Get ready for celebration + advocacy. | Photo via Blue Ridge Pride
Lucky you. You just found AVLtoday’s Plan Ahead, a list of some of the biggest events that are taking place throughout Asheville each month.
Take out your calendar, grab your day planner, or text all your friends — these are the top events we recommend heading into May.
Festivals
WNC Farmers Market Spring Festival | Friday, May 2-Sunday, May 4 | Times vary | WNC Farmers Market | Free | Add all sorts of delicious farm-fresh goodies to your tote bag and score everything you need for the spring growing season.
All about the arts
(Re)HAPPENING 13 | Saturday, May 3 | 3-10 p.m. | Camp Rockmont, Black Mountain | $15+ | Installations, music, media, and performances keep Black Mountain College’s storied legacy and influence on contemporary art alive.
Catch Steep Canyon Rangers at the free Pack Square Park concert.
Photo via Steep Canyon Rangers
For the fam
Asheville City SC Season Opener | Saturday, May 17 | 7:30-9 p.m. | Greenwood Field | $12+ | Kick off the season at the women’s team’s home opener and cheer on the Blues while sipping on Summit Coffee and snacking on goodies from other local food trucks.
Concerts
Steep Canyon Rangers | Thursday, May 29 | 6-10 p.m. | Pack Square Park | Free | Asheville’s hometown Americana heroes will rock the park with a free community concert.
“It Was All A Dream” Art Exhibit Opening | 5-7 p.m. | The Radical Hotel | Free | Explore the collection of work from local artists Kevin Andrew, Colton Dion, Rebecca Harnish, and Stacy Kraft with a complimentary beverage in hand.
Friday, April 25
Spring 2025 Student Art & Ceramics Sale | 4-8 p.m. | University of North Carolina at Asheville | Price of purchase | Take home pottery, prints, and other artwork crafted by UNC Asheville students.
Saturday, April 26
Blue Country’s Giddy Up Brunch | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | The Grey Eagle | $12+ | Put your boots on for an afternoon of country western line dancing — there will be lessons if you have two left feet.
Get In Gear Festival | 12-5 p.m. | The Adventure Center of Asheville | Free | Shop the latest from local and regional outdoor gear vendors while enjoying family-friendly activities, food + drinks from local spots.
Sunday, April 27
Uncommon Market | Sunday, April 27 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | AB Technical College | Free | The market enters its 11th season, showcasing incredible antiques, art, vintage decor, jewelry, and more.
Saint Motel | Sunday, April 27| Times vary | The Orange Peel | $38+ | Hear the alt-pop band perform their mega hit, “My Type,” with support from the up-and-coming NY-based band, Stolen Gin.
🎶 Asheville Symphony’s Amadeus Festival returns next week
Presented by Asheville Symphony Orchestra
Don’t miss this must-do arts festival. | Photos by: 1. Chris Thile by Josh-Goleman, 2-3. 2023 performer Kishi Bashi by Michael Morel, 4. 2023 festival Beer Brunch by Michael Morel, 5. 2023 performer Bela Fleck by Michael Morel, 6. Time for Three by Shervin Lainez
The Asheville Symphony’s Asheville Amadeus Festival — a biennial, collaborative celebration of the local arts community — returns to AVL Wednesday, April 30-May 10.
11 days and ~40 events from 16 community nonprofits and businesses will showcase the 2025 festival theme: “The Art of Storytelling,” exploring the power of music, theatre, art, foodways + more.
Noteworthy events include:
Festival Kickoff & Beer Release party at Appalachian Mountain Brewery, feat. the release of festival-exclusive brew Fables & Folklore Hazy IPA.
Jukebox with Time for Three (TF3), a genre-defying, energetic show featuring originals & iconic classics at The Orange Peel.
Masterworks 7: Tall Tales, where TF3 will join Asheville Symphony on a program featuring Strauss’s “Till Eulenspiegel,” Kevin Puts’ “Contact,” and works by Weber and Wagner.
An Evening with Chris Thile, the festival finale at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium featuring GRAMMY Award-winning mandolinist, composer — and Nickel Creek and Punch Brothers alum — Chris Thile, alongside the Asheville Symphony.
$100,000. That’s how much the Junior League of Asheville has donated to Helpmate to construct a new emergency shelter, supporting survivors of domestic violence. Learn more about how you can join the women’s leadership and volunteer group.
Outdoors
This Sunday, April 27, head to the Peace Gardens from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for its annual Spring Fling. Revel in the season with live music, puppet shows, food trucks, artisan vendors, and a special plant sale — take a sneak peek at the plant catalog, including herbs, flowers, melons, tomatoes, and peppers.
Civic
Buncombe County Commissioners discussed the FY2026 budget at a work session this week, addressing a $13.1 million projected revenue shortfall. No decisions were made, but county staff recommended several strategies to balance the budget, including a one-cent property tax increase, pausing some community initiatives, and a hiring freeze.
Ashevillian
Tony Prieto wasn’t supposed to be in Asheville long, coming for a six-week stint as an insurance adjuster right after the storm. But after a warm welcome from the Asheville Foodies Facebook group and a dose of local hospitality, the Miami native is putting down roots. Meet Asheville’s newest “local celebrity” and his viral food reviews. (The Food Section)
Shop
East Fork has introduced a striking new collection, an ode to CEO and founder Alex Matisse’s great-grandfather and iconic French artist Henri Matisse. After years of work with his brother’s company, Les Héritiers Matisse, which protects the integrity of the artwork, the collection is available for pre-order tomorrow, April 25 at 11 a.m.
Transit
With Swannanoa River Road accessible once again, the city announced it will resume ART bus service along the road beginning Sunday, May 4. These are the final stops to reopen following Helene’s damage. While buses will run, many shelters still face restoration.
The Word
Unlimited. As in, the limit does not exist when it comes to how many job listings you can post on the AVLtoday Job Board. Get started today + watch the applications roll in. Psst — upgrade your job posting and it will be featured right here in the newsletter.
These cannabis gummies keep selling out — just one can get you feeling right within five minutes. Get 20% off with code FIRST20.†*
Read
Looking for an informative, faith-based newsletter? The Pour Over delivers current events with a Christian perspective, perfect for staying informed. Subscribe to the newsletter to join the community.*
Number
$5,000. That’s how much your dog’s ACL surgery could cost if you don’t have pet insurance. With this plan, 90% of that could be reimbursed.*
Biz
Biz
👀 Introducing ad bundles
Our bundles secure your business more advertising space for less. | Graphic by 6AM City
The newest addition to our self-service ad portal — our advertising marketplace with no long-term contracts — is bundles. We’ve put some of our most popular products into two different offerings — each with a savings of 20%. Here’s the rundown:
Branded Content Bundle: Three placements in our newsletter, including a 75-word article and two text ads in the News Notes section.
A smart bird feeder that auto-captures and identifies 10,000+ bird species. It features an HD camera with a wide angle lens and full color night vision, Wi-Fi connectivity that allows you to receive real-time messages when a bird is detected, and a sturdy, waterproof fabrication for long-term use.
All these plant sales (and of course, the Asheville Herb Fest) have me more excited than ever to get an herb garden growing. I’ve never had a green thumb, but at the rate I’m garnishing nearly everything I eat with dill this spring, it’s a necessity.
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