Asheville Is Ready and Blooming

ASHEVILLE, N.C.—March  27, 2025—Six  months after Hurricane Helene, the Asheville area is ready, blooming and passing major milestones as a community primed and open for spring and summer travel. From blue ghost fireflies and glass blowing to fresh—and   refreshed—places to stay, a full calendar of openings and events is beckoning guests to the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Seeing is believing: Five signs that the Asheville area is open and ready to inspire

• Signature attractions are in full bloom – Iconic attractions like Biltmore and the North Carolina Arboretum are open and celebrating the season with fresh experiences and floral displays. In fact, more than 75 percent of hospitality businesses are open and welcoming visitors across the area.
• The Blue Ridge Parkway reopens to travelers – More than 300 miles of the famed Blue Ridge Parkway, including 11 miles in Asheville, are open. Key attractions like Black Balsam are accessible, providing sweeping views of mountain vistas, waterfalls and spring wildflowers.
• Immersive art adventures are back in the River Arts District – More than 340 artists are exhibiting work in the Upper River Arts District. This district of creativity and craft is healing – now 20 percent open – welcoming visitors to studios, galleries, art classes, shops, restaurants and a new award-winning hotel. 
• Iconic hiking trails return – More than 100 miles of trails in Pisgah National Forest are welcoming hikers back and offering renewed access to the Appalachian wilderness. Check out the Explore Asheville Hike Finder for inspiration and updates.
• A full calendar of music and festivals – Asheville’s event calendar is filling up with must-see concerts, festivals and cultural celebrations – bringing energy back to the city’s stages and streets. With headliners from Vampire Weekend, Wilco and Rilo Kiley to Rhiannon Giddens, Shakey Graves and Widespread Panic, Asheville regularly punches above its weight, and this summer is no different. 

More travel insights and inspiration…

Outdoor adventure and wellness await

Nature’s restorative power is on full display this spring and summer. Asheville’s trails, forests and wellness spaces are offering visitors a chance to immerse themselves in lush landscapes and holistic rejuvenation.

• Glow in the dark with blue ghost fireflies – From late May to early July, Asheville Wellness Tours will guide visitors through the forest to witness the rare and magical blue ghost fireflies. Limited to eight evenings per year, this ethereal experience promotes mindfulness and a deep connection to nature. Registration is open now.
  • TIP: Pinecrest Bed & Breakfast has introduced the "Ignite Your Senses" package, in collaboration with Asheville Wellness Tours, offering early bird pricing for the Ghostflies experience, a $25 gift card to Nine Mile, and a 10% discount on Tumblestone Tours.
• A secluded wellness resort opens its doors – This May, SoHum Healing Resort will open its spa services to the public for the first time. Visitors can enjoy Ayurvedic treatments and a new serenity retreat in a 100-acre wooded sanctuary adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway.
• Wildlife center welcomes visitors back – After closing due to flooding, the WNC Nature Center is back showcasing the region’s unparalleled biodiversity, with new visitor pathways and upgraded facilities just in time for spring. Guests can reconnect with more than 60 animal species, including red pandas, river otters, black bears, red wolves and bobcats.
• Forest bathing and wild-foraged tea – The Spring Forest Bathing Retreat at the North Carolina Arboretum welcomes guests to celebrate the spring equinox with a guided immersion in nature, breathwork exercises and a wild-foraged tea ceremony.

Businesses reopen, rebuild and innovate

Asheville’s culinary and nightlife scene is flourishing once again. Beloved bars, restaurants and social hubs reopen after Hurricane Helene, bringing fresh energy, new flavors and vibrant gathering spaces back to the city.

