Asheville, North Carolina is a beer lover's dream global gateways

 Global Gateways 

Asheville, North Carolina is a beer 

lover's dream

By train[edit]

The closest Amtrak train station to Asheville is in Greenville, South Carolina or Spartanburg, South Carolina.

By car[edit]

Asheville is located at the junction of Interstate 26 and Interstate 40, with an I-240 connector that passes through downtown. Mountainous, curvy, and scenic sections of highway are found along the interstates in all four directions while traveling into Asheville. The Asheville area is also served by 10 US and state highways. The Blue Ridge Parkway has four primary accesses in Asheville at US 25, US 70, US 74A & NC 191. Maps are reccomended as highways may have listed directions but may travel in different directions. For example, a road signed "east" may travel north/south for a significant amount of time.

By bus[edit]

Asheville is serviced by Greyhound Bus, 2 Tunnel Rd, ☎ +1 828 253-8451, [1]. 8AM-9PM daily.  edit

Get around[edit]

By car[edit]

A car is definitely your best bet. Street parking is metered Monday through Saturday, 8AM–6PM at $1.50 per hour. Street parking is free on Sundays, evenings and official city holidays (New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas). In addition to street and garage parking, there are several surface lots throughout downtown.

There are three parking decks: Civic Center Garage, Rankin Avenue Garage, and Wall Street Garage. All are accessible 24 hours a day and are free for the first hour then $1.25 per hour thereafter. Attendants are on duty 10AM–7PM Monday through Friday.

By taxi[edit]

Within the City of Asheville, fares are as follows: For the initiation (drop) of the meter - $2.50; For each one-tenth mile after initiation - $0.25; For each passenger in excess of two - $2; For each two minutes of waiting time or fraction thereof after the first two minutes - $0.40

• Airport Limousine & Taxi Service, ☎ +1 828 253-3311.  edit
• Asheville Bike Taxi, ☎ +1 828 777-5115, [2]. $1 a minute; 1-2 people.  edit
• Beaver Lake Cab Co, ☎ +1 828 252-1913.  edit
• Checker Cab, ☎ +1 828 254-1155. Pick-ups in 10 minutes on average. Econo-line vans available for up to 10 passengers.  edit
• Jolly Taxi, ☎ +1 828 253-1411.  edit
• Metro Cab, ☎ +1 828 254-1155.  edit
• New Blue Bird Taxi Co, ☎ +1 828 258-8331.  edit
• Red Cab Co, ☎ +1 828 232-1112.  edit
• Yellow Cab Co, ☎ +1 828 252-1913.  edit
• Your Cab, ☎ +1 828 259-9904.  edit
• Uber.  edit

By bike[edit]

Bike rentals are available at BioWheels, 81 Coxe Ave, ☎ +1 828 236-BIKE, [3].  editSelf-guided tour routes, maps and guidebooks are available for bicycle rides on the area forest lands, on the Blue Ridge Parkway and around downtown Asheville. Tour Asheville by pedal assist electric bike with guided bike tours by Electro Bike Tours http://electrobiketours.com.

All buses in the Asheville Transit System are equipped with bike racks.

By bus[edit]

Asheville Transit [224] provides bus service that is regular but infrequent outside of downtown; inside downtown walking is almost always faster. Buses run from 6AM-11:30PM Monday through Saturday. Routes radiate from the Transit Center, located downtown at 49 Coxe Avenue next to the U.S. Post Office. Bus fare is $1 for adults and $0.50 for seniors and riders with disabilities.

See[edit][add listing]

Architecture[edit]

Asheville is nationally renowned for its unique architecture, especially downtown and around the Biltmore Estate. The city suffered greatly during the Great Depression, and consequently little development happened during the time. This actually had a positive effect, as the city's famous Art Deco Architecture of the Roaring 20's was saved from destruction. Therefore, today, Asheville boasts the nations most complete collection of Art Deco structures. Other architectural styles, of course, are present in abundance throughout the city; from the Neo-Gothic Jackson Building "Skyscraper" to the Modern BB&T Tower.

