Happy Thursday, Buncombe County!
💡 Buncombe Fact: Asheville consistently ranks among the top cities in the country for craft breweries per capita, often placing second only to Portland, Maine.
In today’s edition:
Gardens, galleries, and floral artistry collide
USA takes the pitch this Friday
Slow down, sketch, and observe nature
A tropical weekend takeover on South Slope
Free stories, crafts, and popsicles in Weaverville
Food, music, and a runway moment
Free hands-on learning rolls into Swannanoa
Brunch, brews, and a river float for Dad
Let’s get to it.
— Sean Kolina
🌸 Art in Bloom Returns to Black Mountain
Black Mountain Center for the Arts
Black Mountain Center for the Arts kicks off its 20th annual Art in Bloom celebration this week, where floral designers and visual artists come together for a gallery-wide showcase of color, texture, and seasonal beauty. The festivities open Thursday with First Bloom, a ticketed evening sneak peek at the floral arrangements alongside drinks and desserts. From there, the event opens to the public with a self-guided Garden Tour, granting rare access to private gardens around Black Mountain not normally open to visitors, plus a gallery exhibit pairing plein air paintings with the floral displays. It's one of Black Mountain's most beloved traditions and the Center's biggest fundraiser of the year.
📍 Where: Black Mountain Center for the Arts, plus private gardens around town
📅 When: Thursday, June 18th (First Bloom) | Garden Tour & Gallery: June 19th–21st
💲 Price: Varies on days
⚽ Watch the World Cup with Scotty
Highland Brewing's taproom is turning into World Cup central all tournament long, with big matches on the screens, extended hours on game days, and Scotty leading the cheers pint in hand. The USA faces Australia on Friday, with several other marquee matchups also on the schedule.
📍 Where: Highland Brewing Taproom, 12 Old Charlotte Hwy, Asheville
📅 When: Friday, June 19th | USA v. Australia at 3pm, plus Scotland v. Morocco at 6pm and Brazil v. Haiti at 8:30pm
💲 Price: Free to attend
🌳 Intro to Nature Journaling
The North Carolina Arboretum offers a hands-on introduction to nature journaling, walking participants through simple tools and techniques for observing and sketching the plants and wildlife around them. No artistic experience needed, just curiosity and a willingness to slow down and notice the details most people walk right past.
📍 Where: NC Arboretum, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville
📅 When: Friday, June 19th | 10am - 12pm
💲 Price: $38-43. Registration required
Annual Hay-waiian Party at Cellarest Beer Project
Cellarest's annual Hay-waiian Party brings island vibes to South Slope for a full weekend, blending tropical drinks, tiki energy, and Cellarest's farmhouse beers into one big backyard party. Runs Friday through Sunday, so there's no wrong day to show up in your best Hawaiian shirt.
📍 Where: Cellarest Beer Project, Asheville
📅 When: Friday, June 19th – Sunday, June 21st | 12pm – 10pm
💲 Price: Free to attend
✨ Vance Birthplace Summer Storytime
Families with young children are invited to the historic Vance Birthplace for a free summer storytime themed around Juneteenth and the Fourth of July. Stories are read inside the Vance house at three different times throughout the morning, with free face painting, popsicles, and crafts available in the visitor center the whole time. No registration required, though donations are appreciated.
📍 Where: Vance Birthplace, 911 Reems Creek Rd, Weaverville
📅 When: Saturday, June 20th | 9am – 12pm
💲 Price: Free
👠 Juneteenth Gala and Fashion Show
The MLK Association's annual Juneteenth Celebration Gala and Fashion Show returns to celebrate Jubilation Day in style. The free event features a full meal from Kente Kitchen Market, live music from the Freeflow Band, and a runway moment for attendees to show off their favorite African and formal attire. A joyful, community-centered way to close out Juneteenth weekend.
📍 Where: A-B Tech Conference Center, 16 Fernihurst Dr, Asheville
📅 When: Saturday, June 20th | 6pm – 9pm
💲 Price: Free
📚 PBS Kids Rootle Roadster Tour
PBS North Carolina's Rootle Roadster Tour rolls into the Swannanoa Resilience Hub with a morning of free, hands-on learning for young kids. Expect STEM experiments, literacy games, and social-emotional activities, plus local community partners on hand offering family resources. Built for children ages 8 and under, with plenty for the whole family to enjoy.
📍 Where: Swannanoa Resilience Hub, 216 Whitson Ave, Swannanoa
📅 When: Saturday, June 20th | 10am – 3pm
💲 Price: Free
👔 Father's Day Around Buncombe County | Sunday, June 21st
The big guy’s day falls on Sunday this week, and there's no shortage of ways to celebrate Dad across the county.
Father's Day Brunch at Xico | 10am – 2pm | Chef-inspired brunch dishes including huevos rancheros, chilaquiles, and tres leches French toast, downtown Asheville
Sports Card Trade & Baseball Watch Party | 12pm – 7pm | Sweeten Creek Brewing
Father's Day at Oak and Grist Distilling Co. | 12pm – 6pm | Black Mountain
Dad's Day Brews & Bash ft. The Primitive | 2pm | White Horse Black Mountain
RAD Comedy: Dad Jokes, Father's Day Showcase | 7pm | RAD Brewing
Take Dad to the River | Anytime | French Broad River access points are open for paddleboarding and tubing, a low-key way to spend the morning outdoors before the afternoon festivities
Other fun notes…
😋 Weekly Appalachian inspired recipe: Southern Fried Catfish- This fried catfish recipe is a classic Southern dish traditionally served with buttermilk hush puppies and buttermilk coleslaw.
🎵 Who we are listening to: The Avener, Phoebe Killdeer - Fade Out Lines. “I was at outside a bar in Lithuania when I first heard this song. The sun was shining, me and my friend were drinking a beer, this song came on and I had this crystal clear moment of everything just being absolutely amazing. Funny how a song sticks to a memory like that.”
💛 Local Nonprofits. Eblen Charities - provides assistance to families and individuals living in Western North Carolina during times of crisis and hardship.
🙏 Positive News Around the Globe: Father and son break three World Records in 18,000 mile cycle around the world. Read Article
✨ Some of the best progress happens when you stop forcing it.
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