Hello Fall, weβre so glad youβre finally here. ππ WNC + specifically Asheville are home to some of the best festivals, events, family fun activities + of course the best views for fall colors.
So whether youβre a local looking for something fun to do or have visitors coming for a weekend trip, weβve gathered all the apple eating, beer tasting, adventure seeking, leaf peeping, music + art viewing, fun-for-all-ages events to make sure this fall season is the best one yet.
Everything from fall farmers markets to Greek Fest, Barnaroo, LEAF Fest, Oktoberfest and so much more.
See 25 MustDo events here.β¬
πSky Top Orchard Visit | π Open daily through early December | 9 a.m.β6 p.m. | Sky Top Orchard | π1193 Pinnacle Mountain Rd, Flat Rock | πΈ Free | Pick-your-own apples, plus hay rides, a bamboo forest, a small farm, apple cider + donuts, and more. Other local orchards include: Barber Orchard, Steppβs Hillcrest Orchard, Grandadβs Apples + Lyda Farms.
πWNC Farmers Market | π Open Dailyβyear around | π 8 a.m.β6 p.m. through Oct. and 8 a.m.β5 p.m. through Nov. | π570 Brevard Rd. | πΈ Free | Stock up on fall produce to get ready for apple + pumpkin pie season. The Farmers Market is open daily, but notable dates are: Apple Tasting: Sept. 28 at 11 a.m.β1 p.m., The Pumpkin Celebration: Oct. 19 11 a.m.β1 p.m. + Sweet Potato Day: Nov. 16 11 a.m.β1 p.m.
πNavitat Canopy Tour | π Open daily | π 8 a.m.β5 p.m. | Navitat Canopy Adventures |π242 Poverty Branch Rd, Barnardsville | πΈ $99+ | What better way to experience the fall foliage than literally flying though it? Navitat offers 2+ hour tours that feature a 1250 feet long + 200 feet high zipline, rappelling, rope bridges, side by side ziplines, a nearly ΒΎ mile zipline + a 65 mph ride. See our Navitat guide here. Protip: show your local ID and get 15% off Sunday-Thursday all season long.
πEliada Corn Maze | π Sept. 15 β Oct. 28 | π T-TR: 9 a.mβ3 p.m., Fri: 9 a.m.β8 p.m., Sat: 10 a.m.β8 p.m., Sun: 10 a.m.β6 p.m. | Eliada Childrenβs Home |π2 Compton Dr. | πΈ $10, children under 3 area free | This year is the 10th anniversary of the corn maze. Other attractions include: a giant jumping pillow, corn cannons, hay rides, a story trail, tube slides and a spider web climber. Beer + cider will be for sale after 5 on Friday, all day Saturday + after noon on Sunday. Protip: check out Groupon for a 50% off ticket for 2 or 4.
πBoys + Girls Clubs Golf Classic | π Sat., Sept. 25 | π 10 a.m.β6 p.m. | The Cliffs at Walnut Cove |π158 Walnut Valley Parkway, Arden | πΈ $1,250 for 4 golfers | The day includes lunch and dinner, player gifts + prize packages.
πAsheville Barnaroo | π Sept. 28-30 | π All Day | Frannyβs Farm |π22 Frannyβs Farm Road
Leicester | πΈ $10+ | 3 days of music over 38 acres showcasing local + regional singer songwriters + bands in the rock & roll, hard rock, folk, americana, bluegrass + funk genres
πNOC Guest Appreciation Festival | π Sept. 28 β 30 | π 8 a.m.β9 p.m. | Nantahala Outdoor Center |π13077 W Hwy 19, Bryson City | πΈ Free | Snag outdoor gear and apparel at low prices from the new and used gear sale, check out local vendors, listen to live music + enjoy activities for all ages.
πGreek Festival | π Sept. 28-30 | π 11 a.m.β9 p.m., 11 a.m.β4 p.m. Sunday | Holy Trinity
Greek Orthodox Church |π227 Cumberland Ave. | πΈ Free | Experience Greek culture with food, music, dancing + more.
π36th Annual Asheville Quilt Show | π Fri., Sept. 28-30 | π Friday + Saturday: 9 a.m.β5 p.m., Sunday: 10 a.m.β4:30 p.m. | Davis Event Center at the WNC Agricultural Center |π775 Boylston Highway | πΈ $7 | See over 350 quilts + special exhibits, demonstrations, and vendors.
