Happy Thursday, Buncombe County!

💡 Buncombe Fact: The 2000 Sandra Bullock film 28 Days used the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly conference center in Black Mountain as the filming location for the rehab facility

In today’s edition:

Let’s get to it.

— Sean Kolina

Asheville Veganfest returns this weekend, bringing together plant-based food vendors, local businesses, nonprofits, speakers, and cooking demonstrations for one of the region's largest celebrations of vegan living. Whether you're fully plant-based, vegan-curious, or simply looking for a good meal, the festival offers plenty of opportunities to sample food, discover local makers, and learn something new.

What makes Veganfest fun is that there are enough creative dishes to make even dedicated carnivores rethink lunch.

📍 Where: Pack Square Park, 80 Court Plaza, Asheville
📅 When: Sunday, June 7th | 12pm –5pm
💲 Price: Free to attend

Event Details

Sierra Nevada is introducing The Hazy Hideaway, a brand-new music festival featuring live performances, craft beer, food, and outdoor experiences. The event transforms the brewery grounds into a weekend destination with national and regional acts, giving music fans another reason to head south of Asheville this summer.

📍 Where: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
📅 When: Friday, August 21st | 2pm & Saturday, August 22nd | 1pm
💲 Price: Ticketed

Get Tickets

One of Asheville's more scenic race weekends returns. The Flying Squirrel Ten Miler takes runners through mountain roads and rolling terrain while offering both competitive and recreational options. Expect strong community support, beautiful views, and plenty of post-race bragging rights.

📍 Where: Asheville area course
📅 When: Friday, June 6th | 8am start
💲 Price: Registration required

Learn More

Sweet meets educational at Asheville Honey Fest. The event highlights local beekeepers, honey tastings, pollinator education, family activities, and demonstrations focused on the importance of bees in our ecosystem. It's a surprisingly fascinating event, even if you don't own a hive.

📍 Where: Highland Brewing Company, 12 Old Charlotte Hwy
📅 When: Sunday, June 7th | 12pm – 6pm
💲 Price: Free to attend

Event Details

A great excuse to explore some of the region's protected lands while supporting local conservation efforts. Land Trust Day invites the community to participate in guided hikes, educational programs, and outdoor experiences across conserved properties throughout Western North Carolina. It's one part adventure and one part appreciation for the places that make these mountains special.

You can also support conservation closer to town. As part of the celebration, Mast General Store is donating 20% of all sales from its Asheville location to the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC), and shoppers can choose to round up their purchases at checkout to further support local land protection efforts.

📍 Where: Multiple conserved properties across WNC
📅 When: Saturday, June 6th | 10am - 6pm
💲 Price: Free

Learn More

If you've ever thought, "I wish there was an entire festival dedicated to pickles," Asheville has you covered. Expect pickle-themed foods, local vendors, contests, live music, and plenty of opportunities to celebrate all things briny. It's quirky, delicious, and very Asheville.

📍 Where: Tanger Outlets, Asheville
📅 When: Sunday, June 6th | 12pm – 9pm
💲 Price: Free to attend

More Info

Want to get your hands dirty for a good cause? The Lake Tomahawk Garden Workday brings volunteers together to help maintain and beautify one of Black Mountain’s most beloved public spaces. Tasks range from weeding and mulching to planting and general garden care, making it easy for both seasoned gardeners and first-time volunteers to pitch in. You'll get some fresh air, help the community, and probably leave knowing a few more neighbors than when you arrived.

📍 Where: Lake Tomahawk Park, 401 Laurel Cir Dr, Black Mountain
📅 When: Tuesday, June 9th | 8:30am – 10:30am
💲 Price: Free (volunteers welcome)

Learn More

😋 Weekly Appalachian inspired recipe: Appalachian-Style Rösti- a Southern mountain take on a Swiss classic

🎵 Who we are listening to: Touch and Go - Life’s a Beach! “Heard this at the cinema and in the camp site, beautiful sunset, cried a bit.”

💛 Local Nonprofits. RiverLink - promotes the environmental and economic vitality of the French Broad River and its watershed for all.

🙏 Positive News Around the Globe: 3 Teens Win Global Earth Prize for Inventing Tamarind Powder That Easily Removes Microplastics. Read Article

✨ Letting go of urgency can make space for clarity.

As always, we read every reply and truly appreciate hearing from you. If there’s something you’d like to see more of locally, let us know. Thanks for being part of the Buncombe County Digest community.

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