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Hit the ground running
Ready, set, run. | Photo via iDaph Events
As the weather heats up, it’s feeling like summer is off to the races, so lace up your sneakers and safety pin those bibs. We’ve got five races to sign up for this summer.
Beer City Relay and 5K | Sunday, May 24 | 8 a.m.-1 p.m. | New Belgium Brewing | $55+ | Pull together a team to crush the 20K relay, or fly solo for a 5K or 10K — either way, you’ve earned a beer at the finish line.
Flying Squirrel Ten Miler | Saturday, June 7 | 8 a.m. | Downtown Asheville | $45+ | Half of this race is an uphill battle, but you’ll be cruising downhill on the backend. Earn a medal (and bragging rights) while supporting the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy.
RAD Half Marathon and 10K | Sunday, June 8 | 7 a.m. | Pack Square Park | $82+ | With a portion of proceeds benefiting RADA, you’re supporting local artists every step of the way. Shop the local market, then head to Hi-Wire for the post-race party.
3rd Annual Hope is in Bloom Springtime Fundraiser | 5:30-8 p.m. | Highland Brewing Co. Event Space | $60 | Hear from mental health professionals while enjoying live music and local bites to raise money for All Souls Counseling.
Bike-In Cinema | 6-10 p.m. | New Belgium Brewing | Free | Cruise on over to the brewery lawn for an outdoor screening of “E.T.” — bike valet will be available for you to park your ride.
An Evening of Classical Guitar | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Story Parlor | $18 | Settle into the dimly lit room with a glass of wine as you take in the intimate performances of three musicians.
Friday, May 23
Future Islands | 7 p.m. | Burial Forestry Camp | $56 | The synth pop band is kicking off Burial’s 2025 Summer Camp Concert Series with support from Lonnie Walker.
Poetry Cabaret | Friday, May 23-Saturday, May 24 | 8 p.m. | Asheville Community Theatre | $22 | The troupe of poets, dancers, and musicians will defy norms during this evening show in collaboration with Asheville Fringe Festival.
Saturday, May 24
Birds and Brews Festival | 4-6 p.m. | Sweeten Creek Brewing | Free | The brewery is partnering with Wild Birds Unlimited for its third fest, with a plant swap, live music, and educational info from the Blue Ridge Audubon Chapter.
Asheville on Deck Rooftop Party | 6-10 p.m. | The Radical Hotel | $18 | Feel good about partying it up on the rooftop, because ticket sales benefit local artists through The Flood Collection.
Funk DJ Series with Hot Bread Selectors | 6-10 p.m. | The Funkatorium | Free | Wrap up AVL Beer Week in the Funkatorium Biergarten with Live tunes by Hot Bread Selectors.*
Sunday, May 25
Forge Your Own with Angry Giant Forge | 12-6 p.m. | RAD Brewing Co. | $55+ | It’s not every day you get the chance to forge a dagger under the instruction of a champion of the History Channel’s “Forged in Fire.”
SnoozeFest | 1-6 p.m. | Drip Sauna | $40 | Sunday is heating up (then cooling down) with an afternoon of sauna sessions, cold plunges, live music, food, and local makers.
Meet RiverBlue: A new community for nature-loving locals
Presented by Hominy at RiverBlue
You’ll find 55+ acres to explore, including 25 acres of untouched natural beauty right outside your door. | Photos provided by Hominy at RiverBlue
The best way to enjoy the great outdoors? From the comfort of your own home.
Nestled along Hominy Creek in West Asheville, RiverBlue is an outdoor-oriented development where nature, community, and active living come together.
Hominy at RiverBlue — an upscale apartment community — is now accepting move-ins, while Asheville’s first active adult 55+ rental community, Chorus Asheville, is currently pre-leasing.
Each Hominy apartment features open-concept floor plans, large balconies, nature-inspired wood + stone finishes, spacious walk-in closets, and large windows to soak in stunning mountain views.
