Outdoor | Art | Family | Historic | Free Events
You don't have to spend a lot of money to have an enriching vacation experience in the Asheville area. In fact, you can enjoy time with your family and friends at many area attractions without spending a penny. Below are some ways to stretch of your Asheville vacation dollars no matter whether you're into history, outdoor activities or artsy experiences.
Free Outdoor Adventures
Almost free outdoor adventures: The North Carolina Arboretum is home to great hiking trails, beautifully landscaped gardens and the largest Bonsai collection in the Southeast. A parking fee of $6 is all that is charged and that fee is waived on Tuesdays.
Or check out one of the area's most popular summer adventures at Sliding Rock, located south of Asheville off Hwy. 276 near Brevard. Sliding Rock is a natural 60-foot waterslide. There's a minimal fee for the recreation area fee, but the water adventure is free.
Free Performances for Art Lovers
Almost free art fun: Technically, the Bele Chere Arts Park is free and so is Biltmore Village's annual Village Art and Craft Fair in August. You'll also want to check out the Folk Art Center. But once you see the amazing art and craftspeople that call our area home, be warned that you may not leave empty-handed. Also, for just $6 you can attend July's Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands and see incredible works by regional artists.
Free Family Fun
Almost free family fun: The Mast General Store in downtown Asheville is a must visit while on vacation in Asheville. In the store, kids (and adults) flock to the old fashioned candy in the candy barrels. Candy is available by the piece and the pound.
Free Stuff for History Buffs
- Zebulon B. Vance Birthplace State Historic Site
- Riverside Cemetery
- National Historic Site
- Asheville Urban Trail
- Swannanoa Valley Museum
Almost free activity for history buffs: Visit the boyhood home of author Thomas Wolfe at the Thomas Wolfe Memorial State Historic Site in downtown Asheville. A tour of the home is $1 for adults and $0.50 for students.
Free Events Happening in Asheville
Asheville is a city where the fun never stops. A vibrant community culture means there is always an array of seasonal events and activities. Whether you like music, theatre or family fun, Asheville has something for everyone. Get help planning your trip by ordering your free copy of the Asheville Visitors Guide.
Your search returned 23 events:
2nd Annual Sculpture for the Garden Exhibition
Unique garden sculptures compliment the beautiful natural setting of the eleven acres that surround Grovewood Gallery. During June through December, Grovewood hosts their annual Sculpture for the Garden exhibition. Nationally recognized artists display large-scale, contemporary outdoor sculptures of various mediums. Sculptures range from playful pieces suitable for the home or garden, to works for public spaces and corporate settings. This invitational exhibition attracts art lovers and collectors from around the country.
Event date(s):
Jun 06, 2009 to Dec 31, 2009
4th of July Block Party in Weaverville
MPAC presents the 4th of July Block Party as a continuance of Weaverville's 15 year old celebration. This is going to be a fabulous event that also doubles as a fund/awareness raiser for a few organizations including the North Buncombe High School Band Boosters. Highlights are headlining music act Jen and the Juice, a Firecracker 5K race, Asheville Aerial Arts, The Blue Ridge Roller Girls, Asheville Puppetry Alliance, a variety of performers and fireworks.
Event date(s):
Jul 04, 2009 at 10:00 AM
July 4th Celebration
Saturday, July 4th, 2009 The City of Asheville invites you to join us downtown for the 4th of July Celebration. An event for the whole family, the festivities start in the early afternoon and continue throughout the evening. The day will feature live music from some of Asheville’s hottest bands along with a wide range of family activities, a variety of food from area vendors, with a grand fireworks finale.
Event date(s):
Jul 04, 2009 at 04:00 PM
Shindig on the Green
Bring your instruments, families, friends, lawn chairs and blankets and join us at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park on Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, while Pack Square Park is undergoing construction. Enjoy unique music and dance performances on stage, and informal jam sessions. Come celebrate the treasured cultural heritage of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. FREE. Summer Saturday evenings, along about sundown (or 7:00pm for those who wear a watch). For more information please visit the Folk Heritage Committee’s website: www.folkheritage.org.
Event date(s):
Jul 04, 2009 to Sep 05, 2009
How the Universe Works: Transcendental Meditation Introductory Talk
Is there order in the universe? What is the potential of the human mind? Can a person live free from stress and suffering? If so, how? What does science really say about the benefits of meditation? What is enlightenment? Are all meditation practices the same? How do I know if I'm meditating correctly and making sufficient progress? What does science say about meditation and the brain? We do live in an orderly universe. The mind is not only part of that immense complexity, but it can comprehend it. The result is human knowledge. As the mind's untapped potential is developed—and this is the role of meditation, when properly practiced—it is more and more capable not only of fully knowing itself, and therefore the universe and one's place in it, but also of spontaneous "right thinking," which spontaneously promotes actions in harmony with the vast system of laws that govern life and the cosmos, thereby reducing mistakes that lead to problems and suffering. Come learn about the immense potential of your own mind—and how to unfold it. Speakers: Tom and Jeanne Ball, 35-year meditation teachers trained by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. TIME: 7:15 PM every Wednesday LOCATION: Asheville TM Center, 165 East Chestnut Street DIRECTIONS & More info: See www.MeditationAsheville.org OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.TM.org The beneficial effects of the Transcendental Meditation program have been verified by over 600 scientific research studies conducted at over 250 independent universities and research institutions worldwide — such as Yale Medical School, Harvard Medical School, Stanford and UCLA — and published in over 350 peer-reviewed scientific journals. The National Institutes of Health has granted over $24 million for scientists to study the effects of the Transcendental Meditation program on brain function and cardiovascular health.
