Festival season is in full swing — but don’t expect the same lineup as years past. There are three brand new festivals shaking up the Asheville scene with more music, food, and community celebrations than ever before. Here are three first-year events to put on your calendar.
Black Mountain Blues
The music festival will bring together 25+ local blues artists to grace multiple stages — a lineup curated by Melissa McKinney, lead singer of Mama & The Ruckus. Presented by nonprofits LEAF Global Arts and White Horse Black Mountain, the festival will also feature panel discussions, food trucks, and vendors. Eager to get in on the action? The three-day fest begins tomorrow, July 12, and runs through Sunday, July 14. Explore ticket options from single-day passes to VIP access.
Bite Me AVL
This won’t be your average food festival. From JD Ellison & Company and partners, Bite Me AVL aims to share a comprehensive story about our local food scene and to make these types of festivities more accessible to attend. The food culture festival is taking place at various locations from Wednesday, Aug. 14 through Sunday, Aug. 18 and dishing out cooking classes, dinners, workshops, and late-night events. Find single-day tickets or a five-day festival pass.
Boomtown Arts & Heritage FestAVL
Slated for Friday, Sept. 6 and Saturday, Sept. 7, the inaugural free festival will celebrate Asheville’s history as a “boomtown,” honoring iconic architects, leaders, and engineers through live music, storytelling and trail tours, art exhibits and vendors, a parade, and regional food. Organized by Andrew Ellington, a direct descendant of architect Douglas Ellington, the festival will be held in collaboration with LEAF Global Arts and the Asheville Symphony.
