Get in a Ford Escape, Bronco, or Maverick to join the summer activities around Asheville, NC, and immerse yourself in the area’s rich cultural heritage. Listen to bluegrass and folk music and admire the area’s traditional and contemporary arts and crafts at festivals that have bought the community together for decades.
1. Shindig on the Green
The yearly Shindig on the Green is a free festival celebrating the traditional mountain music and dance of the Southern Appalachian Mountains in Pack Square Park at 1 Court Plaza in the heart of downtown Asheville. The festival starts on July 1 at 7 p.m. and continues most Saturdays through the summer until early September.
Bring your picnic basket, blanket, and lawn chair and settle in front of the stage to watch mountain clog dancing, bluegrass, and old-time string band performances. Stroll through the park to listen to informal performances and jam sessions, and bring your musical instrument to join the festivities.
2. The Carolina Mountain Club Centennial
Attend the 100th birthday party of the Carolina Mountain Club on July 16 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the North Carolina Arboretum at 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way in Asheville.
The party is free and perfect for the whole family, with plenty of fun stuff to do for everyone. Browse the many booths, go on guided hikes through the beautiful surroundings, watch the kids have a blast with all the games and fun activities, listen to live music, and enjoy delicious food from the food trucks.
3. The 76th Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands
The annual four-day Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands, showcasing the works of 200 local artists and crafters, kicks off on July 20 at 10:00 a.m. at Harrah’s Cherokee Center at 87 Haywood Street in downtown Asheville.
Admire traditional and contemporary artworks and crafts in every medium imaginable, from clay, wood, and glass to metal, leather, and silver. Watch artists and crafters plying their trade, attend demonstrations, and buy beautiful works to support the area’s artists and crafters.
4. The 96th Mountain Dance and Folk Festival
Head to Lipnsky Hall at 300 Library Lane in Asheville on August 3, 4, and 5 at 7:00 p.m. to attend the nation’s longest-running annual folk festival, the 96th Mountain Dance and Folk Festival. Hundreds of bluegrass singers, banjo players, cloggers, and storytellers gather on the stage to celebrate the Southern Appalachian Mountain culture and perseverance.
Experience the toe-tapping rhythms of bluegrass and immerse yourself in the stories of timeless ballads. Watch the electrifying energy of clogging and the graceful movements of Big Circle Mountain Smooth Dance.
Join the summer festivities in Asheville and experience the region’s warm hospitality and unique local culture through music, dance, arts, and crafts. While you’re in town, swing by Asheville Ford and take a closer look at the new 2023 Ford models on the showroom floor.
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