Local 2026 Asheville Events Calendar With Top Highlights

From food and music to crafts and funky festivals, see what’s happening in Central and Western North Carolina, South Carolina’s Upstate, and more with our local Asheville events calendar.

Popular 2026 Asheville Events

AVL Restaurant Week (Jan. & Feb.)
AVL Mardi Gras Parade (February)
AVL Fringe Arts (March)
HVL Cider, Wine, & Dine Weekend (April – May)
AVL Beer Week (May)
AVL Fest (August)
NC Apple Festival (Labor Day Weekend)
AVL Vegan & Oktoberfest (October)
Winter Lights & National Gingerbread House Competition (Nov. – Dec.)

You might also like our Things To Do In Asheville Bucket List, How To Spend 1 – 2 Days In Asheville, and our Main Tourist Attractions Guide. 💙 Christine

✨ Please refer to the submission requirements below if you would like to add a listing to our events calendar. ✨

January 2026

January 8 – 18, 2026: Greenville, SC Restaurant Week
January 20 – 26: Asheville Restaurant Week (January & February dates)
January 24: Asheville Hot Chocolate Races
January 29 – February 1: Visit Haywood Ice Fest Weekend

Guides To Help You Plan Your January In WNC

🍜 Plan Restaurant Week with our locals’ guide to the best AVL restaurants
🥾 Explore our favorite winter hikes around Western North Carolina
🧖🏻‍♀️ See what you can do indoors to stay dry and warm

February 2026

Through February 1, 2026: Visit Haywood Ice Fest Weekend
February 7: The Great Outhouse Races in Sapphire, NC
February 15: Frostbite Races (10K, 5K, 1 Mile) in Fletcher, NC
February 15: Asheville Mardi Gras, South Slope neighborhood
February 17 – 23: Asheville Restaurant Week (January & February dates)
February 28: Ira B. Jones Donut 8K in North Asheville

Enjoy February In Asheville With These Guides

🥂 Perfect for Valentine’s Day, eat at Asheville’s most romantic restaurants
🥩 Or, book a fine dining experience
💕 Spark the romance with cozy Asheville activities for couples

March 2026

NC Arboretum Quilt Garden — NC Arboretum & Biltmore Blooms

Selfie with NC Arboretum Tulips — NC Arboretum & Biltmore Blooms

March 15 – March 22, 2026: The Asheville Fringe Arts Festival
March 21: Asheville Marathon & Half
March 27 – 29: Asheville Orchid Festival at The NC Arboretum

April 2026

April 4, 2026: Dillsboro Easter Hat Parade
April 25: Get in Gear Fest at the Adventure Center of Asheville
April 25: Greening Up The Mountains Festival in Sylva, North Carolina
April 30 – May 3: Cider, Wine, and Dine Weekend in Henderson County

* Asheville Bread Festival will be back in 2027.

May 2026

Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards wine flight — St. Paul

Through May 3, 2026: Cider, Wine, and Dine Weekend in Henderson County
May 6 – May 9: SpringSkunk Music Fest
May 8 – May 10: Greenville’s Artisphere
May 15 – May 17: Greenville Greek Festival
May 16: Saluda Arts Festival
May 22 – May 24: Brevard White Squirrel Weekend
May 23 – May 24: Hendersonville Garden Jubilee
May 23 – May 24: Downtown Asheville Memorial Day Weekend Festival of the Arts
May 30: Deep Roots LEAF Global Arts Event

*Awaiting Asheville Beer Week, Greenville JazzFest, and GrindFest AVL dates

Guides to Help Plan Your May In Asheville

🍻 Top breweries we recommend for Beer Week
🪏 Start planting your garden in Asheville

June 2026

June 19 – June 21, 2026: Boonerang Music & Arts Festival in Boone, NC
June 19 – June 20: NC Rhododendron Festival in Bakersville, NC

*Awaiting dates: Cold Mountain Festival, Roan Mountain Rhododendron Festival, and Cherry Bounce Festival in Forest City

July 2026

Tom at Maggie Valley Arts & Crafts Festival — Maggie Valley Arts & Crafts Festival

Coffee at Maggie Valley Arts & Crafts Festival — Maggie Valley Arts & Crafts Festival

Independence Day Celebrations & Where To See Fireworks Near Asheville

Fireworks typically start between 9:30/10 PM
(Not All Dates Listed Yet)

Lake Julian
Lake Junaluska
Downtown Asheville Independence Day Celebration (music & fireworks)
July 4, 2026: Bryson City Freedom Fest
Sylva, Boone & Blowing Rock, Brevard, Banner Elk, Hendersonville, Black Mountain, and Maggie Valley
Cherokee Pow Wow

July 9 – July 12, 2026: Grandfather Mountain Highland Games
July 11 – July 12: The Big Crafty in Downtown Asheville
July 11 – July 12: Maggie Valley Arts & Crafts Festival
July 23 – July 26: Love Shine Play Yoga Festival

*Awaiting Dates: Black Mountain Blues, Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands, and Hillbilly Jam in Maggie Valley

August 2026

August 7 – August 8, 2026: Mt. Mitchell Arts & Crafts Fair in Burnsville, NC
August 6 – August 9: South Carolina New Play Festival in Greenville, SC
August 7 – August 8: Waldensian Festival in Valdese, NC
August 31 to September 1, 2024: Maggie Valley Arts & Crafts Festival in Maggie Valley, NC

*Awaiting Dates: Mountain Dance Folk Festival, AVL Fest, Asheville Comedy Festival, Sourwood Festival in Black Mountain, NC, Annual Asheville Quilt Show, Indie Craft Parade in Greenville, SC, Come To Leicester Studio Tour, WNC Bigfoot Conference & Festival

September 2026

Sky Top Orchard Apple Cider Donuts — Sky Top

Hand holding red apple at Coston Farm — Sky Top

September 3 – 6, 2026: Wild Goose Festival
September 4 – 7: NC Apple Festival in Hendersonville, NC
September 5 – 6: Maggie Valley Arts & Crafts Festival

✨ More To Come/Awaiting Dates for September through December ✨

How To Submit Your Event

*Must be a repeating annual public event, festival, or fair.*
If you are an event organizer or part of an event marketing team and would like to add a listing to our Asheville Calendar of Events, please drop Christine a quick email: hello (at) uncorkedasheville.com.

We add any upcoming Asheville events at our discretion and when possible. We do not showcase private or religious affairs, fundraisers, one-time events, or small workshops.