Summer has finally arrived, we all have been waiting to spend more time outside. The weather feels great to make this happen. Hops is hosting a super chill Bonfire at her Place July[masked]. You all are invited. Please bring snacks and drinks of choice to enjoy the night while making new friends. Please bring your own chairs. We look forward to seeing you all.

If you can’t make it please let us know there a waiting list!

On July 4, the night sky will ignite with a barrage of color, light, and sound over Lake Julian Park (406 Overlook Road Extension in Arden) as the annual fireworks display takes place to celebrate Independence Day. Buncombe County friends, neighbors, and guests are invited to enjoy the glittery spectacle just after dark from the banks of the lake on blankets and lawn chairs. The fireworks display begins approximately at 9:15 p.m., but visitors should arrive by 7:45 p.m. to allow enough time for parking and entering the park. The park opens at 8 a.m.

Revelers are encouraged to arrive early and enjoy all the park has to offer: disc golf, cornhole, sand volleyball, playgrounds, fitness courses, horseshoes, and more. Uncovered picnic tables and grills are available on a first come basis. Pop-up canopies are allowed, but must be secured with a minimum of 45 lbs. of weights. Food trucks will also be on-site throughout the day. Local bluegrass band Supper Break will play live music during the afternoon and into the evening.

Everyone can fish in any public body of water in the state without a license on July 4. We’re also waiving the daily fishing fee as part of Free Fishing Day in North Carolina. Lake Julian is stocked with an abundance of bass, catfish, bream, and crappie by the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission.

An accessible boat launch is available for private craft including fishing boats, canoes, kayaks, SUPs, and sailboats for a fee of $8. Paddle boats and water trikes can be rented for $12 per hour. All boats must be off the water by 8 p.m.

Parking on July 4 is restricted to William W. Estes Elementary (275 Overlook Road in Asheville), across Long Shoals Road from the main entrance to Lake Julian Park. Shuttles will operate from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. from the Estes parking lot. The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office will aid with road crossings after 6 p.m. Handicap access parking in the park will be allowed with a valid handicap placard. Limited parking is available at the Lake Julian Trails Greenway in the gravel lot adjacent to Wild Wing Café (65 Long Shoals Road in Arden).

If You Go

• Park at William W. Estes Elementary. Only vehicles with valid handicap placards are allowed inside the park. Limited parking is also available in the gravel lot next to Wild Wing Café.
• Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a sweater or jacket. Evenings can get cool at the lake.
• Alcohol and tobacco products are prohibited on the grounds of Lake Julian Park.
• Covered picnic shelters and free standing picnic tables will be available on a first come basis; no reservations will be accepted for July 4.
• Absolutely no personal fireworks are allowed in the park.

River’s End Restaurant is an iconic spot for locals and visitors to Bryson City. Enjoy spectacular views of the gorge, with paddlers passing through as they complete their Nantahala River Rafting trip. Stop in for year-round lunch and dinner, with weekend brunch during the summer season, and choose from a wide range of appetizing entrees, burgers, salads, pizza, and sandwiches. Hang out for a while and enjoy a large selection of signature cocktails, wine, and beer, including local favorites.

In River’s End Restaurant, every seat has a view of the river! Enjoy music by the river and views of paddlers passing through as they complete their Nantahala River Rafting trip. Join our waitlist online to reserve a table or order online and grab your meal to go, for a sunny lunch right by the river!

Jack’s Bluegrass Brunch is every Sunday! Our menu kicks off at 12Noon with live tunes by Supper Break from 1-3pm. Try our $6 Bloody Mary or Mimosa, or grab a $15 Bottles of Champagne & OJ! Try one of our tasty brunch specials or order from our artisanal sandwich menu. Sláinte Y’all!

Mountain Makers Craft Market is a monthly indie art fair designed to cultivate community in Western NC. Located in Downtown Waynesville, we bring together 20+ artisans selling handmade and vintage goods that’ll make you smile! Join us on the first Sunday of each month from 12p-4p at 308 N. Haywood Street, and visit MountainMakersMarket.com

Stop by on the first Sunday of the month 2-5pm to grab a beer, have a bite to eat and possibly meet your new best friend from Charlie’s Angels Animal Rescue.

