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The Asheville art scene is booming. Each year, more artist studio tours and art shows appear. Here are our favorite annual Asheville art events. Plan your next trip around one of these!
Asheville Art Guide for 2008
For art any day of the year (along with special openings and shows), see our Asheville Gallery Guide or get the Craft Heritage Trails Book.
February 22-24, 2008: Arts & Crafts Antique Show and Conference
For the past nineteen years Arts and Crafts enthusiasts - including new collectors, veterans, curators, craftsperson, authors, builders, architects, designers, editors, and bungalow owners - have traveled to the Blue Ridge Mountains and The Grove Park Inn for this show. Admission.
Go to the Show Web site for more.
April 4, 2008: Center City Art Walk
Galleries stay open Friday evenings four times a year to showcase new shows and artists. Walk to 30 galleries downtown. Free.
Go to the Downtown Asheville Galleries Web site.
April 26-27, 2008: Weaverville Art Safari
Weaverville, 10 miles north of Asheville, is the home and workplace of many of the area artists. The core activities of the Weaverville Art Safari are self-guided driving tours of the various artists' studios, tucked away in the countryside communities of Weaverville, Barnardsville, and Alexander. Free.
Go to the Art Safari Web site.
May 9-11, 2008: Lake Eden Arts Festival
Celebrate Music, Discover Community, and Experience Culture at LEAF in a beautiful lakefront setting near Black Mountain (about 12 miles from downtown Asheville). 5 Stages of Folk & World, Bluegrass, Blues, African, Celtic, and jams with headline performers. Handcrafts, folk art, dancing, Poetry SLAM, healing arts workshops, water recreation, and camping. Admission.
See our LEAF Guide.
May 17, 2008: Montford Arts and Music Festival
Whatever your passion for art and music, you will find it in the heart of historic Montford at the 4th Annual Montford Arts and Music Festival from 10 am to 6 pm. Located right out on Montford Avenue, between Cullowhee and Wanetta streets. Spend a day packed with creativity and good food. Free.
May 17, 2008: Madison Celebrates Art
Main Street in Historic Downtown Marshall, just 25 minutes from downtown Asheville, will be transformed into an open-air art market and pedestrian mall with over fifty booths of Madison County artists selling their fine art, crafts, and botanicals. There will also be a fine art exhibit on display at the Arts Center. 10 am to 4 pm. Free.
May 31, 2008: Burnsville Spring Arts Festival
Food, live music and handmade crafts from 10 am to 4 pm on the Burnsville Town Square. Free.
June 6, 2008: Center City Art Walk
Galleries stay open Friday evenings four times a year to showcase new shows and artists. Walk to 30 galleries downtown Asheville. Free.
Go to the Downtown Asheville Galleries Web site.
June 7-8, 2008: Toe River Studio Tour
About an hour north of Asheville, tucked in the lush green mountains is one of the finest collections of artists and craftsmen in the world and the acclaimed Penland School of Crafts. A unique blend of contemporary and traditional cultures. More than 100 fine artists and crafts people in every medium open their studios for a free, self-guided cultural adventure. Free.
Go to the Toe River Arts Web site.
June 14-15, 2008: River District Artists Studio Stroll
The Studio Stroll is your chance to tour the studios, meet with the artists and purchase artwork. Within just a few blocks are dozens of eclectic mix of creative artists - from traditional to cutting-edge. Near downtown Asheville. Free.
Read more about the River Arts District.
June 14, 2008: Bluff Mountain Festival in Hot Springs, NC
This free, family-friendly festival features great old-time and bluegrass music, ballads, clogging and square dance, and a silent auction and raffle of regional art work, local crafts, vacation packages, and more. The festival produced by Madison County Arts Council, begins at 10am, offers an array of delicious foods and ends with a square dance until dark.
Go to Madison County Arts Web site.
June 14, 2008: Purple Ball
Join the Asheville Area Arts Council for this year’s Purple Ball starting at 6:00 pm for an evening of four hosted theme parties featuring food, specialty cocktails, live music and local performers. Purple Ball proceeds will fund direct services to artists, art organizations, students and educators.
Go to the Asheville Area Arts Council Web site.
July 17-20, 2008: Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands
The Craft Fair, held in the Civic Center in downtown Asheville, has been an eagerly anticipated event in the mountains since 1948. The fair showcases work by members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, with over 900 members throughout the mountain regions of nine states. Members' work must be juried and accepted by a committee of peers, based on quality, design and craftsmanship. Admission.
Go to the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands Web site.
July 25-27, 2008: Bele Chere
Many artists display at the largest free outdoor street festival in the Southeast.
See our Bele Chere Guide.
August 1, 2008: Center City Art Walk
Galleries stay open Friday evenings four times a year to showcase new shows and artists. Walk to 30 galleries downtown. Free.
Go to the Downtown Asheville Galleries Web site.
August 1-2, 2008: Mt. Mitchell Crafts Fair
The oldest and largest crafts fair in the Blue Ridge with 250+ craftfolk showing their work as well as live entertainment, children activites and a wide variety of food in downtown Burnsville. The hours are Friday 9-6 and Saturday 9-5. Free.
