07.04.2023

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42º | Cloudy | 0% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 7:40 a.m. | Sunset 5:30 p.m.

☀️ Asheville’s 2023 summer bucket list

Asheville’s 2023 summer bucket list

Experience the magic of summer in Asheville. | Photo via Wikimedia Commons

“Summertime and the livin’ is easy.” And it just got even easier to plan the perfect summer in Asheville. We’ve rounded up 15 bucket list activities to help you make the most of the season. Bonus points for those who print out this list and check off activities as they go.

Events + festivals

☐ Jam out to old-time and bluegrass beats at the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival from Thursday, Aug. 3 through Saturday, Aug. 5.
☐ Grab tickets to the inaugural AVLFest from Thursday, Aug. 3 through Sunday, Aug. 6.
☐ Have a laugh at the Asheville Comedy Festival from Wednesday, Aug. 9 through Saturday, Aug. 12.
☐ Enjoy live music with a local beverage in hand at Downtown After 5, taking place the third Friday of each month through September.

Outdoor fun

☐ Explore the biodiversity of our region at the WNC Nature Center.
☐ Pack a picnic and hit a local trail for a day of hiking.
☐ Cool off by taking a dip in one of Asheville’s public pools or local swimming holes.
☐ Indulge in America’s favorite pastime by catching a Tourists game at McCormick Field.
☐ Grab your blankets and chairs to screen a flick at Movies in the Park.
☐ Experience the underwater world of streams and rivers of WNC on the Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail.

Hike through Craggy Gardens to see the twisty rhododendrons.
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Photo by @jared_kay

More must do activities

☐ Pick up a summer read from an independent bookstore like Malaprop’s Bookstore or Chapters Bookstop.
☐ Hitch a ride on the ArtsAVL Connect Trolley to explore Asheville’s art scene, with loops covering downtown and the River Arts District.
☐ Spend a rainy day exploring a museum, like AMOS, Asheville Art Museum, or the Asheville Pinball Museum.
☐ Make a meal with fresh summer produce from one of our local farmers markets.
☐ Embark on an ice cream crawl of Asheville to find your favorite frozen treat.

Events

Tuesday, July 4

Ingles Independence Day Celebration | Tuesday, July 4 | 12-10 p.m. | Pack Square Park, 80 Court Plaza, Asheville | Free | Bring chairs and blankets to enjoy The Ultimate Air Dogs, live music, local food, craft beverages, and a fireworks extravaganza.
Fourth of July Celebration | Tuesday, July 4 | 12-10 p.m. | Lake Julian Park, 37 Lake Julian Rd., Arden | Free | Spend the day enjoying fishing, picnic areas, disc golf, outdoor games, and more before the fireworks begin around 9:15 p.m.

Wednesday, July 5

Drawing to Learn Wild Flowers | Wednesday, July 5 | 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W. State St., Black Mountain | $45 | Learn drawing techniques while creating a nature journal of beautiful and diverse local spring wildflowers.
Music to Your Ears: David Bowie’s “Ziggy Stardust” | Wednesday, July 5 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Asheville Guitar Bar, 122 Riverside Dr., Ste. D, Asheville | $10 | Join Bill Kopp and Mark Casson for a listening party + discussion about the classic 1972 album.

Thursday, July 6

Pickleball Summer Slam | Thursday, July 6 | 6-10 p.m. | Murphy-Oakley Park, 715 Fairview Rd., Asheville | Free | Register for the tournament by bringing a new beanie, pair of gloves, coat, underwear, or socks to donate.
An Exquisite Whiskey and Chocolate Pairing Event | Thursday, July 6 | 7-8:30 p.m. | Provisions Mercantile, 728 Haywood Rd., Asheville | $30 | Discover how the flavors of whiskey and chocolate go hand-in-hand at this indulgent event.

Friday, July 7

Skate Night | Friday, July 7 | 6-10 p.m. | Carrier Park, 220 Amboy Rd., Asheville | Free | Bounce, rock, skate, and roll at this free event — some skates available to borrow, but bringing your own is recommended.
Downtown Asheville Treasure Hunt | Friday, July 7-Saturday, July 8 | Times vary | Asheville Art Museum, 2 S. Pack Sq., Asheville | $12-$20 | Gather your team to follow clues, solve puzzles, and crack codes to find and unlock the treasure chest for a grand prize.

Saturday, July 22

9th Annual Night Flight Race | Saturday, July 22 | 7-10 p.m. | Highland Brewing Company, 12 Old Charlotte Hwy., Asheville | $33-$38 | Join this 4.5 mile run that 100% supports Asheville’s greenways + ends with beer, music, and more in the Meadow at Highland Brewing Company.*

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Drink

🍹 Give it up for this (zero-proof) marg

Add a splash of mango or passion fruit juice to your margarita for an added tropical punch. | Photo via Ritual Zero Proof

Your new favorite summer cocktail? An alcohol-free marg made with Ritual Zero Proof tequila. The best part? It’s hangover-free.

Virgin all day margarita

Ingredients:

2 oz. Ritual Tequila Alternative
1 oz. orange juice
1 oz. fresh lime juice
1/2 oz. simple syrup
Lime slice

Directions:

Shake all ingredients (except lime slice) in a shaker with ice. Pour into a cocktail glass with ice and garnish with a lime slice.

More recipes

News Notes

Today Is

Independence Day. America has been celebrating this day for 247 years, since the Declaration of Independence was formally adopted on July 4, 1776. Round up the kids, friends, or just yourself and see a display of fireworks.

Film

Local filmmaker Garrett Martin’s documentary “The River Runs On” will be screened at New Belgium Brewing Company on Thursday, July 20 from 6 to 9 p.m. The film explores the release of a plan that decides the fate of the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests. Get tickets for the screening.

Theater

The Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance will honor its 20th anniversary with the Celebration of the Ancients at the Grove Arcade on Wednesday, July 12 from 6 to 9 p.m. Get tickets to experience an improvisational dance, a DJ set, food, and drinks.

Try This

The Asheville Fire Department announced the launch of its weekly Explorer Post program, allowing 14 to 18-year-olds to sharpen their firefighting and leadership skills. Attend the open house on Monday, July 17 at 6 p.m. at the Asheville Fire Department Station 1 to learn more about the program.

Sports

Former UNC Asheville men’s basketball player Tajion Jones has been added to the Charlotte Hornets’ summer league roster. During his time with the Bulldogs, Tajion became Asheville’s all-time scoring leader, racking up 1,987 points. See him play with the Hornets in the NBA2K24 Summer League through Thursday, July 13.

Cause

A race + a cold beer after? Yes, please. Raise money for Asheville’s greenways by joining the 9th Annual Highland Brewing Night Flight on Saturday, July 22 — the race includes a 4.5 mile run and post-race party and awards ceremony at Highland Brewing. Make note: Register by July 5 to guarantee your t-shirt size.*

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Grace

From the editor

The Whale is currently ranked at number four in USA Today’s 10Best Readers Choice competition for Best Beer Bar. Want to see them take the winning spot? You can vote here once per day until Friday, July 28.

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