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 Western
North Carolina has a wide range of festivals throughout the year, from small
town gatherings to one of the largest street festivals in the South. Most of
these occur annually, during the same month each year. However, in planning your
visit, be sure and check the festival website to verify exact dates. It is
beyond the scope of this website to present each and every festival in the
mountains, but the major and more established ones will be presented, month by
month.
The two major street festivals in the mountains are
Bele Chere in Asheville and
the
North Carolina Apple Festival in Hendersonville.
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Not-to-be missed festivals and events!!
Resources:
Mountain Xpress: A free weekly independent news, arts, and events newspaper
for Western North Carolina. Excellent entertainment coverage, local commentary.
P.O. Box 144, Asheville, NC 28802; 828-251-1333.
Take Five: A weekly tabloid insert in the Asheville Citizen-Times on
Fridays. It features a complete festivals and events listing, articles and
reviews for that week. 14 O’Henry Ave., Asheville, NC 28801; 828-252-5611, 800-800-4204.
Festivals & Events:
January:
Asheville: All That Jazz Weekend at Grove Park Inn Resort
& Spa: The inn hosts a fabulous lineup of entertainers and
events, all jazz-related. 800-438-5800.
Asheville:
Big Band Dance Weekend at the Grove Park Inn Resort
& Spa: Big band
entertainment and dancing at the legendary grand hotel. 800-438-5800.
March:
Asheville:
Heritage Classic DanceSport Championships
at the Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa.: One of the nation’s premier dancesport events.
Competition in five dance styles: American Smooth, International
Ballroom, American Rhythm, International Latin and Theatre Arts.
800-438-5800.
April:
Asheville:
Festival of Flowers at Biltmore Estate: A
celebration that highlights the spring blooming of flowers at
Biltmore Estate. Guided tours through the gardens alive with color
from more than 50,000 tulips, azaleas, flowering shrubs and much
more. Live music and other special events. Ongoing April through
May. 800-543-2961, 828-225-1333.
Hendersonville:
Historic Johnson Farm Festival: Farm animals, arts
and crafts at the Johnson farm. There is also a charity auction,
tours and demonstrations of farm activities. Bring the kids!
828-891-6585.
May:
Asheville:
Asheville Herb Festival: The largest herb festival in the
Southeast. More than 50 herb vendors marketing herbs, herb plants
and herb products. Held at the Western North Carolina Farmers
Market. 828-253-1691.
Asheville:
Mountain Sports Festival: Focus is on outdoor sports,
including mountain biking, rock climbing, triathlon, road and trail
races. 828-251-4029.
Asheville:
Drum Circle: Coming-together of local citizens on Friday
nights in Pritchard Park in the spring summer or fall to dance and
play music. Bring a percussive instrument, and join in!
Hendersonville:
Garden Jubilee Festival: Two day
festival that celebrates the growing season in the Blue Ridge
Mountains. Over 125 vendors selling handmade arts and crafts,
plants and related items. 800-828-4244.
Asheville:
Southeast Muni Fest Mountain unicycle festival, trail
rides. 828-231-7469.
Black Mountain:
Lake Eden Arts Festival
(LEAF): Located at a mountain
retreat, Camp Rockmont, LEAF is held twice a year in the spring and
fall features music from dozens of
national and regionally known musicians as well as crafts,
storytelling, drumming, dancing and a healing arts tent.828-686-8742.
Hot Springs:
French Broad River Festival: Music, whitewater rafting and
activities centered around the French Broad River.
Maggie Valley:
Great Smoky Mountain Trout Festival:
A one-day festival of music, crafts, educational programs and
fishing demonstrations. A festival all about trout and trout fishing
in the mountains. 828-926-0866.
June:
Asheville:
Drum Circle: Coming-together of local citizens on Friday
nights in Pritchard Park in the spring summer or fall to dance and
play music. Bring a percussive instrument, and join in!
Asheville:
Jump, Jivin' Children's Street Festival at the Downtown Market:
Fun-filled children's street festival, with indoor and outdoor
exhibitions of jump ropin', dancin', hoola-hoopin', gymnastics and
music. For kids of all ages, at the Downtown Market, 45 South French
Broad Avenue, Asheville. 828-255-8858
Bakersville:
North Carolina Rhododenron Festival:
Street fair, car show, ducky derby, beauty pageant,
10K run and street dance are highlights of this local mountain city
festival. 828-688-5901.