πAsheville Coffee Expo | π Sat., Sept. 29 | π 10 a.m.β2 p.m. | PennyCup Coffee Co. |πRalph St. | πΈ Free | An annual celebration of all things caffeinated
π10th Annual Blue Ridge Pride Festival | π Sat., Sept. 29 | π 11 a.m.β7 p.m. |πPack Square Park | πΈ Free | Three performance stages, 175 booths + 2 dozen food vendors, plus a Pride Processional through downtown Asheville.
πNo Place Like Homeplace Beer Fest | π Sat., Sept. 29 | π 10 a.m.β5 p.m. |πDowntown Burnsville | πΈ $25 | Homeplace Brewery is hosting 15 WNC breweries, local food trucks and live music for their inaugural beer fest.
πGuided Fly Fishing Trip | π Oct. 1βNov. 30 | π 10 a.m.β6 p.m. |πHunter Banks Fly Fishing Company | πΈ $200+ | DYK: Fish are freshly-stocked rivers + streams in WNC?
πOktoberfest | π Sat., Oct. 6 | π 1β6 p.m. |πPack Square Park | πΈ GA Tickets $45 | Includes 2-oz. samples, a stein glass and access to entertainment and activities.
πFood Truck + Craft Beer Festival | π Sat., Oct. 6 | π noonβ5 p.m. | Asheville Outlets |π800 Brevard Rd. | πΈ $5+ | Bonus: live music, lawn games + an artisan market
πHey Day Fall Festival | π Sat., Oct. 6 | π 10 a.m.β4 p.m. | WNC Nature Center |π75 Gashes Rd. | πΈ $6+ | The family-friendly event includes games, arts and crafts, educational animal programs, local food vendors + wildlife from the Nature Center.
πWNC Garlic Fest | π Sat., Oct. 6 | π noonβ6 p.m. | Sow True Seed |π243 Haywood Street | πΈ Free | A celebration of all things garlic, including the WNC Garlic Trail, garlic workshops, food trucks, music + family activities
πPeak Week Fall Leaves Parkway Drive | π Sat., Oct. 6 β Saturday, Oct. 13 |πBlue Ridge Parkway | πΈ Free | The second and third week of October should be the best times to see the leaves this year
πCiderFest | π Sat., Oct. 13 | π 1β5 p.m. | Salvage Station |π468 Riverside Drive | πΈ GA Tickets $33 | Includes a tasting glass, unlimited cider, mead, apple wine, and food samples, plus live music and local arts + crafts. Bonus: CiderFest is the Green Built Allianceβs largest fundraiser.
πSierra Nevada Oktoberfest | π Sat., Oct. 13 | π 5β10 p.m. |πSix Row Field, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company | πΈ $30 | w/ festbier, feasting, costumes, dancing + live music
πLEAF Festival | π Oct. 18-21 | π Thurs: 6:30β11 p.m., Fri: 8 a.m.βMidnight, Sat: 8 a.m.β2:15 a.m., Sun: 8 a.m.β6 p.m. | πΈ $46+ |πLake Eden, Black Mountain | Fall fest headliners include Digable Planets, Railroad Earth, Kishi Bashi + more, plus local acts like BomBassic, Carly Taich + Yellow Feather.
πBookwalter Binge Gran Fondo | π Sat., Oct. 28 | π 8 a.m.β5 p.m. |πWarren Wilson College | πΈ $70+ | Amateur + pro cyclists welcome for a day of cycling on three routes
πBeaverdam Studio Tour | π Sat., Oct. 27-28 | π Sat: 10 a.mβ5 p.m., Sun: noonβ5 p.m. |πVarious locations | πΈ Free | Visit up to 26 studios during this self-guided tour.
πHalloween Haunted Tour | π Mon., Oct. 29-31 | π 7 p.m. + 8:30 p.m. |πDark Ride Tours | πΈ $40 | Hop into host Virgil Nightshadeβs haunted hearse + learn all about Ashevilleβs spookiest spots. Multiple dates + times available; see website for details.
πAsheville Holiday Parade | π Sat., Nov. 17 | π 11 a.m.β1 p.m. |πDowntown Asheville | πΈ Free | 100+ paraders, including local businesses, bands + more. Protip: Head to Pack Square Park after the parade to get pictures with Santa.
Whether itβs one of the many items on this list or something else, donβt miss out on making memories this fall season. It seems as if we wait so long for fall weather to come + then it leaves us so quickly.
Grab some friends or family, make new traditions, continue old ones or just do something different for a change. And as always, be sure to tag us in pics of all your fall-time events + activities on Instagram + Facebook.
Happy Fall-ing Asheville!π