In conjunction with Sunday Sessions Live (and virtual) music: Food Truck Sundays will bring a new or rotating “staff favorite” cuisine each week to the Beechams Curve offerings.
Gan Shan West, our main culinary provider 6 days a week, is closed on Sundays. Enjoy the convenience, delicious variety and the music – all in one Sunday Funday stop!

We are celebrating the 4th of July in style this year with an amazing lineup of local musicians! Grab your crew of patriotic, music loving, beer drinking friends and join the fun! This is an all ages GENERAL ADMISSION event and Root Down will be serving up their amazing twist on Southern Soul food all evening long.

The City of Asheville will launch fireworks in celebration of the Fourth of July. However, this year there will not be an accompanying festival. Residents are invited to picnic or pickup takeout from a downtown restaurant to enjoy in Pack Square Park while waiting for the fireworks show.

Local DJ Nex Millan will spin tunes from 6:30-9:30pm. The fireworks will launch from the Buncombe County Parking Deck at about 9:30pm. The best place to view the show is from Pack Square Park or North Spruce Street. Expect road closures and traffic congestion.

Come join us for a rich, topical discussion on the first Tuesday of the month. We come together to share perspectives and insights on subjects of interest in a welcoming and civil forum. We usually feature a TED Talk or YOUtube video for 15 minutes or so, followed by some questions for everyone to discuss. Topics are chosen by members and have ranged from mindfulness to addiction and everything in between. Feel free to eat your dinner or slurp your drink during the meeting–we’ll remind you to mute. For now, while we are taking COVID-19 precautions, our meetings will be online via ZOOM.  Free to the public.

Past THINK AND DRINK TOPICS are varied and have been on:
Mindfulness- by Gaillee
Clothes-Do they Matter- by Jason
Working with Millennials – by Karen Eve

What we’re about

OUTDOOR SHOW

Join us on Tuesday nights for Magnetic’s signature variety show. There will be an exciting mix of comedy, music, theatre, dance, magic and more! Smoky Park Supper Club is offering us their beautiful outdoor venue, and will be selling food and drinks. The event is BYOC (bring your own chair), and we will, of course, be following strict Covid safety protocols. We can’t wait to see you there!

Join us Tuesday nights, beginning April 13th, as The Magnetic Theatre teams up with the wizards at Smoky Park Supper Club to host a live, outdoor variety show. We’ll be filling Smoky Park’s gorgeous, riverside outdoor space with comedy, theatre, music and so much more.

There will be food and beverages available for purchase.

• This is a BYOC (Bring-Your-Own-Chair) event.
• In accordance with safety guidelines this show will be staged outdoors, with mask and social distancing protocols enforced. There will also be temperature checks and COVID waivers that need to be signed by each attendee at the gate.
• Please arrive at least 15 minutes before the 7pm showtime.
• We do require that masks be worn at all times unless you are actively eating or drinking.

“Shine and Dine” on the railway! We cordially invite you to hop on board The Carolina Shine, GSMR’s All-Adult First Class Moonshine Car! We will be proudly serving hand crafted, triple-distilled, craft moonshine. Some of the smoothest tasting moonshine in the Carolinas!

Offered on the Nantahala Gorge excursion, this shine and dine experience begins in a renovated First Class train fleet car, The Carolina Shine. The interior features copper lined walls filled with the history of moonshining in North Carolina. Learn about the proud tradition that the Appalachians established when bootlegging was an acceptable way of life and local home brews were the best in town. Read about Swain County’s very own Major Redmond, the most famous mountain moonshine outlaw of the 19th century.

Dive in with us for a tasting feast exploring sustainable seafood and fish from the mountains
to the sea. Learn about the best choices you can make to ensure you are eating seafood and
fish that are well managed and caught or farmed responsibly. Conversation will address the
challenges and opportunities in the fish and seafood industry, and how we all, from the water
to the plate, can work together for a more sustainable future.