Event date(s):
Jul 08, 2009 to Aug 05, 2009
Culinary Pioneer Herve This
The internationally celebrated author of Kitchen Mysteries and Molecular Gastronomy, Herve This, comes to Malaprop’s to discuss his books and his groundbreaking culinary discoveries. This, a member of the Institut de la Recherche Agronomique in Paris, is one of the founders of molecular gastronomy, the study of the physics and chemistry behind everyday cooking. His work has influenced professional and amateur chefs all over the world. This’ research makes cooking more interesting and accessible to all levels, and explains how to adapt difficult recipes to the situation at hand and shows that a greater knowledge of kitchen chemistry allows for greater creativity and experimentation.
Event date(s):
Jul 09, 2009 at 07:00 PM
Blue Ridge Parkway Hike of the Week
Grab your binoculars and join Rangers for an easy 1-mile RT hike on the Pisgah Ridge Trail. Learn about the birds of Pisgah Ridge and the northern hardwood forest they call home. The 90-minute guided hike starts at John Rock Overlook, MP 419.4, about one-half mile south of Graveyard Fields. Bring water, wear good walking shoes, and be prepared for changeable weather.
Event date(s):
Jul 10, 2009 at 10:00 AM
Art in the Airport
Exhibit premiere in the main airport terminal, refreshments will be served, parking will be validated
Event date(s):
Jul 10, 2009 at 03:30 PM
Dr. Lucy Spelman: An Insider's View of Exotic Animal Veterinary Medecine
Veterinarian and author Dr. Lucy Spelman will read from and sign her book, The Rhino with Glue-On Shoes, which offers an amazing behind-the-scenes look at exotic animals and the people who care for them. Whether it’s a root canal for a 3000-pound hippo or an anorexic moray eel, these stories vividly portray the lives of zoological veterinarians and also provide insight into the incredible bonds that humans can forge with animals. Now in paperback, her book is a staff and community favorite, so please don’t miss out on this wonderful event.
Event date(s):
Jul 10, 2009 at 07:00 PM
Author Gin Phillips
Talented author Gin Phillips will present her novel, The Well and the Mine, the story of two sisters in a small Alabama coal-mining town whose investigation into an act of surprising violence unearths powerful family secrets. A graduate of Birmingham-Southern College, Phillips is widely praised for the depth and development of her vivid characters.
Event date(s):
Jul 11, 2009 at 07:00 PM
2009 Downtown After Five: July 17
Produced by the Asheville Downtown Association, Downtown After 5 is celebrating its 21st year. The concert series is the 3rd Friday of the month May through September on North Lexington Avenue in downtown Asheville. Music starts at 5:15pm and goes until 9pm. Downtown After 5 is committed to reducing its carbon footprint featuring biodegradable food and beverage containers, compost and recycling stations, a solar-powered stage and complimentary bike corral. For more information, including how to become a volunteer, visit www.AshevilleDowntown.org or call 828-251-9973. July 17 Line Up Jen and the Juice King Johnson Hill Country Revue
Event date(s):
Jul 17, 2009 at 05:15 PM
Working Process: Sculpture by Robert Winkler
The exhibition, which includes models and works-in-progress, as well as finished works, traces the evolution of his signature style from 1990 to 2009. It offers a rare look at his process for developing ideas and working through design and structural problems before executing his full size works. Admission is free.
Event date(s):
Jul 20, 2009 to Sep 01, 2009
Bele Chere
Bele Chere is the largest free street festival in the Southeast, held in beautiful downtown Asheville each July. Arts & crafts, food, entertainment, interactive events, and a children’s activity area will fill the streets, drawing about 300,000 visitors throughout the three-day event.
Event date(s):
Jul 24, 2009 to Jul 26, 2009
Author, Artist, and Teacher Peter Selgin
Author, artist, and teacher Peter Selgin brings his many talents to Malaprop’s to discuss his book, Life Goes to the Movies. This darkly fascinating story presents to the reader Vietnam veteran and filmmaker Dwaine Fitzgibbon who, under the guise of tutoring his naïve protege in the ways of filmmaking, brings him to the edge of madness and beyond. Selgin’s first book of short stories, Drowning Lessons, won a Flannery O’Connor Award and his children’s books have received critical acclaim. Selgin is also an accomplished artist whose work has appeared in The New Yorker, Outside, and in exhibits across the nation. He currently lives in New York, where he teaches creative writing and edits the journal Alimentum: The Literature of Food.