• A beloved gathering space reimagined – After closing due to flood damage, Daytrip, a queer-owned cocktail bar and creative space, reopened in March with a refreshed interior and a renewed focus on fostering Asheville’s nightlife and artistic community. Enjoy a cocktail on a crushed velvet couch, surrounded by retro decor, kitschy antiques and jewel tones.
• A vibrant social hub that rose from the storm – Just weeks after opening, Moxy Asheville became a refuge for the community, providing power, Wi-Fi and support in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Now fully thriving, the boutique hotel offers guests vibrant public spaces and a lively social scene. Its newest addition, Wildwood Still, features a rooftop bar with Blue Ridge views, over 150 whiskeys, and Asian-inspired small plates by Chef Austin Tisdale, further solidifying its place as a downtown hotspot.
• A wild edible take on farm-to-table dining – A new collaboration between Wild Goods and Beradu blends foraging with fine dining. Guests join expert guides in harvesting wild ingredients, then enjoy a multi-course meal prepared with their finds.
•  A reimagined cocktail bar with an artistic edge – Golden Hour, the in-house restaurant at The Radical Hotel helmed by James Beard Semifinalist Jacob Sessoms, has reopened. It once again serves seasonal drinks and inventive small plates in a space with an industrial edge and warm hospitality. A River Arts District favorite, Golden Hour remains a go-to for locals and visitors alike. The Radical was recently named one of the World’s Greatest Places by Time and the No. 2 Best New Hotel by USA Today’s 10Best.
• A downtown dining destination with Southern flair – Following its post-Hurricane Helene opening, The Watch at The Restoration Asheville invites guests to enjoy a refreshed menu of Low Country-inspired dishes, craft cocktails and a welcoming atmosphere.

Asheville in bloom: Floral displays, gardens and hands-on experiences

Wildflowers and seasonal celebrations bring color and life to every corner of the city. 

• A downtown revival through art and blooms – From April through May, Downtown Asheville transforms into a living floral and artistic showcase. The festivities kick off April 18 with Downtown After 5, featuring live music, vibrant floral displays and a live painter capturing the energy. On April 26, Grove Arcade In Bloom brings botanical installations, a market of local growers, live performances and an Aperol Spritz pop-up in the historic arcade. 
• Spring at Biltmore showcases nature’s splendor – From March 21 to May 22, Biltmore Estate invites guests to experience 50,000 tulips, 14,000 daffodils and 1,000 hyacinths in the Walled Garden. Biltmore’s Bloom Report provides updates on peak floral displays to help visitors plan their visits throughout the season. 
• From farm to bouquet – Carolina Flowers, an Asheville-area florist and flower farm, has opened a new storefront offering fresh, local arrangements. Visitors can also participate in floral design and flower farming workshops, gaining hands-on experience in creating their own floral masterpieces.
• A gathering place for homesteaders and gardeners – Opening in spring 2025, Haunt offers a curated selection of handcrafted tools, artisan décor and workshops led by local makers, all rooted in Appalachian traditions.

New spaces for art and innovation

The Asheville area’s ever-evolving creative spirit is on display with new galleries, studios and meaningful ways to show love for impacted artists. 

• Glassblowing takes shape in Black Mountain – Western North Carolina has a deep-rooted glassmaking tradition, and the North Carolina Glass Center carries it forward with its new second location in Black Mountain. Visitors can explore the gallery while the state-of-the-art studio nears completion. Starting March 20, hands-on glassblowing classes invite guests to experience this Appalachian craft firsthand.
• A post-hurricane arts hub rises – When Hurricane Helene displaced dozens of Asheville artists, Resurrection Studios Collective transformed the historic Moog Music building into a new space for studios, exhibitions and rotating First Friday art strolls.

Spring events: Art, heritage and seasonal celebrations

Asheville’s spring season offers a dynamic mix of art, culture, and festivals in some of the city’s most iconic settings. From a world-renowned exhibition and large-scale public art to craft beer celebrations and floral displays transforming downtown, this season is filled with creativity, history and immersive experiences.

