2026 Asheville Events Calendar With Top Highlights & Festivals
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. Subscribe here for these festivals (and more) sent straight to your inbox each month.
Popular 2026 Asheville Events
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 of Uncorked Asheville
✨ Please refer to the submission requirements below if you would like to add a listing to our events calendar. ✨
Plan Your Magical Adventure: Our Free Asheville Guide + Bucket List
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 7 & 8: Assembly Required presents The Asheville Designer Art-Toy Expo for toy collectors and art-toy artists
- February 12: Love, Marquee in RAD
- February 13 – 15: Bluegrass First Class at The Crowne Plaza Resort
- 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 21: Lunar New Year Celebration at Highland Brewing
- 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
- March 15 – March 22, 2026: The Asheville Fringe Arts Festival
- March 21: Asheville Marathon & Half
- March 26: Luminere opens at Biltmore
- March 27 – 29: Asheville Orchid Festival at The NC Arboretum
April 2026
- April 3 – 4, 2026: Asheville Comedy Festival at the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts
- April 4: Dillsboro Easter Hat Parade
- April 4: Music in the Mountains Day at The NC Arboretum
- April 11: Arbor Day Celebration at The NC Arboretum
- April 17: Downtown After 5 (Season Opener) in Asheville’s Pack Square Park
- April 18: Asheville Maker Faire at Mission Health / A-B Tech Conference Center
- April 24 – 26: Asheville Spring Herb Festival at the WNC Ag Center, Fletcher
- 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
- Through May 3, 2026: Cider, Wine, and Dine Weekend in Henderson County
- May 2 – 3: Asheville BuskerFest (A LEAF Global Arts benefit) across Asheville
- May 6 – 9: Asheville Improv Comedy Festival
- May 6 – 9: SpringSkunk Music Fest
- May 8 – 10: Greenville’s Artisphere
- May 9: Fiber Day at the Folk Art Center
- May 15: Downtown After 5 (Season’s Second Show) in Pack Square Park, Asheville
- May 15 – 17: Greenville Greek Festival
- May 15 – 29: Asheville Beer Week
- May 16: Saluda Arts Festival
- May 22 – 24: Brevard White Squirrel Weekend
- May 23 – 31: Grandfather Mountain Rhododendron Rambles
- May 23 – 24: Hendersonville Garden Jubilee
- May 23 – 24: Downtown Asheville Memorial Day Weekend Festival of the Arts
- May 29 – 30: Cold Mountain Music Festival (Lake Logan)
- May 30: Deep Roots LEAF Global Arts Event at Pisgah Brewing
- May 30: WNC Whiskey Festival at the Mission Health / A-B Tech Conference Center
Guides to Help Plan Your May In Asheville
🍻 Top breweries we recommend for Beer Week
Start planting your garden in Asheville
🧳 Headed to a Greenville, SC festival? Plan your overnight here.
June 2026
- June 5 – 6: Cherry Bounce Festival in Forest City
- June 12 – 13: Greenville JazzFest
- June 13: GrindFest AVL in Pack Square Park, Asheville
- June 13, 20, 27: Asheville Art in the Park in Pack Square
- June 19 – 21: Boonerang Music & Arts Festival in Boone, NC
- June 19 – 20: NC Rhododendron Festival in Bakersville, NC
- June 20 – 21: Roan Mountain Rhododendron Festival
July 2026
- July 9 – July 12, 2026: Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in Linville, NC
- July 11 – July 12: The Big Crafty at Harrah’s Cherokee Center (Downtown Asheville)
- July 11 – July 12: Maggie Valley Arts & Crafts Shows
- July 11 – August 29 (Saturdays): Shindig on the Green in Pack Square Park (Downtown AVL)
- July 16 – 19: Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands at Harrah’s Cherokee Center (Downtown Asheville)
- July 23 – July 26: Love Shine Play Yoga Festival
- July 23 – 25: Hillbilly Jam (pre-party & JAM) in Maggie Valley
- July 29 – August 9: South Carolina New Play Festival in Greenville, SC
- July 30 – August 1: Mountain Dance & Folk Festival (Asheville High School)
Independence Day Celebrations & Where To See Fireworks Near Asheville
Fireworks typically start between 9:30/10 PM
- 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
August 2026
- Through August 1: Mountain Dance & Folk Festival at Asheville High School in Asheville, NC
- Through August 9: South Carolina New Play Festival in Greenville, SC
- Through August 29 (Saturdays): Shindig on the Green at Pack Square Park in Downtown Asheville
- August 6 – 8: Asheville Comedy Festival in Asheville, NC
- August 6 – 9: AVL Sounds Fest across Asheville, NC
- August 7 – August 8: Waldensian Festival in Valdese, NC
- August 8 – 9: Sourwood Festival in Black Mountain, NC
- August 13 – 15: Annual Asheville Quilt Show at WNC Ag Center in Fletcher, NC
- August 15 – 16: Come To Leicester Studio Tour across Leicester, NC
- August 19 – 23: Wild Women Fest in Asheville, NC
- August 29: WNC Bigfoot Conference & Festival in Downtown Marion, NC
September 2026
- September 3 – 6, 2026: Wild Goose Festival in Harmony, NC
- September 4 – 6: Boomtown Arts & Heritage FestAVL in Asheville
