Prepare to spend your summer by the water in Old Fort. | Photo via Foothills Watershed
The neighboring mountain town is known for its scenic trails and booming outdoors scene, and upcoming businesses are adding to the hype.
Here are three spots opening this summer in Old Fort, sure to inspire your next day trip.
Foothills Watershed
Opening tomorrow, June 18, this family-friendly riverside hang and bike park is ready to ignite your sense of adventure. Wade in the Catawba River, play yard games, pedal through the vast network of trails, and get some serious speed on the pump track.
Trails cater to beginners and experienced riders alike.
Photo via Foothills Watershed
At Basecamp, the menu will feature twists on your Foothills favorites and Latin-inspired dishes dreamed up by Chef Luis Martinez of Taqueria Rosita. Pro tip: Bring a brew — Watershed is currently BYOB until the in-house brewery is complete.
Introduction to Pollinators | 6-7:30 p.m. | Skyland South Buncombe Library | Free | If you want to be a pupil of all things pollination, this crash course will teach you all about the mechanics, WNC’s native species, and conservation.
AFTER HOURS Summer Concert Series | 6-8 p.m. | Asheville Museum of History | $0+ | Bring a lawn chair and sit back as Rudy’s Bluegrass Revue plays on the museum’s front porch — museum admission is included in the ticket price, plus, preorder a picnic basket from Finch Grocery.
Wednesday, June 18
Tarot Community Circle | 6-7 p.m. | House of Black Cat Magic, Co. | $15 | Join the circle for an hour of discussion and practice reading — just bring a deck and a notebook.
Decorative Folk Art hosted by Amy Williams | 7-8 p.m. | Plant Bar - Coffee and Tea | $31 | Learn three kinds of brushstrokes that evoke the unique 18th-century style, and practice them on natural materials gathered here in Appalachia.
Thursday, June 19
Juneteenth on The Block | 5-8 p.m. | Eagle and Market St. | Free | The evening features community conversations, historical discussions, music, art, cocktails, coffee, and more.
Asheville Tourists Blood Drive | 11 a.m. | McCormick Field | Free | Donate blood to score an exclusive AVL baseball jersey and two tickets to a home game.*
Friday, June 20
NCWF/SAHC Volunteer Work Day | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Bowditch Bottoms Preserve, Burnsville | Free, RSVP | Join the North Carolina Wildlife Federation and the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy to remove invasive species.
Downtown After 5 | 5-10 p.m. | Pack Square Park | Free | Asheville’s beloved community concert series continues with a Juneteenth celebration featuring Southern Avenue and DJ Phantom Pantone.
Tuesday, June 24
Nathaniel Rateliff | 7 p.m. | Asheville Yards | $72 | Look forward to high-energy R&B with a splash of folk as Nathaniel Rateliff and his backing band jam under the stars.*
Ashleigh Shanti, chef and owner of Good Hot Fish, took home a James Beard Foundation Book Award in the “US Foodways” category for her book, “Our South: Black Food Through My Lens.” Huge congratulations on this well-deserved win. If you haven’t already, pick up the book at Malaprop’s.
Community
Buncombe County’s Reduce to Rebuild Program is underway, reducing planning and permitting fees by half for residents repairing or rebuilding their homes from Helene’s damage. The program runs through the end of the year — see eligibility requirements.
Drink
plēb urban winery will host a special dinner at Cultura next Tuesday, June 24, pairing their remaining wine with courses from Chef J Chong. The winery was decimated by the storm, and although the team says the future is still uncertain, their commitment to “making exceptional wine in WNC remains.”
Announced
The Buncombe County government website has a new look and new URL. In addition to a domain change from a ".org” site to ".gov” site, changes will allow for more frequent updates and greater ADA accessibility for users with limited vision.
Plan Ahead
Boomtown Arts & Heritage FestAVL will return for its second year, shining a spotlight on WNC’s culture and history this Labor Day weekend, Aug. 29-31. A full lineup for the fest will come out next week, but for now, you can relive the exciting moments from the inaugural year.
Welcome to Chorus Asheville — a 55+ active adult community nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Now leasing, this community combines resort-style living with wellness-focused amenities and fun, resident-led events. Attend an upcoming event and see what makes Chorus feel like home.*
Meet MUNCH, a new spot for late-night grub headed for DSSOLVR and VOWL Bar. Smash burgers, tacos, and loaded tots are on the menu — plus, the MUNCH burger, with queso, pico de gallo, poblano crema, pickled red onions, and a crunchy tostada shell. Our stomachs are rumbling as we wait for an official opening date.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
Mark your calendars for a special all-ages Nerd Nite at RAD Brewing this Saturday, June 21 at 12 p.m. Hear from local “nerds” on the science of silly voices, reading and the brain, and adventures in prototyping. Admission is free, but you can go ahead and reserve tickets. As they say, be there and be square.
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