Upcoming events and things to do in Asheville, NC. Below is a list of events for festivals, concerts, art exhibitions, group meetups and more.

Interested in adding an event to our calendar? Please click the green “Post Your Event” button below.

Friday, April 29, 2022
SAHC Community Farm Hike
Apr 29 @ 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
SAHC Community Farm

View of Roan
                                                    with forested
                                                    mountains and open
                                                    balds in distance
                                                    and rhododendron in
                                                    foreground

SAHC Community Farm Hike – Friday, April 29 at 10 am

Visit our beautiful Community Farm to hike along the Discovery Trail and see all the terrific projects in the works! SAHC’s Community Farm is a 140-acre educational and working farm just outside Asheville. The farm is a continually evolving home for conservation projects and agricultural production. It features a stream restoration project, shortleaf pine reforestation project, farm incubator program, education center,  and more — there is always something new to see!

Participants will hike The Discovery Trail in a 2-mile loop, allowing us to view all of the amazing farm projects before returning to the education center for an outdoor lunch overlooking the entire farm and surrounding mountains. Cost $10.

Saturday, April 30, 2022
WNCHA Hidden History Hikes – Ellicott’s Rock
Apr 30 @ 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Ellicott’s and Governor’s rocks along the Chattooga River.

 

Join the Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA) Saturday, April 30 at 9AM as we hike to Ellicott’s and Governor’s rocks along the Chattooga River.

Along the Chattooga River, the states of NC, SC, and GA intersect. From conflicts between Cherokees and white settlers, to the Walton War between Georgia and North Carolina over their boundaries, this area has seen its share of strife and political challenges. Surveyor Andrew Ellicott initially settled the conflict and placed a marker along the bank of the river in 1811. But eventually his work was challenged by the more precise “Governor’s Rock” a few years afterward. As late as the 1970s though, NC and GA once again disputed the precise location. Join us as we hike through three states and explore the history of this contested boundary.

*This is a backcountry hike. Please do not attempt if you are unsure of your ability*

*With a small trailhead parking area, we are limited to 5 vehicles. We will need a few volunteers to shuttle others in their vehicles. Please let us know if you are willing to do this when you sign the waiver form*

*Participants may wish to carpool to the initial meeting location at Ingles in Cashiers, NC. You will be asked about your preference upon registration, and those interested will be put in contact with one another*

Details:

Meet:  We will depart at 9AM from the Ingles in Cashiers (US Hwy 64E, Cashiers, NC, 28717). We will carpool 10 miles to the trailhead (Bull Pen Rd, Cashiers, NC 28717). More information regarding parking and the trailhead will be sent to registrants the day prior to the outing.
Return to Ingles: Approximately 3PM
Hike Length: 6.5 miles total, out and back.
Elevation Gain: 1,220 Feet
Hike Difficulty: Moderately strenuous (using National Park Service metric)

What to Bring:

  • Backpack
  • Plenty of water (2+ liters)
  • Bagged lunch and snacks
  • Hiking boots or comfortable trail shoes
  • Weather-appropriate clothing (preferably no cotton)
  • Sunscreen
  • Hiking poles (recommended)
  • Hat (recommended)
  • Any needed medications.

Rain Date: In the event of inclement weather, participants will be notified in advance, no later than 8PM the evening prior if the event is to be rescheduled.

Tickets: $20 for WNCHA members/$30 non-members. We also have two no-cost, community-funded tickets available. We want our events to be accessible to as many people as possible. If you are able please consider making a donation along with your ticket purchase. These donations are placed in our Community Fund, which allows us to offer tickets at no cost to those who would not be able to attend otherwise.

Ross Farm’s Spring Fling Fest with Appalachian Standard
Apr 30 @ 11:30 am – 4:00 pm
Ross Farm

Join us for the Spring Fling Farm Fest, taking place at 91 Holbrook Road, Candler, NC, 28571 on April 30th, 2022 from 11:30 AM to 4 PM. In addition to the beautiful greenhouses being open, guests are invited to enjoy live music, food trucks, curated vendors selling art, craft, CBD products, and much more in one of Asheville’s most remarkable locales.

