Summertime in Asheville!

It’s summertime in Asheville, and everyone wants to know what’s going on!? Summertime is also my favorite time of the year, and my family and I love ALL that you can do in Asheville, NC. I’ve compiled a list of my favorite summertime activities, and I’m sharing them with you!

Here are some of my favorite Summertime in Asheville things to do:

RIVERLINK – “Along the French Broad’s 219 miles is a variety of experiences for people of all ages. RiverLink showcases many of these special opportunities — riverside concerts, riverside camping, walking and bus tours, volunteering, and more. However you want to get engaged with the French Broad, we can help!”  Riverbank is a great organization that puts on amazing live music shows, as well as many other activities based around the beautiful French Broad River! The next River Music summertime show will be RiverMusic will be July 8, as they are always on the 2nd Friday of each summer month!

Friday, July 8, enjoy Rock-n-Roll/Soul/Blues:  5:30:  Tim Easton  |  6:45:  Aaron Lee Tasman  |  8:15:  Patrick Sweany

MOVIES IN THE PARK – Grab a blanket, pack a picnic and bring the kids. The City of Asheville Parks and Recreation Department launches the 2015 season of Movies in the Park, a free monthly movie series in Pack Square Park beginning Friday, May 8.
Children’s craft activities begin at 6:30 p.m. and the movie begins at dusk on a giant screen on the Pack Square Park stage.

Movies in the Park continues monthly through September. Each month, children’s craft activities begin at 6:30 p.m., followed with the movie at dusk. All movies are rated G or PG.

June 10: Finding Nemo  |  July 8: Back to the Future  |  August 12: The Good Dinosaur  |  September 16: Remember the Titans

DOWNTOWN AFTER 5 – Whatever you call it, Downtown After 5, Alive after 5, it’s all the same! DA5’s purpose it to be a “catalyst for a thriving, vibrant and livable downtown, nationally recognized for its diverse local businesses and authentic culture and known for being welcoming, accessible, clean, safe and environmentally conscious. The Asheville Downtown Association today announced the lineup for the 28th season of Downtown After 5, presented by Prestige Subaru. Downtown After 5 takes place the 3rd Friday of the month, May – September and is held on North Lexington Avenue.”

June 17 – Headliner: Futurebirds  |  Opener: Raising Caine

Hailing from Athens, Ga., Futurebirds play a high-energy, country rock-infused live show. Four-part harmonies and pedal steel guitar blend with Americana melodies to create a stripped-down rock sound.

DOWNTOWN DRUM CIRCLE – One thing you’ll hear more tourist (and locals) comment on more than anything is the downtown Drum Circle! It’s a spectacle to see, and a local must-do that has grown exponentially over the years (since 2001), as downtown Asheville has diversified, grown and attracted more and more visitors.

“Don’t miss the drum circle, a favorite Asheville tradition for both locals and visitors. Anyone can participate by drumming, dancing or watching. Stop by the Asheville Drum Circle on every Friday night (warm weather months) in Pritchard Park downtown on Patton Avenue at College Street. Join folks of every age and description. Watch people dance to the thunderous rhythm of the dozens of drums. Or better yet, join in by playing or dancing! See the individuality and diversity of Asheville. This is a free event. The drummers begin showing up around 6 PM (or sometimes as early as 5 PM) and the crowd builds until it ends at 10 PM. Don’t miss the drum circle… It will make you feel good all over!”

THE ORANGE PEEL – ‘The Peel’ is a very popular and successful indoor music venue in downtown Asheville, that attracts great bands, and has for years now. As long as Asheville has been the national attraction that it’s become, The Orange Peel has booked the national , regional and local acts it has, with continued success. Even with all the outdoor activities to do in Asheville, summertime in Asheville can only be made better by a great show at The Peel!

“The Orange Peel Social Aid & Pleasure Club is one of the Southeast’s preeminent concert venues. The club features state-of-the-art sound and lighting equipment rarely found in a club of its size. The smoke-free facility has a beautiful interior, creating a fabulous setting for enjoying the premier musicians who perform here.” A couple of highlighted shows for this month at The Orange Peel:

June 18 – Gregory Alan Isakov  |  June 22 – Silversun Pickups

ASHEVILLE TOURIST BASEBALL – Class A Affiliate of the Colorado Rookies, The Tourist games are a BLAST! Located at McCormick Field, just on the south side of downtown, it’s a small ballpark that is filled with family fun, an amazing energy and of course high level ball!

Check out the full Tourist schedule here, and catch a few of the next home games starting tonight, Thursday June 16th – Monday June 20th. Thursday night are “Thirsty Thursday”, a popular attraction, especially in the summertime! And don’t forgot Family Night at the ballpark!

LOCAL HIKING SPOTS –  Looking around at the incredible outdoors we have at our doorsteps, one of the best summertime in Asheville activities is local hiking spots. Trails, waterfalls, swimming holes, parkways, greenways, anyway is a great way around these parts. Some of the local faves are DuPont State Forest, consisting of 3 amazing water and swimming holes, High Falls, Triple Falls and Hooker Falls, located about 45 mins Southeast of downtown Asheville.  Looking for something a little closer? How about Bent Creek?  Bent Creek is located in the northern tip of the Pisgah Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest, just 15 minutes from downtown Asheville. Bent Creek’s watershed contains a collection of trails for all kinds of hikes, for those suitable to beginners and families to those more amenable to advanced hiking groups. This is close and wonderfully open area for runners, walkers, hikers, swimmers and bikers alike! here are

BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY – The Blue Ridge Parkway (part of the U.S. National Park Service) near Asheville, North Carolina, offers plenty of spots for roadside picnics, breathtaking vistas, easy to difficult hiking trails, and a reprieve from commercialism. The 469-mile, non-stop recreational motor road follows the ridge of the Blue Ridge Mountains, connecting Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains National Parks. With the use of the milepost system (the numbers increase as you drive south), you can easily find points of interest along the way. There is no admission fee and most of the things to do along the way are free. It’s one of the most scenic routes in America. A few highlights:

WNC NATURE CENTER – “Want a one-of-a-kind adventure where you can really experience the animals of the Southern Appalachians?  Visit the Western North Carolina Nature Center – home to over 60 species of animals including river otters, black bear, red wolves and cougars. See why over 120,000 people a year come visit us. From preschoolers to grandparents, from students to professionals, there’s something for everyone at the Nature Center!”

As you can tell if you read my blog, I really love summertime in Asheville, and I really love sharing my hometown and the Western North Carolina real estate with all of you! Please don’t hesitate to contact me when you’re selling your home or have any real estate needs. I’m always available and excited to work with you!