Due to the uncertainty of COVID, some festivals and events may be canceled for Spring 2021. Below is an updated list of confirmed Spring events. Check back for updates as we are able to confirm them!
Here are our top picks for Spring events and festivals in the Asheville area in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina - including Easter Weekend, Mother's Day Weekend, and Memorial Day Weekend. For events throughout the year, see our list of seasonal calendars.
April & May Events in Asheville & Western NC
Stickwork, Biltmore
Thursday, April 1, 2021 to Thursday, September 30, 2021
See this unique-to-Biltmore large-scale outdoor sculptural work by environmental artist Patrick Dougherty, known as “Stick Man,” in the estate’s Antler Hill Village. Dougherty weaves saplings and branches into intricate artworks, fashioning whimsical forms ranging from gigantic snares and cocoons to sculptural interpretations of notable buildings. Free with daytime admission!
Cider, Wine & Dine Weekend
Thursday, April 15, 2021 to Sunday, April 18, 2021
Visit the Hendersonville area for a celebration of food and drink! Wineries and cideries partner with other outdoor venues for a signature four-day event featuring tours, tastings, food trucks, music in the vineyards, wine releases and more. Set amidst the backdrop of apple blossom season in this Blue Ridge Mountain town.
Greening Up the Mountains Festival
Saturday, April 24, 2021
Celebrate the arrival of spring at this big downtown Sylva street festival, about an hour's drive west of Asheville. Three stages of music, crafts, music, more. Free admission.
Fire On the Mountain
Saturday, April 24, 2021
Come to downtown Spruce Pine to see and buy works from Penland School and nationally-renowned blacksmiths demonstrating their skills. Iron & metal art exhibit, tool and gear vendors, forge-off, food trucks. Free admission. No pets.
CODA Music Festival
Saturday, April 24, 2021
This music festival held at Montreat College near Black Mountain is entirely student-organized, providing students with hands-on experience in creating a fun family-friendly event, celebrating art and culture. 1 PM-8 PM.
Spring Herb Festival at Western NC Farmer's Market
Saturday, May 1, 2021 to Sunday, May 2, 2021
Largest herb festival in the Southeast with 50+ businesses with plants, books, soaps, herbal crafts, medicinal herbs, lotions, dried flowers, baked goods, herbal gifts and much more. Free admission.
HardLox Jewish Festival
Sunday, May 2, 2021
Come enjoy lots of delicious Jewish foods in downtown Asheville, have your name written in Hebrew, learn about Jewish holidays and the Torah, and join in singing and dancing.
Mother's Day Weekend
Saturday, May 8, 2021 to Sunday, May 9, 2021
Find ideas for events and things to do with mom or grandma in Asheville and the mountains, including flowers, shopping, art, spas and more.
Garden Jubilee Festival
Friday, May 28, 2021 to Monday, May 31, 2021
This year’s event will again send the public out to nurseries and orchards throughout Henderson County to prevent the gathering of the usual large crowds experienced on Main Street. Garden centers and nurseries countywide will sell annuals, perennials, shrubbery, herbs, trees, vegetables and hard-to-find plants. Orchards offer produce, jams, jellies, honey, cider and baked goods. Hours are 9 AM to 5 PM daily.
Memorial Day Weekend
Friday, May 28, 2021 to Monday, May 31, 2021
Find many events, festivals and our top things to do to kick off summer during the holiday weekend in Asheville and the NC mountains.
Art on the Greene
Saturday, May 29, 2021 to Sunday, May 30, 2021
Find a big variety of 40 artists working with metal, glass, pottery, wood, jewelry and more in downtown Banner Elk. Many restaurants, shops and things to do nearby. Benefits their historic school renovation. 10 AM-5 PM. Free admission.
Downtown Asheville Festival of the Arts
Saturday, May 29, 2021 to Sunday, May 30, 2021
See 100+ regional, local and national artists and craft artisans with fine jewelry, a big variety of art and hand-crafted apparel and decor. Downtown Asheville (80 Court Plaza). Free admission. 10 AM-5 PM.
Top 50 Summer Festivals & Events
Tuesday, June 1, 2021 to Tuesday, August 31, 2021
See our list of the best festivals and summer events in Asheville and the surrounding towns and mountains during June-August.
Past Events
Easter Hat Parade in Dillsboro
Saturday, April 3, 2021
Old hat, new hat, yellow hat, blue hat. They're all welcome at Dillsboro's annual Easter Hat Parade at 2 PM, showcasing a variety of interesting hats atop participants of all ages, including pets.