Spring is in the air and we are ready to celebrate with the community!
We are thrilled to announce a vibe session meet and greet with Lauren Davis of @fiddyshadesofgreen from 12 PM to 1 PM, with photo opts available.

We will also have an amazing line-up of local musicians, including Joker’s Trade, Istari, John Kirby and the New Seniors, and Appalachian Standard’s very own Substandards. Bear’s Bar-B-Que will be on site with incredible food, as well as kettle corn.

We’ll have a fun mechanical bull and several artisans in our greenhouse selling their beautiful wares, including Honey Creek Pottery! And, of course, our greenhouse will be bursting with a few new and glamorous plants.

The Spring Fling Farm Fest is free to the public. Parking is available on site, however can be limited so it is
recommended that groups carpool. This is an outdoor event.

The first 100 people to join us will receive a goodie bag!

Appalachian Standard is a veteran-owned, craft hemp farm and greenhouse nestled in the Appalachian Mountains of Asheville, North Carolina. Our hemp is greenhouse, field, and indoor grown in small batches year-round by a team of experienced growers. Come experience music in one heck of a unique venue!

Sunday, May 1, 2022
Asheville Spring Herb Festival
May 1 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
WNC Agricultural Center Expo Building

ASHEVILLE SPRING HERB FESTIVAL

Friday, April 29: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 30: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 1: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
 
Where: Expo Building


Enter Gate #7 or Gate #5 for parking. Expo Building has a blue roof, located behind the Davis Event Center.

<div “=””>In 2022, the festival will be at our new home in the Exhibition Hall at the WNC Agricultural Center. You’ll find the Ag Center on Boylston Highway/Airport Road, just south of the Asheville Airport — the festival will run from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30; and from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 1.

Website: www.AshevilleHerbFestival.org

Contact 828-301-8968 or 828-301-3010 for additional information.

Saturday, May 7, 2022
Upper Catawba Falls
May 7 @ 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Catawba Falls

Join us for this moderate 4.3 mile round trip hike on a section of one of the oldest wagon roads into the Valley from Old Fort.  The hike starts at Arthur Joe and Mary Hemphill’s pavilion at Fortune Fields and follows the Catawba River down to the upper Falls, passing Davis Falls on the way and following the old wagon road.  Arthur Joe’s ancestor, Capt. Thomas Hemphill (1746-1826) was an original Revolutionary War patriot who owned part of this popular stage road up from Old Fort. Arthur Joe and Mary donated this large tract to conservation.  The hike will be led by Rick and Melinda Halford, who are the caretakers of the tract.

Cost: $50 for members/$65 for non-members. Some fees apply.

Difficulty:  Moderate, 4.3 miles round-trip. Moderate 500ft elevation change, but numerous rocky stream crossings. Learn more here. 

Please e-mail [email protected] with any inquiries

Coronavirus Protocol:

  • Please bring a mask to the event to use in the event of carpooling.
  • No one who is sick, running a fever or potentially exposed to COVID should attend
  • If not vaccinated, masks should be worn in all group settings like sign-in and congregation
    times.
  • Social distancing while on the trails is recommended

9:00am-2:00pm: Hike. Tickets: $50 for members/$65 for non-members. Some fees apply. Register Here.

Maker Faire Asheville
May 7 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Mission Health/AB Tech Conference Center

Part science fair, part county fair, and part something entirely new, Maker Faire is an all-ages gathering of tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, science clubs, authors, artists, students, and commercial exhibitors. All of these “makers” come to Maker Faire to show what they have made and to share what they have learned. With an emphasis on interactive, hands-on exhibits, people of all ages will leave inspired to make something of their own! Get your FREE tickets today!

WNCHA Hidden History Hikes and Tours: Rumbling Bald Hike
May 7 @ 10:00 am – 12:30 pm

Join the Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA) Saturday, May 7 at 10AM as we hike below “Rumbling Bald” Mountain in the Hickory Nut Gorge.

