2008 Asheville Area Events & Festivals

Asheville area 2008 Events & Festivals can be found here on AshevilleNative.com

 
Celebrate two decades of laughter and unparalleled comedy with hosts John Boy & Billy at the 20th Annual Comedy Classic. Many of your favorite comedians, including James Gregory and John Pinette, will return to celebrate two decades of laughs. Package options include breakfast in bed, show tickets, resort accommodations, a comedy clinic, and more. Book your package now—this one will sell out fast!
 
The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa
Mar 13 - 17, 2008
 
 
This festival highlights two of our mountain delicacies: trout and pungent, wild onion/garlic-like ramps. Held in conjunction with trout season opening on the Qualla Boundary, the festival includes music, our fourth annual horseshoe competition, a barbeque cook off and a trout-and-ramp feast!
 
Cherokee Indian Fair Grounds
March 29, 2008
 
 
Dragon Boat Races and Festival at the Lake Lure town park. 28 dragon boat teams in fun competition to raise money for five children's charities in region. Chinese-made 30-foot long canoe-like boats deck out with dragon head, tail and scales. Team of 10 paddlers, a drummer, and a steer person race 250 yards.
 
Lake Lure
Apr 01, 2008 to Jun 01, 2008
 
 
Spring arrives at Biltmore Estate with a rush of colorful, fragrant blossoms. During Festival of Flowers, the estates seasonal beauty is showcased with a stunning tulip display in the Walled Garden, cascades of native and exotic blooms in our natural gardens and walking trails, and delicate arrangements inside Biltmore House. On the weekends, Biltmores Winery joins the celebration with a commemorative Festival of Flowers wine and music, wine programs, and childrens activities. In the Farm Village, blacksmiths, woodworkers, and farmers demonstrate their skills on Saturdays and Sundays.
 
Biltmore Estate
Apr 05, 2008 to May 18, 2008
 
 
Welcome to the 10th Annual FBRF Raft Race, the biggest, mass start, whitewater raft race in the southeast. The race begins in Barnard, North Carolina and ends at the festival in beautiful Hot Springs, NC. During the 9 mile race, you will experience Class 1-4 whitewater excitement, as well as bumping boats, crazy people, and a lot of heckling. It's always a good time!
 
Hwy 25/70 - French Broad River Campground - Hot Springs
May 2 - 4, 2008
 
 
This festival attracts more thatn 60 herb businesses and 25,000 herb lovers. There will be an enormous selection of all types and sizes of herb plants. There will be experts on hand to answer questions and talk about new uses for herbs. Bring your little red wagon, your money, and your love of quality herbs to this fun festival. You'll find decortive plants, herbal arrangements, fragrant herbal soaps and lotions, medicianl herbs, and a wide variety of clever and amazing herbal products.
 
WNC Farmers Market
May 2 - 4, 2008
 
 
The countdown begins for LEAF’s 12th year! This spring LEAF offers an exceptional musical, artistic, and atmospheric experience. Nestled at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the resplendent beauty of the festival underscores the feeling of well-being and community.
 
Camp Rockmount - Black Mountain
Spring - May 09 - 11, 2008
Fall - October 17 - 19 2008
 
 
This year's event promises to be even bigger and better than ever. New events include the first ever Squirrel Box Derby... a go cart race down jailhouse hill in downtown Brevard, also the first ever White Squirrel Pageant. Walking Tours to see real White Squirrels, the all new White Squirrrel Children's Village, White Squirrel Photo Contest, great downtown shopping, White Squirrel face painting, a White Squirrel Tennis Tournament, and lots of other exciting events! So there's something for everyone.
 
Downtown - Brevard
May 24th & 25th, 2008
 
 
The Asheville Music Jamboree will embrace that diversity and beauty, inviting patrons from all walks of life to enjoy an eclectic mix of world-class entertainment and to celebrate a unique sense of community in an intimate setting of rolling hills and bountiful apple orchards. Music and dance devotees of all ages will gather to make new friends and renew old relationships. Children will laugh and sing and share and learn. Families will tuck away their laptops and gaming systems to rediscover the simple pleasure of each other's company. And couples will stroll by sparkling ponds as the festival's sounds and pageantry unfurl around them.
 
Deerfields - Mills River
May 23 - 25, 2008
 
 
Southeastern Tribes Cultural Arts Celebration - Artists and craftsmen representing the Cherokee, Creek, Chickasaw, Seminole and Choctaw gather to present tribal dance, storytelling performances, craft demonstrations, primitive skills encampment, contests, games and traditional foods.
 
