The Asheville Fringe Arts Festival was founded in 2003 by ACDT Artistic and Co-Directors, Susan and Giles Collard. The Collard’s vision was to create a city-wide festival bringing new and challenging art to Asheville’s audiences. Each participating venue plays host to a variety of performers, assuring an interesting mix to challenge and delight audiences.

 

Downtown Asheville

January 19 - January 22, 2012

 

Need something to shake up the winter blahs? Join us for the 4th Annual Winter Warmer Beer Festival! Many local and regional craft breweries will be in attendance for thirsty festival goers to sample their beers.

 

ASHEVILLE CIVIC CENTER

January 21, 2012 from 3:00 - 7:00pm

 

 

Celebrating 21 Years of Big Band & Swing Dance at The Grove Park Inn!

 

Join the Village of Blowing Rock as we celebrate the fun side of winter at the 14th Annual Blowing Rock Winterfest! From the Chili Cook-Off to WinterPaws, from the icy Polar Plunge to WinterFeast, there's something for all age groups at Blowing Rock Winterfest.

 

Blowing Rock, NC

January 26 - 29, 2012

 

 

This year's lineup includes many national and regional acts. Crowne Plaza reservations are available - 800-733-3211! Tickets go on sale October 15th at 10 am and are available Online or by phone 828-275-8650.

 

Crowne Plaza Resort

February 17, 18, & 19, 2012

 

 

Actor, comedian, writer and all-around funnyman Jeff Jena hosts our 24th Annual Comedy Classic Weekend. Friday night kicks off with a roster full of funny featuring comedians Ralph Harris, Andrew Kennedy, Rachel Feinstein, Mike Armstrong, Mike Green and Ralph Harris!

The laughs continue for the 2nd night of our 24th Annual Comedy Classic Weekend with funnyman host Jeff Jena. You won't want to miss one of America's most popular and well known comedians, Kathleen Madigan, as she takes the stage with Ryan Hamilton and JR Brow.

 

Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa

March 9 - 10, 2012

 

 

Welcome spring with thousands of tulips and acres of azaleas at Biltmore. Join us for an estate-wide event celebrating the beauty of George Vanderbilt‚s 8,000-acre estate, including gardens and landscapes designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, father of American landscape architecture.

 

The Biltmore Estate & Gardens

April 7 – May 20, 2012

 

 

Together with the Western North Carolina Farmers Market (operated by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture), the Asheville Herb Festival has increased the public’s knowledge and love of herbs and herbal products for two decades.

 

WNC Farmers Market - Asheville

May 4, 5, & 6 2012

 

 

Enjoy a full weekend of art, music, and outdoor fun in a beautiful mountain lake setting. Experience cultural enrichment from all over the world!

 

Camp Rockmont - Black Mountain

MAY 10 - 13, 2012

 

 

The Montford Music and Arts Festival is the largest one day music and arts festival in Western North Carolina and will be in its 9th year of continuous operation in 2012.

Over 100 vendors of art, crafts, plants, food and children’s activities will be located on Montford Avenue and Soco Streets just down from the Asheville Visitors Center. Two stages, one on each street, will offer the perfect setting for non-stop entertainment and over 20 bands and musical acts.

The festival is an exciting way to experience the warmth and friendly atmosphere of one of Asheville’s most intriguing neighborhoods. A special bike corral will be set up again for our many bikers. Parking is throughout the neighborhood.

 

Montford Avenue - Asheville

May 19, 2012

 

 

Asheville, NC knows how to celebrate the Fourth of July the right way, so if you plan to be here at this time, begin your day at the Ingles Fourth of July Celebration, presented by the City of Asheville. You will want to head downtown to Pack Square to see the Sons of the American Revolution as they offer a tribute to America. There will also be games, food, and other fun at the celebration, ending with a grand fireworks display.

 

Downtown Asheville

July 4, 2012 from 1:00 - 11:00 PM

 

For four days each July and October, the Civic Center in Asheville, NC comes alive with fine traditional and contemporary crafts. Over 200 craftspeople fill the two levels of the center selling their works of clay, fiber, glass, leather, metal, mixed media, natural materials, paper, wood and jewelry.

 

The Fairs, a local tradition since 1948, showcase the work of members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild. Having been accepted into the Guild through a rigorous jury process, these craftspeople are the best of the best in the Appalachian region. Membership is open to artists living in the mountain counties of nine states from Maryland to Alabama. The Fairs also feature craft demonstrations and, beginning on Friday, local musicians share their love of traditional and bluegrass mountain music live on the arena stage.

 

Asheville Civic Center

July 19 - 22, 2012

Thursday - Saturday: 10am to 6pm; Sunday: 10am to 5pm

 

Bele Chere is the largest free street festival in the Southeast, held in beautiful downtown Asheville each July. Arts & crafts, food, entertainment, interactive events, and a children‚s activity area will fill the streets, drawing about 300,000 visitors throughout the three-day event.

