Asheville’s festival scene heats up in the summer with sizzling musical acts, lively performances, arts gatherings and cultural celebrations that span the season. Connect with the city's creative community at some of Asheville's best summer festivals.
Here is a look at the top summer festivals, concerts and events in the Asheville area in 2024.
Downtown After 5
April 19, May 17, June 21, July 19, August 16 & September 20, 2024 | Downtown Asheville
Celebrate the joy of weekends the third Friday of every month from April through September. Performances are free, and feature local and regional jazz, classic soul, country rock, funk and blues musicians. Beers, ciders, and seltzers are on tap and food vendors are on hand.
Asheville Art in the Park
June 8, 15, 22 & October 5, 12, 19, 2024 | Downtown Asheville
Explore and purchase artwork from some of the region's finest artists working in glass, ceramics, wood, jewelry, metal, and more. Asheville Art in the Park takes place downtown in Asheville's Pack Square Park over three Saturdays in June and October.
Art in Bloom
May 30 - June 12, June 13-15, June 21 - July 16, 2024 | Black Mountain
This multifaceted event in Black Mountain, celebrating nature and art, combines two gallery exhibits, live floral arrangements, and a local garden tour featuring working artists. Visit Black Mountain Center for the Arts June 14 & 15 to experience the stunning creativity of local Ikebana and Western floral designers who have created arrangements inspired by the artworks in the show.
Music on Main
June 15, 2024 | Weaverville
This beloved family-friendly event in downtown Weaverville features live music, kids' activities, beer, food and more starting at 4 p.m. along Weaverville's quaint Main Street.
Asheville Ideas Fest
June 17-20, 2024 | UNC Asheville
In its third year, Asheville Ideas Fest will engage distinguished global thought leaders in the ideas of our time. The four-day event includes lectures, conversations, and panel discussions led by scientists, filmmakers, chefs, Grammy winners, and award-winning authors. It also contains curated experiences around food, craft beverages, musical entertainment, and the outdoors.
Swannanoa Gathering
June 30 - August 3, 2024 | Warren Wilson College
This five-week teaching program on the campus of Warren Wilson College is a celebration of the traditional music of Southern Appalachia. It offers workshops in fiddle and banjo, Celtic and old-time, as well as folk music and dance, taught by some of the world's finest folk artists and instructors. Participants register in advance and come from near and far.
Shindig on the Green
July 6, 13, 20, 27 & August 10, 17, 24, 2024 | Downtown Asheville
Shindig on the Green is a free, outdoor mountain bluegrass music and dance festival that takes place on Saturdays throughout July and August in the heart of downtown Asheville at Pack Square Park. The performances — including bluegrass and old-time string bands, clog dancers, ballad singers, and storytellers — begin at about 7 p.m., or “along about sundown,” as folks around here like to say, and generally end about 10 p.m.
Chamber Music Society of the Carolinas
July 6-29, 2024 | Swannanoa
Formally known as the Swannanoa Chamber Festival, this annual summer event features performances by acclaimed quartets and individual string and wind performers, celebrating the works of composing greats like Mozart, Schubert, Chopin, Brahms and Bach. Concerts will be held at Warren Wilson College and surrounding venues in the region.
The Big Crafty
July 6-7, 2024 | Downtown Asheville
Voted Western North Carolina's favorite art event for the past 16 years, The Big Crafty brings hundreds of artists and vendors into Harrah's Cherokee Center for two days, allowing visitors to discover and support local wares. The event begins Saturday, July 6 from noon to 6 p.m. and costs $10 at the door. Sunday, July 7 has free admittance from noon to 6 p.m.
Skyview Golf Tournament
July 9-11, 2024 | Muni Golf Course
Skyview is the longest-running Black golf tournament in the nation. Now in its 64th year, Skyview has helped launch the careers of 29 Black PGA golfers and is run by Asheville Civil Rights legend Matthew Bacoate.
Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands
July 18-21 & October 17-20, 2024 | Downtown Asheville
Showcasing the finest artwork of nearly 200 craftspeople from around the region, this four-day festival at Harrah's Cherokee Center in downtown Asheville offers the opportunity to watch artists practice their craft in live demonstrations as you shop. Live music also helps set the stage for this event, which features work across every medium, including clay, glass, fiber, paper, wood, jewelry, leather and metal, all by members of the revered Southern Highland Craft Guild.
Mountain Dance and Folk Festival
August 1-3, 2024 | Warren Wilson College
In its 97th year and hailed as the nation’s longest-running folk festival, this is the preeminent event for old-time and bluegrass music. Ballad singers, banjo players and cloggers converge to tell stories of a bygone era through music and dance, and by doing so they continue to preserve the cultural traditions of Southern Appalachian.
AVL Fest
August 1-4, 2024 | Multiple Venues
After a successful inaugural event in 2023, AVL Fest is back! This multi-day music festival is a celebration of Asheville's thriving arts and culture scene. Asheville's many local concert halls, clubs and outdoor venues featuring amazing lineups of local, regional and national talent.
Asheville Comedy Festival
August 7-10, 2024 | Downtown Asheville
The Asheville Comedy Festival is one of the longest-running comedy events in the country. Having featured nearly 700 comedians over 15 years, the event continues to grow and innovate. Now in its 16th year, the festival will be headlined by Tom Segura on Aug. 7 at the ExploreAsheville.com arena.
Sourwood Festival
August 10 & 11, 2024 | Black Mountain
Black Mountain's annual Sourwood Festival celebrates the region’s prized Sourwood honey every August. With a line-up of local musicians, honey tastings, and a decadent food fest, this family-friendly event is a favorite of locals and visitors alike.
Come to Leicester Studio Tour
August 17 & 18, 2024 | Leiscester
This free, self-guided event is held annually the third weekend in August. Area artists in Leicester open their studios to the public, and visitors can choose their own tour stops along the scenic route. The tour comprises local and visiting artists working in a variety of media including clay, fiber, jewelry, metal, glass, wood, natural materials, painting and mixed media.