Join us EVERY Wednesday night for Kid’s Night! Children receive a free four-count kid’s meal with the purchase of an adult meal. See you on Wednesdays!

Iration have a natural affinity for reggae and island sounds. Their love and appreciation for music spans across a wide range of styles and genres including rock, pop, R&B and funk. Over the past 15 years, the celebrated five-piece – Micah Pueschel [Lead Vocals / Guitar], Adam Taylor [Bass], Joe Dickens [Drums], Cayson Peterson [Keyboard / Synth] and Micah Brown [Guitar / Vocals] – have perfected their distinct hybrid style of music, blending all influences together as evidenced on their seventh full-length album Coastin’ [Three Prong Records). A record about being thankful for the moments that we have, will release to the world July 10, 2020.

Iration has been touring nationally since 2008, performing at festivals nationwide from Lollapalooza to Sunfest and Hangout, closing stages at festivals like Bottlerock and Outside Lands. The Hawaiian-bred musicians look forward to spreading their original sound and ‘Aloha spirit’ all the while never forgetting to get a surf in when possible.

“Shine and Dine” on the railway! We cordially invite you to hop on board The Carolina Shine, GSMR’s All-Adult First Class Moonshine Car! We will be proudly serving hand crafted, triple-distilled, craft moonshine. Some of the smoothest tasting moonshine in the Carolinas!

Offered on the Nantahala Gorge excursion, this shine and dine experience begins in a renovated First Class train fleet car, The Carolina Shine. The interior features copper lined walls filled with the history of moonshining in North Carolina. Learn about the proud tradition that the Appalachians established when bootlegging was an acceptable way of life and local home brews were the best in town. Read about Swain County’s very own Major Redmond, the most famous mountain moonshine outlaw of the 19th century.

Sip and stroll through the Arboretum’s gardens and experience our Wild Art outdoor sculpture showcase in the glow of the golden hour, all while listening to live music from a variety of local and regional artists! ArborEvenings runs Thursdays and most Fridays through October 1, 2021, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. ArborEvenings are not scheduled on the following Fridays: July 9, August 6, September 3 and 10.

There is no additional cost to attend ArborEvenings beyond our standard parking fee. As always, Arboretum Society members and their accompanying guests can enter for FREE (guests must be in member vehicles to receive free entry). Proceeds from ArborEvenings help support the The North Carolina Arboretum Society and further advance the Arboretum’s mission.

Please note: ArborEvenings will not be held in the event of rain. Please check the website or Facebook page by 3 p.m. for any cancellation announcements prior to attending. 

Beverage Service

Beer, Wine, and soft drinks will be for sale onsite at the Green Gardener’s Shed from 5:30 to 8:15 p.m. each night of the event. Outside alcohol is strictly prohibited, but guests are welcome to bring in water or a favorite non-alcoholic beverage.

Food Available for Pre-Order, Picnics Welcome

Although the Bent Creek Bistro will not be open during the event, we are pleased to share that they will be offering their delicious dining options at ArborEvenings via pre-order this year! Simply place your online order — including alcoholic beverages — up until 11 a.m. on the date you plan to attend, then pick up your order at the Baker Information Desk between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. (In the event of rain cancellation, pre-orders will be fully refunded.)

Guests are welcome to bring in outside food and non-alcoholic beverages. However, outside alcohol is strictly prohibited.

ORDER AHEAD

Musician Schedule

Please note, scheduled performances are subject to change.

• Thursday 7/8 – Juan Holiday (R&B/Soul) will play from 5:30 – 6:45 p.m. &  Jackson Grimm (Folk/Bluegrass) will play from 7:15 – 8:30 p.m.
• Friday 7/9 – No Event
• Thursday 7/15 – Liz & Elizabeth (Folk/Americana) will play from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
• Friday 7/16 – Kevin Williams (Country/Americana) will play from 5:30 – 6:45 p.m. &  Steve Newbrough (Classical/Fingerstyle Guitar) will play from 7:15 – 8:30 p.m.Click here for the full schedule.