Brevard:
Brevard Music Festival: Held at the Brevard Music Center over a
seven week period each summer during June, July and August,
this world-class music festival features over 70 different concerts, from
symphony orchestra to Broadway musicals. 828-862-2100.
Hendersonville:
Music On Main Street: Concerts every Friday night from 7:00-
9:00 from June through July at the Visitors Information Center at
201 South Main Street in downtown Hendersonville. 828-693-9708.
Linville:
Singing on the Mountain: Annual gospel music
festival held at Grandfather Mountain. 800-468-7325
Tryon:
Blue Ridge Barbecue Festival:
Two days of BBQ competitions from over 50 top BBQ-cooking teams.
Music, games, foothills craft fair, and of course, BBQ. 828-859-7427.
July:
Asheville:
Fourth of July Celebration: Traditional Fourth
celebration with fireworks. Held at City County Plaza and produced
by the City of Asheville Parks & Recreation Department.
828-259-5800.
Asheville:
Bele Chere: A community celebration in downtown
Asheville with annual attendance of over 300,000. One of the greatest street festivals
in America. Not to be missed! 828-259-5800.
Asheville:
Shindig on the Green: Held every Saturday night
during July, August and September at Martin Luther King Jr. Park in
downtown Asheville. Bluegrass music, dancing, clogging. This
festival has been around for over 43 years! 828-2586101.
Asheville:
Drum Circle: Coming-together of local citizens on Friday
nights in Pritchard Park in the spring summer or fall to dance and
play music. Bring a percussive instrument, and join in!
Boone:
An Appalachian Summer Festival: Since 1984, An Appalachian
Summer Festival is held throughout the month of July on and around
the Appalachian State University campus, and features an
astonishingly diverse mix of music, dance, theatre and visual arts.
One of America's leading regional arts festivals. 828.262.4046.
Cherokee:
Festival of Native Peoples & Cherokee Art Market: Tribes
from all over the Americas gather in Cherokee in a cultural outbreak
of song, dance and ceremony. 800-438-1601.
Hendersonville:
Music On Main Street: Concerts every Friday night from 7:00-
9:00 from June through July at the Visitors Information Center at
201 South Main Street in downtown Hendersonville. 828-693-9708.
Hendersonville:
Monday Night Street Dances: Street dances features traditional
Appalachian music and dance every Monday night from 7:00 -9:00
during July and August at the Visitors Information Center at 201
South Main Street in downtown Hendersonville. Held for over 90
years! 828-693-9708.
Highlands & Cashiers:
Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival Over 28 seasons of
chamber music in the mountains.
Franklin:
Macon County Gemboree: One of the oldest and largest gen shows
in the country.
Linville:
Grandfather Mountain Annual Highland Games: Scottish athletes
and musicians share their heritage from bagpipes and Celtic music to
border collies and sheep herding at the largest gathering of
Scottish clans in North America. 828-733-1333.
Waynesville:
Folkmoot USA:
North Carolina's official international festival, Folkmoot USA is a
world-class folk festival with international dancers
and musicians performing their countries’ traditional folk dances.
Over 350 performers at numerous venues. 828-452-2997.
August:
Asheville:
Mountain Dance and Folk Festival:
The oldest festival in America. For more than 70 years, a
celebration of traditional mountain music and dance. Held at various
venues in Asheville. 828-258-6101.
Asheville:
Village Art & Craft Fair:
Excellent outdoor arts and crafts show held in Biltmore Village.
800-933-4438.
Asheville:
Goombay:
Since 1982, a street festival in the historic
black business district in downtown Asheville. A celebration of
African-Caribbean culture. 828-252-4614.
Asheville:
Drum Circle: Coming-together of local citizens on Friday
nights in Pritchard Park in the spring summer or fall to dance and
play music. Bring a percussive instrument, and join in!
Black Mountain:
Sourwood Festival:
Art & crafts, dancing,
music, food and games. 828-669-2300.