Event date(s):
Jul 29, 2009 at 07:00 PM
Jay Wexler: Road Trip to the Battlegrounds of the Church/State Wars
Malaprop’s is proud to welcome law professor Jay Wexler, who will present his new book, Holy Hullabaloos: A Road Trip to the Battlegrounds of the Church/State Wars. In this humorous and insightful work Wexler crosses the country to visit the people and places responsible for landmark controversial decisions in recent judicial history. Wexler is a professor at the Boston University School of Law and has studied religion at the University of Chicago Divinity School. His writing has appeared in numerous publications, including Spy magazine and the Stanford Law Review.
Event date(s):
Jul 30, 2009 at 07:00 PM
Young Adult Author and Illustrator Clay Carmichael
Young adult author and illustrator Clay Carmichael comes to Malaprop’s to read from and sign her celebrated book, Wild Things. Wild Things tells the story of 11-year-old Zoe, who is sent to live with her Uncle Henry after a family tragedy. In the woods near her new home she discovers a mysterious cat, a wild boy, and a white deer living in secret, and she works to discover the mysteries behind their unusual lives. Carmichael’s book has received several starred reviews and has won praise for the power of her writing and the beautifully rendered eccentricities of her characters.
Event date(s):
Jul 31, 2009 at 03:00 PM
Sourwood Festival
32nd Annual Festival- alcohol free street festival with over 200 vendors, food, and entertainment. Located Downtown Black Mountain 100 Sutton Avenue
Event date(s):
Aug 08, 2009 to Aug 09, 2009
2009 Downtown After Five: August 21
Produced by the Asheville Downtown Association, Downtown After 5 is celebrating its 21st year. The concert series is the 3rd Friday of the month May through September on North Lexington Avenue in downtown Asheville. Music starts at 5:15pm and goes until 9pm. Downtown After 5 is committed to reducing its carbon footprint featuring biodegradable food and beverage containers, compost and recycling stations, a solar-powered stage and complimentary bike corral. For more information, including how to become a volunteer, visit www.AshevilleDowntown.org or call 828-251-9973. August 21 Line Up Silas Durocher and Everybody Knows Radasaurus Rex Pimps of Joytime
Event date(s):
Aug 21, 2009 at 05:15 PM
60 Tips in 60 Minutes
This new seminar is different than other educational seminars we've offered over the years. This is a shorter, punchier, interactive workshop. With a greater emphasis on logistics tips that trade show insiders will love, veterans and rookies alike will quickly come away with new ideas they can put to use right away. Tips include: • Simple ways to cut your expenses and increase your leads from shows • How to avoid theft at trade shows • How to increase average exhibit stay • What are appropriate giveaways for a show Those attending will expand their knowledge of the trade show and event industry while enjoying a FREE meal. You will also have the opportunity to view Skyline’s innovative, new products. We look forward to seeing you there!
Event date(s):
Sep 02, 2009 at 11:30 AM
Lexington Ave. Arts and Fun Festival
This fantastically fabulous, freaky jam-packed day will showcase the many diverse talents that Asheville has to offer. Three blocks of downtown will be lined with all local art, food, beer and street performers. Three stages and two courtyards of music and performance. 11am – 10pm on N. Lexington Ave between College Street and the I-240 overpass in downtown Asheville. Free.
Event date(s):
Sep 06, 2009 at 11:00 AM
2009 Downtown After Five: September 18
Produced by the Asheville Downtown Association, Downtown After 5 is celebrating its 21st year. The concert series is the 3rd Friday of the month May through September on North Lexington Avenue in downtown Asheville. Music starts at 5:15pm and goes until 9pm. Downtown After 5 is committed to reducing its carbon footprint featuring biodegradable food and beverage containers, compost and recycling stations, a solar-powered stage and complimentary bike corral. For more information, including how to become a volunteer, visit www.AshevilleDowntown.org or call 828-251-9973. September 18 Line Up Vertigo Jazz Project The Bridge Big Sam’s Funky Nation
Event date(s):
Sep 18, 2009 at 05:15 PM
29th Annual Heritage Weekend at the Folk Art Center
A two-day celebration of traditional craft, music and storytelling featuring the World Gee Haw Whimmy Diddle Competition at 2pm on Saturday.
Event date(s):
Sep 19, 2009 to Sep 20, 2009
River Arts District Studio Stroll
The Bi-Annual Studio Stroll is your chance to tour the studios, meet with the artists and purchase artwork. Within just a few blocks you will find an eclectic mix of creative artists - from traditional to cutting-edge. Near downtown Asheville. Free.
Event date(s):
Nov 14, 2009 to Nov 15, 2009
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