Buncombe County Courthouse

• Battery Park Hotel, 1 Battle Sq. A 14-story building faced with brick, limestone and terra cotta trim with a Mission Revival style roof, erected in 1924.  edit
• The Biltmore Estate, 1 Approach Rd, ☎ 1-800-624-1575, [4]. A French Renaissance-inspired chateau; with over 250 rooms, it is the largest single family home in the U.S. and the largest privately-owned house in the world, just a few minutes outside the city and should be on any visitor's itinerary. Basic admission includes access to the fabulous gardens, stables, expansive hiking trails, winery and self-guided house tour. Adults $45-$60, Youth price half-admission, Children 9 and under are free.  edit
• Buncombe County Courthouse, 60 Court Sq. M-F 8AM-6PM. Completed in 1928, the outside features complex setbacks, window groupings and overlay of Neo-Classical Revival ornamentation. The Neo-Classical interior lobby contains a sweeping marble staircase, bronze and glass screens, a coffered ceiling with ornate plasterwork and a mosaic tile floor. edit
• The City Building, [5]. Designed by Art Deco architect Douglas Ellington and completed in 1927, the City Building is constructed out of Georgia Pink marble, brick, and terra cotta. The steeped, octagonal shaped roof is the logo of the City of Asheville.  edit

Asheville City Hall

• Drhumor Building. The Drhumor (pronounced "drummer") is a boldly detailed, Romanesque Revival style building constructed in 1895.  edit
• Flat Iron Building, 20 Battery Park Ave, ☎ +1 828 258-3999, [6]. 8AM-5:30PM. A uniquely triangular shaped building bordering Wall Street and Battery Park Avenue constructed in 1926.  edit
• Grove Arcade, 1 Page Ave, [7]. M-Sa 10AM-6PM, Su 12PM-5PM. Commissioned by Dr. E. W. Grove, the Grove Arcade is an elaborate Tudoresque building occupying an entire city block. It is particularly worth noting, as it was, when it was built in 1927 by architect Charles N. Parker, one of the nation's most unique and interesting buildings. On each side of this city landmark, four giant arches allow entrance into the building. On the main side facing the equally impressive Victorian Battery Park Hotel, are two monumental gryphons, guarding the entrance into the expansive interior, which features oak shopfronts, spiral staircases, and opulence around every corner. Today, it serves as as an influential public market with several restaurants, vendors, and mountain craft shops.  edit
• Grove Park Inn, 290 Macon Ave, [8]. Completed in 1913, this historic resort hotel is an important example of the Arts and Crafts style.  edit
• Jackson Building, [9]. Bordered by South Market Street and South Pack Square, completed in 1925. A Neo-Gothic style skyscraper complete with gargoyles and a bell tower. edit
• Masonic Temple, 80 Broadway St. Features robust brickwork and a tall portico of paired Ionic columns. A three-story, blind arched window is on its Woodfin Street side.  edit
• S & W building, 52-58 Patton Ave. Another Art Deco masterpiece designed by architect Douglas Ellington.  edit
• Thomas Wolfe House, 48 Spruce St, ☎ +1 828 253-8304, [10]. Tu-Sa 9AM-12PM, Su 1PM-5PM. A sprawling frame Queen Anne-influenced house immortalized in the epic autobiographical novel Look Homeward, Angel by Thomas Wolfe.  edit
• Vance Monument, [11]. Stands about 10 stories high, in the middle of Pack Square, Asheville's version of Times Square, Place de la Concorde and Piccadilly Circus. It is the heart of both downtown and the entire city.  edit
• YMI Building, at the corner of South Market and Eagle St. M-Sa 10AM-5PM. A simplified English Tudor Cottage style with pebble-dashed walls, red brick quoin trim, multi-pane windows and hipped roofs.  edit

Churches: Please note that most churches listed below are working churches. When entering, please be respectful of any activities occurring.

