The local signs of spring may be deceiving. | Photo by @photofern.wnc
This time of year, most of us are ready to shake off winter frost and dive into spring sunshine. We pull shorts and sundresses from the depths of our closets — and then, cold weather returns. Maybe for just a day or two, but it comes back. Then leaves. Then comes back.
These cold snaps have been a regular occurrence for generations, and you’ve likely heard them referred to as “little winters” or “cold spells,” depending on your grandma’s personal vocabulary. Long before weather apps, the predictability of little winters was used to decide when crops were planted, ensuring farmers didn’t plant too early or too late.
With temperatures bouncing from mid-30s to high 60s this week, now seems like a good time to forecast the six Appalachian little winters on the local horizon.
Redbud Winter brings the chill.
Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich via Pexels
Redbud Winter
Redbud Winter typically happens around mid-March or early April, when the redbud trees are in bloom. Heads up, this will become a pattern in the next few sentences, since most of the little winters are named after the blooming plants.
Produce Market | 12-1:30 p.m. | Blunt Pretzels, Swannanoa | Free | The nonprofit continues to provide fresh, healthy food to the community at no cost.
Tuesday, March 4
Fat Tuesday Fiesta | 6 p.m. | The Grey Eagle | $108 | Part fundraiser, part holiday party, but 100% a good time — The Rotary Club of Asheville Breakfast Foundation celebrates its annual fundraiser with dinner, live music, and an auction.
Book Launch: “Stronger than the Storm: Hurricane Helene in WNC” | 6-7:30 p.m. | Buncombe County Special Collections at Pack Memorial Library | Free | Editor Shelley McKechnie and the writers and artists who contributed to the book will discuss the intimate collection of essays, artwork, and poems.
Wednesday, March 5
Women for Women’s Spring Social | 5-7 p.m. | Rye Knot | Free | Meet women who are part of the giving circle, which awards grants to organizations improving the lives of women and girls in our 18-county region.
Thursday, March 6
2025 Paddling Film Festival World Tour | 7-9:30 p.m. | The Grey Eagle | $15+ | The film festival is on a world tour, making a stop in Asheville to screen paddling adventure films — the event benefits MountainTrue.
Sierra Hull | 8 p.m. | Asheville Music Hall | $37+ | The Grammy-nominated bluegrass star has graced iconic stages from Carnegie Hall to the Grand Ole Opry, so it’ll be a treat to see her in this intimate venue.
Honky Tonk: Rodeo Night | 5-9 p.m. | Highland Brewing Company - Event Center | Free | Join Highland Brewing for a rootin'-tootin’ evening of free line dancing, live country music + mechanical bull riding, and grab a steak dinner ticket for a meal provided by Chef Taylor Montgomery.*
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Graphic by 6AM City
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Stop by 250 Haywood Rd. and smell the roses. Carolina Flowers recently moved into the space after losing its Marshall shop to Helene. Get some gorgeous locally grown flowers for yourself, or brighten someone else’s day with a bouquet.
Drink
Raise your glass. Terra Nova Beer Co.'s Swannanoa taproom has reopened at 204 Whitson Ave. Stop by to sip and support — and grab some Creole grub from Chef Dano of Root Down, the brewery’s new food partner.
Environment
After assessing Helene’s impact, the NC Wildlife Resources Commission has updated its spring and summer trout stocking schedule. Check out the online map showing locations and access status. Of the 14 closed locations, one — the Swannanoa River — is in Buncombe County.
Biz
Mountain BizWorks has announced the Electrify Fund, a loan program offering WNC businesses and nonprofits affordable financing for clean energy investments. Learn more about the fund and apply for projects like solar paneling and electric fleet vehicles.
Number
$40 million. That’s how much Dogwood Health Trust has invested in the Self-Help Ventures Fund to support the WNC Affordable Housing Loan Fund. Loans will be paid to developers building affordable housing, particularly serving families at or below 80% AMI. (Mountain Xpress)
Arts
Applications are open for Story Parlor’s Story/Arts Residency, inviting artists from marginalized communities to stage a three-week performance exploring storytelling through art. Read up on 2023 artist-in-residence Shunyu Huang’s Memory Quilt project and apply by the end of March.
Watch
In a video produced by Deep Creek Productions, Wrong Way River Lodge and Cabins co-owner Shelton Steele shares the business’ story of weathering the storm — and stepping up to serve the community. If you want to support with a staycation, right now you can get 15% off your booking with code REVIVAL15.
Regional
Our neighbors in Hendersonville can get a reward for combating an invasive species. The Hendersonville Tree Board and NC State University are sponsoring the Bradford Pear Bounty, letting Hendersonville landowners exchange the invasive trees from their property for free native trees. Register for the event. (WLOS)
Nothing beats the Monday blues like weekend plans to look forward to. Make a reservation at The Lobster Trap forfresh oysters, good vibes + live music every Friday and Saturday.*
Edu
Being a middle school girl is hard enough — Hanger Hall School makes it easier. Get the scoop on how their vibrant + inclusive culture is building empowered young women.*
Health
Did you hear that? Most hearing aids have one processor. These bad boys have two, making speech clearer and crisper by processing speech and noise separately. No wonder 540,000+ customers love them.*
Number
5. That’s how many minutes it takes to read a 1440 daily newsletter — catching you up on unbiased, fact-based news in politics, business, sports, culture, and more. Subscribe now.*
It’s officially March, and soon, our beautiful city will be in bloom. To celebrate, we’ve rounded up three art exhibits that promise to put a spring in your step.
Pink Dog Creative Pop-Up Series | Monday, March 3 -Saturday, March 15 | Head down to the River Arts District to support local artists Paige Houghton, Stacy Kraft, Laura Peery, and Daniel Iyari, whose works range from fiber arts to paintings and light installations.
“Flora Symbolica” | Friday, March 7 -Monday, July 28 | Asheville Art Museum | Explore the meanings and messages of flowers in American art from the 20th and 21st centuries. Museum members are invited to experience the exhibit first on Thursday, March 6.
“viewshed”| Friday, April 4 -Saturday, August 16 | Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center | Learn about the college’s legacy as a center for artistic experimentation and view the works of contemporary artists alongside formative BMC figures. Bonus: Brush up on your BMC history before seeing the exhibit.
The Buy
The Buy
Your favorite spring shoe. We know, the magic word: spring. Visualize your next few months and try not to sprint away from winter as you choose the staple shoe best for you:
👟 Nordstrom stocked up on new colors of the beloved Veja Campo sneaker + New Balance’s 327 Sneaker.
👟 The hardware addition makes this new — and 20% off — strappy chunky heel anything but basic.
👟 Pair these under $40 clear slide sandals with virtually any color dress for springtime occasions.
👟 Ease into comfy hours with the Ugg Tasman Slipper’s cousin — the Buree Slipper.
👟 Lululemon’s plush slides are engineered with a grippy non-slip sole.
If you’re a regular Ansel Adams with the camera, listen up. WNC Magazine opened its Images of Western North Carolina Photo Contest, accepting entries of photographs from across the region to be featured in the magazine’s summer issue. See last year’s finalists and submit up to five shots by Friday, March 28.
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