 

Bele Chere started in 1979 and was located on a whopping three blocks of downtown Asheville. It was the brainstorm of a handful of downtown Asheville merchants and business people with the vision of revitalizing our downtown business district, which was largely abandoned as retail businesses & residents moved to the outskirts. Now, downtown Asheville is home to restaurants, galleries, retail businesses, theatres, art exhibits, and a growing number of residents who call downtown "home."

 

Downtown Asheville

July 27 - 29, 2012

 

Since 1928, mountain fiddlers, banjo pickers, dulcimer sweepers, dancers, balladeers and others have come to enjoy themselves “along about sundown” the first weekend in August at the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival.

 

Diana Wortham Theatre at Pack Place - Asheville

August 2 - 4, 2012 at 7pm

 

The Asheville Antiques Fair in its 65th year is one of the oldest Antiques Fair in the Southeast. Upwards of sixty antique dealers from all over the country participate in the Fair annually the first week of August. The Fair also hosts an “Heirloom Road Show” with expert evaluations of your personal antiques. Plus, expert lectures on a variety of interesting subjects. Summer Garden Cafe with gourmet luncheon selections available during your visit to the Show. The Asheville Antiques Fair is a non-profit organization - volunteer organization. All proceeds from the Fair are donated to historical projects within the Asheville community for conservation, preservation, restoration and education.

 

Asheville Civic Center

Aug 05 to Aug 07

 

The fair hosts 125 exhibitors from 20 states, representing the full spectrum of craft media - jewelry, ceramic, wood, fiber, metals, two-dimensional art and more. The craft fair is a great opportunity to encounter new artists and to talk with crafters one-on-one. Most exhibitors are not represented at New Morning Gallery, so visitors are sure to find new treasures along with a few old favorites.

 

Historic Biltmore Village in Asheville

Aug 06 to Aug 07

 

Alcohol free street festival with over 200 vendors, food, and entertainment.

 

Downtown Black Mountain

Aug 13 to Aug 14

 

You've never seen Goombay like you'll see it August 27th - 29th! This year, the YMI Cultural Center, its Board of Directors and the Goombay Planning Committee, with the generous support of the City of Asheville, have partnered with a multitude of local businesses, organizations and community groups to coordinate the biggest, best and greenest Goombay yet! Continuing the tradition of holding the event in the historic Eagle-Market Street (the "Block") business district, events will also be held in the new Pack Square Park on Roger McGuire Green.

 

Goombay will also be a greener event thanks to the support of the Asheville Downtown Association and Asheville Greenworks. These organizations are generously providing recycling AND compost bins for use during the festival, as well as volunteers to help clarify what should go in each bin and how such efforts impact our community.

 

Downtown Asheville

August 27 - 29, 2012

 

The Weaverville Business Association is proud to present the annual Art in Autumn arts and crafts festival each September. Art in Autumn is a juried show which showcases the diverse range of cultural heritage of our region.

 

Main Street in downtown Weaverville

Sep 17 at 10:00 AM

 

Each year in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina, we gather over 40 American breweries to showcase more than 120 different beers. We add a great lineup of national and regional bluegrass musicians.

 

Martin Luther King Jr. Park - Asheville

Sep 17 at 12:00 PM

 

The Arboretum‚s Heritage Garden will house a weekend of demonstrations, plant sales and musical performances. Artists and crafters in attendance will include basket makers, broom makers, paper makers, natural dyers, weavers, jewelry makers and wood carvers.

 

The North Carolina Arboretum - Asheville

Sep 24 to Sep 25

 

Enjoy a full weekend of art, music, and outdoor fun in a beautiful mountain lake setting. Experience cultural enrichment from all over the world!

 

Camp Rockmont - Black Mountain

OCTOBER 18 - 21, 2012

 

For four days each July and October, the Civic Center in Asheville, NC comes alive with fine traditional and contemporary crafts. Over 200 craftspeople fill the two levels of the center selling their works of clay, fiber, glass, leather, metal, mixed media, natural materials, paper, wood and jewelry.

 

The Fairs, a local tradition since 1948, showcase the work of members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild. Having been accepted into the Guild through a rigorous jury process, these craftspeople are the best of the best in the Appalachian region. Membership is open to artists living in the mountain counties of nine states from Maryland to Alabama. The Fairs also feature craft demonstrations and, beginning on Friday, local musicians share their love of traditional and bluegrass mountain music live on the arena stage.

 

Asheville Civic Center

October 18 - 21, 2012

 

Three extraordinary days of music, featuring amazing music and bands, exhibitions, installations, films, workshops, and discussions... celebrating the spirit and expansive vision of Bob Moog.

 

Asheville Civic Center

Oct 28, 2011 to Oct 30

 

George Vanderbilt introduced his new home to family and friends on Christmas Eve 1895 with a wonderful celebration that we continue today. Enjoy America‚s largest home decorated with dozens of Christmas trees, hundreds of wreaths, bows, and poinsettias, miles of evergreen garland, and thousands of ornaments.

 

The Bilmore Estate

Nov 04 to Jan 01