US Highway 221 - Grandfather Mountain
June 22, 2008
 
 
The Mountaineer Antique Auto Show is a antique car show. The Car Show features over 40 classifications for classic cars, trucks, and street rods; a Car Corral.
 
1301 Fanning Bridge Road - WNC Agricultural Center
July 4 - 6 2008
 
 
Shindig on the green gets underway along about sundown, or for those using a watch- 7:00 p.m., and usually runs until 10:00 p.m. Concessions are available. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy the beautiful music and dance traditions of Southern Appalachia on a summer evening in the mountains.
 
Martin Luther King, Jr. Ballfield - Asheville
June 30, 2007 - July 5, 12, 19, 2008
August 09, 16, 23, 30 2008
 
Folkmoot USA, North Carolina's Official International Festival, is a two-week celebration of the world's cultural heritage through folk music and dance. Held each summer across the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina, Folkmoot features performances, parades and workshops by more than 350 performers from a dozen or so countries.
 
Various Mountain Locations
July 14 - 27, 2008
 
For three days each year, always the last full weekend in July, the central downtown area is barricaded against vehicular traffic and the largest free street festival in the Southeast holds court in Asheville. Festivalgoers from across the country come to celebrate our mountains, our bustling downtown area, our diverse cultures, and the festival that brings it all together once a year.
 
Downtown Asheville
July 25 - 27, 2008
 
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
July 31 - August 2, 2008 - 7:00 pm
 
You don't want to miss this! The 52nd Annual Mt. Mitchell Crafts Fair will be held on August 3-4,2007 at the Town Sqaure on Main Street in Burnsville. There will be live entertainment, children's activities and a food court. Over 255 crafters showing off their work all for your enjoyment. We'll see you there!
 
Downtown - Burnsville
August 1 - 2, 2008
 
The fair hosts 127 artists from 19 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 (42 are first-time exhibitors) and to talk with crafters one-on-one.
 
Cathedral of all Souls in Biltmore Village
August 4 & 5, 2008
 
Since 1982, the YMI Cultural Center has presented Goombay! This is a weekend-long street festival with two stages of music, a children's village, and over 60 food and craft vendors. The festival features both popular and traditional music, including African-American traditional gospel and a variety of other styles of African, Afro-Caribbean, and African-American music. Goombay brings together the various ethnic communities of Asheville as no other event does.
 
Downtown - Asheville
August 22 - 24, 2008
 
The 2006 North Carolina Apple Festival marks the sixtieth consecutive year the event has been held. The Apple Festival is held on Labor Day Weekend each year (Friday through Monday) to recognize the importance of the apple and the apple industry to Henderson County and North Carolina
 
Downtown Hendersonville
August 29 - September 1, 2008 - 9:00 am-8:00 pm
 
The Western North Carolina Mountain State Fair will be held at the WNC Agricultural Center with midway rides, animals, crafts, food and lots of entertainment. Visit our website for schedule of events.
 
1301 Fanning Bridge Road - WNC Agricultural Center
September 5 - 14 2008
 
Organicfest is a FUNtastic celebration of everything organic and green! A festive day of live music, organic food and drink, organic and green goods, informative info on organic cooking, gardening, shopping and fun activities for kids of all ages!
 
Battery Park Avenue, Downtown Asheville
Septeber 6th, 2008 - 10:00 am-6:00 pm
 
Find a place to set up a campsite, unfurl the sleeping bags and get ready for a good time! For the eleventh season, the Flatrock Music Festival is set to bring a weekend of family fun, excellent musicians and good times for all involved. In one week, on Friday September the 29th, the Flatrock Music Festival will kick off the weekend with Hubris starting the main stage at 4:30 pm. Later that same night you will see Kevn Kinney & the Sun tangled Angel Revival, The Bluegrass-O-Matics and Tater!
 
West Ton-A-Wandah Road - Flat Rock
September 26 - 28, 2008 - 12:00 Noon Friday
 
The Big Rigs Antique Truck Show is an interactive display in a fun, family environment taking place in the heart of fall leaf season on the Qualla Boundary. More than 100 trucks will be on display featuring models from the antique and working class, so there will be pickup trucks, semis, dump trucks, and more. Awards will be presented including the Spectators Choice for best truck, the Chiefs Choice for best truck, and one award will be presented for the truck coming from the farthest away.
 
Cherokee Welcome Center
Oct 16 - 18, 2008 * 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

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