Outside, there’s no shortage of adventure. Explore the mile-long private trail along Hominy Creek, paddle down the French Broad River, or bike to local cafes and galleries.
Community amenities include over two miles of on-site trails, co-working spaces, a fire pit, pickleball + bocce ball courts, a nature-themed playground, dog yards with a wash station, bike storage, and lawn games for picnics.
These are grounds for celebration. Dripolator’s newest coffee house is open in the Biltmore Village area at 760 Biltmore Ave. Stop by the crew’s fifth location to admire latte art and the red floral wallpaper.
Sports
The AVL Hoppers are headed to Denver for the 2025 USA Volleyball National Championship this weekend. The team of eight WNC women all played college ball and now show off their talents through the local nonprofit league. If you want to cheer them on from afar, you can help fund their journey to Colorado.
Show
It’s concert season at the JuneBug Retro Resort. The Weaverville venue welcomes shows back for the summer after months of rebuilding, starting with The Barsters tonight, May 22. The Mehfil and Fire on the Mountain BBQ food trucks will be on site for when you dance up an appetite. See the full lineup through July.
Concert
Live Nation’s $30 Ticket to Summer is underway, featuring deals for various artists that have upcoming shows around Asheville. Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville and Asheville Yards are participating, with shows including Iron and Wine, MJ Lenderman, and Dispatch.
Transit
Norfolk Southern shared that it will rebuild the Old Fort Loops, a historically important stretch of railroad that was destroyed by Helene. The tracks are expected to be ready for freight use this winter. Plus, the rebuild could be the first step in bringing passenger rail service back for the first time since 1975. (Blue Ridge Public Radio)
Festival
Before you go nuts at White Squirrel Weekend in Brevard this Friday-Sunday, familiarize yourself with the lore of the incredibly rare and pale festival headliners. Complete the required reading, then check out what’s on deck for the festival, including photos with the white squirrel mascot and music from Shovels & Rope.
Listen
The Asheville Museum of History’s new salon-style series, Conversations, invites notable WNC residents to share their worldly accomplishments. The Tuesday, June 10 event invites retired priest Dan Matthews, who created a Wall Street refuge center after Sept. 11, 2001 and funded Bishop Desmond Tutu’s work to end South Africa’s apartheid.
Real Estate
We recently visited Longview Carolina, a gated “agrihood” in Easley, SC, where nature meets convenience. From a working farm and miles of trails to the panoramic mountain views, you’ll have to see it to believe it.*
Number
$4,000. That’s how much an ounce of gold is expected to cost in 2026. And since gold thrives in unstable markets, its rally appears far from over.Check out gold IRAs, which let you own physical gold while taking advantage of IRA tax breaks.†*
Correction
Earlier this week, we told you Pisgah Legal’s Jazz for Justice Celebration at Highland Brewing Company was on Sunday, May 28. Excuse our slight slip of the keyboard: The correct event date is Wednesday, May 28. Grab tickets to join in on delicious food + live jazz.*
Category
Community
Honoring history in Emma
Follow La Esperanza Cooperative on social media for more park events. | Camille Nevarez Hernandez
The park at 477 N. Louisiana Ave. is part of a broader effort to preserve Asheville’s legacy neighborhoods through community-led development projects — and it’s getting ready to celebrate a name change.
What are Asheville’s legacy neighborhoods? The terminology comes from the Legacy Neighborhood Coalition, a group of community leaders representing neighborhoods in Asheville that have historically faced racial discrimination or currently face displacement.
James Vester Miller Park will officially celebrate its new name and signage in the Emma community with a dedication ceremony this Saturday, May 24, from 12 to 2 p.m. A historical marker will be unveiled, honoring Miller, an influential Black mason responsible for building some of Asheville’s most historic architecture. Miller played a significant role in the Emma community, building his family home there.
DYK, if you’re a regular pickleballer and have some broken balls on your hands, you can take them to Asheville Sports Club to be recycled. The Asheville Pickleball Association will dill with the used balls placed in the bin at the sports bar.
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