Basilica of St. Lawrence

• Basilica of St. Lawrence, 97 Haywood St, [12]. Designed and built in 1905, the Basilica is on the National Register of Historic Places and was elevated in status to a Minor Basilica in 1993 by Pope John Paul II. Features the largest freestanding elliptical dome in North America. This place is gorgeous and a must-see.  edit
• Central United Methodist Church, 27 Church St. Erected in 1902, the imposing limestone church presents Romanesque Revival style massing and forms, but the detailing more closely reflects the Gothic Revival style. A five-bay loggia, set between two pinnacled towers, fronts the large, gable-roofed auditorium.  edit
• First Baptist Church, 5 Oak St. In Art Deco/Romantic style, Douglas Ellington's first big commission in Asheville. A beautiful distinctive dome with a copper cupola cap.  edit
• First Presbyterian Church, 40 Church St, [13]. Commissioned in 1884, the Gothic Revival style brick nave and tower feature deep-corbelled cornices, hood-molded windows and blind arcading at the eaves.  edit
• Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 47 Eagle St. A redbrick late Victorian Gothic church featuring a tin-shingled roof where three towers are topped by ornamental sheet-metal finials. A large number of Art Glass windows ornament the towers and walls. Built in 1919.  edit
• St. Matthias Episcopal Church, 1 Dundee St. A Gothic-style building with a gable roof nave. The brick walls are laid with a darker shade of headers presenting a horizontal texture to the building's surface on every face. The interior contains a rich display of well maintained dark woodwork fashioned in various Gothic motifs. The pulpit, lectern, altar and other furnishings are all original to the church and are decorated with trefoil arch panels, quatrefoil incisions and other Gothic elements.  edit
• Trinity Episcopal Church, 60 Church St, [14]. Designed in 1912, the Tudor Gothic Revival style brick building with granite trim features a simple, gable-roofed sanctuary with transepts and a short corner tower.  edit

Art galleries[edit]

