• Wine Tasting with JP Bourgeois | Friday, June 30 | 6-8 p.m. | Botainst & Barrel Tasting Bar + Bottle Shop, 32 Broadway St. Ste. 110, Asheville | $5 | Taste an assortment of wines from France and Slovenia accompanied by live jazz from Syrrup.
• Splash into Summer | Friday, June 30 | 1-3 p.m. | Recreation Park, 65 Gashes Creek Rd., Asheville | Free | Kiddos can enjoy a foam party with Professor Whizzpop.

• JuneBug Creek Lounge Opening Day | Saturday, July 1 | 12-9 p.m. | JuneBug Asheville, 355 Clarks Chapel Rd., Weaverville | Free | Enjoy a food from Claudia Y Los 4 Mariachis while exploring the new outdoor space.
• Shindig on the Green | Saturday, July 1 | 7-10 p.m. | Pack Square Park, 80 Court Plaza, Asheville | Bring blankets, chairs, and your dancing shoes to celebrate the music and dance traditions of Southern Appalachia.
• Plant a Pollinator Garden | Saturday, July 1 | 10-11:30 a.m. | Reems Creek Nursery, 76 Monticello Rd., Weaverville | Free | Create a beautiful habitat for pollinators at this workshop — registration is encouraged.

• Marquee Live! | Sunday, July 2 | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Marquee Asheville, 36 Foundy St., Asheville | Enjoy live music, art installations, mimosas, food trucks + more at this interactive brunch experience.
• Asheville Jazz Orchestra All American Big Band Jazz Concert | Sunday, July 2 | 3-4:30 p.m. | Trinity United Methodist Church, 587 Haywood Rd., Asheville | Free | Enjoy the beloved jazz orchestra with guest vocalist, Wendy Jones.
• Hot Dog Eating Contest | Sunday, July 2 | 1-2 p.m. | Farm Dogs, 56 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28801, Asheville | See if you can beat Joey Chestnut’s record of 63 dogs in 10 minutes.

• It’s getting hot here in Asheville with temperatures reaching 90 degrees this weekend. What better way to cool off than with a frozen treat? Browse our roundup of 12 spots with cooling treats to keep you chilled out.

• The Fourth of July is fast approaching and we’re here to help you make your holiday plans. Find four spots in and around Asheville to see the sky light up with fireworks.

• Two Asheville-area homes have been selected as finalists in HGTV’s Ultimate House Hunt 2023. Take a tour through the Grove Park and Arden homes, both currently listed for sale through Allen Tate/Beverly-Hanks realtors. View all the homes listed for the Ultimate House Hunt and cast your vote on your favorite.

Why Go?

• The town offers free family-friendly programming in peak summer months and has great shopping, restaurants + beach activities — think paddle boarding and jet skiing.

Act like a local:

• Shop: The Waterfront Shops feature 27 businesses including book stores, boutiques, restaurants + a yoga studio. Continue along the 0.75-mile Town Boardwalk for beautiful maritime forest + marsh views.
• Explore: Head north to Corolla to see wild horses or climb the historic Currituck Beach Lighthouse. Duck is just a ~20-minute drive from some fun + historical sites — like The Wright Brothers’ Memorial and Jockey’s Ridge State Park.

Where to stay:

• Vrbo: Oceanfront Condo, a boardwalk’s distance from the beach (~$280/night)

• The perfect outdoor string lights do exist, and they’ve got a secret weapon: solar power. Light up your yard with a 50-ft strand.

• A crushable summer beverage that won’t leave you with a hangover the next day? Try Ritual Zero Proof’s All Day Margarita made with alcohol-free tequila.

• How to make skincare more fun: the Marshmallow Whip Maker, which turns any cleanser into a fluffy, marshmallow-like foam that’s rich and creamy on the skin.