Meet us at the park 🌳

Head outside with a guide to Asheville’s parks

Lake_julian_asheville-duke-energy-cooloutdoorsyname-avltoday

Lake Julian Park sunsets are something special. | Photo by @cooloutdoorsyname

Ready to plan your trip to the park? Grab your shades and trusty water bottle — here are some of the 828’s best:

Nature parks

Botanical Gardens at Asheville, 151 WT Weaver Blvd.

Explore 10 acres of native plants and explore the rich world of Southern Appalachian habitats at this local community garden. Admission is free but donations are encouraged.

Collier Cove Nature Preserve, 194 Rhododendron Dr., Arden

With 29+ acres of hillside woodland, there’s plenty of room to roam and catch beautiful views of the eastern Butler mountain range.

Sports parks

Richmond Hill Park, 300 Richmond Hill Dr., Asheville

If you’re into disc golf, this 18-hole course is the spot. The wooded, hilly park also recently added a mountain bike trail system in addition to an already plentiful collection of windy trails.

Jake Rusher Park, 132 State Rd. 3174, Arden

This recently upgraded neighborhood park has a playground, pavilion, basketball courts, and plenty of parking. Read about the park’s rich history.

Family parks

Lake Julian Park, 37 Lake Julian Rd., Arden

Bask in gorgeous views and enjoy amenities like sand volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, a disc golf course, and walking trails. Plus, there’s great fishing here.

Silver-Line Park, 1050 Riverside Dr., Woodfin

Woodfin’s newest park opened to the public in 2022. The five-acre plot has wonderful river access, swinging benches, a children’s playground, public restrooms, and walking trails. See a bird’s eye view.

Dog parks

French Broad River Park, 508 Riverview Dr., Asheville

This riverside park, which most locals consider the most lively dog park in town, offers two fenced-in play areas and is a great place for dog owners to chat.

Azalea Dog Park, 395 Azalea Rd., Asheville

Azalea is arguably the most peaceful dog park in town, thanks to its sprawling acreage, minimal crowds, and nearby river access.

15 MORE PARKS

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Friday, Jan. 27

Sharpening and Repair Extravaganza | Friday, Jan. 27-Sunday, Jan. 29 | Times vary | Asheville Tool Library, 16 Smith Mill Rd., Asheville | Free | Stop by the Asheville Tool Library for a variety of workshops and opportunities to repair tools, including everything from kitchen knives and woodworking tools to garden shears.
Liar’s Club: An Evening of Fake Storytelling | Friday, Jan. 27 | 7-10 p.m. | Story Parlor, 227 Haywood Rd., Asheville | $15-$20 | Enjoy tall tales from local comedians as they share entertaining accounts of the lives of fictional people.

Saturday, Jan. 28

Mutual Aid Market | Saturday, Jan. 28 | 12-4 p.m. | The Odd, 1045 Haywood Rd., Asheville | Free | Bring what you can and take what you need at this gift economy market — there will also be free brake light changes and appearances from local musicians and artists.
Color Machine Music | Saturday, Jan. 28 | 4-6 p.m. | Ginger’s Revenge - South Slope Lounge, 32 Banks Ave., Asheville | Free | This singer-songwriter plays tunes inspired by artists like Nathaniel Rateliff, The Avett Brothers, and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Sunday, Jan. 29

Argentine Tango Beginners Bootcamp | Sunday, Jan. 29 | 2-5 p.m. | In His Steps, 159 Church St., Asheville | $20 | Learn how to dance Argentine tango at this social, beginner-friendly event.
Winter Warm Up Market | Sunday, Jan. 29 | 2-7 p.m. | Urban Orchard Cider Co. South Slope, 24 Buxton Ave., Asheville | Free | Shop for handmade jewelry, self-care items, and more while sipping on hot mulled cider.
Sunday Brunch | Sunday, Jan. 29 | 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. | Jettie Rae’s Oyster House, 143 Charlotte St., Asheville | $75 | Chef Will Cisa has curated a special, one-off brunch menu featuring savory seafood dishes and sweet treats, including buttermilk biscuits with caviar butter, crab cake Benedict, and olive oil cake.