• American Folk Art & Framing, 64 Biltmore Ave, ☎ +1 828 281-2134, [15]. M-Sa 10AM-6PM, Su 12PM-5PM. Contemporary Southern folk art, NC wood-fired pottery, and custom picture frames.  edit
• Appalachian Craft Center, 10 N Spruce St, ☎ +1 828 253-8499, [16]. M-Sa 10AM-5PM. Authentic mountain handicrafts including pottery, face jugs, quilts, mountain-made toys and handmade rugs.  edit
• Ariel Gallery, 19 Biltmore Ave, ☎ +1 828 236-2660, [17]. Daily 11AM-6PM. A contemporary craft cooperative featuring handmade work of local artists. Original works in clay, fiber, furniture, glass, metal, jewelry and book arts.  edit
• Asheville Area Arts Council The Artery, Depot St, ☎ +1 828 258-0710, [18]. Tu-F 10AM-5PM, Sa 11AM-3PM. Owned and operated by the Asheville Area Arts Council, provides exhibition space for established and emerging local artists.  edit
• Asheville Gallery of Art, 16 College St, ☎ +1 828 251-5796, [19]. M-Sa 10AM-5PM. A partnership of 29 professional, regional artists offering original two-dimensional works from representational to abstract.  edit
• Asheville Glass Center and Gallery, 140 C Roberts St (River Arts District), ☎ +1 828 505-7110 (info@ashevilleglass.com), [20]. M-Sa 10AM-5PM. A glassblowing school and gallery with daily demonstrations and workshops.  edit
• Bella Vista Art Gallery, 14 Lodge St (in Biltmore Village), ☎ +1 828 768-0246, [21]. M-Sa 10AM-5PM. Representing local, national, and international emerging artists. Contemporary fine art.  edit
• Bender Gallery, 12 S. Lexington Ave, ☎ +1 828 505-8341, [22]. M-Sa 10:30AM-5PM, Su 12PM-5PM. Contemporary sculptural glass gallery featuring a variety of glass disciplines by national and international artists.  edit
• Black Mountain College Museum & Art Center, 56 Broadway St, ☎ +1 828 350-8484, [23]. W-Sa 12PM-4PM. Explores the history and legacy of Black Mountain College.  edit
• Blue Spiral 1, 38 Biltmore Ave, ☎ +1 828 251-0202, [24]. M-Sa 10AM-6PM, Su (April-Oct) 12PM-5PM. Presents contemporary Southeastern fine art and crafts.  edit
• BoBo Gallery, 22 Lexington Ave, ☎ +1 828 254-3426, [25].  edit
• Fine Arts League of the Carolinas, 362 Depot St, ☎ +1 828 252-5050, [26]. M-F 10AM-5PM. Featuring art school students work.  edit
• Flood Gallery, 109 Roberts St (on the second floor of the Phil Mechanic Studios building), [27]. Seeks out art that is provocative, challenging, daring, relevant, and important.  edit
• Gallery Minerva, 8 Biltmore Ave, ☎ +1 828 255-8850, [28]. Tu-Th 10AM-6PM, F Sa 10AM-7PM, Su 1PM-5PM.  edit
• The Haen Gallery, 52 Biltmore Ave, ☎ +1 828 254-8577, [29]. M-F10AM-6PM, Sa 11AM-6PM, Su 12PM-5PM.  edit
• Jewels That Dance, 63 Haywood St, ☎ +1 828 254-5088, [30]. M-Sa 10:30AM-6PM and Su in December 1PM-5PM. Premier jewelry gallery and working studio. Featuring contemporary and classic fine jewelry.  edit
• Kress Emporium, 19 Patton Ave, ☎ +1 828 281-2252, [31]. M-Th 11AM-6PM, F Sa 11AM-7PM, and Su in season noon-5PM. Featuring more than 100 distinguished artists and craftspeople, all showcased in the historic Kress Building.  edit
• K2 Studio, 59 College St, ☎ +1 828 250-0500. M-Sa 11AM-6PM, Su 12PM-5PM. The Kress Emporium's sister gallery.  edit
• Merrimon Galleries, 365 Merrimon Ave, ☎ +1 828 252-6036. Classic and contemporary oils, photography and sculpture.  edit
• Mountain Made, 1 Page Ave (in the Grove Arcade, Suite 123), ☎ +1 828 350-0307, [32]. M-Sa 10AM-6PM, Su 12PM-5PM. Featuring the work of over 80 Western North Carolina artisans.  edit
• Odyssey Gallery, 238 Clingman Ave, ☎ +1 828 285-9700. F 10AM-4PM. Functional and sculptural work by national ceramic artists.  edit
• Overstrom Studio, 35 Wall St, ☎ +1 828 258-1761, [33]. Tu-Sa 10AM-6PM, Su 12PM-4PM. The working studio, gallery, and loft of internationally recognized jewelry designers Michael Overstrom and Susan Overstrom.  edit
• Pura Vida, 39 Biltmore Ave, ☎ +1 828 439-5451, [34]. Offers a strong blend of local and regional artists.  edit
• Satellite Gallery, 55 Broadway St, ☎ +1 828 505-2225, [35]. Tu-Su 11AM-6PM. Contemporary artists with roots in urban and pop counter cultures.  edit
• Studio Chavarria, 84 Walnut St, ☎ +1 828 236-9191, [36]. Tu-Sa 9AM-6PM. An exclusive members-only hair salon and fine art gallery.  edit
• Woolworth Walk, 25 Haywood St, ☎ +1 828 254-9234, [37]. M-Th 11AM–6PM, F-Sa 11AM-8PM, Su 11AM–5PM. More than 150 exhibiting artists and artisans selling and making jewelry, fine art, decorative art and crafts in nearly 20,000 square feet of air-conditioned, quality display and studio space.  edit
• YMI Cultural Center, 39 S Market St, ☎ +1 828 252-4614, [38]. Tu-F 10AM-5PM. Houses numerous exhibits, many dealing with the history of African Americans in Western North Carolina.  edit

Museums[edit]

• Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Sq, ☎ +1 828 253-3227, [39]. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 1PM-5PM. A collection of the very best of 20th and 21st century American art. Adults $8, Students/Seniors $7, Children under 5 are free.  edit
• Colburn Earth Science Museum, 2 S Pack Sq, ☎ +1 828 254-7162, [40]. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 1PM-5PM. Adult $6, Senior/Student/Child $5, Children under 4 are free.  edit
• The Health Adventure, 800 Brevard Road #620, ☎ +1 828 254-6373, [41]. Mo-Sa 10AM-8PM, Su 12:30PM-6PM. A health and science museum dedicated to improving health awareness, promoting wellness lifestyles, and increasing science literacy through programs and exhibits. Adult $8.50, Senior $7.50, Children $6, Children 2 and under are free.  edit
• The Smith-McDowell House Museum, 283 Victoria Rd, ☎ +1 828 253-9231, [42]. Th-Sa 10AM-4PM, Su 12PM-4PM. Asheville’s first mansion and oldest surviving structure. Adult $7, Child $3, Children under 5 are free.  edit
• WNC Nature Center, 75 Gashes Creek Rd, ☎ +1 828 298-5600, [43]. Daily 10AM-5PM. A living museum exhibiting plants and animals that are native to the Southern Appalachians.Adults $8, Seniors $7, Youth $4.  edit

Do[edit][add listing]

Activities[edit]

• Asheville Glass Center, 140 C Roberts St. (River Arts District), ☎ +1 828 505-7110, [44]. M-Sa 10AM-5PM and by appointment. A glassblowing school, working glass studio, and glass gallery with demos and workshops daily.  edit
• A-Escape: Asheville Escape Room, 353 New Leicester Hwy #F (West Asheville), ☎ +1 252 6210341 (info@a-escape.com), [45]. W-F: 12p.m. to 12a.m. Sat/Sun: 10a.m. to 11:30p.m. Reservations required.. Asheville's premier Escape Room. Put together a team of friends, family, or coworkers to enter a room and complete puzzles while being immersed in a story of your choosing.  edit

Tours[edit]

• Asheville Brews Cruise, ☎ +1 828 545-5181, [46]. A personalized tour and VIP treatment at three of Asheville's finest local microbreweries -- Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company, French Broad Brewing Company, and Highland Brewing Company. $40 per person; inquire about Asheville locals discount.  edit
• Autorickshaw Tours, 235 Montford Ave, ☎ +1 828 777-1014. Tours last approximately one hour and run 10:30AM-4PM by reservation on weekends. A historic/architectural tour of Montford including Riverside Cemetery. The autorickshaw holds two per tour. $35 for two people.  edit
• Eating Asheville Tours, 1 Page Ave, #101, ☎ +1 828 489-3266(info@eatingasheville.com.com), [47]. Eating Asheville’s walking food tour leads you through an orchestration of the finest and most delicious sights and tastes that the city has to offer. Join us for a tour of the city’s unique food culture. Inquire about our walking brewery tours of downtown Asheville! $47.  edit
• Electro Bike Tours, 24 College St, ☎ +1 828 513-3960 (info@electrobiketours.com), [48].Pedal with ease to the Basilica of St. Lawrence, Botanical Gardens, Grove Park Inn, Pack Square, and more on this guided two hour electric bike tour of Asheville. Also, check out the Bike n Brew Ride! * $45; inquire about Asheville locals discount.  edit
• Ghost Hunters of Asheville, ☎ +1 828 779-4868, [49]. Ghost Hunters of Asheville offer three separate 90-minute ghost tours covering different aspects of historical, haunted Asheville. Guests enjoy free use of ghost-hunting tools and paranormal photographs are guaranteed. $17, children age 8-14 $9, under 8 free.  edit
• Haunted Ghost Tour, ☎ +1 828 355-5855, [50]. $18, Children $10.  edit
• Herstory Asheville: A Tour that Tells the Rest of the Story, ☎ +1 828 423-3819(brenda@herstoryasheville.com), [51]. Come hear tales of the famous, the infamous, and the unsung heroes of the female persuasion in engaging detail. This 90-minute walking tour covers the history of downtown while spotlighting the women who helped shape Asheville. Tours leave daily from The Old Kentucky Home, Julia Wolfe's former boarding house at Thomas Wolfe Memorial. Reservations required. $18, children $10.  edit
• Historic Trolley Tours, (toll free: +1-888-667-3600), [52]. Sightsee Asheville aboard a vintage Trolley. Fully narrated, covers all major points of interest in Asheville including: the Grove Park Inn, Biltmore Village, the Grove Arcade, the Montford Historic District, the downtown shopping and restaurants district, the Thomas Wolfe Memorial, the Asheville Museum and Art Gallery district, the Asheville Chamber and Visitors Center. $19, children $12, special group rates available.  edit
• LaZoom Comedy Tours, 90 Biltmore Ave (departs from the French Broad food Co-op across the street from the Orange Peel), ☎ +1 828 225-6932, [53]. LaZoom Comedy Tours is "A Tour with a Twist!" You'll get all of the facts plus loads of fun. Your costumed tour guide will take you and your family on a 90 minute adventure covering all of the points of interest. This isn't your grandma's tour (but she can still come). $25, seniors $21, young adults $15, children $12.  edit
• Urban Trail, [54]. A self-guided walking tour in downtown Asheville, tracing the footsteps of Asheville’s historic past. Twenty-seven "stations" are highlighted in this continuous 1.6 mile loop, from churches and buildings to streets and landmarks. Guided tours are available April through November on Saturdays at 3PM. Tours leave from the front desk inside Pack Place. Headsets and maps are available for self-guided tours. $5.  edit
• Montford Holiday Tour of Homes, [55]. A yearly tour of holiday decorated homes in Asheville's oldest historic neighborhood on the second Saturday of December. Enjoy Shakespearean actors and homemade baked goods during the tour. Located down the street from Asheville Visitors Center. $20.  edit
• Wai Mauna Asheville SUP Tours, 159 Riverside Drive (All tours depart from 159 Riverside Drive in the River Arts District. Complimentary shuttle provided to Hominy Creek), ☎ +1 808 264-3005 (info@waimaunaashevillesuptours.com), [56]. A guided, historic, stand up paddle tour through the heart of Asheville's River Arts District. Paddle Asheville's French Broad River on wide, stable SUP boards, and finish within walking distance of breweries and restaurants in Asheville's popular downtown $65 for guided tours, $40 for rentals.  edit

