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 2025.
Downtown After 5
2025 Dates TBD | 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 14, 21, 28 & October 4, 11, 18, 2025 | 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
June 2-18, June 19-22, June 27 - July 25, 2025 | 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 19-22 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 14, 2025 | 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
2025 Dates TBD | UNC Asheville
In its fourth 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 29 - August 2, 2025 | 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 5, 12, 19, 26 & August 9, 16, 23, 2025 | 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
2025 Dates TBD | 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 12-13, 2025 | Downtown Asheville
Voted Western North Carolina's favorite art event, 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 12 from noon to 6 p.m. and costs $10 at the door. Sunday, July 13 has free admittance from noon to 6 p.m.
Skyview Golf Tournament
2025 Dates TBD | 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 17-20 & October 16-19, 2025 | 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
July 31 - August 2, 2025 | Asheville High School
In its 98th 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 Appalachia.
AVL Fest
2025 Dates TBD | Multiple Venues
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 6-9, 2025 | Downtown Asheville
The Asheville Comedy Festival is one of the longest-running comedy events in the country. Having featured nearly 700 comedians over 16 years, the event continues to grow and innovate. Roaring into its 17th year August 6-9, 2025 there’s bigger and better still to come from the festival organizers including many surprise year-round special event performances.
Sourwood Festival
2025 Dates TBD | 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 16 & 17, 2025 | 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.
