WNC Fairs & Festivals
Sheville Staff
A compilation of some of the fabulous, year-round fair and festival offerings
the Western North Carolina region has to offer. Please also visit our calendar
for specific dates of many other events as well. Festival organizers: if you wish
to be considered for inclusion in this list, please contact: advertising@sheville.org.
March 31 *Ramp it Up – 828-497-8128, Cherokee, NC, Contact:
Loretta Kirby This festival highlights two of our mountain delicacies: trout
and pungent, wild onion/ garlic-like ramps. Festival also includes music, the
annual horseshoe competition, a BBQ cook off and a trout-and-ramp feast!
April - May *Biltmore Estate Festival of Flowers. This annual
spring event features an incredible tulip display in their Walled Garden, as
well as native and exotic blooms throughout their natural gardens and walking
trails. During the weekends, the Biltmore Winery will host a Festival of Flowers
celebration with music, wine programs, and children’s activities. For
more information, visit www.biltmore.com.
April *Trailfest 828-622-7356
pete@mountainmagnoliainn.com
Hot Springs. Camping, food, outdoor fun.
May-September *Downtown after 5 – www.ashevilleparks.org
Downtown Asheville, NC. Come downtown and enjoy rock, pop, country, bluegrass,
Latin music and more.
May *French Broad River Festival
Hot Springs, NC. celebrates the river with music, outdoor events including whitewater
raft and mountain bike races, food, outdoor gear and prizes, kids village and
more at the Hot Springs Campground & Spa. 253-1240 www.FrenchBroadRiverFestival.com.
May and October *Lake Eden Arts Festival – www.theleaf.com
Black Mountain, NC. Multi-cultural experience of sounds, foods, and beauty at
Camp Rockmont.
May *Montford Art's and Music Festival – www.montford.org,
Explore the work of local artists and musicians in the beautiful and historic
Asheville neighborhood of Montford.
May *Mountain Sports Festival – www.mountainsportsfestival.com.
The Mountain Sports Festival at Carrier Park in Asheville, North Carolina offers
an impressive race line-up to entice any pro or amateur athlete to test themselves
in mountain sports.
May *Saluda Arts Festival – www.saluda.com Saluda,
North Carolina, Arts and Music on Historic Main Street.
May *Southeastern Hiking Festival – www.blackmountain.org Black
Mountain, NC First ever! Artists, Crafters, Food vendors and hikes! Come see
us!
June to September 1 * Shindig on the Green www.folkheritage.org/shindigonthegreen.htm
Downtown Asheville, NC Dancers, cloggers, storytellers, music, more.
June *Rhododendron Festival – www.bakersville.com/rhod.html
Bakersville, NC Everything from rhododendrons and helicopter rides to a street
fair, a car race, a historical golf tournament and more!
June *Blue Ridge Barbecue Festival – www.blueridgebbqfestival.com
Tyron, NC, Music, BBQ, bingo!
June *Blue Ridge Old Time Music Week – http://www.mhc.edu/oldtimemusic/
A week of workshops for music lovers of all ages and backgrounds.
June to August *Brevard Music Festival – www.brevardmusic.org
Brevard, NC Join faculty and guests artists for over eighty performances during
the summer.
June *Heritage Festival – www.visitdillsboro.org
Dillsboro, NC arts & crafts, musicians, dancers story tellers perform all
day under a huge tent.
June *North Carolina State Bluegrass Fest – http://www.aandabluegrass.com/Festivals/NorthCarolinaStateBluegra.html,
Three days of bluegrass music in Cherokee, North Carolina.
July *Scottish Highland Games – www.scotsfoothillshg.org,
Hendersonville, NC Celebrate Celtic food, history and lots of music and dancing!
July *Appalachian Summer Festival – www.appsummer.org
Boone, NC enormous music festival with national music including Winona Judd,
Old Crow Medicine show and more…
July *BeleChere – www.belechere.com.
Large outdoor festival in downtown Asheville with music, art, food and more.
Huge outdoor festival in downtown Asheville: largest in the South.
July *Coon Dog Days – www.saluda.com
Saluda, NC. A day for dogs and their people; breakfast, contests, music, dancing
and a parade!
July *Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands – http://www.southernhighlandguild.org/event
Asheville, NC The Craft Fair is an event where connoisseurs and novices alike
come to craft a collection, connect with tradition, and invest in regional culture.