Monday, Jan. 30

ASHEVILLAINS - Local Comedy Showcase & Fundraiser | Monday, Jan. 30 | 7-9 p.m. | The Grey Eagle, 28 Broadway St., Asheville | $17-$22 | This local comedy showcase is produced by Modelface Comedy and features Mario Trevizo, Ryan Cox, and host Marlene Thompson.

Wednesday, Feb. 1

Pintxo Party | Wednesday, Feb. 1 | 6 p.m. | La Bodega, 32 South Lexington Ave., Asheville | $120 | Enjoy an array of wine and bites prepared by visiting chef Ryan Bartlow of Ernesto’s NYC.

Thursday, Feb. 2

Poultry Butchery and Wood Fired Cooking Class | Thursday, Feb. 2 | 6-8 p.m. | The Chop Shop Butchery, 100 Charlotte St., Asheville | $90-$130 | Watch a professional butcher break down a local chicken and discuss cooking techniques over a wood fire.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Get jazzed about this upcoming Charleston, SC event 🎷

A man with a saxophone standing against a wall.

Charleston is home to many jazz musicians who played in bandstands of Count Basie, Duke Ellington or Jimmie Lunceford + more.

Did you know that jazz music has significant roots in Charleston, SC?

Along with an interesting story about a Charleston orphanage, jazz was brought to the Lowcountry through enslaved Africans, whose polyrhythms (aka Gullah rhythms) is the defining rhythmic feature of many styles of jazz music.

During the Festival of Houses and Gardens (March 15-April 16), Historic Charleston Foundation’s Festival Music Series will feature the Plantation Singers + Charleston-based saxophonist Jonathan Kammer — giving visitors a chance to explore the musical heritage of Charleston.*

SEE MORE EVENTS + SNAG TIX

Weather

44º | Sunny | 20% chance of rain

Civic

Public and private community leaders gathered this week to hear about a study from the National Association to End Homelessness. The comprehensive report recommends a goal of decreasing unsheltered homelessness by 50% in the next two years with five broad strategies.

Open

Home decor brand Half Light Honey celebrates its grand opening this weekend, Jan. 28-29 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., at its new brick and mortar in the Asheville Cotton Mill (122 Riverside Dr.). Throughout the weekend, everything in the store will be 25% off. 🥣

Festival

The inaugural Maggie Valley Ice Festival will debut this Saturday, Jan. 28 from 3 to 8 p.m. at 3374 Soco Rd. The family festival will feature ice carving demonstrations and sculptures, a s’mores stand, and other vendors. 🧊 (Mountain Xpress)

Number

500,000. That’s how many meals the Food Connection has delivered to folks throughout WNC since launching in 2015. The nonprofit’s mission is to redistribute food from restaurants, caterers, universities, and retirement homes that would normally get thrown away. Learn more. 🍜

Community

Do you have a vision for a community garden project? If so, the West Asheville Garden Stroll may be able to support you with its annual grant program. Check out the eligibility requirements and submit an application by Saturday, Feb. 18 for up to $1,000 in assistance. 🌻

Shop

This Saturday, Jan. 28 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Hickory Nut Gap Farm is hosting a truck sale. Stop by for up to 50% off skirt, hanger, culotte, and NY strip steaks, pork shoulder, petite boneless pork loin, and other carnivorous staples. The farm is located at 57 Sugar Hollow Rd. in Fairview. 🍖

Home

Starting a new construction project? Think about adding an extra layer of protection with MB HAYNES’ Firestop program. Here are 10 reasons why this is a step you shouldn’t skip while building.*

Finance

If cash back is king, this card is royalty. With a big sign-up bonus, up to 5% cash back, no annual fee, 0% APR until 2024 + more, it’s basically a no-brainer. *

Traffic

What we’re buying for our cars: Dash cams. The REDTIGER Dual Dash Camera captures both the front and rear of your car and can be a lifesaver when it comes to contesting traffic violations and recording evidence of collisions. Plus, it connects to your mobile device. 🚦*

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THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Laura.

Editor’s pick: One of our wonderful daily readers, Avelino Lopez, is hosting an international retreat to Villa de Leyva, Colombia this May. See here to learn more.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? See 7 super fly peregrine falcon facts, here.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Laura Hackett, Brook Bolen, Erin McPherson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith| Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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