In February, 1874, the mountains at the eastern edge of the Hickory Nut Gorge began to tremble, shake, and emit plumes of dust, the day after a local preacher delivered a fire and brimstone sermon. Many local residents feared a volcano was set to erupt and a geologist was called in to investigate as tremors continued into May. His investigation and newspaper coverage of the events reveal surprising insights into the environmental and cultural history of the area. Join us as we loop along the southern side of “Rumbling Bald” Mountain and sort fact from fiction while enjoying the natural environment along the way.

*During the hike, participants also have the option of exploring a fissure cave with the guidance of a Chimney Rock State Park ranger. The trail is a moderate 0.5-mile hike will lead visitors to the base of Rumbling Bald Mountain.  From there visitors will have a strenuous scramble approximately 200 yards up and across a boulder field consisting of various sizes boulders.  Then visitors will squeeze through a 2-foot opening and into a large room. Once in the room a ranger will be available to talk about the ecology/geology of the cave.  All participants must follow white nose bat syndrome protocol which call for decontamination once exiting the cave.*

 

Details:

Meet:  10am at Chimney Rock State Park – Rumbling Bald Access (827 Boys Camp Rd, Lake Lure, NC 28746) by the restrooms. Please arrive prior to the starting time.

Depart: 12:30PM

Hike Length: 1.6-mile loop. See map: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/north-carolina/rumbling-bald-loop-trail?ref=result-card

Elevation Gain: 341 feet

Hike Difficulty: Easiest (using National Park Service metric)

What to Bring:

  • Backpack
  • Water (1 liter)
  • Bagged lunch or snacks (restaurants in nearby Chimney Rock will be open as well)
  • Hiking boots or comfortable trail shoes
  • Weather-appropriate clothing
  • Sunscreen
  • Hiking poles (optional)
  • Any needed medications.

 

Rain Date: In the event of inclement weather, participants will be notified in advance, no later than 8PM the evening prior if the event is to be rescheduled. The alternate rain date will be the following Friday, May 13.

 

Tickets: $10 for WNCHA members/$20 non-members. We also have two no-cost, community-funded tickets available. We want our events to be accessible to as many people as possible. If you are able please consider making a donation along with your ticket purchase. These donations are placed in our Community Fund, which allows us to offer tickets at no cost to those who would not be able to attend otherwise.

Registrants must fill out the emergency contact form in advance: https://forms.gle/VUbqBJAfgvZqjDmJ9

Thursday, May 19, 2022
Sunset Yoga Hike in Asheville
May 19 all-day
Detailed Directions Shared After Booking

Imagine moving through your sun salutation on a mountaintop as the sky glows all around you (or stay in savasana for the full hour! No one here will judge you!) Marvel at nature’s light show, breathe in the fresh mountain air, and revel in the expansiveness of wide open spaces. This is our favorite version of our classic Yoga Hike here in Asheville and is offered in season (typically May – October) with start times planned approximately 2hrs prior to sunset. This mountaintop is on all of the “best places to view the sunset in Asheville” lists and we can’t wait to share it with you!

Want a more exclusive experience? Reserve a private Sunset Yoga Hike any day of the week with advanced notice.

Saturday, May 21, 2022
Black Mountain Garden Sale
May 21 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Black Mountain Town Square

Plants, plants, & more plants will be showcased at the Black Mountain Garden Sale on Friday, May 20, 4 -8pm and Saturday, May 21, 9am-4pm at the Town Square Parking Lot at the corner of E. State St. and Richardson Blvd.

Hosted by Black Mountain Beautification Committee the sale will feature annuals, herbs, native plants, perennials, shrubs, trees, and vegetable starts from specialty plant vendors. Plus garden décor including garden containers, wood carvings, and other special items.

The popular Clothesline Sale will have personal services for sale. Buy raffle tickets to take a chance to win plants. Proceeds help support the Seed Money Award and to keep the town beautiful!

More info at blackmountainbeautification.org. Let us help you create the garden of your dreams!

