Labor Day Weekend Event: Asheville's LAAFF

September 1-2      LAAFF  (Lexington Avenue Arts and Fun Festival)   Once a year Lexington Ave in downtown Asheville is shut down for this all day, all local, all original street fair that has grown to be the largest independent street fest in the southeast.

The Pre-LAAFF-A-Thon Pub Crawl is Saturday from 5 PM  - 2 AM. Tickets are available at the event for $25 and you must be 21 or over to purchase.

On Sunday LAAFF is a jam-packed day is filled with wild street performers, unique artwork, a wide variety of music and just about everyone who wants to have some fun and celebrate in the streets of Asheville.

LAAFF is a program of the arts non-profit organization, Arts 2 People. Proceeds from the fun day of creative expression will support  many projects local arts programs. . Arts 2 People is devoted to promoting the role of the arts as an integral part of the culture by serving the entire community through arts outreach, bringing the arts to those in need, supporting the careers of artists, and through community cultural development.

Get a link for LAAFF and other Asheville Labor Day Weekend Events on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide

Asheville's Bele Chere Festival - largest FREE Outdoor Street Festival in the Southeast

July 27-29   Bele Chere Festival This lively Asheville weekend event is the largest free outdoor street festival in the Southeast. The three-day festival on the streets of Downtown Asheville features live, original music all day and night for 200,000 festival-goers.

Bele Chere means "beautiful living" and comes from an ancient Scottish dialect. Bele Chere offers the unique opportunity to see, taste and hear some of the region's finest art, cuisine and music.

 Visual arts at the festival are displayed at the Art Park as well as throughout the Festival grounds.  The Arts Park features some of the best artists of Bele Chere, exhibiting jewelry, photography, pottery, woodwork, paintings, and metalwork. All items sold in the Arts Park are handmade. Visit the selected artists in the Drhumor and Asheville Savings Bank lots on Patton Avenue between Church Street and Lexington Avenue.

This year's musical line-up includes Antique Firearms, an indie rock band;  ArtOfficial, eschewing the simple magic of beat machines and samples for the irreplaceable warmth of organic instrumentation, and a meticulous care for crafting music with soul;  Baby Rattlesnakes, equal parts soulful jazz, appalachian folk, and catchy pop;  Balsalm Range, a blend of jazz - bluegrass - country and gospel;  and dozens of other original and renowned musicians.

Food and Beverages at the Festival go WAY beyond the usual over-warmed wieners. Experience Foodtopia at the Taste of Asheville in Pack Square. The Taste of Asheville features local restaurants, showcasing a sampling of some of the best cuisine in Asheville, from The Corner Kitchen and the Lobster Trap to Ultimate Ice Cream and Glam Ham Pork Rinds. Pritchard Park Food Court Vendors offer both traditional festival fare along with taste treats from the Amish Baking Co., Party in a Pita, Sherri's Crab Cakes, Steak Boys Inc., Tropical Delights and dozens more.  Beverage booths are located throughout the festival for a pause to refresh with water, soft drinks, beer and wine as well as microbrews from most of Asheville's acclaimed craft brewers.

Additional Bele Chere Festival activities include: The Purina Air Dogs;  The Kids area with a a mix of crafts, rides, and performances;  Easel Rider - Asheville’s Mobile Art Lab;  Nonprofit Booths such as Hats for Humanity;  KISS Country Karaoke to sing your favorite country song; The 33rd Bele Chere 5K hosted by the Asheville Track Club;  Asheville's Urban Trail and Public Art.