Know Before You Go

• Parking fees will be collected at the gate upon arrival, and members must present valid card for free entry. Pre-registration is not required.
• Restroom access will be available during ArborEvenings inside the Baker Visitor Center.
• Guests are invited to explore A Life in the Wild, a breathtaking exhibition of photographs from Thomas D. Mangelsen; however, food and drink are not permitted inside the Exhibit Hall.
• Leashed dogs are welcome at ArborEvenings, but are not permitted inside of  buildings.
• To protect our lawn, blankets are not permitted at the event; however, guests are welcome to bring lawn chairs to set up in front of the musicians.
• Due to existing event bookings, ArborEvenings will not take place on the following Fridays: July 9, August 6 and September 3 and 10.

The Very Jerry Band formed in December of 2015 in Asheville NC.  Led by Spiro Nicolopoulos on guitar and vocals and featuring an all-star ensemble from some of the southeast’s favorite jammers – the Very Jerry Band quickly became a regional favorite for Jerry Garcia fans craving music faithful to the spirit and soul of the Jerry Garcia Band.  The Very Jerry Band is presented in the classic 6 piece JGB line up with guitar, bass, organ, drums and harmony singers. Their setlist draw from Garcia Band favorites to deep cuts from the JGB catalog and keep audiences rocking all night long and coming back for more.

Brunch B’Yahad is now available through Zoom meeting here.   

Join new and old friends for light brunch, socialization and lively discussion.  Featured guest speakers, and relevant cultural and timely topics will fill our minds.

“Shine and Dine” on the railway! We cordially invite you to hop on board The Carolina Shine, GSMR’s All-Adult First Class Moonshine Car! We will be proudly serving hand crafted, triple-distilled, craft moonshine. Some of the smoothest tasting moonshine in the Carolinas!

Offered on the Nantahala Gorge excursion, this shine and dine experience begins in a renovated First Class train fleet car, The Carolina Shine. The interior features copper lined walls filled with the history of moonshining in North Carolina. Learn about the proud tradition that the Appalachians established when bootlegging was an acceptable way of life and local home brews were the best in town. Read about Swain County’s very own Major Redmond, the most famous mountain moonshine outlaw of the 19th century.

Each month the cidery invites a friend or family member who loves to cook to become a Kitchen Guest. The guest takes control of the Barn Door kitchen to create one to three small bites that become part of the taproom menu for the weekend, and perhaps for the remainder of the year!
One of the reasons for creating Barn Door Ciderworks was the need for the Fairview area to have a place for locals and visitors to gather. Co-owners Katie Moore and Dan Fowler wanted to produce a variety of heritage, craft, dry ciders that uphold the tradition of cider drinking as part of meals, social gatherings and celebrations. In that vein they created a cozy space where friends, family, and neighbors could gather comfortably and enjoy each other’s company.
Moore commented that “Our first Kitchen Guest did a fabulous job creating delicious small-bites and being a gracious host when customers visited the cidery. We’re excited to host our second Guest and continue the plan to involve the local community in creating a comfortable place to hang out.” Landis Lacey was introduced to Moore and Fowler by a friend. As time went on, Moore learned that Lacey loves to cook. She began following Lacey on Instagram and his interesting approach to food intrigued her.
Check out Landis’s Instagram to learn more about his approach to growing and cooking food –
https://www.instagram.com/lutherlandross/.
Fowler noted that “we were impressed by Landis’s interest in heritage corn. Not only did he grow the corn, he also made cornbread from it. We knew this guy would be an interesting addition to our Kitchen Guest Series.” Lacey will create three small-bites to add to three regular small-bites on Barn Door’s menu. On tap the cidery offers small-batch traditional cider, and local beers from Blue Ghost Brewing and Turgua Brewing.
Red and white wine along with non-alcoholic drinks like Shanti Jun and Sarilla round out the menu.