Saluda Arts Festival
May 21 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Downtown Saluda

After a two-year hiatus, the Saluda Arts Festival returns to Saluda’s historic downtown, the event will feature approximately 85 artists from the Carolinas and Tennessee, children’s’ activities, and live music on Main Street in downtown Saluda

 

 

 

Sunset Yoga Hike in Asheville
May 21 @ 6:15 pm – 7:15 pm
Detailed Directions Shared After Booking

Imagine moving through your sun salutation on a mountaintop as the sky glows all around you (or stay in savasana for the full hour! No one here will judge you!) Marvel at nature’s light show, breathe in the fresh mountain air, and revel in the expansiveness of wide open spaces. This is our favorite version of our classic Yoga Hike here in Asheville and is offered in season (typically May – October) with start times planned approximately 2hrs prior to sunset. This mountaintop is on all of the “best places to view the sunset in Asheville” lists and we can’t wait to share it with you!

Want a more exclusive experience? Reserve a private Sunset Yoga Hike any day of the week with advanced notice.

Nature at Night Hike
May 21 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Chimney Rock State Park

Image result for Chimney Rock Park

Join a Park naturalist on the Hickory Nut Falls trail, and watch as the Park comes alive under the shadow of darkness. Do you know whether that’s a frog or a toad calling from the undergrowth? What birds and mammals prefer the dark to the daylight? Get ready to learn more about the Park’s rarely-seen residents.

Friday, May 27, 2022
GRINDfest
May 27 all-day
Grindfest

In a nutshell

FESTIVAL DATES: MAY 27-30, 2022

GrindFest is a free, 4-day festival that celebrates Black Business and entrepreneurship

 About this event

 Grindfest is BACK! It is a free, 4-day event that celebrates the success of Black entrepreneurs + business owners in Asheville.  A block-party style event will take place on 8 Rivers 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.

See you there!

Let’s make HISTORY together! 

GRINDfest Kickoff! Ribbon Cutting + Open Houses
May 27 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Black Wall Street AVL

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.

Saturday, May 28, 2022
Lake Lure Arts + Crafts Festival
May 28 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Downtown Lake Lure

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

Sunset Yoga Hike in Asheville
May 28 @ 6:15 pm – 7:15 pm
Detailed Directions Shared After Booking

Imagine moving through your sun salutation on a mountaintop as the sky glows all around you (or stay in savasana for the full hour! No one here will judge you!) Marvel at nature’s light show, breathe in the fresh mountain air, and revel in the expansiveness of wide open spaces. This is our favorite version of our classic Yoga Hike here in Asheville and is offered in season (typically May – October) with start times planned approximately 2hrs prior to sunset. This mountaintop is on all of the “best places to view the sunset in Asheville” lists and we can’t wait to share it with you!

Want a more exclusive experience? Reserve a private Sunset Yoga Hike any day of the week with advanced notice.

Sunday, May 29, 2022
GRINDfest
May 29 all-day
Grindfest

In a nutshell

FESTIVAL DATES: MAY 27-30, 2022

GrindFest is a free, 4-day festival that celebrates Black Business and entrepreneurship

 About this event

 Grindfest is BACK! It is a free, 4-day event that celebrates the success of Black entrepreneurs + business owners in Asheville.  A block-party style event will take place on 8 Rivers 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.

See you there!

Let’s make HISTORY together! 

Lake Lure Arts + Crafts Festival
May 29 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Downtown Lake Lure

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

Sunset Yoga Hike in Asheville
May 29 @ 6:15 pm – 7:15 pm
Detailed Directions Shared After Booking

Imagine moving through your sun salutation on a mountaintop as the sky glows all around you (or stay in savasana for the full hour! No one here will judge you!) Marvel at nature’s light show, breathe in the fresh mountain air, and revel in the expansiveness of wide open spaces. This is our favorite version of our classic Yoga Hike here in Asheville and is offered in season (typically May – October) with start times planned approximately 2hrs prior to sunset. This mountaintop is on all of the “best places to view the sunset in Asheville” lists and we can’t wait to share it with you!

Want a more exclusive experience? Reserve a private Sunset Yoga Hike any day of the week with advanced notice.

