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🌼 March into spring events
See last year’s lively Holi celebration. | Photo by Carl Kerridge
Spring is in sight, and Asheville’s events calendar is starting to bloom with flower, food, and fringe arts festivals. Here’s what to add to your March calendar. Chai Pani’s Holi Celebration | Friday, March 6 | 4-9 p.m. | Banks Avenue | Free | The street will shut down for a celebration of spring, love, and renewal with a bhangra dance floor, street food stalls, a photo booth, and plenty of vibrant Holi colors.
Westival | Saturday, March 14 | 5-8 p.m. | Archetype Brewing | $50 | This fest is all about food and fellowship — savor flavors from 10+ wonderful West Asheville restaurants to support Asheville Poverty Initiative.
Asheville Fringe Arts Festival | Sunday, March 15-Sunday, March 22 | Times vary | Various locations | Prices vary | For 24 years running, Asheville is the canvas for this celebration of experimental art.
Asheville Orchid Festival | Saturday, March 28-Sunday, March 29 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | The NC Arboretum | $5, parking fees apply | The annual show features world-class growers, curated displays, and thousands of orchids for sale.
From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, Feb. 25, the RACE-CARS Trial of Duke University is attempting to set the CPR world record by training 30,000 people in NC. Here in Buncombe County, you can head to Pack Square Park to learn + get those numbers up.
Community
The Asheville Downtown Association is asking business owners, residents, and visitors to take the 2026 State of Downtown Survey to inform the association’s future work. Results will be shared alongside additional economic data at the April 14 State of Downtown event.
Health
More than a year after announcing plans, Mission Hospital is moving forward with demolishing the century-old St. Joseph’s campus. The city approved permits for demolition, with some additional permits pending. Exact construction dates are unclear, but staff have been instructed to no longer park at the St. Joseph’s campus. (Asheville Watchdog)
Learn
Learn how to act in the heat of the moment by joining the Asheville Fire Department’s 2026 Citizens Academy. Apply to the program and sit in on four three-hour classes to get an inside look at the challenges firefighters face daily.
Eat
Burial Forestry Camp will turn into the city’s hottest steakhouse tomorrow, Feb. 26. The brewery’s Camp Steakhouse pop-up is coming back around, serving up choice cuts, classic sides, and cold beverages to wash it all down.
Sports
Batter up. Single-game tickets for the Asheville Tourists 2026 season are now on sale. The season kicks off on Tuesday, April 21, against the Greenville Drive. Bonus:The promotional calendar shows that the “Snot Otters” will be back in July.
Spring into the Arb is back next month. Celebrate the season of renewal at the North Carolina Arboretum with events like World Bonsai Day, Music in the Mountains, and Nature Play Day. Check out the full schedule to plan your visit.*
Biz
Have something big launching next month? Whether it’s a limited-time promo or a seasonal event, make sure your message lands in front of our thousands of highly engaged local subscribers. Get started on our business promo portal with zero long-term contract.
Experts are naming this versatile card “essential for 2026” for its 0% intro APR on balance transfers through 2027. Translation: It can save you hundreds (or thousands) in interest. Even better — it has zero annual fee. Learn more + apply.*
🛍️ Show the local love
Find the perfect fit at rEvolve Mercantile. | Photo by AVLtoday
We want to celebrate all the businesses that make the Land of the Sky so special.
In honor of our many movers and shakers, we’re asking readers to nominate small businesses they love so we can share them with the whole audience.
We’ll be here to share a new batch of small businesses every month, so bookmark this page to come back for more, especially if you’ve enjoyed our Small Business Week and Today’s Best coverage.
Editor Grace’s picks
rEvolve Mercantile | Retail
You won’t have to dig long, or frankly at all, to find gems at this secondhand clothing store. The meticulously curated racks have something from every era for every style, from vintage gowns to Y2K cargos. And be sure not to miss the handbag wall.
Asked
Asked
Is there a business you’d like to see featured in AVLtoday?
Sale alert. If you love Vuori’s soft feel, flattering cuts, and performance fabrics as much as we do, shop the workout clothes + casual wear marked down for less this week:
Just one of the reasons I’m so excited about spring’s arrival is that I can wear the adorable new sequin-embellished tank and skirt I recently got from rEvolve. Pro tip: The shop is always posting new arrivals on IG — see what catches your eye.
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