Calendar of Events

Join the Chamber in kicking off GRINDfest 2022 hosted by Black Wall Street AVL!

BLACK WALL STREET AVL, a North Carolina based non-profit organization, is pleased to announce the 2nd Annual GRINDfest  – a celebration of local Black business and entrepreneurship.  Black Wall Street starts, grows and expands businesses, owners and networks to Honor History and Build Wealth together.

GRINDfest is a free, 4-day festival that celebrates Black Business and entrepreneurship. A block-party style event will take place on 8 River Arts Place! This includes a weekend full of music, games, live performance, food, local vendors + learning, employment and partnership opportunities. The goal of the festival is to highlight the progress made by people of color while also connecting folks in the community. A long weekend of fun and excitement.

The ribbon cutting/kickoff will feature Brian Hamilton, the founder of Brian Hamilton Foundation and its program, Inmates to Entrepreneurs. Come enjoy drinks, snacks and help kickoff this year’s festival.

FESTIVAL DATES: MAY 27-30, 2022

Parking Instructions: Parking is located behind, in front of and across the street from the Black Wall Street AVL Building at 8 River Arts Place.

The Lake Lure Arts & Crafts Festival offers 90+ artisans, multiple food vendors, continuous entertainment and kids activities in Downtown Lake Lure.

The Lake Lure Arts & Crafts Festival offers 90+ artisans, multiple food vendors, continuous entertainment and kids activities in Downtown Lake Lure.

The Lake Lure Arts & Crafts Festival offers 90+ artisans, multiple food vendors, continuous entertainment and kids activities in Downtown Lake Lure.

• May 30, 2022, will be the next festival. Follow us on social media or check back here for more details as we plan the 36th Carl Sandburg Music Festival in 2022.

The music festival began in 1987, to honor Carl Sandburg’s efforts to document the history of American music in his American Songbag. Carl Sandburg published the American Songbag in 1927 after spending years documenting and researching early American songs. As Sandburg said, “The American Songbag is a ragbag of strips, stripes, and streaks of color from nearly all ends of the earth. The melodies and verses presented here are from diverse regions, from varied human characters and communities, and each is sung differently in different places.” His publication does not focus on one genre of music, but rather on the human experience. “It is an All-American affair, marshalling the genius of thousands of original singing Americans.”

Sandburg enjoyed all American musical genres. He spent years interviewing musicians and singers, documenting their songs, including folk, gospel, jazz and blues. Carl Sandburg said, “the American Songbag comes from the hearts and voices of thousands of men and women.”

Compiling and publishing the American Songbag was one of the most difficult writing projects Sandburg took on during his life. Today, the Carl Sandburg Music Festival celebrates his work and the work of modern singers and songwriters to share diverse and original American music.

Music Festival is supported by:
Friends of Carl Sandburg at Connemara, Inc.
America’s National Parks, the non-profit partner that operates the park store
A grant from the North Carolina Arts Council; administered by the Arts Council of Henderson County.

Just Brew It is a homebrew competition and tasting in Asheville benefiting the work of Just Economics. The festival features close to 100 different beers and more than 40 amazing homebrewers. The competing homebrewers are some of the finest specialty homebrewers in the region with classic brews like your traditional IPAs, lagers, sours and stouts to unique beers brewed with specialty items like coffee, chocolate, spices and fruit.

To attend, you must be a current member of Just Economics. Just Economics members sample the homebrew and vote for their favorites alongside other homebrew judges as brewers compete for awards and prizes.

This is a local festival you won’t want to miss and your membership supports the work of Just Economics to advance living wages, affordable housing and better transit!

If you love honey, beekeeping, saving our planet, and summer fun next to the French Broad River this event is for you.
Join the Center for Honeybee Research and Shanti Elixirs for Asheville’s First Annual Honey Festival at the Salvage Station on Sunday, June 5th from 12-5pm.

During this event the Center for Honeybee Research will also hold their 11th annual Black Jar International Honey Contest, with a grand prize of $5,500.00.

This will be a family friendly event with live music, vendors, non profit booths promoting the environment, pollinators and their habitats, and other important organizations supporting the world we live in.

Festival attendees will also be able to taste honey from all over the globe and watch the judges determine the “World’s Best Tasting Honey”.

Every Sunday, Ashevillians and visitors from surrounding counties unite to enjoy one of the most unique Farmer’s Markets around!

Not only is Gladheart directly located on a community, organic farm, every vendor produces their own product.

Vendors offer organic produce, fresh made heritage grain breads, jewelry, grass fed tallow creams and broth, organic eggs and frozen quiche, chocolate, beef, and much, much more!

But wait! There’s More!

Gladheart Farm Fest Market is THE place to be on Sundays simply for it’s variety of hot, delicious, and nutritious food, Live music, and Kids Activities!

Wood Fired, Spelt Pizza
Nourish To Go Tacos
Vegan Sushi Rolls
Pasture Raised Scrambled Egg Bowls
(Don’t forget to bring a picnic blanket and an empty belly!)

Farm Tours and Hay Rides! Spend the day and visit with the goats!