It’s official, festival season is finally here, and with it comes countless festivals across the country that bring out a whole lot of fun. The summer season continues the fun with festivals right here in Asheville ready for you to join in. Take a look at the top Asheville summer festivals that you cannot miss out on:
Downtown After 5
Get ready for a concert series that is a staple of the community right here in Asheville. Downtown After 5 is returning once again to Asheville and with it is a selection of live music that is absolutely free for the public. Downtown After 5 has already started here in Asheville but continues throughout the rest of the summer season. This summer festival takes place on select Friday evenings starting at 5:00 PM for an evening full of live music and unforgettable gatherings. Each event of the festival is free to attend and will feature live music in the heart of Downtown Asheville. Thousands of attendees attend each event making it a great spot to feel like a local. There will be an onsite marketplace where you can shop with local vendors. Food and beverage vendors will also be available so you can grab a bite to eat and enjoy an adult beverage with your live music. You can purchase a Patron Preferred Access Pass for $90 that will support the event along with getting you a chair in an exclusive VIP area for each event along with a drink token. Don’t miss out on Downtown After 5 for the perfect summer feeling here in Asheville.
Asheville Beer Week
Start your summer a little early with the Asheville Beer Week taking place from mid-May through Memorial Day Weekend. If you have yet to visit Asheville, you be happy to find countless craft breweries within the area. Asheville is a craft beer mecca with many of the local breweries taking awards home each year at national festivals. Asheville Beer Week is a is a celebration of the local beer community who continue to support Asheville. This year’s festivities are more important than ever as they are a statement of resiliency for the area. Every pint and ticket sold at this year’s Asheville Beer Week will go towards the revitalization of Asheville’s craft beverage community that was devastated last year.
Asheville Beer Week will entail several events this year, including For the Love of Craft, a craft mac and cheese and beverage festival taking place on May 19th. You will be able to try out countless mac and cheese festivals that are perfectly paired with a craft beer of your choice. Explore the different vendors and find a new favorite right here in the area.
Another popular event is the Beer City 20K Relay taking place on May 24th just before Memorial Day. You and a team of three others can take on this 20K relay sponsored by New Belgium Brewing Asheville (or you can take on the relay all on your own if you are feeling bold!).
Asheville Beer Week will come to a close this year with the Community Concert with the Steep Canyon Rangers on May 29th. This local show at Pack Square Park is presented by Dale’s Oskar Blues Brewery for an evening of live music and craft beverages. Don’t miss out on all this fun taking place here in Asheville.
Polish Fest
Did anyone say pierogi? If you are on the lookout for delicious food and drink along with live music and festivities look no further than Polish Fest. This is a newer annual tradition here in Asheville that is approaching its third year. Polish Fest is like many other Polish themed festivals where the focus is on Polish traditions kept alive in many ways. This three-day event kicks off on Friday May 2nd at Fireforge Crafted Beer. You can enjoy live music from local favorites Wasted Wine and Foothills Oompah Band. Mazury Folk Dance Ensemble will also be on hand all weekend for traditional Polish folk dancing. Don’t forget to bring your appetite with you as traditional Polish cuisine including pierogi will be served up all weekend long. Piwo (beer) will be flowing too to keep the adults thirst quenched. Fireforge Crafted Beer will have their Polka Party Lager and Cendrowski Grodziskie Wheat Ale flowing from the taps for an authentic Polish beverage. Don’t miss out on Polish this summer right here in Asheville.
More Summer Fun Is Starting Soon
Make sure to get a leg up on your summer planning by reserving an Asheville vacation rental. You can get close to all of these summer festivals and the other wonderful attractions in the area. Reach out to us to book today and get ready for summer.