Come curious. Come open. Come see what’s growing.
This summer, Asheville feels more alive than ever. After a season of rebuilding and reflection, the city is surging forward — rooted in community, shaped by resilience and inspired by creativity. Studios are reopening. Trails are green and inviting. Kitchens, shops, and music venues are brimming with energy. From the first spark of an idea to a mountaintop picnic, the season invites you to feel the full rhythm of this mountain city.
Whether you’ve been here before or are discovering it for the first time, now is a moment worth being part of.
Here are five unforgettable ways to experience Asheville’s summer in full bloom:
1. Creativity Finds New Ground
In Asheville, art isn’t just made — it grows, adapts, and reimagines itself. Nowhere is that clearer than in The River Arts District, where artists once displaced by Hurricane Helene have returned with fresh vision and fierce momentum. On the new “Flood to Flourish” walking tour with AVL Free Walking Tours, you’ll hear their stories and explore reimagined creative spaces firsthand.
Step into ceramicist Akira Satake’s studio, now cohabiting with Rite of Passage — a boutique embracing Appalachian textile traditions with modern design. Browse the new RAD Market Saturdays, where creativity spills onto the sidewalks. A short drive away, downtown’s Center for Craft is honoring 40 artists impacted by the storm with a powerful group exhibition.
You’ll also find reinvention in motion at newly reopened Print House (modern printmaking) and Ignite Jewelry Studios. Here, visitors are invited to not just shop, but to create.
Asheville’s love of handmade is on full display at summer staples like The Big Crafty (July 12–13) and the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands (July 17–20), where hundreds of regional makers gather in one place. And for a dash of tropical glam, head to the Bal Harbour Shops Access Pop-Up Tour (June 13–Aug. 10) at Tanger Outlets. — a fusion of high fashion, local design, and warm-weather flair.
2. A Season of Bold Flavors
In Foodtopia, summer is served fresh, wild, and deeply inspired. Chefs across Asheville are embracing heirloom produce, foraged ingredients and seasonal flavors that speak of both place and possibility. At spots like Luminosa, The Admiral and Neng Jr.’s (a 2025 James Beard finalist), each dish tells a story — some rooted in tradition, others writing a new chapter entirely.
There’s buzz around new spaces, too. Rowan Coffee, housed inside a reimagined Greyhound station, pairs thoughtful coffee with soaring factory windows and vintage textures. DayTrip, a queer-owned bar with kitschy granny-core vibes, welcomes all into its living room-meets-lounge atmosphere.
If you’re after something fast, casual, and unforgettable, ButterPunk serves up biscuits with a punk rock twist in the RAD, while Pho Real — just north of downtown — offers comforting Vietnamese classics that taste like home.
Take something delicious with you by stopping into Spicewallaat the Grove Arcade. Their new “Made With Love in Asheville” spice collection was co-created with local chefs, with proceeds supporting storm recovery efforts — a taste of Asheville with heart.
3. Family Adventures Take Root
For families, Asheville offers a different kind of summer — one where memories are made under waterfalls, around picnic tables, and in the wild places where phones get forgotten. The WNC Nature Center is once again open and welcoming guests to meet red wolves, otters and black bears. Nearby, Hickory Nut Gap Farm and Biltmore’s Farm to Table Tour & Taste give kids a hands-on look at where food (and fun) come from.
Cool down the old-fashioned way at one of the region’s natural swimming holes or take a thrill ride down Sliding Rock, the beloved natural waterslide tucked into Pisgah National Forest. The Blue Ridge Parkway is open for the season — ideal for scenic drives, breezy hikes, and spontaneous pull-over picnics.
Don’t forget the summer traditions that bring everyone together: Fourth of July fireworks at The Omni Grove Park Inn, or an evening under the lights cheering on the Asheville Tourists at McCormick Field.
4. Slow Down, Breathe Deep
Asheville’s pace doesn’t always ask you to do more — sometimes, it invites you to feel more. To exhale. To reconnect.
The newly reopened Spa at Grand Bohemian is a destination in itself, offering facials, bodywork, and healing rituals in a space designed to awaken the senses. At Shoji Spa & Lodge, just a short drive from downtown, you’ll find forest-side soaking tubs and Japanese-inspired treatments wrapped in birdsong and mountain air.
Looking for stillness through sound? AyurPrana Listening Room offers kirtan music and guided meditations from global wellness leaders. And for those who believe mindfulness can be worn, YEWO Collective is a new downtown boutique selling ethically made jewelry from Malawi and sustainably crafted goods with an Asheville soul.
5. The Soundtrack of Summer
Music is woven into Asheville’s identity — and summer is when it sings out loud. On Saturday nights from July 5 to Aug. 23, Shindig on the Green brings traditional Appalachian music and dance to Pack Square Park. Downtown After 5 returns on June 20 and Aug. 15, transforming the streets into a celebration of sound and community.
The MLK Association’s Juneteenth Week (June 12–19) honors freedom and culture through performances, walking tours, storytelling events, and more. Throughout the region, intimate venues like Eda’s Hide-a-Way (Weaverville), White Horse Black Mountain, and The Grey Eagle in the River Arts District serve up a range of live music experiences — from bluegrass to jazz to indie-folk.
Downtown, Fitz & the Wolfe is making waves with its multi-story experience: a swanky cocktail bar on one level, music on another, and theme nights ranging from Wednesday jazz to Saturday honky tonk.
This season, the Blue Ridge Mountains aren’t just green — they’re glowing. Come see what’s blooming. Come find your rhythm. Come be part of the story.