AshevilleBliss.com™

Photo: Inside of Grove Arcade in downtown Asheville.

See also:
Bele Chere
L.E.A.F.

Asheville takes its festivals seriously!

Festivals of all types have always been an important part of what makes Asheville and Western North Carolina such a unique and special place in which to live.

Downtown Asheville's Free Festivals, Concerts and Gallery Walks Bele Chere "The Southeast's Largest Free Street Festival" 3 days end of July. Music, food and crafts in downtown Asheville. CLICK HERE for videos of Bele Chere. Downtown After Five These free live concerts have been held annually on the 3rd Friday of each month for the past 20 years, beginning in May and ending in September. This year these concerts will take place on Lexington Avenue. Check the Downtown Association's calendar for bands and exact locations. Grove Arcade Special Seasonal Events These include "Jazz After 5" Concerts co-presented by The Grove Arcade and the Asheville Downtown Association featuring free concerts from local musicians with beer, wine and appetizers available for purchase from local restaurants, Fresh on Friday - every Friday from 4 til 6 pm. "... Come get a taste of what the mountains have to offer...fresh bread and other local products, along with a direct delivery of fresh fish from the North Carolina coast. A wine tasting and classical guitar always make it a special event...." Other events include an annual flower show, various craft demonstrations, etc. Check the Grove Arcade Event Calendar for events and dates. Lexington Avenue Arts & Fun Festival ".... a FREE event is fun for all ages and encourages costumes. There are multiple performance areas featuring belly dancing, fire dancing, break dancing, flamenco, salsa, reggae, bluegrass, rock, funk, afrobeat, jazz, trance, punk, opera, blues and more... and the beat goes on... Street performances and interactive art areas are scattered up and down the street in between art and craft venders, local breweries, local foods, the underground art show, stuff for kids, bicycle jousting, puppetry, arts cars, dancing and LAAFFing and More!..." Takes place in early September on the first weekend after Labor Day weekend. Check website for exact dates. Shindig on the Green "... Big Circle Mountain Dancers, Clog Dancers, Bluegrass and Old Time String Bands. Ballad Singers. Storytellers

Americana, Burlesque
and Sideshow Festival
"... ABSfest is committed to the mission of spreading the gospel of Vaudeville. The worldwide Vaudeville revival is a delicious opportunity to revisit history and make it relevant anew in uncertain times. Burlesque & Sideshow represent living folkarts, the vibrant underdog of Americana. We believe that the public and the artists both benefit from quality performance opportunities, insightful instruction, and the chance to network..."

Oracle performs a retro styled sword dance for the Americana Burlesque and Sideshow Festival in Asheville, NC

Arts and Crafts Conference and Antique Show
"... For the past twenty years Arts and Crafts enthusiasts - including new collectors, veterans, curators, craftspersons, authors, builders, architects, designers, editors, and bungalow owners - have traveled to the Blue Ridge Mountains and The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa for the annual Arts & Crafts Conference and Antiques Show...."

Asheville Film Festival
Last week in October... (see Asheville Movie Industy & Festivals for more information)

Asheville Fringe Festival
"... serves patrons of art from Asheville and beyond by facilitating the creation and production of avant garde work that may otherwise not find a venue. In past years the artistic mix has included actors, dancers, singers, videographers, painters and musicians, presenting a varied range of interesting work including cross-genre improvisation, Butoh dance, sketch theatre, modern dance, and multi-media performance art. The spirit of the festival also leaves the city “vulnerable” to random acts of art, such as fire-dancing in the street or mass mobs of poets... "

"... Abstract and experimental art takes center stage in the fifth annual Asheville Fringe Arts Festival. From body-painted performers to shadow puppets, installation art to dance, the festival continues to chart the artistic terrain of the strange, the new and the original... " CLICK HERE for rest of the story.

Asheville Herb Festival
".... Visitors from across the Southeast come for the best variety and selection of herbs, herb plants, and herbal products. This Festival has become an annual gathering for herb enthusiasts who return each year to visit with friends, shopt for their favorite herbs, and have an enjoyable time among the herbs.  The event is open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Sunday.  Over 25,000 herb lovers and visitors from acorss the Southeast com to the popular event each Spring. Educational information is available by discussing your questions with the vendors who are experts in their field. Also, an information booth is operated by local Master Gardeners, who are always willing to answer questions about planting, growing, and caring for herbs...."Usually the First Fri, Sat and Sun in May at the Farmers Market

Asheville Pride Fest
Asheville's annual LGBT festival.

Appalachian Summer Festival
"Appalachian State University's ambitious An Appalachian Summer Festival brings to town a month-long whirlwind of top-notch classical, jazz and folk performers, plus ballet, dance, drama and visual arts. Call it high culture in the high country, and look for plenty of options to choose among..." - Southern Living Magazine"
Located in Boone. Sponsored by Appalachian State University. Last weekend in June through most of July. "...one of the nation's most innovative and highly regarded regional, multidisciplinary arts festivals. Inaugurated in 1984, the festival is committed to showcasing American talent, commissioning new works, and building new audiences for the fine arts. For many years, the festival has been named one of the "Top 20 events in the Southeast" by the Southeast Tourism Society.

Black Mountain's Annual Sourwood Festival

Blue Ridge Barbecue Festival
Music (27 acts on 2 stages). Barbecue competition. Crafts fair. $5 adults Free for children 12 and under.

BrewGrass Festival
"... Each year in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina, we gather over 30 American breweries to showcase more than 100 different beers. We add a great lineup of national and regional bluegrass musicians..."