• A legendary discovery comes to life at Biltmore – A new exhibition at Biltmore transports visitors to one of archaeology’s greatest finds. Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures showcases 1,000 meticulously recreated artifacts, offering a rare look at the moment King Tut’s tomb was uncovered. The exhibition, running from March 21, 2025, through Jan. 4, 2026, honors the legacy of global exploration embraced by Biltmore's original resident, George Vanderbilt.
•  A creative district honors its comeback with a full-day celebration – On May 10, Asheville’s River Arts District will host RAD Renaissance, a dynamic festival marking the neighborhood’s renewal after Helene’s historic flooding. Spanning Upper RAD—Roberts Street, Artful Way, Clingman Avenue and Depot Street—the event features live painting, interactive art classes, music, storytelling, food trucks and flower-planting stations. It also launches the new RAD Art Market, a weekly showcase for displaced artists debuting work created since the storm.
• A visual tribute to resilience through new public art – The Asheville Black Cultural Heritage Trail continues to grow, with three new large-scale murals honoring Black artists, leaders and traditions. The first mural, debuting this spring in South Slope, is a vibrant celebration of Black joy by Asheville-based artist Tommy Lee McGee.
• Experimental art takes center stage – The historic Black Mountain College campus comes alive April 5 with {Re}Happening, a one-day art event inspired by John Cage’s “Theatre Piece No. 1.” This dynamic celebration features installations, new media, music and performances by regional and national artists, honoring the legacy of Black Mountain College and offering an interactive platform for contemporary creativity.
• Craftsmanship at the forefront of new festival – The inaugural For the Love of Craft festival highlights Asheville’s deep-rooted craft heritage, uniting local brewers, chefs and artisans for a day of tastings, demonstrations and interactive experiences on May 17, 2025.
• A toast to Asheville’s craft beer legacy – Asheville Beer Week 2025 runs from May 15 to May 29, bringing together the city’s top breweries for exclusive releases, limited-edition collaborations and meet-the-brewer events, making it the ultimate celebration of Asheville’s renowned beer culture.
• An artisan staple returns for bread lovers – The Asheville Bread Festival returns April 26 and 27, celebrating the craft of bread-making with hands-on workshops, tastings and expert demonstrations, connecting visitors with the region’s thriving artisan baking scene.

Biltmore Village: A historic district on the mend and making progress

Biltmore Village, a historic district that faced severe flooding from Hurricane Helene, is in the midst of a dramatic revival. In six months, local businesses have come back, breweries are reopening, and a boutique hotel will soon welcome guests once more. More updates on the way—this is one to watch as a major recovery milestone this spring and summer.

• A craft brewery returns to Biltmore Village – After six months of repairs, French Broad River Brewing brewed its first beer and has set plans to reopen this spring, bringing its signature lagers and live music series back to its taproom in April.
• A historic boutique hotel welcomes guests once more – Grand Bohemian Asheville debuts this May with a refreshed interior, an enhanced wine program at Red Stag Grill, and refined guest experiences that blend modern comfort with historic charm.
• A family-run brewery overcomes the floodwaters – After a 10-week closure due to storm damage, Hillman Beer is back, serving house-made beers and elevated pub fare in its cozy taproom and beer garden.
• A historic Civilian Conservation Corps site reopens – Built in the 1930s, Forestry Camp, now a Burial Beer Co. taproom, served as a relief hub after Helene, offering meals, water and power to the community. The taproom is now open, offering a gathering space with a full kitchen and a menu inspired by its history.

Plan a spring escape to Asheville

Asheville is ready and blooming. Six months after Helene, the city reemerged stronger, more vibrant and alive with new experiences for visitors. From world-class exhibitions to reimagined gathering spaces, spring 2025 marks a major milestone in Asheville’s recovery. Find the full lineup of experiences at ExploreAsheville.com.

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About Asheville

Asheville is where unrivaled natural beauty and bold creative expression meet. Tucked away in the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains, the city is steps away from some of the world’s most biodiverse forests and the tallest peaks in the East. For generations, Asheville has nurtured and inspired a compassionate community that’s deeply rooted and ever-evolving – just like the ancient French Broad River that runs through it.