Go to their Web site.
August 2-3, 2008: Village Art & Craft Fair
Held on the grounds of the Cathedral of All Souls in Biltmore Village near the entrance to the Biltmore Estate, the fair hosts 125 artists from 20 states representing the full spectrum of craft media - jewelry, ceramic, wood, fiber, metals, two-dimensional art and more. Free.
Go to the Village Art & Craft Fair Web site.
August 9, 2008: Wood Day
Wood Day is an event that brings together the woodworkers of the Southern Highland Craft Guild to demonstrate a wide range of woodworking techniques and skills. This event takes place at the Folk Art Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free.
August 16-17, 2008: Leicester Studio Tour
Take a self-guided tour to the studios of 22 artists in Leicester, a community nestled in the mountains near Asheville.
Go to the Leicester Studio Tour Web site.
August 22-24, 2008: Goombay! Festival
Goombay! brings a variety of entertainment, from Steel Drums, African-America Dancers, local Gospel Groups, and Contemporary Rhythm Bands, the activities are geared for families. The Festival-goer can enjoy an authentic Caribbean Meal at "Island of Delight" Caf and see vendors line the streets with everything from ice cream to Third World Crafts. Free
Go to the Goombay! Web site.
September 27, 2008 through January 5, 2009: RiverSculpture Outdoor Art Exhibition
Read more! Free
September 7, 2008: Lexington Ave. Arts and Fun Festival.
This fantastically fabulous, freaky jam-packed day will showcase the many diverse talents that Asheville has to offer. Three blocks of downtown will be lined with all local art, food, beer and street performers. Three stages and two courtyards of music and performance. 11am – 10pm on N. Lexington Ave between College Street and the I-240 overpass in downtown Asheville. Free.
Go to the LAAFF Web site.
September 12-13, 2008: Carolina Mountains Literary Festival
Readers and writers alike will love this literary festival. The weekend in Burnsville will provide intimate settings for novice writers and fans to listen to panel discussions, converse with authors, participate in workshops, and have books signed. Admission.
Go to the Literary Festival Web site.
September 13-14, 2008: Heritage Weekend
This is the Southern Highland Craft Guild’s weekend to celebrate heritage crafts of the Appalachian Mountains. Guild members and other traditional craftspeople show craft techniques with hand tools, native materials, and lots of ingenuity through demonstrations in the native arts. In addition to crafts, several other traditional aspects of Appalachian life will be featured, such as traditional music and storytelling. Don’t miss the 26th Annual World Gee Haw Whimmy Diddle Competition on Saturday, 2:00-3:00pm. This popular autumn tradition brings mountain toys, live music and wacky fun to the Blue Ridge Parkway’s Folk Art Center. Free.
September 20, 2008: Art in Autumn
Downtown Weaverville street festival with more than 100 juried artists and craftspeople, along with an exciting array of food and live music. 10am-5pm on Main Street. Six miles north of Asheville. Free.
Go to their Web site.
October 3, 2008: Center City Art Walk
Galleries stay open Friday evenings four times a year to showcase new shows and artists. Walk to 30 galleries downtown. Free.
Go to the Downtown Asheville Galleries Web site.
October 16-19, 2008: Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands
The Craft Fair, held in the Civic Center in downtown Asheville, has been an eagerly anticipated event in the mountains since 1948. The fair showcases work by members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, with over 900 members throughout the mountain regions of nine states. Members' work must be juried and accepted by a committee of peers, based on quality, design and craftsmanship. Admission.
Go to the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands Web site.
October 17-19, 2008: Lake Eden Arts Festival
Celebrate Music, Discover Community, and Experience Culture at LEAF in a beautiful lakefront setting near Black Mountain (about 12 miles from downtown Asheville). 5 Stages of Folk & World, Bluegrass, Blues, African, Celtic, and jams with headline performers. Handcrafts, folk art, dancing, Poetry SLAM, healing arts workshops, water recreation, and camping. Admission.
See our LEAF Guide.
November 1-2, 2008: Weaverville Art Safari
Weaverville, 10 miles north of Asheville, is the home and workplace of many of the area artists. The core activities of the Weaverville Art Safari are self-guided driving tours of the various artists' studios, tucked away in the countryside communities of Weaverville, Barnardsville, and Alexander. Free.
Go to the Art Safari Web site.
November 8-9, 2008: River District Artists Studio Stroll
The Studio Stroll is your chance to tour the studios, meet with the artists and purchase artwork. Within just a few blocks are dozens of eclectic mix of creative artists - from traditional to cutting-edge. Near downtown Asheville. Free.
Read more about the River Arts District.
December 6-7, 2008: Toe River Studio Tour
About an hour north of Asheville, tucked in the lush green mountains is one of the finest collections of artists and craftsmen in the world and the acclaimed Penland School of Crafts. A unique blend of contemporary and traditional cultures. More than 100 fine artists and crafts people in every medium open their studios for a free, self-guided cultural adventure. Free.
Go to the Toe River Arts Web site. |
