Asheville Arts and Culture
Asheville's colorful arts scene continues to inspire artists and residents alike.
It might be the picturesque surroundings. It could be the eclectic environment. Whatever the reason, visual and performing artists flock to Asheville to be inspired, and the city’s residents and visitors reap the rewards.
In This Article
Art Events
Asheville’s arts festivals give residents and visitors multiple opportunities to celebrate the arts and even bring home a piece of art for themselves. The Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands brings nearly 200 craftspeople to the Folk Art Center each July and October. Shoppers will find high-quality works of clay, fiber, glass, leather, metal, paper, wood and jewelry. Art and craft collectors can hunt for high-quality treasures at the annual Village Art & Craft Fair, which attracts artists and shoppers from across the Southeast.
Asheville, NC Culture
Attractions
Asheville is a tourist’s treasure trove of must-see attractions. Shop ’til you drop and chow down at the historic Grove Arcade, while exploring its unique architecture and history. Get lost in thousands of acres of Asheville’s beauty at the popular Biltmore. Listen to live music at New Mountain Asheville.
Wander through the Biltmore’s gardens, sample some fine wine and take in a concert, all while surrounded by Asheville’s majestic mountains. Pack a picnic and head to Pack Square Park to enjoy the exciting downtown scenery. Then hop on a Segway for a fun tour of the city with the Moving Sidewalk Tour company. Tap into your own imagination through creative classes and workshops. Asheville Community Theatre offers drama classes for youth and adults. Try your hand at mixed media, printmaking or photography at the Asheville Art Museum.
Music Events
Music fills the mountain air around Asheville. During the summer months, Asheville gathers downtown on Friday nights for Downtown After 5, a free concert series, and then in downtown’s Pack Square every Saturday night for Shindig on the Green. Billed as the largest one-day music and arts festival in western North Carolina, the Montford Music & Arts Festival features an eclectic mix of live music, artists’ booths and local cuisine. For the last 43 years, the three-day Lake Eden Arts Festival has brought the community together to celebrate the city’s arts and culture through music, spoken word and arts displays.
What it’s Like to Live in Asheville, NC
Cultural Events
The city’s vibrant cultural diversity is on display at the annual Goombay Cultural Arts Festival hosted each September by the YMI Cultural Center, one of the oldest African-American institutions, and during the Asheville Greek Festival, sponsored by Holy Trinity Church. Held in downtown’s Pack Square Park, the Fiesta Latina celebrates the city’s Latin culture with live entertainment and local food vendors. Pack Square also plays host to the annual HardLox Jewish Food and Heritage Festival in October. Residents are invited to join Asheville’s Jewish community for delicious traditional Jewish food, crafts, live entertainment and lessons in Israeli dancing.