Theater, Festivals and more!

For lovers of theater, there are several companies to choose from in Asheville. One is the highly respected North Carolina Stage Company, a relative newcomer to the city’s vibrant theatrical arts scene. Newer still is the Altamont Theatre Company, a black-box musical theatre downtown.

Flat Rock Playhouse was designated The State Theatre of North Carolina in 1961. The state’s longest running Shakespeare festival is operated by the Montford Park Players, who stage the Bard’s plays all summer, for free, in Montford Park in downtown Asheville. Asheville Community Theatre keeps a busy performance schedule all year long.

If festivals are more your fashion, the Dry Ridge Inn is a delightful place to decamp from.

It’s a quick zip to Black Mountain, where for nearly two decades the Lake Eden Arts Festival (pictured) has been attracting people who love its spirited celebration of music, dancing, healing modalities and regional and world folk arts. If your tastes run more to the zany, you’ll love LAAFF, the artist-run, do-it-yourself Lexington Avenue Arts and Fun Festival held in early fall in downtown Asheville.

Asheville’s annual Greek Festival ushers in fall with heaping platters of pastichio ( a steaming baked casserole of ground beef and macaroni). The HardLox Jewish Food and Heritage Festival in October serves up tall corned beef sandwiches on rye, as well as delicious potato knishes and latkes.

Beer-lovers won’t want to miss the Beer City Festival in June or Brewgrass in June, one of the largest beer and music festivals in the region. Both feature the best of craft beer made by the many breweries in – and outside of - the area. The city’s family-friendly Bele Chere festival, held the last weekend in July, is the Southeast largest outdoor festival, featuring free concerts - and plenty of street entertainment!

If you still have any energy after all of that, don’t forget the Mountain Sports Festival in Asheville, a weekend in May full of culture, athletics, music, food, drink and more.