Easter Weekend in Asheville
Friday, April 2, 2021 to Sunday, April 4, 2021
Easter Weekend brings blooms, bunnies, egg hunts, Sunday brunch, sunrise services and more in Asheville and the North Carolina mountains.
Stickwork, Biltmore
Thursday, April 1, 2021 to Thursday, September 30, 2021
See this unique-to-Biltmore large-scale outdoor sculptural work by environmental artist Patrick Dougherty, known as “Stick Man,” in the estate’s Antler Hill Village. Dougherty weaves saplings and branches into intricate artworks, fashioning whimsical forms ranging from gigantic snares and cocoons to sculptural interpretations of notable buildings. Free with daytime admission!
Carolina Mountain Cheese Fest
Sunday, October 18, 2020
This festival at Highland Brewing Company includes hands-on fun, tastings, chef competition, milking demonstrations, panel discussions, workshops, and products from more than 20 local food vendors.
Beer City Festival
Saturday, May 30, 2020
Sample brews from 30+ local breweries downtown in Pack Square Park, with live music and local food. Hosted by Asheville Brewers Alliance, part of Beer Week. Buy tickets in advance (often sells out).
Memorial Day Concert and Ceremony
Monday, May 25, 2020
Held on the Roger McGuire Green Stage of Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville starting at 2:30 PM with the Army National Guard's Army Band performing a half-hour before and after the ceremony. Free.
Kenilworth Artists Open Studio Tour
Saturday, May 23, 2020 to Sunday, May 24, 2020
Kenilworth neighborhood, just five minutes from downtown Asheville, annual Open Studio Tour features 20+ jewelers, painters, glass-workers, fabric artists, potters, woodworkers, photographers and more!
Lake Lure Spring Arts Festival
Saturday, May 23, 2020 to Monday, May 25, 2020
See and buy craft and art by 90+ artists from many different disciplines during Memorial Day Weekend. Also enjoy entertainment, food vendors and the beauty of the lake. Free admission. 119 Arcade St, Lake Lure
Rose Show
Saturday, May 23, 2020 to Sunday, May 24, 2020
Exhibition at the North Carolina Arboretum by Asheville-Blue Ridge Rose Society with award-winning roses of every color and size. Experts on hand to answer questions and provide information about the selection, care and history of roses.
Rotary Arts & Crafts Fair, Cashiers
Saturday, May 23, 2020 to Sunday, May 24, 2020
See works from 90 of the finest artisans from the Southeast on the Village Green in Cashiers, 10 AM-5 PM. Find ironwork, woodcraft, textiles, cakes, jams, pottery and more. Free admission, but donations accepted.
Cowee Valley Pottery Festival
Saturday, May 23, 2020
Held at the historic Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center near Franklin, this juried pottery show and pottery sale includes demonstrations, food trucks, talks and more. 10 AM-4 PM
White Squirrel Festival
Friday, May 22, 2020 to Sunday, May 24, 2020
Go nuts at the White Squirrel Festival in downtown Brevard that features a parade, plenty of live music, food, arts and much more on Memorial Day Weekend.
Concerts on the Creek, Sylva
Friday, May 22, 2020
Kick off Memorial Day Weekend with free outside live music in downtown Sylva 7-9 PM at the Bridge Park, two blocks from Main Street with shops, restaurants and breweries. Family-friendly, bring a chair or blanket.
Mountain Acoustics Luthier Invitational
Friday, May 22, 2020 to Sunday, May 24, 2020
This new festival in Burnsville celebrates hand-built stringed instruments with an emphasis on artists who craft them and musicians who play them. Luthiers showcase creations and lead workshops on songwriting, guitar and ukulele playing. Concerts and other events.
Asheville Beer Week
Friday, May 22, 2020 to Sunday, May 31, 2020
Experience the largest annual celebration of craft beer in Asheville and western NC with a big variety of beer-related events including releases and tastings paired with music, food and great settings.
Montford Arts and Music Festival
Saturday, May 16, 2020
One of the largest one day free music and arts festivals in Asheville, held on Montford and Soco near downtown, with 100+ vendors of art, crafts and food. Live music. 10 AM-7 PM.
Saluda Arts Festival
Saturday, May 16, 2020
Outstanding festival with 100% hand-picked regional artists along Saluda's historic Main Street. See a big diversity of art media and enjoy music representing Americana, blues, folk and contemporary. Watch artist demonstrations. Free. 10 AM-4 PM.
Hook, Line and Drinker Festival
Saturday, May 16, 2020
Celebrating the WNC Fly Fishing Trail and local breweries, with craft beer vendors, food trucks, fishing guides and vendors, and live music 3-7 PM at Bridge Park in downtown Sylva (76 Railroad Avenue).