- September 4 – 7: NC Apple Festival in Hendersonville, NC
- September 5 – 6: Maggie Valley Arts & Crafts Festival in Maggie Valley
- September 11 – 13: Indie Craft Parade in Greenville, SC
- September 11 – 20: NC Mountain State Fair in Fletcher, NC
- September 11 – 13: Goombay Festival in Pack Square Park and YMI Cultural Center, Asheville
- September 12: West Asheville Garden Stroll in the Hall Fletcher neighborhood
- September 13: Asheville Wine Walk in Downtown Asheville
- September 19: Flock to the Rock at Chimney Rock
- September 19 – 20: Heritage Weekend at the Folk Art Center along Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville
- September 19: Art in Autumn in Weaverville, NC
- September 21 – 26: Mountain Heritage Days in Cullowhee
- September 25 – 26: Blue Ridge Pride Festival in Pack Square Park, Asheville
- September 25 – 26: Asheville Greek Festival in Historic Montford, Asheville (read our complete Greek Fest guide here)
- September 25 – 27: Black Mountain Blues at White Horse in Black Mountain
- September 25 – November 1 (Fridays to Sundays): Annual Eliada Fall Festival and Corn Maze in Asheville
- September 26, 2026: Clawtoberfest at Highland Brewing
- September 30 – October 3: Albino Skunk Music Festival in Greer, SC
Plan Your September In Asheville
🥾 Prettiest fall hikes to see leaves
🍎 Our favorite orchards for u-pick apples, corn mazes, and more
🍁 When & where leaves peak near AVL
October 2026
- Through November 1, 2026 (Fridays to Sundays): Annual Eliada Fall Festival and Corn Maze in Asheville
- Through October 3: Albino Skunk Music Festival in Greer, SC
- October 3: Oktoberfest Half Marathon & 5K in Asheville
- October 3: Asheville Oktoberfest in Pack Square
- October 3: Colorfest! Arts & Crafts in Dillsboro, NC
- October 8 – 11: Tryon International Film Festival
- October 9 – 11: Cashiers Valley Leaf Festival in Cashiers, NC
- October 9 – 11: Fall for Greenville in Greenville, SC
- October 10: 43rd Annual Church Street Art & Craft Show in Waynesville, NC
- October 10 – 11: Spruce Pine Potter’s Market in Spruce Pine, NC
- October 10 – 11: 5th Annual Lovely Asheville Fall Festival (LAAFF) in Pack Square Park, Asheville
- October 15 – 18: Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands in Downtown Asheville
- October 17 – 18: Lake Lure Fall Arts & Crafts Festival in Lake Lure, NC
- October 18: Waynesville Apple Harvest Festival in Downtown Waynesville, NC
- October 17 – 18: Maggie Valley Arts & Crafts Festival in Maggie Valley, NC
- October 17 – 18: Woolly Worm Festival in Banner Elk, NC (you might also like our guide to exploring Banner Elk)
- October 24 – 25: Beaverdam Studio Tour in North Asheville
- October 25: Asheville VeganFest Fall Edition at Pack Square Park in Asheville, NC
Guides To Plan Your Fall In Asheville
🍂 Asheville in October: Best Things To Do
🚗 Blue Ridge Parkway hikes we recommend
☕️ Get your Gilmore Girls on with our sister website
November 2026
- Through November 1, 2026 (Fridays to Sundays): Annual Eliada Fall Festival and Corn Maze in Asheville
- November 3 to January 10, 2027: Christmas at Biltmore in Asheville, NC
- November 6 to December 31: The Polar Express Train Ride in Bryson City, NC
- November 7: Tryon Beer Fest in Tryon, NC
- November 7: WNC Pottery Festival in Sylva, NC
- November 7: Travelers Rest Beer, Wine & Cider Festival at Trailblazer Park in Travelers Rest, SC
- November 13 – January 3, 2027: Winter Lights at The NC Arboretum in Asheville, NC
- November 14 – 16: Toe River Arts Studio Tour in Spruce Pine, NC
- November 16 – January 3, 2027: National Gingerbread House Competition at the Omni Grove Park Inn
- November 21 – 22: Marshall Handmade Market in Marshall, NC (read our Marshall town guide before going)
- November 23: Grateful Greenville around Main Street Bridge in Greenville, SC
Plan Your November In Asheville With These Guides
🏡🎅🏼 How to best enjoy the Grove Park Inn’s gingerbread houses
🎄All you need to know about Winter Lights at The NC Arboretum
🎁🏰 See how locals do Christmastime at Biltmore
❄️ Asheville winter trails
🎄Where to see Christmas lights
December 2026
- Through December 31, 2026: The Polar Express Train Ride in Bryson City, NC
- Through January 3, 2027: Winter Lights at The NC Arboretum in Asheville, NC
- Through January 3, 2027: National Gingerbread House Competition at the Omni Grove Park Inn
- Through January 10, 2027: Christmas at Biltmore in Asheville, NC
- December 2 – 23: Lake Julian Festival of Lights in Arden, NC
- December 4 – 6: A Small Town Christmas in Banner Elk, NC
- December 5 – 6: The Big Crafty at Harrah’s Cherokee Center in Downtown Asheville
- December 11: Candlelight Stroll in Weaverville, NC (read our guide to exploring Weaverville)
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 (dot) com. Please do not send more than one email.
I add any upcoming Asheville events at my discretion and when possible. I do not showcase private or religious affairs, fundraisers, one-off events, or small workshops.