There are treasures everywhere you turn at The Big Crafty. | Photo via The Big Crafty
Guess who’s back, back again. It’s 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 July. The Big Crafty | Saturday, July 12-Sunday, July 13 | 12-6 p.m. | Harrahs Cherokee Center Asheville | $0+ | Peruse pottery, paintings, and glassworks galore at the biannual art fest showcasing Asheville’s creative spirit.
Love Shine Play Festival 2025 | Thursday, July 24-Sunday, July 27 | Times vary | Downtown Asheville | $107+ | Feel the love with expert-guided experiences like sunset hikes, sound baths, live music, and meditation throughout the area.
“Appalachian Phoenix” | Thursday, July 24-Saturday, July 26 | 8-10 p.m. | Diana Wortham Theatre | $25+ | More than a performance, the show from the Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance is a celebration of community, featuring art built from storm-salvaged materials and tributes to local heroes.
Arts Build Community Exhibition | 5 p.m. | Open Hearts Art Center | Free | See the fabulous fiber art created by the artists of Open Hearts Art Center with guest instruction from members of Local Cloth.
272 Nights: Helene Recovery Story Share - “What We Cling To” | 6:45 p.m. | Wicked Weed Funkatorium | Free | Share a story or lesson learned from the storm to contribute to Buncombe County Special Collections’ “Come Hell or High Water” community memory project.
Concerts in the Park - Mission Accomplished | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Cecil Park | Free | Classic rock covers from the band of healthcare professionals is just what the doctor ordered.
Saturday, June 28
Emotional Wellbeing Summer Social | 10:25 a.m.-12 p.m. | North Asheville Public Library | Donation-based | Learn how to look inward and support your emotional health in a comfortable group setting.
Lattes & Libros | 12-3 p.m. | Haywood Famous Cuban Coffee | Free | Celebrate the opening of the Cuban coffee shop’s new event space with an afternoon of book shopping, story time, and spoken word performances.
Community Day: Flora Symbolica | 12-5 p.m. | Asheville Art Museum | Free | Explore “Flora Symbolica: The Art of Flowers” (and the museum’s other exhibits) for free and participate in specially themed activities.
Sunday, June 29
Junk Journaling Workshop | 5-7 p.m. | 12 Bones Smokehouse & Brewing, Arden | $10+ | Get your creative juices flowing as you learn the mixed-media journaling technique.
Novant Health is committed to Western North Carolina, deepening ties through community conversations and partnerships. | Photo provided by Novant Health
Novant Health is putting community voices first —starting with listening.
By partnering with local physicians and trusted organizations across Western North Carolina, they’re bringing more choice and better access to care. Through new clinics and strategic collaborations, Novant Health is building a healthcare system shaped by what residents truly want and need.
The City of Asheville and Mission Health opened a temporary dog park in Riverbend Park after Helene damaged the dog parks in Azalea and French Broad River Parks. Let your four-legged friend run off leash daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Bonus: The fenced area has separate spaces for large and small dogs.
Legacy
This Sunday, June 29, Highland Brewing is hosting a public celebration of life for its founder, Oscar Wong. Beginning at 12 p.m., the brewery invites you to the meadow “to celebrate the Oscar way – with music, good food, and community spirit.”
Festival
The lineup for this year’s Boomtown FestAVL just dropped. The arts and heritage fest will bring bangin’ local bands like Toubab Krewe, Empire Strikes Brass, plus, two sets from Papadosio. The free fest will take over downtown the last weekend of August — just be sure to RSVP to snag your spot.
Announced
The owners of the Tahini Jar food truck shared that they are stepping away from the plant-based Mediterranean spot so they can focus on their other venture, New Moon Donuts. The team serves vegan cake donuts out of a blue bus, with inventive flavors like coconut ube — head to Instagram to track them down.
Civic
Asheville City Council unanimously approved a $250,000 grant for Asheville Buncombe County Land Trust, allowing them to purchase two homes in the legacy neighborhoods of East End Valley Street and Southside. The homes will be deemed permanently affordable, sold to a homeowner making at or below 80% AMI. (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Try This
A little birdie told me that Bountiful Cities has an exciting fundraiser this Saturday, June 28. At its Birdhouse Auction and Benefit, you can bid on handcrafted birdhouses and special experiences from local businesses, like creating your own ice cream flavor with The Hop. Stop by from 12 to 3 p.m. to support.
Ashevillian
Blue Ridge Pride named Bill Kaelin, founder of Bill Kaelin Marketing, its 2025 Volunteer of the Year. He’s helped successfully create Pride Month programming with businesses across Asheville, and will be recognized at Blue Ridge Pride’s Stonewall Gala this Saturday, June 28.
Cause
Did you know? It only takes an hour to help save lives. When you donate blood at Operation Blood Drive with The Blood Connection, you’ll receive $30 in TBC Rewards and an exclusive Appalachia Strong tee — all while helping neighbors in need across WNC. Sign up.*
Inspired by the Celtic term for “winding river,” The Wyre is a luxury apartment community nestled along the French Broad River in Asheville’s River Arts District. With limited-time move-in specials, modern amenities, and 16,000 sqft of on-site retail — it’s a place you’ll love to call home. Take a tour.*
Finance
It turns out all that glitters is gold — at least, in a gold IRA, which lets you hold real gold minus the storage hassle. (Gold is projected to hit $4,000 an ounce by 2026.) Grab your glitter.†*
Montgomery Sky Farm in Leicester has plenty of unique experiences, from farm tours to picnics, but it’s also home to Final Run Rescue. And when we saw that they also offer Capybara Connection Days, the activity quickly shot to the top of our summer bucket list. During select days, you can book a 30-minute time slot to meet Crouton and Cornbread, supporting the socialization of the rescue animals in a calm and controlled setting. But act fast,tickets are almost sold out.
The basics you need while they’re on sale. Amazon Basics just marked down tons of products in a sale exclusive for Prime members — time to restock the bathroom/office/supply closet shelves:
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.
Even if you can’t make it to Bountiful Cities’ Birdhouse Auction and Benefit this weekend, you can still win a beautiful piece of art (and support the nonprofit, of course). Check out the items available in the online silent auction — I personally love the birdhouse replica of City Hall.
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