Downtown After Five
Friday, May 15, 2020
Enjoy great music, food and beer in downtown Asheville at this free popular outdoor concert. 5-9 PM
Fiber Weekend
Saturday, May 9, 2020 to Sunday, May 10, 2020
Craftspeople at the Folk Art Center share their inspiration and expertise in a variety of textile arts. Saturday demos include quilting and appliqué, doll making, weaving, mixed media fiber arts, clothing, printing design, tapestry weaving and natural dyeing. Two fashion shows on Sunday (Mother's Day)! Free admission.
Spring-Go!
Saturday, May 9, 2020
Lots of fun in Chimney Rock Village with a pancake breakfast, Cow Pie Bingo, recycled garden art contest, llamas strutting their stuff in a Main Street parade, a grilled dinner and a special outdoor performance at the Gathering Place.
Mayfest
Saturday, May 2, 2020
Downtown Rutherfordton's Main Street is filled with crafts, vendors, food, live music, demonstrations, and plenty of kids activities - including a Pinewood Derby Race. 10 AM-5 PM. Free admission.
The Lifespan of a Fact @ NC Stage Company
Wednesday, April 29, 2020 to Sunday, May 24, 2020
This comedy of conflict takes place in the high-stakes world of publishing, where the ultimate showdown between fact and fiction play out.
Pisgah Forest Pride Day
Saturday, April 25, 2020
Join the fun and help with work projects in Pisgah National Forest in the Looking Glass area - including trail maintenance, repairs, plantings and more (sign up in advance), coordinated by The Pisgah Conservancy.
Pioneer Day
Saturday, April 25, 2020
Experience traditional Appalachian crafts, food, games, music and storytelling (10-4) at the Mountain Gateway Museum in Old Fort with historic log cabins. Free admission.
Madison Potters Market
Saturday, April 18, 2020
Meet 20+ of the finest potters from Madison County and beyond at Marshall High Studios. This historic high school turned artist studios is on a small island in the French Broad River in downtown Marshall, 25 miles north of Asheville. 9 AM-4 PM. Free admission.
NOC Spring Fling
Saturday, April 18, 2020 to Sunday, April 19, 2020
Celebrate spring at Nantahala Outdoor Center with a free, family-friendly event by the Nantahala River with the 5K, vendor fair, gear demos, food, music and specials at the Outfitter's Store.
Earth Day Kid's Festival
Saturday, April 18, 2020
This kid-centered festival celebrates Earth Day with a variety of fun, environmentally-focused activities for kids in grades K-12 including arts, crafts, music performances, hands-on learning, interactive booths, and more. 10 AM-2 PM at Salvage Station.
Asheville Orchid Festival
Saturday, April 4, 2020 to Sunday, April 5, 2020
The Western NC Orchid Society hosts a big show and competition at the North Carolina Arboretum. Hundreds of orchids will be on display and vendors will be selling them with plenty of advice.
Old-Time Plowing and Folkways
Saturday, April 4, 2020
Take a time-warp at the Cradle of Forestry to the days of the Biltmore Forest School. Meet homesteaders and watch their draft horses plow the heritage garden. Then take a turn at it yourself. Living history guides bring traditional Blue Ridge culture to life. 9 AM-5 PM.
Glass & Metal Day at Folk Art Center
Saturday, April 4, 2020
Artists showcase the elements of metal and glass inside the Folk Art Center on Blue Ridge Parkway. Includes blacksmithing, glass blowing, knife making, bezeling, repoussé, copper etching, stained glass, forging and more. 10 AM-4 PM. Free.
Drum Circle
Friday, April 3, 2020
Hear and feel the beat at the weekly drum circle every Friday night in downtown Asheville in Pritchard Park. And dance the night away!
Biltmore Blooms
Wednesday, April 1, 2020 to Thursday, May 21, 2020
This festival of flowers celebrates two months of spring blooms that include 75,000+ tulips, orchids, azalaeas and elaborate floral displays inside Biltmore House.
Well @ NC Stage Company
Wednesday, March 18, 2020 to Sunday, April 12, 2020
A funny and touching comedy about mothers and daughters, mind over body, social activism and theatre itself.
Mill Vill Fest
Saturday, May 4, 2019
First ever festival is this abandoned Henry River mill village near Morganton, film location for The Hunger Games. Fundraiser to save the village. Music, food trucks, beer/wine and behind the scenes tours. Free admission. 12-4 PM. GPS Address: 4255 Henry River Road, Hickory
See our main Events Page for a list of all of our calendars!
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May 8-9, 2021
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