Experience the Beauty of Asheville in Spring and Summer
The arrival of spring in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, North Carolina, brings an exciting range of new activities and events for visitors to explore the great outdoors. From hiking trails with stunning views to floating dance parties on the French Broad River, Asheville offers something for every interest and ability level.
2023 has been designated the Year of the Trail in North Carolina, and Asheville is a top destination for those looking to embrace the great outdoors. With hundreds of colorful trails, visitors can find the perfect hiking, biking, paddling, or horseback riding experience with the Asheville Hike Finder.
Notable events this spring include the Spring Hiking Series with Conserving Carolina, the Catawba Falls Trail reopening in the summer, the Earth Day Kid's Festival at outdoor music venue Rabbit Rabbit, and the Native Azalea Day featuring guided hikes at the NC Arboretum.
Asheville Hemp Fest (April 20-22): The three-day music and art festival in honor of the hemp plant and its benefits sets downtown ablaze with live music, cannabis activists, local hemp farmers, glassblowing, educational speakers and food trucks.
Asheville Bread Festival (April 22-23): Asheville Bread Festival is a gathering of local artisan bakers, millers and grain producers for a weekend of workshops, lectures and a fair where attendees can stock up on bread, pastries and flour.
Asheville Herb Festival (May 5-7): The largest herb festival in the United States and Canada offers visitors the opportunity to learn about natural gardening and landscaping from herb growers and expert herbalists.
Get In Gear Festival (May 6): The ultimate, single-day event for outdoor adventurers of all ages and experience levels, Get In Gear Fest brings together the companies that collectively make Asheville the outdoor industry hub of the east. The 8th annual event along the French Broad River offers gear demos, outdoor adventure activities, live music and clinics for those interested in trying out a new outdoor skill.
Asheville Beer Week (May 19-27): This week-long festival hosted by the Asheville Brewers Alliance highlights the ever-expanding and innovative world of craft beer in Western North Carolina. The multi-day, multi-venue series of events features collaboration releases, film screenings, beer dinners, educational seminars, brewer meet-and-greets and friendly brewery competitions.
Asheville Amadeus (May 11-20): This 10-day festival, orchestrated by the Asheville Symphony, brings together the region's most talented musicians, artists and brewers for a multi-dimensional series of performances, collaborations and events. This year's headlining performer is 15-time Grammy award-winning virtuoso Béla Fleck.
Grindfest (May 26-28): Black Wall Street is returning its annual three-day block party celebrating Black entrepreneurs and business owners in Asheville. The free event in the River Arts District includes a weekend of live music, carnival rides, food trucks, poetry slams and opportunities to connect with Asheville's Black-owned businesses.
Music On Main (June 10): This annual, single-day concert is one of Weaverville's signature summer events. Held outside City Hall, three bands take center stage while attendees dance, sip local brews and browse sidewalk vendors on Weaverville's Main Street.
AVL Fest (Aug 3-6): New to Asheville's music festival scene, AVL Fest is a full weekend of performances at more than 20 venues across town. The lineup features local and national acts including River Whyless, Tall Tall Trees and Toubab Krewe.
Chow Chow Food & Culture Festival (Sept. 7-10): Asheville's annual culinary event returns to its original, weekend-long format with numerous free and ticketed events. The dynamic festival, named after a traditional Appalachian condiment, highlights the region's chefs, growers and heritage food traditions, including panel discussions and thematic dinners hosted by award-winning chefs.
Visitors can enjoy the annual Biltmore Blooms springtime celebration as the season progresses, where thousands of Dutch tulips flaunt their radiant hues from April 1 to May 25. Later in the season, native azaleas, vibrant rhododendrons, and mountain laurels take center stage.
For those looking for a unique outdoor adventure, River Raves organizes floating dance parties on the French Broad River, complete with a DJ booth and dance floor. Paddleboarders can dance and float upstream while enjoying a custom mix from the DJ.
Food lovers can also explore the unique culinary ecosystem of Asheville, called Foodtopia, which is created by the collaboration between local, sustainable farms and independent Asheville restaurants. As the growing season picks up, visitors can connect with the land through various experiences, including guided foraging hikes with Luke Gilbert and Natalie Dechiara of Wild Goods or touring Mount Gilead Farm to meet the friendly goats and sample artisan cheese.
New restaurant openings include the fast-casual concept Botiwalla, from James Beard Award-winning restaurant group Chai Pani, opening in West Asheville this June. Asheville Outdoor Experiences also offers guided activities for all ages and levels, from outdoor skills classes like campsite cooking and knot craft to their signature Mountaintop Sunset Hike.
Asheville truly offers something for everyone during the al-fresco season, so be sure to plan your visit soon to experience the beauty and adventure of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