Festivals[edit]

• Lake Eden Arts Festival (LEAF), [57]. Twice each year, multicultural music and arts non-profit event held at scenic Camp Rockmont, in nearby Black Mountain.  edit
• Asheville FringeArts Festival, [58]. Held annually at the end of January.  edit
• Jazz After Five, 1 Page Ave (in the Atrium of Historic Grove Arcade), [59]. 5PM-8PM. Held in the third Friday of each month from January through April.  edit
• Asheville Herb Festival, WNC Farmer's Market, [60]. The largest Herb Festival in Southeast, offering herb plants, herbs, books, soaps, herbal crafts, vinegars, medicinal herbs, lotions, tinctures, teas, dried flowers, herbal baked goods, and herbal gifts. Held each May.Free.  edit
• Asheville Wine & Food Festival, U.S. Cellular Center, [61]. Asheville Wine & Food Festival, bringing together the finest regional, national, and international wines, exceptional local restaurants, craft beer and spirits, and handcrafted artisanal foods for three days of palate-pleasing indulgence.. Held each August.  edit
• Mountain Sports Festival, [62]. Pro and amateur athletes compete in mountain sports. Live music, food, and demos. Held each May.  edit
• Downtown After Five, N Lexington Ave at I-240 and Hiawassee, [63]. 5PM-9PM. Held the third Friday of each month from May through September, featuring free outdoor local music and plenty of shopping and eating opportunities. Free.  edit
• Montford Music And Arts Festival, [64]. 10AM-7PM. The largest one day free music and arts festival in WNC with two stages on Montford and Soco Streets in Historic Montford Neighborhood down from Asheville Visitors Center. On street parking, bicycle corral and Yurt, handicap accessible. Held on the 3rd Saturday of each May. Free.  edit
• Shindig on the Green, Martin Luther King Jr. Park, [65]. 7PM-10PM. Music and dance traditions of Southern Appalachia. Held from the end of June through the beginning of September. Free.  edit
• Mountain Dance and Folk Festival, Diana Wortham Theatre, [66]. Mountain fiddlers, banjo pickers, dulcimer sweepers, and dancers. Held the first weekend in August. $20/night, $10/night children, 3-night package $54.  edit
• Goombay! Festival, [67]. An African-Caribbean style festival. Held each August.  edit
• Organicfest, Battery Park Ave and Otis St (by the Grove Arcade), [68]. 10AM-6PM. A festive day of live music, organic food and drink, organic and green goods, and fun activities for kids of all ages.  edit
• Lexington Avenue Arts and Fun Festival, Lexington Ave, [69]. A unique all local music and arts event held each September.  edit
• Great Smokies Craft Brewers Brewgrass Festival, Martin Luther King Jr ballfield, [70]. noon-7PM. Over 30 American breweries showcase more than 100 different beers, along with music from national and regional bluegrass musicians. Held each September. $40.  edit
• Moogfest, [71]. Electronic music festival honoring the late innovator Bob Moog, inventor of the Moog synthesizer. Previously held on Halloween weekend, the festival is being held this year April 23-27. $150-200.  edit
• Fiesta Latina, [72]. A celebration of Latin American culture.  edit
• Asheville PrideFest, [73]. A forum for building community and to honor the many facets of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered family.  edit
• Asheville Film Festival, [74]. Held annually each November.  edit

