Fairs and Festivals Links for your enjoyment

WNC Guidebook and Asheville Events Calendar for NC Mountains
Here's a more extensive 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 send the information to  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

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   Mountain Magnolia Inn Hot Springs. Camping, food, outdoor fun.  Visit our website

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. Note: no tickets are sold at the gate.

May *Montford Art's and Music Festival – http://www.montford.org/festival, 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 – Hiking Festival Black Mountain, NC. Artists, Crafters, Food vendors and hikes! Come see us!

May *White Squirrel Festival – www.whitesquirrelfestival.comDowntown Brevard, NC Free. 5K and 10K white squirrel races and loads of fun!

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 *Bluegrass Music Festivals of Western North Carolina - www.bluegrass-wnc.com/wncbluegrassfestivals.php Three days of bluegrass music in Cherokee, North Carolina.

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 www.cherokee-nc.com/events-detail.php?page=72&evt=15 828-497-8128 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.php 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.flatrockfestival.com Flat Rock, NC Three-day live music festival with local food and art.

September *Taste of Asheville – www.airasheville.org 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 and More! – www.visitncsmokies.com/events Lake Junaluska, NC Featuring two nights of the finest traditional Southern Appalachian music and dance  as well as loads of WNC yearly festivals.

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 *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 – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - 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. http://blueridgeparkway75.org/events/view/cold_mountain_heritage_tour

Graham County Heritage Festival & Street Fair – http://www.grahamcountytravel.com/l 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