July *Festival of Native Peoples 828-497-8128 Cherokee Indian
Fair Grounds Native dance, art and culture
July *Grandfather Mountain Highland Games - Traditional Scottish
Highland festival 828-733-1333. www.gmhg.org
July *Folkmoot Festival – www.folkmoot.com.
A two-week celebration of the world’s cultural heritage through folk music
and dance. Features performances, parades and workshops by more than 350 performers
from a dozen or so countries.
August *Biltmore Estate Summer Concert Series www.biltmore.com/plan/calendar/calendar_summer.shtml,
Asheville, NC, World-class musical acts accompanied by a terrific view.
August *Sourwood Festival - www.blackmountain.org/festivals
Black Mountain, North Carolina Music, food, and Sourwood Blossoms every August!
August *Mountain Dance and Folk Festival – http://www.folkheritage.org.
Founded to share the beauty of Southern Appalachian dance traditions handed
down through the generations.
August *Mt. Mitchell Crafts Fair – www.yanceychamber.com/craftfair.
The Mt. Mitchell Crafts Fair is the oldest and largest crafts fair in the Blue
Ridge Mountains.
August *North Carolina Apple Festival www.historichendersonville.org.
Hendersonville, NC This festival celebrates all things apples on Labor Day weekend
to recognize the importance of the apple and the apple industry to Henderson
County and North Carolina.
September *Organicfest – www.organicfest.org
Asheville, NC Celebrating Everything Organic in Western North Carolina.
September *Flat Rock Music Festival – www.flatrockmusicfestival.com
Flat Rock, NC Three-day live music festival with local food and art.
September *Taste of Asheville – www.airasheville.org/taste-of-asheville/event-schedule
Asheville, NC Sponsored by Asheville Independent Restaurants Association.
September *Art in Autumn – www.visitweaverville.com/events.htm
Weaverville, NC Sponsored by Asheville Independent Restaurants Association.
September *Smoky Mountain Folk Festival – www.smokymountainfolkfestival.com/,
Lake Junaluska, NC Featuring two nights of the finest traditional Southern Appalachian
music and dance every Labor Day Weekend.
at this festival.
October *John C. Campbell Folk School Fall Festival –
www.folkschool.org/event.php - Brasstown,
NC, One of the biggest festivals in the region, offers crafts, dance and music
to celebrate Appalachian heritage.
October *Oktoberfest – www.smokeymountainarea.com/event,
Asheville, NC German music, food, games, Karaoke, arts & crafts, and contests
and games for kids.
October *National Storytelling Festival – www.storytellingfestival.net/festival
Jonesborough, TN. Enormous and world renowned storytelling festival.
October * Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands – http://www.southernhighlandguild.org/event
Asheville, NC. The Craft Fair is an event where connoisseurs and novices alike
come to craft a collection, connect with tradition, and invest in regional culture.
November *Asheville Film Festival – www.ashevillefilmfestival.com
Asheville, NC. Showcasing a wider range of films including film competition.
November *Foothills Highland Games and Festival www.historichendersonville.org
Hendersonville, NC Celtic music, dancers, sword fights, contests, food &
beverages, parade of tartans, dog performances.
Contact these organizations for other recurring events:
Brewgrass Festival – info@brewgrassfestival.com
- musicians, and beer to benefit Big Brothers and Sisters.
Cold Mountain Heritage Tour – 828-456-3021, Visit the
area about which the book Cold Mountain was written and enjoy BBQ, and storytelling.
Graham County Heritage Festival & Street Fair –
www.grahamcountytravel.com/activities.html
Gospel singing, arts/crafts/food booths, Veteran's Parade, antique car and truck
show, music, dancing, contests, fireworks and more!
Madison County Heritage Celebration and Lunsford Festival
– www.madisoncounty-nc.com/info/events.html,
Mars Hill, NC, Annual celebration of Madison Coy's music, crafts, and culture.
Maggie Valley BBQ Festival -- http://www.maggievalley.org.
Maggie Valley, NC This annual competition presents some of the best BBQ around.
Prizes are awarded in a variety of categories.
Swannanoa Chamber Music Festival – www.warren-wilson.edu/~chamber/
Hendersonville, NC A group of outstanding professional musicians from Florida,
Michigan, New York and Ohio who perform together each year
