• 15th Annual Asheville Comedy Festival | Friday, Aug. 11-Sunday Aug. 12 | 8 p.m. | Diana Wortham Theatre, 18 Biltmore Ave., Asheville | Settle in for a laugh at the famous showcases — plus, attend the late night shows to keep the party going.
• Brews and Bears | Friday, Aug. 11 | 5:30-8 p.m. | WNC Nature Center, 75 Gashes Creek Rd., Asheville | $10-$20 | Watch black bears Uno and Ursa while enjoying the Nature Center after hours (with the option of getting an adult beverage).

• Shindig on the Green | Saturday, Aug. 12, Saturday, Aug. 19, Saturday, Aug. 26 | 7-10 p.m. | Pack Square Park, 80 Court Pl., Asheville | Free | Bring your instruments, friends, and lawn chairs to experience music and dance traditions of Southern Appalachia on a summer evening.
• Sourwood Festival | Saturday, Aug. 12-Sunday, Aug. 13 | Times vary | Downtown Black Mountain, 101 Sutton Ave., Black Mountain | Free | Browse handmade goods while celebrating one of the most sought-after varieties of honey in the US — plus, settle in for beekeeping demonstrations all festival long.
• Hatchett Goods Grand Opening | Saturday, Aug. 12 | 8 a.m.-7 p.m. | Hatchett Goods, 96 Weaverville Rd. Ste. 107, Asheville | Free | Celebrate the official rollout of the store’s wine program with vendors, wine tastings, and of course, plenty of coffee.

• Hi-Wire Family Yardsale | Sunday, Aug. 13 | 12-4 p.m. | RAD Beer Garden, 284 Lyman St., Asheville | Free | Shop wedding decor, household items, furniture, clothing, vintage sour bottles + old bourbon barrels, and more from Hi-Wire staff.
• LEAF Family Jam | Sunday, Aug. 13 | 12 p.m. | Burial South Slope Taproom, 40 Collier Ave., Asheville | Free | Bring the whole family to enjoy arts and crafts for all ages, food and beverages, and performances from LEAF summer camp attendees.

• Celebrate the carving craft at the Southern Highland Craft Guild’s annual Wood Day, this Saturday, Aug. 12. Learn from the masters before trying your hand at some basic techniques. Plus, stick around from 1 to 3 p.m. when woodcarvers will compete to be the fastest at carving a wooden bird.

• Eager to add more Asheville knowledge to your repertoire? Check out our roundup of 12 museums to discover things you may not have known about our mountain city. There’s something on the list for the history buffs, art aficionados, and music lovers.

• Franny’s Farm Fest is returning this weekend, Aug. 12-13. Come for the day or camp overnight, and enjoy activities including barn contra dancing, garden tours from Utopian Seed Project, and honey bee and mushroom cultivation workshops.

Why go?

• Plan your trip around these upcoming events: Ethos Celebration of the Arts on Sat., Oct. 1 or the Winter Market + Holiday Lighting on Sat., Dec. 3.

Act like a local:

• Learn: The Johnson County Museum of History started in 1931 and is a hub of year-round historic + cultural event programming that highlights the culture of the Johnson County region. You can even trace your family’s roots or research historical topics in the Genealogy Library.
• Watch: See a movie at The Historic Artcraft Theatre, which is celebrating a century in Franklin this year.

Where to stay:

• Vrbo: Beautiful Franklin Home — This 3 BR, 2 BA home is just two miles from downtown Franklin, and features a spacious family room, covered porch, and beautiful gardens (complete with a Koi pond). (~$252/night)*

• The latest Kindle model — the Kindle Paperwhite — boasts a glare-free display, warm light options for night, and is waterproof from the beach to the bath.

• Our new must-have for concerts and baseball games this summer: this clear, stadium-approved backpack. Psst — it’s also great for football games in the fall.

• The 2023 Etsy Design Award Winners are here. Check out extraordinary, imaginative items including cactus leather bags, whimsical dandelion lamps, and donut mugs.