Live music[edit]

• Asheville Civic Center, 87 Haywood St, ☎ +1 828 259-5544, [75]. The arena has a capacity of 7,654.  edit
• Grey Eagle Tavern & Music Hall, 185 Clingman Ave, ☎ +1 828 232-5800, [76]. Has a capacity 550.  edit
• The Orange Peel, 101 Biltmore Ave, ☎ +1 828 225-5851, [77]. Box office open W-Sa 12PM-5:30PM. Standing capacity of 942, shows local and nationally touring acts. In 2008, Rolling Stone named the Peel one of the top five rock clubs in America.  edit
• Stella Blue, 31 Patton Ave, [78]. An art bar featuring national and local acts.  edit
• Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, 87 Haywood St (at the Civic Center). Has a capacity of 2,431. edit
• Tressa's Jazz & Blues, 28 Broadway St, ☎ +1 828 254-7072, [79].  edit

Theatre[edit]

• Asheville Community Theatre, [225]. A volunteer-driven community theatre.
• Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre, [226]. Western North Carolina's first modern dance company. A diverse repertory reflects both traditional and experimental forms of modern dance.
• Asheville Lyric Opera, [227]. Productions of opera, operetta, and musicals, performed in the company’s home, the Diana Wortham Theatre.
• Asheville Symphony, [228]. Presents seven full orchestra concerts a year at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium in the Asheville Civic Center.
• Diane Wortham Theatre, [229]. Located within the Pack Place Education Arts and Science Center on Pack Square, the theatre offers live performances of music, theatre and dance by nationally touring artists and professional regional arts groups.
• enigmatic theatre company, [230]. Asheville's only theatre company dedicated exclusively to the production of new work. Typically produces two-three full length works or collections of one-acts per year.
• Montford Park Players, [231]. Free Shakespeare and other classic plays held at the Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre in Montford.
• North Carolina Stage Company, Stage Lane across from Zambra Restaurant off of Walnut St, +1 828 350-9090, [232]. Asheville's only professional theatre. Voted Best Local Theatre by readers of Mountain Xpress for four years running. Winner George A. Parides Award for Outstanding Professional Theatre, North Carolina Theatre Conference. NC Stage Company, now in its sixth season, has something either in rehearsal or performance 49 out of 52 weeks.

