09.21.2023

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Today’s Forecast

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

🌈 Blue Ridge Pride is raising voices

More to see and do at this year’s Blue Ridge Pride Festival

Get ready for celebration + advocacy. | Photo via Blue Ridge Pride

Every year, the Blue Ridge Pride Festival draws thousands of LGBTQ+ people and allies to the streets of Asheville to celebrate, support, and speak out, and this year will be no different. On Saturday, Sept. 30, festival-goers can expect a parade, music, vendors, and a lot of excitement + joy — but Blue Ridge Pride Executive Director Amy Upham emphasizes that the event is more than just celebration.

This year’s theme of “Advocate” encourages speaking up. “We hope what people take away is that they have a voice,” says Amy. “They are valued, and it’s really important that they use that voice.”

In pursuit of that theme, advocacy groups will be front and center, two NC state legislators will be speaking, and there will be two voter registration stations. Plus, Buncombe County Commissioner + Executive Director of the Campaign for Southern Equality, Rev. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, will be leading the procession that kicks off the festival. But that’s not all.

What’s in store

The Pride Procession will meet at 10 a.m. at 16 S. French Broad Ave. and get started at 10:30 a.m. Anyone can join the half-mile journey across the city to Pack Square Park, where the festival is held — signs, banners + flags are welcome.

When you reach the park, wander booths of local + regional vendors and nonprofits, visit the kids area for activities, and don’t miss out on the array of live music (Amy is especially excited for headliner Whitney Mongé). The festival will run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

What’s new

In the interest of being community-minded, the team has made a number of changes in response to feedback. For starters, this year’s event is undergoing a greening — they’re providing water stations to eliminate plastic water bottles (with both reusable water bottles for sale and compostable cups on offer) and asking food vendors to use compostable serving items.

A few more changes

Events

Thursday, Sept. 21

Pierson-Law Duo | Thursday, Sept. 21 | 6-8 p.m. | Asheville Art Museum, 2 S. Pack Square, Asheville | Free | Gather in the Museum’s atrium for a night of eclectic jazz.
Well Played Social Club | Thursday, Sept. 21 | 6-10 p.m. | Well Played, 162 Coxe Ave #101, Asheville | $3 | Board games become bridges to new friendships while you collaborate, strategize, and compete.

Friday, Sept. 22

Family Paint Night | Friday, Sept. 22 | 6-8 p.m. | Burton Street Community Center, 134 Burton St., Asheville | Free | Foster creativity in all ages — materials are provided but registration is required.
A Night in Las Vegas | Friday, Sept. 22 | 8-11 p.m. | The Getaway River Bar, 790 Riverside Dr., Asheville | $10 | Sip on tropical cocktails during an off-the-wall night of wrestling and burlesque performances.

Saturday, Sept. 23

AshevilleCon | Saturday, Sept. 23 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Holiday Inn Asheville - Biltmore West, 435 Smokey Park Hwy., Asheville | $20 | Calling all comic book collectors and enthusiasts — browse the vendors and meet industry professionals + celebrities.
Blue Note Junction Pop-Up | Saturday, Sept. 23 | 4-7 p.m. | Burton Street, 54 Burton St., Asheville | Free | Celebrate phase one of this entrepreneurial hub that’s designed to support the health + wealth of the local BIPOC community and the city as a whole.
Equinox Dance Party & Fundraiser | Saturday, Sept. 23-Sunday, Sept. 24 | 9-12 a.m. | One World Brewing - West Asheville, 520 Haywood Rd., Asheville | $10-$30 | Shimmy and shake your way into the new season — proceeds support Firefly Gathering, a nonprofit dedicated to skill-sharing + preservation of traditional craft in WNC.

Sunday, Sept. 24

Uncommon Market | Sunday, Sept. 24 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | 1 Foundy St., Asheville | Free | Shop from 115 local vendors at Asheville’s largest curated pop-up market.
7th Annual Filthy Franklin Mud Run | Sunday, Sept. 24 | 2-5 p.m. | The Franklin School of Innovation, 21 Innovation Dr., Asheville | $25-$40 | This isn’t your average race — an army crawl, mud trench, and other obstacles are on the course while you get muddy for a good cause.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Edu

Tearjerker alert: How one local is positively impacting NC lives through physical therapy

Woman with walking support cane and Physical Therapist walking together past Western Carolina University's College of Health and Human Sciences building.