Monday, May 30, 2022
GRINDfest
May 30 all-day
Grindfest

In a nutshell

FESTIVAL DATES: MAY 27-30, 2022

GrindFest is a free, 4-day festival that celebrates Black Business and entrepreneurship

 About this event

 Grindfest is BACK! It is a free, 4-day event that celebrates the success of Black entrepreneurs + business owners in Asheville.  A block-party style event will take place on 8 Rivers 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.

See you there!

Let’s make HISTORY together! 

Lake Lure Arts + Crafts Festival
May 30 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Downtown Lake Lure

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

Memorial Day Carl Sandburg Music Festival
May 30 @ 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
large crowd sits comfortably under the shade of trees while musicians play on a stage in the background
Audience enjoys the Carl Sandburg Music Festival at the new amphitheater 2019
  • 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.

Wednesday, June 1, 2022
50th LEAF Festival Tickets
Jun 1 all-day
online w/ LEAF
Drumroll…

50th LEAF Festival Tickets

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Get early bird ticket access with membership!

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June 1 – Membership tickets

June 15 – General public tickets 

 

 

 

Thursday, June 2, 2022
50th LEAF Festival Tickets
Jun 2 all-day
online w/ LEAF
Drumroll…

50th LEAF Festival Tickets

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Get early bird ticket access with membership!

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June 1 – Membership tickets

June 15 – General public tickets 

 

 

 

Friday, June 3, 2022
50th LEAF Festival Tickets
Jun 3 all-day
online w/ LEAF
Drumroll…

50th LEAF Festival Tickets

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Get early bird ticket access with membership!

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June 1 – Membership tickets

June 15 – General public tickets 

 

 

 

The Gathering at Paint Rock Farm
Jun 3 all-day
Paint Rock Farm

The Gathering At Paint Rock Farm 2022

The Gathering at Paint Rock Farm is a conscious, family-friendly, three-day live music and camping experience.

This is a calling for people looking for a new way to connect through music, the great outdoors, and to joyfully celebrate life.

Attending guests will be treated to two nights of overnight camping and three days of outdoor activities such as hiking, yoga, kirtan, and live music performances. The Gathering at Paint Rock Farm is created by music lovers and outdoor enthusiasts that believe in sourcing and spotlighting the best of regional musicians, vendors, and community partners.

MUSIC PERFORMERS INCLUDE: Toubab Krewe, Natti Lovejoys, Roots Grown Deep, Greg Olsen & Chris Rosser, Wandering Hours, Appalucians, Clover and the Sunman, Kirtain with Aditi, Lazy Birds, and much more!

Saturday, June 4, 2022
50th LEAF Festival Tickets
Jun 4 all-day
online w/ LEAF
Drumroll…

50th LEAF Festival Tickets

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Get early bird ticket access with membership!

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June 1 – Membership tickets

June 15 – General public tickets 

 

 

 

The Gathering at Paint Rock Farm
Jun 4 all-day
Paint Rock Farm

The Gathering At Paint Rock Farm 2022

The Gathering at Paint Rock Farm is a conscious, family-friendly, three-day live music and camping experience.

This is a calling for people looking for a new way to connect through music, the great outdoors, and to joyfully celebrate life.

Attending guests will be treated to two nights of overnight camping and three days of outdoor activities such as hiking, yoga, kirtan, and live music performances. The Gathering at Paint Rock Farm is created by music lovers and outdoor enthusiasts that believe in sourcing and spotlighting the best of regional musicians, vendors, and community partners.

MUSIC PERFORMERS INCLUDE: Toubab Krewe, Natti Lovejoys, Roots Grown Deep, Greg Olsen & Chris Rosser, Wandering Hours, Appalucians, Clover and the Sunman, Kirtain with Aditi, Lazy Birds, and much more!

Just Brew It
Jun 4 @ 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Pisgah Brewing Company

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!

Sunday, June 5, 2022
50th LEAF Festival Tickets
Jun 5 all-day
online w/ LEAF
Drumroll…

50th LEAF Festival Tickets

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Get early bird ticket access with membership!

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June 1 – Membership tickets

June 15 – General public tickets