Outdoors[edit]

Hiking:

The Blue Ridge Parkway

• Blue Ridge Parkway, ☎ +1 828 298-0398, [80]. Some of the most beautiful (and abundant) waterfalls can be reached via the Blue Ridge Parkway. Park your car on any Parkway overlook and there will most likely be a trail nearby. Popular spots include Mount Pisgah (15 miles south on the Parkway), Graveyard Fields (25 miles south on the Parkway), Craggy Gardens (24 miles north on the Parkway), and Mount Mitchell, the eastern United States highest mountain (35 miles/1 hour drive north on the Parkway). The Parkway intersects Asheville at US 25, US 70, US 74A & NC 191.  edit
• Botanical Gardens at Asheville, [81]. Open from dawn to dusk. A half-mile loop across streams, through meadows, and over a woodland ridge to a wildflower cove with an authentic log cabin. Just three miles north of downtown beside the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Free.  edit
• North Carolina Arboretum, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, ☎ +1 828 665-2492, [82]. Apr-Oct 8AM-9PM, Nov-Mar 8AM-7PM. A 434-acre facility with a Visitor Education Center, state-of-the-art greenhouses, beautiful gardens, and walking trails. Parking $8.  edit
• Pisgah National Forest, ☎ +1 828 257-4200. Much of Western North Carolina is covered by national forest, making it a hiker’s paradise. For maps or information on great places to hike, call the National Forest Service.  edit

Climbing:

• Climbmax, 43 Wall St, ☎ +1 828 252-9996, [83]. Tu-F noon-10PM, Sa 10AM-10PM, Su noon-6PM. An indoor rock climbing gym in downtown Asheville. Bouldering $9, Rope Climbing $12.50, Staff Belay $19.50.  edit

Fishing:

• Asheville Drifters Fly Fishing Adventures, ☎ +1 828 215-7379, [84]. $175-375.  edit

Rafting:

• French Broad Rafting Expeditions, (toll free: +1-800-570-7238), [85]. Mar-Oct. $30-45, youth $25-39.  edit
• Rock 'n' Water Adventure Outpost, ☎ +1 828 689-3354, [86]. Offers whitewater rafting, guided “back country” waded fly fishing, mountain biking, hiking, and horseback riding.  edit
• Southern Waterways, ☎ +1 828 232-1970, [87]. $30-64, youth $20-44.  edit
• Lake Julian, off of Long Shoals Rd in South Asheville, ☎ +1 828 684-0376. Paddleboat and canoe rentals $5/hour, fishing boats $7.50/four hours, kayaking programs $5/half hour, $10/hour, $15/two hours, windsurfing lessons available by appointment only.  edit

Riding:

• Baird Cove Trail Rides, 300 Baird Cove Rd, ☎ +1 828 206-3700. noon-6PM daily. Riding and equestrian center. Trail rides & lessons. Call to make an appointment to come ride. Only 10 minutes north of downtown Asheville. **note: September 2012 They no longer do trail rides. $25 1-hr guided trail ride.  edit
• Biltmore Estate Equestrian Center, ☎ +1 828 225-1454, [88]. Lessons, guided trail rides, shows, clinics, and camps. Must pay entrance fee to Biltmore estate.  edit

Skateboarding:

• Food Lion Skate Park, corner of Flint and Cherry Sts, ☎ +1 828 225-7184, [89]. M-F noon-dark, Sa 10AM-dark, Su 1PM-dark. An outdoor skateboarding park in downtown Asheville.Weekdays $2 for city residents, $4 for non-residents. Weekend/Holiday $3 for city residents, $5 for non-residents.  edit

Stand Up Paddling:

• Wai Mauna Asheville SUP Tours, All shuttles depart from 159 Riverside Drive, ☎ +1 808 264-3005 (info@waimaunaashevillesuptours.com), [90]. Stand up paddleboard tours and rentals in Asheville's River Arts District. $65 for guided tours and $40 for rentals.  edit

Sports[edit]

• Asheville Tourists, 30 Buchanan Pl (McCormick Field), [91]. Minor league baseball team. The Tourists offer a full season running from April through early September, and every Thursday is 'Thirsty Thursday' where a cup of draft beer is only $1. $7, Children, Seniors, & Military $6.  edit
• Asheville Grizzlies, 30 Buchanan Pl (Memorial Stadium), [92]. A professional minor league men's football team.  edit
• Blue Ridge Rollergirls, 1301 Fanning Bridge Rd (WNC Agriculture Center), (info@blueridgerollergirls.com), [93]. Women's Flat track Roller derby league. $10 before the game, $12 day of. Kids 12 and under are free.  edit