Ellington and a patient walk together around Western Carolina University’s College of Health and Human Sciences building. | Photo by Western Carolina University

Greensboro native Preston Ellington’s journey to being a physical therapist started back in high school.

Now a first-year student in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program in Western Carolina University’s College of Health and Human Sciences, Ellington has real, hands-on impact on his community:

“We had a 10-year-old child who had never walked... Fast forward a few months later and this child is kicking a soccer ball and their whole outlook on life and their future has completely changed.”

Watch the rest of Ellington's story in this 3-minute video

News Notes

Civic

During its Sept. 19 meeting, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners recognized the contributions of Hispanic and Latinx people in our community and beyond by approving a proclamation to officially declare Sept. 15-Oct. 15 as Hispanic and Latino Heritage Month. Read the proclamation in English and Spanish.

Cause

Volunteers are needed for the rebuild of the former Jones Park Playground. The work on this North Asheville playground and park, which will be renamed Candace Pickens Memorial Park, is set to start on Wednesday, Oct. 4 and will continue for four days. Learn how you can lend a hand. (WLOS)

Arts

ArtsAVL has launched a Thomas Wolfe Auditorium FAQs page on its website to provide answers to some community-sourced questions that were collected after the town hall last month. The page addresses questions about budget, events, next steps, and more, and the organization is still accepting questions for possible FAQ inclusion.

Eat

Chai Pani’s Chef Meherwan Irani will be serving up a festive dinner with nonprofit Meher Archive Collective on Friday, Sept. 29 at 6 p.m. The Chaat & Chat event will feature a buffet + a talk from Irani about his culinary experience and inspirations. Tickets are $55, and reservations close tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 22.

Environment

NC’s draft state budget would prevent the regulation of auxiliary containers (aka bags, bottles, or other packaging), inhibiting recent local efforts to ban plastic bags and other single-use containers. Woodfin and Black Mountain both passed resolutions calling on the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners to implement a ban. (Asheville Citizen-Times)

Biz

They say dress for the job you want, so the Asheville Young Professionals and J. Crew are teaming up for the first Dress for Success workshop on Saturday, Sept. 23 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the J. Crew Factory Outlet. With discounts + a headshot session, the workshop aims to demystify business attire and dress codes.

Outdoors

ICYMI, tomorrow is your last day to sip and stroll through the Arboretum’s gardens in the glow of the golden hour while listening to live music from a variety of local and regional artists. Welcome in the weekend at the final ArborEvening of the season from 5:30-8:00 p.m.*

Outdoors

🍃 Best practices for interacting with nature

Best practices for interacting with nature in Asheville

Be a steward of our environment. | Photo by @jeffreylukesutton

It’s no secret that Asheville is a haven for outdoor activities. From green spaces within the city to rivers and mountains to explore nearby — there’s no shortage of ways to connect with nature in the Land of Sky.

We want to help maintain these spaces, and when possible, leave them better than the way we found them. So in honor of National Public Lands Day this Saturday, Sept. 23, here are some examples of best practices to keep in mind when interacting with nature + wildlife.

Leave every stone unturned

We’ve all seen the aesthetic rock-stacking photos, but moving rocks can destroy important habitats for locals like hellbender salamanders and eastern small-footed bats (among many others). Listen to the Great Smoky Mountains NPS — skip the photo op and leave the rocks in place.

Four more pro tips

Asked

What best nature practices do you live by?

Whether safety tips, resources, or just some local insider knowledge, share your secrets for getting along with the great outdoors.

We want to know

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Molly

From the editor

If you’ve been following my Wraps closely (don’t worry if you haven’t — there won’t be a test), you know that book news is my favorite news. So I definitely loved that the Blue Note Junction Pop-Up on our calendar will also include a special book launch from the founder of Hood Huggers International + Asheville local, DeWayne Barton. Check out “The CAP Playbook” during the event or online.

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