Brown Mountain Lights Festival
"... What are they? What could they be doing here? Where can I see them? Are they real? These and other questions will be drawing hundreds of visitors to the village of Linville Falls, NC ,,, for the ... annual festival held in celebration of these mysterious colored lights that have appeared for centuries upon a nearby ridge top. As in last year’s fest, mountain music will be an eminent feature joining a lecture series on Saturday to celebrate what is perhaps the most famous of North Carolina’s natural mysteries. Regional fine arts and crafts will be exhibited and offered for sale..."

Carolina Mountains Literary Festival
Held annually in September in Burnsville, NC (about 45 minutes north of Asheville) "... One of our goals is to raise awareness of works of literary significance from smaller presses. We do focus on regional writers, though not exclusively.... overall, our aspiration is to create a little literary community which is in dialog with readers, aspiring writers, and established authors about craft and ideas of sustaining merit. Another goal is to make sure our authors are having good time. In the best scenario, authors leave the festival feeling renewed and rededicated to their work. So frequently when an author writes in isolation, it is hard to believe that his/her work is making an impact on people and society. But situating authors and readers together in close quarters, as our festival does, it is possible for authors to hear stories of how their work has influenced people. It’s not just signing a book, it’s making a human connection..."

Echo Early Music Festival
"... Ancient music comes alive in our week-long midwinter festival and in our ongoing outreach program...." Located in Asheville

Folkmoot
An annual festival celebrating international dance. Dance troupes from as many as two dozen nations participate. Held in early July in Waynesville, about a half hour's drive from Asheville.

In this clip, filmmaker Richard O'Sullivan focuses on performers from Macedonia, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.

Goombay!
3 day Weekend end of August celebrates African American culture and diversity in community. "... Since 1982, the YMI Cultural Center has presented Goombay!, one of several worldwide variations of the centuries-old celebration. Goombay! can be viewed as a Cultural Expression of a people. Goombay! emerged during slavery days in Bermuda. Both music and rhythm were brought form Africa and West Indies. The original dancers used a skin-covered drum that was called "Gombey" meaning rhythm. In the Bahamas the word is "Goombay" and in Jamaica, the dance is known as "Gumbay". The Goombay dancers wear colorful costumes and high headdresses topped with feathers. Often times, grotesque masks help to enhance the free and exotic movements...."

Lake Eden Arts Festival (L.E.A.F.)
Check out our "Lake Eden Arts Festival" page for several YouTube videos showing typical L.E.A.F. events.

Mountain Dance and Folk Festival
"... Since 1928, mountain fiddlers, banjo pickers, dulcimer sweepers, dancers, balladeers and others have come to enjoy themselves “along about sundown” the first weekend in August at the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival.... Bascom Lamar Lunsford founded the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival as a means for people to share and understand the beauty and dignity of the Southern Appalachian music and dance traditions that have been handed down through generations in western North Carolina. He saw the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival grow to be the oldest gathering of its kind in the nation and it continues in this way, a platform for the talented of the high country lying between the Great Smoky and the Blue Ridge Mountains...." Takes place the first weekend in August at the Diana Wortham Theatre, Pack Square, downtown Asheville.

Mountain Sports Festival
".... offers an impressive line-up to entice any pro or amateur athlete to test themselves in mountain sports. Races and competitions take place all weekend long in challenging and adventurous competitions in paddling, adventure racing, cycling, running, disc golf, ultimate, climbing, skateboarding and many other events.  Bring your children down to festival village to participate in the Iron Kids Challenge presented by Merrell Shoes. Not interested in competing, the Mountain Sports Festival has a long line up a demonstrations and clinics, free entertainment, and other happening events at festival village.  Come down to listen to our long line up of music or check out the food vendors or exhibitors lining the festival grounds.  No matter your interests The Mountain Sports Festival is sure to have something to interest you...." Last weekend in May. Check site for exact dates.

North Carolina Mountain State Fair
Held annually the second week in September in the WNC Agricultural Center in Fletcher, about 20 minutes south of Asheville.

OrganicFest
"... presented by Pure Food Partners, an all volunteer organization dedicated to growing organics in our community and beyond!..."

Stoneleaf Theatre Festival

Twin Rivers Multimedia Festival
"... We accept media in the Animation/Graphic, Feature, Narrative, Drama/Short, Experimental/ Visual, Documentary,Commerial/Promotional, Outdoor and Soundtrack categories. Scriptwriting awards are announced in September of each year." The award winners will be shown at the Courtyard Gallery and other Asheville venues in May

Village Art and Craft Fair
Sponsored by New Morning Gallery and Bellagio focuses on high quality arts and crafts. Held in All Souls Episcopal Church grounds in Biltmore Village on the first weekend in August. "... The fair hosted 125 artists from 18 states, representing the full spectrum of craft media - jewelry, ceramic, wood, fiber, metals, two-dimensional art and more. The craft fair is a great opportunity to encounter new artists (34 are first-time exhibitors) and to talk with crafters one-on-one. Most exhibitors are not represented at New Morning Gallery, so visitors are sure to find new treasures along with a few old favorites...."

White Squirrel Festival
(Brevard) Last weekend in May. Free. Free music concerts both days.

Annual Dickens Festival in Biltmore Village. A 3-day celebration with vocalists and strolling musicians.

Annual Arts and Crafts Conference and Antiques show at the Grove Park Inn.
"In conjunction with this event, we will be hosting demonstrations, workshops, and artist meet and greets. We will also feature arts and crafts inspired work by a few accomplished local artists..."

There are many blissful activities in Asheville! To locate them, go to Google.com and search on "Asheville activities".

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