Happy Thursday, Buncombe County!

💡 Buncombe Fact: Sourwood trees bloom for only about three weeks each summer, which is why true sourwood honey is one of the rarest and most sought-after honeys in the country.

🥳 Bonus: We’ve revamped our website, check it out buncombecountydigest.com

In today’s edition:

Let’s get to it.

— Sean Kolina

One of Western North Carolina's sweetest traditions returns this weekend as the Sourwood Festival transforms downtown Black Mountain into a celebration of Appalachian craftsmanship, live music, local food, and the region's famous sourwood honey. Presented by the Black Mountain–Swannanoa Chamber of Commerce, the festival draws thousands of visitors to browse more than 110 artisan, craft, nonprofit, and food vendors while enjoying mountain music, family activities, and the charm of one of the region's favorite small towns.

New this year, the weekend expands across the Swannanoa Valley with a Kansas City BBQ Society–sanctioned competition at the Swannanoa KOA and a Saturday night fireworks show. Whether you're shopping for handmade treasures, tasting locally harvested honey, or just strolling downtown with friends and family, it's well worth the short drive from Asheville. Leashed dogs are welcome, too.

📍 Where: Historic Downtown Black Mountain
📅 When: Saturday, August 8th | 10am – 5pm • Sunday, August 9th | 11am – 5pm
💲 Price: Free

Event Details

Asheville's biggest music weekend is back as AVL Sounds Fest fills the city with more than 240 artists across 17 stages. Formerly known as AVLFest, the four-day festival spans indie rock, bluegrass, Americana, hip-hop, jazz, and electronic music, with headliners including Dr. Dog, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Big Freedia, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, and Asheville favorite River Whyless. A portion of proceeds supports Helene recovery through the WNC Long Haul Fund.

📍 Where: Multiple venues throughout Asheville
📅 When: Thursday, August 6th – Sunday, August 9th
💲 Price: Festival passes and single-show tickets available

Lineup & Tickets

Families are invited to Pack Square for an evening of music, games, food, and hands-on activities at the annual United for Youth Block Party. Hosted by United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County, the night features live youth performances, a DJ, food trucks, interactive STEAM and resiliency zones, and more than 50 community booths — all designed to celebrate and support Buncombe County's young people before the new school year begins.

📍 Where: Pack Square Park, 80 Court Plaza, Asheville
📅 When: Friday, August 7th | 5pm – 8pm
💲 Price: Free

Event Details

Flood Gallery continues its World Cinema: Foreign Film Fridays series with The Magic Flute, Ingmar Bergman's acclaimed adaptation of Mozart's beloved opera. Curated by Carlos Steward, the series brings international cinema into one of the area's most intimate gallery spaces. A good excuse to spend a Friday evening somewhere a little different.

📍 Where: Flood Gallery Fine Art Center, 850 Blue Ridge Rd., Black Mountain
📅 When: Friday, August 7th | 7pm
💲 Price: Free

Event Details

Help preserve a piece of Asheville's history by contributing to the Helene WaterLine Project, a collaborative textile installation marking the height of the floodwaters left by Hurricane Helene. During this free drop-in workshop at Local Cloth in the River Arts District, you'll create a small fabric piece that becomes part of the larger installation, plus one to take home. No fiber experience necessary.

📍 Where: Local Cloth, 408 Depot St. #100, Asheville
📅 When: Saturday, August 8th | 12pm – 4pm
💲 Price: Free (registration encouraged)

Event Details

Live music and free-form movement come together during Live Music Wave, featuring Trey Crispin alongside the Nata Das ensemble. Asheville Movement Collective's Sunday waves draw a big, welcoming crowd. Guests are invited to dance, stretch, or simply listen while the musicians improvise around the room. No experience or partner required.

📍 Where: Asheville Movement Collective, 802 Fairview Rd., Asheville
📅 When: Sunday, August 9th | 6pm – 8pm
💲 Price: Donation-based

Learn More

Mark Bettis Gallery presents Carbon/Chroma, a new solo exhibition by Nabil El Jaouhari exploring the relationship between destruction and renewal through richly layered mixed-media work. The Lebanese-born artist is known for intricate collages on wooden panels that pair detailed wood burning with fragments of his earlier paintings and prints. Meet the artist at the opening reception before the show continues through the end of the month.

📍 Where: Mark Bettis Gallery, 123 Roberts St., Asheville
📅 When: Opening Reception Saturday, August 8th | 5pm – 7pm • Exhibition August 8th – 22nd
💲 Price: Free

Learn More

😋 Weekly Appalachian inspired recipe: Honey Skillet Cornbread — cast iron, crackly edges, and a good excuse to use whatever honey you bring home from Black Mountain.

🎵 Who we are listening to: Manatee Commune - Blueberry - “This is the song you hear as you are being lifted up into heaven.”

💛 Local Nonprofits. MANNA FoodBank — the regional food bank serving 16 WNC counties, still rebuilding capacity after Helene while distributing millions of meals a year to neighbors across the mountains.

🙏 Positive News Around the Globe: A snail declared extinct turned up in an alleyway — and pulled an entire species back from the brink. Read Article

✨ The sweetest things are usually the ones that only show up for a few weeks a year.

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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