences at the 2025 Get in Gear Fest. This family-friendly event features activities for all ages and outdoor experience levels, including live music, food trucks, local craft beer and non-alcoholic beverages. This year, the event will be held at Adventure Center of Asheville, and attendees can demo or purchase e-bikes, mountain bikes, tents, hammocks and other locally-made outdoor gear.
- Asheville Bread Festival, April 26 - April 27, 2025: Carb up at this biennial gathering of bakers, millers, farmers, chefs, and bread enthusiasts. This year's theme, "A Sense of Place," celebrates local talent and the region's natural abundance.
- WNC Farmers Market Spring Festival, May 2-4, 2025: Enjoy this free, three-day event at the region's largest farmers' market. This festival will feature locally sourced food and produce, music, kids crafts and a special food truck ramp cook-off. Market shops will be open to connect with local growers and farmers, and participants can grow their plant collection at the Growing in the Mountains Plant Sale.
- RAD Renaissance: A Celebration of Art, Resilience & Renewal, May 10, 2025: Asheville’s River Arts District hosts RAD Renaissance, a festival of art, music, food, and community, marking its recovery from Hurricane Helene. Enjoy live performances, interactive art, and the launch of the RAD Art Market, supporting displaced artists.
Summer
Downtown After 5
2025 Dates TBD | Downtown Asheville
Celebrate the joy of weekends the third Friday of every month from April through September. Performances are free, and feature local and regional jazz, classic soul, country rock, funk and blues musicians. Beers, ciders, and seltzers are on tap and food vendors are on hand.
Asheville Art in the Park
June 14, 21, 28 & October 4, 11, 18, 2025 | Downtown Asheville
Explore and purchase artwork from some of the region's finest artists working in glass, ceramics, wood, jewelry, metal, and more. Asheville Art in the Park takes place downtown in Asheville's Pack Square Park over three Saturdays in June and October.
Art in Bloom
June 2-18, June 19-22, June 27 - July 25, 2025 | Black Mountain
This multifaceted event in Black Mountain, celebrating nature and art, combines two gallery exhibits, live floral arrangements, and a local garden tour featuring working artists. Visit Black Mountain Center for the Arts June 19-22 to experience the stunning creativity of local Ikebana and Western floral designers who have created arrangements inspired by the artworks in the show.
Music on Main
June 14, 2025 | Weaverville
This beloved family-friendly event in downtown Weaverville features live music, kids' activities, beer, food and more starting at 4 p.m. along Weaverville's quaint Main Street.
Swannanoa Gathering
June 29 - August 2, 2025 | Warren Wilson College
This five-week teaching program on the campus of Warren Wilson College is a celebration of the traditional music of Southern Appalachia. It offers workshops in fiddle and banjo, Celtic and old-time, as well as folk music and dance, taught by some of the world's finest folk artists and instructors. Participants register in advance and come from near and far.
Shindig on the Green
July 5, 12, 19, 26 & August 9, 16, 23, 2025 | Downtown Asheville
Shindig on the Green is a free, outdoor mountain bluegrass music and dance festival that takes place on Saturdays throughout July and August in the heart of downtown Asheville at Pack Square Park. The performances — including bluegrass and old-time string bands, clog dancers, ballad singers, and storytellers — begin at about 7 p.m., or “along about sundown,” as folks around here like to say, and generally end about 10 p.m.
Chamber Music Society of the Carolinas
2025 Dates TBD | Swannanoa
Formally known as the Swannanoa Chamber Festival, this annual summer event features performances by acclaimed quartets and individual string and wind performers, celebrating the works of composing greats like Mozart, Schubert, Chopin, Brahms and Bach. Concerts will be held at Warren Wilson College and surrounding venues in the region.
The Big Crafty
July 12-13, 2025 | Downtown Asheville
Voted Western North Carolina's favorite art event, The Big Crafty brings hundreds of artists and vendors into Harrah's Cherokee Center for two days, allowing visitors to discover and support local wares. The event begins Saturday, July 12 from noon to 6 p.m. and costs $10 at the door. Sunday, July 13 has free admittance from noon to 6 p.m.
Skyview Golf Tournament
2025 Dates TBD | Muni Golf Course
Skyview is the longest-running Black golf tournament in the nation. Now in its 64th year, Skyview has helped launch the careers of 29 Black PGA golfers and is run by Asheville Civil Rights legend Matthew Bacoate.
Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands
July 17-20 & October 16-19, 2025 | Downtown Asheville
Showcasing the finest artwork of nearly 200 craftspeople from around the region, this four-day festival at Harrah's Cherokee Center in downtown Asheville offers the opportunity to watch artists practice their craft in live demonstrations as you shop. Live music also helps set the stage for this event, which features work across every medium, including clay, glass, fiber, paper, wood, jewelry, leather and metal, all by members of the revered Southern Highland Craft Guild.
Mountain Dance and Folk Festival
July 31 - August 2, 2025 | Asheville High School
In its 98th year and hailed as the nation’s longest-running folk festival, this is the preeminent event for old-time and bluegrass music. Ballad singers, banjo players and cloggers converge to tell stories of a bygone era through music and dance, and by doing so they continue to preserve the cultural traditions of Southern Appalachi
Asheville Comedy Festival
August 6-9, 2025 | Downtown Asheville
The Asheville Comedy Festival is one of the longest-running comedy events in the country. Having featured nearly 700 comedians over 16 years, the event continues to grow and innovate. Roaring into its 17th year August 6-9, 2025 there’s bigger and better still to come from the festival organizers including many surprise year-round special event performances.
Sourwood Festival
2025 Dates TBD | Black Mountain
Black Mountain's annual Sourwood Festival celebrates the region’s prized Sourwood honey every August. With a line-up of local musicians, honey tastings, and a decadent food fest, this family-friendly event is a favorite of locals and visitors alike.
Come to Leicester Studio Tour
August 16 & 17, 2025 | Leicester
This free, self-guided event is held annually the third weekend in August. Area artists in Leicester open their studios to the public, and visitors can choose their own tour stops along the scenic route. The tour comprises local and visiting artists working in a variety of media including clay, fiber, jewelry, metal, glass, wood, natural materials, painting and mixed media.
Fall
Y'all means all in Asheville! The Blue Ridge Pride Festival comes together to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community through inclusion, entertainment, education, art and more. Held in downtown Asheville, the annual event features a Welcome Parade, musical acts, food and dozens of vendors.
Goombay Festival
TBD
For more than 40 years, this annual celebration of African-Caribbean food and music has filled downtown Asheville with memorable flavors and the sounds of gospel, reggae, funk and soul.
Explore and purchase artwork by some of the finest artists in the region. Asheville Art in the Park takes place on three consecutive Saturdays in downtown Asheville in October. Some of the local artists who exhibit at these events are nationally-known. Not only can you take home a one-of-a-kind piece, when you make a purchase you'll also be helping to support a local art non-profit organization.
Hola Asheville
TBD
Downtown Asheville comes alive with the sights, sounds, music, pageantry, colorful costumes, and extraordinary talent of Latin America. Don't miss the delicious food vendors and shopping.
LEAF Festival
TBD
Travel the word -- through music and the arts! Enjoy the 50th anniversary of LEAF through a spirited celebration of our local and global community. Stages are more elaborate with headline performers and global artists. This is the fun filled weekend with activities bursting at the seams that our community has come to know and love.
Other Asheville fall festivals: ASAP Farm Tour, Greek Festival, Asheville VeganFest, and Art by the Tracks Festival
Winter
See stunning decorations at America's largest home. Nearly 100 hand-decorated Christmas trees, include a 35-foot fraser fir in the Banquet Hall, transform the home for the holidays. In the evenings, Biltmore glows with candlelight and firelight for Candlelight Christmas Evenings (separate admission). Step back in time and experience Biltmore much like the Vanderbilt's did during their first Christmas Eve in 1895! See our Christmas at Biltmore guide for more information.
Winter Lights at the North Carolina Arboretum
TBD
Nearly one million lights illuminate the nationally-known gardens creating a whimsical winter wonderland. Along the self-guided walking tour, see magical glowing natural landscapes including the popular Quilt Garden and 50-foot animated tree! Tickets must be purchased in advance. Check out our guide to Winter Lights for tips on visiting.
The beautiful, historic district of Biltmore Village transports you back in time to the days of Charles Dickens and A Christmas Carol! The Old World Dickens in the Village Festival is an immersive holiday experience featuring performances by strolling carolers, actors and musicians dressed in costume.
Other Asheville winter festivals: Lake Julian Festival of Lights, and Asheville Restaurant Week.