Burnsville:
Mt. Mitchell Crafts Fair: The oldest and largest crafts
fair in the Blue Ridge with more than 200 artists. Live
entertainment and kid's activities. 828-682-7413.
Hendersonville:
Monday Night Street Dances: Street dances features traditional
Appalachian music and dance every Monday night from 7:00 -9:00
during July and August at the Visitors Information Center at 201
South Main Street in downtown Hendersonville. Held for over 90
years! 828-693-9708.
September:
Asheville:
North Carolina Mountain State Fair: Great state fair
held at the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center. Rides, farm
animals and great food. For the whole family. 828-687-1414.
Asheville:
Brewgrass Festival: One of the most popular beer and bluegrass
festivals in the southeast. Over 40 American breweries and national
and regional bluegrass musicians.
Asheville:
Drum Circle: Coming-together of local citizens on Friday
nights in Pritchard Park in the spring summer or fall to dance and
play music. Bring a percussive instrument, and join in!
Cullowhee:
Mountain Heritage Day: For over 20 years, an old-fashioned
mountain fair and showcase for authentic Southern Appalachian folk
arts. Held on the campus of Western Carolina University.
828-227-7272.
Flat Rock:
Flat Rock Music Festival: Annual music festival held at Camp
Ton-A-Wandah in Flat Rock.828-692-2005.
Franklin:
Macon County Fair: Annual, true agricultural fair. Since 1953
Hendersonville:
North Carolina Apple Festival: Another not-to-be-missed festival.
A celebration of apples and the fall season. 828-697-4557.
October:
Asheville:
Asheville Greek Festival: A celebration of Greek
culture, dance and food. Held Martin Luther King Jr. Park.
828-259-5800.
Asheville:
Craft Fair of the Southern Highland Craft Guild: Held at
the Civic Center. World-class traditional mountain arts & crafts
show. Hosted by the prestigious Southern Highland Craft Guild. .
828-298-7928.
Asheville:
Asheville Art in the Park: Held on three Saturdays in October in
Pack Square. Regional artists & crafters showcase work 828-253-8304.
Asheville:
Thomas Wolfe Festival: A festival
centered on the life and times of the
Asheville-born author Thomas Wolfe. Walking tours, concerts, plays,
Wolfe workshops, road race and other events centered on Wolfe’s
life. 828-253-8304.
Banner Elk:
Woolly Worm Festival:
The stripes on the winner of the woolly worm race will be inspected
by the town elders. Brown signals a mild winter, black predicts
severe weather. Nonstop music, food, crafts, and children’s rides.
800-972-2183.
Black Mountain:
Lake Eden Arts Festival
(LEAF): Located at a mountain
retreat, Camp Rockmont, LEAF is held twice a year in the spring and
fall features music from dozens of
national and regionally known musicians as well as crafts,
storytelling, drumming, dancing and a healing arts tent.828-686-8742.
November:
Asheville:
Asheville Film Festival: The Asheville Film Festival is produced
by the City of Asheville Parks & Recreation Department and has grown
into one of the major film festivals in the south. 828-259-5800.
Hendersonville:
Foothills Highland Games & Festival: Annual gathering of the
clans in Jackson Park. Celtic music, highland dancers, Parade of
Tartans, pipers and drummers, athletic contests. 828-693-8526.
December:
Asheville:
Christmas at Biltmore House: Biltmore House is
especially memorable during the Christmas season. During Candlelight
Christmas Evenings, Biltmore’s doors open to a world of crackling
fires, festive music performances, glittering trees and the warm
glow of hundreds of candles illuminating the richly decorated rooms.
Ongoing during December. 800-543-2961, 828-225-1333.
Asheville:
Biltmore Village Dickens Festival: Ongoing
Christmas festivities in picturesque Biltmore Village during the
month of December. 828-274-8788
Asheville:
Victorian Christmas Celebration at the Smith-McDowell House: A
celebration of Christmas the old-fashioned way. The Museum's
time-line of authentically decorated period rooms showcases the
evolution of Christmas celebrations and includes hand-crafted
decorations and live trees. Themes change annually. 828-253-9231.
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